My Obsession

BOOKS

Growing up my mom bought the Illustrated Classics books. All of us kids would read them, some of us for fun (ME) some of us by force (THEM). Honestly, I think I am the only one of the kids that ended up with the same love of books that my parents have. ANYWAY,

I really enjoyed these Illustrated Classics(IC). These books made me fall in love with the classics (of course I have never read an actual classic, only the condensed version). We have A TON of these IC in the bookcase in the living room. My mom once commented that she wanted to get rid of them. WHAT!!! I don't think so! Erna said the same thing. I thought that was the end of it. But then mom brought it up again. I told her the same thing. Then just last week she told Clayton that she wants to get rid of them. I now have the fear that one day I am going to come home from work and they will be gone.

SO

This is when I decided to rearrange my bookcase in my room. I will make room for them and keep them with me. Then she won't need to get rid of them because they will be out of her way.

This morning I was ready for work 20 minutes early (don't ask me how that happened!). I started working on my bookcase. I took almost all of my books (not my Mary Higgins Clark or John Grisham books) and put them on one shelf - of course I have Twilight which is out on loan and another book (one of my favorites) Lost and Found by Clair Poulson (It got damaged while out on loan!! UGHHHHHH) not on the shelf.

HOLY COW!!!

(I counted 61 books)

I didn't realize how many books I have. Of course I am actually quite proud of it. It is not like I read these books once and never open them again. I have read probably half of them twice and several of them I have read 3 and 4 times. I love looking at my books! I am protective of my books (I don't like to let my dad borrow them cuz he doesn't take care of them. He gives them back dirty). I know what your thinking - SHE'S NUTS!!! Maybe I am, but I am a happy nut!

All the books you see in the pictures are from the LDS bookstore (Seagull and Deseret). They are good books. Need a recommendation??? Just let me know!

Now or Later

I use to be vary good at bugeting my money. I had a spreadsheet in Excel that did all the adding and subtracting of bills and payments and it would let me know how much extra cash I had each paycheck. It was great. But lately I have been lax in the spending department. I hadn't been using my spreadsheet, I was buying what I wanted and I wasn't saving the kind of money I should have been.

Since I decided I am going to New York next Christmas I am going to save as much money as I can. Not only for the cost of the trip its self but also to have a good amount of spending money. You can't go to New York and not do some shopping!!!

I have opened up my spreadsheet and started using it again. I have taken on the montra, Spend it Now or Spend it Later. Whenever I get the impulse to buy something (which is often) I ask myself do I want to spend my money now or in New York. That settles it then and there. New York it is. What a motivation!!! The only bad part is when you HAVE to spend your money! I can't believe it, I am turning into a penny pusher!!!

Yesterday I had to give five dollars to the Birthday Fund for Jennifers birthday at work! UGHHHHH! Today is early release and we always go out to eat. UGHHHHHH! Tomorrow we are celebrating Jennifers birthday by going to Manuels. DOUBLE UGHHHHH, not only do I have to spend money but the food is bad to boot!!! Chirstmas it coming up. Do you know how hard it is to shop on a budget. I love the gift giving part of Christmas and a budget makes that difficult. UGHHHH!

I do have to say though that I was proud of myself yesterday. The girls told me they were going to Taco Bell for lunch. (Usually I am always up to going out for lunch) But yesterday I stood my ground and stayed at school and ate the lunch I brought. One small step for me, one giant leap for New York.