Pink Floyd Crooned About It. All I Know Is I Need It. Moneyyyy. August 9, 2007

I’ve always been bad about budgeting. In fact, I’ve never been able to stick to any budget that I’ve created. I’m not frugal. I’m too generous with my money. I like nice things way too much. I like eating out. I’m a walking talking consumer extradonaire and a marketer’s dream.

Well, it’s time to change my ways.

For the next few months (let’s say at least til the end of the year- so, that’s 4 months), I want to be able to save half of my monthly paycheck. My rent is about 25% of my monthly pay- which leaves me with about 25% to live on.

I think it’ll be hard but doable. That means making some sacrifices- something else that I’m not very good at. That 25% “allowance” money is going to have to cover my groceries, monthly metrocard, entertainment, etc.

So, I guess, for the next few months- I’m going to try to bring my lunch to work. I’m going to try to cook dinner at home as much as possible from Mon – Fri. Any dining out should really only take place on the weekend. Egads.

I am going to avoid stores! Or somehow build up my willpower. I need some fall/winter basics – but that’s it. Have to make a list and stick to it!

I don’t want to deny myself too much because- well, because I DON’T want to. Life is meant to be enjoyed… I just have to do it more responsibly.

Somehow in the next few months that 25% allowance is also going to have help me cover my half of a new imac- a small engagement party I’m throwing for one of my best friends, a camping trip- oh, and we’re making dinner for one of the bf’s best buds and his wife this weekend. Not to mention next week’s trip to Cape May. Raw roh, Shaggy!

I am in desperate need of a new bikini for the trip. Why does such small scraps of fabric cost sooo much? Most of the stores only have odds and ends of swim wear. I couldn’t find any matching tops and bottoms at a bargain price at any of the usual stores.

So, it’s either shell out some big bucks for a bikini or somehow lose some weight to fit in the ones I already have. They’re a little too snug.

Guess who’s going to be dieting and working out like mad in the next week?

How the hell am I going to throw a nice engagement party on a budget?! I’m not crafty!

I need to figure out how to earn some extra dollars!

Daily Soup, Tossed Salads, Snicker, and Snickers August 2, 2007

Lunch today was a big salad from Daily Soup. My coworkers kept commenting on how big the bowl was. That comment later morphed into “my, what big balls you have”. And that later launched a discussion about “brown eyes”. I don’t know- sometimes my team gets too much sugar into their systems.

(If you have no idea what I’m talking about- congratulations- you’re a better person than I am.)

Anyway, Daily Soup is fantastic. They toss salads. (Not a snicker, please.) You choose your own ingredients and they toss (cough) it for you.

I had a mixed green salad with endamame, cubes of tofu, cheddar cheese, and tomatoes – all coated with a roasted garlic dressing. The dressing’s base was olive oil – not creamy.

I wanted to get a cup of Italian Wedding Soup too BUT they were out of it. That’s my favorite soup from there. They were also the first place that I ever went to that sold Lion Bars. Lion Bars are possibly the best candy bars in the world. They’re like a cross between a Snicker’s bar and a Kit Kat I think. It’s possibly the best thing out of the UK besides scones + clotted cream and shepherd’s pie. Oh and maybe TopShop.

Btw, one day I will remember to take photos of things- although I’m more literal than visual.

Shake Shack and The Last Days Of Meat? July 31, 2007

I had dinner at Shake Shack tonight with some friends. We waited for half an hour on line to order. And then it was about another half hour before our food was ready? Worth it? You bet.

I skipped the cheeseburger tonight but ogled my friend’s. It looked juicy. He said it was and more. He said it was flavorful and cooked perfectly. We split a Chicago Dog. I’ve never had a Chicago Dog before. I enjoyed every bite of it. The hot peppers were a little too hot for me but the cucumber made up for it.

I also had my own Taxi Dog. That’s probably my favorite thing at the Shake Shack. The sweet onion sauce over sauerkraut were the perfect sweet & sour combination on my tongue. Parts of the hotdog tasted a teensy bit salty but that didn’t stop me from chowing the whole thing down.

I also had bites of my friend’s ’shroom burger- fried to a perfection with surprise cheesy goodness inside. I mean, I know the cheese is in there but every time I have it- it’s like a nice surprise- a party in my mouth. = )

The shake she had was quite tasty too.

I think this may be my last Shake Shack meal for awhile. I’m sorta of inspired to eat healthier. One of my friends looked amazing. She was fit and thin. She told me that she’s been detoxing and hasn’t had any meat for a couple of weeks now.

She eats a lot of tofu and seafood and salad instead. She said she may add on chicken at some point but doesn’t want to eat any other meat. She noticed that the past couple of weeks- not only does she look great but she feels great too.

Hmmm. I’m impressionable. I wanna be like Mike. I want to be fit, healthy and feel great. I ‘m naturally sort of thin. But definitely not fit. And these past few months of food splurging has definitely made my clothes tighter – but on the plus side- I have my boobs back! Yay. But I guess I’d rather be healthy.

Maybe I’ll give the tofu diet a gung ho try. Maybe at least during the work week? I don’t know… I heart food.