Money

Money. I hate it. I hate having to deal with all of life's crap that involves money. I hate having to struggle with it. I hate not having enough of it. I hate waiting for it.

I'm a big fan of instant gratification. Big surprise there.

However, I like working. A lot. I love feeling that I'm making a contribution, and that I'm part of a team that's working to achieve a common goal. I wish that I actually had the time to do so. I've been struggling a bit with this whole full-time student thing. Between studying and working for the two newspapers, neither of which pay much, I've been struggling.

I don't like worrying about money, but it's hard not to. I've got bills and rent, not to mention old credit cards that I'm working to pay off. I'm still feeling like a big stinking idiot for those. Sometimes, it feels like too much.

All of that being said, I love having a partner in all this. He's hugely supportive, and has offered to help, though there's no way in hell I'm letting him shoulder this craziness. Oh, and now we're splitting rent and household bills. Amen. I like having him with me at the apartment. It's comforting, both emotionally and financially. Especially on stressful mornings like this.

After I publish this, I'm going to have a late breakfast, make some calls, and then go back to bed. It's been a long week for us.

-Erin

Afternoon Naps and Exciting Decisions

Oh my word, we were so tired this afternoon from our hike, that we showered, ate, and then fell right to sleep. I woke up a little bit ago and was so tired that I thought I slept through the whole night and that it was 6 a.m. Apparently, walking four miles in the heat was too much for my lazy ass.

Ironically, I've decided to train for a 5k. Uh huh. Still questioning that decision, but I'm working on getting fit again. My weight is fine, but, obviously after reading my own words, I'm definitely not 'in shape'. So, for those of you who are, or simply want to, work towards this same thing, I've found a few great articles to get you on the move. Literally.

This article features a great training schedule on the second page.

Here's an entire page dedicated to running a 5k. They've got tips for newbies, other training schedules, as well as tips on improving your overall speed.

All nervousness aside, I'm incredibly excited to embark on this challenge, and I'm looking forward to feeling all toned and fit again. I hate seeing my old dancing muscle all... soft. Very, very motivating!

Take a hike (literally)

Boyfriend and I are heading to the Sam Houston National Forest today, and taking a nice hike. It's pretty warm outside, so we're traveling light.

Here's what I plan to pack:

- Water bottle

- Trail mix: granola, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and dark chocolate chips

- Lunch: ham and swiss sandwich with Pringles (Sour Cream and Onion)

- Flashlight

- First Aid Kit

- Knife (Boyfriend has about 30 or so, so I'm borrowing :))

- baby wipes

- extra grocery sack (I leave my recyclable ones at home once a month, and use these all over the apartment... they're so handy) for trash

- umbrella

One problem that we've had at this park is that they've got TONS of bees. We always seem to have some sort of incident with them. Last time, they went straight for our Dr. Pepper. Fortunately, it's too warm for D.P. today.

Do you like to go hiking with your significant others? What other sort of outdoorsy things do you do together? Or, are you an 'inside couple'?

Dinner Under $5

I've been getting craftier in the kitchen, which is hard, considering my vow to not dirty more than five dishes.... It's not going so well. However, I'm working towards a more exciting goal: creating meals for 2 people (who both like to eat, a lot) for less than $5.

However, tonight was a major success:

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken:

- Chicken (2 large breasts at $2.20)

- Tony's Cajun Seasoning ($.10)

- 4 pieces of bacon, smoked, thick-cut ($.40; we got the entire 1 lb. package for $2.00)

- Preheat oven to 350F

- Trim the chicken breasts, and coat generously with Tony's, rubbing it in.

- Wrap 2 pieces of bacon around each breast, and then place in oven safe baking pan.

- Bake for 30 minutes.

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese:

- 1/2 package of large, elbow macaroni ($.48)

- 5 oz. Velveeta ($1.05)

- 3 tbsp. butter ($.02)

- 1/2 small can of evaporated milk ($.50)

- Boil large pot of water, salting generously. Cook macaroni al dente. Drain completely. Rinse with cold water. Return to pot.

- While waiting, cut up the Velveeta into small cubes.

- Combine remaining ingredients in pot, with heat on medium, roughly, making sure all cheese has melted.

- Let sit a few moments to thicken.

- Salt and pepper if desired.

Total cost: $4.75

I'm still happily stuffed as I type this out. Delicious.

*Warning: This is not a diet-friendly recipe in the slightest, unless that diet includes cheese and butter :))

Heavy Lifting

We moved Boyfriend's couch into the apartment! Unfortunately, we now have two mismatched couches...

I'm lazy, and probably won't get around to taking a picture of our place until I've finished decorating, so here's so imagery: 1) the first couch is long, with green plaid and exposed wood around the edges, which matches the rest of our furniture (the wood, not the green plaid) 2) the second (new) couch is short (love-seat) with a black cover on it. Have I mentioned that we secured both of these for free? Try beating that price tag.

It's a shame, really, since I like the exposed wood around the green couch, but we'll probably just get a black cover for that one to match the other couch. It would be the easiest (and cheapest) way to make the whole thing work. Buh-bye, exposed wood.

After we do that, then we'll finally buy curtains for the living room. AMEN.

Breakfast and Dishes

This morning, I'm enjoying a nice bowl of granola, topped with blueberries, strawberries and honey, while I wait for Boyfriend to wake up. He could sleep all day if I let him. Actually, I let him do exactly that yesterday. We function on nearly opposite schedules. I go to sleep early-ish, and wake up early-ish. He goes to sleep very, very late, and wakes up very, very late. Do you and your partner work like that? Or, are your sleep schedules totally in synch?

Today, we're moving the last of his furniture over, which consists of a couch and other random items. Oh, did I mention his mother and younger brother are driving up to help? That late tidbit of information arrived at approximately 10:07 p.m. last night, and we cleaned and cleaned until about midnight, when I crashed. I woke up at 8 a.m. this morning and did the dishes, which I never seem to be able to do on the day they're dirtied, unless my kitchen is looking just completely psychotic. Help me, Rhonda. Help, help me, Rhonda.

*For the record, we're not slobs, I just can't stand people coming over and the apartment not having undergone a ridiculously deep clean. Especially his mother. Just. Can't. Do. It.

Sorry...

... that I'm such an absentee blogger. What can I say? Sometimes life takes control, and you lose it. I'm happy to say that I powered through this semester with a 3.53 overall :)))

Here are some goodies that happened since I last posted:

- I tried Thai food for the first time, and I've decided to marry the yellow curry soup that I had... divine.

- I'm currently working for 2 newspapers.

- I need money more than ever.

- I leave for D.C. in 13 days!!!!

More tomorrow, seeing has how I'm actually experiencing a summer for the first time. Whew!