Losing and saving...

Before I forget,  "Happy Independence Day, Liberia!"

Losing....
Well as I posted a couple of weeks ago, I'm back to working on eating healthy and exercising.  As I told myself 3 years ago that this is a lifestyle change, not a fade diet.  I'm tracking my calories on sparkpeople , which makes such a difference, when you have to face the facts.  I'm keeping my calorie count around 1,300- 1,600 and watching to make sure I have enough carbs and protein. Trying to drink my 8 glasses of water today, but I've found that challenging. I've been loving working out to my Wii sports game called Your Shape, but unfortunately my sciatica has acted up again, so I've taken a break from it and sticking to some basic walking on the treadmill.  I don't want to let my back pain get out of control again.  It is very frustrating as I was seeing some really great results from doing "Your Shape", but that's how it goes.  Anyone that is interested in a Wii sport game I highly recommend it.  Jenny McCarthy can get a little annoying on it, but it sure targets all the areas and makes you sweat!
So far I've lost about 7 pounds.  I hope to keep it off and lose 1-2 pounds a week.  I've really like to have lost at least a total of 10 pounds by the time school starts.

Saving...
As I've posted before I'm all about finding great deals on things. Lately I've had some great luck with couponing and price matching.  I do want to say though, I'M NOT AN EXTREME COUPONER.  I think that the new show has given a bad rap to all those that coupon.  I do not go and clear out a shelf of an item because it's a great deal.The key to saving money is to only buy the things that you need or will use.  There are some great coupons and deals out there, but if you just buy the item because it is a great deal and you really don't need it...then it doesn't save you money.   Josh and I just went shopping at CVS and Walgreens to try out their deals and to get register rewards and care bucks back. I ended up with some free hair ties (after the bucks) and some great shaving gels and razors at awesome prices with the coupons and extra bucks/register rewards. It is a great deal and excited to go back and use these to buy more things that we need. We are learning how to price match at walmart and buy things with coupons.   Most our shopping trips we save between 20-40 dollars which I'm really pleased with. I've also gotten the hang of getting free samples.  It is great to get the small bottles of things to use when you travel (no offense to hotels, but the shampoo/soap doesn't cut it for me)  Before I call it a night, I just have to share about one of my deal today, as I received a credit for $20 through DollarDays and I got a large set of bic colored fine tip markers and four fine tip sharpies for 50 cents shipped. I was really excited about that as I love to use these in the classroom for grading.  Speaking of grading, school will be starting again soon.  Usual by August I'm ready to get back to a routine.  I guess that is soon approaching....

  

Across the Ocean and Beyond

Stuff...is...not...important...in...life... This is the number one lesson that I was reminded of as I went on a teacher training mission trip this summer to Liberia, Africa. I knew that when I returned from this trip, I would be changed, and I think I have a whole new look to life. Here are some thoughts I now have going through my head after returning from Africa:

1. I have plenty! I look around my home, and I see all of this STUFF. Many of it I couldn't even tell you that I own. Josh and I don't live a life full of wealth, but we do have things. I know that I can live without many of these things and still be happy. I dont need the latest phone, the newest car, the biggest house, or the designer clothes. This can be so difficult as our society is full of materialism. I'm just thankful for loving family and friends.


2. I have plenty of things already in my classroom. I shouldn't complain that I need more. In Liberia, teachers are lucky to have a decent chalkboard and chalk to teach. The students are lucky to have a notebook and a pencil/pen. Books are a rare item to find in the classrooms and shopping for school supplies is not in the Liberian students' minds. They wouldn't know what to do if they saw all the school supplies at our stores.

3. Fortunate to have easy access to food whenever I want it. I can go home and find food in the cabinets. I can be on the road and within 10-20 mins. I can find food to eat and a little bit of money to pay for it. Many Liberians that we interacted with are lucky to get a meal a day, and that usually consists of rice.

4. Thankful for my job and a pay check! Can you imagine being a teacher and only making $40 a month!

5. The world is much bigger than small town living, and yet the world is so small. A smile is a beautiful universal thing, especially a child's smile!


I'm sure there will be more to share...until then...I heart Liberia!