So you folks want to know how my shopping went? It went successfully because I was able to substitute this shopping ban by going to the gym and being more active in student activities. I know, I’m finally active in school and I’m almost done with my undergrad years and I’ve been active since February but I’m gonna enjoy these last few months you know. During my first two years in college, when I was in community college,  I was really active in school but when I transfered, it was really hard to handle school and extra curricular activities because I was working and saving up money. But anyways it’s gotten better . Despite being more social and more into extra curricular activities, I actually did better in school! I managed to eat out less and stop eating out by myself.

Anyways, I’m not gonna go and spend spend spend! I’m gonna keep doing what I’m doing. Anyways wanna know what I bought after my shopping ban? I bought 2 basic tees and 1 lacy tank from h&m which came into total for less than 25 dollars! Anyways I definitely needed the basic tees because lots of my clothes are wearing out. Btw,  I paid in cash. Also I’m so proud that I was able to buy my latest Chanel haul in cash too. I bought the aqualumiere gloss in Tangerine Dream, Joues Contraste in In Love, and Les Vernis in Orange Fizz. I didn’t buy the whole collection and put it in my card, I just bought what I really really love and then definitely narrowed it down to what I can afford because there are things that I really do want to buy. Anyways I’ve been using cash to eat out as well and it’s been a good practice.

by looking at my sidebar I produced an easy 146 dollars. I did use a good amount for bills and such…but yeah..it would be better spending money than using my paychecks.

So here is a new recount of what I used to spent on what:

Cash: 14 time – i bought those Kashi Bars twice in a row

- a starbucks

Debit: 2 time

Credit: 8 times

- bought a Luna bar one day

- chapstick

- bought a box of granola bars from Trader Joes (it’s a lot healthier than eating muffins every morning)

- bought lunch about three times

There I go AGAIN! I finally decided to tuck that credit card in a box so I WON’T see it anymore! Won’t pick it out! I can’t believe how fast I tallied this up and I’ve been using it since SATURDAY!

Today my parents gave me a refund check from paying for school last quarter. I’m gonna use that to pay my credit cards–well I’ll start paying the big ones. Tomorrow I need to get a new ID card that’s 22 dollars–ouch!

okay so tomorrow is errands all day:

- ID card — 22 dollars–if only I can still find it!

- Phone bill about 40 (since they only take cash) — i have to pay my bills in cash for the next 6 months.

- bus ride total 50 cents–not bad but still!!

- 30 dollars needs to be paid to my school

What else???  Well thank god for payday from my real job!

So I know I mentioned this in my other blog though I didn’t mean to:

So last night I went to the bar with a few friends and it was a lot of fun. My favorite bar was the game room because we got to play well…not they’re not really drinking games more like “hey let’s challenge to foosball for shots!”

To me, I felt this was my first grown-up Valentine’s. My first Valentine’s day living by myself. But my 22nd Valentine’s Day being single. *sighs*

But then again, times I feel…maybe it isn’t yet my time and turn to have a relationship because come on, at 21 me saying this was my first grown-up Valentine’s Day and being single is well…someone who shouldn’t yet be in a real relationship. The reason why I feel that way is because if you’re with someone imagine celebrating Valentine’s Day not participating in these games because you can’t fool around like that when you’re with someone. Well as far as I know being at the bar is not the place where couple go on Valentine’s Day.

But other than that, I went out with FL and KT over to Montebello to help out at a senior citizen home for breakfast it was so pleasant. I was even able to successfully do my project for my nursing class too. Then afterwards, FL and KT decided to get their haircut and FL wanted to do a facial and I was left wandering around the mall for a while and spent more than i anticipated on my CREDIT CARD! Thank goodness for having a blog and I’ve been really good by being honest this whole way through too by posting my mistakes publicly you know. Then after the mall we went to lunch and FL actually covered all of us so I definitely owe next time and I will use cash.

