Monday, June 30, 2014

Christmas Budgeting

My budgets are pretty tight as I've set some goals for debt payment and I want to get my savings to $1000 and my EF to $750 before October. One of these accounts is at $0, the other at a very modest $200.

Why have I set October as my deadline?

I'm due to have a baby sometime that month. And while I live in a country that amazing provides unemployment during most of the first year, I still have to prepare for it. As with all EI claims, there is a two week waiting period. There is also an estimated one month processing time. I believe payment also occurs two weeks after the time on EI. i.e. if you started EI on the 15th of a month, the end of that month would be your two week no-payment waiting periods. Then you serve the first weeks you could receive EI payment. I believe the EI office then processes your claim, and you get paid two weeks later, or the end of the month after you first started your EI claim. Meaning for me, if the baby comes near the end of October, or even early November, I might not receive any EI until mid-December. I'm hoping I'll have enough to pay my minimums, I know I'll be running more calculations closer to the date, but most of that pay will be allocated to bills. Not Christmas.

I've always been big on buying Christmas presents early, usually starting in the fall. This helps out spread out the budget, and allow for the ton of unexpected expenses that always occur. This year, I think I'll have to find a way to squeeze all my Christmas shopping in before October. I'll have to revisit the budget I posted, and see if I can find another $20-50 a month to put towards my most important people. I'm sure those who love me will understand. I hope it doesn't come to that ;) I also wanted to go on a short vacation in August that I haven't decided how to fund, or if I can go.

I guess it's a good thing I won't be working in December as I think that understandably cuts about a dozen out of my "must buy for" list.

How do you budget for Christmas (or other holiday events) through the year? w much do you spend on gifts each year?

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Budget for July

I've planned out how my paychecks will go for the next three months. If  WHEN I stick to it, I'll be in pretty good shape:

Here's what I would like am going to do: 

DEBT REPAYMENTBudgetedActualLeftover
Credit Card$100.00$100.00
Personal loan$250.00$250.00
Student loan #1$125.00$125.00
Student loan #2$775.00$775.00
Line of Credit$230.00$230.00
SAVINGSBudgetedActualLeftover
Emergency$170.00$170.00
Savings$350.00$350.00
Retirement$10.00$10.00
FOODBudgetedActualLeftover
Groceries$90.00$90.00
Dining out$20.00$20.00
LIFE, ETC.BudgetedActualLeftover
Daycare$400.00$400.00
Health Care$15.00$15.00
Personal Care$15.00$15.00
Gas$175.00$175.00
Entertainment$25.00$25.00
Baby Supplies$60.00$60.00
Phone$80.00$80.00
Misc./Cash$20.00$20.00
$0.00
TOTALS$2,910.00$0.00$2,910.00


I'm estimating on a few of these categories and hopefully not over-estimating my pay. I know some categories are low, but working hard pays for itself in the end, right?

Okay, that was scary!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

June Ipsy review: Pretty in Paradise


Ipsy is a US beauty monthly subscription box featuring 5 products. It's $10/month plus $4.95 shipping. I signed up for a year (again, very late at night emotional spending, made sense at the time) and you can do the same here using my code. If you like, that is. This month's theme was Pretty in Paradise, and the spoilers looked to be very promising.



Here's a look at the bag:


Carol's Daughter
Sacred Tiare Anti-Breakage & Anti-Frizz Styling Cream
  I can always use hair supplies, and this has good reviews. Full size $12, sample size about 1/9th, about $1.30.



NYX Butter Gloss  It looks full size, $5. I like it. It's nice and essentially clear.



OFRA
Universal Eyebrow Pencil
  I'm probably never going to use this, I have bushy eyebrows as it is. According to the website, which does not appear to ship to Canada, $13.



Nicka K New York Shimmer Eyeliner  An estimated $4.99, looks to be a nice liquid eyeliner.




Realtree for Her. I'm impressed that a) they packaged the sample in it's own baggie, and b) I liked the scent. I'm still not used to wearing perfume/scented products after working in many scent-free environments but I might give this one a chance. Full size $24.99, sample size free*! (*In my opinion).

One more look at the fancy, celebrity designed bag. It looks looks moderately waterproof - it would be good for flying.

So that's June's ipsy. It's an estimated $24.30 on Ipsy product links, I paid about $15.60 with the exchange rate at the time. The value seems about right. I don't think If you're inspired to try your luck, please use my link.


