# 81. Buy tickets to go and see the Nutcracker at Christmas

While I have in no way updated this blog recently, I have been working to knock a few things off my list.  I bought tickets for myself and my best friend to go see the Nutcracker at the Touhill in St. Louis.  It was a great evening for the both of us.  We've been talking about going for a long time so I got online and finally did it.  We had great seats, front row.  I must say, a couple things were a little shocking....mostly the extreme tightness of the mens' pants and the obvious lack of jock strap/cup but once you get over the initial shock when each of them joins the stage (trust me, it's like a train wreck, ya can't look away) you are amazed at their control.  My favorite thing was probably the little kids  that danced as the mice.  It was just great.  I look forward to when Courtney and I have our own little girls to take back to watch it again.  

  

#58. Pay off the white car

Sigh......its done.  Mom and Dad have always been good about helping out us girls when they can.  While I was in chiro school, the car that I'd driven for 5 years broke down on I-270 in.  It sucked so bad.  I called Dad from the side of the road to tell him my car literally stopped running. Just stopped.  Luckily I was cruising at like 70mph so I was able to coast the 4 lanes of traffic to get pulled over.  After that, he was not ok with me driving that car anymore.  I got it towed and fixed and the next weekend I came home and we got a different car.  Since the green car had been paid off, this meant a new loan and my parents agreed to pay the loan since I was already living off student loans at this point.  When Zac and I got married, I assumed responsibility for the payments.  It was supposed to be paid off in July, but we always pay 10% more on every payment so we paid it off early.  I'm just thrilled to be down another bill to be paid.  Next up..doubling up payments on trailer 36.  Watch out trailer...you will be ours soon!

#94. Repaint the brown cabinet in the living room

I bought this cabinet for $12 at Catholic Charities right before I started school at SIU.  It has pretty well always been brown.  I painted the inside white to give it contrast....but it was still kinda ugly.  This is it before, all dressed up for Christmas

 After we finally moved into the new trailer, I wanted something a little more bold, that would pop off the gray walls.  Half a can of spray paint later and it's beautiful.  I LOVE the purple.  I especially love the way my bright colored frames look on it. 

What do you think?  Much better huh?

#53. Pay off the American Express

This shit is official!  I paid off the AmEx.  I've gotten bloody close a few times.  Something always seems to come up.  Not this time.  I'm so pumped about this.  You all know I hate debt by this point, and this is just another victory when it comes to financial security.  Now, it will be a matter of paying off the Menards card (thanks rental trailer #36). It will be worth it eventually right? Right.

#72. Plant spring seedlings

I am a farmer at heart.  I really am.  I like to pretend that I could be a city girl.  Live in the hustle and bustle and love it, but I'm just not sure I can.  Case in point, I've planted a garden at every place I've lived.  Even when it was a little herb garden that had to live in the window sill, it was there.  I really don't have much of a green thumb, but it's not for lack of trying.  This year I planted jalapenos, bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, roma tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, onions, and something else I can't remember.  Mom and dad told me I can plant a big garden out at their house as long as its not a "weed patch."  So, after I get back from my trip in April, I've got a hot date with the tiller.  You will see pictures cause its gonna be awesome, in a completely dorky vegetable laden way.

#100. Complete the patient call list before the end of Feb

I am so glad this one is done, all 48 pages of it. I really didnt want to do it.  Cold calling is uncomfortable, but many people were happy to hear that our ours were increased and if they were hurting on Thursdays, someone would be there to take care of them.  Now, I have to call everyone on our newsletter list and see if I can switch them to email versions instead....I just can't stay away from the phone :)
 

#92. Scrape and repaint the bathroom surround

When I moved in to Maggie's old trailer the humidity in the shower had caused the paint to chip like crazy on the ceiling.  It drove me nuts.  I finally broke down, of course only a month before we will end up moving, but it's painted now so oh well.  Unfortunately when I scraped, apparently I didn't get all of the little chips out of the tub before the next shower, so we did have to snake the drain.  I say we, but Zac did it.  Sometimes I love being married because it means I don't have to do all the gross stuff myself hahaha!