Daily Life

Our Monday started VERY early when Nora decided she really didn’t need to sleep in… I guess she doesn’t realize that Spring Break is not the time to wake up so early! Someday, probably when she’s in high school, I’ll remind her how she loved to wake up early as an infant!

{Nora playing with her new musical toy from Aunt Stacey — she looks upset, but she really does like the toy!}

I tried Greek Yogurt for the first time {I got a free coupon} — LOVE it! Normally it would be a bit too expensive for my frugal budget, good thing I know how to make my own!

We all did a little reading in the morning… guess who’s reading each book

And yes, Nora always has to hold the book while we read!

We’ve been eating from the freezer for the past couple of weeks {which means I’ve hardly purchased any groceries}. It was getting pretty empty, so we completely emptied out our deep freezer and let it defrost.

Then I went shopping and got some crazy good deals on groceries to restock our freezer. I saved almost $80.00 and only spent $21.00! 

I still need to do quite a bit of baking/cooking to refill our freezer, but it will be so nice to have more food on hand again — and I’m thrilled to have the freezer defrosted before our kitchen renovation this summer.

Dave did a ton more yard work in the afternoon… he’s making a pretty good dent in our 10-yard dumpster and I don’t think we’ll have any problem filling it by the end of the week!

Nora and I enjoyed the lovely weather and periodically came out to check Dave’s progress.

Did you notice my new hair cut? Dave and I both got hair cuts today!

Nora also helped me clean out our master bedroom closet… she doesn’t look too excited, but I know that deep down, she was thrilled to help me get more organized!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I know it might not look like a huge difference, but remember — Dave and I share this closet and we don’t keep clothes anywhere else but in this closet and our dresser… so we can’t get rid of everything! 

Dinner (purchased with coupons of course)… remember I’m not cooking this week

We love bath time! (someday I’ll do a tutorial on how to make these hooded towels)

And a yummy snack after nora went to bed… yes there are chocolate peanut butter brownies under all that ice-cream!

Of course, Dave HAD to stay up late for the basketball game… I was sleeping soundly by 10:00. Lots more planned for tomorrow

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Our first weekend of Spring Break wasn’t anything special, but it was nice to have a change of pace and get out of our normal routine a bit.  I’m SOOOO excited for a week of less work and less structure {yes, I can’t believe I said that either!}

Here are a few of the highlights from this weekend.

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Nora had her 4-month doctor’s appointment on Friday… and she got 2 more shots. However, we did get a prescription that should help with the acid reflux we THINK is causing all her crying and irritability.

Let’s hope it works!

She was a trooper and only screamed for a few minutes after the shots — however, the nurses did say that they’ve never heard a baby scream THAT loud!

I also got a very special package in the mail… my t-shirt quilt!!! 

Doesn’t it look amazing!

I decluttered my t-shirt drawer a couple weeks ago and sent in 12 of my favorite tees to Maiden Jane. She quickly transformed them into this lovely quilt — SOOO much better than a drawer stuffed full of t-shirts I never wear anymore.

I also sent along an old tie-dye t-shirt and some ribbon scraps that she used to make this fantastic taggie blanket for Nora!

Um yeah… she LOVES her new “chew toy”!

Let’s just say Nora did NOT want to give up her new blanket!

You can see more of the lovely Maiden Jane creations over at her Etsy shop… such cute stuff!

On Saturday, we got a 10-yard dumpster delivered and started some SERIOUS yard work.

Well, I should say DAVE started on some serious yard work. I was inside snuggling with Nora because she came down with a little cold Friday evening and her nose was so stuffed up that she couldn’t breathe well unless she was upright. I spent several hours in the middle of the night and during the day on Saturday holding her so she could sleep. Poor thing, I wish I could just help her blow her nose!

Dave’s parents also came over for a bit and helped us move our “new-to-us” fridge inside {our old one finally died}. I can’t believe how much MORE space a “regular” fridge has versus a side-by-side fridge! I’ve never been a huge fan of the side-by-side units, but this just confirms that I will never ever buy a side-by-side fridge!

We’re still using a thermometer inside for a few days… just to make sure we don’t have any temperature problems with this fridge!

