As many of you know, I keep a journal to help me stay focused on my goals. I am learning, as many of you are, to take care of myself for the first time in my life. I have managed to think of a few nice things to do for myself but I need help. (Many of the things that I can think of cost money) If you have any ideas that you are willing to share that would be awesome.

* Have your nails done

* Read inspiring poetry

* Get a pedicure

* Take a hot bath by candle light

* Give yourself a facial

* Buy a new item of clothing-even if you will be too small for it soon-we can always share with each other

* Put something you really want but normally wouldn't buy on lay-away

(Pink ostrich boots at Cavenders They will be paid for just in time for Valentines day and my birthday!)

You see what I mean about the nice things I can think of costing money? Help! I need ideas!

Well Lauri... that's a tough one... hmmmm...

Spend a day window shopping with a friend... take a lunch for two along with...

Take a nice long walk without worrying how far and how long in a pretty area close by...

Write yourself a letter about all of your goals and future plans, hopes and dreams...

Save all of your spare change in a bottle and use that money to do something nice for yourself...

Have a yard sale and use that extra money to do something nice for yourself...

Darcy

Lauri

I lock myself in my room and light tons of candles and listen to soft relaxing music when I need to something nicefor myself that does not cost money. My hubby and kids lknow that when my bedroom door is closed it is "mommy" time and to leave me alone. I also save my spare change, I am a waitress 3 days a week so my change adds up more then the normal person but I do use it just for me. Right now I'm saving for a little trip. You wouldnt believe how it adds up, my husband even contributes to my change bucket he empties his spare change from his pockets every night. How about to earn a little money for yourself so you can do something nice by using coupons at the grocery store? When I go to the grocery store I use coupons but I take the money I saved in my coupons and put it aside in a little "stash envelope" for me. I figure I'm worth it , if I am going to go to the trouble of cutting the coupons and doing the shopping I desreve the difference from what my total bill is to what I saved..it is usually about 30- 50 dollars everytime I got major grocery shopping. Then I take that money and get my pedicure and my eyebrows waxed!

Hi Laurie,

How about sending hubby and kids out for a cheap evening (or just kids) and watching the most girlie romantic movie possible and take a hot bubble bath by candle light. I'll think of some other ideas... Teresa

How about buying hubby everything he possibly wants to shut him up for one day... ahh, peace! (Remember, mine is 9 years old.)

We have some great ideas. I am going to start the change jar-right now. Coupons, too! I have one for green tea on the box. This is fun! Keep the ideas coming. I love it! We all need to take better care of ourselves.

Teresa, I am all for sending the kids and Hubby out. Maybe he could take them to the dollar movie-better yet-I will go to the movies while they are at school! Oh yeah! No,"Mom, I need to go to the bathroom!" or "Can I have some money?" or "You always sit by mom!" Just me and a diet coke and some hunk on the big screen. Yep-that sounds good. I'll have to do that next time though cause tomorrow-I am going to the Chiropractor to get this stinking crick out of my neck! My heads all bent over like I am trying to get Water out of my ear or something! That moist heat, gentle massage, and adjustment are going to feel sooooo good! I hope he puts me on his traction table, too! It sounds strange but that thing is AWESOME!

Hey-I thought of something else that is nice to do. Go to the library. Even if your not a big reader, they usually have videos and DVD's you can check out. I think I would like to watch Gone with the Wind again. I haven't seen it in about 7 years.

Buy yourself a present! After all, you're probably buying presents for everyone else about now, why not a little something for yourself.

What's your passion? Mine is gardening, so this is a great time for me to look for some great sales at the nurseries on non-holiday stuff.

I like making goodies, candles, salsa, bbq sauce, smoking meats, jerky, hot pepper jellies, spicy holiday treats..... Cookies, candy, breads..............with a little heat to keep you warm.

WillPower, where the heck have ya been??? Sounds like you've been busy. YUM! I wanna come visit your kitchen!

Mmmmm....Jerky! I love Jerky. :lick My mother makes the best in the world. I think when I go see her next week, we should make some. The last time I was with her, we made tamales. They were good if you put alot of ketchup on them.

Right now, I am going to go read on my book-Parenting with Love and Logic by Jim Fay. It's an awesome book. Hopefully, reading this book and learning from it- is going to be doing something nice for me (hopefully I will to a better job teaching my children to be more helpful/less difficult) 2 boys with ADD, one teenage daughter-'nuff said AND for them. Maybe, I will learn some new ways to handle them.

I have been out of town and busy finishing up jobs before the end of the year. Still waiting on approval. I keep having to give them information. It is becoming a real pain in the ass. But, I am doing my part and that is what counts.

My kitchen looks like a bomb went off. But I am going to make some really good money off all of what I am making. I just filled an order for 12 cases of pepper jelly, raspberry Serrano, pineapple habanero, strawberry habanero, roasted Serrano pear, cranberry jalapeno, & cherry apple cinnamon savina pepper.

Here's an idea for the new year that I tried a couple of years ago and plan to do again. Get yourself a cookie jar (or dig out the one that you hid away after you got banded) and put three dollars in it every day, without fail. No cheating. You can use the jar to make change, but do not borrow from it. By the end of the year you will have over $1000 to spend on yourself! I used mine to go to Italy. Next year's stash will help buy a new wardrobe in January 2006, I hope.

Willpower-How do you keep from eating while you are making these wonderful foods? I'm trying to stay out of the kitchen. I don't even want to go in there to cook OR CLEAN cause I find myself staring into the fridge looking for something to eat!

If I am bored and not doing anything I will graze. But if I am creating things for sale I never eat the profits. I have a real guilt complex about food too so that helps. I like to make food more than I like to eat it, weird huh?