Girl- You Lookin' Good in those Jeans!

If there is one thing that makes every girl happy- it's a good pair of jeans!

Searching for just the perfect pair is an arduous process, but the rewards are great. Your bum is pushed up perfectly, your legs look miles long, and you can shaky shaky and look fabulous!

There are two new boutiques in Downtown Statesville that are a must visit for ALL sizes! They both have specials that run frequently, but their "non-sale" prices are still wonderful. Overall, you get what you pay for in life. If you pay more, expect more. Expect to look more fabulous, expect to feel better, and expect them to last longer. My newest purchase from the jean department is a pair of "Miss Me" jeans- and wow! They're perfect!

The two boutiques are Gracie! and Salice. Check them both out- you will not be disappointed (unless, you're in a hurry- then you'll only be mad at yourself that you can stay longer and try on hanger after hanger after hanger).

My friends LOVE these stores and I'm sure you will too (if you're from our area...or order online!).

Shake it in those jeans!

Erica

Do Yo Chain Hang Low?!?!

Yesterday I busted out my keychain and immediately thought of that song "Do Yo Chain Hang Low"- why? Because my keychain was SO FULL of 1x2" "MVP" cards that it weighed close to a pound!

Since then, I have moved these valuable little plastic devices to my wallet in a specified area for "savings"!

A lot of people just toss these savings cards to the side, but they really are valuable money saving coupons!

Just for example (from a few of my favorite MVP card spots):

- Bi-Lo: I have swapped that thing every time I go grocery shopping and WHAM! I'm up to $1.00 off per gallon of gas (up to 20 gallons)- so that's essentially $20 in my pocket (I'm trying to get it up to $2.00 off before I use my points!)

- Toys-R-Us: I have used this card for baby showers/Gage's diapers/all online Christmas purchases/etc. and every single month I receive a minimum of $20 in coupons/vouchers. Now, they have to be used within a certain time frame (which I hate) but, they're still **free money!**

- East Coast Wings: they just started a new program and for every $1 you spend you get a point and the points are redeemable for food. We have already racked up enough points for a $20 voucher. The nice thing about this card is: you don't have to wait for the coupons to arrive in the mail. You use the same card for getting and redeeming points!

- Hallmark: I RARELY send "real" cards- everything is practically done online these days! But, for my important, special occasion shopping I use my Gold Crown Card and POOF! I have (so far) received a $5 voucher and TWO $5 off a $10 purchase. Last week, I went to Hallmark with my coupons/voucher and got 4 rolls of wrapping paper, a card and adhesive name stickers for $8.00. That's right! Beat it!

While these things do cause "yo chain to hang low"- they are a little piece of money saving heaven! So, move them to your wallet, take the strain off of your ignition, and keep saving money!

1x2 Cards are my BFF!

Erica

Holy Crap! He's Bleeding!

Auntie Meg came over to open Christmas presents last week and OF COURSE those darn toys are packaged so well that a herd of elephants couldn't break them open.

We sent Josh to get scissors to open the new bowling alley with and he comes back with wire cutters. Hmmm- wire cutters? He went on to explain the reasoning- when Meg and I were children, she cut my wrist (literally) with scissors. So, he thought it was in our best interest to use wire cutters instead.

We cut the 1,254 zip ties and got the toy out (which Gage loved) and we were reading the instructions (yes, all 3 of us reading them together...it takes a genius to understand these toys!) and we turned around to find Gage with the wire cutters!

WOWZA! This kid is faster than Criss Angel! Heck, if I left him alone for 5 minutes outside, I bet he'd climb to the top of our roof!

Before we could scream, snatch, blink- he had pinched himself (not cut) with those pesky little things. And, yes, it bled. I cried. And, it bled. Gage was concerned (for 30 seconds) but mommy was concerned for 3 days.

Why is this on the health blog? Enter NEOSPORIN! This stuff is magical. If you have never used it, or if you've used some other brand, get the real deal. We had some in his changing station that even had pain relief. And, it has healed that nasty little blood blister quickly! Not to mention, he *probably* won't even have a scar!

Here's the link to Neosporin- they offer coupons on their website. Print you off one- save a bit of money...but, save your sanity in the long run.

Here's to those $%^%@# zip ties <3

Erica

Its a Toy- It's fun for....17 days

With Christmas right around the corner...literally hours away...it has got me thinking about all of the "things" that Gage is about to get- things that will be put into his (thankfully) large toy room.

I am 100% guilty- just as 100% of each of my readers are- of getting kids toys. Toys are what they want right? Yea- that's right...for all of 17 days! After that, well- they start to collect dust. But, it's the 17 days that count!

The week after Gage was born, we went directly to our bank (State Employees Credit Union) and opened an account for him called a "Fat Cat"- it is a high-interest savings account for kids under 12. While your bank may not have a specific account for kids, it is optimal to look for any type of savings that has an interest of at least 0.75%- Gage's is a 1.0%...meaning he earns 1% of his money in interest monthly.

For each celebratory occasion, I have asked immediate family member (or those that would not be offended) to put money into his account. Anyone can deposit money, but only I can access it- which is nice! So, my grandparents can drive to the credit union, give them Gage's name and boom- they can deposit without any additional information.

It is really unbelievable how excited our family is to have this option. Of course, Gage still gets toys- just not the entire budgeted amount is spent on toys. Usually 50% enters his savings and the other 50% is spent on the 17 day loved toys!

Now, why did I choose the savings account instead of a CD or bonds? Fluidity. If I want to move his money to another higher interest account or if he gets older and wants to use it as he wishes, it's there for the taking. With CD's and bonds, you don't have that fluidity. Of course, you lose a bit of interest, but it's worth the loss in my opinion. I don't like sticking money anywhere that is not accessible. And, as for the stock market- until this economy turns around, NO WAY! 

Instead of 100% toys- try to do a percentage into a savings account. They won't miss the toys and they'll appreciate the money when its time to buy a car!

Telling Santa all of the toys that he wants...

Here's to Santa visiting your home- and 17 day toys!

Erica 

Pop - Lock - and - Drop It

Does your early morning routine involve poppin' it, lockin' it, and droppin' it?

Mine does!

I pop that coffee canister lid off (measure out what I want), lock the canister lid back on (remember, I have a 1 year old), and drop the coffee maker button to "on"!

After my 2nd or 3rd cup of coffee, I'm then about pop, lock and drop it in dance style fashion on my way to the bathroom!

While the cups 'o Joe are OH SO DELICIOUS and do give each of us a "pick me up" they actually have some health benefits.

In my master's program at UNC-Charlotte, I did a study on the health benefits of coffee in relation to the onset and progression of diabetes. Believe it or not, there is a very (very) small correlation. So, my diabetic husband pop, locks and drops it too- in an effort to do whatever we can to ward off his disease.

