58 days --- Finding a Place to Live

For us getting married ( which is less than 2 months away!!) also means moving out for the first time.For months we have been casually looking at places for rent on kijiji, getting an idea of what is out there, what we want.\, and what we can afford.  Now the hunt is really on. We are looking for a place that we can begin renting in July ( If anyone knows of any places, please let us know). It is an exciting process, but also a little daunting. We looked at one place earlier this week (it was a bust), and tomorrow we are going to look at another place.

Some of decor, including a few of my DIY projects will depend on the place that we get.  It would be nice to know what it will look like and how much space it will have.

Does anyone know of good places to look for rental properties other than the paper and kijiji?

59 days --- Life.

Well, I did get quite a bit done yesterday. Not as much as I hoped to, but more than I thought I would actually do (LOL, if that make any sense). Most of it was leg work for things that we will finish in the future, which makes it seem like a lot less was accomplished.

We also began marriage counselling last night. It was great to finally get it started. It went really well, and we came away with things to think/talk about. I am really excited to continue to grow in our relationship as we prepare for marriage and life together (I know that sounds cheesy, but its the truth).

In more exciting news, I got my laptop back today. I realize that I am probably the only one that fins that exciting, but I have really missed it. It also makes blogging a lot easier. Apparently all they needed to do was update the system, seems to have helped.

Thats all I've got for today. Hopefully I will get started on some of my projects soon, and will have more interesting things to blog about.

60 days --- Edmonton

We are back! Actually we were back late Sunday night, but this is the first chance I have had since then to blog. We had a great trip and it was really nice to be able to spend so much time with Aaron.


The main reason for our trip was a reception for the daughter of some family friends of the Moffatt's. It was a very nice reception and the couple are really cute together. Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures. Aaron's dad did take one of me and Aaron, so if I can get my hands on that I will share that.


Our second reason for going to Edmonton was IKEA! I have loved that store as long as I can remember, but this is the first time I have been there when I actually needed furniture. We spent about 3 hours there, and ended up with a couple great pieces of furniture. Some day I would like to go there with out a budget!!
Our two main purchases were:


A Couch


IKEA

 It looks like a sectional, but it actually a love seat and chaise that can be built together to look like a sectional. It is great because if we move to a bigger place you can add on pieces to make it look however you want. The cover is also removable so it can be switched if we get sick of it or it get wrecked.Every computer I look at it on the colour looks different, the actual colour is a really dark grey.


The second piece:
Dining Room Table

Our friends have the same one, and it is great for little spaces. But if you have people over it can fold out to seat more people.

IKEA

We also got a few little knick knack things, which includes 7 accent pillows. They don't have covers, but they are a fantastic price, and I am really excited to be able to pick out whatever fabric I want to cover them with.


I can't even begin to describe how great it was to have 4 days off in a row. I can't remember the last time I did, but I certainly needed it. But the last day of a little holiday always means there is a lot to be done. I have a lot of little errands to do today (mostly wedding related, so that makes it a little more fun). I also have a DIY project that I want to start today, and Aaron and I start pre-marriage counselling tonight. So I better get off the computer and get going.

65 days --- Another Long Weekend

When I started this blog, I thought to myself I will not be one of those bloggers that goes a long time without writing a blog. Turns out that is not true. Not much has been going on, but it seems that I am always busy. My computer has also been acting up so I had been using my computer as little as possible. Yesterday I finally sent it in, so now I am using my fam's computer which makes it even harder to get to blogging.

I know in my last blog I talked about my three day weekend, this is going to make it seem like I never work, but I have a 4 day weekend this weekend. I am soo excited. Aaron and I are going to Edmonton for Sat and Sun. He has some family friends there that got married in Mexico a couple weeks ago. Now they are having a reception in Edmonton. While we are there we are taking a trip to Ikea, which is super exciting. I love that store, and I finally am close to having a place to furnish. Hopefull this will provide more for me to blog about after I get my computer back.

73 days ---- Weekend

It is late, and I am tired. I have been meaning to blog for the last couple days and have either run out of time or energy before I got around to it. So here was my 3 day weekend in a nut shell:

Saturday

This is easy I spent ALL day (7 hours) at the Montgomery garage sale. It was fantastic. My big find of of the day..well I am not really sure what to call it, but it has a couple of shelves and glass doors in the front (my guess is it is out of the 70's or 80's, but I really have no idea). I LOVE it. At the moment is not overly pretty, but I have plans for it and I think it will turn out great. I will post pictures once I start the project. 

Second greatest find of the day, a garage sale were the lady used to be a sales rep for some cosmetic companies. She has thousands of samples left over that were in the original packaging and she was selling them for amazing prices. I stocked up on a few things.

Sunday

My family took a day trip to Moose Jaw to see my Grandma. It had been quite a while since I saw her, so it was nice to see her again. Although I do feel sorry for my family. Walking around for 7 hours on Sat left me VERY tired and VERY sore, and I was not in the greatest of moods. 

Monday

The best day of all. I spent the entire day lazing around reading my book and catching up on sleep. By "my book" I mean one that I bought at the garage sale on Sat, started reading on Sun, and Finished on Mon (I told you I love to read).