Friday, June 27, 2014

June Topbox review




Topbox is a Canadian Subscription box than sends 4 samples monthly for $12 plus taxes. Sometimes you can gift a limited edition collection (ranging from $26 - $55 ) with a six-month Topbox subscription (for an additional cost). There generally is a waiting list for Topbox, and referrals work by email (no links provided). 

Because I was curious, and feeling emotionally spendy late one time I ordered a limited edition box with a subscription (will soon expire) and this was my first month that my email invite provided me access. Because I'm not sure how many months the wait-list periods are, I signed up knowing I might get duplicates. This month, I have two boxes. I should have the same or very similar profile for both boxes.



The first box:
China glaze nail lacquer in an easy to forget pink, $12
Bioderma Atoderm Stick Moisterizing Lip Balm $7
Laroche-Posay Anthelios 60 sunscreen, $30 for 50 mL, estimated $1.80 
Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (20g, $5.50)
Total value: $26.30






The second box:
China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Wait N' Sea (14ml full size, $12)
Barefoot Venus Lip Fable in Honey (4g full size, $7.50) 
Bioderma Atoderm Gentle Shower Gel (100ml, $3)
Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (20g, $5.50)
total value: ~$28

I'm glad I didn't get two of exactly the same boxes, and I'm excited for the shower gel. It claims to be safe and gentle for kids, infants and adults so everyone in my family can use it. I'm not as excited about the nail polishes because I"m a bit over supplied by Julep, but they are a good brand, and I'll have to keep them in mind for gifts if I can get that organized. The sunscreen and lip balm are great and I'm always losing those. I'm satisfied with this month, and will consider if I want to maintain my subscription in a couple months.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

0% Credit Card Transfers

I have read on many PF blogs than a 0% transfer could be one of the dumbest things you do. It can also be one of the smartest.

One of my favorite bloggers recently pointed out that many credit card companies that offer the 0% balance transfer will... wait for it.. charge you the FULL INTEREST from the transfer period if not paid off in full by the end of the promotional transfer period. Eeek! I'm fairly certain that mine isn't like that "only be charged interest on the unpaid portion" but they did just send out a new booklet with a ton of revised rules that I won't have the time to thoroughly read for some time. In my case, it could be $1000's in interest.

In December of last year, one of my two (maxed) credit card companies informed me that my interest rate was going up from 19.9% to 24.9%. The balance on this card was $8800. I was barely paying it down as it was! How on earth was I going to be able to afford an extra 5% interest? I had a second credit card with $2200 (also maxed) and did you know that you can be indebted to paypal? I owed about $550 to them, and had ranked up $200 in bank frees in the process. It feels like that time was a lot longer ago then a few months.

The first credit card I applied to for a balance transfer rejected me. The application to extend my line of credit wasn't going to be approved. Weeks passed. Feeling of failure and hopelessness increased. I kept researching and trying. Then, I got a letter saying I was approved for a balance transfer. I arranged to go get my new card, and quickly transferred $10,500 on it.

I was never supposed to put any purchases on this card, but I ended up making some major payments like yearly car insurance (which I need to start saving for) and medical bills. By putting over 50% on my income on debt, focusing on this card, I was a month away from the deadline and still owed over $4000, much over my monthly income and e-bay clothing selling side hustle. I was panicking, until I calculated taking a few extra months to pay off would only cost me $100 or so. Not worth the stress I was feeling.

Or... would it? Thanks to blondeonabudget.ca, I realized I might have to pay interest! I had no idea. And recently the fine print which I thought I had read had changed. My bank was/is becoming much less friendly. I had no idea if this applied to me or not. Paying off this card in 6 months was no longer about pride, but about the mighty dollar. Which lead to a month of crazy debt payment, lots of listing of my clothes, and crying. And lots of staring at my computer screen trying to figure out how to do it.

I'm about to get my final paycheck before the balance is due. And, by putting 70% of it on my credit card, I think I'll do it! I need to see that balance hit bottom. It will be time to celebrate! But frugally :)

GDE OTM for June, 2014

I *love* this subscription. It doesn't even bother me that shipping was  closer to twice the cost of the monthly price. I am already spending too much time each day hoping I'll be able to snag another ;)


Everything was packed into this adorable case. I'm considering many uses for it.

Also, there was candy! Yey! I'll do almost anything for candy.



This month's colour was a bright red/pink called "Prime Suspect". I'm not sure when I'll get the courage to use it, but the description indicates it will be very nice and depending on if a primer is used, it could probably be toned down.