Via one of my favorite online websites (webmd.com) here are some of the health benefits surrounding coffee:

A growing body of research shows that coffee drinkers, compared to nondrinkers, are:

• less likely to have type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease, and dementia
• have fewer cases of certain cancers, heart rhythm problems, and strokes

"'There is certainly much more good news than bad news, in terms of coffee and health,' says Frank Hu, MD, MPH, PhD, nutrition and epidemiology professor at the Harvard School of Public Health. But (you knew there would be a “but,” didn’t you?) coffee isn't proven to prevent those conditions. There are signs of potential health perks -- and a few cautions. If you're like the average American, who downed 416 8-ounce cups of coffee in 2009 (by the World Resources Institute's estimates), you might want to know what all that java is doing for you, or to you."

Another website (livescience.com) was REALLY funny (so I wanted to include it) but FAR less reputable:

- Caffeine can kill you: but you have to drink 80-100 cups in a hurry.

- Caffeine may boost female sex drive...or this worked on RATS! Ha!

- Decaf has caffeine! What?!?!?! 10 decaffeinated cups= caffeine of 1 cup.

- Coffee was discovered by Goats. Wow. Yea, never depend on a website that lists goats as a founder.

Overall, by drinking coffee you can #1, stay awake and #2, ward off some pretty serious conditions.

POP, LOCK AND DROP IT!

Erica

Want a Boost?

Happiness can be expressed in many forms, but apparently one of the more healthy forms is laughing!

Laughter is something that happens often around my house. I have found that it's better to laugh it off when crazy things happen than to mull over it. This has happened a lot recently. 1) My son pooped (yes, pooped) in the floor as soon as I got him out of the tub, 2) My dog consistently runs across the road to potty, making it difficult to call her in if I'm in my robe or night clothes, 3) My hubby conveniently overlooked a clump of mud left by his boots in our garage (<--well, I didn't really laugh over that one).

Visiting my 'ol trusty webmd.com here's what I found about laughter doing the body good:

• Blood flow. Researchers at the University of Maryland studied the effects on blood vessels when people were shown either comedies or dramas. After the screening, the blood vessels of the group who watched the comedy behaved normally -- expanding and contracting easily. But the blood vessels in people who watched the drama tended to tense up, restricting blood flow.
• Immune response. Increased stress is associated with decreased immune system response, says Provine. Some studies have shown that the ability to use humor may raise the level of infection-fighting antibodies in the body and boost the levels of immune cells, as well.
• Blood sugar levels. One study of 19 people with diabetes looked at the effects of laughter on blood sugar levels. After eating, the group attended a tedious lecture. On the next day, the group ate the same meal and then watched a comedy. After the comedy, the group had lower blood sugar levels than they did after the lecture.
• Relaxation and sleep. The focus on the benefits of laughter really began with Norman Cousin's memoir, Anatomy of an Illness. Cousins, who was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a painful spine condition, found that a diet of comedies, like Marx Brothers films and episodes of Candid Camera, helped him feel better. He said that ten minutes of laughter allowed him two hours of pain-free sleep.

It doesn't hurt to laugh (unless it's uncontrollable and you lose your breath)- so try it! If you feel like screaming in anger- just laugh it off. You'll be happier!

He has the sweetest, most innocent laugh of all!

Erica

Is There a Problem with My Job?

Growing up and especially in high-school, we're all faced with the question: "what do you want to be when you grow up?" For most of us (myself included) we want to be the typical lawyer, teacher, doctor, etc. We want to be the job that we think a) pays good, b) is fun, c) fits our personality.

In my case, I got so hung-up as an adolescent on what I "thought" I wanted to be that I forgot about the other 1.2 million job titles in America. I was determined- with a capital D- to be a doctor.

My life's plan was this:

- Graduate valedictorian from North High

- Attend Wake Forest University and obtain my degree in Biology

- Ace the MCATs

- Get into Medschool (preferably an NC school)

- Become a plastic surgeon (right in-line with one of my favorite doctors- Dr. Scott Don...a brief shout-out here to this man. He is wonderful- kind, caring, humorous, and a A+ surgeon).

But, as I got further and further into my education at Wake Forest, I became less and less convinced that being a doctor is what I was supposed to do. But, HOW would I tell the world? How would I tell every person that believed in me to become a doctor that I wanted a change in plans? Since I was 7, I was going to be a doctor- this means I was on that career path for 14 years!

After taking the MCAT (doing well- not perfect- but well), and applying early to medschools- I started thinking/fretting/praying/etc. I started getting acceptance letters (from ECU), waitlist letters (from WFU and UNC)...THE TIME WAS NOW! I had to make a decision.

I was scared of what people would think, I was scared of what to do with my education (time and money spent), but I was ready to take the leap.

I now work for Union Grove Lumber as the CFO- so I deal with bankers all day and not women who want plastic surgery. I put on my blue jeans and polo shirt instead of scrubs. I bring home a paycheck just like anyone else in the working world. And, I do not see anyone that has a problem with my job. I am happy, I am content, and I am successful.

So, if you are stuck in a rut- or if you have made a lifetime decision that you think you can never change- it's not too late. The only person that will find a problem with your job is you. If you're not happy in your current or future situation- change. If you're worried about a pay change, the truth is, your happiness is worth more than extra bucks in the bank.

No problems in paradise,

Erica

Mental Note: I am NOT an MD!

Recently, with what I consider a graceful aging period, my dad started to complain about a lack of energy.

Of course, with my "pre-med" focus at Wake Forest University, my dad feels that I should be able to answer all questions related to health concerns. The news that my dad did not get is that even after 4 years of Wake Forest education, 160k+ in tuition, numerous lab hours (and even my Masters in Health Administration)- I am NO doctor! I am qualified to answer biology answers (that's my undergrad degree) and "most" administrative answers. In other words, I can tell the family and phylum of most animals and I know how to diligently hire and fire...but I do not know what is going on with someones hemoglobin.

I went to webmd.com (yeah, I know- never trust the Internet for medical information) and it pointed to him having a B-12 deficiency. We began asking around and lots of "elderly" men (those over 45, haha!!) take B-12 supplements. Dad did go to the family doctor, and viola! They found a B-12 deficiency too!

Dad decided to have the doctor write him a prescription for the injectible medication. So, on Sunday afternoon we called over my best friend, Carrie (who is professionally trained and works at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center as a step-down trauma nurse, yeah I'm proud of her), to give him the intramuscular shot. Let's be sure to mention that this needle is 1.5 inches long and carries 1ml worth of fluid. YIKES!

