Wednesday, March 10, 2010
It IS a tuma.
Charlie.
Monday, March 1, 2010
You're cordially invited to pay my Visa bill.
"A bill registry is similar to a traditional online wedding registry, in which you sign up for the gifts you would like to receive for your wedding. However, with billpayregistry.com, instead of gifts, you register your unpaid bills and have your friends and family make contributions to your debt as a gift to you. One of the great things about billpayregistry.com is that it's not limited to just weddings! Any event (birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc.) is a great opportunity to get rid of your debt once and for all and start living again. As you receive gifts, request the bills that you would like us to pay for you and we'll submit a payment on your behalf."
Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! (That's me this morning nearly smearing my eyeliner while listening to this.) Now I am in no way slamming the guy (yes, it was a guy) who developed this site. On one hand, it's actually a pretty good idea (from a business perspective) that I think a lot of people (sadly enough) will buy into... He says he's not doing it to make a profit, and I honestly think his intentions are good here - so kudos on that end. However, this idea of asking wedding guests (or whomever) to pay off your debts hits me like nails on a chalkboard for two very specific, but very different reasons (and yes, I'm totally picturing myself standing at a podium with my finger pointed as I type this)...
1. A bride and groom should never ask for money. There, I said it. And I know a LOT of people will disagree with me on this, and I'm fine with that. And I also know that in some regions it's very traditional to give cash gifts for weddings. Not so much in the South, but I know it's very big elsewhere in the U.S. Nothing wrong with that at all - you can give whatever you want and shoot, cash is always appreciated! But you should never ever *ask* for it - by whatever means. Things like honeymoon registries make me want to vomit. So naturally, the idea of someone asking for money to pay their bills... well just go ahead and hand me a spoon. And not to mention, would you not (as a guest) be tallying up the cost of the wedding you're attending in your head, wondering why the hell you're paying these people's bills when the bride's floating around the dance floor in a $2,500 gown? Just sayin'...
2. You need to clean up your own mess. As someone who has been working her tail end off with her husband the last 18 months to get rid of debt, I find the idea of setting up a "debt registry" very insulting. But my feelings aside, if you've made a financial mess of things, you need to clean up your own damn mess. This doesn't mean people can't help you - my parents have been a HUGE help to us and we're incredibly grateful. But you've got to take responsibility for your shit. Grab the poo bags and get to scoopin'. Depending on family and friends and (*cough*) wedding guests to bail your ass out is ridiculous. It may sound inviting and maybe even "smart" to some. And hey, maybe your guests will buy into too and they can get you out of debt. But I'm willing to bet you'll be right back in the hole - and probably a deeper one - by your 2nd anniversary. The thing is, if you've made a mess, you need a new plan. You will not learn your lesson and make the behavioral changes you need to make by letting others clean up your mess. Getting out a debt - REALLY getting out of debt for good - is a spiritual journey. Don't miss out on that.
Alright... off my soapbox and back into my desk chair for now. So what do you guys think? Would you opt for this type of registry as a bride or groom? Would you participate as a guest? No worries - I'm not gonna slam you if you disagree with me. I'm just curious as to what others think.
Hope y'all have a great week!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Birthday Wishes
OK back to work...
Friday, February 19, 2010
The thrill is gone.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Snowbunnies.






Friday, February 12, 2010
I better not get stuck here.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
You've got two more days...
Now this photo session can be anything you want it to be... but if *I* were to win, I'd totally have shots of my three doggies taken (that should make for an interesting 2 hours). Check out the gallery of animal photos over at Chikadeez - sooooo sweet.
For more details and to enter, hop on over here. Get on it!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Keep trying.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Presenting...
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Back at it.

Friday, January 29, 2010
Ready to Crash.
For real. Like right now. I've got a mad headache coming on and I'm ready for a date with some Nyquil, the remote, and my Snuggie. I started getting that oh-crap-I-think-I'm-getting-sick feeling late Wednesday and I'm now in the coughing and stuffy head stage. Aside from this headache, I haven't felt all that bad - just worn out. Like I have no energy to smile - which is sad, because I usually smile a lot. Good thing is, we're in kind of a lull right now at work - a very temporary one - but I guess my cold or whatever this is hit at the right time. I don't have to go in to work tomorrow, thank goodness, so I'll be able to chill out at the house and hopefully shake off whatever this is.
Not much going on this weekend, which is super nice. I need a break. My sweet hub has been doing all the laundry and the cleaning the last couple of weeks, which has been super helpful. (And he looks dead sexy with a bottle of Windex in his hand.) Just haven't had time or energy for anything once I get home. We were planning to do our next IUI this upcoming cycle but I don't even feel mentally prepared for that. I've been SO busy at work - I mean I know it's tax season, but we hit the ground running (and running hard) unusually early this year. So I just haven't had time to like decompress and get my head in the right spot for it just yet. And I mean, there's no huge rush really. I still very much would like to get this last IUI cycle done in the next few months, but it doesn't have to be tomorrow. Plus, given that it's our last shot with IUI, we really want to give it all we've got. So I want to make sure I'm physically and spiritually ready and I also want to do acupuncture along with it this time, and I've yet to figure that out. It's on my to-do list.
So that's my I'm-tired-and-feel-like-crap update. Hope you feel inspired!!!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Love Captured Contest