This month was a bonus (on top of the cute bag) with a shadow from Twisted and Innocent Alchemy. They also offer a subscription, but I don't plan on switching from Glamour Doll Eyes any time soon. This color is very dark, so I will likely use it as an eye-liner, and probably sparingly. The artwork is wonderful.





Although these colours weren't for me, I'm very happy to have ordered my short subscription. I am absolutely in love with the Gift with Purchase from my first two orders - a beautiful purple called Flask Back Friday and June's GWP Mermaid's Plumage. I'm wearing it today... Or I was... My primer doesn't seem to be doing it's job. I hope to order a GDE blogger review pack and test out of couple for the blog in July.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Summer Luxe Box Review


After much anticipation on my part, my loose button summer luxe box finally arrived! I had also ordered the summer vows box, but it appears it hasn't shipped yet. Of all the boxes I wanted to try out, this is the one that I thought was going to be my favorite. It's $26/season, $50 for 2 seasons, or $96 for 4 seasons/1 full years. I opted for two seasons. 

First: the glue on the box it shipped it had come loose. But the inner, prettier box was okay. The samples (note no longer are they listed as deluxe size samples on the loose button website, just samples). 




The inner bag is very soft and pretty. I think I'll be able to find a use for it, as well as the very nice box it arrived it.



And there they are! My first luxe box sample box. 



The nail polish seems very nice, but I'm not sure if it's a color for me. Teeez, Pretty in Pyrite, full size $14
I like L'Occitane cream, I'll be using this. If 30mL sells for $12, 10 mL is $4
Lancôme Genifique is just plain weird to me. Apparently a $20 value.
Ferraki PrX Conditioner and Shampoo. Used them today, they were nice. $5 each
Tweezers. Always nice. Can go into a first aid kit. $13
Eyeko skinny liquid eyeliner. Very nice! I drew a heart on my hand and it lasted without smudging through several washes. $19. 
I'm not even going to talk about the fragrance. There is no price listed, and the reason I suspect is because it is just awful. 



So according the Loose Button, I paid $25 and received $80 of product and a punishment of perfume. Maybe I've been out of the game or my expectations were too high, but I would classify this just as "meh". But, I might just be in love with that eyeliner. 


My debt story thus far

I was raised to be hard working. I think I did an alright job learning how to handle money in high school. I started working at the local coffee and donut shop when I was 16 during grade 11 until starting university. I knew I was going to go to university, or some other post secondary. I would sometimes just say "Maybe I'll take a year off" but I never meant it. I had roughly $2000 in savings (which covered my first semester) when I started my undergrad.

I worked part-time jobs nearly every semester, and for years I had two to get enough hours to bank on. I didn't want to cost my parents a lot of money, so I relied on student loans to pay my tuition and rent. I was good with my money, and tried to build my savings. I made a very large mistake at getting engaged too young, and dutifully playing the "good wife". I would run home between classes or my co-op internship, make him dinner without having time for me to eat and run off to another job or night class. Did I mention he had decided he was only going to work 20 hours a week? I'm still mad at myself for being pathetic. I graduated from my undergrad with about $25,000 in student loan debt and no longer intended to marry that jerk.

Then came graduate school. I earned tiny TA stipend, and my boss funded me for working 15 hours a week on lab work completely unrelated from my degree. This was synergistic as my boss didn't need to hire someone to work on weekends (beside me) and I was able to get some more income. For over 20 months, I had three weekends off, two of which I used to write GRE exams.This funding was never firm, and I was only given contracts for 3 months at time, so I continued to get student loans, using the money to pay tuition and saving the rest in case I was unemployed. Which did happen, but I was able to quickly move into a full-time position while working on my Master's. For the last year and a bit I worked both full-time, saving as much as I could for a down-payment and/or to repay those loans. I graduated with $45,000 in student loan debt.

I had a five year plan to pay off that debt, and I really wanted to buy a home. I felt that graduate school was putting behind on other life goals like having a husband, a family and mostly stability. I bought a reasonably priced, small house for $260,000 shortly after graduating with a semi-aggressive payment plan.

Fast-forward almost two years. My boyfriend and I had accidentally become pregnant. Because of his religious upbringing, he was insisting I have an abortion. My morals wouldn't let me, to get rid of the baby inside me felt like murder (although I strongly fight for the right for a woman to choose). He felt like the baby would ruin his life, and tried everything he could to convince me, being with threatening our relationship to threatening to take his life, to threatening to take the baby, my house and everything away from me. I'm sure I'll have more to say on this but for now, I can sum it up with it was hard. Very hard. Financially, I think I was still okay. I had an estimated 18 months of living expenses saved up, and my student loans were under $25,000. Less than a week after my daughter was born, I was served with papers requesting I pay the father child support (he insisted he was unable to find work as a teacher or a substitute teacher, and that I should go back to work full-time as giving birth wasn't a valid reason not to work), and that he wanted full custody.

