Commandment #2: Be kind

When I was making my 2009 commandments, I knew I wanted to include this. Being kind is hard to quantify - I'm just trying to do my best.

For me, this means letting things go, not rising to baited conversation, and trying to consider other people's perspectives.

When I feel like I want to say something that may not be kind, I ask myself these questions that my mentor suggested:
• Does this need to be said?
• Does this need to be said by me?
• Does this need to be said by me, now?

If the answer to these questions is not: "YES!!!" then I hold my tongue.

I've also found that the more I practice kindness, the more naturally it comes. Just like the more I'm grateful for the big and little things, the easier it is for me to think of things to be grateful for and to appreciate the good things.

Sweet Dreams

In which Charlie sleeps on his head.

I am grateful for: spring and summer fruits and veggies (went to farmer's market today and got beautiful produce, fresh bread, jam, and cheese, yum!), staying organized with my PDA, getting able to see and hug a lot of my favorite people this week, weather staying dry until I finished the 5K this morning, a not-too-long nap, going with the flow, a day without loads of chores, the arrival of Ghost World, and hanging out with My Heart's Desire.

Today I went to work, had a quick lunch with a friend, went to the dentist (ow ow ow!), returned to work, wish I had scheduled the appointment later in the day so I could have just gone home after, picked up bib for 5K tomorrow, went shopping for _________'s surprise _________, found what I was looking for, met My Heart's Desire at home, had soft foods for dinner, a PB & J sandwich and roasted cauliflower (my new favorite veggie, LOVE it!) for dinner, he surprised me with Jell-O, we watched some TV, and I'm going to bed early so I can make it to the 5K bright and early.

Thrifty Girl Report - April

I really needed to get my hair done in April. I usually pay $156 (including tip) for cut and color.

I decided to color my own hair for $10. I was a bit skeptical but it turned out all right. Basically I color it dark brown (the color it pretty much already is) and hide last year's highlights. It won't last as long as salon color, but that's okay.

My Heart's Desire has a cousin who is a hairdresser that we saw recently. She gave me a haircut gratis, though I insisted on giving her $40. It's a great cut. She even swept up the hair! And she caught me up on family gossip.

Hair cost savings: $106

While I was in Los Angeles, my BFF took me to get our nails done at a shop in Santa Monica that does cute mani-pedis for $20. I splurged and got a French manicure for an extra $5. Including tip, it was $30. At the place I go to here, it's $84 (including tip) on Bargain Mondays. Suffice it to say I don't get my nails done a lot.

Gorgeous mani-pedi savings: $54

I also bought six months of O magazine for $1. A year is $18. I love to read magazines when I go to the gym. I don't let myself read them any other time (except for Newsweek, which I have to stay on top of because it's a weekly and I'm always a week or two behind and Real Simple, 'cuz it's my favorite).

Magazine savings: $9

I use the grocery store savings card every time I shop, which saves me around 25% off the bill. I read in Consumer Reports that the store brand is usually the best deal, so I go with that a lot. My Heart's Desire prefers the "real" brand but I'm the one who usually goes to the market.

Grocery store savings: A lot, need to use coupons more for bigger $$

Commandment #8: Create a schedule that works for me

This commandment has the potential to impact my daily life for the better. I really like having a schedule, knowing what I have to do and that it's going to get done.

I love routine and "the usual" but feel stuck in my schedule right now, which is why I'm going to take some action to improve it. Some of it works quite well, like scheduling time for myself every so often (yes, in Outlook, just like all the other events I schedule).

I'm prioritizing all of the things that I need and want to do -- including working out, writing, spending time with My Heart's Desire, seeing my mentees and mentor, family events, cultivating friendships, spiritual activities, chores, and all the other stuff that goes on.

I'm working on creating a schedule that allows me the time, physical and mental energy to do the things mentioned above, as well as give me some flexibility, which my current schedule does not have.

Any suggestions on how to balance work, life, and everything else?

Ever wondered what the Louisville Slugger factory looks like?

Louisville, KY
Aug 2007

Today I am grateful for: sunshine, hot tea and plenty of it, doing the financially responsible thing (despite it not being the fun thing!), magazines, being able to sleep until I wake up, cheap books from the library book sale, and spending the day with My Heart's Desire.

California Girl

Today I got up early, did a little laundry, appreciated the sunshine, hung out with my BFF, drove to Silver Lake to visit a friend whose house is like an art museum where you can eat and say whatever you want, picked up another friend to have breakfast with us, we went to a fabulous, authentic Mexican restaurant in East LA, had amazing huevos rancheros, enjoyed the food and company, ran errands, returned the rental car, lay down for a psuedo-nap, had an early dinner at a fancy-pants restaurant with another friend, we chatted up the proverbial storm on the patio where we were enchanted by the night-blooming jasmine, it was first Friday where lots of stores, art galleries and restaurants are open and have live music, we walked around, people-watched, perused the items, got free gerber daisies, and remembered why I love LA.