2 Nights in Extended Stay now

I keep forgetting my stop and smell the roses reflections.  I see a pattern here!  But I am not actually forgetting day to day too much, I forget to write it down.  I did not even worry about walking or yoga this week so far - I have plenty on my plate already.  I have even had take out meals for lunch and dinner to help save time/effort there.  Mainly, I have tried to 1)  enjoy the moments, as I leave a house that I love...that DH and I bought together after we got married...wow, that is a emotional though.  And 2)  to reflect to DH how grateful I am for him and to reassure him and make him feel loved and not be short and impatient.  I really am grateful that I am on this journey with him, and we have each other because we make a great team.  Have a great day!
Update, 2nd night in hotel was better...more on that later.  I think going to hot yoga on Thurs night really helped me sleep.  DH and the dogs were all exhausted too.  Is going to be a long 3 months in extended stay, but we can do this.  Have a great weekend!

Lists

Last night was last night in our city house.  This is list we are moving to hotel for 3 months we will be there.  We moved half last night, other have after work today.  I will finish up tonight by final cleaning of the bathroom counters, kitchen counters and floors after we are out.  I also have list of optional stuff, we will keep in suburban to be accessed if we need it.  We will take the last list of stuff on home to RH in 2 weeks, next time we drive down.  We are staying in town next 2 weekends to 1)  get a break from the driving, 2) spend some time with friends and 3) to be able to work as many hours as I can, because my work is closed tues at noon and the 4th, next week.  So, I will work all day Friday and relax in city that weekend after as well.
Storage
  Collapsible wire shelving
  door racks
Food prep/storage
   Utensils/tools/can opener
   Tupperware
   Strainer/steamer
   Pot and lid
   Pan and lid
   Knives/Cutting boards
   Mugs/cups/water bottles
   Towels/dish tags
   Ziplock/foil
Dogs
   Bowls
   Food
   Leashes
   Bag roll
   Beds/crate
Toiletries
Medicine/supplements
Smoothie stuff
 Blender
Coffee maker
Coffee supplies
Snacks
Spices and condiments
Fan
lamps
Radio
Laptop
clothes/shoe
Optional
Clothes rack
2 trays
Dish rack
Shopping bags
Laundry detergent
Iron
Drying rack
Books
camp chairs
extra clothes
extra dog beds/food
Stuff for next trip home
floor lamp
vacuum
mops/brooms
bucket
cleaning supplies
bedding
towels/mat
extra paper towels/tissue
mirror/bedside table glass

Lighting

I think I mentioned this earlier, but since I have discovered LED bulbs, I am digging them!  As my eyesight ages, the more light I need.  Retirement house has sev of the smaller celing fans with the small blades and the single light, well the entrance through the garage through "utility room" we call it, had a very dim light.  So, this weekend I finally put my 100 watt equivalent LED bulb in - so nice!  We have done DH workshop inside and out, the garage and we are also going to change out master bath and attic.  I really hate overhead lights burning all the time, but when I need to see to clean or move something, etc I like the option of turning them on.  I mostly enjoy softer lamp light all over my house though day to day.  As soon as we move, I am going to hire electrician to do some lighting in the kitchen.  it has very poor lighting and I use the kitchen a lot, so I am going to have under cabinet lights, a better light at our eat in nook (with a dimmer) and lights over the bar.  I am also going to have the under sink cabinet and the pantry fitted with lights that go on and off with the opening of the cabinet.  I am excited!  I found pendant lights that will hold the 100 watt equivalent for the LED bulbs.  The house was build in 1997 and at the time, brass was evidently in.  So, all my lighting and door nobs/hinges are brass.  I don't care if it is not "in", I like it.  Actually it sort of is "in" now and it is pretty easy to find brass lighting to match.  the pendants are just a single hanging brass socket with gold cords and a simple round globe.  Since I painted our entire house gray inside and all the wood work was already white, the brass looks nice with the cool tones.  When people ask if I am going to upgrade I say hell no. 
Do you guys like something that is out of style or not on trend that you keep?
Here is a picture of our solar light for the flag pole. 

