my week in pictures

I have been feeling ill this past week, so most of my time consisted of sleeping, snuggling pups and eating good food prepared by others. :O)

Don't cry over spilt milk...

So, earlier today, I wanted to make breakfast and went to grab the milk...only to discover it wasn't there.  I KNEW I hadn't drank it all...even peeked in the trash to see if I had just lost my mind and HAD used it all.   Nope.  I couldn't figure out where it had disappeared to...I was perplexed!!!

Fast forward to me putting away the dishes this evening....

Um, yeah.  What in the world?  I think this sickness is frying my brain cells...

giving up!

So, I am on a mission to be completely debt-free...gonna take some time, but I have a plan in place.  In order to do that, though, I am giving up some things that don't seem like much at the time of purchase, but over the long-haul can really help me get the money set aside to be FREEEEEEE!!!!

More so because I'm interested in seeing how much it all costs, I'm going to list some of the things that are NOT a part of my monthly budget anymore (and these are rough estimates):

1.  Expensive shampoo - $13

2.  Comcast cable tv & internet - $45

3.  Eating/going out so frequently - $200

4.  Extra driving (I like to drive...surprised?) - $25

5.  My favorite perfume (sigh) - $15...that's averaged out over 3 months

6.  XM Radio (I called to cancel & they gave me a sweet deal, so I'm keeping at the new price) - saving $8 per month

7.  Miscellaneous expenses that I just toss in for fun...no more! - $50

8.  Reduced my car insurance a bit & signed up for twice yearly payments for a discount - $40

So...those are the basics of the budget "trim".  There are other expenses I've cut out or reduced, but those are the big ones.  And the grand total saved per month...

$396 - WOW!!!  It's amazing how far you can make your money go when you are determined!!!

So, I can't wait to see how much quicker my debt is knocked out...stay tuned!

Ellie's Run for Africa

Hey friends and family,

I am very excited about something, and I would love for you to help me out. Did you know that you can help put one kid in school in Africa for an entire year for $25?! $25 will buy them 2 uniforms, books and a pair of shoes. That's all they need to get an education for a year!!! Most of these kids WANT to go to school, but just don't have the materials they need. I realize that I can really make a difference, and I’m asking for your help. It is $25 one time--you don't have to commit to anything…just send $25. Easy enough, huh?

Here's a very short back-story. A middle school girl here in Nashville, named Ellie Ambrose, heard that kids in Africa couldn't go to school, so she made it her mission to make it possible for them to do so. She started a race called Ellie's Run for Africa, which I am planning on being a part of. In the last couple years, with help from folks like you, we raised enough money to put hundreds of children in school at the Calvary Christian School in Kibera, Kenya AND helped build 4 classrooms and a science laboratory in the same area at a high school called New Dawn. This year we are beginning the process of starting a trade school so that older kids can learn a trade, which is invaluable in providing for their future.

All this to say, I hope you will join me in this incredible opportunity. I'm asking you to put one kid in school. My goal is to put 10 children in school before Ellie's Run this Saturday, June 13th and then continue putting children in school after that. Your donation is tax-deductible and if you want more info on where that money is going you can visit Ellie's Run online.

If you are willing, there are two ways you can donate:

1. Visit my Ellie’s Run website and donate online…that is the easiest way!

2. Send a $25 check made out to African Leadership - ERFA with my name in the memo line (don't forget this part!). You can send the check to:

Ellie's Run for Africa
P.O. Box 150915
Nashville, TN
37215-0915

If you could email me to let me know that you are sending money that would be awesome. I love to track the progress, so doing this would be helpful!

Thank you so much for considering this opportunity!

free iPhone? yes, please.

I think it's super cool that Squarespace is giving away free iPhones.  Being that I am on a super tight budget now, I wouldn't mind winning one!  :O)  But, if I don't, no worries!  My iPhone will gladly take the 3.0 upgrade and I will putter on my "non-videoless" and "non-super fast" ways!!!