The Secret and Total Money Makeover

This post is for my friend Jenny. Here is the link to the Secret: http://www.thesecret.tv/

I have the DVD if you would like to borrow it and they also have a book. Basically it teaches you how to use the power of the universe to will/attract things into your life. Basically it is the law of attraction.

It may seem hokey pokey to some people but I have used it for the past 3 years and it has worked for me. I haven't done anything big because I usually loose focus but for small things like finding misplaced items, selling things, finding a parking spot especially when I am running late etc...

Total Money Makeover is from Dave Ramsey. Dave Ramsey has a show on talk radio in the evenings which I have never listened too but Mike loves him. I read the book and we have been on his plan since February and it has worked out really.

SOLD!!

Great news is I sold my golf clubs today! The Secret does work. Total Money Makeover here I come.

New Golf clubs for sale

I have a set of brand new golf clubs in the original box and has never been opened. They retail for $299 but I would be willing to sell them for $200. If anyone is interested please email me at sandydurtschi@yahoo.com. They are petite so they are made for a shorter lady.

Wilson Lady 2007 ProStaff Set:

ProStaff is the best selling set of women's clubs in the game today. Extremely wide sole irons make quality ball contact easier. Undercut cavity produces better ball flight and more distance. The amazing "deep magenta" finish is beautiful and durable.
Features:

* All graphite
* Women's weight and flex
* Four woods and one hybrid
* 6, 7, 8, 9, PW and SW

Shout out to Liberty!!

I have had this on my mind for a few days so here I go. I wanted to give a shout out to my good friend Liberty Applegate. We have been friends since middle school and the last time I saw her was at her wedding when we were 19. After graduation we parted ways and she attended BYU and I stayed here in Logan and attended USU. Here is a funny memory I have of Liberty: I use to be a germ-a-phob and would never share drinks with anyone and the one time I did share with Liberty she gave me a virus. The good thing is it wasn't mono. Girls Camp, Young Women's, Labeau's, Senior TEAM class, lunch, walking in the morning, sleepovers, Cambodian New Years, and getting. Remember when you couldn't visit because the bowling ball hit your car?

We lost touch a few times but have always found each other one way or another. I love Liberty because she has always been a great friend and a good listener. She always has been so positive and been able to see the bright side of things. She has always had a strong testimony in the church and throughout our friendship has always been concerned about my well being in regards to the church. Thanks for never giving up on me.

Tired...

I know when I am tired when I put Olivia to bed at 7:30 pm and as soon as I touch the couch to take a break before I start on my list of things to do I fall asleep like I am in a deep coma. The worst part is I can't sleep through the night because I have to get up and pump. Then when I attempt to go back to sleep I can't and end up staying up until 2 in the morning.

Old friends

I was planning on posting about this last month but it totally slipped my mind. I still wanted to blog about it though. When I started college I helped found a sorority at Utah State University. The sorority is Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Here is the link to the chapter's website at USU which I designed and maintain: http://www.usu.edu/thetanuxi/. I graduated 7 years ago and all of my line sisters have all gone their separate ways. There are a few that still live in Cache Valley and some have moved across the Wasatch front, some are in the West and one sister lives internationally.

My sorority sister that lives internationally came back to Logan to visit her family and we had a small get together. I haven't seen April for almost 5 years. It was nice to catch up with everyone that was able to make it. Mandy has two kids, Celestial had a baby about a month after I did and April doesn't have any children but was married 2-3 years ago. Here are some pictures:



Mandy, Celestial, April, Sandy and Sydney in the front.



Olivia and Miya and Sydney in the back



Olivia with her snotty nose.

Olivia's day at the park

I love our sitter. She plays with Olivia and keeps her occupied with great activities. She took Olivia and her daughter Abby to the park last week. Olivia and Abby sat back to back on the swing and they loved it. She didn't know what to think about the slide though. And they ended the day at the park with bubbles which both of them love.