Our Last Sunday Evening in City House

Yesterday we got back to the city house and I helped my friend load an armoire I gave her, then we took a good 4 mile walk.  It was humid, but not terribly hot (upper 80's).  Friday we took, unloaded and organized last load until we move excess personal effects/clothes/sheets/towels/cleaning tools - literally what can't fit in hotel.  That won't be until July 13.  We are staying in the city the next 2 weekends.  We will keep 3rd vehicle (suburban) in city parked at hotel, which will be handy because it will act as our rolling storage unit for few more weeks.  Then we will move it south and park it in DH workshop - we already made the room for it.  For Aug and Sept, we will just have our personal commuter cars in the city.  But anyway, back to Friday in the country...it wasn't the biggest load, nor the hottest day we have worked in, but I got dizzy and nauseous and about passed out.  So DH made me sit in AC house and drink some water.  It only lasted a short time and I was fine.  I think I just did not drink enough water Friday.
Ate a small dinner Friday down at retirement country and got to visit with BIL.  He had been working a job keeping him away afternoons till 11pm, well, he ended up leaving there and thinks he has another corp gig lined up late july or early aug.  He and SIL had sold their 3rd veh and are considering selling their cattle (usu keep about 15 - 20 to let them focus on their downsize).  He will spend few weeks attacking jobs at his late mother's residence to be able to finish that house and get the prop on the market.  His sister and her husband drives 6 hours one way each weekend, versus BIL 3 hours one way to work on this property. 
When DH and I got back to city and walked into CH Sunday, we could see that the woman we hired to clean had done a great job and my friends who came and got sev pieces of furniture had not left a trace of dirt or dust, so we were pleased.  I cleaned out laundry cabinet, kitchen drawers and weekend the area behind my house/patio area.  I weeked front area last week.  We had a large brunch on the way home for DH birthday, so we just sat in our lawn chairs in our living room and drank our healthy smoothies for dinner!  It was sort of fun.  Our 2 dogs are like what is going on?!  Where is our furniture?!
Today is the last Monday we will commute from our CH.  The picture is of a rain shower we enjoyed from our view last week.  Tonight I will finish packing my clothes and wipe out master bath vanity and do one more load of laundry.  I will take one more walk if weather permits on my lovely route i will miss so much.  DH brother coming over to get a gifted briefcase and our FSBO house sign for when he sells his house later this month or next.  DH sister and his brother are all about same age as DH and all working toward downsizing and getting more nimble for retirement.  I have inspired sev friends and family members to purge.  I will never stop purging after seeing people deal with estates after the fact.  I have no children to help me.  Have a wonderful day!  Here in the Midwest, we are enjoying some mild overcast weather today.

DH Birthday

Friday and yesterday, after unloading suburban we put things away, hung more stuff, organized more...retirement house is coming along great. I got my spice storage and pantry area ready.  We also moved a large metal panel from In Laws to our house where we will plant something to help shade DH workshop.  I know they were glad to have it out of their small yard.  We also went out to eat with them for DH bday and went to a new park in our little town right next to a lovely spring.  DH likes his gift from me, a solar flag light that goes on the pole.  It was a cool and beautiful weekend.  This morning a nice soaking rain that all our plants needed.  Home to an almost empty house for 3 more nights!  So excited.

