I was just thinking about appointments that need to be made - dog and one of the cats to the vet, plus DD to the doctor for a well child check-up. I have my annual exam in a couple of weeks. I need to make some phone calls today and get those scheduled.

I need to stop by the post office today and mail another book. Things have been going pretty well at half.com the past month or so. I've made about $50, give or take, and my bag of books is about half full now. I hope the rest of them sell sooner than later.

I think DH and I are going to start tackling the kitchen floor this weekend. Hopefully the original subfloor is in good shape so that we can plan on refinishing it instead of having to put down some sort of brand new flooring.

We've been doing well at eating dinner at home this week. It truly does help to buy a nice variety of food and make a quick list of possible meals so that I don't have to think about it all so much on any given night.

Things have been rather status quo around here. DH and I were supposed to go out for dinner and to see ap lay on Saturday, but I had a bad migraine, so we had to postpone those plans. we're going to try again this weekend. I was looking forward to it.

Food spending has been pretty good this month. I'll look at totals once July gets here, but so far I think we've been doing a good job of keeping the dining total low and the grocery total at an acceptable level.

Dh got paid somewhat unexpextedly for some work he did for a friend a while ago, and a sizeable amount of money at that (though it still doesn't cover his hourly rate for all of the hours he put into the project). It was a nice check to get in the mail, and it is on its way to our savings account. His regular tutoring clients are back in town now, and tutoring will start up again with them next month. It's a bummer to have him gone an evening a week after a rushed dinner, but it's not forever, and it is easy money that helps keep our reserves up.

I have no tutoring right now. I think it may be the first summer that goes by in a while that I haven't taken on a student. A friend of mine in an affluent area is making $60/hour for her writing workshop/tutoring. That is apparently the going rate there. Pretty incredible. I will probably raise my rates this fall, particularly if I start tutoring more of the college students.

A spendy day...not too bad, but it felt like we were buying things right and left today.

It started out on a good note - exchanged a book (gift for DD) for four Magic Treehouse books, and it only cost one cent. Very cool Next we went across the street to the bank and deposited change into DD's savings account - put $23.50 in and brought her total up over $300. This account is the account we set up for her that is at a local bank, so that she can physically deposit money into her acount and get the thrill of seeing her account grow. That's the idea, anyway. (Worked for me.)

Next was lunch with DH - $15. After that was a gift for DH for our anniversary ($80+), and a birthday gift for one of DD's friends ($30+). Then it was a stop at the fabric store for a skirt pattern, $2 for two ice cream cones, $16 at the grocery store, $4 at the 99 cent store, and finally home. The finale - $50+ on printer ink online this evening.

Phew.

I've had some sort of sinus cold for days now. It isn't getting worse, but it isn't getting better either. Very annoying. I've blown my nose so often that it's really starting to hurt now. I hate that.

I started knitting a sweater back in February/March, but I haven't worked on it lately due to being intimidated by it. I'm not working from a pattern but trying to replicate (somewhat) a sweater I already own. I got it out again this evening and have started working on it again. I'm not trying to make an exact duplicate of the sweater, but it's helping me with measurements and whatnot.

Food/restaurant/starbucks total hasn't changed since my last entry. However, DH and I celebrate our anniversary this month, and we usually go out for a nice dinner to celebrate, so in addition to some grocery shopping that needs to be done, there will be that expense. Since it's for our anniversary, though, I don't feel bad about it at all.

The one gallon of paint may be enough for our cabinets, but I'll need to go more so that we can paint the walls. Not sure if we'll do the same color or something that's different but coordinates. We need to look into concrete counters and price those options.

My yoga class starts up again this evening, and I'm looking forward to going. I feel like my body's been run down for several weeks, and I can't help but wonder if there's any connection between that and not having gone to yoga in about the same amount of time.

DD starts swimming lessons again tomorrow. We have a $25 credit there right now, due to a scheduling foul up. I'm going to see how she does the next couple of weeks before deciding what to do next there.

