Wow! We had a fantastic time! The hotel was opulent. Too rich for our blood. It was very old, so you had to take character over amenities, but hey - it was free to us! :-)
We did the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum on Friday. The Shedd was INCREDIBLE, the Sponge Bob Show a hoot and a good time was had by all. I have to agree with Elgin that the Field Museum was boring. The King Tut exhibit was extra, so we did'nt go, but everything was a little disorganized and you could'nt tell where the exhibits were and some cost extra, etc, etc, so not a hit on this one. We ate at the Rainforest Cafe Friday night. What a blast! The kids loved it!
Saturday we headed for the Museum of Science and Industry. FABULOUS! It was awesome. Lots to see and a free Ominmax movie because we bought the Citypass (5 Museums one price- saved money). The movie was boring, but the 2 youngest had never been to the Ominimax, so that was a neat experience for them. Then we went to the American Girl Doll Store. That was like being dropped into the pit of hell. Too many spoiled kids shoved into three tiny levels and the cashiers could'nt even begin to keep up with the demand. It was DD2's dream to go their though. She spent $50 on three outfits. Whatever, it's her dream and her money! Saturday night we went up in the Hancock Building at sunset. (Free audio tour with Citypass). It was GORGEOUS! Then we hit Watertower Plaza to go "shopping". We ate at that food court.
Thursday and Saturday dinner were treated by my BIL!
We were sad not to be at home when the CARDINALS WON THE WORLD SERIES!!! We missed all the excitement back home.
Home now safe and sound. I guess the biggest tip I have, is that if you are on a tight time limit, go ahead and take a taxi. They are plentiful and nothing is THAT expensive to get to. They take you right to the door and drop you off. No finding and paying for parking, looking for entrances. It was great!

We are taking the girls on a quick trip to Chicago this week. Hubby has a business trip (free room for us! :-)) and the girls have a couple days off school. DH has to fly, so I will have to drive the girls up and back by myself. Can't say that thrills me. 5 hours. Hope the van is feeling friendly!
Anyone have any tips for free things to see and do? Trying to keep this cheap. DH will be working most of the time, so its just me and the girls. I told them to bring plenty to do and the hotel has a pool too!

Well the colonoscopy was big fun and highly successful. As was the endoscopy. All looked good. Now I just have to go for some gallbladder tests on Tuesday and we will consider the plumbing to be rock solid! Now a check on the old mammogram and a visit to the dermotologist and I will feel like I can go another 40 years! :-) Just have to lose those 40 pounds!
Still waiting to hear that the refi is done and funding. I will set some goals when that happens and even post them! Will feel good to have all ducks in a row!
DD3 got pole-axed at a soccer game Friday night and might have broken her elbow AGAIN (this would be a 3rd time!!) This will cost at least 150.00 between the ER and the orthopedic guy. That select soccer is way more expensive than we bargained for. If she did'nt like it so much and be so good at it, we would pull it for sure! I will hear from the ortho guy tomorrow and go from there.
Spent too much this weekend and ate out like crazy people.

It was downright hot today. Blessedly the temp dropped as a cold front moved in. It dropped 14 degrees in one hour. Gotta love fall!
Supposed to go on a field trip with DD3 tomorrow. Gusty winds, high of 40 and a chance of rain, oh, did I mention its a hike?
Friday I will be getting a colonoscopy among other test. I will be thinking of Julie (Ima Saver) as I think she got this done not that long ago! I have been eating like a pig, cause tomorrow I must fast and then drink all my gross stuff. Wish me luck!

Well, I can't say I had a no spend day, but I did resist spending in many ways over the last few days.
I have been doing my "fall" cleaning and purging. Feels good. I did buy some plastic containers to make storage more easy. But the main problem has been the girls clothes. The thrift store did not yield anything. So I resisted running to my fav JCPenney and loading up on new cutsie outfits. Instead, I went through their wardrobes and filled in with a couple of cheapo things from walmart.
I guess it is the little things.

