Kitchen remodeling for dummies

We have been talking about remodeling our kitchen since we purchased our home, 4 years ago. We didn't have any plans to do it anytime soon due to the slumped economy and atrocious housing market. However, due to circumstances beyond our control (although I am sure that there are people - perhaps living in my own house - who believe that in light of a grease fire in our kitchen, a particular queen bee needs never to fry chicken again...) we need to remodel our kitchen. A.S.A.P.

Kitchen remodeling (or any major renovations to one's home) should never be rushed into or taken lightly. A kitchen can make or break a home, or a pocket book. Needless to say, our budget for this year did NOT include kitchen remodeling and our insurance check, while better than nothing, is just enough to do pretty much nothing.

Enter IKEA. Now, Ikea products range widely in both cost and quality, but their kitchens come with a 25 year limited warranty - which is pretty awesome considering that they are very cost effective. Also, although they have a wide range of cabinet styles and doors - most of their products are in-stock - so you avoid the 4 - 6 week waiting time for custom cabinets. Their website offers many planning tools and their sales people, while not certified kitchen designers, are very helpful as well. Ikea cabinets are easily assembled, but professional assembly is available for the less adventurous types.

Even with all of the assistance Ikea provides, this is a very daunting experience. I hope that we are able to prioritize and get what we really want now, because I hope to never go through this (especially the climbing flames!) ever again.

I'll keep you updated!

We got off track, but we'll get back on!

I am sure you are wondering where I have been. Actually, I've been a little too embarrassed by the dismal job we have done on our household budget for the months of February and March. Of course, I do have an explanation... albeit a lame one. Our family has two birthdays (and Valentine's Day) in February and two birthdays in March. Our budget did not include allowances for birthday dinners and gifts, or birthday parties. I would like to say that those situations have been the only cause of our budget blunders, but I can not tell a lie. The truth is once we started making exceptions to our budget, it became easier and easier to make more.

We are really trying to get back on track, but considering we have eaten at McDonalds 3 times this weekend alone (and we hadn't eaten anywhere but home for the entire month of January), it has not gone well...so far.

Far be it from me to concede defeat! We just need to refocus and redevelop our game plan: IRS audit, kitchen fire and birthday extravaganza not withstanding. After Sprite's 6th b-day shindig this weekend (and only after - I'm being realistic here) we will examine our budget again and re-commit ourselves. I'll keep you all updated!

1 Month Down, 11 To Go!

We are a little more than a month into 2008 and by this time many of us are realizing that our New Year's Resolutions were not as realistic as we thought. Not this Queen Bee (not yet anyway). Although I have had a few moments of weakness, I have not given into temptation. That's right ladies and gentlemen, I have not spent one red cent on fast food, gourmet coffee, movies, clothes or ANYTHING. OK, I spent a dollar on macaroni and cheese during lunch a couple of weeks back, but it won't happen again. Probably.

Anyway, we are doing great with our savings and the following things have made our New Year's Resolution take flight, instead of being dead in the water:

• Get a Partner - My husband and I are working together on this: "Did you buy that Vitamin Water? Am I in this by myself or are we together?" "You bought Rice Krispy Treats? Did you stay within the grocery budget?"
• Keep a log and review your progress - Generate a goal based on your resolution. Keep some sort of log that you review on a regular basis and keep track of how well you are (or are not) doing.
• Set Realistic Goals - Make sure that what you are trying to do makes sense for your life. Take into account all the variables that you can imagine, or be flexible enough to adjust your goal based on real life.

We were doing so well that I was thinking, maybe I could get those yellow satin mary-jane pumps as a reward for all my good work! I didn't. It is a good thing too as next month I will be blogging about "How to survive an IRS audit". Keep up the good work Queen Bees!

3, 2, 1 Synchronize!

I love those action packed movies where the crack team of operatives put their hands in together and synchronize their watches before they infiltrate some nefarious structure, assuring that they all make it to the rendezvous point at the same time... Sigh... If only life were that easy. But wait! Internet based calendars CAN make synchronizing your and your family's calendars even easier than that for a Queen Bee.