To get his B-12 up, he's supposed to take 1 shot per day for 5 days, then 1 per week for 4 weeks, then 1 per month for life.

Of course, Carrie can't come every day, so instead of calling the numerous other nurses in our lives, Dad hands me the dagger. I almost fainted! I am no qualified person. I begged my husband, who gives himself shots regularly since he is a diabetic, to give the shot- but he refused. I alcoholed up his arm, filled the syringe, located the muscle and went for it (all while saying a prayer and TRYING not to close my eyes!).

It was successful!

Dad has had 3 shots thus far and is already feeling more energized. So, if you have men in your life that are of the "elderly" type (over 45) and have a decreased level of energy, read about B-12 (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-B12/NS_patient-vitaminb12). It's a vitamin, it's natural, and even YOU can give the shot!

Shoot 'em up!

Erica

The Griswold's Make Me HaPpY!

Christmas decorations go up at our home the day after Thanksgiving. Yes, it is also Black Friday and I'm usually running on fumes by the time the tree exits our attic, but- they are up.

We decorate our home with two trees, two wreaths, and a nativity. That's the extent of it (easy to put up, easy to take down). However, just because we don't adorn our home with Griswold type lighting, it doesn't mean that we don't enjoy going to see these types of houses every year- and actually, I have a GREAT appreciation for these folks; and their light spectacles!

This year, we have found a new home that even has it's own radio station to go along with it's light show. WOW! They're entertainment puts the Goodnight's home to shame, but gives ol' Clark Griswold a run for his money!

As Christmas day nears, we'll be trying to find new spots to check out. If you have any recommendations for my little family- let us know!

In the meantime, enjoy this video that we shot of our new favorite hometown light show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQphaNr3EDM&feature=g-upl

Also, FYI, Christmas Vacation comes on ABC Family this week! Whoohoo!

Light Up Those Trees!

Erica

Is this "Scrooge" Like Behavior?

Do you make a list, check it twice? Not only does Santa do this, but a budgeter does, too!

In this "wealth" post, I have decided to post how I do our Christmas shopping and how I save money while buying great gifts for all of those we love.

While I posted earlier on Black Friday the reality is that not ALL of our Christmas shopping can be done then; although I like to believe that I get at least 85% of it done on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Our Christmas shopping always starts with a list and a budget. The list is created and then adjusted as needed.

First, we make a list of names for people to buy for. Of course, the top of our list is our baby boy...then grandparents...then people who's name we drew for Christmas exchanges. The list is reviewed before Black Friday by myself and my husband and we add/subtract as needed.

Second, we place a dollar figure beside each person. For Gage (our son) we put two dollar figures- one for presents and one for his savings account. For each grandparent, they got the same figure, etc. Now, keep in mind that this figure is <at least> the amount that the gift must be worth.

Third, Josh and I go through the sales papers and Groupon offers to see if there is anything listed that we know would fit one of our gift needs. If we see something, we write it on the list. If we don't see something specific, we write down what we are looking for.

Last, we shop. Now, back to the dollar figure...this is the amount that the gift must be WORTH! If it's on sale, that's to our benefit and it proves that we are smart shoppers. I don't know about you, but we don't have thousands of disposable dollars to spend on Christmas shopping. If I want to spend $100 on someone and if I find a gift that is worth $100, but I got it on Black Friday for $40, then I found myself a good deal. The recipient will never know the amount that you paid for it...hopefully they'll love it and appreciate it!

So, is it Scrooge like behavior for trying to save money on gifts during the Christmas season? In my opinion, NO! It just means you are a smart shopper!

He LOVES Santa- and opening gifts!

Save Your Dollars...And Give Gifts Galore!

Erica

Pineapple Casserole with a Tub o' Butter

With Christmas right around the corner, I'm sure that you're family is just as busy as mine. We have Christmas parties every Friday and Saturday from December 1st - January 1st. One part of me is super happy about all of these parties because it means that I do not have to think about dinner plans for my family. The other part of me starts seeing the calories rack up in all of the delicious, homemade, country cooking casseroles.

I'm not sure if your plate looks like mine at family gatherings, but I MUST sample one of everything. Who knows...that chicken casserole in the white Pyrex dish may taste totally different from the one in the clear brown glass...or at least that's my mentality!

At our last Christmas party, I entrusted Josh (who is a FABULOUS cook, I might add) to make our pineapple casserole. It is one of our family favorites and the recipe is listed below. But, in the recipe, Josh accidentally put the "1 Stick" of butter INSIDE of the casserole...while it was needed for the topping...so, he also put another stick of butter in the topping. There we have it! TWO sticks of butter in just my casserole alone. HELLO PAULA DEAN!

It was super yummy still (probably even yummier than normal). I've never heard of anyone complaining of a casserole being too buttery- so, Josh was in the clear, and his help still appreciated.

For this "health" post- I decided to put the calorie count of some of the most popular dishes at our family gatherings. This information was compiled from the appropriately named: http://www.fatsecret.com/! I hope you find them interesting as you fill your plate at your next holiday gathering. 

- Broccoli Casserole: 287 calories (11 g protein)
- Green Bean Casserole: 125 calories (4 g protein)
- Sweet Potato Casserole: 215 calories (4 g protein)
- Chicken Casserole: 500 calories (30 g protein)
- Pineapple Casserole: 219 calories (1 g protein) - how Josh made it: 367 calories...ha!

The "Under 40" Lunsford Clan at this year's Annual Christmas Party at the Union Grove Fire Department

Happy Eating those Yummy Casseroles!

Erica

Try a New Position!

I hope that my blog title for today grabbed your attention. It took me a whopping 42 seconds to decide on that title- and I thought it was eye catching...and mind guttering.

But, unfortunately, this "health" blog isn't about the "position" your mind takes you to...it is about your sleep position!

Every night, Gage (my 15 month old) and I lay back in the recliner and enjoy a bit of TV while he falls asleep. More often than not, this tired mama falls asleep too only to wake up to my husband rolling with laughter! Why is he laughing? Well, he states that I sleep with my mouth wide open. He calls it "catching flies." His laughter occurs on a nightly basis and usually ends with a chuckle on my end too. I mean, he drools when he sleeps- his pillow proves that!

I thought it would be interesting to see what sleeping positions say about our personalities and here is what I found from the "Healthy Living" section on Yahoo! (it was the one that was most interesting and most realistic...who sleeps standing on their head? NO ONE!).

Here's what the site says- I think it's talking about me!-  

These days, the way that I sleep simply says, "I am happy to be single and spending five to seven hours sprawled out in the center of my bed alone."

At other points, my tightly squeezed eyes and curled-up body would have screamed, "I know the baby will wake up/someone will start snoring/the alarm will begin blaring as soon as I finally, finally, finally get to sleep."