We’ve been trying to feed Nora rice cereal for a couple weeks now… but she’s still not very interested. I tried making it really watery but then she just drooled it all over the place; so then I tried thickening it up a bit and she didn’t like that either {she kept making a gagging reflex}

We’ll keep trying

Sunday morning always starts off with cinnamon rolls!

And over all, it was a pretty low-key day. We were busy with church stuff in the morning but had a relaxing afternoon with a nice long nap {Nora will take naps if I let her sleep on me!}

We went for a walk in the afternoon and pretty much just enjoyed our day of rest.

Nora seemed to be feeling better by Sunday evening, but she’s still waking up several times every night {she was only waking up once before her cold} so I’m definitely glad to have a low-key week ahead. Hopefully I’ll be able to catch up on some sleep!

We have an exciting week of no real obligations ahead {yay!} and I can’t wait to share some of the organizing projects I’m hoping to tackle!

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Yesterday was officially the first day of Spring Break for Dave’s school — and boy was he ready for a break!! 

This has been a particularly stressful year for both of us, but his class schedule is extra difficult this year with an AP Calculus class, more preps than in previous years, AND he’s the head of student council.

Add in 2 international students, a new baby, house projects, etc… and we’re both ready for a break.

Thankfully, we’re getting a nice long break… and the house all to ourselves for 11 whole days {one of our international students moved out after 1st semester and the other one is visiting family in New York} Don’t worry, we’re letting Nora stick around for the week!

However, due to the nature of my work, I rarely ever get breaks unless I plan ahead, and make a conscious effort to take time off…

…and that’s exactly what I’m doing this year!

I’ve put some of my VA work “on hold” for the week, and instead of planning, writing, and editing blog posts for Simple Organized Living, I’ll be sharing our daily life via short, daily blog updates {with lots of pictures.}

I still have a really fantastic weekend giveaway planned for Friday, but I think the change of pace will be a nice break for me — and hopefully a fun opportunity for you to get a glimpse into my everyday life.

Here are a few projects we’re hoping to work on over break:

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Clean up the yard.

Since we moved in the middle of winter and were insanely busy this past summer {renovating our main floor, Dave finishing his masters, getting ready for the baby} our landscaping has been sorely neglected! We’re planning to spend a couple afternoons trimming bushes and trees, pulling weeds, spreading fertilizer, and cleaning things up for spring and summer.

Catch up on laundry.

About twice a year I try to wash ALL the blankets, comforters, pillows, winter coats, etc. The last time I did this was before Nora was born {about 5-6 months ago} so it’s about time again.

Restock the freezer.

We were hoping our fridge would hold out until our kitchen renovation this summer… but unfortunately, it bit the dust. Thankfully, we found a cheap {and surprisingly nice} fridge via Craigslist, which means we have lots more space in our deep freezer. Dave thinks that space should get filled up with baked goods… and I agree So I’m hoping to spend a little time cooking and baking to restock our freezer!

Declutter.

First of all, you must remember that organizing is actually FUN for me and I haven’t had a ton of extra time these past few months to do any big organizing projects — so yeah, I’m super exited to tackle a few specific areas in our home.

We’ll be going through our master closet {especially Dave’s stuff!}, the kitchen, and maybe some of our storage tubs in the basement. And yes, I’ll post pictures!

Here are a few fun things we’ll be doing over break.

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Sleeping in.

Yup, we’re planning to sleep in as long as Nora lets us!

Going out to eat.

Besides the cooking I do for the freezer, I’m not planning to do much cooking for us. We’re both fine with simple foods {sandwiches, salads, etc} and we’re looking forward to using several of the gift cards we’ve been saving up to go out to eat a few times.

Working on my digital photo albums.

I’ve been doing such a great job of taking pictures lately, but I haven’t made the time to work on my digital scrapbooks. So I’m hoping I’ll have some time for this in the evenings after Nora goes to bed.

Going for walks.

It’s been a little colder this past week, but we’re still hoping there will be plenty of warm weather and sun to go for daily walks — especially since that’s one of the only ways we can get Nora to take a nap!

I know we will BOTH enjoy the time away from our normal routines. It should be just what we need after a stressful year… and hopefully we’ll both be ready to get back to work the following week!