Friday Finally

To stop and smell the roses this week, I went to bed early every night (except last night), went to yoga twice and visited my DGM.  Yoga last night was just my friend T and I with our instructor.  He has been teaching us since 2012.  Last night he told us how well we  are doing.  I was shocked, he is not a talker  I replied that I felt and saw changes in myself that I know are from yoga and that is all I need.  It was good doing yoga twice this week, I want to walk 4 -5 times a week and do yoga 2-3 times when we retire.  I told DH that while I was on break yesterday I went through and did a draft of our new post retirement budget.  This week we both changed our addresses most places we could think off - banks, investment, professional licenses (4), utilities, work, insurance...I also put in the mail forwarding order for post office.  So, now all we have to do is turn in his paperwork, finish our 3 months work (pay off NYC trip off my credit card) and then next week our house will be paid off from the equity in our city house we are selling.  I have been really aware of getting rest and eating right, so physically I am doing well, but dang I am weary.  P.S.  I am well today, but yesterday i had a flare of epic proportions.  I had forgotten just how sick i can get, I had been feeling so well for so long.  Then BAM - out of nowhere...I know DH is tired and weary too.  But this weekend, we essentially unload the pantry/misc stuff (clocks, step ladder, other kitchen stuff) and plants go to MIL house and we are pretty much free to relax Saturday in our new space.  We will just have to try to ignore the ruined, partially torn up hardwood floor in the kitchen.  My pantry is in the utility room, so I can work in there and not worry about the torn up floor.  Oh, and I do have to move a shelf that is currently in utility room to garage so they can install flooring in there too.  But those two things are pretty minor compared to some of our recent work weekends of the past 3 years..  Sunday we will come back and clean where some furniture has been moved while we were gone and coordinate giving away few more things (another briefcase - this time to BIL, a sturdy for-sale sign for their yard, large TV, Armoire) and some stuff to purge (radio that does not work well, exercise ball that is going flat some more clothes and some old sheets) and then we just have to move stuff to extended stay hotel Tues and Wed night (and work a full week).  The buyer of our CH came over last night to measure a few places, she said she is really excited and we are excited for her to take it over and off our plates!

Summer Solstice

Last night, the clouds came from the north and moved south, in 15 min it was dark and pouring rain.  It cooled down an already pretty nice day.  Good thing I was outside visiting with the neighbors...I ran and walked the dogs first!  They hate rain.  This is the last Wed we will be in CH.  Next week we will move stuff to extended stay hotel Tues and Wed and stay Wed night there.  Can't believe it.  Just wish I would hear something confirming/telling us what time closing is.  I have emailed 3 times and left 3 messages.  What is it about not returning someone's request for information?!  Uggggghhhhh.

Plans

Doesn't the word "plan" give you pause sometimes.  Then things can go wrong.  Maybe that is why when i make plans, i like to have at least one back up plan.  This week and weekend we will give away the rest of the stuff we will not be moving.  A couch, loveseat and chair/ottoman - 2 of my friends are driving from 3 hours away with 2 trucks and their husbands to get.  Another friends who is out of town is going to make arrangements to get a coffee table, my friend T who I do yoga with is taking an armoire, my neighbors are taking a large TV and my nephew is coming to get a writing table/desk.  My back up plan will be to just leave things inside or put them by the curb.  The buyer has told me we could leave chair, bed, tables and lamps.  Also the writing table, if nec.  She does not want the armoire or coffee table.  Really my ownly worry is the coffee table and if we leave it on the curb - it will be gone by day's end.  Haha.  Happy hump day!

Yesterday I forgot to include my little stop and smell the roses efforts...Sat we rode our bikes to the car wash and washed them.  Then we sat outside in the shade next to them and had some cold water and impromptu relaxation.  No TV, no phones.  Then Sunday I watched Ozzy and Jack Osborne TV show with DH and it was pretty funny.  They were riding along with a police department and they stopped a  vehicle and Ozzy talked to the man through a speaker and told him to exit the car and gave him several instructions including to "do a little dance" and then Ozzy said "I am Ironman".  DH and I laughed at that!  Then later Jack put on the padded suit to work with the police dog and he ran so the dog could be given the order to take him down.  It was so funny.  But do not watch if gestures or words offend!  haha.  You gotta know the Osborne's to get what I am implying, they have quite the potty mouths!  Last night I went home from work, did some laundry, fixed dinner, and put a couple of checks from insurance we cancelled up here in city in bank.  Then I watched couple episodes of Mike and Molly with DH.  I did not walk, I just needed to rest.  Then walked dogs and went to bed!  I was up at 4am yesterday, so I was tired.  I think I will do early to bed again tonight after hot yoga.  DH bought new golf clubs and I about had a fit Sunday when I found out.  I guess that explains why he gave me some cash last week.  He is trying to get me to buy another set of irons for myself, but I don't think I need them.  I think I need new grips on mine.  I don't want to spend money on that.  i have too many other things on my radar right now.  At least he sold his former set - fast!  Listed them on Sunday and they were gone last night.  He gave me the $300 to put into our cash pile.  We like to have a bit of cash on hand for emergency.  So, that is progress I guess.  10 years ago he would have just stashed the old set in the basement storage room.  He also gave away 2 of his nice briefcases to his nephew and his brother.  He won't need them when he retires.  Then we still have 2 others to sell...can you see a pattern? 

