The Status of My Realm.

My laptop is still on the fritz and hence I'm typing this from school. It looks like the medical stuff is going to run me around five hundred dollars. I have to go tomorrow for an appointment and I had to take off tomorrow night and Saturday from work. I'm planning on devoting all that time to school stuff. As for meal planning, I've hardly been eating. For the last few days, I've roughly ate five hundred calories a day and most of those were in liquid form. I don't expect to do much eating for the next few days and any attempt at food planning will be fruitless. At least I had a good start.

I don't know how I managed to drag myself to school today. Oy.

Editor's Pick at this Week's Carnival of PF

I went to check my stats out for the site and had a "OH MY GOD!" moment. My numbers are through the roof. That's always a pleasant surprise in the face of medical issues.

Thanks Million Dollar Journey for featuring Tale of Two Friends as an editor's pick for this week's Carnival of Personal Finance! For my lovely readers, I'll pick my own favorites and post them tomorrow morning.

Furthermore, MSN's MoneyBlog Smart Spending featured The Friend Who Is Always Broke which is a recap of the previously mentioned Tale of Two Friends.

Thanks also to Wooly Woman for featuring me in her Round-Up of the last week for us meal planner participants.

Time for me to catch up on my reading.

Meal Planning- Week Two!

Whittle your waist while fattening your wallet! Tomorrow starts the second week of meal planning. I learned a bit from last week's plan: be more flexible! With hindsight being 20/20, I'm forgoing mapping out daily breakfasts. Even when it comes to lunches, I've found that it's easiest for me to go with salads.

Interchangeable breakfasts: Decaf, grapenuts with nonfat milk, whole wheat toast with cottage cheese, fruit, smoothies

*Work supplied meals

#Packed to go for school

Food Planning- Second Week (11/8-11/14)

11/8- Thursday
B: Interchangeable
L: Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms #
D: Leftovers, Salad w/ Tuna#
S: 2 pc. Sugar Free Candy

11/9- Friday
B: Interchangeable
L: Italian Basil Salad w/ Genoa Salame
D: Bunless Pepper Jack Burger with Pico De Gallo, Cabo Salad*
S: Vegetable Soup*

11/10- Saturday
B: Bacon Lettuce Wraps *
L: Portabello Chicken with Steamed Veggies*
D: Grilled Rosemary Steaks and Salad
S: Chocolate Mousse

11/11- Sunday
B: Interchangeable
L: Salad, Chocolate Mousse
D: Lemon Chicken with Steamed Veggies*
S: Vegetable Soup*

11/12-Monday
B: Interchangeable
L: Salad w/ Turkey
D: Bunless French Dip with Melted Cheese and Grilled Onions, Green Salad*
S: Turk Creole Soup*

11/13- Tuesday
B: Interchangeable
L: Salad w/Turkey, Chocolate Mousse#
D: Green Leaf Salad w/Tuna#
S: Turkey Lettuce Wraps, 2pc Sugar Free Candy

11/14- Wednesday
B: Interchangeable
L: Salad w/Turkey
D: Dine Out
S: Decaf Breve Latte w/ Sugarfree Hazelnut (@ Starbuck’s w/little sister), Mousse

Where have I been?

This little vixen has been devoting her time to school and work. I made a total of 440 dollars over the weekend, while only spending twenty three. Erm. All of that was in alcohol. Escuse me while I hang my head in shame.

On the plus side, I've stuck to my meal planning and am already plotting next week's. I'm sucking big time at my goal for exercising this month. Like I mentioned, that's by far my biggest weakness. Perhaps I'll do a couple extra flights of stairs at school today, or take a walk around the campus before I study.

People in my classes have been wanting to know my secret for 'success'. I wish there was a way I could make money off of it. I don't think posting ads for a tutor for "Latin American Studies" will fly. And, I feel guilty for charging people for a study session. Although, I could make a pretty penny off it.

Cheap Night In.