I first came upon Yahoo Calendar after I bought my new phone and found out that I could not sync (transfer data) my phone and my desktop PC at work. Like most Queen Bees I have a TON of work, social and family obligations that I NEED to be able to manage in one place AND I need to have the information available to me wherever I am. I also need other people to be able to access my calendar, BUT I only want them to know whether or not I am available at any particular time. Enter Yahoo Calendar. With Yahoo Calendar, I am able to sync my calendar and contact data from my phone, to my home desktop to the internet. Now, I can always keep up to date, my staff and the people that I work with can see when I am available, and the people who I choose, specifically my husband, can see exactly what I'm doing (except for those appointments that I deem to be private, even to him).

As a family tool, my husband can sync his calendar with Yahoo as well and I can view his calendar side by side with mine, without officially merging our information. This way, I can see which evenings hubby is more inclined to "baby-sit" our brood while I have drinks with the girls.
Cheers ladies!

Make a List and Check it Twice

Without some efficient and useful tools to make your day successful and productive, there are simply not enough hours in the day to do it all. You can multi-task until your arms fall off, but unless you are organized and prepared, you will alway fall short.
While I am in favor of any gadget that will help me downsize my to do list, my to do is the the single most essential tool, and I refuse to lose it in cyberspace or delete it by accident. Some things are priceless enough to spend the extra time on, making sure you have a hard-copy and a paperless version. And lists are that one necessity for me. Not just any list will do, however, so I invest in these ultra chic versions from Knock Knock that give me in hand access to everything I need to do in a day and for an event, before I send them off to cyber heaven. Besides, some things, like your grocery list don't need to be saved, just trashed after use!


To Do List:


Shopping List:


Event Planning List:



*New Item* Random:


You can jot down things you see online or thoughts you have while working, and incorporate them, at the end of the day, to your PDA if they are worthy!

Prioritize Your Life!

Queen Bees, we do A LOT. We work, we raise our busy bees, we take care of ourselves physically and spiritually AND we look damned good doing it! What we DON'T do enough of, is take care of our emotional selves. We feel like we need to take care of everybody else and let other people weigh us down with THEIR emotional baggage. We have enough of our own! No matter how organized you are at work, or how many routines you have down at home, if you don't get rid of the un-necessary clutter in your head, you will not be able to soar to your full potential. Let 2008 be the year that you prioritize EVERYTHING, including your personal time. How much time are you spending arguing with people over irrelevant things? How much time do you spend nurturing one-sided relationships? How much time do you spend around negative people who only want to infect you with their misery? Or people who try to make you feel guilty because of the good choices you have made in your life? Your goal for this year is to make sure your answer is ZERO. Queen Bees, our time is very precious, and it is not to be wasted, so the time is NOW to tell all the Wanna Bees in your life to BUZZ OFF!

Fabulous Family Fun on a Budget

As you all know, this Queen Bee is voluntarily forgoing all "non-essential" spending. However, I still need to maintain my fabulousness and fulfill all of my and my family's physical (including fitness), entertainment, education, social, spiritual and emotional needs. Today, we spent the afternoon at our local Public Library. I realize that we spend a great deal of money on books and magazines that we read once and discard...money that will be saved this year and spent in a more purposeful and meaningful (and what is more meaningful than a pair of Louboutins pray tell?) way.

I haven't been to a public library in AGES and I was pleasantly surprised by the magazine selection (Italian Vogue, Yay!) and children's activities available. The upcoming events at our branch include a showing of "The Chronicles of Narnia" and a puppet show. You can find out more about your local public library on their website, which you should be able to access through http://www.publiclibraries.com/. The cost for this fun filled and educational afternoon? Absolutely nothing!

Mini Get Aways

Long weekends are the perfect opportunities for embarking on adventures. But every Queen Bee knows that traveling with kids is an adventure onto itself. Whether you are traveling by car or airplane, your planning and your packing can make a huge difference in the amount of stress and frustration, or jubilation that you experience.

