A shocking revelation

I know..... it's going to shock you! It gave me quite a start as well.

Hold onto your hats for this self realizing moment. When I eat healthier, and I move more and I sit less, I................. feel better.

I am a reasonably intelligent woman. I am educated. I have life experience (I am old :) but it's been so long since I took care of myself properly, I had forgotten.

Since school started I have been (mostly) following Weight Watchers online, eating lots of fruits and veggies and lean proteins. I have been walking more and sitting less. I shut off the TV more than I have in the past.

While I have lost only a few pounds (4 or so), I DO feel better. I have more energy, I feel better about myself and I carry myself with more positivity than I did  a few months ago.

Now, to just remember this as winter sets in and the newness of a new school year and keep on making choices to keep on feeling better.

Where the money stands

as of September 9th

Debts
Mortgage - $26 763.26

Total Debt - $26 763.26

Savings/Planned Spending
TFSA/EF - $3062
($1000 added this month!! wheeee)
RESP - $14 550
RRSP - $6100
Plates - $1200
xmas 2013 - $1400
Back to School - $1000 (but disappearing soon)

This is the second time lately that my RESPs have done squat. I put $200 in each month and I expect it to grow my $200 each month, but this month it has stayed the same again. I am confused honestly and need to make a point of going in and asking what prompts it to stay the same despite the deposit.

Next target: RRSPs

The Happiness Project (book review)

A couple years ago, reading The Happiness Project was on my to do list. It was on the side of the list that never got done for the longest time. This summer I borrowed it from the library and started to read through it.  While I am late to the game on reading this, I thought I would share my thoughts.

Being truly happy in life is something I am struggling with lately and it bugs the heck out of me that I am not happier in the life I am living. I have a lot of great things going on in my world but this pervasive sadness just kept  cloaking it. I didn't like that. We only have one life to live and except for those teenage years when you just can't wait to grow up, it flies by quicker than one can imagine. 

One of the quotes from the book is "the days are long but the years are short" and that line resonated within me.  There is a lot of time during the day and I really do not use it to it's fullest potential. I need to do a better job of that.  Those few minutes here and there where I waste time could be use to get a few of the little things off my list that nag and nag at my brain, creating Titanic sized guilt.

The part of the book that resonated the deepest with me was the decluttering. One of January's goals I believe. She started by  just..............starting. I think that is one of the biggest hurdles. Just. Starting. I love love loved reading about her rush as she made it through her closet, and then went through it again. I could totally relate. There is just an amazing psychological effect when you clean and sort and get organizational control in your life....or one part of one room in your life. I wish my family would catch on to this feeling, but so far it is me against three mountains, unless I force the mountains to help.

What kept resonating in me as I read the book was how finding peace and contentment in your own life really impacts your health and mental well being, as well as how others see you.

I had a rough year last year and I am working very hard to have a more positive year this year in all corners of my life.

I'd like to draw your attention to.....

.......................... my  TFSA/EF progress bar on the right.

That's right. 100%

I haven't contributed to the darn thing since.....................2010??

Finally I have added a $1000 to it.

It's small. Really small. My contribution room is close to $20 000 I believe.

Things happened and I didn't set it as a priority and I just never ended up putting anything towards it the past couple years.

This year, after the LOC was paid off, I started using my change at the end of each month and some snowflakes, to boost that bad boy and save towards it.

I went to the bank yesterday and the teller did the paperwork to move it from my high interest into the TFSA account.

It feels good to see some green on there instead of that 66% and the pink.

I think I need to do that again next year....use the snowflakes /change to save for it. The savings goal didn't feel so onerous when it was added to here and there from money just sitting in a jar.

Yeah me ! A 2013 goal done!

Twas the night before school starts

Well I guess summer really is over. It's been hotter this past week than it was all summer so it is tougher to adjust to. Hard too, knowing that folks could be out enjoying the weather before old man winter pops back and settles in.

It was a busy day around here. DH finally finished cutting the tops off the main posts of our new fence and putting the running board across the top. Grass got cut and some weeding.

I hit the school for about 3 hours to finish tidying up and make sure I was ready for my huge class. I am quite nervous this year. A new grade and so much more to learn and to do.

I then ran for groceries so we could be sure to have food in the fridge for lunches and for supper.

It was HOT HOT out but what was I doing? cooking in my AC less house. silly girl.

I knew I would be tired tomorrow after school and that DS would need food before hockey so I was cooking. Felt like forever in the kitchen.  We bbq's chicken kabobs for supper and had fresh corn on the cob as well. Almost too hot to eat.

Mom dropped off fresh carrots from the farm so those needed to be cut and cleaned as well.

I went through clothes so I would know what I was wearing for the week, and I did about 7 loads of laundry and got those put away.

There wasn't much to get ready for the boys. DS1 is done. DS2 needed a binder and that was pretty much it. I got a cheque ready for him for his school fees. After years of school supplies and labelling them all, it was very empty this year.  Between you and me, I miss the days of labelling their pencils.

We ended the evening with a fire in the fire pit. I hated to come in and let the evening end.

Happy night before first day back for all those parents out there getting their little ones ready.