So if you forgot, we are working hard to reduceeliminate our debt. We started on February 1st and we are continuing once again this month.
We did amazing in February, you can read about it here, and I had even higher, more realistic goals for March. In February we paid off a 10% of our debt which was amazing, but a big chunk of that was due to us getting our tax return back.
This month was trickier in the way to find out how to pay off as much as possible without that extra income. Back in January we started the process of refinancing our house. We haven't even been in it a year yet and the rates have dropped so it couldn't hurt. We got our interest rate dropped a whole percent and are saving an additional $200 each month from this!
While we are saving these extra $450 a month now from paying off debt/refinancing, I am not seeing it yet directly. It discourages me, but I have to realize that just because I don't see an additional $450 in our bank account doesn't mean I don't see a decrease in our credit card spending. I do. I see that we are able to use our checking account for a lot more things and use our credit card way less.
I know people say to just get rid of the card so you don't use it, but it isn't that easy for us. For example, Ryan's debit card broke, in the sense that the strip no longer works and he can't use his card. This means that either he has to use our credit card for all purchases until we get a new one or I do. We, of course, limited our spending since this happened, but needing gas is a necessity that we can't go without.
So an overview of our debt elimination for the month of March: $2829! While it isn't 10%, it's better than nothing and we are slowly, but surely, making our way to a debt free life.
Money is such a stressful thing that most couples don't deal with/talk about until it is too late. I'm glad that we are both on board with this plan and I can't wait to see where we are in the next couple of months.
So last week we took Caleb to the zoo for the very first time and while I loved seeing him experience animals for the first time, I couldn't escape the vast conversations happening around us.
So without further ado, I give you, Sh*t You Hear At The Zoo:
While standing by the Yellow-Backed Duiker exhibit:
"I now know where the term 'Doohickey' comes from." - Seriously? That's not even how it's pronounced.
While standing by the Wolf's Guenon exhibit:
"Let's find the wolf!" - These people had no idea we were in the monkey area and were fully expecting to find a wolf inside this exhibit with monkeys? People are silly.
While standing by the Orangutan exhibit:
"There's a real life Orangutan!" - My mom saw a man hanging from the railing like an orangutan. It was pretty funny.
While standing by the Chimpanzee exhibit:
"Chimpanzees are so cool! They can make tools!" - the same man as noted above that was hanging like a monkey was now talking about the chimps.
While standing by a sign that said to be quiet because there are baby animals:
"Zoos are no longer fun when you have to be quiet!"
Last week I played hooky from work and took Caleb to the zoo for the first time. I have always loved the zoo and animals so I couldn't wait to take Caleb. Ryan isn't a huge fan of zoos, so he went to work and was fine with me taking Caleb.
We are having great weather here in Northern California so I decided it was the perfect time to take him. We went with my mom and for a 6.5 month old, I think he liked it.
I can't wait for him to get older and experience zoos and animal interaction more.
Now a photo dump (ish) of our visit.
And right after this picture he spit up all of his milk all over my legs.
Three words that I knew would be coming some day, but already? This pup-mama wasn't ready for it.
We have always known that since we selected a male pup that we would stud him out one day. He is part of a great bloodline and we would want to help contribute to more gorgeous puppies if able.
Fast forward to last week, Hank is 18 months old and over 100 pounds and had the chance to work his magic for the ladies. Okay, okay - there was only one lady and she was a 3-year-old small gal named Roxy.
Ryan was contacted a couple weeks ago from a lady saying that she loved how Hank looked and wanted to breed her female with him. Ryan agreed and she jumped right on it. Her little gal was already in Heat so things happened very fast.
She brought her little gal to our home 3 times and we let the dogs do their thang! And by we, I obviously mean my husband and little lady's mama. Can we just talk about how awkward it was?
I was only there one time when she brought Roxy over, but it was so uncomfortable! Hank is my baby! I would never dream of watching anyone get their groove on with another person let alone one of my "babies"!
Ryan said that everything went well and in the next couple of weeks we should find out if it took.
Dog procreating is too much for me...and I am not a modest Nelly over here. Who would have known?!?
1. Jaclyn Hill
Can we just talk about how much I am loving her channel??? I just recently discovered it and to say I have become obsessed might be an understatement. There was a time in my life, not so many moons ago, that you wouldn't catch me without makeup. Slowly that went away and now we are all lucky if I wear mascara once a week. I want to get back into it, not too fast, but definitely start stepping up my makeup game again. I think Jaclyn is hilarious and really beautiful. Her makeup tutorials are easy to follow along with and the "extras" at the end are hilarious! If you haven't seen her yet, check it out, NOW!
