It's time to get real

Now that we are into our new house I'm thinking about what we need verus what we want.  It's hard because you get caught up in what you want to put in your house and things start to add up.  I have to keep reminding myself life is NOT about spending it's about living.  I just want to keep a realistic perspective... I don't need things to define who I am.  Now that we are getting tax returns and rebates, and rental deposit back I think about what I can spend it on.  But I know for the next few years I would like to save for my schooling  AND make sure we have a good savings. 

I love this quote from Fight Club "We work jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need." 

On a side note if you haven't watched the movie or read the book you need to. Many people have the impression that it is about guys beating each other up, but it's really a comment about consumerism and becoming conscious of yourself.

What I really would like to spend my extra money on is traveling... exploring the world!

SO... to simplify my life I have made a few goals for the next few months:

I have a Starbucks addiction!!- I will start making my own Soy Chai's at home and use my own recycled containers. 

I will NOT purchase as a form of entertainment- I will go outside work on my garden, walk the dogs or bike rides!

Garage sale- It's time to get the clutter out of our lives and not replace it with more. 

Compost- I've wanted to make a compost for a few years now... we tried one year but we didn't do it right... this year I'm trying again!

 

I'll report back to let you know how it's going. 

Goats and such

Most of you know how much I love goats and will someday have some of my own.  I wanted to post this article (click on the word article) that Carmen sent because I almost died and went to heaven... this is what makes living great, knowing somewhere out there this is going on. 

We are going out to Nederland, CO today to celebrate Frozen Dead Guy Days.  I will give full report about it. 

On another note, another Carmen inspired thing, I started making a list of 100 things to do before you die.  It's harder then you think and also encouraging because I'm currently (or on my way) to doing a lot of the things I have on my list.  Here are just a few: 

Get my Masters Degree: I have an interview with the school on March 18th.. so cross your fingers.

Grow a great Garden:  Now that we are almost in our new home I would like to have a great big garden were I don't have to buy produce in the summer.  I LOVE gardens and this stems from my childhood were I had good parents who taught us the value of gardening and how to tend to a garden.  I'm glad I was raised to love veggies and fruits.

Play my Drums more:  I have been setting time aside during the week to dedicate to playing my drums. 

Become a more conscious consumer: I have been trying to be more of what I'm buying and why: for example trying to buy things that don't have ridiculous packaging (which can be hard), bringing my cloth bags to the store. Also now that we are moving into a new house, if I'm looking for more furniture I want to look at antique stores it's better to recycle furniture and everyone knows I like "retro" stuff, also older furniture is built to last.... not like Targets or pottery barn stuff.

that's all for now!