Leasing, buying, new, used, I hate them all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Going to buy a car (or lease) is such a dreaded task. My very first car, I purchased myself in cash. It wasn’t very fashionable but it was cheap and ran well. My second was a lease as was my third, and now my fourth. Well My fourth is due to be turned in this November and I don’t know what I am going to do. These days, you can no longer lease cars because the financial insitutions and leasing companies are just not leasing out anymore. Buying a car is a big commitment and from my understanding even more expensive. What do these companies think? Especially in times like these when everyone is trying to CUT costs, why do they think I want to pay $75 + MORE per month for a vehicle? I for sure don’t! I have come to the point where I no longer need my moon roof or heated seats, or digital whatevers… as long as it’s safe and runs (and not a mini van) I am down. Good thing I can put this off until November to worry about. Who knows maybe there will be better deals then? Haha probably not. I really cannot afford any more than I am already paying… I can barely afford what I have now. I wanted to CUT the cost of my vehicle, not add to it!!! Did I mention I HATE CARS?

Where I live here in Michigan it has been a chilly Summer. We had such a drastic and intense Winter that I thought for sure the Summer would be just as drastic and intense. Instead we have mildly warm air and clouds. I really appreciate the sunshine when I can get it! I miss the days of waking up in the morning and walking outside when it was almost too hot to breath, then you could cool off in the crisp air conditioning. Many times, I would even get out of the air conditioned house because I was too cold. I simply love Summer and love the heat. I miss the way my feel would burn on the pavement, having water balloon fights with cold water and not even blinking an eye, getting out of the pool without the tiniest shiver because it was just that hot outside. What happened to Michigan Summers? It seems like we suffer through the Winter months for no reward. At least before there was a light at the end of the tunnel. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate any weather warmer than 45 here in Michigan. I just wish we had the sweltering heat this year…

My little lady has been crawling for almost a month now but just recently she has really picked up speed! She is into everything! The condo is not huge so no matter where she goes, she is into mischief. There are always about a gazillion toys on the floor for her to play with and keep entertained, but for some reason the only things she is interested is the panels we have for blinds on our door-wall and the books that are in our entertainment center. Oh and the magazines in the rack. It seems like everything that ISN’T a toy is much more interesting than all her toys. I am convinced that the toy inventors are morons. The bright colors and rattling sounds do nothing for children. Put a rattle or even a toy that lights up next to the television remote and the child will go for the tv remote very time. Haha. I wish I could invent more realistic and effective toys!

After looking at my post pregnancy tummy every hour of every day and seeing how very skinny I am but with NO muscle tone now that they are all stretched I figured I should take another step into getting fit. I am now drinking a protein shake a day! It is actually really good without that weird protein/medicinal taste, and it’s Meijer brand! Chocolate flavor and mixed with skim milk I feel like I am drinking a frothy glass of chocolate milk. It is super yummy. You’re supposed to drink it either before or after a workout… for the most part I have been doing that but sometimes I drink the shake and do the workout hours later, or not at all. Haha. I am still doing On Demand Ab Workouts and some of them actually kick my ass. The only thing is I still love my junk food. I am able to eat super healthy all day long such as oatmeal for breakfast and tuna on whole grain bread with spinach for lunch. But if I don’t cook a homemade healthy meal, then dinner is just down the tubes. Don’t even get my started on dessert. Ever since I had my daughter I have had a huge sweet tooth which I never had before. I am Italian… I would have taken pasta over a pastry any day. Now immediately after dinner, I MUST have something sweet. I guess it’s not a bad thing because I never really go over board… and it keeps me so I am not depriving myself of foods I really love yet I am still eating healthy all the other times. Last night (my dinner downfall) I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with my family. Needless to say, my dinner was very unhealthy and then I decided to order their amazing chocolate cake that I was basically addicted to two Summers ago. (Before I was ever pregnant so it didn’t really matter). That cake was DELICIOUS and I am so glad I got it. I can’t wait to see the results of the protein shakes on my abs… gonna be interesting and a long road.