What are you doing for Spring Break?

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Last week I talked about how we {myself included} often complain about “not having enough time for______” when really, we just aren’t MAKING enough time.

And based on the number of {positive} emails and comments I received, I think the post resonated with many of you!

It’s hard to admit that we might not be managing our time in the most appropriate ways — but it’s even harder {at least for me} to figure out just how we SHOULD be allocating the 24 hours we get each day.

Seriously, wouldn’t life be so much easier if we could just have a few extra hours!

Anyway… I like to think that I’m pretty good at managing my time, being productive, getting things done, etc. etc. However as much as I might try, I can’t do it all. I have to make choices every day about what I will and will not spend my time on. Sometimes, they’re easy choices; other times, they’re not. Many times I make wise choices, but other times I don’t. It’s all just a balancing act I suppose.

So since a few of you asked, here’s a short list of things I do and don’t MAKE time for…

What I DO Make Time For

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Family:

Dave and I are pretty close with both of our families, and now that we have Nora, we can’t even go a week without spending time with each of our parents and whatever siblings happen to be around.

I realize that not everyone has the luxury of family living close by — and we really do enjoy this time {and their help!}

We also make plenty of time to do things with our extended family members {grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.} and love getting the whole gang together for holidays and other fun occasions.

Clutter Control:

I know that some of you might say that an organized home isn’t important… but it is for me! {hopefully this doesn’t make me sound like a horrible person with no priorities.}

I’ve always been very aware of my surroundings and I literally can’t function if there is clutter everywhere. I’m much more productive if my home is picked up, organized, clutter free, and when everything is “in it’s place”.

Now, this doesn’t mean I spend all day making sure my house looks perfect. It just means that I spend about 15 minutes every night cleaning out the dishwasher, picking up the toys, taking out the trash, clearing off my desk, defrosting food for tomorrow’s meals, etc.

Meal Planning / Clipping Coupons:

I know that spending a couple hours each week planning our meals and clipping coupons will save me SO much money, SO much time, and SO much stress. I can get in and out of the grocery store in record time and I never have the pressure of wondering “what’s for dinner” at 4:30!

Plus, you know me — I just love saving money and getting the deals, so I always make time for meal planning and clipping coupons each week.

Blogging / Business:

I saved the best for last! Yes, I spend a large amount of time on my blog and my business — but it’s my job. I love doing what I do — and I make money doing it!

Yes, it takes time away from my family — but so does watching TV and zoning out to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. {and I don’t make time for those activities} so I don’t feel that bad.

I’m also fortunate enough that I can do my work whenever it’s convenient for me {while Nora’s sleeping, when Dave is home, nights, weekends, etc.} which is probably the only reason I can make it all work!

What I DON’T Make Time For

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Cleaning:

This might sound contradictory to what I said about organizing above — but cleaning and organizing are VERY different. My house is almost always neat, tidy, picked-up, and organized. I always know where everything is and we can find whatever we need, whenever we need it.

However, my house is not necessarily always “clean”. I don’t always dust, vacuum, or sweep my floors as much as I should; I don’t always wash the sheets or clean the shower as often as I should, and the kitchen is never as clean as I’d like it to be… but I’m OK with that!

The crazy thing is that I actually really like to clean {and I love a clean house}. However, I’m just not willing to make the time to have a spotlessly clean house at this point. I’ve even hired a college girl to do some of my cleaning and play with Nora one day a week {best decision ever!}

Gourmet Meals:

If you’ve paid attention to any of my weekly meal plans, you’ll quickly notice that I’m not into fancy, gourmet meals! I do cook a lot from scratch, but I also do a lot of “baking from a box” when I’m short on time.

I know I could spend a lot more time preparing organic, 100% from scratch meals — but as long as we’re eating healthy, nutritious meals and have plenty of snacks for school lunches, I’m happy!

Social Media:

Yes, I’m quite active on Facebook — both for Simple Organized Living and for my own personal page — but I honestly don’t do much with any other forms of social media.

