Ash Wednesday

It's officially Lent. After I post this, I'll be heading to the ATM to get my weekly allowance. For those of you wondering, the weekly allowance isn't necessarily a set amount each week. I look at what's happening each week and then adjust the allowance accordingly. (Next week's allowance will be a little more since I'll be travelling for work.) For those keeping track at home, this week's allowance is $120.00. I have plans to do some grocery shopping this week, but we'll see how I feel this weekend after our crazy work schedule. You'll get the update next week on how this worked for me.

But on to this week's challenge (for lack of a better term, and a nod to my reality TV addiction). Days of Gratitude. I selected this for these few days because our work schedule is so crazy. Yes, I'm grateful for a job, and love the job that I have, but sometimes when it gets super intense it can be difficult to remember that. For the next few days, I'm going to reflect on 5 things that I'm grateful for each day. Not the typical things that everyone is grateful for like family, friends, job, etc. I want to focus more on the things that I tend to overlook when asked what I'm grateful for. These choices may seem a little random, but just roll with me.

I'm grateful for ...

1. A bed. I may have fallen asleep on the floor last night while doing yoga and woke up to my upstairs neighbors coming home at 2am. I may have some rug burns from this experience, and they are a reminder that I'm very grateful to have a bed to sleep in.

2. Cleaning supplies. I'm about to go clean out the ticket booth we use at the venue our softball games are held at. It was pretty disgusting at the start of last season, and I'm pretty confident nobody has been in it since I was there last season. I'm very grateful for the Pledge and spider killing spray that will be used to make it semi-homey for the season.

3. Musical child toys. I'm grateful for musical toys for children because they are the way that kiddo chooses to show her love for you. If she runs to where you are and says, "Play for Mommy! (or whoever you are)", then you know you've made it. You reach elite status when kiddo offers to serenade you while you are getting ready in the morning. VIP status is reserved for concerts while you are in the shower. (Only my mother has reached VIP status.)

4. Couponing Blogs. I'm grateful for the people behind blogs that tell you when things are going on sale, and what coupons are available to get those items at the lowest price possible. I know this takes a while to really get into the cycles enough to know when this occurs, and I'm grateful that these people chose to share their knowledge with the world. (Teach me, Obi Wan!) While I'm really bad about following them, the giving up of the credit cards for 40 days will make them my new friend. I just learned how I can get candy bars at Walgreens for as little as 22 cents next week! (We all know that I love a good deal on candy.)

5. At home coffee makers. While I am grateful for coffee, I'm even more grateful for the coffee maker (and filters by default) that I have at my house. I'm also grateful for the one in my office, though I haven't seemed to need it as much this spring sports season. Without affordable at home coffee makers, I would be spending so much more money to go to coffee shop and have someone make my coffee close enough to the way I like it. At home, I can make my coffee exactly how I want it, solidifying the start to a good morning.