The next year was hard. My legal bills ranged from $4000 to $8500 a month. I very gladly paid my lawyer. Nothing was more important than keeping my newborn safe. I moved cities. I took advantage of any programs I could. I lived with family to save on costs so I could rent my house out (which was happening at a loss). I went shopping emotionally because I was already screwed, what did a $80 purchase matter when I couldn't pay the bills I already had? I was back at work before my daughter was 8 months old, and I only made $100 more that if I had stayed on Maternity leave. But I had no choice.

An opportunity to sell my property came, and I decided to take it. Unfortunately, the housing market I had bought was dropping by thousands every month. I sold for over $40,000 less than I paid. It's been a few months, its still emotional and hard, but I've finally been beginning to see progress. I'm also learning that a negative net worth doesn't make me worthless. There are so many around who end up in a similar financial situation to me through events beyond their control like divorces, floods, unexpected job loss, hurricanes. I'm taking inspiration from them, and I'm picking myself back up. I'm trying to move forward. I AM moving forward. I'm going to blog my journey, and probably blog my way through my emotions as well. I've felt like I can't talk about this and I fear how little I will be thought of. I'm afraid others will believe my daughter's father's claims - even though there is no evidence to back them. I'm learning how I got into debt doesn't matter, but how I get out does. I hope I'll be able to give someone like myself hope and to keep myself positive and forward focused.

Here are my debts as of March 2014

Credit Card (balance transfer from two other maxed out cards): $10,149.67
Line of Credit ($3 from being maxed): $9,996.81
Student loan #1: $5,498.87
Student loan #2: $12,640.87
Personal loan: $27,000

Total debt: $65,285.92

Here's an image of my little miracle, after reading a few pages of GoT. I want her to be proud of her mom :)


And one with her big brother <3


-Leigh

Julep Maven It-Girl Welcome Box Review June 2014

I think I told you about how I jumped on the Julep subscription deal where I was able to save about $40 on a three month subscription. For just under the cost of one boxes, I was able to get three. The first is a welcome box, the next two will be the monthly boxes for July and August (or June and July preview dates).


I think Julep always offers a free welcome box, just pay shipping. The code this month is SHIPSHAPE and you get a promotional nautical nail set which looks great!. Feel free to use my link here.


I got the It Girl welcome box with a couple of add-ons.

The colors in my welcome box:
Margaret - a soft blue
Kam - a soft green
Princess Grace - a rich papaya orange-pink


I added on Monaco, a gorgeous deep blue for $4.99, Blank Canvas face primer for $9.99 and buffer blocks for $2.

The total value according to Julep is around $88, and I paid about $6 for the subscription and $17 for the add-ons. I'm planning on using my It Girl colours for nail art, and the primer for eye shadows. I'm pretty happy with this treat.

Again, if you would like the promotional box us the code SHIPSHAPE (can only be used with a monthly $24.99 subscription) or use my link here to choose one of the currently welcome boxes and the option for a 3-month prepaid subscription to save $5 a month.

-Leigh


Monday, June 23, 2014

Gas Money

Driving home from work one night last week, I heard that gas prices were about to jump up 6 cents. Although I had passed (and checked the prices - still "normal" at 122 cents/litre) the first two stations, not far past home was a third station. I detoured there, filled 30 L, and felt good that I had "saved" $1.80.

Or did I?

It took about 0.3 L to return to my house, or around 0.6 L total for my detour meaning my total savings for beating the price hike was about  $1.06 (Total saved minus 0.6 L x current gas price of $1.229). I suspect trying to beat gas price increases won't have a big overall affect on my gas budget, especially if I have to drive a fair distance out of my way. But, as I was going to get gas that evening anyway, and I was driving across town where the price changes had already been recorded, I"m going to call it a good move.

