Adjusting much better to cash! Almost done with Week #3 (Week #4 starts tomorrow). We're having a party (low-key due to extended family drama) on Saturday, but I'm doing a deli spread and sloppy joes with salads and chips, etc. We are also having my inlaws Fri-Mon, and my menu includes a vat of chilli, a bake-ahead brunch, and left-overs. They usually treat out one meal (which is nice given the size of our family and the limitations of their budget). With the funds allocated for next week I should have $35 to $40 left over. This weeks purchases included a gift for my girls' friend, 2 pairs new PJs for the girls to go the sleepover party, AND a really cute pair of Juicy Couture earrings on great clearance ($27) for my practical daughter who rarely likes anything. She lingered long over these earings, didn't ask if I would buy them for her, and did say "I really like these" twice. Good gift for her b-day or Christmas.

Life is busier than I had anticipated. My youngest son is seeing a speech therapist twice a week to maximize our annual visit limit thru December. My oldest son is seeing the Reading Specialist at the public school on Wednesday AMs and is staying after school for an extra 1/2 hour that day to work on reading de-coding with his teacher. I volunteered for 3rd Grade Room Parent (I should say "co" because most grades/classes have moved to two parents). My name was on the list, and I was asked to "co" room parent kindergarten as well. The coordinator pointed out that there is NO conflict between the morning AM parties and the full-day parties. Yay for me! NOT. I also offered up my services to secretarial functions for my 3rd Grader's Boy Scout Troop. I was pretty clear not to count me as a "co" anything - my DH does Scouts, I do dance. Our natural division of labor. BUT I can keep track of things/badges/etc. on a computer.

This is longer than anticipated. I'm off to start a major house clean and prepare to start to climb the mountain of laundry! Have a good day!