I feel like my time on Facebook is well spent because it’s a way to connect with family and friends, share pictures of Nora, and grow my business {all of which are important to me and things I choose to make time for}

However, I could go weeks without checking Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, or any of the other number of social media resources out there. Yes, they are valuable; yes, I probably should be doing more with them; but right now, I’m not willing to make the time.

Volunteering:

OK, so before you start thinking I’m the most horrible person ever, let me just assure you that for the past 6 years of my life, I was on more committees, attended more meetings, and was involved in more non-profit organizations than almost anyone I know!

And now I’m taking a break! 

I’m still on one committee at church and Dave and I still help out with a few things at school — but other than that, I don’t make a whole lot of time for volunteer work right now.

Extra Curricular Activities:

I’m honestly not sure how to word this one — I thought about saying “I don’t make time for FUN” but that’s not exactly correct!! I still make time for fun, just not in the way I used to…

Life with a baby is just so much easier if we are home, so while it might be fun to go out for dessert, we might opt for Culver’s ice-cream via the drive-through window instead. While Dave might just want to go for a run, he might opt to walk with a stroller instead. While it might be fun to go to a blogging event, basketball game, or any number of events, it’s just easier to stay home and spend time together {which actually can be pretty fun if Nora isn’t too crabby!}

Obviously, I could add many things to both lists, but at this point in my life, these are a few of the things I am {and am not} willing to MAKE time for — which just goes to show that it really IS all about the choices we make.

I could choose to make more time for volunteering or extra curricular activities, but then I’d also have to be willing to  spend less time with family or on my blog. I could choose to make more time to clean my house, but then I might not have the time I want for meal planning or organizing.

Until someone figures out a way to add hours to my day, I will continue to make choices every day… and so will you! 

What would be on your lists?

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In my line of work, you can probably imagine how often I hear people complain about “not having enough time…”  Yup, it happens a lot!  And while I too wish I had more time for certain activities… in most situations, I know that I COULD have that time if I wanted it bad enough.

The real issue is that I’m not choosing to MAKE time…

Do you choose to MAKE time?

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We all have 24 hours every day — and how we choose to spend those 24 hours is up to us.

Most of the time, no one is forcing us to do something… and if we really stop to think about it, almost everything we do comes back to a specific choice we made at one point or another.

Here are some examples from my own life:

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1. I don’t HAVE enough time to watch TV at night…

I don’t MAKE enough time because I choose to spend a lot of time working and I go to bed on time.

2. I don’t HAVE enough time to go to a certain event…

I don’t MAKE enough time to go because I choose to do other things instead.

3. I don’t HAVE enough time to do fun craft, sewing, or decorating projects…

I don’t MAKE enough time because I choose to spend time with family and working on my blog.

4. I don’t HAVE enough time to go on vacation…

I don’t make enough time because I choose to stay home and do yard work and house projects.

5. I don’t HAVE enough time to do things with friends…

I don’t MAKE enough time because I choose to stay home and relax or catch up on housework.

I make these choices based on what is important to me {my family, my blog, our house, church, etc.}

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And here are some examples I hear frequently from others:

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{Please know that I’m not judging anyone here — just encouraging you to think about some of the ways you spend your time!}

1. I don’t HAVE enough time to clean/organize the house….

They don’t MAKE the time because they choose do something else {friends, family, activites, TV, etc.}

2. I don’t HAVE the time to cook meals, make meal plans, or fill my freezer with healthy foods…

They don’t MAKE the time because they choose to do _________ or eat out at restaurants.

3. I don’t HAVE the time to play with my kids…

They don’t MAKE the time because they choose to _________ (and even if their excuse is a job, they are still CHOOSING to do that job — even if it is for financial reasons)

4. I don’t HAVE the time to be on that committee…

They don’t MAKE the time because they feel _________ is more a more important use of their time.

5. I don’t HAVE enough time to exercise, clip coupons, finish this, start that, etc, etc…

They don’t MAKE enough time because they choose to do _________________ instead.

NONE of these choices are particularly bad — but they ARE choices. 

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While I understand every situation is different (and there are some events when we really might not have a choice) I know that in my own life, the main reason I don’t HAVE enough time for something is because I don’t choose to MAKE the time for it.

