Hole in my Pocket

So let me start by clearing up a common misconception about people my age, are at least as it applies in regard to myself. I am great with money: budgeting, long-term savings, and overall making sure that I have a nice comfy cushion to fall back on when life throws curveballs.

 

I moved out on my own one week after turning 17. I could pay for food, bills, and still maintain a 93% average throughout my grade 12 year (yes that was me tooting my own horn). Meanwhile, I was able, at the end of each month put money away into savings to ensure that my happy comfy pillow would grow. I worked hard, and thus figured that once having acquired a job up in Kelowna, along with my fiancée who works full time, I would be on easy street. Well you know what they say when you assume something *ahem* and I have to say things have not gone quite according to plan.

 

University is expensive! It's about $7000 for my program over the course of one year... One year!!! That works out to about $583.33 a month. Sure, maybe I could afford it by working if a) I had a full-time job or b), I worked multiple part-time jobs, but honestly having never attended university before I don't want to overwhelm myself. Ouch. I just dropped $1000, on textbooks and that was only for the "required ones." There's a host more that are suggested, and currently I'm hoping that I don't end up needing them.

 

Scholarships are a wonderful thing. If I could change one thing from my grade 12 years, it would be that I spent more time applying. studentawards.com is a great starting place. Since the beginning of summer, I've been applying to a host of them (essay, upon essay, upon essay), and I assure you this blog is not a good indicator of my writing style. There are a couple of other scholarship sites that I stumbled across as well, and am currently testing out. I'll get back to you later about how those work out. Anyhow have I won any? Yes... but not nearly enough. I hear about people who won full rides, and I cringe a bit inside, wishing I applied myself more. Meh, C'est la vie I suppose.

 

Work is great. I love my colleagues, and I love the fact I'm at the busiest Starbucks location in Kelowna. I'm never bored at work, and the hours fly by. However, oh I'm tired haha. It's not the amount of hours, but rather working until 11:45 one night, walking two-hour home, getting two hours of sleep, and then getting up to attend the 4am shift. Today has been my first day off in seven days, and I spent a vast majority of it (up to 12:30pm) sleeping.

 

I have my N test booked. I desperately need a car. Really truly I do. Three hours of my day is spent commuting what would otherwise take me 22 minutes, and that's with traffic. Sometimes longer if I'm working past 11 or before 6, because the busses don't run at those times. That's another thing I really regret not doing in high school - passing my N.

Anyhow on the food front: My empty pantry is empty no more!!!

Tonight we are having 7 layer tostadas, recipe courtesy of Kalyn's Kitchen.

Confession time. I don't like olives, and I don't like avocados... or tomatoes... actually come to think of it there isn't a lot of vegetables I like. Which is specifically why I'm trying out this recipe.

In an effort to sneak more nutritious food in I'm going to make the recipe as directed. I'll let you know how it goes and even post some pictures *gasp*. I hope this will be the beginning of what I had initially intended this blog to be predominantly about... food.






Photo Credit: The gorgeous photo above was taken by the wonderful Kalyn of Kalyn's kitchen. I only wish my food photos were that pretty.

The Art of Walking

I've always been an avid runner. I love roping in unsuspecting victims for my own personal hail of torment. However, lately in its place walking has been the forerunner. I'm not talking a bit of walking either. For the past two weeks, I've been walking between one hour to two hours a day, peaking on one obscenely abhorrent day at 4.5 hours.

I've decided something. I don't like walking, in the contextual form of exercise. I haven't been doing this for any health benefits but rather out of necessity. With my N test booked mid September (ok that's a lie... I want to book my N test for mid September) I'm without a car, which means getting to work at 4 am for opening shift involves walking... a lot.

Did I mention I live on a grotesque hill? Actually, it's called Black Mountain. Going down it is great but after an eight-hour shift, having missed the  #14 bus which is the only one that goes up the mountain (and only once every 1 and a half hours) means most of the time I walk up the hill. That's 30 minutes up a hill at sometimes 11:30 at night (did I mention the #14 bus stops running at 7:30?).

To tie this rant together.... I MISS JOGGING! I would love to jog, but I don't want to wear my body out. I've always had unsightly feet but dang these streets are doing a number on them! In the spirit of making some light of the situation, here are my personal top 10 health reasons for walking:

1. It's good for your heart! Walking has been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve blood circulation. This in turn decreases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

2. Some studies show that walking reduces the risk of breast cancer. Personally, this is a great bonus for me as cancer runs rampant in my family (as well as just about every mental disorder known to man... thanks gene pool).

3. It's free. I'm poor 'nough said... ok I'm a talker so maybe a little more. The problem with jogging is you can't skimp on the shoes, and even a top-notch pair can degrade quickly.

4. For those just starting out on the exercise bandwagon, it's a great base. It can help build stamina and endurance, without outright killing you.

5. It makes you tired. This one isn't a 100% thing. Of course, it depends on your stamina and what else you've been up to, but I can for sure say this: After 3 hours of walking I don't want to move. Just leave me on the couch to veg!

6. Stress relief. I stress out easily. For example, my first time working the cash register I messed up an order- I couldn't fall asleep that night cause my dumb brain kept replaying that awkward moment repeatedly. For me, I'm generally too tired to think let along stress, after a long day in town.

7. It tones your bum. I like my bum -just saying...

8. I appreciate my legs more. This one might sound silly and yet every time I walk I can't help but be grateful for being able to in the first place. And as my mind drifts off to different matters as one's mind tends to do, it often suddenly occurs to me how amazing it is that even while a million things flit through my mind my legs keep moving forward seemingly on their own accord.
9. It's much easier to convince the fiancée to go on a walk then to jog. My love isn't exactly the exercise type, and usually getting him to run involves bribery and idle threats (i.e if you don't go jogging with me I'll go out by myself at 11:30 pm...). I can claim that I want to get him healthy, and that I'm on some righteous health crusade to get him to like some form of exercise, but really I just get lonely and enjoy an exercise buddy.

10. It's great for learning new places. I know more streets in Kelowna than I ever did in Abbotsford, which is sad considering that I lived in Abbotsford my entire life and Kelowna for one month. .

So that's that. Really, I don't know what more to say.

For the past week, my fridge has been barren, and I don't think I've ever eaten so much junk as I have in the past few days (ok that's a lie as well...I'm known as the girl who can eat and for a good reason). I need to go shopping. *sigh* 

Anyhow, this sleep deprived, nutrition deprived, overworked gal is signing off. Hope you all have a great night (or day, depending where you are!)

P.S I finally unpacked my bedroom and found my camera! Expect pictures in the near future :D