DD3 had a bday party to go to today. Had bought oldest daughter a movie for her birthday that she received from another friend as well, so that became our gift! I am sure this mom spent a pretty penny for this event! It was at one of those gaming places, go carts, laser tag, video games, rock climbing, etc, etc. They only had time to do one thing, so we brought home a bunch of activity tickets. Not sure if or when we will make it back!
Then we went to a first birthday party. Spent about $20 for a gift. Too much, but did'nt have anything hanging around the house that would be appropriate. A book and a stuffed animal seemed safe. I love giving good books!

Did pretty good at the grocery store today. It did cost a little more cause I had a "helper" with me! (DD2) We ended up saving over $30! I love it when the checker gets impressed and that has happened the last 2 times! Thanks Flash and my super friends on the Boo train! Of course I SPENT 155.00. But we are well loaded up on everything from breakfast foods to tp! :-)

I have been a financial train wreck lately. With the kids home from school I can't seem to be able to reign it in. (Not that I am spending wildly out of control, just spluging too much). Can't wait till they go back to school and life gets back to normal!!

Okay!! Not like THAT!!
With the refinance in the works, I am waiting to see how everything will settle once it is done. So until then I have been trying to just hang tight and be frugal. I can't say I have done exceptionally well, as the girls are on fall break. Guess I'll just keep on waiting! Just can't get excited about saving or spending.

Can't say too much happened today. Worked at the concession stand for DD3's soccer team . Unfortunatly, it had been vandalised. Someone sprayed a fire extingusher into a crack in the shutter from the outside and COVERED everything on the inside! When the stuff dries it becomes a yellow powder. Ended up inhaling a lot of it. Hope it does'nt have lasting toxic effects. Not sure if it does anything to you or not, but it did taste nasty when we breathed it in. Had to throw away lots of candy and cups and had to scrub the whole place down. Could'nt find the fire extinguisher they used, must have kept the evidence. They apparently vandalise the fields and stands regularly. :-( Not much the police can do, just make a report for a "paper trail".
On the plus side, family had a nice cheap lunch when they came to visit me!

Wow! What a grand opening! You would think that the store was giving things away. They opened a new Goodwill Thrift store in a nice neighborhood, going for a more "upscale" shopping experience. It was so fun to see the people! It was so packed you could'nt even move! Only bought a couple of things. Been getting ready to redo DD1's bedroom. Found a pink comforter for $10 (they insisted it was queen size, but it is full sized, oh well) will have to clean it up a little, but no big deal. And a lamp and a piggy bank she can paint the way she wants to. Oh, and a Christmas gift for DD2. I can't wait to go back and really look around when the crowds go down and it is so conviently located! My new fav shopping spot!
Took DD2 out to dinner for her birthday. We are offically done with birthdays till next year!

Got a free Gilette razor in the mail today! They are finally starting to flow! Good razor too!

Well, the dog lived. $600 later. She's back to eating and wagging.
Received my free box of Betty Crocker potatoes today in the mail! Yeah! Wonder when the rest of my stuff will wander in.
Did not do a good job keeping track in my little book at the end of last month, so will start over with October.
DH has FINALLY agreed to a refi. Don't ask me how this miracle happened, I am just going to act on it FAST! He is still upset about it and does'nt quite understand it all.
Girls birthday parties were a success. Glad it is all over!!

MERELY A RANT - READ ONLY IF YOU HAVE THE TIME!!This is an email I sent out to 42 friends. Hope they are still friends!

As a long time shopper of Target, they have finally driven me out of their stores. The over the top return policies have squashed any form of customer service. It is impossible to buy a gift there, knowing the recipient is forced to keep the item if they don't like it, unless you enclose the gift receipt and even then, chances are risky. Some flexibility should be given in certain cases, but this is not allowed. NO EXCEPTIONS. About the only thing Target is good for is buying consumables, that you probably will never have to return, like food or laundry detergent. I'll take my business to Walmart.

If you shop at Target, I am sure you are aware of their return policy stated on their receipt. I realize they need to protect themselves, but in doing so, the term "customer service" has become obsolete. I also realize, it is not the employees fault that they must follow these over-the-top insane RULES.

EXAMPLES (SOME ARE ON THE BACK OF THE RECEIPT, SOME ARE NOT. THEY CAN NOT PROVIDE A COPY OF THE FULL RETURN POLICY, NEITHER CAN TARGET. COM)

*It does indeed state ON the receipt that a receipt is necessary for a return -however if I lose my receipt (I am human), then I wouldn't be able to read that rule! Also, I am no longer eligible for a return - no exceptions.