Plane Trips

• When traveling by plane for a 3 or 4 day trip, the key is to pack as lightly as possible.
• You save a lot of time and trouble when you don't have to collect baggage (though admittedly, sometimes, it is great to have your hands free) .
• You are usually allowed 1 - 2 pieces of carry-on for each paying passenger, so although your lap baby is not entitled to any carry-on, your 2 year old (and up) is.
• We always make sure to pack outfits that can be worn interchangeably, but we also always plan to stay somewhere we will have access to a washing machine (the only bad thing about packing light with kids is that they are prone to have...accidents).
• We try to make sure that the we and the kids are travelling in their bulkier pieces (sweaters, jeans, boots) so we don't have to fit them in the bags.
• We also make sure to pack empty sippy cups (to avoid the liquid scrutiny at the security check point), snacks and entertainment (books, games, toys) to keep the kids busy on the flight.
• Nowadays, it is critically important to get to the airport at least 2 hours early - this way you have time to make sure to get the kids to the bathroom, fill those sippy cups and re-adjust yourself after the security check.

Here are a couple of stylish a functional options for kids' luggage (Both come in styles for boys and girls):

Car Rides
Car rides are a completely different story. You don't need to worry as much about how many bags you pack as much as you need to plan for activities and rest stops.

• Try to include rest stops that double as sight seeing opportunities - there are many tourist attractions to be found en route in most cases.
• Make sure to include the rest stops in your travel time - if you need to arrive at your destination at a certain time, give yourself plenty of wiggle room.
• Come prepared with a list of car activities, Moms Minivan.com has a great list of them!
• Pack lots of snacks!
• Allow for the kids to enjoy different activities (portable DVD players, video games, or mp3 players - all with headphones)

Pre-planning, smart packing, patience and a sense of adventure (and realistic view of what kids are and are not capable of) will ensure that you and your family have an awesome trip!

How to Avoid Morning Madness

Every Queen Bee knows that it is critically important to get her beauty rest. To me, this means waiting until the last possible moment to get out of bed. Don't get me wrong Sister Bees, I am a morning person. Once I get out of bed, I am ready for the day!...it's just the actual getting out of bed that is the problem...

Anyway, evening prep is the obvious solution for that early morning madness. Sounds simple right? Sure, but sometimes I need to remind and motivate myself to do these simple things at night, so I don't have to do them in the morning:

• Make sure my work clothes and the kids' school clothes are out and ready to wear
• Pack lunches
• Check my calendar and coordinate the family calendar
• Decide what you are making for dinner the next night (this way you can add any needed grocery items to your task list)
• Make a task list for the next day (as necessary - also, keep a notebook by the bed just in case some pressing matter wakes you up in the middle of the night)
• Straighten up the house

These simple steps take little time, but can save those precious minutes in the morning that impact your ability to get the kids to school on time and get yourself to work. PLUS you come home to a decent house and less stress...before you mess it up again!

Your own routine will be very specific to your morning needs and your family situation, but here are a couple of other routines you might get ideas from:

The FlyLady
Zen Habits

Royal Assistant

Every Queen Bee needs a trusted and loyal Assistant to help her through her day. One that will keep all her work, social and family appointments organized, help her remember her loved ones' birthdays and phone numbers, and hey, it doesn't hurt if the Assistant also knows all the Queen Bee's favorite songs, takes pictures, records and plays videos and makes phone calls. Caught on yet? I'm talking about Personal Digital Assistants or PDAs, which come in nearly as many different shapes, colors and functions as the Jimmy Choo Spring Collection. Personally, I need my PDA to be as multi-functional as I am. So instead of opting to carry a PDA (which routinely would include a calendar, contacts, and select functions usually associated with Microsoft Office type tasks), MP3 player, digital camera/video recorder and cell phone, I like to have one device that does it all.

