How To Manage a Budget with Envelopes

Money management is one of my major weaknesses.
Conquering my unruly spending habits was one of my goals to become more like a responsible adult when I turned 25.

I've tried many different methods:

1.  Keeping Receipts
Keeping receipt on everything I purchased and entering it into an excel sheet.
It was tedious and I hated the mess in my wallet with all the receipts.
It was sobering to see what exactly what I spent my money on, but it didn't curb my spending habits by much.

2.  Apps
Then I sort of switched to Home Budget an iPhone/iTouch app that allowed to enter in my purchases as I made them so I didn't have to keep stacks of receipts.
But that didn't work either.

3.  The Envelope Method
Back in university I kept to my meagre student budget using the envelope method in which I made a budget and kept to the budget by putting the cash into separate envelopes designated for certain things such as groceries and allowance.  No credit cards were carried on my person, and the debit card was only in the wallet for emergency purposes only.

It wasn't very high tech, but this one actually worked.  Since I was on a cash only system I saw how much I was spending, and how much I had left.  Voila instant accountability.  There was a constant reminder of how much I could spend, and since I was strapped I couldn't just buy that gorgeous necklace that I "had" to have on a whim.

Unfortunately upon graduation I thought that I had enough self-control to do away with this method, but I was wrong so back to it I go-  this time with prettier envelopes from The Paper Place.

31 Days of Glamour

My life isn't as glamourous as I'd hoped it to be.  Remember you're reading the blog of a hopeless romantic.  But then life always looks more glamourous through the lens of a camera.  

So here's my 31 Days of Glamour project.  

How glam my average 20 something life looks through the lens of my iphone.  

And maybe my DSLR. 

That'll up the glam level by lots.

For today I present dried pink roses on top of my dresser.  

What is it about roses that it screams "Glamourous!  Elegant!"?

Where Is the Line?

Ahem, so I don't know if you've noticed, but since the beginning of  this year there hasn't been much depth to my blogging, but I have...

Why?

Well, let me take you back a few years ago when I was a wee lassie only slightly more immature than I am now, sitting across a cafe table talking with my mentor when she shared with me her struggles.  It was an "Aha!" moment for me as I discovered that other people. didn't.  have. it. together.  either.  Really.  People are just as messed up as me if not more so.

Her vulnerability encouraged me that I wasn't alone, and that I wasn't the only messy one that God, you know had to love, and so I decided to bring my vulnerability to this blog to cheer someone, anyone out there that you're not the only messy one that God loves, and He so dearly does love you as He does me.

But upon reflection over Christmas break I wondered was it too much?
How much is too much?
What is discretion?
Where is the line?
Is there a line?

And so in trying to figure this out, I held back.
That and the fact that this year thus far has been drama free.
Whew.
Even if that is a bit boring for you.  ;)

Well what do you think?
DoI just expose myself in the name of vulnerability?
Where is your line when you blog?

First World Problems; Dishes in the Bath Tub

How content would you say you are in life?

Personally I have to fight for contentment in my life.  So in another effort to keep things in perspective and remind myself how hugely blessed I am,  I present to you, dear readers the "First World Problems" series, problems only spoiled people living in the First World like me gripe about.

(Although the International Development grad inside me would like to inform you that the term "first world" is so passe, and hierarchal, and therefore completely inappropriate.")

On another side note:  I have way too many labels, few of which I use.  I would like to organize them...someday.

Last week our kitchen sink was clogged like an obese Americans' arteries.  Even 3 bottles of liquid plumber and a plunger couldn't do a thing.  The dishes piled up day after day that finally the only solution was to cart them over to the bathtub and do them there.

It took about an hour or so of awkwardly leaning over the tub to scrub stubborn food stuff that had crusted on to pots, all the while griping inside about my poor back that had to suffer such, such, SUCH unnecessary discomfort and why did the dang sink have to go and clog up, giving no thought to the fact that a)  I have running water and b)  I had eaten regularly in that week and therefore had to wash those dishes that I ate off of.  Whew now there was a run on sentence.  Beat that Apostle Paul, and or Dooce.