*Okay, lets cut us a break. If your return is a gift and it is under $10 (tax included in amount!!!! No 9.99 items!!!) they will let you make a return for a gift card. But only TWICE per YEAR! No exceptions.

*If you have a receipt, but kept the item over 90 days (NO early Christmas shopping kids!), then too bad. No return - no exceptions.

*If you purchased something and return it within the 90 days, but it has since gone on clearance, you will receive the clearance price even if your receipt states you paid full price. They state it is holiday and seasonal items. Guess what- clothing and shoes are considered seasonal! No exceptions.

*If you choose to exchange an item, it must be exchanged for something from the same department only. Guess what, calendars are books, not stationary. Sorry, must follow by their set guidelines - no exceptions.

You may be addicted, or maybe you feel as I do, but at least you will be a little more informed. BEWARE TO THE TARGET SHOPPER!!!

(Or... The Dog That Ate My No Spend Days) I did not make my no spend goals. Dear fat pup (okay shes 7) decided to get sick. Apparently she sees kitty poop as an appetizer and loves to nosh on it whenever she can get her hands (oops, paws) on it. What I don't understand is why it makes her so sick. She almost died from this before. She can't keep anything down. I took her to the vet. A shot and two prescriptions later (88.00) and she is still getting sick. I hope she gets better soon, she just looks so miserable! Our carpets are shot and we are having company on Saturday! Yikes!

My plan is to have 5 no spend days in a row. This has never happened. 5 in a month maybe, 5 in a row, never. So today was day 1, no spending! I have gasoline and plenty of food, so it's just the wants to avoid!
They cut our hours at work again. Just a little, but it will eat up about 2 hours a weekend. Will have to adjust for this.
Made a Christmas gift spreadsheet today! Already well on my way to being done shopping! Just have to find out what my immediate family wants (Moms and Dads). We usually have lists we give out.
Will try this week to get ebay stuff moving. Thought about having a garage sale, but decided instead to pull out good stuff to list on ebay and everything else will go to charity.

Tried only to spend $100 on groceries today and did $102. The total was about $148. I saved $24 in the meat sale, a $10 coupon for groceries, and another $14 in coupons. I did spend on things like ice cream and a couple of treats for the girls, but otherwise, lots of produce and meat! I got 2 packs of ground round, and 9 steaks (sirloin, 1 chuck and London broil). The deal was five packages of meat for 19.99! So I bought 10 packs for 39.98. This will last a long while! Nice to see the freezer so full!

You know, I really usually pride myself on being organized. When we received birthday gift cards and gift certificates, I put them all in my purse. Tonight DH and I snuck out for supper (amazing what an uninterrupted conversation can accomplish!)and when it was time to pay, lo and behold, no GC! Had to pay with debit card. Got home and there they were in the office "bill" sorting area. $38.00 out of pocket for a resturant I don't really like! Live and learn!

Mondays are a work day, but I was careful to take my breakfast and lunch and take my coffee.
Spent money after work at 2 grocery stores (love Aldi!) and bought gas. Also picked up McD's for dinner. That place just haunts me. Will work on dinner plan for rest of the month tomorrow!
Mondays are also music lessons and soccer practice.
I am tired! Going to bed! Will look forward to Tuesday - the stay at home day! :-)

Ever since BF and I went to a scrapbooking weekend and I saw this camera, I have been wanting it. Yes, WANTING it! I am unashamed to say I have been lusting after this camera! I look at pictures of it and talk about it. It is a digital camera and camcorder in one. The zoom takes my breath away. I am now going to make the push, pull out the big guns and try to sell enough on ebay to pay for most of the cost. This is the only way I will be able to purchase this, as it is not even in the realm of our budget! So now I am eyeing everything in the house. Fair game....

I have wanted to post this thought on the discussion boards, but I never seem to get there enough!
What do you tell people when you are discussing friends on the blog boards? I find myself all the time saying "My friend on the blogs..." and they look at me kind of odd, like hey, you've never even met this person. My DH has just accepted it and is actually interested in what everyone is up to. It cracks him up to hear my bust out laughing when I am reading many of your more fun adventures!
So what do you say?????