Project 2 --- 78 days

5:30 pm marked the beginning of my three day weekend. I am so excited. I can't remember the last time I had that many days in a row off without the thoughts of school or finals looming over me. I don't know if I will know what to do with myself (in a fantastic and hopefully relaxing way.)

Despite being completely wiped from my first week of work (not to mention fighting the flu), I decided today was the day to finish my 2nd DIY project. (The one I started on Sunday..really it was about time).

DIY Project 2: A Mirrored Vase

I started out with 5 square mirrors and a plastic patterned place mat (all from dollarama). 

I cut the place mat into five squares the same size as the mirrors and used double sided tape to attach them to the inside of the mirrors. Then I used a hot glue gun to glue the mirrors together into a vase. And the final Product:

The mirrors are really dirty, I thought about cleaning them before I posted pictures, but if that were the case the pictures probably wouldn't make it up here for a looong time. I am pleased with the final product. It is quite a bit larger than it looks in the pictures. I got the idea from a design blog I like to read Prairie Perch. I decided to line the inside of the vases so that if it is not full I wouldn't have to look at the backs of the mirrors.

I have 5 more mirrors that I plan to make into another vase. This one I will actually use as a vase, so it is really a two part project: make the box and design a flower arrangement for it.

Second on my list of things to do on my three day weekend: attend the Montgomery Community Sale tomorrow. Every year on the first Saturday in may the community of Montgomery hosts a community garage sale. It is fantastic if you like garage sales. So many all within walking distance. Hope to see you there!

Simple Tips --- 80 days

A couple of tips from "Debt-Free Forever" by Gail Vaz-Oxlade:

1. Did you know that everyone is allowed one free credit check per year for their personal use. This is a great idea so that you know were your credit stands and how you can improve it.

2. For those of you with multiple sources of debt. (First of all I recommend you read the book) Pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first (even if it is the largest debt). Make the minimum payments on the other debts and put all remaining money that you can afford to use for debt repayment towards the debt with the highest interest rate.

Sick --- 81 days.

Turns out a good nights sleep was not all that I needed. I still felt like crap this morning, and called into work sick. In the movies they always make sick days seem so great. They are not. I have a pile of things to do, but didn't get around to hardly any as the almost the whole day was spent in bed or laying in front of the t.v. and I missed out on a days pay. Sick days are not fun!

In more happy news, today for the first time since hurting my knee I was able to sleep on my stomach. This may not seem exciting to most people, but it is my favorite way of sleeping, and not being able to do it for a month was a real pain in the but. I also see it as a sign of healing, which is great. Next week I start physio, and I am super excited to starting getting the use of my knee back.

On to another topic, I love to read. Being in school and being forced to read textbooks does take the fun out of it, but as soon as summer beings I start reading for my own enjoyment.

My first book this summer:

I realize this may not be everyones idea of an "enjoyable" read, but it is a fantastic book. My dream career: Personal Financial Advisor. I find finances very interesting, and I am passionate about managing them well (maybe even to a fault).  I have found some of this book a little inapplicable because of a lack of debt. It is still very interesting and is even a motivator not to go into debt, as she does many interest calculations that are shocking.

She has written the book in a way that is very easy to understand and work through, even if you are not knowledgeable in the area of finances. There is also info in the book about creating budgets and planning for the things that you want that are useful to everyone.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone interested in controlling their finances and especially to people who are in debt ( even if it is just a little bit). That is were I will end it, to avoid getting into a rant about finances and debt (it is on the tips of my fingers).

Short and Sweet --- 82 days

I was determined to get blog posts written two days in a row. So here it is. This one will be very short though.
So yesterday I was complaining a little about working. I should mention that I am very grateful for my job and for full time hours during the summer. As for my first day, worse than I could have expected. I woke up with a sore throat this morning, by the time I got to work I was achy everywhere, and it just got worse throughout the day. But I stuck it out, and even mustered up enough energy to go vote. Hopefully after a good nights sleep I will be good to go tomorrow. My man, and the slur-pee he brought me, really lifted my spirits this evening. He really is fantastic, and in only 82 days he will be my husband (Woohoo!!).

Working Girl --- 83 days

Writing posts every other day has not been intentional, just the way it has worked out so far. My goal is everyday, but it is starting to seem impossible. Maybe I will get into the swing of it, or lose my steam. Its hard to tell this early.

This afternoon I stated my second DIY project. After accomplishing a couple steps I went back to my computer and started looking up other projects. This is typical. I like to start things, but completing is a lot more difficult. Hopefully I will get around to it in the next couple days and then I will share the details. 

Finishing school felt great, I felt fee, thought I would have so much time. But, starting tomorrow I am working full -time at Leon's. I know working full time is a normal part of life and must be done... for many years, but I am not looking forward to it. It wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't felt so excited to be done school only to have the freedom ripped away (LOL. I realize that is  very extreme). Hopefully I can get used to the routine quickly, and the money will be nice.

Well, I best get to bed to start out the week with at least a little energy.

For all you Canadians don't forget to vote tomorrow!!