(NEW) SMART SPENDING CHAT THREAD

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Today wasn't rainy ~ but tomorrow will be.

Did a load of laundry today. Wait, does it count if I haven't taken it from the dryer yet? It's rugs.

Friday and Saturday are adoption center days. Kittens! Kittens! Kittens!

Heard from my wonderful DH. All is well.

[Sharon]

shanendoah hoped you enjoyed your do nothing day.

Today was nice but I did have some errands to do and a chiro appt early in the morning.  The weather was actually pretty decent too, we go into the lower 50's.  I went for a short walk and picked up sticks and pine cones out of the yard.

Tomorrow should be a really relaxing day.  There are no errands so I can just do what I feel like doing.

[TheOtherMe]

Mist and fog.  Forecast again tomorrow. 

Somehow matches my mood.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Cute kitten adopted today! A siamese sweetheart named Mocha. Just adorable.

Jack is nestled in his heated bed in his room, snuggly and safe so I needn't worry. I will spring him from "kitty jail" when I get up.

Got some RXs in the mail today ... will open and sort on Sunday.

Rained today. Rain forecast (off and on) for the next 4 days. After that ... fog and cold (30s)

Remembered to add chemicals to the hot tub. (I miss my wonderful DH who usually deals with these things!)

More adoption center tomorrow (Saturday) then I'm watching the Beaches remake at my friend Stacey's house. With nachos. Not thrilled about the remake part of it ... but I do love Idina Menzel, so that evens things out.

Need to get groceries and fill bird feeders on Sunday. (I did put out squirrel peanuts today)

[TheOtherMe]

More fog and drizzle.  Took dad to lunch and will again tomorrow because sister is sick.

[Sharon]

It was a rainy windy day so I was quite glad to stay home.  Today was housework in the morning followed by sewing in the afternoon.  I need to get started on my taxes.  It doesn't usually take me very long to get everything ready for the accountant.  I just need to do it.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

3 kitties were adopted on Saturday ... including two adult cats (woo hoo!) It is always extra nice when people choose adult cats!  Stopped in at Trader Joes on the way home and bought egg white salads, peppers and small potatoes.  Had a nice time Saturday night at my friend's house watching Beaches (the remake was dreadful).  It was pouring when I got home around 10pm, and Jack was waiting for me to come inside!

Filled some feeders today ... have to keep our birdies happy.

Put some gas in the car and got groceries at Sprouts. I'm nicely stocked up for the next few days .... lots of veggies, of course.

Today marks 3 solid weeks of eating better with a great emphasis on veggies and aiming for a balanced diet.

Had a nice long soak in the hot tub this afternoon, too.

Some rain forecast for tomorrow (Monday), then no more rain in our 10-day forecast. Hopefully it won't be all fog and we'll get some sunshine. The pool guy is coming (every other Monday), so I'll need to unlock the gate in the morning. I also need to drag the two big trash cans out to the curb in the afternoon.

Heard from my wonderful DH. All is well.

[Sharon]

I have been trying to eat better and eat more veggies.  Today I made a new recipe, a pork stew.  In addition to the pork it had onions, garlic, carrots, celery, parsnips and mushrooms.  It also had apples and apple juice.  I was really pleased with how it turned out.  I took it over to Mom's and we had dinner and then watched some TV.  Mom had made homemade chocolate chip cookies.  They were so good, so much for my eating better pledge.  Oh I ate better all right, a whole bunch of "better" chocolate chip cookies.

[Peace77]

I made a pork stew today too. It included onion, butternut squash, parsnips, carrots, peas and chicken broth. It was good but I think I will add garlic to what's left.

[shanendoah]

My do nothing day did not remain a do nothing day. Instead, I went and got new orthotics (in advance of the Women's March) and then, because they need to be broken in a bit, we went CostCo shopping. So, more doing than I'd hoped. BUT... My new orthotics are amazing. They allowed me to handle over 4 hours straight on my feet without leaving me in crippling pain. My feet feel better the second I put my shoes on. I even managed to take a walk this morning at work. So no regrets.

I am also trying to eat healthier, mostly by cutting down buying my lunch at work or going out for dinner. That and reminding myself what a reasonable portion looks like. 
And with the new inserts, hopefully I'll be able to get back to walking on a regular basis. I don't know if I'll be hitting my 10k steps/day again soon, but I should be back up to over 7.5k steps/day, and for now I'll take it.

[TheOtherMe]

Think I am switching my auto/homeowner's and umbrella insurance.  Will have better coverage for less $$$.

[Sharon]

I started working on my tax stuff tonight, including that questionnaire that the accountant always sends.  There are a few things that I am still waiting for but pretty close to ready to take to the accountants.