2. Baby Weight
So you might remember, a couple months 6 months back, AHHH, I was quite large and in charge with my baby belly. Since Snuggle Muffin has joined our family I have talked about wanting to lose all of my baby weight, plus some, before we expand our family once again. We don't want our kids too far apart, so the challenge has been on. I wrote about it here and when I came back to work, 3 months ago, I still had 5 pounds to lose. I couldn't lose those pesky little 5 pounds to save my life. BUT as of this week, I not only lost those 5 pounds, but an additional ONE! That's right, I now, officially, weigh less than I did when I got pregnant 1.5 years ago! YAHOOOOOOOO!
3. Boycotting
Caleb has been on a food boycotting session for the past 3 days and it is getting to me. He is hungry and crabby but doesn't want the food I'm giving him. They aren't new foods, nor are they foods that he doesn't normally love. Babies are confusing, still, after 6 months, and just when I think I'm starting to figure it all out - well as much as I can. Caleb, please start eating everything again!
4. Gift Cards
I am a hoarder, we all know this. Well yesterday I was going through my purse, randomly, and found a ton of gift cards that I still have. When I was on maternity leave I tried to use all of my gift cards as much as possible, but somehow I didn't. So yesterday I found some really good ones and I got a couple new pairs of shoes and we went out to dinner! Both with gift cards and spending very little of our own money! Yes please! :)
5. #HughesMove2014
I haven't done a house update in a long time and that is mostly because we haven't been doing anything really major around the house, but this last weekend we started ripping out more shrubbery that we dislike and we are going to start working on the house more again. The weather is getting absolutely gorgeous (83 degrees yesterday) and we are loving it! We love our home and can't wait to continue to make it more our style.
How on Earth are you six months old already? It was just a month ago - or so it seems like - you were still in my belly and about to make your entrance. It was just a couple weeks ago, or so I feel like, we were spending our days together at home bonding and becoming the bestest of friends. I can't believe how much has happened in six months.
You are growing up so much and I love watching you develop and learn new things. You are now eating solids 3 meals a day. You absolutely love food, no surprise there, and can't get enough of it. We are "mean" parents and make you eat your veggies first every time and you get pretty upset some days. Fruit is dessert for you and you get so excited. The only food item we have found that you don't necessarily care for is Butternut Squash. Other than that, you have eaten everything we have given you with no problems at all. Luckily, no allergies of rashes to anything yet and I really hope it stays that way. You loooooooove carrots and pears probably the most out of everything else, but peas and avocado are close seconds to those. You get oatmeal in the morning for breakfast and we are about to start trying flavored oatmeal this month. I love that you are eating solids now because you are so interested in food and love being a "big boy" at the table with us.
You are still the best sleeper ever! You sleep at least 10 hours a night with no interruption and you even had your first night of 13 hours sleep this past weekend. I will give the fact that you didn't nap at all during the day though the win for that long period of time. Speaking of naps, you don't like to do that very much for me. Mima and Mommy have the hardest times getting you to take "good" naps for us. You will sleep for hours if we snuggle you, but the second you get put in your bed - AWAKE! Daddy and Grandma/Pop say that you sleep for 2+ hours at a time for them and take multiple naps during the day. I will say that you stay awake with me because you miss me so much during the week, why else would you want to torture us both with your unhappy baby self? :)
You have no teefers yet. We are still waiting. I don't mind, but at the same time I want you to be able to learn how to chew things on your own sooner then later. We have been playing the teething game for almost 3 months now and it is just tricking us. We keep thinking your little teeth will pop through any day now, and yet, still no teeth. I know they are in there and I can't wait for you to experience that.
You are developing great and growing so much! You can now sit up unassisted and are really close to being able to sit yourself up for a lying position. You still refuse to roll for anyone but Mommy, and even now that is pushing it. We have no signs of crawling, but you would love to run if you could. You have decided that you are a side sleeper like your Daddy and it is the cutest thing. I spy on you from my bed and just watch you sleep in peace, breathing ever so gently on your side having little baby dreams.
Caleb Tyler, you are seriously the best little boy and the greatest gift I have ever received! I feel so lucky, honored and privileged to call you mine and to know that I get to be your Mommy forever.
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