Over the week I’ve been working MU’s shift and I yet to bump into him to pay me for this week’s coming shift. Also I worked JC’s shift to reduce his deficiencies and work some of his regular shifts I get paid 9 dollars an hour. So I should expect 32 dollars from MU and 49.50 from JC soon.

13. Worked out.

14. Worked out again and found myself losing 2 pounds on the scale. Even though I am feeling it in my body and clothes, its nice to know my scale is following along too. Next visit I will try the rowing machine.

15. Used the rowing machine for the first time.

16. Worked out with Emily. Ok so it seems that my other parts have been getting smaller but I noticed my stomach is getting bigger(?) No, I’m not pregnant lol but after looking through some forums, it turns out they’re just muscles under layers of fat or another way is water retention.

17. whoa! 17??? anyways I can’t believe I’m almost to 20 trips!

18. Worked out by myself yesterday.

19. Worked out with TB at the gym. According to my roommate I’ve been going to the gym all school week. i know I didn’t record some because I just did cardio. I have to say, I totally see a difference in my body though I don’t see it on the scale. There was a picture of me and LW at the Grove at December and another in the beginning of January I really looked like I packed on pounds. But looking pictures of me from my other blog, I feel I’ve been slowly slimming down–I hope it keeps going that way too and I can get rid of that stubborn fat on stomach and thighs–I’m a major pear. Also I was so happy when I was at the mall yesterday being able to comfortably fit in a small again.

So here is a new recount of what I used to spent on what:

Cash: 10 times – some change from myjar and bought a midnight snack tonight–0.90 cents for Kashi Rolls which I haven’t had in a while! I miss those healthy snacks!

Debit: 2 time -

Credit: 3 times bad me!

This was from yesterday. Yesterday went to Montebello with FL and KT to volunteer at a senior living center for breakfast. Afterwards both FL and KT went to the salon and FL did a facial while I wandered and waited at the mall which was an uber long time. I bought a quick snack at Cinnabon and had coffee.

Bought 2 headbands from Claire’s for less than 5 dollars–gees…on my shopping ban thing, I didn’t put accesories–just jewelry–grr! I’ll add that on. Thank goodness they’re versatile and I’ve been liking my new look with the headband.

I am not sure if this was breaking my spending ban but I bought the Chanel Rouge Hydrabase in Euphoria because it was limited edition–eek! It’s this this intense pink color with a wee bit of red and it’s got warm tones. The make-up artist there said that adding some red lipliner would make it more red and last longer but i’m not too interested in buying that right now.

There are a few more things I am currently obssessed now! But too bad I won’t spend anything else right now.

So ET and I constantly talk about relationships. Well unlike ET, I’ve never had boyfriend but yet, I don’t think there is anything wrong with me because honestly:

- I don’t think I’m unnattractive

- I do think I’m smart

- I do think I’m easy to get along with

- I’m not high maintenance

- I’m not snobby

- I’m nice

- I may be poor but I’m rich in the heart and mind

- and I DO think there is nobody better than me (coined after ET)

I was telling ET about my dating anxieties because dating is where it’s nothing too serious and you know you date other people too to weed out all the bad ones. I was telling her that when you date that one person you really like and you really see something with that person–the anxiety behind that is maybe he’s dating another better girl.

And then ET goes “I don’t think there is anyone better than me.”

A little shocked by her response but she’s right–I think every girl should think that as well “there is nobody better than themselves.” because well…you can’t compare a girl who doesn’t really exist in your life obviously but other than that…it’s just plain true. I should start thinking that too–well I have been–but it doesn’t come out as that or I always thought it was wrong to think  of myself as that–something like that.

I really don’t think there is anything wrong with me.

So here is a new recount of what I used to spent on what:

Cash: 9 times

- Thai Veggie wrap I bought from work. Like I said, this impulsive food buying NEEDS TO STOP!!! Like yeah I do eat out, but eat out with friends…grr…so frustrating.