Years and years ago, the corpse-looking college student still in her clothes would have mumbled something like, "Finals. Boys. Beer."

Our lives, the amount of sleep we get, and how well we actually rest during those nighttime hours may change drastically over time. However, one sleep researcher says that our body position in bed could say something about who we are, not just what else is happening in our lives.

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, says that a study of 1,000 people revealed that the six most common sleeping positions are indicative of personality types.

If this sounds ridiculous (and honestly, I'd love to see information on this study and the analysis fleshed out further than any of the reports I could find), consider that Idzikowski says it comes down to body language.

"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us," Idzikowski said. "What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect."

The research also links certain sleeping positions with health risks. Some aid digestion while others spur on snoring and restlessness.

Here are the six common sleeping positions and correlated personality traits and health implications, according to this study.

[graphic via BBC.com]

• Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.

• Log position - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people sleep like a log.

• Yearner position - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13% of participants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.

• Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8% study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night's sleep.

• Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

• Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often.

If you think you are one of those people who move through all of these positions, that's not likely to really be the case. Idzikowski said the research reveals most people stay in the same position all night and only 5% lay differently night by night. Also interesting is that the study showed only one in ten people cover their bodies entirely with a blanket, with most people exposing an arm, leg, or both feet.

So, what type of sleeper are you?

One of my *favorite* candid pictures...Gage napping with our Furry Baby (Roxie)

Happy Sleeping!

Erica

He Gets It From His Mama!

If there is one thing that my husband and I argue over (in a fun way) the most- it's who does Gage get his smarts from?

Of course, it's his mama! And, since he doesn't blog- I'll have the final word on here!

Just as proof, here is a video I shot this week of him...showing off his zillion animal sounds. And, lets remember, he's only 14 months old.

I hope to get a video of him up soon reading...that's right, he can read too! I'll let you believe it when you see it.

And, why is this on my "happiness" post? Because nothing makes me happier than having a smarty pants baby!!!!

Enjoy the video: http://youtu.be/3DRK1AeHKP4

He's an artist, too!



One p-r-o-u-d mama,

Erica

The CRAZIES Are OUT!

One of my favorite shopping days is right around the corner...BLACK FRIDAY! Or, I think it should be called "Tromp you over Thursday" and "Frenzy Friday."

In our area, a few stores are opening on Thursday night. So, a few of us girls are leaving to shop at 10 pm. I "hope" to be back by 10 am- that's 12 hours of death defying, gift grabbing, punch the other person in the face shopping.

This year, I'm on the prowl for a Powerwheels car for the main man and possibly a LeapFrog learning tablet too. Of course, not just "any" Powerwheels will do- I'm looking for a tiny, high-end car (hoping for a Range Rover!). Also, mom wants a Kindle Fire- but if I have to, I'll buy it on Amazon on cyber-Monday and not fight anyone over it (electronics are the WORST on Black Friday).

In my excitement about what my future shopping excursion will bring, I was reminiscing on my past experiences. My college roommate and I shopped at the beach for a few years on Black Friday. We'd leave at 11 pm, hit up the Tanger Outlet Stores then we would go sleep in the dog beds at Walmart and wait for their 4 am opening. That's right, we'd SLEEP in DOG BEDS! Then, once the 4 am bell rang, we fought (yes, tugged and pulled until victorious) for a flat screen TV. After strutting out as the "winner" we went to the mall, struggled to stay awake and finally arrived back home (delirious) at noon. We saved a lot of money and saw a lots of crazies- so it was worth it!

My veteran advice: take a list- stick to it. Have a budget- don't break it.

Our 1st Christmas

Enjoy the fight,

Erica

Its Liquid Gold

It's the newest birthing health craze- and I'm a huge proponent!

While pregnant, we received information in the mail regarding cord blood banking on a daily basis. We looked over the information and weighed the pros (all of the life saving options) against the cons (#1 con= it's E-X-P-E-N-S-I-V-E!).

Here's our list:

The pros (straight off of viacord.com):

- Treatable diseases include 12 cancers, 16 bone marrow diseases, 8 blood disorders (including sickle cell anemia), 18 metabolic diseases, and 17 autoimmune diseases

- They are SUPER close to finding the cure for diabetes, cerebral palsy and brain injury using cord blood.

- There have already been over 200 successful cures of diseases in children using their cord blood

- There is absolutely 0 risk to you or your baby during collection. It's totally non-invasive.

The cons:

- Having to make certain that the doctor collects the blood correctly. Its a pass or fail procedure. If they do it wrong, there's no going back and you've already paid to have it collected...

- It's super expensive and there's no "end date." The initial collection fee was around $2500 (which you can pay off monthly for 6, 12 or 18 months) and there is a annual $125 fee that pays for storage for the next year. That means $125/year for the rest of your child's life...and I'm hoping my kid lives to be 100- so that's $12,500.00.

With Josh being a diabetic (although there is no current guarantee that it's a familial trait), and cancer running throughout both sides of our families, I couldn't take the risk of NOT saving my baby's cord blood. Honestly, I think that I would pay almost anything to have the ability to save my child's life. We chose the 12 month payment plan so we've already paid off the cord blood and now we're just paying $125 annually. It's great. And, to know that I could possibly save my child from having an insulin pump attached to his side for the rest of his life- yea, that's a pretty good deal.

Oh, and you can put it on your Baby Registry! I didn't know that when we decided to buy the service- but, I do for the next kid!

If you're pregnant or know someone that is, please look into this service. You child's life is always worth saving- there is no dollar figure that you can attach to it...

The link: http://www.viacord.com/
The phone number: 866-668-4895

Fresh Out!

Thankful for the availability to save a life,

Erica

Don't Forget the Hubby...

On today's post about happiness, I have decided to remember the hubby.

When us ladies become wives, sometimes we forget about our friends...but, when we become mothers we ALWAYS forget about the hubby!

During marriage counceling (we had to complete a 6 week course before we could get married at our church), our family pastor warned us of this- forgetting the husband/wife once kids come into the picture. "Yeah, right!" I thought. But, oh so true the fact is.

To remember my hubby, I have penciled in recurring appearances every Tuesday until the day we die- DATE NIGHT! That's how we remember each other- by scheduling a date night every single Tuesday.

Date night before kids happened often- we could run over to the movies, we could go out to eat in peace, we could go shopping (my husband's favorite activity- cue sarcasm!)...ANYTHING. But, once you add a little life into the picture going to the movies is impossible due to a wiggle worm (sit still for 3 hours, are you kidding?!?!?), going out to eat is not in peace (lots of toys, books, food throwing, etc.), and shopping- ha! I haven't bought myself or my husband anything since August 26, 2010 (the date of Gage's birth).

