Challenge Accepted

I started a challenge with Ruth Soukups 31 days of Living Well & Spending Zero and 31 Days to a Clutter Free Life.  Yes, I'm doing both at once.  I'm pushing myself to get my home and life organized and prepared for the next chapter in my life.  If you don't know who Ruth Soukup is you can check out her website Living Well Spending Less. I saw one of her books at Barnes and Noble and thought, "I need this in my life".  After reading Living Well, Spending Less I bought all her books.  I don't own the journal though.

I attempted the challenge last summer but was unsuccessful due to work.  Things have changed and I'm so ready for the challenge this time around.  I'm working through two of her books but starting them at different times.  Day 1 of Living Well & Spending Zero started Wednesday, unfortunately day 2 I worked in Oakland and when I got home at 6:15, I fell asleep as soon as I laid  on my bed.  I didn't realize how tired I was.  So, Here I am working on day 2 before work and my daughter will finish it tonight.  We are organizing the kitchen pantry.  It looks like we will be eating a lot of canned veggies and pasta for the next 30 days.  I buy my pasta and canned goods when my store has them on sale. You know those sales, 5 for $5 and so on.  I also bought a lot of soup.  My freezer is pretty empty at the moment and my fridge needs to be completely cleaned out.  I'm afraid to see if there is a science experiment in there.

Day 3 (tomorrow) will be easy. Meal planning.  I want to start meal prepping, but looking at what I have to use, it's not going to happen.  I can however make lunches for work.  Not as healthy as I would have liked.

Day 1 of 31 Days to a Clutter Free Life is just getting the basics down.. Days 2 will be a breeze as its the Entry way of our home.  We don't really have one but there is a closet at our entrance that I will clean and organize tomorrow when I get home from work.  Seems easy, right?

Well I'm off to work.. It's gonna be a long night.  Graduations and Memorial Day weekend.. Bring on the party people looking for beer...

Conversations With Strangers

Being a pedestrian has it's perks.  How often do you talk to strangers while going to doctor appointments, grocery shopping, or work?  Not at all if you drive yourself, right?  For a long time I would put headphones on and ignore the world as I traveled to my destinations.  I was always afraid to chat with people on the bus or at the corner while I waited for the light to change.  We were raised not to talk to strangers as if all other humans were some terrifying beast.   Yes, there are some scary people in the world and we may be at risk sometimes while out and about.  Don't worry, I don't go anywhere with these strangers.

 People want connection, even for a moment with a stranger.  People want to feel noticed, heard, and a little less lonely.  Most of my brief conversations are not pleasant, but the ones that last just long enough for me to get to my destination are the ones I know made a difference in someones life.  Even if all I did was smile and say Hello.

When speaking to the homeless, I always remind myself that they may not have full mental capabilities anymore.  I usually just listen to their stories, offer food, and let then be on their way.  It's heart breaking to hear about their families and old life.  Then there are ones who just want to talk about what a nice day it is. Their happiness is a pleasant sight which gives me hope.

There are the older ladies who are lonely. Kids don't visit anymore because everyone is too busy.  I see pictures of grand kids all the time.  If only their children could see the pride in these ladies eyes as they speak of family and all the accomplishments made in life.

Recently I have been chatting it up with random people everywhere I go.  Some are customers from my store.  I don't remember them, but they know me.  It's still weird when that happens.  My last conversation was about traffic and how every driver seems to be in such a hurry.  As we walked he told me that he enjoys riding his bike to work when the weather permits.  He also enjoys taking walks to Starbucks on his lunch breaks.  Then it turns into me listening to this man talking about his wife and how awesome she is.  I wonder if she knows how much he loves her and admires her hard work.

My favorite conversations are the ones I'm not participating in.  Just listening to strangers on the bus or at Starbucks chat about celebrities, world events, their families, and politics is entertaining and inspiring.  It is rare that I hear arguments.  What I hear and see in these conversations are strangers coming together to educate and understand opposing views, or just bragging about who has the more funny or successful kids/ grand kids.

I didn't realize how much of the world I was missing out on until I broke my headphones.

My Spending Habits Suck.

Unknown Source :(

I had a financial goal for 2017 and I've already put myself behind.  So here I am reminding myself that I need to buy only what I need.  As I look at the new bikini and socks I bought today.  I did need a new bathing suit and socks for work.  Still, I bought a scarf and junk food for my kids.  We didn't need those. I recently spent money on fans for the house.  After I bought them I felt regret, but I'm hoping they will save me money in the long run. Fans are better than air conditioners, right?

I've been reading Ruth Soukup's book Living Well Spending Less. I also bought her other books, 31 Days of Living well & Spending Zero, and 31 Days to a Clutter Free Life.  I bought them last year and read them all.  Taking notes and planning my own financial overhaul.  I hit a road block when work became hectic with long hours.  I let it all fall to pieces.  I am going to give it a go again.  I'm sure the reader is supposed to do each challenge one at a time, but I'm going all in and challenging myself. I'm cracking the whip and putting my finances, spending, and organization in check.  I have 3 goals with this challenge.

1. Meal Prepping - Going to wing it this week, hopefully I can find good recipes to use. 
2. Buy necessities ONLY.  I keep buying things that I don't need right this minute.  Including junk food at work. 
3. Remove the clutter and reorganize.  What's that phrase?  "Messy house, messy mind" or something like that.  

Now that work isn't needing me 12+ hours a day I can focus on myself and what is needed at home.  Tomorrow is my day off and I will start with my meal prep and organize my fridge.  I also need to clean out my closet and storage closet.  In order to get the rest of my apartment organized the storage closet has to be ready for the items worth keeping.  I can't remember the last time I actually looked in the closet.  Maybe I should be afraid haha.  No, I'm so ready for this change in my life.  

WTF, My Body is Angry

My health has been going down hill lately.

I'm exhausted, my skin is breaking out and itching like crazy, and I'm in a crappy mood for no reason.  I don't know what caused this so I plan on detoxing for a few days.   At first I thought I was having an allergic reaction.  I changed soaps, laundry detergent, and lotions.  My skin is still blotchy and itchy.  My face and chest is seriously breaking out, I'm guessing my face broke out from the hair products I'm using now.  I'm tired of feeling itchy all day.  Scratching my skin off.  This has been going on for a few weeks now.  I think it's time to go to the doctor and get an allergy test and also see a dermatologist for what I think may be hives.  A coworker thinks its just stress but I disagree.  I don't feel stressed.  I'm working less and sleeping more. So where is the stress?  I am eating way too much crap though. So maybe, just maybe I'm eating something that is causing all this.

My skin looks awful right now.  The photo collage below is from this morning.  Fresh out of the shower.  My face and chest are covered in acne, some are cystic acne which I have not dealt with in a few years. My arms are blotchy, dry and extremely itchy.  I've been using Lubriderm Fragrance Free lotion, but it doesn't seem to be helping.  Time for a detox with lots of water, fresh fruits and veggies.

UGH... Acne and blotchy skin.