I live a fast paced, high impact life, so I tend to be hard on electronic devices. However, Queen Bee that I am, I also expect that anything I am carrying will be as sleek and stylish as the rest of me. Right now, I carry the Samsung BlackJack II.
I chose this device because I use Microsoft Office products at work and at home daily and I need to have access to my documents when I am on the go. It is also critical for me to be able to sync the calendar I have on my desktop with the calendar that is with me everywhere I go (not to mention all my music and videos in Window's Media Player). The BlackJack's 3G capabilities mean that I have a superfast connection to the internet at all times and I get my email to my phone in real-time. I am also able to IM with AOL, Windows Live or Yahoo, which is awesome considering that the firewalls on the network at my job do not give me that same opportunity. Furthermore, you can expand the memory with up to a 4 GB micro Scan Disk memory card. Plus - and this is the real reason I chose this phone -it comes in red, which is my favorite color in the whole wide world.

Before this, I carried the Cingular 8525, which has been upgraded to the AT&T Tilt. This device is slightly bulkier than the BlackJack II, much more expensive, and it doesn't come in any pretty colors (you can see what my priorities are...) BUT, it does have a much larger screen, a slide out key-board, 3 mega-pixel camera (v. a 2 MP w/ the BlackJack II), and a touch screen - which if nothing else, makes it a lot easier to play Solitaire. This device is all business, all the time and what it lacks in flamboyance, it makes up with functionality.
Finally, to help my husband better organize his life, I got him a Palm Treo 750.
Although this device is not equipped with 3G or the IM functions, it is equipped with Windows Mobile and does everything else the BlackJack II does, with a touch screen. My husband really loves his and I considered getting it, but it only came in blue...and I really had my heart set on the red...

Most wireless carriers have versions of these devices. If you are not dead set on the Window's operating system, your options widen even more. I basically chose the BlackJack because it was the most cost efficient and (if I haven't mentioned this already) the color. Also, of the three, the BlackJack II was the only one eligible for insurance. When you go through devices as quickly as I do, insurance is a MUST. In the end, you have to choose a device that is going to meet your needs and fit your lifestyle, so...what kind of Bee are you?

Staying Fit...When You Have a Million Other Things to do

A Queen Bee is expected to do everything well...and to look good doing it. Health and fitness are critical to a Queen Bee in order to maintain her hectic schedule and fabulous lifestyle, but sometimes it seems IMPOSSIBLE to fit it all in. Lucky for you, productivity and multi-tasking are my specialties. Now we have already talked about the yoga class that I take, which doubles as quality family time. I have recently joined the parent team at my daughter's cheerleading gym. I usually don't have time to sit around and chat with the other moms, so this experience gives me the opportunity to get to know them and establish some networks. A Queen Bee's job is never done!

Initially, I was very skeptical about the idea of a "parent cheer team". I figured they wore matching outfits and really didn't do anything. I went to the first session really just to feel it out to see if there was anything I could get out of it...my time is much too precious to waste. Being that I was still sore enough to take ibuprofen 4 days later, I can tell you that it is a serious work out and it was fun. Plus, I don't know if you know about the "wonderful world of competitive cheerleading", but competitions usually last all.day.long. and most of the time is spent waiting - so it is definitely a plus to be among friends. Also, Sprite can come to practice with me and hang out with her team mates and work on her skills. We are all about killing as many birds as possible...with as few stones as possible.

Another option that a Queen Bee has when trying to optimize her work-out time within her existing schedule, is to organize people to work-out at her place of employment. We hired a personal trainer to come and torture a group of us right after work. We also walk together at lunch time, when weather permits. There are also tons of exercises you can do at your desk. Some can even be modified and done in the car during those long commutes - and long commutes are not recommended Queen Bees, but we'll talk more about that later. If you have the time, of course...