Today was a good day - play date at the beach, bath for DD once we got home, and now she's playing in her little tent while I update Quicken and get my financial house in order.

As much as I didn't want to, I reheated leftovers last night for dinner. So while dinner wasn't exactly amazing, it was easy and cheap.

I was able to take a couple of things back to Lowe's today and get store credit (didn't have a receipt). With the store credit, I bought a gallon of paint for the kitchen cabinets. We may need another gallon, but we also have enough store credit to pay for it.

I'm not sure what dinner tonight will be. We're going to see one of DD's friend's dance recitals this evening, so dinner needs to be earlier than usual.

DD got bumped up to the next level at ballet, with the option of going to lessons either once or twice a week. We'll do once a week for the remainder of this session (two more classes) and then figure out what to do next. Twice a week comes out to an extra $32 every four weeks.

Today's playdate for DD was a no-go due to illness on her friend's part, so we hung out at home. I worked in the garden out front while DD played with sidewalk chalk, swept and pushed a stuffed animal around in her doll stroller. She had fun, I got some work done that was sorely overdue.

Tomorrow we're meeting some friends at the beach, and then Monday we're supposed to see the friends we were supposed to see today. All of this is free and fun, so long as we remember to pack snacks and drinks.

Stopped at the grocery store on the way home from ballet for milk. Picked up some butter too (we're out) and a couple of California Pizza Kitchen pizzas that were on sale. Easy dinner there!

$261.78 spent thus far this month on groceries, restaurants and Starbucks.

DD and I went to the zoo today (no spending there, thanks to season passes and bringing water and snacks). On the way home I was thinking about where to stop for lunch, but we ended up eating a late lunch at home and it was just as well. DH and a friend from work had lunch here today (while we were gone) and finished the leftover lasagna. I was glad to see that. Dinner will be at home, which makes today a no spend day.

DH turned in our medical receipts, to the tune of $600+. That will be a nice check to get back.

Tomorrow I have a playdate set up for DD with a friend whom we have not seen in months. I think we're going to go the beach. We have one beach with a playground, and there's a jetty we can go for a walk along as well. It's cloudy and dreary here these days, but warm enough to still make being outside fun. If we bring snacks/lunch and water, it will be a fun and free activity.

I've sold another 2-3 books in the past week, two of which went for $10 each. It's nice to clear out my shelves and get a little bit of money for it at the same time. I've got two or three bags of clothes that need to go to a thrift store. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow, while I'm out to mail the book. I think I might take DD to the zoo tomorrow. We have season passes, but it's been a few months since we've been.

Dinner tonight is premade green chile and cheese tamales, with some rice and beans. I found the tamales in the freezer - forgot I'd bought them and was pleasantly surprised to see them in there.

I splurged at Barnes and Noble yesterday - three books to read aloud with DD, plus a Usborne book comparing world religions, and a gift card for DD's ballet teacher. I think I spent about $70.

Did I mention that DD has been accepted at the private school? The contract is being sent to us this week. What a mental shift this will be for me, going from years of thinking about and planning for homeschooling, to gearing up for a school, and a private school at that. I hope it's a good thing for DD. I think that it will be (obviously, or else we wouldn't do it).

DD and I are going to a family reunion with my mom later this summer. I bought our plane tickets this weekend, to the tune of about $560 for the two of us. Not an expense I was planning on, but it's good that we're going.

We still have a lot left in the way of food from my shopping last week, so that money that I spent will go farther than I thought it might. We had lasagna two nights and still have leftovers!

I need to go through recent medical receipts and put some together for DH to take to work for reimbursement. (done) I also need to submit 1-2 months worth of PT receipts to our insurance company. Come to think of it, I have a check to deposit as well from the hospital. (done)

We could have gotten ten dollars back in the form of rebates for paint, but the receipts are nowhere to be found. Lesson learned - put them in my planner right away, instead of leaving them in the bags. We also have two products to return, but without receipts I think the best we can hope for is a store credit. (Update -- I found the rebate receipt - yea!)