Friday, January 22, 2010
Still kickin'
Friday, January 15, 2010
Ketchup.
OK so enough alarm talk. I've had no time in bloggy world this week, but I'm guessing Haiti has been a big topic. (As well as PANTS-ON-THE-GROUND! Seriously can't get that out of my head.) The Haiti situation is so sad - I feel very removed from it, honestly just because I've been so busy and swallowed up by work this week. So I feel like I'm just now catching on to the sadness and concern the rest of the world is feeling. I've actually been to Haiti - just for a day on a cruise years ago. But I can't imagine how scary that environment down there must be right now - seriously I just have no comprehension of that. And for the families here that are missing relatives and friends and are just waiting... how terribly frightening. Big prayers for Haiti and all those involved. And as usual the relief efforts are in full force and organizations here are raising money left and right. And I think this donate-money-by-text thing is BRILLIANT. I heard today that the Red Cross has raised over $5 million just through texting - amazing. I mean it really is genius... I think a lot of people have good intentions to donate but fail to do so out of pure laziness or forgetfullness or life. But how long does it take to text? Like a half second? And it comes through your cell phone bill, so it plays into our nation's (unfortunate) buy-now-pay-later mentality. I'd love to give so much more, but even I can sign up for this one! Here are a couple of donate-by-text options...
Text the word HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.
Text the word YELE to 501501 to donate $5 to Yele (Wyclef Jean's organization).
Both groups will send you a text back to confirm your intent to donate and you'll need to reply with "YES" to complete the donation.
Nothing much else going on right now but work. And such is life for the next 3 months. Three months as of today, actually - so the countdown begins (till April 15th)! And because I'm a tax accountant and also way too nice, I'll open the floor for any tax questions you have. Now just general questions please, I don't want to do a freaking tax research project here. Ha! No but really, I'd be glad to answer any questions y'all have - just leave a comment on this post.
As far as the rest of our goings on, I'll just leave y'all with some bullet points. I've got some work I've got to get on, so this will have to do for now!
- Lucky's wedding (two weeks ago now, geez) was fab! The whole weekend was a blast and she made an absolutely stunning bride. She and her new hubby are on their way back now from an amazing honeymoon in Italy.
- The hub is still in the middle of his job search and we're starting to see some progress, but of course nothing ever progresses as fast as we'd like it to! Just continuing to pray for patience and trusting that God's at work here. We have all these amazing goals for 2010 laid out but until we get the job squared away we kinda feel like we're standing in mud. Prayers, prayers, prayers.
- Speaking of goals, I still plan to slap those on here as soon as we finalize them - we're almost there! We're slow.
- And on a completely superficial note, my silver Revas are starting to look really rough but I refuse to stop wearing them. Though I'm not sure I'd buy them again (not that I could right now) because now like everyone wears them and that's a TOTAL turn-off to me. As soon as anything is on everyone, I can't do it anymore. Because then I just look like everyone else - *snooze*. It's for this reason I've closeted Uggs and Coach bags.
- We are signed up to take FPU again starting next month! Like I said, we've got lots of goals for 2010 and many of those are financial, so we just felt like taking the class again to keep that "Gazelle Intensity" and accountability. I think we've coaxed some friends into taking it along with us, so I'm looking forward to it. I can't get enough Dave, so it'll be good. Classes are starting up all over - plop in your zip code on the site and find one near you. Whether you're broke and freaked out or raking it in without any debt, this 13-week class has something for everyone. It's a life-long journey and you can hop on no matter where you are. And if you work it, it will do incredible things for your marriage.
- My favorite K-cup right now is the Coffee People x-bold Donut Shop. It blends beautifully with my French Vanilla creamer. Tell me your faves, Keurig people! We're still sampling.
- Oh and people of the world, please stop referring to Atlanta as "HOTlanta." That's so over.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Ch-ch-changes.
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010!



The picture doesn't do much for it - it actually looks a bit of a snooze on the dress form. But it is quite the little party dress - very young and flirty. It hits just above the knee.