I've been doing some other calculations as my fuel gauge has broken on my vehicle and I need to check the gas consumption regularly to prevent running on empty. Calculations completed using $1.249/L

Cost to get to work: Appears to be 2 L each direction, or $5.00 per day.
Meaning my cost on gas to drive to work each month (~22 days per month) is $110
Cost of a monthly parking pass is $95 (I was delighted this was so cheap!)
Cost of insurance yearly is about $900, so monthly around $75
Yearly registration $85 plus taxes, estimated monthly $7.50

The cost of just to getting to work (and given the hours of operation from my daycare and the bus schedule, I have to drive) is at least $287.50. This is just shy of 10% of my income!

And it doesn't include personal use:
Cost to visit a family member (8 L), $10
Cost to go to the park (~6.5L), $8.11
Cost to the closest grocery store (~1.5L), $1.87

Or maintenance.
Some current problems are my gas gauge not working, a loose ball joint, the odometer has ceased to light up, only half the windows roll down, the heater motor is totally broken, the AC no longer works. But, knock on wood, it starts every day. That's what I need, and that's why I love my car.

I've tried to cut the gas part of my budget, and this totally explains why I go over every month. I've tried carpool.ca, posting ads and asking around to carpool. I was biking a couple days a week (and starting to love it) but I can't do that right now, not in the winter. I have to drive, and 10% of my income is the price I pay to access the other 90%. I felt both like a winner for saving $1.06 on gas, and a sucker because for the foreseeable future, I'm going to pay the price at the pump.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Parent Busy

I think everyone knows that kids are a huge life change. I used to see co-workers, or family member say that they couldn't do this or that because of the kids, and I swore that I was not going to let that happen to me.

After graduate school, I felt like I almost had too much time. I worked full-time, ran 5-6 times a week (ranging from 30 minutes to 1.5 hour runs), dropped in on sports weekly, took 3-4 yoga classes a week, kept my house sparkling, maintained my yard, walked my dog daily, would do weight work outs at home, put several hours into WoW weekly, had friends I would see often, and I would just go shopping or hiking for hours (or a full day if I was hiking). And I still had down time!

Now, I can barely answer a text message within 2 days. I feel a bunch busier, but I don't feel like I'm getting nearly as much done. Perhaps it is because I have to make nutritious meals every night. My before work runs have turned into helping keep a 2-year-old from spilling milk every where, and insisting she keep her clothes on. In place of physical activity every day, I'm spending two-three hours on bedtime starting from bath to pajamas to stories to just staying in the room training her to sleep on her own. I love it, and I love her. It is hard to see how much my life has been redefined without my say. I'm busy, but it's just not the same as before. During the bedtime routine, I can't text someone back. That would be stealing from my daughter, or placing my phone at risk to end up in the tub ;) My downtime has become the time to do chores, which seem to be exponentially larger from the tornado of toddler. Yes, she does help, and I do get her to put her toys away but I'm not going to use harsh cleaning chemicals when she is awake. I'm located farther from work, and I know I'm losing about 8-10 hours of time I used to have just by being in a vehicle. I'm working on changing this but it's my reality for now.

I know as she grows up, the balance of time invested in her will decrease and the time I can invest in myself will increase. But for now, I'm parent busy. I'm hoping my investment will be returned with a great relationship when she's 8, 15, or 22. I want a strong connection with her, and if that means I only run 2 times this week and the laundry piles up, I will pay that price.

How do you or did you balance going from being busy to parent busy without losing yourself and your friends?

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Indie Rainbow Bright gift box review - June 2014

First, I have to say how wonderful this company has been to work with. I had a great feeling that I would love this box. When I cancelled my month-to-month subscription in May (before any boxes had even shipped) and extended to a six-month subscription, they contacted me right away to make sure everything was okay to confirm which boxes I wanted.

On to the review!


Last month, my box was damaged and beat up by the postal system. This one came perfectly wrapped.



I received the June Rainbow Bright box as well as a gift for signing up for 6 months in advance. I think the total was around $187 or $32 per box. For reasons of relocating my spending, I'm not sure if I'll renew in 6 months, but I am going to enjoy the boxes I've already paid for. 



When indie gift box announced this box, I was really hoping I would get a ring. I'm so happy I did! I got a geometric leather ring from Boo and Boo factory, gorgeous and sparkly hair ties from Boho Bands, a Hello Zee modern friendship bracelet, and swarovski pearl studs from Nazari Jewelry. The bracelet has gold links braided into it. If there were silver, I'd be in love! The earrings are not my style, and I can't wear them around my toddler for safety reason but I do appreciate they were made by assisting those in need.

I absolutely love my bonus ring gift which has already withstood my toddler standing on it! It's a lovely rose on a light base from Mercantile519.