Minor Flood

We got to RH Friday at about 5:30pm.  We had the suburban loaded full to the roof again!  We just took one car on the 4 hour trip this time.  We pull up, get out and first thing we always do is let the dogs out into the back yard and I get their water bowl to fill it up.  I look into the kitchen and see tons of mold on the floor.  What?!  So the filter with the clear plastic tubing that is in the back, it has sat on the counter next to the fridge since we owned it.  I guess it is too tight a fit to put it behind (but why not above it, under the upper cabinet where it is out of the way/out of sight?!).  Anyway, last time we were here I moved the filter but DH says that would not have made it leak.  He said it just sprung a leak, these things happen.  Oh the joys of home ownership.  It is sort of ironic that we have had this RH for 4 years and have literally 2 more loads to move in and this is when our leak happens.  Our hardwood floors were up from the glue and warped, standing water on them for a week.  We immed put down towels and 2 fans on them, but it was too much water, too late.  So we went to look at tile.  The old hardwood floors go up against newer engineered floor that the recent owner put it - it did not match well and we did not really like either floor.  But at least it sort of flowed.  Oh well, we cannot match either now - too old.  I would not put wood in kitchen again anyway.  So, we considered a tile that would minic wood but the mess and the dust made me pause.  The flooring guy at Lowes said he just put in waterproof stainmaster vinyl strips with a lifetime guarantee and they were really happy with it.  So, the more I thought about it, the more this appealed to me.  Someday, if I decide I want to put in expensive floors, I will do the entire house.  But that time is not now.  We need to get this move done, have some work to do on the outside of the house (some trim to replace and patch/paint).  We are just going to do this nice clean vinyl, it is grayish wood look with reddish tones to compliment the reddish oak engineered it will but up against and we think it will look pretty with the white cabinets and gray walls.  Plus, it will lighten up the interior kitchen a lot.  I am still struggling though with the decision.  So, I have a week or two to ponder it.  The kitchen and utility room are this same older hardwood, so we will replace utility floor too - even though it was ok.  We will still have the same diff look in the dining room and living room - but that was the case before this leak, so that is that.  Someday I do dream of replacing the tile in the front part of the house (hall, guest bath, 2 guest rooms).  But I am not sure I will ever undertake such a messy expensive project.  At least it is tile, it is neutral and light - but it is really ugly.  Now is not the time to tackle that.  If we put inexpensive vinyl tile in the kitchen/utility now - IF we ever change it, it is not such an expensive/messy choice to change.  Anyway, have a great Monday.  I am back in the city, back to work and as I reminded DH, we have one weekend left in our CH and then we have to say goodbye to our view and my beautiful walk route and our lovely neighbors...but also all the things that don't work for us anymore (2 houses, CH expensive taxes, hard to heat and cool, too big and has carpeted stairs, noisy, people walking around our backyard to fish in the lake and makes our dogs bark, crowded pool, cars parked all down the street for the pool, no fenced yard for the dogs, and the traffic due to the growth of the already large neighborhood, and kids that just roam the neighborhood and ring doorbells and break in cars...just to name a few).

Fri-Yay

Super busy at work.  Yesterday I finished my annual continuing ed, so that is a huge relief.  If one plans ahead they can get much/all of their cont ed free - I got half of mine free.  So all finished until next year.  Then I came home and loaded last of the big content (bunch of kitchen stuff/clothes/misc still) in suburban.  It is simply amazing what that thing will hold.  We are really pleased that we have been able to pull of this move all by ourselves for only the money we have put into that used suburban (too much).  Then I fixed dinner and sat for few minutes and then I walked as the temp had dropped to a lovely 91 degrees!  My stop and smell the roses moment was sitting and visiting in the driveway with our dear neighbors Wed night, after hanging out with my Granny.  Then Thurs it was going to bed early.  I was so tired that I fell asleep as my husband was trying to talk to me...ooops.  We have this last large load to unload in the heat tonight (and find places to put!).  But at least I can unpack/organize mostly inside in the AC.  We also get to ride together this trip - my DH is glad because he usu makes me drive!  I am right on budget for everything.  I am actually little under b/c DH paid for my probiotic supplement and his rx and gave me some extra money since he is not paying any house payments now!  I immed pigeon holed it for savings!  Have a wonderful Friday!

