I GOT ACCEPTED INTO A CO-OP!!

After many, many hours of research I've finally found a co-op! It was a close call because I found out about it 2 days after their cut off dates for applicants. I called anyway and left a voicemail essentially pleading for them to make an exception. Thankfully they called me back on Tuesday to let me know that they do have room for one more person and that they found my voicemail hilarious.

Tomorrow after work I will be making my first pick up at Mill Valley General Store. I am really pleased with this co-op because they have three different membership levels; veggie, omnivore, and carnivore. I will be choosing the omnivore package. Once a week I will pick up a bag with 4 produce items, 1 meat, and 1 dairy product. It comes to about $17/week. I think that is an absolute steal! All of the suppliers are local and many are organic or organic practicing producers. I am just absolutely thrilled and I will report on what goodies I'll be picking up tomorrow.

New Year, New You

When I was school aged I adored our back to school shopping adventures. New book bag and lunch box, fresh pens and pencils, clean binder that closes all the way, paper without the ring stickers could all send me into a tizzy! The new year could mean a fresh new me. As I walk the aisles of Target I grow envious of all of the new items. They come in such sophisticated designs that I would be honored to sport them!

September does not signify "Back To School" for me but it does mean a new set of rules/guidelines to add on to my existing three. Drum roll please.......

1. To conduct a complete energy audit on the house. This way we can rectify any inefficient issues before the weather gets nearly Arctic.

2. Work our daily. On Tuesday I am starting yoga with Rena, I am committing to not missing a single BBB session on Mondays, and I now own a helmet so I will begin biking to work.

3. I am going to cook 3 healthy meals per week and designate 1 day of each week to be meat free. Due to my funky work schedule "Meat Free Monday" may not fit into my schedule but I will participate in my own way.

4. Blog daily! I am honored that anyone ever reads this blog. I would like to provide those few people with new content to read daily. I will now be including more recipes and my workout journal.

Let's Recap...

I found a website about achieving goals and how to be successful. This list was on a web page and I thought it was helpful information to keep in mind.

1. Identify which goal or thing that you want to do first. Remember to state priority as well
2. Make sure you pick the most important Goal first after that only break it down into smaller tasks
3. After picking the task, Know what this is all about, meaning (RESEARCH)
4. After research, you would realize if you are capable of doing it or you need someones help, then you either ask a person to help / do it yourself
5. Upon deciding to do it yourself or other people doing it, we initiate a JUST DO IT method.
6. Then we track whether we are doing it right / wrong. Whether there is progress
7. Upon completion, continue doing on the next task until you are done. Always remember begin with the END in MIND. What the results you want to see.

Now lets overview the goals that I set for myself at the beginning of August.

1. No purchases unless it is an immediate need and if I do need something I will try to purchase it used or borrow it first.

As far as the no new purchases go I think that I have drastically reduced the amount of purchases that I make and I'm more consciences before buying things. I did buy the outfit from the Gap and I purchased a $7.95 dress at New York & Company but I ended up returning it. I didn't need another dress and I felt bad. I did purchase a pair of jeans at Goodwill but they didn't fit and they aren't returnable. I'll either give them away or try to re-purpose them into something else. I visited the best thrift store in the whole wide world while I was in Carlisle. I bought two lamps, two mugs, a plate, a carry on bag, and a sweatshirt. The total came to $16.80. I am very pleased with these purchases and have needed all of the items except the mugs, plate, and sweatshirt. They came to a total of $4.00. So I did splurge a little.

What I really have to continue to work on is my dining out bill. It is really difficult to live in a city that has so much great food to offer and not take advantage of it. I'm not much of a bar person so I find myself in restaurants more often than not. This will be a real challenge for me.

2. Exercising

I had a really great start this month then I started to taper off. I have done some form of workout at least once a week. So I have increased my amount of workouts but not enough to see any real results. My job at the restaurant is more physical than my office job so that is a positive also.

3. Car Maintenance

I have been keeping my tank no less than 1/2 full and not keeping junk in my car. So far, so good on that one.

Attempting to Do It Myself...

