Thursday Thoughts - We can stay out all day or we can run around all night

Appreciating winter skies - this is Monday's sunrise

Representing my favorite color in my reusable stuff for sure. 

Struggling to get off the couch and get the daily dos stuff done at night this week.

Glamour shotting the dogs and laughing like a hyena at Bender's tooth. 

Trying Printcess eye shadow. McKenzie, who participates in SUYB and blogs here, sent me some samples. She just purchased the company that is cruelty free vegan eye shadows. We all know I am not the makeup queen (as you can see by the photos below, #notgoodatthis), but each Printcess shadow is inspired by a book, which I freaking love, in addition to loving the cruelty-free aspect of them. I wear eye shadow a few times a week. I liked the Printcess shadow and it stayed on all day (I did use an eye primer, I always do) like my Urban Decay shadow does. You can see the colors in the Etsy shop here. I picked Witch to sample based on the name because of course I did. For those of you looking to use more sustainable, cruelty-free products and shop small vs. big machine brands, check this shadow out. My old Sephora neutral is nearly gone and when it is I'm going to replace it with Alibi or Rukmani. I will also purchase Witch at some point in the future.

Adding eyebrows to tomorrow's To Do list. It's been at least six months since I picked up a tweezer and those pics. Woof.

Spending $6.76 on unnecessary, unplanned for items in January - a face mask at Target that I wanted to try for $1.77 and $4.99 for a kindle book. The book is the next in a series and was purchased after I contacted the library and was told they have no plans to get the remaining four books in the series. Everything else was needed or planned.

Planning a few unnecessary but budgeted bookish expenses for February: the other three books in the DCI Erika Foster series and On the Come Up, Angie Thomas's next novel that I pre-ordered back in July and debuts on February 5. And that I see is only $12.91 for the hardcover. Holler.

Demanding justice for Jussie Smollett. Every one of us has the responsibility to rise up against ignorant hate out there and be louder than homophobes and louder than racists. 

Hibernating...still. I do have something to do Friday night and Saturday afternoon this weekend. My only super bowl plans include eating frozen appetizers. 

Listening to Ain't Even Done With the Night by John Mellencamp. One of my favorite songs of all time. Have you ever read the comments on YouTube videos of songs? They are fucking hilarious. The second one I saw was who is listening to this song in 2018? Me, dickhead. I am.

Watching True Detective Season 3 and The Great British Baking Show. I'm pumped to have this as an action item, I'm usually watching nothing. MasterChef Australia was also recommended to me for the camaraderie of the people on it so I'll check that out too.

Reading: the third DCI Erika Foster novel as mentioned above - Dark Water by Robert Bryndza

Reminding us all

Applying this e-card to the entire week

What's new with you?

 

Time to pay the piper: February Wallet Watch Report

Back at the end of January I committed to watching my wallet. My rules were:

1. Wallet watch lasts from February 1 - February 29
2. Do not purchase any shoes, apparel, accessories, or home goods.
3. No Amazon shopping.
4. Mind the food and household spending - use the food in the freezers and pantry.
5. No purchasing beauty products or makeup unless something runs out and there is not a feasible substitute.
6. Approved spends: hair cut and color, tip for my massage (set aside in January), weekend away February 12-14, M-F Dunkin Donuts coffee
7. I must track spending and share how I did on Friday, March 4.

So here I am sharing on March 4. Time to pay the piper.

Necessary Spend: February 3
Purchased: Whirlpool side by side refrigerator water filter 
Amount: $45.20
With: debit - house account
Note:  In a cruel twist of fate, the yellow filter light came on on February 2. I was going to re-order from Amazon (which would have broken the rule), but it was $20 more than on Filters Fast so I ordered from there and donated $1 to a clean water fund. 

Date of infraction: February 4
Purchase: A fucking mug
Amount: $7.99
Note: Of all things, a fucking mug. Like hello not a necessity especially for me, queen of mugs. I had been hawking a specific mug for the shore house. I got a message that it was back in stock on zulily for $7.99, which was 50% off the price on Amazon. I jumped on it. I had a free shipping credit so that softened the blow, otherwise the price would have been the same. 

Date of infraction: February 5
Purchase: A bagel
Amount: $2.19
Note: I brought a breakfast sandwich that I found on the back of a shelf in the freezer. That was so freezer burned it was inedible. So I tried, but sort of unavoidable food expense. 

Report: Weekend away February 12-14 in New Orleans
This was an approved spending weekend, but I still wanted to keep spending $$ outside of dinners to $300. I came in at $368.41. I blame the tie dye muumuu. 

Date of infraction: February 19
Purchase: Eyeglass repair kit
Amount: $6.49
Note: Yes, of course I needed it. But it was purchased from Amazon so it was a violation.

Fuck this wallet watch moment: February 19
What kind of butthole doesn't allow for their own pedicure when they h - a - t - e doing self-pedicures? This kind of butthole. 

Necessary Spend/Gold Star Day: February 24
MFD needed to replace his wireless headphones (Mae ate his...for real) and the best price was on Amazon. This is neither here nor there, because it was coming out of his spending money and not mine. I ordered them for him so they could be same day delivery prime-style and resisted ordering anything else aside from foot wash for stank feet that was a necessity. Trust me. I avoided the shoes and books on my wish list like a saint-style person. 

Date of infraction: February 27
Purchase: Three candles, small coffee sign for shore
Amount: $21.01
Note: I should have put a caveat on my home buying restriction, because I am still stocking and decorating the shore house, and that has to be mostly finished this month. But alas I did not, so WHAMMY. Also, the candles were for the Owner's unit so DOUBLE WHAMMY.

Date of infraction: Various
Purchase: Zumba classes
Amount: $18
Note: Was it in the budget? No. But I think it was a good spend for health and wellness. 

Returns from things purchased before South Africa trip:
Sun hat from Amazon - $10.46
Bathing suit from Amazon - $23.99
Bose Charger from Amazon - $29.99 (wrong one)
Skirt and tee from JJill - $57

Groceries:
I did not do a large grocery shopping this month, choosing to work through the freezers and pantry and supplement where necessary with dairy, produce, and chicken or pork. This required more in person errand running and less online grocery ordering, which I hate. I ended up at Target twice for a combo of household stuff and groceries. I didn't buy anything extra. Booyah. I'm still working on clearing out the fridges and pantries and refraining from unrestrained grocery shopping. 

Beauty Products:
I ran out of my Posh day face cream but had a little travel tub of it I had made for Africa, so I am using that up and placed another order on March 1. 

Massage Tip: 
Never used it. 

Did you watch your wallet in February? How did you do?

An InLinkz Link-up

Worth Every Cent

Thanks to Analisa at Sunset 79 for this post idea.

Spending is really personal - we all have those things where we say I can't believe she spent $X on that! - while we merrily spend a mint on something someone else thinks is totally not worth it. As I've gotten older, through general trial and error and just living life I've found things I think are worth every penny I spend/spent on them. Some actual things, and some experiences or opportunities. My worth every cent list includes...

Extra leg room and the ability to board first on flights

Polarized sunglasses

Farm fresh food

A solid cross body bag

Time (paying for convenience)

A balcony on a cruise or a view of the ocean on land

A knee-length down jacket

Bedsheets

A really great dinner out experience

LASIK

Extra iphone chargers

Saving up for vacation

Sonicare toothbrush

Amazon Prime Membership

Professional hair color (Kristi you rock)

Shampoo and conditioner to protect that hair color

A good set of kitchen knives

Name brand condiments

Lady lunches

Pedicures

Yankee Candles

A colored enamel cast iron pot

What are some things you think are worth every cent?