Confession Time

All the programs out there say that the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.  Basically, admitting you cannot control your addiction or compulsion.  So, here it goes…..

Hi.  My name is Tina and I’m a Starbucks addict.

Do we have a coffee pot at work?  Sure do.  We actually have a coffee pot and a Keurig and it is all FREE.  I also have both a coffee pot and Keurig at home!

However, if I had my choice between a cup of coffee, a k-cup or a Starbucks Venti Non-fat Dirty Chai Latte, I would choose the Chai every time. Not just any Chai, but a venti non-fat dirty Chai (dirty meaning it has 3 shots of espresso) and this girl is happy. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy coffee too, but the Chai is my drug…..I mean drink of choice.

I haven’t always been like this.  There was a time when I would roll my eyes and shake my head at someone who would wait patiently in a long drive-thru line multiple times a day to order drinks with names like Grande No Whip Cinnamon Dolce Crème Frappuccino!  I couldn't even say it let alone want to drink it! LOL

But I have become one of those peeps and the numbers don’t lie folks.  Before I continue, I want to make it clear that I take full responsibility for my problem.  Nobody is forcing me to shell out the kind of money I have on Starbucks and after doing the math of how much I actually spent in 2012, I have definitely quit cold turkey.  I am 11 days clean so far.

In 2012, I spent (with my debit card) $1,887.28 on Starbucks.  The number is more than likely a little higher than that but I don’t track cash purchases so we can probably round that up to an even $2,000.  However, I "drank" a whole lot more than $2,000 worth because my children would also contribute to my addiction but not nearly as much as I did.

How did I spend that much on Chai?  Easy, it started out as being convenient and it tasted good and then was a routine until it turned into me needing it to function.  If I was running late for work, it didn't matter because I was still getting in that long drive-thru line to get my fix.

Anyway, my Starbucks spending spree has come to an end and now it is time to focus on controlling this addiction and spending that money elsewhere in 2013.....but definitely not on another addiction.  An extra $2000 a year towards my mortgage will go a long way in helping to pay this house off.

Blast From The Past

Classic toys I had growing up.  My kids think I had some 'pretty funny' toys!  They have Xbox, Wii, iPods and iPhones so I can see how my toys were funny to them.  

I loved playing Centipede on the Atari and destroying spiders, fleas and centipedes.  Way before PlayStation, Xbox and Wii days!  LOL

We used to load our sweet boom-box up with 8 D batteries and lug it down to the beach so we could listen to our favorite jams while getting our Hawaiian Tropic SPF 4 tanning oil covered body just one more shade darker!!  Ah, those were the days.  LOL

Choices

Final Blog of 2012

With 2012 coming to a close, the world will hold its breathe with anticipation and cheer as the clock strikes twelve.  New Years Eve is traditionally a time for celebration, reflection, renewal and change.  We get to look beyond, probe deep, and understand what lies at the heart of what matters to us.

As the year ends, this time is an opportunity to abandon everything that was less than perfect and start fresh.  I'm NOT talking about setting a bunch of New Year Resolutions that you will not be able to keep.  That's been tried, tested and proven to be lacking.  I've never been able to keep one longer than 3 weeks anyway. 

There's something about a New Year, a new beginning, and a fresh start that encourages us to make a change for the New Year.  It's a powerful feeling to know you have another fresh year ahead of you and you can choose what you do with it and reflect on where you want to go next.

2012 has been rough for me spiritually, emotionally and physically so in the final hours of the year, a few thoughts have occurred to me as an appropriate means to close out this year and start fresh with the next, especially since I will begin an extensive Daniel's fast tomorrow.

1. Throw out the bad feelings, the unwanted emotions and the outdated viewpoints.  All that room for a fresh attitude will be a refreshing change and a chance to view things with a brand new attitude.

2. Take a look at priorities and daily distractions, and make sure that you spend your valuable time where you want to and where it will do the most good. 

3. Think about situations, good, bad and indifferent.  Understand desires and get in touch with basic needs.  It's time!!

4. Recognize who you are and be true to yourself.  It's imperative!!

I hope everyone has a blessed and prosperous new year!

DIY Laundry Detergent

It has taken me a few months of reading blog after blog, seeing pin after pin and reading comment after comment before I finally decided to jump on the band wagon and make my own laundry detergent.  I am very particular (OCD) about laundry detergent.  It has to smell good and get dirty clothes (from teenage boys) clean!  I read multiple blogs and recipes until I decided on one I would use.  

Here are all the ingredients I purchased.......all for about $35......and this recipe should last us around 9-12 months, which makes me very happy!  Now I won't be spending $10-12 every 3-4 weeks on laundry detergent.

1 box of Borax (4 lb 12 oz)

1 box of Pure Baking Soda (4 lb)

1 box of Super Washing Soda (3 lb 7 oz)

2 bars of Fels-Naptha (you can also use Zote Soap but I got my ingredients at Walmart and they don't carry Zote Soap)

1 bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener (55 oz - this is purely optional but like I said  I like my laundry to smell good and I hang dry a lot of our clothes)

1 container of Oxi Clean (3 lb - this is also purely optional but I used it because our clothes have to be clean)

1 container to mix and store all the ingredients

If you opt to not use the Purex Crystals and Oxi Clean, it will obviously lower the cost of ingredients.  If you have coupons, which I didn't, that will also lower the cost.

Now, before you mix everything together you have to grate the soap.  This took me about 30 minutes and definitely built some muscles grating!  

Once the soap is all grated you can start layering all the ingredients in a large container.  I poured a little bit of each, then stirred and repeated until it was all mixed together.  Then I put some in the Purex container to use since the cap is just the right measurement we need to do one load of laundry.

I just got finished with 2 loads of laundry and have to say that I will never buy laundry detergent again!  Now I need to find a good recipe for homemade body wash.  LOL

Christmas Day

Sad looking tree but that's what happens when you are so busy and don't have a chance to put it up until a week and half before Christmas.

Believe it or not, I had to wake Joshua up because at 9 a.m. he was still sleeping.  LOL

P-nut was not about to wait and decided he was taking his Christmas presents! 

Hump Day Humor

A little hump day humor!