DH and I spent all day stripping paint in the kitchen. We have at least another day ahead of us. My hands hurt, my arms hurt - I'm tired all over. The new cabinet doors look terrific - my dad really did a super job, and it is going to look so nice when it's all done. The aches and pains will be worth it, and the overall price for new looking cabinets will be very low, especially compared to the quotes we were getting for refacing nearly two years ago. My dad even took us all out for pizza tonight, and my mom entertained DD all day while the three of us worked. A good day all around.

Tomorrow is DD's dance recital - can't wait!!

Groceries: $200.34
Restaurants: $12.55
Sbux: $14.85

I did some shopping at Smart and Final today, and Vons, so that combined $110 ought to last at least a little while. Otherwise, at this rate, we're looking at $600 this month just in groceries! I don't think so! I also bought my dad a box of Smartees, which he loves, so some of that money can be considered gifts given rather than groceries.

We're going to take the spot at the private school for DD. I called and left word with the admissions director today, so this coming year will mean taking care to rebuild the savings account.

I managed to get DD's hair into a pretty nice bun, after two attempts. The rehearsal was long, but most of it was standing around waiting. I think her grop was only on stage for 5-10 minutes tops. The girls were so excited - I can only imagine what the energy level is going to be like backstage this weekend. :O One of the mothers took charge this year and got things extremely well organized behind the scenes. I'm thinking of writing her a thank-you note at the very least. From what I've heard, it was a chaotic mess last year.

I've got sheets in the wash right now, and once they're done I'll make up the guest bed and that room will be ready for my parents. Still need to go get food and drinks. Three dinners, two lunches, two breakfasts, and snacks.

Things are going well at DivaTribe these days. Busy, but fun. There's going to be a 15% off sale starting this Monday, to celebrate the store's one-year anniversary. The code for that is ONEYEAR15. Feel free to stop by and take a look - great opportunity to do some birthday shopping or early holiday shopping and support some talented women at the same time!

DD and I went to the 99 cent store today to see if they had bobby pins. They did, so we got those, along with hair gel and hair spray. If I can't get her hair into a nice, neat bun with all of that, then I'm hopeless, lol! I can do a decent bun if I braid her ponytail first and then pin it, but there are still wispy pieces of hair to contend with - she still has some fine little girl hair. We got a three-pack of Jergens soap for the extra bath, and a 33 cent triple chocolate Kit Kat, too. Yum.

I need to go grocery shopping tomorrow, before my parents get here. My mom's bringing produce from her garden, and some homemade granola. Both will be tasty, and appreciated. I also need to get another paint stripping product - the 'after' product for this line of stuff, I guess. It's supposed to take off the residue. Years ago it appears my kitchen was lime green. Yowsa. What a sight that must have been.

DH and I have an annivesary coming up. We have talked about going out of town for an evening, but so far we haven't made any plans. I think we need to get going on that. We've never left DD with anyone overnight before, so this will be a first for all of us. I think she'll have fun with her grandparents, and they completely dote on her and would enjoy having her stay the night with them.

Spent about $12 today on lunch for DD and I. We have half of it leftover, so it ends up being about $6/meal for the two of us. Fair enough - it was nice to go have lunch with my daughter after visiting the private school today. We are seriously considering enrolling her there for the coming year. It will mean dipping into savings and then working to rebuild those savings. We've done it before; we can do it again. I think if I commit to working in the classroom once a week we may get a tuition reduction. I need to follow up on that if/when we agree to enroll her.

Listed one more book today at half.com. Looking at what I have, I think there are still more that I can part with.

I've been stripping paint off the cupboards in the kitchen last night and this afternoon. What a lot of fun, ha ha. I found a product that doesn't have bad fumes - it smells like oranges and cleans up with soap and water (the brush, that is). It's taking longer than I thought it would, but it will get done. I think I need to buy their other product that removes the residue.

I ordered a book from an Amazon seller today - a math book that sounded interesting. With shipping it came in at about $4 under the list price, and it's supposed to be brand new.

I don't know why, but today feels like Friday. I have to keep reminding myself that it's actually Wednesday. Weird.