Every Tuesday, Josh's mom comes to keep Gage and we leave...only for a few hours- but these few hours are a LIFE SAVER (aka: marriage saver). We don't always do something romantic, but we always have a good time. We try to limit the conversation to nothing work related and nothing involving problems (but that's pretty impossible too, what woudl we have to talk about??) and we also try not to look at our phones unless the text/phone rings- just incase it's a problem with Gage.

Date night makes me one happy girl. Last night was date night and we went to a "new" restaurant (really its been there for years, but we've been too scared to try it!)- Chopstix. YUMMMY! We highly recommend it! We also did some "Santa" shopping- something that is hard to do with a kid in the buggy!

Our other favorite hot-spots for all you locals reading my blog are:

1- Mezzaluna (downtown Statesville)

2- 1849 Pizza Factory (on Hwy 21)

3- Olive Garden

4- Outback

So, for all you mama's out there (current or future) remember you were a wife first. Give your husband some attention...at least for 3 hours a week!

Josh and I- about 7 months pregnant...

Josh and I in 2009 on the Oregon Coast (b-e-a-utiful!)

Have a fabulous weekend...and get out with your guy- you'll be a happy girl too!

Erica

It Was the Bomb- Like Tick-Tock

All of my posts thus far regarding "wealth" have been about how to budget and save money. However, there are a *few* things that I refuse to budget on and refuse to "limit." One, is vacations (however, I will post later on how I book exotic trips) and the second is birthdays.

Baby boy turned one this year and around 9 months BEFORE his birthday, I started the planning. I did set a budget, one that is too extreme to even post in good conscious. I did stay *close* to budget (my husband will NEVER know the true outcome!) and I did manage to save some money by doing shopping when sales were happening, cutting coupons, etc.

How to throw a bomb diggity party:

1) Enlist help!

2) Start planning early

3) Have a theme and STICK TO IT!

#1- HELP HELP HELP

You have friends and family for a reason. God put them in your life to be free help! Ha! Honestly though, if you're throwing a huge party, your friends and family would love to help (or at least mine did). I asked my parents for help paying for the train...I asked my mother-in-law to get the 120 cupcakes...I asked my father-in-law to bring 150 meatballs....I asked Gage's godmommy to bring her world famous spinach dip....I asked Ashley to be the photographer....Vickie ran the video camera...and Meg mixed the train CD....then I asked all of Gage's aunties (6 of them- they're really my friends- but he calls them "aunt") to run the stations.

#2- PLAN EARLY!

If there is any chance under the sun of saving money, plan early. I did this and saved a bit (not much- but enough to be proud!). I knew that I wanted to "build" a train for Gage so I saved old UPS boxes and created a train (pics below). Then, I knew that I wanted fruit cups, small bags of chips, and LOTS of candy- so I bought these when they were on sale and checked expirations to make sure they'd still be good. I also HAD to have a REAL train at the party- so I booked it 9 months in advance- did NOT save any money- but DID secure the "pretty" one! I had gifts at each station (and/or tattoos) so I bought these from Oriental Trading when they were offering free shipping/discounted product.

#3- THEME IT OUT!

Gage's party was a train theme and here's how I incorporated a train into all aspects:

- The invitations looked like a train boarding pass and included a train schedule and a train CD

- The entrance was a boarding station where all passengers checked-in and all kids under 10 got "luggage" which included a train hat, whistle, and Gage Dollars (to spend in the gift shop)

- The food station was called "Box Car Grille" and food was served off of the cardboard train I made out of scratch.

- There were 3 other stations: "Shops on Main", "Tattoos-R-Us", "Molding Magic Workshop" (play-doh station). Not only did the stations look cool, but the parents LOVED me for having things to occupy their kid's time.

- Of course, we also had the REAL train that ran outside the entire time of the party. Guests could hop on and off as they pleased to take a ride around the 5 acre facility.

- All decorations were in primary colors- and kept clean- not cluttered.

All in all, we had a BLAST. Everyone that came commended the party- which wasn't the purpose- but it made this mama feel good! I've already been asked about the extravagent theme for next year- I'm thinking a circus. With real acrobats and, of course, a real tiger!

The birthday boy had a good time too...the pictures are evidence of that.

Save a little...splurge a little...it's all good!

Erica

Yea, popping a pill does not fit into my lifestyle...

When we got married, there was a few things that we knew:

#1- We had to start managing our money wiser...bills?!?! Really!?!?

#2- We had to be responsible...even though my mentality was "I'm married- not dead!"

#3- We DID NOT want babies to be created on the honeymoon...reflect back on #1 and #2- #1 we could not afford babies and #2 we were not ready to be responsible thus #3 we DID NOT want babies!

So, when you don't want babies, what do you do? Take a pill? Take a shot? Ehhh- none of these sounded good to me. The pill scenario was ok- but I am terrible at remembering things like that unless I put it in my planner. So, was I going to have an alert and a highlight for "TAKE YOUR PILL, ERICA" every single day? I can hear it now, my Blackberry doing the "notify beep" while having dinner with my grandparents. They always question what the phone is doing...so, what would my response be? Oh, that's my pill popper reminder! Not to mention, I have heard far too many horror stories about how them small little orange/green/blue/white pills do not work. Then, the shots. Ok, so a shot...once every six or so months? I already dread going to the OB-GYN, I couldn't imagine my dread KNOWING I would be given a shot! Yikes! That was out of the question!

About the time that we got married (2008) a new (or maybe a more advertised) form of birth control appeared- the IUD. We studied IUD's at Wake Forest, there were positives (not having to remember a pill!) and there were negatives (they were RARELY used in women that had never had a baby). So, I asked my family doctor about it and she recommended doing the pill but I recommended that she refer me to an OB-GYN (I told you in an earlier post that I'm impatient, maybe I should have added that I am persistent too!).

After a meeting with the OB-GYN, we seen if my insurance (BSBC-NC) would cover the costs (its about $700 out of pocket). After a week, the insurance company said they would pay all of it except a copayment for the office visit. If you do the math (enter budget queen Erica), even the $700 is a deal. Why? Well, the IUD lasts for up to 5 years (unless removed). Five years worth of birth control (at $30/month) is $1800.00. So, even paying $700 would be $1100 cheaper than the pill. If you did pay the $700, to "break even" with your cost of paying for the pill...it would take you 23 months- not a bad deal! However, paying the $30 copay for the office visit was right up my alley! This means that I would saving money after having the IUD for only 2 months.

Even after calculating the money saved, there was still a hesitation. It was rare to put an IUD in women that had never had babies. The risks were that the IUD could permanently block the fallopian tubes (thus you could never get pregnant naturally) or the IUD would not "fit" in the uterus because it had never been stretched thanks to a child fitting in there! But, the risks were rare- and since 2008 they are significantly rarer.

