July Update
Posted under: My, how summer flies by. It’s been a good two months, though, considering it’s been so long since I’ve posted.
My job is still going well and I’ve gotten to work on several exciting projects. It will be exciting to see the things that will be coming up.
The biggest news – we are currently in the process of buying a house. We close August 15th. 
We looked at our options and decided it would be best for us to find somewhere to live semi-permanently. Under the conditions of our loan, we can’t move for five years after the purchase date. And, so far, things are going very smoothly. The inspection didn’t find any major issues and the sellers are fixing the two biggest problems that will need to be fixed quickly. We’re just waiting for all of the paperwork to go through now.
It makes me feel old and responsible. But, we did the math several times and with our current jobs, we can more than afford it, with plenty of cushion to still save for retirement. It’s in a good area, with good schools. While some of those things will change, I’m sure, it is still a wonderful feeling knowing that instead of pouring money down the drain renting, we’ll be able to begin investing in something.
It’s also a relief to know that people can come visit us and actually have a place to stay. It’s a bit bigger than we anticipated buying, but not outlandish. It’s four bedroom, three bath, with just over 2,000 sq. feet. It has a finished basement, which seems to be important in Kansas. It’s got a decent kitchen and several of our “wish list” items, including a jacuzzi tub, deck, and back yard. And, while we could’ve had those things done at another house, this one just seemed to fit. There’s nothing big about it that we want to change. There’s a few little painting jobs that we will need to have done, but it’s pretty reasonable.
We’ve also adopted this guy. He’s half Doberman and half Rottweiler. He weighs about 70
lbs. on a good day, loves to chase balls, take long naps, and change rabbits. At first, he and Sasha were not friends, but I think they are slowly coming to terms with each other. They haven’t tried to eat each other for a couple of weeks and aren’t as jealous anymore.
We named him Dobby after watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1. It fits. He’s got the same, sweet personality of that lovable little house-elf. (It doesn’t hurt that every time I watch that movie, I cry at the end when Dobby dies on the beach).
And, if that’s not enough! I got to meet my godson, Jackson, for the first time over Memorial Day Weekend. He’s now 3 months old, and already rolling over. It’s hard being several hours away from him, and knowing that I won’t get to see him again until April. But the trip was totally worth it. He’s going to be a feisty little guy and I can’t wait to be able to spoil him with all kinds of toys.
Yearly Goals
As far as goals are concerned, the overarching, big goals are still there, but the smaller ones have changed so much. They’ve either been accomplished or become invalid. Purchasing a home will change our lives, and, in some part, change how we plan for things.
It’s kind of funny, because I’ve already started to think about what I want to accomplish in 2012, and the list is already starting to get lengthy. There’s a lot that I want to do, and I’m just itching for it to be here already, but I also know that it’s important to focus on the present and finish out the year with a bang.
Lose 30 lbs. by June
I just recommitted myself to counting calories again. I’ve set myself at 1400 as a target. If I exercise for 30 minutes, I can eat an additional 100 calorie snack. The problem has been lately that I have been snacking at night, which is a big no. I should be back on track. I’ve not gained any weight back, so I’m still at the 15 lbs. lost mark.
Decorate My Home/Put Something on the Walls
I feel like I’ve been better at this since we moved here, but again, as soon as I get everything hung up on the walls, we move. I want to have four posters framed by the end of the year and hanging in our new house, along with all of the current artwork that we have hanging.
Take at Least One Photo Per Day
This hasn’t been consistent, but my film class has helped with that. I may not take one per day, but every two weeks I take two rolls of 36 exposure film. I plan to take the class again in the fall if it is offered. (She’s planning on offering it in another 8 week session).
When I first got the film camera from my inlaws, I thought the lens was broken, but I had my boss (who knows a thing or two about cameras), pop the lens back into place. It won’t auto-focus, but who really needs that?
Clean out my Closet/Dresser
I did this, and with fall around the corner, I don’t have any cool weather clothes. I’m hoping to find some things on sale closer to the beginning of the season and, if not, then maybe settling for second hand isn’t such a bad thing if I can find some pieces that actually work.
I admire Jessi Arrington’s wardrobe. Not everything in it fits my style. She’s done a wonderful job blogging how she finds her clothing and setting goals for herself on what she wears. If she can do it, so can I… Now to find places to buy things that are in decent shape and current style.
Mini Goals for June
Almost all of these were accomplished. Our credit card debt of over $10,000 was paid off, in full. It was a great feeling to be rid of it. While we will probably still pay for things with our credit card for points (every $2500 we put on our Amex, we get a $25 gift card to somewhere), we will always be sure to pay it off at the end of the month.
Our emergency fund is set up… And, well, buying a house speaks for itself.