According to the card, the value of this box is $54 and that is without my bonus ring. A great value, and I'll be using 4 out of 5 items, likely gifting the 5th. If you want your own, check them out here.


Sunday, June 15, 2014

Personal Finance

One of the many reasons I wanted to start blogging again is because I've fallen in love with several personal finance blogs and I love the inspiration provided, and the accountability to stay on track. I've acquired a bit of debt slowly through student loans, and then via some very unexpected life events, a large debt. A massive, heart crushing, defeating, limiting, swallowing my soul, taking away everything that made me worthwhile, debilitating debt. Or at least that is how it feels most days. I am fairly certain I will get into this in much more detail soon.

I'm very scared to start to put this out there. I originally wanted to host my own blog, but as that wasn't happening and won't be happening for awhile yet, I've turned to a easy to access blog. For reasons of wanting to be personal about my finance, I've chosen to move on from live journal - where family members and friends used to blog and know about mine until I'm ready to tell them. There are so many reasons I've afraid, I feel like I have a lot to lose. I think I might have been dawdling about starting to post about finance as I might move the blog when I have time to host my own, or maybe because I don't know what I want to focus on. I do want one place where I can post a few ideas - some finance, some shopping, some fitness, some child related, some relationship and emotion related.

So please take this as my hello, and know that I'm feeling lost, alone and pathless. I'll be bumbling along trying to find my way, and if you can ignore some of my ironies, let's see where this takes us.

-Leigh

Sunday funday

The week started off slow, and finished well.

Monday: Ran 4 km, walked the kidlet to the park

Tuesday: lunch hour yoga. Super embarrassing as I misheard one of the directions, and the instructor stopped the class to come over and talk to me. I hated having all those eyes on me while they held a low lunge. I wish things like that didn't bother me, but they do.

Wednesday: Weights. My toddler helped me with this. It scares me how strong she is with weights already.

Thursday: Rest day!

Friday: Lunch hour yoga

Saturday: Unexpected rest day.

Sunday: 5.5 km, pug walk and yoga. I'm very happy with the time for the 5km, about 20 seconds per km faster than I've been running lately.

In total: 4 yoga practices, 9.9 km over 2 runs, and some weight time. ~10 weeks until my "big run". Not the milage I want yet, but setting a great base. Training was so much easier to find time to fit in before the kid.

Something I love: My toddler doing push-ups beside me, counting 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10. A much better method of counting reps. ;)





Sunday, June 8, 2014

Weekly goals

I think I'm about to start the week off right. It's been stressful at work, and I realized on Friday, I could probably get things set up to take Monday off. Which I will do, and I think I'm not going to tell the kidlet ;)

So Monday, I plan on
-catching up on laundry
-going for a short run (without the stroller!)
-washing the floors
-posting a few more items on ebay

Additionally this week, I'm planning on putting 65% of my pay on my credit card (the goal is to get this one eliminated by the end of the month, no matter how hard it is).I also want to get the pug 5 walks, get the wee one in bed BEFORE 9pm. She's been slowly creeping her bedtime later and later, likely due to the sunlight being longer, but this stops now. I hope :)

Things that I love this week: Family time at the park with the family, sleeping in until 7:30, and my pulled abdominal muscle feeling much, much better.

What do you have planned this week? Do you think about it on Monday or make your to-do list for the weekend?


Julep Super Savings!

I found this post (http://www.girlmeetsbox.com/julep-3-month-subscription-promo-code/) from Girl meets Box which is based on a post from Mommy Splurge (http://mommysplurge.com/) for an incrediable offer from Julep.

Sign up as a new member with a 3-month subscription, use code "freegift", and get your first three months for $17!!! Julep recently raised prices to 24.99 monthly, or 59.99 for three months. I jumped on this. I've been wanting to join, but the cost was a tad high for me, and I don't like that you have to call to cancel. I almost gave in for the free bag of summer goodies as I was also waiting for a welcome box that I loved. I quite pleased I got this offer and I'm looking forward to trying it out.

If you're interested, please check out my link here: http://www.julep.com/rewardsref/index/refer/id/736387/

Ipsy Subscription!

I just signed up for ipsy, and I'm so excited. I must say that my make-up routine has slipped a lot since Zoe was born, and I want to get back into a bit of personal care. For $110 a year plus $4.95 shipping each month this seems like a reasonable way to test out new products without trying to chase a toddler around the shopper's drug mart.

If you're interested, check it out here:

http://www.ipsy.com/r/9xsg