Cheat Days

I am finally getting a handle on my tummy troubles.  I have cut back on my prescription - my gastro dr would kill me.  But it has serious risks and was not working for me, even though a scope showed I was in good shape.  I question a lot of the timing of this test because this last scope was while I was on steroids - so could that be what was working?  Regardless day to day I was feeling worse on the strong prescription with the high risks.  Plus side effects included a hard bloated midsection, more hunger and loss of hair...plus rashes.  I decided I can't do this and started working on a few supplements/vitamin/minerals and have really tried to watch my diet.  I have implemented a couple of anti microbials (Pau d'Arco and grapefruit seed extract).  And I really think between them and the digestive enzyme and probiotic, i have a balance that is really working together.  There are sources out there that caution against GSE but they also call into question whether candida is real.  I know from symptoms and blood work testing that it is a real dysfunction and I am cutting sugar, dairy and processed foods to minimize it.  My next step will be to reduce meat consumption and when i do have it  - only locally sourced meat (when I do have it - maybe once a day) and organic foods.  This is not just to feel better emotionally, but to try to heal my body.  Sometimes I get overwhelmed at the implication that my health is in my power, but the results prevent me from denying it.  Thank goodness for cheat days!

More Move Planning

My husband and I have one more load of stuff to haul and find places to put it.  Then we have a load of cleaning supplies, ladders, vacuum and plants.  The plants will go to my MIL to be watered for 3 months.  Then the last load to the extended stay hotel.  We are tired.  I am moving away from "what I did to prepare for my move" to "what I did to stop and smell the roses"...Saturday I drove my convertible and had lunch with my sister.   Sunday, I sat and watched TV a couple hours in the afternoon and sat in our camp chairs out on our balcony to enjoy our view as much as we can since we only have 3 more weeks.  It was too hot to walk until late 7:30.  When I got home Sun from walking I made a smoothie, took a shower and asked DH if he wanted to sit on our deck in the cool 70+ degree weather.  He said, we don't have anything to sit on.  I reminded him of the camp chairs in the garage.  When I got out of the shower, he had them ready.  We just sat out there for 30 min.  No phones.  It was nice.  We are trying to take it in.  Our view is the favorite thing about our house.  Monday I started a Max Lucado book.  Tuesday will be yoga.  I am going to mentally start the slow down because mentally is where the challenge for retirement will be for me.  And physically, eventually.  Let's worry about mental first.  Deep breath...I got this. 

Stars Can't Shine Without Darkness

Yesterday was my late husband's birthday.  He died in 1993 from leukemia.   He fought hard.  He was very protective of me and took care of me even as he lay dying in a hospital bed.  I have a great life today, living without him 25 years later.  I thought of him a lot last week and then realized why Saturday.  It was during lunch with my sis.  I happen to be happily married today, which has nothing to do with the loss I still feel on days like this...except, I can't wallow too much in it.   But that would not be beneficial anyway.

Weekend Work

Friday we brought big load lots of miscellaneous stuff.  Plus truck bed full of metal such as hall tree, more little tables, DH antique fan collection, etc.  We think we have one more large load and then one after that of ladder, vacuum, cleaning supplies,  etc.  It was hot friday and my SIL came by just in time to finish unloading.   I worked putting stuff away till 11pm Friday night.  Then I drove over and saw a movie and had lunch with my sister Sat.  DH worked on hooking up 2 stereos and wired speakers, unpacked his shoes and organized his shop.  we did a lot of organizing and decorating when I got back from lunch.  Whew we are tired.  Today is Sunday  and we will drive back and do as least as poss.  I will walk...maybe with my friend T.  Its hot though (90s) so we may do it later, like 6 or so.  we are coming with the last load next weekend and we have 5 people coming to get various items we gave them, which helps us and helps them.   It is getting close!  And retirement house is looking cute (full but cute).  Have a nice Sunday!