  

Five Good Things

1.  Free DVDs courtesy of my roommate.
2.  Chocolate trifle gelato.  Yummy.
3.  Coke.  The classic kind.  Unfortunately this non-pop drinker has started to purchase pop.  My teeth are rotting as we speak.
Er...as I type, and as you read.
4.  Windex.  In a household of multiple glass surfaces, Windex is a lifesaver.
5.  Family day.  

1 Long Weekend, 5 Movies, and Many Beads Later

I have very sore fingers and a treasure trove of jewelry.  

If Santa was hiring, I could go work for him.

And for those curious about my muses.  I watched:

*About a Boy

*Shakespeare in Love

*Pride and Prejudice

*The Young Victoria

*The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Definitely had a thing for period dramas and English accents.  4/5 movies were set in England!  I did not realize this until now.  Oh English accents.  How dreamy.

The madness amidst the creativity.

Part of the aftermath

Another part of the aftermath

In Which I Attempt to Make Steak Like the Keg

My stomach adores good steak, and by good steak I mean steak from the likes of the Keg and Ruth Chris Steakhouse.

Unfortunately my bank account does not like good steak, which costs roughly about $30 or so per go.

So we have an impasse.

An impasse that is until I decided and made a commitment to figure out how to make good steak at home, so I started where any good cook would start, Google.

Two tips that I picked up from Google:
1) Cover steak with kosher salt, and let it sit for 1 hour.
2) The 2, 2, 4, 4, rule.  Sear two minutes on each side.  Then four minutes on each side.

My verdict?

It was ok.   Just ok.

The salt did indeed keep the steak tender.  Well somewhat tender, and the 2, 2, 4, 4, rule did work.  I had a nice medium fare for the first time in my life.   But the steak itself was a bad cut to began with.  You can only do so much with salt, and good grilling if you have a stringy steak.

But I shall try again.  This time I bought a cut of rib eye!

What are your steak cooking tips?

Five Good Things

1.  Above 0 weather.
2.  Birds chirping.
3.  Frozen custard.
4.  Prompt apartment maintenance.
5.  Tealish

In Which I Explain How I am Similar to a Preggo Lady

No, I am not preggo.

Put that phone down, and stop typing that email. 

No need to call the HR of my organization to report my immorality, or to alert my pastor and my elders to gather for a public rebuke, or to start sending me pieces of crimson fabric in the shape of the letter "A".

I am simply just in a frenetic nesting mode sans baby. 

Note the symptoms:
1) An almost obsessive compulsive desire to clean and organize. 

Now if you come to my apartment it probably won't be clean and sterile like a lab, but compared to what it was like before and who I was before, take my word for it, it's almost a disorder.  Almost.

2) The compulsion to decorate and put up pictures, and make my apartment look like it's right out of an interior design blog.  The fact that I read too many design blogs probably accounts for this as well.

3)  An immense desire to buy a home, settle down, and then buy a dog.

In a season of transition into the unknown, I've really been craving stability and security, and I think this is my way of coping with it.  I've never really "settled" into my apartment or my life in Toronto because I've always anticipated leaving both apartment and city relatively soon.  This is my attempt to create some sense of stability and security in the midst of change when I don't have any physical ties like blood family or a mate.

Winner

And the winner to the giveaway is...{drumroll please}

is..........


Pri!!!

Until next time ladies.  (And yes, there will be a next time.  Stay tuned.)

* I put everyone's names on pieces of paper and had my roomie draw a name.

Five Good Things

1.  Warm wool socks.  Handmade ones.
2.  Spumoni.
3.  Enoki Hotate Bacon.
Enoki mushrooms and scallops wrapped in bacon from Guu.
Party in your mouth times three.
4.  Fresh laundry.
Even though I really hate doing laundry.  I don't know why.
It's pretty effortless.
5.  Roommate bonding.

10 (Gonna Try) To Do's For February

1.  Start meal planning.
McDonald's loves me because I eat like crap, and their burgers are my default food of choice.
Them and those street dogs that are everywhere in Toronto.

2.  Eat fruits weekly.
I know how sad this is, but truly if I don't make myself, I probably won't remember the last time I had fruit.  Very sad times indeed.

3.  Exercise weekly.
Running up or down the stairs to catch the subway because I'm running late in the morning, yet again, does not count.

4.  Start sleeping at 10:30pm again.
One month of travelling has turned my entire sleeping routine topsy turvy, and I was too lazy in January to reclaim it.