Debit: 2 time

- I finally bought some earphones. I broke mines a looong time ago. It’s been helpful since now i really can listen to my class lectures everywhere I go. Seriously, I can’t listen to my lectures unless my roommates are not in the room and it’s hard to find study place. The earphones I bought are about 10.81 and it was the cheapest one I can possibly find. So now I can walk around campus listening to the lectures on my Zen!!!

Credit:

1) Wii Fit at my parents house

2) Wii fit at my parent’s house

3) Salsa class at the gym. I was doing a try-out and was there for 1.5 hours!

4) Worked out at the gym working on my  lower half of the body for 40 minutes

5) worked out for more than an hour. Did weights concentrating from my abs and up and went on the elliptical for about 35  minutes. Man I don’t have strong upper body strength.

Even though i don’t see it on the scale, I can feel it on my clothes and my jeans. Dorky, but I sometimes to the gym I wear my tight white t-shirt for motivation. This shirt use to be loose on me.

Also what made this visit different from the rest of the visits was that I came in a group–in fact not only JP and ET came with me but like 3 other people came with us to the gym. And it was so nice to talk to ET about how going to the gym was a nice substitute for shopping.

6. Worked out this morning. Did weights on my lower body and used the arch trainer. I’m so tired. I used the sauna in the gym afterward. It feels sooo nice never used one until now–it feels kind of like an addiction lol because I wanna go again.

7. Worked out tonight for at least 40 minutes.

8. worked out with TB and JP

9. Worked out with ET.

10. Worked out yesterday for about 40 minutes

11. Going out and working out now…

Come to think of it…i really see working out as something as “me-time”.

12. Worked out for about an hour working on my lower half. But prior to that, I was sore all afternoon. I got myself the case of the DOMS because the last time I worked out beofre that was Tuesday and didn’t feel it’s effects until this (Thursday) morning.

13. Worked out.

14. Worked out again and found myself losing 2 pounds on the scale. Even though I am feeling it in my body and clothes, its nice to know my scale is following along too. Next visit I will try the rowing machine.

15. Used the rowing machine for the first time.

16. Worked out with Emily. Ok so it seems that my other parts have been getting smaller but I noticed my stomach is getting bigger(?) No, I’m not pregnant lol but after looking through some forums, it turns out they’re just muscles under layers of fat or another way is water retention.

17. whoa! 17??? anyways I can’t believe I’m almost to 20 trips!

18. Worked out by myself yesterday.

Today I did just cardio but I won’t count it on my work out log.

So my neighbor screams out: “Juls got a box of roses!! There were lots of them!” “yeah…I did…” “YEAH I SAW THEM! Can you share?” Then I walk back to JP and he goes “way to make a bunch of girls jealous.” It’s funny really because I’m looking at them and they’re getting ready to go out and they’re wearing these nice outfits and I’m walking around my pajamas writing a paper and studying ad nauseum (because I’m South Campus like that) and I wish I had the money to go (I do but I am saving for another outing–I know lame but I really don’t have enough), but yet they’re exclaming that I got two dozen roses. I really don’t mind the lifestyle I have now–don’t know why even though I don’t see what is so desirous about working so much and being the Ph.D.’s assistant where the job description is so well…busy work. I know it’s not the most glamorous lifestyle right now and I’m not those people getting 1000 dollar allowances from their parents and the luxury of working 10 hours a week and on top of that having a boyfriend who buys the groceries/pays the meals for you so the only thing you do with your money is dispensable. But what I have now is enough and it’s not permanent.

The truth is, I can’t stop smiling when I hear them talk about it. I know I’m so sinful–so greedy–but to me, it’s new. I’ll make them think I’ve got a rich admirer haha. No…my dad sent me these flowers and yeah…they know because what college guy has this money to afford these flower. Now they currently on the floor by the window since my place barely has any light. I hope they grow nicely kind of because it makes the room a little bit better.