My Chiro is talking once again on me getting orthotics.  I am worried about the cost and the fact that my wide feet barely fit into my shoes so will there be room for something else in there.   I am really having a lot of foot problems so may need to bite the bullet and spend the money.

[shanendoah]

Sharon - I did not get custom orthotics - custom orthotics are really expensive. Good (non-custom) orthotics cost about as much as a pair of shoes. I paid ~$65 for mine. So while that's not nothing, it's better than a lot of things. If you wear athletic shoes, then most of them have removable insoles, and you pull those out and replace them with the orthotics. 
I would suggest doing a search with for your city plus orthotics (it's how I found the place I went to). Call them and ask about their process. The place I went to asked about my issues. They measured my feet. They put me on a scanner that showed where I held my weight when standing, and then did a gait analysis - watching how I walk.
The lady then pulled out a number of options for me to try. I think I tried 6 different orthotics. I had two I liked. One had a longer arch support - I could feel it through my entire arch and I liked that. But they weren't the pair I went with. The pair I went with has a shorter arch support - I only really feel it at the start of my arch, but it's high and firm. And, when I put on my shoes with those orthotics in, my heal pain was instantly less. 
But, like with shoes, you have to go try different options first. You have to put them on and walk around in them a bit. (The store I bought from also has a 30 day return policy for orthotics, which is nice.) Just because a brand works for someone else, doesn't mean they will work for you. I have a friend who swears by Superfeet (one of the best known brands). Superfeet didn't work for me - my heal is apparently longer than they think it should be, and the arch support started under my heal, instead of at my arch. 

But, again, do a search. You'll likely end up in a smaller, local shoe store. But if you have a "Runners World" or some place like that, they likely have similar systems in place. Try on the inserts. And with any luck, you'll end up with something that costs as much as a pair of shoes, but will make all of your shoes last longer.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I did a load of laundry today. And I got it OUT of the dryer. And I put it away. No, I did not fold my underwear ~ I don't care if it's wrinkled.

[Sharon]

I got a hair cut today and that always makes me feel better.  Since I wear my hair pretty short and it is curly I feel pretty ragged/frizzy after a few weeks.  It is definitely one of my necessities to keep my hair trimmed.

SIL is finally headed home from his month in S. AZ.  He is even getting smarter and instead of driving 15-16 hours straight through he stopped in Northern CA for the night.  He makes great money when he is down there but it is really hard on both of them for him to be gone for the month.  I suspect this will be the last year of him doing this.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I know you all will be shocked, SHOCKED I SAY ... that my wonderful DH's pay is messed up for February 1. It's short $396.77.  (No, it's not a crisis ... but it's OUR MONEY!)

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I have an upset stomach tonight. I ate a two day past-dated yogurt at 2pm ... do you suppose that's it? Maybe it was the salmon for dinner. Hmmm

[msventoux]

Jan 26, 2017 23:31:46 GMT -5 ❤ mollymouser ❤ said:

I have an upset stomach tonight. I ate a two day past-dated yogurt at 2pm ... do you suppose that's it? Maybe it was the salmon for dinner. Hmmm

Unlikely unless you have a very delicate digestive track. I may go too far in the other direction though. I'll eat yogurt (depending on the type) two weeks or more past the expiration date. It's Greek yogurt and already a bit tart, as long as it's not fuzzy or curdled or a weird consistency it's fair game.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Theo is in the hospital ~ she sent me a PM on Facebook and said I could share it with you.  "Have not eaten since Sunday. Can't leave until I eat."

(I've passed on Get Well wishes)

[debthaven]

Please send Theo my best wishes.

[Peace77]

I hope they figure out what's going on with Theotherme this time.

Feel better soon.

[Sharon]

TheOtherMe get well soon.

[Sharon]

TheOtherMe thinking of you and hope you are out of the hospital soon.

[3catslady]

Get well soon TheOtherMe

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

I sent her a PM on Facebook asking how she's doing.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Peanut butter on toast for dinner. With a side of chard/kale and spinach, because I promised myself I would eat my veggies.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Theo is out of the hospital.

[snapdragon]

Hope you are feeling better Theo.

[Sharon]

Glad to hear that TheOtherMe is out of the hospital.

I am trying to figure out what to get my Mom for her birthday.  This is always difficult because she doesn't need anything, plus she really needs to downsize and move.  I am leaning towards an experience but right now am not seeing anything that strikes my fancy or it costs way to much.  This whole birthday thing is probably going to cost way more than what I really want to spend.  I could go downtown and buy her a shirt or something within my price range but ugh don't want to do that either.

[Peace77]

Sharon,

What about a gift card for lunch such as Panera Bread?

My Mom always liked treats such as chocolate or pastry.