Pizza Pan Menu Board

For Lent this year I have given up fast food and drive-thrus. I don't think that I have ever gone 40 days with out fast food. I don't think I have ever gone a week without stopping through a drive-thru. I know... it's sick, but fast foods and drive-thrus are so easy at the end of the day. I hate getting out of work and then having to think of something to make for supper. So then Andy and I usually have the conversation that goes something like this...

"what do you want for supper?"
"I don't care, whatever you want"
"Well think of something and I'll make it"
"Well, you are the one cooking, so pick out whatever"

and then we can't think of anything that we want to make, so off to McDonald's we go.

In the past I have done meal planning but somewhere along the line I got away from it. I am blaming the yuckyness (which apparently is not a word according to spell-check!) of the dry erase board I used to use.It just wasn't fun to use anymore.

I know everyone has seen a million variations of menu boards all over pinterest, but this one is unique because all I used were pizza pans from the dollar store, 12x12 scrapbooking paper (which I happened to have on hand), and Mod Podge. This project costs about $5 and is so easy to do! Plus its magnetic... and I have had a bit of an obsession with magnets lately.  I didn't take any pictures along the way, but basically you cut your paper into 11 1/2 inch circles and use Mod Podge to glue it to the pizza pans and then brush the Mod Podge over the top of the paper to seal it.

Here are some pictures a bit more close up. Notice the magnets used here are the Bottle-Cap Fridge Flair and a tutorial for these can be found in this post.

What a great place to keep your grocery list!

My First Sewing Project

So I got this sewing machine for Christmas 5 years ago and I have never used it. I have had many grand plans in the past but I have never pulled the trigger and actually used it. I decided that I needed to use it. After all, Santa didn't buy it for me just to collect dust in my basement.

So I went and bought some fabric and this pattern... looks easy enough right? I figured that if I could make anything, I could make an apron...  Then I opened that cute little packet of love that was going to show me how to make the cutest apron ever and saw this....

 

I promptly googled "how to read a sewing pattern" and set to work. Contrary to the outside of this pattern that says that this is a "Kwik-Sew" it was not quick... I have about 15 hours logged into this beauty (no thanks to Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte)

Well, here it is... the long awaited final product. Please don't laugh...

 

Here's a closer look... and here are a few things I learned.... 

• Cutting straight is important
• the grain of the fabric makes a difference
• I have no idea how to make things even
• Sewing straight is important ( I wish I knew how)

Well there it is! My FIRST sewing project ever... even with all of it imperfections, I think I love it and I will wear it!

A Big Moment

So... I decided that my grown out highlights needed a little love... the downside is that I work late,I'm on a budget, and I have no idea how to highlight my own hair. So I did the next best thing... I decided that I'd get rid of them. I decided that I am going to dye my own hair. Here is a picture of my "before"... do I look nervous?

Let me preface this... I am a hair snob. I get my hair done professionally, I use really expensive shampoo, I have never bought styling products from anywhere but a hair salon. I worked as a receptionist at a hair salon for years and have been brainwashed in to thinking that color out of a box color is right between cursing at your mother and pulling puppy dog's tails. I guess what I am trying to say is that what I am about to show you is kind of a big deal... and I'm kinda new at this and I'm a little scared. I'm scared of missing a spot on the back of my head. Scared that my hairstylist friends will shun me. Scared that it will turn my hair bright orange...

So I bought the hair color that even said on the box that it was for beginners. It's foamy! It comes with a pump (like the foaming soap pumps) Needless to say, I am a bit excited about this. Apparently, the foam is easier to apply because it squishes around in your hair and allows for less precise application. HA! We shall see!

Take a deep breath... here we go!

Hmmm... not as foamy as the picture in the directions make it look... now I wait! An upside to this hair color... it sure smells nice.

Alright folks. What do you think??

So. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be! It's a very pretty color. It was easy to apply. I didn't miss any spots. I think all my worry was for nothing. I am a happy girl and would highly suggest using Loreal's Sublime Mousse.

Getting Ahead.

Money. It sure is a stressful thing. It's the kind of thing that can cause alot of happiness or a lot of anger. It's the kind of thing that is always in the back of your mind no matter what you are doing. It is the kind of thing that can cause fissures in even the strongest of relationships. I see this every single day. As a banker, I spend 40+ hours every week helping people sort out their financial issues, offering advice, and putting people in better situations.

Now... here's my dirty little secret. I haven't been very good at practicing what I preach. I've come out and said it... and it doesn't make me feel any better. We live in a society of "buy it now and pay for it later" (Hello Visa AND 0% financing). It is so easy to dig yourself a hole. It is much harder to climb back out. I dug myself a hole. I have been trying to climb back out of it and FINALLY... there is a hint of light at the end of the tunnel. Our vehicles are now paid off as of this month which adds some extra money to our monthly budget.

Now this is where it gets tricky and it got me thinking...

Where to put the extra money... towards the outstanding balance on our credit card? Into our savings account? Spend it on something fun? I know what I would say to one of my customers, and I need to follow my own advice. I need to do ALL of these things. I need to put a majority of this money towards paying off credit cards. I need to set some money aside for something fun so that I don't feel deprived and go on a spending spree...(hmm, sounds a lot like dieting) and I need to build up our savings account so that just in case something were to happen, I don't turn towards my credit card for help. I need to take a look at my budget and my long-term goals. I need to  set what amounts I will allocate where and stick to it. I would tell my customers to think of each of these things as a bill. Pay your savings account as you would pay a bill. Make it a priority, don't skip it. Building a savings is important. Pay yourself for all of your hard work so that you don't get frustrated and quit. Give yourself an allowance. Sometimes you need to spend some money on you. And when it comes to credit cards... throw everything else at them. Interest on credit cards will eat you alive.

I know its February and its it a little late for New Years resolutions but it is never too late to commit to a change. I am committing to following my own advice. Here's to a new plan and a new budget!