• Sometimes it’s a planned choice {not making time for a vacation because we have other projects we want to do instead}
• Sometimes it’s not planned {not making time for a fun event because we stayed home with a sick kid}
• Sometimes it’s a responsible choice {not making time for TV because we need to get work done or I want to go to bed on time}
• Sometimes it’s not so responsible {not making time to exercise because we’re tired}

But they are all still choices we made.

Yes, we’d probably get fired if we chose to skip work several days in a row… and yes, we probably wouldn’t get the “best parent award” if we chose to go off and have fun while our child was home sick — but they are choices.

If something is important enough to me, I will most definitely make the time for it — and I assume you will to.

So the next time you catch yourself starting to complain about “not having enough time”, stop and think if it’s something that really is important to you.

If it is — see if there’s a way you can MAKE time for it. If it’s not — then stop complaining about it!

And I’m talking to myself here too

Do you choose to MAKE time?

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And maybe an even better question is — are we choosing to MAKE time for what’s important?

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{a group of bloggers getting together in “real life”}

If you’ve read my blog for any amount of time, you know that I’m all about time-management, productivity, and efficiency.

I love “getting stuff done” and I hate wasting time!

And while I appreciate time-saving conveniences like email, online shopping, online banking, drive-through windows, express checkout lanes, etc.; I sometimes feel like our lives are so automated that we never actually work with REAL people.

If you stop to think about it, many of us could go through an entire day without ever dealing with a real person….

• I can call, email, or even text my prescriptions into the pharmacy
• then swing by the ATM on my way to get groceries
• go through the self check-out lane to avoid big lines
• run through the drive-through window to pick up my prescription
• come home and respond to a bunch of emails and blog comments
• pay my bills via email or the company’s website
• look up a recipe for dinner on my phone {via my favorite “AllRecipes.com” app}
• transfer money from my PayPal account to my bankaccount via my computer
• post some cute pictures of Nora on Facebook and Twitter
• order a gift for my friend’s baby shower via Amazon.com
• chat with friends on Facebook

… and the list could go on and on!

However, there are so many benefits of working with REAL people.

For example…

I rarely ever use the self checkout lanes in grocery stores because I always have too many coupons — plus, they stress me out! Instead, I try to go to the same cashier every time because we “know each other” and he’s really great about taking my coupons.

I also try to go INSIDE the bank whenever I can, even though the drive-through is so much more convenient. I’ve found that by going inside, I get to know the employees and build relationships with them. This came in handy the other day when I wanted to set up a new account. With just a few verification questions, the manager was willing to do it over the phone since “she knew me and didn’t want to make me get out with a baby”.

I don’t get many prescriptions, but when I do, I try to go into the pharmacy and talk with the pharmacist. I take the time to ask any questions I have… and check to see if there’s a cheaper version of my prescription available {often there is!}

As a blogger, I could literally run my entire business without ever talking to anyone “in real life”. However, I try to make an effort to connect with other bloggers, companies, and my readers as much as possible. Obviously, due to proximity, I can’t always do this face-to-face, but I’m convinced that one of the main reasons I’ve been hired for different virtual assistant jobs is because I try to stay connected with these people. We also have a really great group of West Michigan bloggers who meet every month to stay connected and share ideas.

These are just a FEW of the many positive examples I have for working with REAL people.

I know it might sound a bit old-fashion (and I certainly don’t plan to stop using drive-through windows, email, or the Internet) but as much as possible, I will continue to work with REAL people in an effort to build relationships.

How often do you work with REAL people?

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Over a year ago, I wrote about the 10 Things We Don’t Spend Money On and then followed it up with 10 Things I’m Willing to Splurge On. They are two of my more popular posts to date… and I LOVE reading the comments to learn what you are and are not willing to spend money on.

Well, over the past year, I’ve come up with a handful of other things I am most definitely willing to splurge on. Some are bigger splurges than others, but they are all completely worth it for me!!

1. Snow Plow Service

Dave and I decided to splurge on snowplow service this winter… and those of you living in West Michigan are probably laughing right now because we hardly got any snow!!

Since Dave already gets up at 5:30am to be to school on time, and since we knew our quality and quantity of sleep would be jeopardized this year, we figured it was worth the cost.