So, a month before we got married, I went to get the Mirena. After a 20 minute visit and insertion I was on my way home. And, I was baby free!

We enjoyed 1.5 years of marriage before we resolved #1 and #2 from above. We were financially and mentally prepared for a kid- so the next appointment I made was to get the Mirena removed. After a 5 minute visit and removal I was on my way home. And, I was told that it would take up to a year to get pregnant after having an IUD (they said it took longer for your uterus to prepare itself after having an IUD)...fabulous we thought! We'll have another kid free year and time to prepare ourselves even more. WRONG! Exactly (to the day) one month later, there were 2 lines...we went to Vegas being a married couple, we came home knowing that we were parents! YIKES! So, what happens in Vegas does not always stay in Vegas- we have a baby to prove it!

I would HIGHLY recommend the Mirena for anyone and everyone. #1: It's a money saver. #2: It's more reliable. #3: You don't have to remember to take that darn little pill!

For your reading pleasure, here's the link to my favorite IUD- the Mirena. That little piece of plastic is a life saver (we could never handle TWO kids at the moment!).

Christmas in Vegas...

Our Vegas Jackpot! Our 1st Ultrasound Picture!

Have a great day!

Erica

Painting and Smiling

If there is one thing that I find peace doing, it is decorating our home. Whether it be adding a photograph, or rearranging furniture, I LOVE DECORATING.

An unlimited budget makes decorating even more sweet- although this is not a reality- ever! So, I try to find deals when decorating. AC Moore always has 50% off coupons- Z Gallery in North Lake mall has sweet deals weekly and beautiful (unique) products.

Just a snippet of a decorating project I did (over a year ago...but the only one I have photos of) is Gage's nursery.

I started with an empty room and lots of ideas. The first step in decorating is establishing a color pallet and/or theme. With Gage's nursery I did both. I found the bedding I wanted and then I stuck to the greens/browns/blues within that bedding to create the other pieces added to the room.

I knew that I wanted to have large paintings hung instead of painting the room- why? Because the paintings can be taken down within 2 minutes. The walls would take weeeeeeeeks to change and I'm an impatient person! I started with VERY large canvases- 20 x 30's I think- and I took them to Auntie Janna's work (she's a teacher) and blew up photos on the overhead to trace onto the canvas. From then, I painted and painted.

I also knew that I wanted book shelves- however, knowing that I would have one messy/into EVERYTHING child, I took precautions and decided to go with floating bookshelves that are far too high for him to reach (as of now). This not only reduces messes, but it also reduces the hazard of him using the bookcase as a ladder to crawl into the heights of the sky! On the top of the bookshelves, I wanted to add his name in those cute block letters; but who wants plain white letters? So, I used painters tape to create cute patterns on these letters to spell out his name.

The room turned out fabulous; and it's still comfortable and clean (keeping the decorating clean and not cluttered adds to a less stressful environment). A few focal points are much more strong than overwhelming knick-knacks everywhere!

One of my paintings of a lion...

The finished nursery...

Soon I will add more ideas on decorating; perhaps I will put up information on how to choose appropriate frames and groupings for professional pictures....another LOVE of mine.

Happy decorating!

Erica



It's Illegal to sell Mints with Crack

Last Friday, Gage and I went shopping. For what? Oh, nothing in particular. In all honesty, we just had to get out of the house. I had a few coupons/gift cards/vouchers that I wanted to use- AND my grandmother just gave me our Christmas money to start shopping for gifts that she will give us (gotta LOVE that mentality!).

Anyways, as we strolled through the mall, there it was. The angels of the Heavens started singing. The lights started flashing. I think I even heard it call my name. That's right, the Hickory Farms booth is UP!

Of course, the sausages, the cheese, the nuts, all of that is great. But, those darned "Melt Away Mini Mints"! I just CAN'T RESIST! They are small pieces of glory. I honestly think that it was God's plan to put the inventor of those mints on this earth just so that I would have 1 thing that I 100% cannot pass up during the Christmas season.

So, there I stood, at the Hickory Farms booth. The nice lady running the station asked if I would like to sample one of their Mints. Uh, was this really a question? It's rhetorical if you ask me! OF COURSE! And, nice Hickory Farms lady, my 14 month old would like 2...or 7...to "test" also.

Against my greater will power, I gave in (as always). I bought one, small, overpriced, delicious bag of "Melt Away Mini Mints" that now sit, in a beautiful bowl, on my kitchen counter. Everytime we walk by, we eat one....or two...Gage even stands at the counter and says "mmmmm" and "gree gree"- that means (in baby talk) that he wants a green mint! I think I've created a little addict- to mints made with crack. It has to be made with crack- it's addictive- it's impossible to walk by and not take a hit...a hit in the mouth with that yummy goodness that is!

Here's their website: http://www.hickoryfarms.com/ They are offering 3 day shipping for $3- but, don't worry. You can't buy the Melt Away Mini Mints on here- they're already sold out! So, you'll have to get your Mint/Crack fix by going to the mall. Tell them their #1 Addict says hi!

My mouth waters just looking at this picture!



Have a Merry Mint Eating Day!

Erica

Ugh- is it 5:10 am already????

Every morning my alarm goes off at 5:10- an hour much too early, especially on Thursday night's with Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice keeping me up until at least 11 pm (even later if I have a Grey's date with my girlfriends). But, that oh so dreaded sound is needed; it signals the start to the day- my workout!

I'm sure you knew that the day was coming when my "Health" blog would be about working out. A hated subject, especially among us women species- however, it's a subject that is very important to me and my life.

My workout journey started my freshman year in college as I was DETERMINED not to gain the freshman 15. My friends often joke that I am the only one that exited college smaller than the day I entered. I started Wake Forest a size 10 and left a size 2. That's right, I dropped 8 sizes in 4 years. It was/is/will forever be hard work, but it's do-able.

From the beginning, I have worked out in the wee hours of the morning. Why? Not because I am insane (although that would be a nice excuse) but because I found that if I put my workout off until later in the day that I would conjure up every excuse under the sun as to why I couldn't go to the gym (too tired, too much homework (then) or too much housework (now), no one to watch my yeast grow in the lab (then) or no one to watch the baby (now)...and the list would go on and on and on).