Glad this Week is Over

I hate hearing myself wish my time away.  I will have to work on that.  Anyway, got through the busy week.  Today is Friday.  Last night I did some freelance work and made $100 in an hour.  Had a GREAT time with friends having coffee last night.  Today I got paid and finally got my semi annual bonus about a month late.  But, that is about $300 extra I can throw toward paying off my NYC trip.  DH loaded the suburban up Wed night while I was walking (it was 91 degrees!).  I was glad, but sort of upset he did it all alone and after having hand surgery only 9 days ago.  I work till 11 most Fridays, and after work we will load up my little truck also and head to RH.  Last few loads, we are taking 2 vehicles just to be sure we can get it all.  After this last load we are pretty confident in our ability to get the remainder pretty easily.  Mostly just misc stuff for his shop, and a box for this room and that - so should not be too hard to put away tonight.  Tomorrow I am taking the morning off and having lunch/movie with my sister who lives an hour away - we meet in the middle.  Then tomorrow afternoon we are moving a large iron trellis my FIL made from a livestock panel.  They had ivy growing on it to block a hot western wall of their house, but they have since had trees grow up tall to take over the shade job and want to remove some of their more labor intensive garden features.  I want to use it to block a western side of our shop that gets constant sun with vining fruits and veggies, but DH thinks he wants a permanent feature like ivy.  I have never grown ivy, but we have such a mass of vines between our grapes and wisteria that I don't want another thing that I have to trim a lot.  I would rather grow food then just tear it all back in the winter and start over.  Guess we have all winter to decide what we will grow.  Have a great weekend!

Budget

I have 3 months to pay off my 4000 credit card, while maintaining my stringent saving and budgeting plan.  This is $100 over budget, because I charged my mani pedi instead of paying cash.  I also plan to go back one more time to this esthetician and have a facial along with my mani pedi - maybe right before we move.  I will make it up.  I received $107 from a class action settlement about billing practices for this licensing prep class.  I will add it to our cash stash - we are up to $800.  We want to have $1000 squirreled away in our home safe for emergencies.
I also have to buy another delivery of a couple of my supplements before I am in between addresses - so, that is another $200 I have to come up with.  I may have to see if the extended stay hotel will let me get a package.  I order a probiotic from Amazon that is pricey and has to be refrigerated, but if i go more than a couple of days with out it, I get incredibly sick.  I already put aside $400 for my last 4 months of parking.  So, I should be ok.  We have to pay $103 a month to park.  For the first 10 years I worked here at this downtown, I found free parking a couple blocks away.  It was sort of a pain, but I got used to it.  At another place in another city, I had to pay $50 a month 20 years ago and still walk further than 2 blocks, so walking 2 blocks for free seemed doable.  Then, we had a pretty cold winter this past winter and a friend and I decided to pay Jan through March to park in parking garage and we never looked back!  But, we did figure out that by parking free for 10 years, we had saved over $12,000!  $100/month x 12 = 1200 x 10 years = $12,000.  So paying for 8 months isn't so bad.  Hope everyone has a great Wednesday.

Three More Weeks

And we close on our CH.  I think DH is feeling the stress as much as I am.  We handle it differently.  He holds it in becoming more quiet and then takes it out on inanimate objects.  I am an open book, letting everyone around me feel my stress, talking about it and taking it out on him.  I recognize it early and intend to get a handle on it BEFORE we are stuck in an extended stay hotel for 3 months with 2 small yappy dogs while we undergo probably the most intense change we will face as a couple.  I will be saying the serenity prayer a lot!  He gets mad and lets me know it, but then pretty much moves on.  I get mad and then adopt a fatalistic outlook and I have to keep that in check.  This is just temporary and we will get through this...just stop asking me where random objects are!  There are boxes everywhere and I have a pretty good idea what is in them, but I don't stress too much because everytime we take a load, we unpack and bring most of the boxes back to reuse.  This is how we have done our entire move.  I think we will be pretty much organized once we get done - well before we actually move permanenty.  But is also makes me feel like we have been moving for 2 years.  DH assures me he is onboard and agrees with my strategy and is grateful for it.  Thus our pattern emerges...me deciding stuff, then second guessing myself and him honestly telling me what he thinks.  I better get used to steering, I think he is going to have me steer more and more and I have mixed feelings about that.  I can't ignore the map, steer wrong way and then yell when he corrects me.  Likewise, he can't criticize when he did not help me decide on a course ahead of time.  Have a great Tuesday people.  I am curious how other people navigate such big changes with their loved ones.  Anyone out there listening?  Anyone?  Anyone?  HAHA

