Update

I know that I haven't posted about myself in a long time. So here it goes...this is what has happened in the last year or so:

1. Updates on the dogs
Both Penny and Nickel are excellent. They have gotten over their destructive streak and have stopped chewing on the furniture (but my socks are still fair game). It has been really cold at night, and I was worried to leave them outside since my classes get out so late, so they have been staying inside. I am happy to report they have been perfect angels....we shall see how long that lasts.

2. I became unemployed
This summer, lay offs hit my office. Instead of being afraid, I embraced the change. I would be able to spend more time with my family, spend more time training my dogs, work on my house, and most importantly spend more time on my school work. Do you think any of this happened? Of course not...but I try. And for those who are wondering, I can afford my mortgage and utilities on unemployment with a little to spare and my savings is what is keeping my happily afloat.

3. I fell off the saving wagon
Of all the times this could happen this is probably the worst time! All the frugality became a little overwhelming I guess. I still use coupons, but I'm not an uber-shopper the way I used to be. I don't follow the blogs anymore. I know that this needs to change. My grocery and food bills are terrible. This is something I need to work on.

4. I gained 20 pounds
I could blame this on unemployment, but this started happening before I was laid off. Honestly, I think it happened because I was so unhappy. I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel and felt torn between who I was at that moment and who I was working to become.

5. I became a vegetarian
I am not going to go into all the reasons I made the change. If you want more information you can watch the movie Food,Inc. or read Eating Animals. This does make it harder to shop and eat out, but I am still managing to spend a lot of money on both.

6. I am still in law school
Nothing much has changed here, but this summer will be the first without any classes. Next year I will have a reduced class load too.

Plans for this year:

1. I will loose 25 pounds
With the help of a personal trainer I will attempt the impossible! Okay, so I know its not impossible. Heck! I've done it before. I just know that this time will be much more difficult.

2. I will run a 5K with the dogs
There are at least 4 of these in my area over the next year. I plan on running them all. I will probably take Nickel with me (he's my cattle dog mix with loads of energy) but I feel bad for leaving Penny out. She's my beagle that seems to love laying on the couch more than anything else. I will try to do a little training with her and see how she takes it I guess.

3. I will save more money
I know my weakness is grocery shopping and eating out. I don't make lists or plan meals...even though I know I should since my weight loss will benefit from that as well. Coupons can be better used if I planned better too. I did buy a freezer, a very large ticket purchase made in the spur of the moment, but I hope that this will help me make food and save it for later.

4. Do I need a job?
I mean, I am looking. But most law firms are not looking to hire a paralegal in law school, especially a year and a half away from the bar. But...when summer comes, I will be bored out of my mind. I have the option of interning, working for free essentially. I guess I will decide on this a little later.