Frugal Does a Body Good

Hi all- in my profile I mentioned that I am a Korean Adoptee. Well, I found out recently that I've been chosen for an all expense paid trip to Korea among 29 other adoptees.

The kicker: I'm going to meet my birth mother! It's been over 22 yrs since I last saw her. And now, she's also a grandmother!

I'm soooooooo excited. =)

It was Amazing!

A Great Value!


Affordable Skin-care


You can order through me: www.youravon.com/meredithhale

She takes her photos seriously!

Sometimes you just have to stop and enjoy the moment.

Hmmm... not your run of the mill "angles".

I have to say- that I'm being cliche, but it's so appropo.

I am going to shamelessly plug my Avon business. I live in Colorado Springs- so, if you want anything for yourself or to buy for a gift- visit my store.

www.youravon.com/meredithhale



BTW: Avon is going very well for me so far. Patience and motivation are key!

I'm now selling AVON....

I hope Avon will give me the other part of a full-time income I want to bring to the table. I would rather not have a fulltime job that requires childcare if i can work a parttime job and make up for the difference.

Wish me Luck!

Dad's Game Box

Plastic Maracass- Target's $1 Special

I wasn't expecting this "scene" because she's never seemed interested in this chair for climbing and she's very heavy. I'm actually impressed that she pulled herself up onto it! lol

I noticed...after too long... that I was being charged $41 a month for credit protection on a Citicard that I'm trying to pay off. And the minimum payment is almost $145 and the penalty is about $45 of that total minimum payment. So- on $4800 worth of incurred debt (including all of the penalties), I'm only paying about $60 towards the principal! I didn't ever ask for the credit protection- it's like insurance on your own debt. Ha!

I have petitioned to have all of the months I payed for the credit protection and all of the penalties incurred from it to be credited to my account. I bet that this issue won't be resolved for months!

What a mess...

It's been almost 4 months since I've been back to work- if just for part time. And it's safe to say that I like my job. I'm one of the few people that actually like their jobs. What a shame.

Well- It's turned out to be a great strike of luck. I'm getting paid more than I did working fulltime at the public high school down the street. I'm very happy with my bosses and co-workers. The people I see, virtually every day, are pretty swell too.

I'm still on a mission to find another job for more income. Not to say we're "hurting" anymore. But- I may try selling Avon in my spare time for some extra cash. According to my friend, she did it- with online store- and it seemed easy and less time consuming...

We'll see...

Happy Holidays to all....

She's taking over...

I'm one payment away from cutting this card up into oblivion. And they had the nerve to turn it into a VISAtarget card! It's like the financial gods are throwing us more and more temptation. It's perfect timing as the Christmas Shopping season has started! Doh!

I will pay it off still... and cross my fingers that DH won't use the card often.

My mommy's photography house!

Which one of these pictures went on our Holiday 2006 Card?

I'm a budding photographer...not!

I'm just thrifty. lol

My first taste of CoolWhip

After all that hard work, I only have 6 toofises!

Daddy picked this gift especially for him...I mean, me. (wink)

We had a scrapbooking (memory making) themed party where all artistically inclined guests were encouraged to make a 7"X7" page for Jasmin's groovy 1st yr scrapbook I bought for her birthday. It was a smashing success despite my worries.

I had a whimsical idea to use our soon-2-b spoiled vanilla half and half (creamer) for french toast to use up our older bread stash.

Voila! Flavored, no fuss breakfast! I bet any flavor would make tasty french toast.

I paid off our Sears Card! May it burn in... well, you get the picture.

I bought this and next year's costumes on sale. I have to give myself props for my choice for her first ever Halloween.

Purrfect!

We took a chance and tried growing mini-watermelons this year. Well- to our surprise, we were successful!

This watermelon is about 6" and 2 pounds.

Jasmin is now 10 months today! She's over 21 pounds and about 28 inches long/tall.

Jasmin is finally getting over her overwhelming fear of Jackson. She even coos when he's around and she looks for him and likes to touch him. Oddly, the puppy is getting more aggressive which scares me. This is my first puppy ever, so I have no idea what to expect.

What a sweet little devil!

9.5 mos. old



I took the chance that she'd stay "standing" so that I could get a few photos. Last time I did this, she fell off her chair- no big booboos though, thank God.

With the extra check ($1700)I:

Paid the cellphone overage on Amex: $144

Repayed BIL for loan: $200

Accelerated my debt payments by: $624

Donated: $30

Gifts for twins: $50

Babysitting for job training: $70

License renewal & emissions test: $114

Savings (multi goals): $600

Saved for October: $134

Restaurant food always tastes better when it's discounted or free. We shared an appetizer and dinner duo with iced tea. We had a $10 off coupon and paid under $17 including the tip. Score!

I lub steak!

http://www.eastern.or.kr/eng/htm/home.htm

I was an orphan at this Agency back in the early 80s. So I'm here to assure you that this is a real, life improving organization. I've been periodically sponsoring a child at this facility since 2002. For me, while I was living on my own, without family ties, I derived a great feeling of purpose from reconnecting with my "past" and giving what little money I had to spare. Doing this- I reminded myself of the good heart I possess.

So- If you have an interest in Korean Adoption or helping Kids with special needs- please consider my old "shelter".

I intended on doing my local walk with my mom's group but since I will be working I can't. I've already donated $15 and gave another $10 today since I can't do it. It's a great cause and I cross my fingers that I don't have to deal with critical medical matters such as diabetes within my family.

I am licensed in Colorado to sell life insurance. Shoot me now- lol Let me also say that- I have not sold any insurance as of yet.

All I have to say, and you may have heard already: Buy Term and invest your savings. Term insurance is cheaper and has no cash value. Anything else is a rip off; "Cash value" is just a ploy just as posting the word "sale" over a retail display entices customers. We've wired our brains to automatically think that "sale" means a "sale" and "cash value" is actually "cash value". Cash value is what they offer you to cut their losses; when does chosing between ways to get back *your* money make consumer sense. "You can have the coverage, *or* the "cash (trash) value".

Sorry- Just a rant because we all deserve the right type of protection and deserve to keep as much of our hard earned money as possible.

http://www.gardenstatelife.com/howmuch.jsp