Okay, you know your over scheduled when... you go to the grocery store, buy the groceries, take them home and forget they were in the car. AHHH! Hours later I am talking to DH and bing! There is the thought, Oh *&^%! I forgot the ice cream, turkey, sour cream, bananas, etc. Believe it or not, most was still cool even though they were in the back of the van and it is warm out here. You think I will kill the girls if I still give them turkey in their lunches? It was still cool and smells okay. It sits in their lunch boxes for hours everyday anyway (although I try to put in a ice pack with it!) I don't know, I guess I will stick to peanut butter tomorrow until I decide.

I know, I know, keep plugging on, rah, rah. I just get in a funk a lot about being in the hole. We should be farther than we are, things are moving so slow, we can't get things done to the house that need done....
I have a budget working. Each penny is accounted for. I made sure I did'nt over pay to the CC's so that we feel deprived or overextended... and now we just chug along. Lost the fever for the challenge. Impatience has taken hold.
Anyway, enough of my rant!

Another no spend day. Just stayed at home and did my Pilates. Husband and I are scheduled for a cruise. Leaving on St. Patricks Day. Must try to buff up for the event. I get so sea sick I am thinking that this will be an expensive weight loss cruise for me! :-)
Anyway, trying to keep the part time job down to one or two days a week so I can just be at home!! I also am volunteering at DD3's school. So nice to have the freedom to choose!
Have a CC repayment plan working, although I am too chicken to post any totals - yet. Someday!

I was supposed to be busy cleaning all day and I did get some things done, but I got sucked into the CSI marathon and spent my time running back and forth between clean ups and tv! Oh well, a relaxing day!
Went to parents for BBQ. Fun to see my neice and spend time with family.
Didn't spend anything.

Not that all my blogging friends don't give me the best inspiration ever, but when I'm financially down in the dumps, I need success stories to pep me up and get me going! Anyone know of any good sites where financial triumphs are listed on?

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8/17
Dierbergs 59.04
Shop n Save 45.00
8/18
lunch with DD3 2.50
Walgreens 30.17
QT 30.00
Library fine .80
8/19
DD1 soda .50
Lunch w/DH 36.02

Not much exciting has been happening. I've been lurking more than blogging! The girls will finally all be "officially" back to school tomorrow! Going to do some grocery shopping (made list, pulled coupons, ready to go - minus the costly helpers!) and clean the office.
Job has DH very stressed, so going to have to reevaluate everything around here. Love the no spend day challenge everyone is trying! Would love to do the same!

***********************
8/16
Vettes 37.93 Lunch with girls
Target 69.52 clothes for DD3, niece bday gift
ALDI 37.97 milk, produce, ice cream, etc.

I thought it would help to start posting what I put in my little book as expenses, so you all can play along! My goal is to try not to spend money, not necessarily have no spend, but wise spend! :-)
Having trouble recouping from the big party. Really overdid myself and my body was telling me and I was ignoring it!
Have to make some calls today. Had those Merry Maids come clean for me last week (as a bday gift) and they just did'nt do a very good job. I hate to be a complainer, but.... money is money!

*********************************
7/31 Dierbergs 4.76 water/tom. juice for dh
7/31 Dierbergs 4.84 coffee for dh
7/31 Gamestop 25.00 gc for dh bday

Now that the big party and turning 40 has passed, it is now time to buckle down and focus on money and saving it!
The party was great. A huge storm moved in and set us back as far as setting up and my sister surprised me by having an old friend drop by an hour early, unexpected, but not unwelcome. It was just soooo many people and it is still soooo hot here! Anyway, good time, lots of food and friendship and now moving on...
Dropped DD1 off at camp today. I just worry so much!! I am glad she got to go with a friend, but the temps are supposed to be in the low 100's with heat indices of 110 or higher! And this won't break until Thursday. Keep some prayers for her!
Tomorrow I start keeping my "little black book". I'm hoping I find it easier to not spend than to write something down!
Couldn't make it through without all the friendship and great advice I receive here!! Thanks guys!

New adventure, new fun! The big 40 has come knocking! :-) All ribs, barbs and jokes accepted!