That horrible in-between problem April 30, 2009

I hate it when you have to travel 2 weekends in a row — you never quite get settled before, after, or especially in-between.

We were out of town Thursday-Sunday of last week for a wedding.  This means that Monday-Weds. of last week were spent stressing out and trying to get ready to go out of town (I was the maid of honor, so this was definitely no leisure trip).  We got back at midnight Sunday night, and I had to go to work Monday morning (new job = NO vacation time).

We are gluttons for punishment, however.  Now that we are back we are preparing to go out of town again this weekend to visit my sister, and to participate in her garage sale.  I feel like I’m still way behind on getting the house back in order after our last whirlwind of packing and unpacking and here I am starting all over again!  I have considered  postponing/canceling this weekend’s trip, but the prospect of having an empty spare room closet (that’s where I’ve been collecting all the garage sale junk) is just way too much of an incentive.  

So I will suck it up, get my stuff priced, and get on the road tomorrow!  At least this time we will get back early Sunday evening so I can feel reasonably put-together at work next week.

Meal Plan for the week of 4/27/09 April 29, 2009

When I tell people I do Weight Watchers, the most common question I get asked is “What do you eat?”

After I explain about points and portion control, I still get asked, “so, what is a typical meal for you?” Since I’ve been trying hard to plan my dinners each week, I figure I’ll share with you my plan for this week:

Monday (had ice cream sundaes at work, so need to eat light):

- Tuna steaks on the grill – coated with soy sauce and cajun seasoning (2 points for 3 oz)
- Large salad – spinach, baby carrots, cucumbers, broccoli, a few croutons, tossed w/1 tbsp of light balsamic vinagrette (.5 points)

Tuesday (going to the gym after work, so meal needs to be quick prep):

- burgers made with lean ground beef on the grill – served on a whole wheat bun w/pickles, ketchup, & mustard (5 pts. for 3 oz burger + bun)

- 1 serving ore ida french fries (3 pts.)

- small salad – spinach, baby carrots, & cucumbers tossed w/half tbsp of light balsamic vinagrette (0 points)

- frozen corn (1 pt for 2/3 cup)

Wednesday (going to the gym after work, so meal needs to be quick prep):

- 1 cup whole wheat spaghetti (3 pts.)

- Prego spaghetti sauce (2 pts)

- small salad w/small amount of light dressing (0 pts)

- 1 and a half slices of whole wheat bread – coated with spray butter & italian seasoning and toasted (1.5 pts)

Thursday

- BBQ bone-in pork chops on the grill (4 pts)

- 1 cup brown rice (4 pts)

- small salad (0 pts)

- mixed steamed frozen veggies (0 pts)

Friday (we are leaving work early to drive out of town and visit my sister, so dinner is on the road):

- McDonald’s Hamburger (5 pts)

- McDonald’s ice cream cone (3 pts)

** As a disclaimer – these are estimated points values. Please see the weightwatchers website for official numbers.  I am not at all affiliated with Weight Watchers (other than as their paying customer) so please do not consider any information on this blog to be “official.”

April Debt Summary April 28, 2009

Debt at start of blog (July 2008): $51,497.33

Debt at end of April 2009: $23,497.72

Difference: $27,999.61

Current Breakdown:

Car loan (at 5.75%): $826.96

Grad School Loan (at 6.55%): $7,809.06

Undergrad Loan (at 2.125%): $14,861.70

We were able to make an extra $6,852.00 in payments to the car loan this month. This was composed of $4000 left from my husband’s bonus last year (that we decided to put towards debt), $1750 that was leftover in our “mortgage assistance fund” (we had a savings account for money to help with the mortgage each month until I got a job — since I’m now getting a paycheck, this is no longer needed). $102 from Amazon and eBay sales, and an extra $1000 that we scrounged up out of the budget (now that I’m working).

No additional payments were made to the other debt — since we are nearing the home stretch we really tried to focus all of our attention on the car loan.

My undergraduate loan interest dropped by 1% this month, due to having made my first 36 payments on time. Hurray for loan benefits!