Since Wake Forest, my workout schedule has not changed, however I do have a workout partner- my mama! Yes, she hates me for it and reminds me on a regular basis- but it's my desire to keep her young and healthy so she can tend to my baby boy! During my pregnancy, working out was a #1 concern and I continued to workout until the day that I was put on bed rest. I did cardio, weights, everything (minus abs- which was pretty useless at that time!). After my c-section, I was forbidden to workout for 6 weeks, but I HAD to get those 62 lbs off so I went back after 4 weeks (shhhh- don't tell Dr. Kepley). And, don't judge- I gained 62 lbs- while working out every morning AND eating ice cream ALL day EVERY day. I enjoyed my pregnancy and just in case you're curious, I lost it all and some. I'm 3 lbs smaller today than I was the day I got pregnant. And, as for the size 2? Of course I'm back in them! I had a whole wardrobe that I couldn't let go to waste!!! I have since purchased some size 4...but, that's just 2 pairs of jeans...the rest is the old Erica. As a new parent, I couldn't afford to buy myself AND my new child a closet of clothes- it's a great incentive!

I found some interesting facts regarding fitness via webmd.com (I love this site). Here they are for the sharing: 1. Exercise Boosts Brainpower

Not only does exercise improve your body, it helps your mental function. All that makes for a more productive day.Improved productivity not only makes you a better worker, it makes things better for everyone in the workplace. Companies with less wasted work hours and less sick time end up with lower health care costs -- and an improved bottom line.

2. Movement Melts Away Stress

As much as it may stress you out just to think about exercising, once you actually start working out, you'll experience less stress in every part of your life.When you're less stressed, you're less irritable.

3. Exercise Gives You Energy

You might be surprised at how, say, popping in a workout tape for 30 minutes in the morning can change your whole day. When endorphins are released into your bloodstream during exercise you feel much more energized the rest of the day.

4. It's Not That Hard to Find Time for Fitness

The key is to use your time more wisely. Think about killing two birds with one stone.Take your kids to the park or ride bikes together, and you're getting physical activity while enjoying family time. Half an hour a day is all you need to reap the health and disease-fighting benefits of exercise.
5. Fitness Can Help Build Relationships
Think of what exercising with a partner can do for a relationship, whether it's with a spouse, a sibling, or a friend you used to go to lunch with once a week. People who have exercise partners stay with their programs and reach their goals more often than those who try to go it alone.
6. Exercise Helps Ward Off Disease
Research has shown that exercise can slow or help prevent heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, osteoporosis (bone loss), and loss of muscle mass.
7. Fitness Pumps Up Your Heart
Not only does exercise help fight disease, it creates a stronger heart -- the most important muscle in the body. That helps makes exercise -- and the activities of daily life -- feel easier.
8. Exercise Lets You Eat More
Pound for pound, muscle burns more calories at rest than body fat. So the more muscle you have, the higher your resting metabolic rate. And, of course, you also burn calories while you're actually exercising.
9. Exercise Boosts Performance
After a few weeks of consistent exercise, you may feel your clothes fitting differently and see that your muscle tone has improved.
10. Weight Loss Is Not the Most Important Goal
Weight loss is the reason many people exercise in the first place. But it's certainly not the sole benefit of an exercise program.So whatever weight loss goal you have when starting a fitness program, don't make it your only goal. Strive to feel better, to have more energy, to be less stressed. Notice the small things that exercise does for you quickly, rather than getting hung up on the narrow goal of the number on a scale.

Now that it is a routine in my life, I love it! I love days that start off at the gym- it helps me get mentally prepared for the day, it helps me vent my frustrations (to my mom/workout partner) from the day past, and it keeps me looking like one hot mama (hahaha!).

Baby Boy doing his morning workout...lifting a 5 gallon water jug.

Yea, he gets those muscles from his mama!

Have a great day- and try working out and challenging yourself. You won't be sorry!

Erica

30 Days of....Happiness

As I look down my Facebook news feed, all I see are posts about what people are thankful for on that particular day. What a heartwarming message- I love it when people are actually remembering how very blessed each and every one of us are to a) live in a free country b) have a loving and forgiving God c) have people out there that care for us.

For my "happiness" post for the week, I have decided to outline my days of thankfulness- that's right, you'll get to see ALL 30 days in one sitting. Don't sigh, just sit back and relax. Some of them may be kinda funny (I mean it IS on my happiness blog!).

The picture from our "Thanksgiving Card"- very thankful for this little man...

I am thankful for. . .

1) My AWESOME God. That's right, forgiving, loving, eternal. AWESOME.

2) My beautiful baby boy- or should I say toddler (a small tear just fell from my face)

3) My caring husband. He told me on the day we were married that I am the peanut butter to his jelly. Oh, so true. We compliment each other very well and I love him for it.

4) My daddy. He's a provider, he's an enricher...and he's my boss. Gotta love him!

5) My moma. She's the friend that I'll always have. She may not have given me a sister, but she's close to being one.

6) My papaw. He's, what shall I call it? My rock. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this man and do NOT know what I would do without his wit, his humor and most of all- his prayers.

7) My baby's Godmommy. Carrie. She's become such a part of my life and for that, I am always grateful.

8) Auntie Meg. The love I have for this girl is very unique. She has DEFINITELY added spunk to my life.

9) Auntie Jan. She and I have been friends since we were embryos (really) I had no choice in our friendship, but it works!

10) Bekah, Ally, Ooooolivia- each are a girlfriend that I can call on any time and (hope) they answer! They complete our friend circle and I am thankful for the points of view they bring along with them.

11) Anyone that cares for my baby so I can actually get things done- Mawmaw Pam on Tuesday nights, Danna on Wednesday's, Maw on Tues/Thurs. And my moma whenever I call! 

12) My job. Many people are without one and I have one that I absolutely LOVE. It's trying at times, but I persevere and learn a lot daily.

13) My education. I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to go to school and even earn my master's.

14) The Wake Forest Family. It's great to be a graduate of such a small school where you feel like campus is a 2nd home.

15) My flat iron. Enough said.

16) "My Baby Can Read" videos. I can pop one of those suckers in and, BOOM, instant entertainment AND learning at the same time! Not to mention, he actually CAN read (or recognize) the words.

17) Our home. It is close to town, it is roomy, and it has equity! Gotta love that!

18) My Tahoe. Having a 6'9" husband + a baby in an Acura TL was too much to handle!

19) Computers. If I didn't have a computer, I would be lost. It's how I conduct day-to-day business at my desk.

20) E-mail. What is the post office anyways?? I'm not sure that my child will ever know what the post office is!

21) Online banking. This thing is wonderful. It allows you to do every kind of bill paying imaginable- from your desk! Heck yes...and SAVE A STAMP! I'm a no snail mail advocate!

22) Excel. It is how I budget our personal and business finances. It is how I track millions of dollars worth of inventory. It is WONDERFUL!

23) K-Love Radio station. Mmmmmm- wanna have a nice, relaxing ride home? Turn on K-Love!