Commitment

So although my new year has gotten off to an excellent start, my resolution, (and I only have one...albeit a major and perhaps impossible one) has not. First, it looked like my usually meticulous planning was a little off . Second, I could not resist the opportunity to participate the parent team at Sprite's cheerleading gym (More on this later, but as in summary, it is about getting in shape and having fun and I am SORE)...which is going to cost me a little bit of money outside of my current discretionary budget of nil. Third, my cellphone which was the perfect tool for a super productive, multi-tasking Queen Bee such as myself, met an untimely demise, forcing me to buy a new one which may not be quite as fabulous, but was much less expensive...and it came in my favorite color. Last, but not the least of my temptations (though this is the one I will actually be able to resist...I believe) I received a phone call today from my salesgirl at Gucci regarding a little sling bag I inquired about...before the new year...before these self-imposed spending limitations...letting me know that the bag was in and she would be happy to hold it for me if I wanted her to...No thank you dear. Those funds are now committed elsewhere...let's see how long it takes before somebody has to commit me!

Creative Crisis

I'd like to think that I am a very creative person, and although I enjoy my job (especially the pay:) ) it seems to me that I should be doing something different. I have and have had a few creative side hustles that I have loved, that haven't been quite as lucrative as what I do now. Now every Queen Bee knows that it is more important to be content with yourself than to have a big paycheck (well, that's what I hear anyway), but the truth is I am not unhappy, I am just not as happy as I think I would be if I was using the right side of my brain a little more. I know that a Queen Bee such as myself can chart her own destiny based on her interest and even though it comes with risks, it would work out in the end...I guess I am not sure that it would work out before my home was foreclosed or my car was repossessed...which is why, for now, I have chosen to stay in my current profession and entertain my creative flights of fancy on a part-time basis.

BUT, a Queen Bee learns from her mistakes and the mistakes of others. My parents discouraged me from focusing on my creative interests - in the end, my master's degree is not really related to my bachelor's degree and my specialist's degree is only vaguely related to my master's degree - and I am still searching to find out what I am really meant to do. We will make sure that Sprite and Danger Boy are exposed to many different opportunities so they can figure out what things interest them most, and then we will support (hopefully not financially for too long into their adult lives) them to make sure that they can turn their interest into profitable careers. After all, who is going to take care of us when we are old (but you know Superwomen are never old, whatever their age may be)

Busy Bees

Every Queen Bee knows, our status was not achieved solely by doing well in most aspects of our multi-faceted lives, it is mainly achieved by making it look effortless! We understand that our children are a direct reflection on us and are evidence that we either are on top of everything, OR that we are not doing as well as we think we are. Queen Bees are expected to have well maintained, well behaved, intelligent and entertaining children. While it does take a lot of time and energy to ensure the kids are well behaved and intelligent (and entertaining...well, they either have it or they don't), it should not take a great deal of time OR financial resources to make sure that your children are well dressed based on their own individual style. Take Sprite for instance. She attends a public school that requires her to wear a uniform, but my Sprite is no one's conformist. She individualizes her attire and always stands out cutely with bright and colorful tights, cute shoes and coordinating sweaters. She has her mother's impeccable taste. Little Miss Matched is an awesome resource for unique tights that are sure to make your Tiny Little Bee stand out in a crowd. Here are a couple of my favorite styles AND they don't break the bank!

Payless Shoe Source is also an excellent resource for the fashionable child who doesn't have a hefty allowance. These shoes get a gold star in my book:

Yoga: The Ultimate Way to De-Bug

Realizing that being a Queen Bee comes with a great deal more stress than say, being a mere mortal, I have aggressively endeavored to find effective relaxation activities. Not that being here with you is not relaxing, but still. I attempted to follow a pre-natal yoga DVD while pregnant with Danger Boy, but did not trust that I was doing all the little moves correctly, PLUS - like all good Queen Bees, I know my weaknesses - and unsupervised follow-through on a non-essential task is one them (one reason why yours truly avoids online classes like the plague) SO, I gave that up and after the baby, started looking for a class. Being that my schedule and life are extremely hectic, I was looking for classes at a specific time in specific locations that would minimize their impact on my current commitments. Alas, I could not find a one - which turned out to be a good thing, considering that we are cutting down our expenses...and yoga isn't exactly priced for a dollar menunaire...