Sunday Fun

Sat after I treated myself, we did minimal grocery shopping (I have only been buying fresh fruit veggies because we are trying to clean out pantry/freezer).  We also bought DH couple of things for his new workshop he is excited about - a vice and a bench grinder.  We got rid of a huge garbage bag of his shoes and the front seat of my truck is so loaded down with clothes that it thinks the seat belt should be buckled!  We relaxed at home Sat evening which was nice because it will be the last Sat we will spend in this house!  We also prepaid our 1st month at extended stay hotel.
Sunday I cleaned out all the kitchen cabinets and whiped them down inside real well so I won't have to do it again later.  I packed away everything else I will not be taking to hotel.  I also had lunch with my aunts and we did one stop shopping.  All I bought were 3 small gifts and a pair of workout bralettes - so I did good.  I also bought one single shirt in the color I had been looking for the day before at second hand shop.  I have been harping to DH to get rid of some clothes and shoes (he has more than I do practically) so I have to practice what I preach.  if I buy something it is something very specific I have been looking for and I have to get rid of 2 other things.  I threw out an old boxy jean jacket and a tee shirt that is too thick and hot.  We moved all the stuff left in our house storage room in the basement up to the foyer and dining room/office so we can more easily load it thurs night/fri morning.  it looks like a lot!  11 years ago when we moved in, this large storage area was jam packed to the ceiling!
Back to work today.  I may not be posting much for a while.  I found out the person that gives me assignments at work is suddenly "out" for 6 weeks and this happened while her supervisor was on vacation last week.  I have a feeling it is going to be nuts around here.  Have a great week!

Wow

I could get used to this!  Treating myself to mani pedi this am.  DH cleared out a big bag of stuff, me a small bag to goodwill.  Then we are going to prepay our extended stay hotel for later this month.   Then maybe I will pack a few boxes.  After big storm early this morning, the day looks to be gorgeous.   Enjoy this beautiful Saturday...the last Sat in my neighborhood...had driveway visit with neighbors lastnight.

Money Matters

Money especially matters when you treat it with respect.  It is crazy how when I was a young adult and made twice the money I make now, I never had any.  Once I met my DH and we began sharing we realized we had some goals in common and some bad habits in common.  Having another person made me want to become more accountable and responsible.  So, we discussed our goals and I wrote down our plan to get us out of debt on a napkin early in our dating relationship, as a preparation to discuss marriage.  My DH was going to just turn it over to me, but I wanted us both to work on it.  Not just one dictating to the other - that would spell disaster.  If not sooner, then later.  So, we both have become much more about saving some and spending some.  Making some investments and eventually we have a path to retirement.  Looking back, I think that even just little daily poor decisions about money had a cumulative effect.  Similarly, making better decisions has a cumulative effect.  As a young career person, one presentation by our HR department at our Fortune 500 Insurance Company made me commit to a 401(k).  The concept of compounding interest is powerful  displayed in tables for comparison.  Today, I am all about the bucket system.  Some buckets are literally stashes of cash and some are virtual buckets online, but the idea of saving for something separately from a combined pool of money has been very helpful for me.  Little daily decisions turn into yearly decisions and that behavior becomes habit.  I have a friend I enjoy coffee with, he said that when he was growing up and learning the right way to behave, instant gratification made him consider everything as negotiable.  You are negotiating with yourself for what you value.  I relate to that a lot.  Today I can consider long term goals over instant gratification and having a little money put aside here and there is my new value.  It is NOT negotiable.  I told DH that when we pay off our retirement home later this month after our city house sells, I already have a years worth of home insurance and real estate property taxes saved up.  Then right away, I will begin saving month to month small amounts to pay 2019 amounts.  He was pretty happy when I told him our plan. 
Happy June and happy pay day everyone!