We finally sold our old car this week. Tomorrow, I'm mailing a check to Toyota that will basically cut our loan in half. That, combined with now sending an extra $100 each month, brings our payoff date to about 18 months. It will be nice to have the car paid off as soon as possible and start making other plans for that money each month.

In other news, yesterday was my daughter's 7th birthday. We had a small party here and it was a nice day all around. Later today we're going to a matinee ballet performance, and we'll go somewhere for lunch beforehand. This is a double birthday celebration, as mine is in a few weeks. It's going to be a wonderful day. Can't imagine things being much better, and it's nice to have the extra money available to do something that will be so enriching.

We ordered our tile this morning for the bathroom. It came in just under $700, and that includes a nice inset of 1"x1" glass tiles to give it a little extra something. We need to get grout, but other than that I think we're set. It wasn't as much as I thought it would be, which is nice.

DH is picking up some groceries right now, with a short list from me. We actually had more at home than I thought, but needed a few things to round out some meals. I spent about $17.50 yesterday on snacks. I'm tired of not bringing something to work and then being hungry, so I stocked up on things that can stay in the bottom drawer of my desk. It'll be handy for the days DD goes straight to ballet from school, too. I need to have food available. Not having it sets me up for weird scarcity/binging thoughts.

DH set up a couple of ING savings accounts for the money from his raise. One is a vacation account and one is a gifts account. So part of his raise is going towards those things, and part of it is going towards paying extra on the car loan. Seems like a good balance, to me.

DD and I browsed in the dancewear shop this morning while we're out, but left empty-handed. Sometimes it's juts fun to look. I still want to add a second class a week for myself but haven't taken any concrete steps towards finding out times, locations, etc. and then making a plan to make it happen. I enjoy my one class so much. I'm very glad I started taking it.

Did I mention we're having issues with our washing machine? In particular, we're having issues with the drainage. It's been quite a December for us. DD and I went to the laundromat this morning to do 4 loads of laundry. Eight dollars. I haven't done laundry at a laundromat in a very long time. While it was nice to get it all done at once (well, not all of it, but at least four loads of it) it is expensive. I still need to do towels and sheets, and DD has more clothes to do (but that isn't a full load so it will have to wait). I may go back tomorrow to do a few more loads while DD is off making and decorating cookies with her cousin and grandma. I'm doing the last of my shopping tomorrow too (Santa shopping) and wrapping gifts while DD is gone.

I finished the lap afghan for the nursing home. Now I need to call over there and see if they will in fact accept it for one of their residents. If not, I'll find somewhere else to donate it.

DD has her first stage rehearsal this evening for Nutcracker and I'm helping out with ironing and steaming costumes. We stopped by the store to pick up a case of bottled water for the girls.

1. coffee at home - DH set it up last night
2. arranged carpooling for every day this week
3. ate leftovers for lunch
4. mailed some cards before the postage rates go up

Ballet starts back up today, and I owe tuition (half the usual amount, as there was a two-week break). I may go over to Kinkos while DD is dancing. I learned how to make little notepads from a friend and need to do some photocopying and trimming. I could also do it on my printer at home, and use my paper cutter, flimsy as it is. Hmmm...maybe I won't go to Kinkos after all. The compound that holds the paper together won't be here for at least a day or two - had to order it - so I have some time. I'll use the notepads as promotional items for DivaTribe. Since they aren't specifically for the boutique, I'm not counting that money spent in my challenge, though if they turn out well I'll certainly send them out with orders.

edited to add three more:
5. ate dinner at home
6. sat and crocheted during ballet - didn't go out to Kinkos or Starbucks
7. set up coffee tonight for tomorrow morning