Empty Nest Syndrome

I know that empty nest is supposed to be for couples when their kids go off to college or move out but I think I'm feeling it.

My niece moved back with her mom and dad, who are doing so great!  I love that she's back with them but I feel an emptiness.  I was her mom for a year.  It was only a year but we got so used to having her around that it's sad.  We had a routine down and Marcus liked having her around.

Marcus goes to his Dad's on the weekends, my best friend is gone working or at her boyfriend's most of the time so my house on the weekend is empty.

Friday nights I usually go to my boyfriend's and we go to dinner and sometimes a movie.  Friday we went to dinner, got froyo and then watched Dateline....talk about feeling old!

Having an empty house is nice to a point because I can clean it and declutter and do all those projects I've been putting off.  It should be nice but really it's kind of depressing.  I love being a mom.  Kids may drive me crazy but not having them around is boring.

The rest of this weekend I got some Christmas stuff done, my haircut, spent WAY too much money, went to Ikea and bought too much stuff, ate lots of pizza, drank lots of wine and did a ton of laundry.



It was productive but I need a hobby!  I may start working out all weekend long haha just kidding but seriously someone give me some hobbies to do??

Choose Your Own Adventure-November

This month's adventure is organizing!  I am usually a somewhat organized perosn but my house is a complete disaster!  Here are my goals:

1.  Organize my Christmas stuff.  Make actual boxes for things instead of throwing them all in the same tub.  Lazy geez.  

2. Declutter!  This may take more than a month but that's ok.  I already got one room done......5 more to go

3. Clean out my kitchen cabinets.  This will probably mean only buying produce for a couple weeks.

4. Find a good way to organize all my bills, anyone else hate paper like me?!  It's such a pain in the ass.

That's it.  Anyone else organizing this month?

Days Like This

Yesterday (Monday) I woke up in a mood.  You ever just wake up and know it's going to be a shitty day and you have no idea why?  I hadn't even got out of bed yet and thought f this day. 

I got to work and the crazies were more crazy than normal.  Maybe not crazy but whiny.  These grown people whine more than children some times.  The phone rang non stop...I just wasn't in the mood.

Then I get a phone call from my mom.  She had heard a rattling in her furnace for awhile now, possibly 6 months.  The plumber came to check it out and found a crack in her furnace.  That means carbon monoxide.  When he checked the levels they were deadly.  He saved her life.  She hasn't been feeling great lately but blamed it on other things.  I mean who thinks carbon monoxide poisoning when they don't feel good? Nobody that's who.  People are more likely to suspect ebola these days. My poor mom.  She also had to buy a new furnace...ouch.

Then I get a phone call from the principal at Marcus' school.  I won't get into details but he was put in in school suspension.  Anybody know what to do with an 11 year old that can't stop getting in trouble?  I'm contemplating beating him but people might frown upon that.

So I came home and lost myself in a lot of wine with my best friend.  I'm really thankful she lives here.  It brightens my days.

This morning I didn't have to work, kind of a rare weekday off.  I dropped the kids off and went and voted!  So glad I made time to do that.

Then Marcus had a presentation at school and what luck that I was off to go watch it!  All the kids made a power point presentation on their own individual computers and the parents got to walk around and watch them all.  School has sure come a long way.

From there I went to the gym.  Yes I am giving you a play by play of my day but I promise there is a point.  I have gone to the gym 4 of the last 5 days and LOVE it.  I forget how much energy I have when I workout.

I then went to Target.  We all love us some Target right?  Everything I needed to buy was on sale, so great!  I had signed up for the debit red card.  You get the 5% without having to sign up for a credit card, check check check it out!

Then I went to lunch with my best friend, to the post office, library and picked up Marcus from school.  When we came home Marcus raked leaves and I started sanding a cabinet I want to put it my living room.  I also food prepped, cleaned and decluttered my niece's room. (she moved out)  I was a busy girl and so sore.

My boyfriend stopped by as a surprise just to give me a hug and a kiss.

I took a bath with a book and a glass of wine and the Ray Lamontagne Pandora station.  It was the best.  Then this song came on...

All I could do was smile.  Most people associate this song with a bad day, today (Tuesday) I associated it with a great day.  It was just the reminder I needed that no matter how may bad days I have, there will always be more good.  Thank goodness for the little reminders sometimes.  I know I some times ignore them but today I had to smile and remember what this life is all about.

What do you have to be thankful for today?

October Wallet Watch-Follow Up

I'm not sure why the button won't work for me but it won't.....

1. Stick to my budget.  I always know I have wiggle room and I take advantage of that way too much.  I have recently been hit with a ton of medical bills and if I don't stick to my budget I will never get them paid.  I have a ton of birthdays, Halloween, I'm throwing a wedding reception, etc... but I am sticking to it.  I was good with this, there were a couple times I had to pay for things I hadn't planned but that's life sometimes. Savings-Not quite sure

 

2. NO MORE STARBUCKS.  My name is Analisa and I'm a Starbucks addict.  I spend ridiculous amounts on chai tea.  I need to start making my own (it just doesn't taste the same) I did it!!!!  It's November 5th and I still haven't bought any! Savings-$60

 

3. No more gas station stops.  We stop at gas stations when we clean sometimes and grab energy drinks, candy and snacks.  The problem is you don't realize how much that adds up. Not one time! Savings-$25

4. Make meal plans and stick to them.  I have been working my ass off lately and have hardly had time to grocery shop, let alone cut coupons or look at ads.  Last night I was at the grocery store at 8pm without a list, hungry and tired and spent 25 more than I normally do.  I know that doesn't seem like a lot but to my budget it is. I did this probably 80 percent of the time. Savings-$75

Pretty good I have to say!