I think Olivia looks funny in the hat but better safe than sunburned. It's a good reminder that I need to buy a sun hat.

Wicked

My mother-in-law bought tickets for Mike and me for Christmas to see Wicked last week. Unfortunately Mike couldn't go because he had a class but luckily my good friend Susiane was able to join me. This is the first musical I have been too and the funny thing is I told Mike last spring that I really wanted to see this play. It was amazing. I feel really bad that Mike wasn't able to go because I know he would have enjoyed it. I would highly recommend this play to anyone.

Susiane and I joined the same sorority at Utah State University and we had a chance meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona at our sorority's National Convention. Susiane was a senior when I was taking a break from my master's degree. We had a lot of great memories. I love Susiane because she always says what is on her mind and she knows what her values are and always sticks up for what she believes in.

Susiane never judged me when I use to go to parties and do all that other stuff. She answered all my questions about her experience in the LDS church, she invited me to go to church with her, she took the missionary discussions with me and spoke at my baptism. We even read scriptures together when we went to Vegas when we came home from clubbing. Susiane was my maid of honor at my wedding and she has always been a great friend. Now that we have graduated and gotten married and don't see each other on a regular basis, she is still a wonderful friend and whenever I see her I would never know so much time has passed by since we last spoke. Thanks for being an awesome friend.

Teething and binkies

Olivia cut her first tooth about 2 weeks ago and she didn't even fuss. Her second tooth broke through this weekend and she was a little grumpy and ran a low grade fever. Really this is the first time she was fussy. I would take a picture of her new teeth except they are so tiny I wouldn't be able to get a good picture.

I am also thinking about taking her binky away. If your baby had a binky when did you decide to take the binky away?

Total Money Makeover

Mike is a big fan of Dave Ramsey on talk radio and Dave has a book called the Total Money Makeover. Mike has been talking about his book for a couple of years and he said he wanted us to do it. Mike told me that I should read it so we can start because lets be realistic, Mike wasn't going to read it. So I ordered it in January and we started in February.

The premise of the book is living/paying for things with cash only. He dispels a lot of debt myths and reveals the nonsecrets of the rich and explains the steps of his plan. It isn't a short term thing that can be accomplished in a few weeks but a long term plan that takes some sacrifice now to live comfortable in the future. There are a lot of personal stories that are very inspiring.

Mike and I have had a budget but we were never strict. We always carried our debit card and if we went over our allocated budget amount we always had our debit card. I could always transfer money from our savings to checking. I never carry a balance on my credit card but just having one to use makes it easier to buy something now and pay for it later.

Now we use the cash system and once the money runs out we have to stop shopping. It was a little difficult to give up the debit card but it has helped so much. Now that I only have cash I hoard it a lot more than I do when I spent my money on my debit card. It makes us really think about our purchases and even though it has only been two months it has definitely helped us manage our money better. And in my personal opinion I have always been good with my money.

Time flies

I have been super busy but decided to post anyway even if my thoughts are random. I usually try to pick a theme for my blog and get pictures together but that isn't going to happen for a while.

As a first time mom I didn't realize how fast babies grow. Olivia barely turned 6 months last week and I am amazed at how much she has grow and how much she can do. She has been able to turn over for 2 months and she has mastered sitting up on her own without her arms about 2 weeks ago. She hasn't quite figured out how to crawl but I wouldn't be surprised if it happened sometime in May.

Only 6 months ago she was a tiny tiny new born that I cradled in my arms and made her cute newborn sounds. Now I have to wrestle with her to hold her because she is so excited to look at, find and feel everything. Instead of newborn sounds she growls, screams and babbles.

After this semester Mike will only have 1 year left and I am super excited. Mike has been on the 6 year plan ;) and even though 1 more year to Mike seems like an eternity overall it is such a small amount of time. I don't know where we will end up but I am excited for the opportunity to stay at home with Olivia and start looking for a house.