Well, it worked! Dave didn’t have to wake up… and neither did the snow plow company!

{it was fun for a year, but we’ve since sold this tractor}

2. Baby Carrots {and other fresh produce}

I know this is crazy, but I just hate peeling and cutting carrots… and since we eat a ton of carrots, I’ve decided that it’s worth the extra money to buy bags of pre-washed baby carrots

I’m sure many of you have also noticed the increasing price of groceries at your local stores. Produce seems to be extremely high lately — sometimes making up half our grocery bill! And while I’m always tempted to cut back on our fresh produce, I figure this is probably one thing I should be willing to splurge on.

3. iPhone

I’ve already professed my love for my newest electronic toy… and while I definitely don’t think iPhones or smart phones are for everyone; this little device has saved me so much time and helped me be so much more productive. It’s worth every penny!

4. Room Darkening Shades

During our home renovations this past summer, we gutted our master bedroom and the nursery {among other rooms}. Both rooms have 2 big windows that let in lots of light — which is great, except when we’re trying to sleep!

Since I absolutely LOVE the trim around our windows, I didn’t want to cover it up with curtains, however we still needed to block out the light. So we opted for cordless, cellular, room-darkening shades. They cost about $75 per window, but are custom cut to fit perfectly in each window and they block out every last ray of sunlight… which means we can sleep in on the weekends! And since sleep is at a premium now days, these shades are worth the splurge!

{you can hardly even see the shades when they’re all the way open!}

5. Frozen Pizza

We almost always have pizza on Sunday nights — it’s just “our thing”. We eat our big meal at lunch, and then have pizza and a salad or veggies for supper.

I used to make homemade pizza a lot; but then I Nora came along and I started buying frozen. I can usually get the really good self-rising supreme pizzas for about $3.00 — which is much cheaper than delivery pizza — and it’s worth the splurge since I now have at least one meal each week that I don’t need to think about. As a bonus, Dave has taken over the preparation and clean up of this meal!

6. Diapers/Wipes

I try to get good deals on everything I buy… especially baby things. And while I know cloth diapers would probably save us money in the long run, I just can’t imagine spending the time and energy to wash all those diapers every week.

Plus, due to coupons, rebates, and special sales, my mom and I can usually find baby wipes for free, and diapers for less than $4.00 per jumbo pack — which, in my opinion, is most definitely money well spent!

7. Date Nights

I’ll be honest, these don’t happen very often, but if Dave and I do get a chance to do something together, we take it. And while we most definitely don’t spend crazy amounts of money, we are more willing to spend money on date nights now than before Nora arrived.

Of course, I still use coupons though…

8. Education

I had a professor in college who always said, “If you stop learning, you stop living” and I honestly feel like that saying is true. Thankfully, both Dave and I like learning… and although Dave does most of his learning in a classroom {he just finished his Master’s Degree last summer}, I also like to “continue my education”.

I’ve taken a few online workshops for blogging and business, I’ve taken community ed classes for gardening and landscape design, we took baby/parenting classes this fall, and I’m always learning new tips and techniques for blogging, HTML coding, etc.

9. A New Mac

We’ve been talking about getting a new computer since October — and we really wanted a Mac. So this past weekend, when the screen went totally black on my 4-year-old laptop, we stopped by the Apple store and bought a Macbook Pro!

Since we had already done our research, we knew exactly which computer we wanted to buy… but parting with the money was still difficult. However, I feel I can justify spending money on a new computer since it’s one of the few business expenses I have.

{future blogger in training!}

10. A New Kitchen

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, Dave and I are hoping to renovate our kitchen this summer. Originally we were planning to wait about 5 years, but since our refrigerator is barely hanging on and some of our other appliances are also “on the fritz”, we decided the renovation should probably happen sooner than later.

We will pay cash for the renovations… but believe me, it’s still a pretty big splurge!

{wouldn’t you just love this kitchen!}

Kind of a crazy list — and it’s interesting how our priorities have shifted since I wrote my first post about splurging. Sometimes I feel bad splurging on things we don’t necessarily NEED, but then I remind myself that occasional splurges are one of my perks for all the scrimping and saving I do!

What are you willing to splurge on?

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