24) On the flip side of that, our DVD player in the Tahoe- that thing is worth it's weight in PURE GOLD!

25) Calculators. When you're having to figure board footage on a daily basis- yea...one of those come in real handy!

26) My age and experiences. I would not be where I am today without the experiences that I have had in life- good and bad. If you would have asked me in 2000 where I would be in 2011, I would not have answered the situation I am in- but I LOVE IT. Thank you life, for leading me here.

27) My blog! I actually have a lot of fun writing on here, and I hope that at least one person out there finds my blog informative, useful and humorous.

28) My ability to vote. Again, enough said.

29) The world that God has placed me in- as in everything. My location, my family, my health, my life, my everything. I know that God has a perfect plan for each and every one of us. Sometimes, it takes a while before people realize and understand their purpose. I know mine- and I'm 100% satisfied.

30) Last, but certainly not least, I am very thankful for the people that protect us selflessly on a daily basis. Stop to think about the soldiers that are away from their family. Think about the spouses and children who are moved around all of the time simply because their "better half" has chosen this career path. I pray for these men and women daily- I especially pray for one of my very best friends Ashley as she and her girls support her husband and their daddy in the Marines. Hooorah!

I hope that each of you think about what you are thankful for not only during the Thanksgiving season, but all year long. Our blessings do not just occur one time per year- but all the time. We are blessed all the time.

Erica

Budget. Wait! What budget?

As promised- today's "wealth" blog is on budgeting. I know, it's your most favorite topic, right? (big BIG sigh).

Most of us find ourselves **thinking** we have a budget, when really, all we have is a knowledge of our bottom line in our checking account. We know we have enough money to cover the bills that are sitting on our kitchen counter, but we have no idea how much money will be left in our account at the end of the month.

For the Goodnight household, I know EXACTLY how much money will be left in our account at the end of each month, heck- I could tell you within a couple of dollars how much we should have on December 31st.

Creating a budget isn't all so bad if you have the handy dandy Excel program on your computer. I adore Excel- I use it for practically everything! It adds for me, it color codes for me, it is wonderful! By the way, my accountant LOVES my Excel use too! I just burn my annual banking information for her and BOOM, she has every single transaction- deposits, debits, the WORKS! She knows my color coding system (which you'll be introduced to) and she knows that everything is to the penny. My taxes are done pronto and my refund check is mailed out before tax season truly begins!

Now, how to budget....

First, please take a look at a screen shot of our budget for this month. This page is used every single month and starts clean on the 20th of the month (that's when our check and visa ledger is mailed to us from the bank). I like to start the month clean after I've balanced all of my transactions to my ledgers (checking and visa). Don't let this screen shot overwhelm you, and don't analyze my numbers (I changed them a bit so that you couldn't judge the money we make and/or how much our mortgage is!)

Here's how to set your own up:

1) Open excel and create your budget sheet by....

     a) Making five columns- transaction (where/what the money went to), date, type (remember, you're listing your visa transactions too so that it's not a "scare" when that visa bill comes in), deposit column (so that it's easy to see that money coming in!), and the transaction amount (remember to put a negative symbol in front of the debits!)

    b) The first line needs to be your original balance from your last checking statement- for us, this was $500.00 (not really, but for the sake of this example)

    c) The following lines needs to list your transactions as they occur

    d) Then, at the bottom of your transaction list, use the handy dandy "SUM" button in excel to add up all of your transactions in that column. For us, the balance to date in our account (for this example) is $418.21. Now, keep in mind that this includes ALL Visa purchases since the 20th. So, if I look at my online banking, I actually have more than 418.21. I have 418.21 PLUS all of my Visa transaction amounts. But, since I don't want "Visa Shock" I take out these transactions as they occur.

2) Create a separate section at the bottom of your spread sheet for your monthly bills.

    a) You can see that we have 10 bills that occur on a monthly basis- whether we like them or not! I like to color code these bills so they're easily found at the end of the year. The lime green is anything medical and/or tax deductible. The yellow is insurance, purple is our satellite bill, etc. I like colors- this isn't necessary, but it's easier for me to find my transactions!

    b) In the next column over, list the amount of these bills per month. I have my bills set up on a budgeted plan through the provider so that my bill is the exact same every month. If you do not have this set up, use an average...or your best estimate. And, this doesn't mean just bills that are paid from your checking account- if you'll notice, I pay a lot of these bills with my Visa...I gotta get them points!!! Use the handy "sum" button again to see the sum off all your bills in the month. Ours is $4,367.06.

   c) In the 3rd column over, list these amounts AGAIN. Why? Because as you pay these bills, you'll remove their amounts from this column (I put **'s). Use the "sum" button again to see the current amount of bills you have LEFT to pay for the month. We have $1,785.65 left to pay.

3) Now, my favorite part. The "INCOME INFO"!

    a) Put the dates of your pay date. Ours is weekly- yours may be bi-weekly...monthly...etc.

    b) In the next column over, put the amounts that you'll receive on these dates.

    c) I also have a line for "Insurance" income because I get a stipend for this amount. So, if you have any additional, non-payroll income, place a separate line for that.

    d) Then, have a line for "INCOME BALANCE"- use the handy "sum" button and choose to add the lines for your income. Once you've been paid, put **'s in that slot...the Income Balance is what you're still owed from your employer.

    e) Then, have a line for "CURRENT BALANCE" and in this slot type in "=" and choose the slot with your current checking account total. For us, this is $418.21. As this amount changes, it will automatically update if you use the "=" button.

   f) Finally, have a "Amount Remaining POST Bills"- in this slot type in "=" and then choose the "Income Balance" + "Current Balance" - "Bill Balance". So our formula for this slot is "=6716.32+418.21-1785.65". This totals $5,348.88 meaning on the 20th of November, we should have that much money left in our checking account. Of course, this isn't true...because of all the extra expenditures we'll have that are not "bills"- so, I like to look at this number as being the amount of money I can spend without going in the hole! I like to think about taking 1-2k out of that and putting into a savings account each month....thus my mentality is...I can spend 3,348.88 this month and still be good to go!

Phew, a LOT of information, right?

It's confusing to set up at first, but once you get it going, you won't be able to live without this spreadsheet.

If you need help with setting up a sheet for yourself (or if you simply find these directions far too confusing), let me know by commenting your e-mail address. I'll be more than happy to set one up for you that is blank and you can download it and fill in the appropriate information for yourself.

I use this same exact system for my job as a CFO....yes, it's a bit more detailed (well, A LOT more detailed) but it works. The president of our organization loves it...he loves being able to see how much money we have/need by December 31st (I run it on an annualized basis).

Happy bill paying, happy spending, and most of all- HAPPY BUDGETING!

Erica