Mar 22, 2013 |
T.G.I.F. Indeed!
What does TGIF mean to you? Some days it’s a breath of fresh air, an exhaling of all the week’s stresses and pressures. Other times it could be anticipation of a weekend event.
For me, this week, it’s a way of getting back on track with my writing, my house, and other aspects of my life that seem to have careened off track lately.
I’ve been working very hard, and I’m seeing the fruits of my labor, even if no one else is.
I had a financial scare earlier this week. You know, one of those moments when it looks like the bottom is gonna drop? But then things worked out. Things aren’t great. But they’re survivable. At least for another few weeks. And sometimes that the best I can do.
I know I’m a great preacher for trusting in God. And I do. But I’m also human. And I worry. Because I also believe it’s my duty to do the best I can with what I have. And let’s be honest here, so often it feels that my best is absolutely not good enough.
I have a prayer, a dream, that someday the only bills I’ll have will be my mortgage and living expenses. I don’t see that day coming any time soon, but I can say I’m one paid-bill closer than I was a month ago. And hopefully by the end of March, I’ll be yet another one paid-bill closer. I don’t like financial struggles. I don’t like not being able to pay my bills. So when things seem so utterly despairing, it’s really a beautiful feeling to discover they’re not.
I’ve discovered that the best way for me to get over the anxiety of my budget is to act like it doesn’t matter.
You know I have a tree in the middle of my yard. I mean, practically smack-dab right in the middle of my front yard. And while the birds love it and I love the shade it offers, I don’t like that tree. It’s a Cottonwood, and drops these ridiculous round seed puffs that look like, well, little brown drops all over my yard. My goal is to have the tree cut down and two Sugar Maples put closer to the property line. More color, more shade, more yard. It’s a win-win-win situation. Except tree-cutters are expensive. Very expensive. And when I can’t even afford the regular bills, I’m thinking hiring a tree cutter isn’t a smart decision. So guess what.
I’m doing it. No, I’m not hiring someone. I’m doing it. I’m cutting the tree down. Myself. All. By. Myself. Yesterday I sawed one large limb off.
Cottonwood Limb
It was only one limb, but it was big. And heavy. And I did it. And it felt good. I don’t like chopping down the trees because I need shade and the birds need shelter. But I really dislike that tree. And I need to make room for the new ones. Once I get to where I need a ladder to cut the limbs, then I’ll have a problem. Maybe by then I’ll have won the lottery and can hire someone. If not, I’m sure someone out there is willing to be a temporary lumberjack (now accepting applications) in exchange for a home-cooked meal. Again: a win-win situation.
Always look on the bright side.
Dot’s Rainbow
The writing and the cooking and the Cookbooks and the housecleaning and the birthdaying and the family and the loving and the working and the gardening and the pruning and the planting… it all adds up to one very busy me. And I’m okay with that.
Still. After a week like this, it really is nice to say, TGIF. And I might even get to sleep in tomorrow.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Want to join in with your own End-of-Week recap? Have plans you want to shout from the rooftop? Heard something great, amazing, terrifying, or just worth sharing? Then share it! There are only two rules: Be supportive of others who are sharing, and add the button from the sidebar (or a text link) to your post if you’re joining.
[A special shout-out to Shell at Things I Can’t Say for inspiring me with her Wednesday POUR YOUR HEART OUT link.]
Mar 21, 2013
It’s almost TGIF time. Yeah. That excites me.
But this week, it excites me for a different reason: I’m opening up my TGIF posts to all of you to share your own links, comments, posts… whatever you feel like sharing.
I know. It’s just another reason to love Fridays.
So get your links ready. The only requirement will be to add the Link Badge (once I have one!) to the posts you share.
And if you’re not a Blogger, don’t worry. You can still tell us all about your world in a comment.
So go ahead. Write a poem. Share a story. Paint a picture. Link a link. Vent. Create. Whine. Rejoice. Whatever TGIF means to you. Be frank. Spill it. And share.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Mar 18, 2013
On the successful heels of my Cookbook Project Campaign via Kickstarter, I’ve already begun another. Kickstarter is turning into a wonderful avenue for my readers to pre-order their own copy of my newest project.
A Study on the Ten Commandments began with my own personal notes as I chose to take just one Commandment each day and break it down to answer some basic questions I had:
- Why was this important for God to be specific about?
- What was His target audience?
- Is it still applicable today?
- How can I apply this to my daily life?
- How can I use the writing gifts God gave me to share these lessons with others?
The Book (or rather, booklet, as it’s only 36 pages including daily notes sections), thus evolved over two years of proofing, rewrites, and much prayer. I’d tucked it away for quite some time not sure what to do. When I formed New Inklings Press last year, that still small voice let me know this would be one of my publications. And I believe its time has come.
I invite you to take a look at my simple Kickstarter campaign by clicking on the cover sketch below. I ask you to pray for my family and this project’s success. I believe God has called me to write for Him. I hold fast to His promises to provide for me and my family when things look bleak. I have faith that I am doing the Right Thing and I am confident His Word will reach many. I’m humbly honored to be just one instrument in an orchestra of millions.