I sold another book today for $10, which made me happy. I love those "You've made a sale!" emails from half.com.

We've spent about $84 this month so far on food - groceries, dining, everything. I'm still not 100% over whatever was troubling my stomach/GI tract last week, which is a bummer but does lend itself well to frugality where food is concerned.

DD goes out tomorrow to spend half a day with one of the classes at the school we're looking at. We'll see how it goes. We'll make it work if that's the route we go, but it sure is a big chunk of change.

Returned a huge pile of library books today, save for 5 that DD wanted to renew. They were due today, and I'm glad we didn't forget and wind up paying fines on 13 or so books.

The guest bathroom is essentially done - we want to replace the toilet, but that's about the last thing to do in there. I bought a few extra things at Target when I went there for a new curtain rod and shower curtain - little things like a new soap dispenser, soap dish for the shower, a white toilet bowl brush/holder. It looks really nice in there, and I am looking forward to the time when we redo our own bathroom. That was sort of our practice area, figuring if we made mistakes here and there at least we wouldn't be looking at them several times a day, every day.

Next to do is start stripping paint from the cabinets in the kitchen. My dad gets here this Friday with our new doors!! We still need to figure out new fronts for the drawers, but I know my dad will make it work. He's pretty crafty.

DD's dance recital is this weekend. I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm feeling better, although last night DH and I had beef ribs at a party. Now, we strive to be vegetarian and never have meat for dinner. I never buy it for us. But, if we're at a dinner party and that is what is served, we're not going to leave it untouched. It's a waste of food and seems disrespectful to the hosts. So, we had these ribs, and today we both feel kind of lousy. Seems our bodies just don't want to handle beef anymore. I'm not unhappy about that. It's not like we were going to start buying meat again anyway, but it's nice in an odd way to see how our bodies have moved away from being meat-eating entities.

Dh and I were talking about when to next reevaluate our budget. We wrote the current one last December, so I think we'll plan on looking at again this winter. Make it a yearly sort of thing. Things are going to change if we do indeed send DD to the private schol we looked at. There is a spot for her. We'll make it work.

It's easy to be frugal when you're sick. I haven't eaten anything all day, and we haven't gone anywhere either. The bad news is that I can't bear to even look at the leftovers from last night's dinner, let alone eat them, given I *ahem* vomited last night. Hopefully DD and DH can eat some of them so that it doesn't all go to waste.

I need to go out with DD and help her pick out a birthday gift for a friend. The party is tomorrow, so either she goes out tonight with DH or we all go tomorrow on the way to the party. I hate doing things at the last minute like this.

We've had a couple of no-spend days during the last week or so, which is nice to see. Dh and I were talking last night about maybe setting a goal for ourselves of going out to eat once every two weeks. If we're feeling tired and uninspired some evening, we can give ourselves permission to go to the store and buy something easy that appeals to us. It will be cheaper than $25-$30 at a sit-down place.

A new month, a new opportunity to keep building new habits to replace the ones we want to replace.

DH got the bathroom tiles and it looks great. I'm so happy that he took on that task. We painted but there's more to do still. It's going to be so nice when it's all finished. I commented to him that it made me feel good to know that we were making these improvements for ourselves, to make our home feel more like we want it to feel, rather than doing it because of some event or some people coming to stay. It's just for ourselves.

We need to get the paint stripped off the kitchen cabinets before the tenth, when my dad gets here with the new cabinet doors.

I stoppd by the grocery store today and picked up some fresh fruit and sandwich fixings for DD and I. Picked up some more milk too, so that I can make some more yogurt. Fruit, cheese, bread, rosemary tortillas (sounded good!), milk, plain yogurt (1 cup) - about $25. Seems too high, but part of that is buying organic when possible. It adds up, but it's worth it to us, for our own health and for the wider reaching effects.

Thought about going to Starbucks today before picking up DD from her grandparents' house, but elected not to. Thought about it again while at Vons and again, chose not to. I'm glad I passed it up both time.