Since I moved into my house in Canton I've been slowly but surely trying to make my room organized and homey. I have a specific color pattern and theme that I am trying to achieve. I have purchased pictures, turned greeting cards into framed pieces that will (hopefully) hang on my walls, and a few random items such as a vintage porcelain owl. I am hoping to get some help on hanging the items and arranging them on my walls so they do not clutter my room but instead enhance the space.

DIY and Ready Made have become my new obsessions. I want to learn how to re-purpose items that I already own and create unique pieces. I am thinking about making a few of the items that I have seen and giving them as Christmas gifts. There won't be much money to blow on gifts and this could be a good way to be creative. I came across this specific article which has some really great ideas that I plan on utilizing.

I've also purchased a recent Groupon for two beginner's classes for knitting or crocheting at Lovely Yarns which came highly recommended by my masseuse. I have wanted to learn how to knit for over a year. Despite my efforts to teach myself I haven't been very successful. It is time for some guidance. I have a strong desire to create something with my own hands. I never felt like I had any real talents. I have friends that are incredibly musical, artistic, or handy, which I am none of. Hopefully I will change that and tap into an hidden talent!

Curvy Ladies Rejoice!!!

Big girls around the world, please just say NO to "Skinny" jeans and unnecessary muffin top!!!

I purchased two pair of "Boyfriend" jeans from New York & Company about six months ago. I absolutely adore them. They are comfy, flattering, and can be dressed up or dressed down. They are still a tad snug in the thigh area, I think the trend was still new and people had a hard time getting away from the "Skinny" jean. I've noticed that the fall line of jeans are a bit more relaxed all over.

I really wanted a new pair but was determined to stick to my no new purchases rule. A few weeks ago Groupon offered a national offer for Gap. For $25 you could get $50 worth of merchandise. With Gap prices being higher than I normally would like to pay I was torn but 50% off is a pretty good deal. I decided that I would allow myself this luxury and purchase only jeans that fit perfectly. No more insisting that I was a certain size. It is time to be real with myself and buy jeans that I can be comfortable in. I want to look good and feel confident without hiding under a baggy dress. I'm still working out but in the meantime I should have a pair of jeans that aren't "for when I lose this weight" jeans. So I purchased a pair of clearance "Boyfriend" jeans for $48.99 (That is no clearance price in my book!!) and a simple grey v-neck t-shirt that is made out of the softest cotton I've ever felt for $7.99. The outfit is so comfy that I wore it the next day. It has an awesome, relaxed look while still being stylish.

I think this purchase was an acceptable one for the level of confidence that I feel while I'm wearing it. It gives me motivation to want my other clothes to fit this way again. In the meantime I have my new favorite outfit!

The Seedy Underbelly of The Farmer's Markets

A few days ago I went to a Farmer's Market in Carlisle, PA. I read every sign posted and realized the difference in the wording between different sellers. Some of the signs listed their produce as organic, others were pesticide free, home grown, or some other adjective. I've always known that not all farmer's certify their crops as organic but they may be grown in such a way. I started to research what exactly defines a farmer's market and how can a person sell merchandise there. I came across this article from the Baltimore City Paper. It helps explain that there are certain vendors that sell produce from the produce wholesaler in Jessup. Essentially they defeat the entire purpose of shopping at a farmer's market because they are selling the same produce that is available at a chain grocery store.

This just proves that an uninformed customer is a sucker! Talk to the vendors at the farmer's markets, find out what practices they follow at their farms, and if they are the producer of everything that they have for sale. Part of the charm of the farmer's market and being a locavore is shortening the distance between the farm and your plate. Take advantage of the fact that you can actually interact with the person that is helping you to nourish yourself and your family!

Cleaner, Greener Baltimore

I've recently discovered a website called Cleaner, Greener Baltimore. I am so happy and so excited that this website exists. It includes a variety of information such as what the city is doing to achieve a cleaner city, how the citizens can help, and what litter cost the city. I really hope that everyone takes a few minutes to peruse this website and check out the "Top 9 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint". I am really looking forward to going home and seeing which of these tips that I can implement in my own house!