I’m just an ordinary woman getting through an ordinary life with an extraordinary God. These are just some of the lessons I’ve learned.
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
Mar 17, 2013 |
My birthday is coming up soon. Tuesday to be exact. You’re wishing me a Happy Birthday right now, aren’t you? Sure you are, I can tell. Thank you!
It’s off to a great start. And I’m going to share some of my secrets to a successful birthday with you. How do you like them apples?
How Do You Like Them Apples?!
Let’s face it: Birthday is a bit of a misnomer. What we all really like is a Birthmonth. Am I right? Y’all don’t wake up on midnight of your special day and say, “Wow. Today’s my birthday.” And then 24 hours later think, “I did not see that coming.” Not at all. If you’re an inkling at all like me or my daughter, you start thinking about it a wee bit in advance.
There’s some planning involved. Some surprises. Mostly, just some great go-with-the-flow adventuring.
It starts with a small time investment and some printer ink. Visit your favorite restaurant sites online and see if they have any eClub offers. Many will give you either a completely free or free-with-purchase coupon just for signing up. You might also get a second coupon to be used during the month of your birthday. Just a few of my favorites are Del Taco, Carino’s and Panera Bread.
On Friday, Dot visited me at work during lunch time. We went to the local Del Taco and got two free chicken soft tacos. I have a second coupon to use next week, good for one free premium shake. No purchase necessary on either coupon. I did, however, indulge in a small fries. $1.72 is a nice price for lunch, don’tcha think?
Saturday morning we woke up early. I had a $5 reward certificate from Best Buy that expires in three days. Lucky for me, they have a good selection of cheap CDs. Unlucky for me, they were one penny short of what I needed to spend in order to use the certificate. So I had to add to my purchase. What on earth does This Girl find at Best Buy? A pack of pens, of course! Oh, darn. (You can hear the sarcasm, right? Okay. Just checking.)
Then we crossed the street to enjoy a behind-the-scenes Grand Opening of our new Macy’s store. Trust me, we need this store here in the desert. Just the right touch of snobbery to get people out of their jeans and flip-flops. Yeah. This is a good thing. A better thing? Coupons! Macy’s doesn’t open to the public until Wednesday, but many charity organizations in the area sold $5 tickets. All proceeds were kept by the charities. A ticket was three-part: The first got you in the door, the second got you an entry for a $500 gift card drawing (No. We didn’t win. But thank you for asking.), and the last got you discounts at checkout.
For the regular price of one piece of clothing, I picked up a nice blouse for myself, and two tops for Dot.
Dot’s Tops
It’s like my top paid for itself. Happy Birthday to Me. Guess what I’m wearing on Tuesday!
The crowds were excessive, of course, and standing in line was nearly like doing so on Black Friday. But we managed. We also built up an appetite so I took Mutti and Dot to Carino’s where I had a St. Patrick’s Weekend coupon: wear green and get a free pizza.
Pizza for St. Patrick
They start each table with free bread and dipping oil. We ordered a plate of fried Mozzarella and beverages. They even threw in a free chocolate cake and ice cream for dessert!
Warm Chocolate Cake. Cold Vanilla Ice Cream. ‘Nuff said.
Are they awesome or what? It was so much food, we took some home. Not bad for $25, including tip.
Then we decided a movie was the ticket! Dot treated us to LINCOLN at the dollar theater. We were so stuffed from lunch that it didn’t even cross our mind to get popcorn or a soda. But if it had, we belong to the theater’s Rewards club so every time we go, we get free snacks with purchase.
After the movies, I decided since we were so close, I needed to use my Staples certificates. Do you have a Staples office supply store near you? Did you know they pay you for turning in your empty ink cartridges and buying product at their store? It’s awesome. I tend to save up my cartridges and turn them in only once or twice a year so I get all my rewards at once instead of little by little. For Saturday’s indulgence, I used my certificate to buy a colorful insulated lunch tote. I treated myself to an insulated tumbler. Less than $8.00. I’m okay with the cost. It’ll last. And who doesn’t love drinking out of a fun cup?
By this time, it had been about four hours since we last ate. Panera Bread was calling our name. Let me check… yup. There’s a coupon for that. Just for signing up, I got a free pastry. Pastry? More like a meal! I’m not selfish. I bought Dot a blueberry bagel. Mom wanted to get her own, so I let her. We both spent just over $2.00.
Cinnamon Roll from Panera Bread
But what’s a pastry without a drink? Oh, look! Just down the street is a Juice It Up! and I happen to have a BOGO. That’s “Buy-One-Get-One” in Couponeze. These are a little pricey, but so worth it. $5.49 gave Dot her large Seabreeze Squeeze and I picked up a free Pineapple Punch.
Juice It Up! BOGO
Then we went home to enjoy our day’s spoils and watch Celtic Thunder on DVD. Hey, it’s a weekend full o’ the Irish, y’know? And seriously. Who doesn’t love some mighty fine singing (I’m also partial to the good looking men in suits…. Oh, Man Store, please deliver!).