Anyway, genius that I am, I decided to look into classes at our YMCA, where we are members (D'OH) and OF COURSE they have yoga several times a week and it is included in our monthly fee. PLUS it is conveniently scheduled after work and allows for Etch and I to take the class while the kids are in Child-Watch (which they love, and I'm not making this up so it fits conveniently in my life) and then we swim as a family (which the children also love). So here are the specific benefits that this Urban Superwoman receives from her yoga class:

1. Yoga really does help you relax: I use the breathing (and some of the stretching) exercises throughout the day when I feel the need to drop-kick someone in their head...this is an urge that comes frequently...I'm working on it.


2. This arrangement encourages family time: First mommy and daddy are together and then we are together with the kids. None of us are fighting and at the end of the day, we feel awesome as a family. (Awwwwwh)


3. I have increased flexibility: Especially in my hips, which has been extremely helpful in mommy and daddy's other pastime...


4. I have awesome posture: Ask anybody.


5. It falls nicely in with our 2008 financial goals: It is not an expense over those which we already felt were high priorities, so it works out nicely.

Yoga is the truth, or it is for me but the real truth is, every Queen Bee needs to make sure that she takes care of herself, along with everything else she has to do. We have to stay in tip-top physical, mental and spiritual shape. The colony can't save itself you know!

Multi-tasking: The Key to the Crown and Scepter

The ability to multi-task is definitely key to maintaining my status as a Queen Bee. Throughout my day at work, I manage to fulfill my job responsibilities, while:

• Keeping updated on the world by listening to NPR on my computer, thereby insuring that I am able to speak intelligently about current events;
• Keep track of my 3 email accounts - so I don't miss any great gossip, or last minute meetings, or long lost friends;
• Blog - which helps clear the cobwebs and get thoughts somewhere other than the cramped space in my head;
• Telephone calls and texting - to manage my family's affairs and keep in touch with those unfettered by cubicles
• Browsing the internet - this is how I used to shop, but is also how I schedule my sessions at Dream Dinners, keep our accounts current (virtually all our bills are paid electronically), and find out about up and coming trends.

Some environments are more suited for multi-tasking than others. For instance, Fellow Queen Bees, when you have small children, it is much more difficult to do ANY and EVERYTHING while you are also supposed to be paying attention to them. Children and their bones can be very unforgiving. Husbands are also notoriously opinionated about how you spend your time while with them...that is, when they are not busy themselves...then it really doesn't matter what you're doing as long as you aren't bothering them.

Furthermore Queen Bees, some tasks are better left for home. Just today I had to call someone in the office for printing emails from her daughters which showed them scantily clad in bikinis remarking on the size of each other's "boobs" and whether they were proportional to the size of their brains. I politely asked her to refrain from printing that sort of thing at work...on a shared printer no less...Based on the pallor of her face as she left my office, I am sure it won't be a problem in the future. Last, but not least, internet firewalls at work have often prevented me from clearing certain tasks off my "to-do" list. Some of these tasks have to be stopped all together because I can't do them at work, and they require too much attention to do at home. Sometimes, knowing when to say "no" is a Super power unto itself...

This could be harder than I thought

This whole "year of austerity" thing is not as easy as it initially seemed. Things I did not properly take into consideration: Sprite's gymnastics and cheerleading expenses - although I calculated her tuition, I did not include additional fees and competition admission for us - this stuff gets pretty expensive; Hair appointments - I seriously considered shaving my head to cut down on our monthly expenses...it wouldn't be the first time...; Groceries - I did include some flexibility for groceries and gas, but hardly the $300 that I spent at Sam's Club today...at least that should last us for a while...But should I have forgone the crab legs and shrimp? Should I have skipped the cupcakes and rice krispy treats for Sprite's lunch? Or the convenience of frozen pizza? How far are we taking this thing?