Rented movie (Departed) and Chicken Enchiladas! My man has a NF subscription so it didn't cost me a dime. Although, I did have to run by the store to pick up a few things (6.88). I'm excited that we'll have leftovers for tomorrow. No worries of any cooking. Last night was productive at work. I walked with 13o dollars. Today I made 90. Sad face on that one. I usually walk with 120 on Saturdays.

Obviously, this post is far more abbreviated than normal. I'm thoroughly exhausted between closing last night and opening this morning. Back to back shifts KILL me. My feet are throbbing.

On a positive note, I've been sticking to the meal plan... and my work pants feel looser!!!! Tomorrow's goal is to get some exercise in. Ugh.

Unproductive Morning (and curse Starbursts!)

I've been working so hard this week with everything from school (like eight hours on a take home midterm yesterday, for a combined total of ten hours spent on it), that this morning has been QUITE unproductive. I woke up at eight am, had my bowl of cereal... and promptly fell asleep by nine am. I just barely woke up now. Grawr. I have the greatest desire NOT to go to work today. But, erm, of course, this little Vixen needs money.

I have a good idea for my next carnival submission. Just need to actually write it.

Oh, yesterday I spent twenty dollars on gas. And, I have completely stuck to my food plan. I have to admit that a pack of Starbursts were calling my name. :-(

Meal Planning

Cut down on your food costs by planning ahead. By plotting meals, you'll fatten your wallet and whittle your waist. Nancy Zimmerman is offering a twenty five dollar gift card to the person who is able to stick to their meal plan and the rules. For the record, I joined before she offered this! Heh. I'm doing this more for the health aspect than saving money; that will be a lovely side effect.

Rules: Participants can join at any time, although the gift card is only available to those who start on November 1st. Today is your last day to join! Furthermore, meal plans should be posted once a week. Since we are starting on Wednesdays, I'll most likely be posting on Wednesdays (possibly Tuesday).

Participants thus far include Wooly Woman, Laughing at Gilded Butterflies, 365 Days and I Will Be Debt Free, Nancy Zimmerman, and Random Thoughts of a Student of the Environment. Good luck, ladies!

Food Planning- First Week (11/1-11/7)

11/1- Thursday
B: Fruit, Whole Grain Toast, Nonfat Cottage Cheese, Decaf
L: Basil Mozzarella Portabello Caps
D: Leftovers, Italian Basil Salad w/Genoa Salame
S: 2 pc. Sugar Free Candy

11/2- Friday
B: Grape Nuts w/ Nonfat Milk, Decaf
L: Italian Basil Salad w/ Genoa Salame
D: Bunless Pepper Jack Burger with Pico De Gallo, Cabo Salad *
S: Vegetable Soup*

11/3- Saturday
B: Bacon Lettuce Wraps *
L: Artichoke Mushroom Chicken with Steamed Veggies*
D: Tortilla-less Chicken Enchiladas with Pico De Gallo, Green Leaf Salad
S: Chocolate Mousse

11/4- Sunday
B: Fruit, Breakfast Bruschetta
L: Leftovers of Enchiladas
D: Chicken Portabello with Steamed Veggies*
S: Vegetable Soup*

11/5-Monday
B: Grape Nuts w/Nonfat Milk, Decaf
L: Roast Beef Salad
D: Bunless French Dip with Melted Cheese and Grilled Onions, Green Salad*
S: Turk Creole Soup*

11/6- Tuesday
B: Smoothie, Whole Grain Toast, Nonfat Cottage Cheese,
L: Roast Beef Salad
D: Green Leaf Salad with Tuna
S: Roast Beef Lettuce Wraps, 2pc Sugar Free Candy

11/7- Wednesday
B: Fruit, Whole Grain Toast, Nonfat Cottage Cheese, Decaf
L: Roast beef Salad
D: Eggplant Parmigiana @ dad’s house
S: Decaf Breve Latte w/ Sugarfree Hazelnut (@ Starbuck’s w/little sister), Chocolate Mousse

*These meals are provided by my restaurant since I am in charge of the shift