5.  Start eating breakfast, the meal of champions again.

6.  Post one sketch weekly.
I've been drawing quite a lot, and I've been meaning to share the fun, but laziness has struck yet again.  For some reason the idea of scanning and uploading seems like such a mountain to move in my head.

7.  Start editing sets.
I've one wedding, one engagement, one shower, one maternity, and one baby shoot to edit that I know of.
I want to start...somewhere.
I also think I've forgot some shoots.

8.  Dance once a week.
Must...not...let....laziness...take away dance.

9.  Drink 8 glasses of water a day.
I've truly been neglecting the health of my body.  This shall be remedied.

10.  Clean apartment  everyday.

Under the Sea

This is one current piece that I'm working on.
Stay tuned for the finished work next week!

Giveaway!

Conundrum:  I like making jewelry, but I can't wear everything I make.

What to do?

Answer?

Giveaway!!!

A one of a kind, handmade pendant.
I will never make it again.
The process is organic.
Comes with a sterling silver 11'' chain.

Here's what you do:
Leave a comment, and I will make a draw.
Then I will mail the pendant to da winner!

Five Good Things

1.  Fuchsia Roses
You know you're a nerd/hopeless romantic sap when you buy yourself flowers.
That and you really miss Spring.
2.  Carrot Cake
This is the only "vegetable dessert" that I will go near.
Vegetables and dessert shouldn't really mix, but this is the exception.
3.  Naps
4.  The Genius Bar at the Apple Store
They were kind enough to tell me that the reason my iPhone headphone jack isn't working is because I have failed to completely shove my earbuds into the sucker.
I FAIL.  Again.
5.  Bath and Body Works Sale
This week I bought like a years' worth of hand soap.  My friend, C.G. said to me,

"You know you look OCD, right?"

Ah well, no point in hiding it.  I is crazy already.

Five Good Things

1.  New role(s) within Campus for Christ
2.  New job title: Creative Director of MyCravings Online Strategies
3.  The library
4.  Hope
5.  Umbra

This morning I woke up.  I went to my bathroom, and at the sight of newly organized lipsticks and eyeliners I thought to myself with a jolt, "I'm an adult now."  Those aren't my mom's lipsticks that I'm dying to try out and play with.

Those are mine.
Bought with my own money.
That I chose.
That I wear.

Technically I've been an "adult" for seven years now going on eight, but inside I've always viewed myself as a teen inside.  It probably didn't help that in the past four years that I've been earning my own bread and water that I've lived much like a college student so there was no lifestyle change at home to force the full mental transition from youngster college student to young adult.

But at the stroke of twenty-five something inside inexplicably clicked.
"Ok, NOW I'm growing up.  It's time to get my act together."

There's been a mental shift, or maybe plural, "shiftS".

8 Years of Hiatus Over

Ever since I can remember I've been drawing constantly. One of my first memories was my mom teaching me how to draw. I wonder if she would laugh at that now because at the time she was teaching to draw stick figures. Now I've surpassed her in skill, but I'll always owe my first drawing lessons to my mama.

Art was something I always took semi- seriously until university. I almost gave it all up because my biological father and Asian upbringing had ingrained into me the sense that since art couldn't feed you it was, and is superfluous. So after I started university I all but dropped it completely.

It grieves me that I gave up a gift from God for 8 years because of utilitarian reasons.
Here is one way that I've been created to be like Him.
I have the gift to create.
It brings me pleasure and Him pleasure.
Many people have commented that they wish they had my skills,
and here all along I've been trying to shove it under.

Throughout the years of burnout and depression He has used this gift to help revive me, and slowly I've been stripping away the lies that I've believed about art.

This new year I've started taking drawing seriously again.
Sketchbooks are filling up fast and pencils are dwindling into stubs.
And I love it.

Five Good Things

1.  The cold.  I much prefer cold over heat.
2.  Jill the roommate.
3.  Selina the roommate.
4.  Leftovers.
5.  Good Teen Lit.

Five Good Things

1.  Dinner with BFF
2.  New, sharpened  WOOD pencils (I know.  Who uses wood pencils nowadays?)
3.  Dusting off the ol' drawing skills
4.  A remnant of tasty congee that was saved for a morning such as today's
5.  Art supply stores