That ends the day, but not the celebration! In my bag, I still have coupons for free, no-strings-attached:
- Rooty Tooty Fresh n’ Fruity Breakfasts from IHOP (two coupons: one for joining, one for the month of my birthday).
- One free burger (up to $10 value) from Red Robin. [Shout out to Penny for telling me about this!]
- Two free desserts from Carrow’s. One for joining, one for my birthday.
I’ve had a Starbuck’s Gold Rewards for a few years (this doesn’t surprise you, does it?). On my birthday, I’ll get a free drink. Any drink or food item. Now that’s golden!
I’ve also heard that I just need to show my ID at Jack in the Box for a free Chocolate Cake or New York Style Cheesecake. The tough part will be deciding which one to choose.
Aside from all this great food, I’m especially excited to be a member of OSH (Orchard Supply Hardware). I actually love to spend my lunches there (that’s another post altogether). They gifted me a $5 certificate for my birthday, and $10 off any $30 purchase for taking a short survey. That’s going to be $35 worth of gardening beauty for only $20. I’m thinking a windchime and a birdhouse. Or a tree to transplant. Or a few potted herbs. Or flowers. Or cacti. Or a yard flag. Or… whatever else I can find for that amount.
I love these coupons not just for saving money. Let’s face it, y’all know I’m not the richest woman on the block. So saving money goes without saying. But I also love these coupons for two more reasons. The first is, they give me the opportunity to spend quality time with my family. We couldn’t have afforded a $40 pizza lunch. But $20 plus tip? Not a problem. And I’m not going to eat a Rooty Tooty alone. Nope. I can share the bill with Dot and Mutti on that. A simple breakfast for each of us. A cup of coffee. Nothing fancy. But definitely fulfilling. And OSH? That’s the second reason I love coupons. They offer possibility. Promise. Planning. All of the above.
If couponing makes me look like someone who’s counting her pennies… Well, guess what. I’m all in.
Pre-Birthday Spoils
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
You may also enjoy reading:
Clipping Coupons
Clipping Coupons, Part II
Mar 15, 2013
It’s TGIF time. It always seems to work out that when I’ve been blog-absent and finally have much to say, it’s a TGIF post. I like that. Blog and I, we work well together.
And believe me, I have oh-so-much to say. The first is, I’m learning how to not say everything. As a writer, I’m a bit cavalier with my words. That’s not always a good thing. I see a story everywhere, but that doesn’t mean I should tell it. Some stories aren’t mine to tell. Others are mine, but not worth telling. Still more are shared stories, and to be told in different avenues than the Blog. I’m finding a Magic Filter that makes it okay to write… and okay to not write.
I’m making much better use of my daily organizer. Not only am I keeping track of appointments and writing assignments, I’m also keeping track of accomplishments. “Ordered mugs.” “Writer’s Group 10 a.m.”. “ICL Assign #4”. These are only a few of the entries for this month. It’s my goal to have at least one entry each day relating to writing. So far, so good.
Now that the Cookbook is in production and I have an actual inventory, it’s time to work on production of my next project. A Study on the Ten Commandments is a work I’m humbly proud of. The writing is finished, the cover is designed, and yes, there’s a Kickstarter campaign for pre-selling and raising funds for publishing.
Ten Commandments Cover
My newest writing project is half done. Broken Girl and Other Stories of Redemption: A Collection of Parables, Poetry & Prose. I’m very excited about this one for many reasons. Even in my journals, I’ve written creatively. This is a collection of moments in the past two decades as I stretched my wings, flown the coop, and raised my own family. Lessons learned and failings felt. It will also feature photographs from my big brother, Mark. His photography skills are astounding, and last year he gave me carte blanche to use them as I see fit for this publication. I was so happy to call him this week and let him know this project is finally under way.
Broken Girl cover
I don’t know how the entire project will come together, but I intend to use this beautiful photo as the cover. I call it “Desert Beauty” and I’ve used it on my Blog before. Of course, he has such a plethora of nature photos that by the time I’m ready to produce the book, I may change the cover… oh, who am I kidding?! I love this photo and I’ll use it nine ways to Sunday if I can!
Oh, sure, I could complain about my nagging fears and personal woes. But, as I so often used to say, “Everybody’s got something, y’know?” The specifics of my trials and tribulations don’t matter. The history of how I got here is insignificant. All that matters is the goal, and whether I reached for it. That, in itself, is a great accomplishment.
I have much to write over the next week:
- My views on the Vatican and Pope Francis.
- Joshua Tree blooms.
- How to score birthday freebies.
- Philippians 4:13.
- My Morning at the DMV and Why Appearances Aren’t What They Seem.
I may not get to it all in the next week. But you know what? I’m okay with that. Because I’m also learning to not sweat the small stuff… and, as Pastor Tom often says, “It’s all small stuff.”
Whatever this week brings your way, Be Blessed!
And Frankly, My Dear… that’s all she wrote!