On another note Friday we were invited to take the kids on a Saturday outing with some friends, luckily we had a funeral to attend and were able to beg off, but that outing is exactly the type of thing the adults in our house are avoiding - Do we force our children into this vow as well? Today we were invited to go to the movies. After great deliberation, I decided that we wouldn't go. I felt kind of bad, but at least we're not getting the cable cut off, or cancelling our gym membership (our kids love to swim) or our membership to the zoo. I figure we already pay for a lot of activities - for the most part, we won't be participating in events beyond that. Is that cruel and unusual punishment? Today's kids are too spoiled anyway (me obviously trying to convince myself)

Anyway, after closer inspection of the books, I found ways for us to get through the grocery/ hair debacle without too much effect on our bottom line. I am totally committed to us reaching our savings goal this year...by any means necessary.

Not to harp on finances but...

The new year always causes me to look back on the last financial year. Around this time last year, I was wondering how we were going to survive with such a substantial pay cut. This year, I am trying to figure out how to make our notable salary increase get us out of all the trouble we got in the year before last. To illustrate how bad things were, even with a significant pay increase, our monthly bills are 91% of our take home pay during odd months, and 98% of our take home pay during even months. This even before our mortgage rates adjust later this year. At least those monthly bills include retirement savings, college savings for Danger Boy and Sprite and very modest emergency savings. We know we should have 6 months' salary saved up in case of emergencies, but we have so little left to save after taking care of the necessities, it would take us 3 - 4 years, even taking the vow of austerity we have taken for this year. YIKES! Can I go 4 years without new shoes? Highly doubtful. Anyway, the only way we are going to get out of this mess is if Slim Dynamite (my lil rapping brother) blows up and decides to take care of me, or if we charm the pants off Oprah and she decides to adopt us (I sent a letter to be on an upcoming show, they emailed me back asking for pictures of us, sounds promising, no?) or one of our many side hustles takes flight. I have a couple of children's books I need to submit for publishing...Do I sound worried? A Queen Bee has no worries. Everything will come out fine...hopefully...

Healthy Hell

I love a challenge. And not in the trite or unauthentic way that the phrase is usually used, but sincerely. I believe that all the drama and obstacles and seemingly insurmountable odds that I have met have made me the strong, resilient and optimistic person that I am today. Recently, after a particularly frustrating staff meeting, many sympathetic people came to tell me that everything would be fine and that people would adapt to the changes, but it would take time. I just smiled and told them that I loved my job. A couple gave me a puzzled smile back, as if questioning whether or not I was being sarcastic. I responded by saying that I truly did and every experience, negative or positive, is an opportunity to learn. At that meeting I learned that no amount of bickering would actually cause my head to explode, no matter how it may feel at the moment. I found that to be a valuable and reassuring lesson - truly, not sarcastically. No matter how bad things get or how bad they seem, eventually it passes...unless of course...you pass first...

Getting Straight in 2008

Every new year my hubby Etch-A-Sketch and I talk about what we are going to do differently to realize our dreams - whatever those are. Our (read as my) focus this year is our finances. As a Queen Bee, I try to do everything and do it brilliantly - this is definitely not as easy as it looks - and although we are doing what we are supposed to do: retirement, college funds for Danger Boy and Sprite, home ownership - we are still doing things we are NOT supposed to be doing: ARM, credit card usage, money down the drain. SO my solution? Since you asked so nicely I (read as we) are going cold turkey. No more restaurants, trips, Starbucks, magazines, shoes, sweaters, tights, nada - only the bare essentials. We are not going to spend any money on any of that. I think we will probably end up going to the movies a couple of times, or going out on a special occasion as those are obviously bare essentials, but we won't be buying any more gadgets or equipment or craft materials or ANYTHING. We (this is me again) keep a very tight accounting of our expenses to make sure our bills are always paid and always paid on time, but we are BLEEDING frivolities and I am really curious as to how well we could do without them. People have been suggesting that we go with a more "realistic" goal and not try to give up so much at one time, but what does a Queen Bee know about moderation? Absolutely nothing, but excessive saving sounds better than excessive spending in 08. Don't worry, I'll be sure to keep you updated!