The food challenge was definitely a challenge. Here's the results.
We did not eat out for a total of 12 days. (oye) Honestly, I'm actually really proud of us for doing it for 12 days. We didn't do it the full 21 days but the 12 days was hard enough. Here was the breaking point.
It was a hard day of work for both Jason and I. I treated 6 patients that day and virtually received no money for treating them that day. Jason had come home from work after having an entire day full of meetings and not getting much of his regular work done from the day. It's no excuse but ... the days had definitely drained us. The last thing either of us wanted to do was cook. So we broke and went to Culver's for supper. (Double oye).
Oh well. All in all, we noticed a change in the amount of money we spent and we know we want to try to do it again. We'll just have to have a different game plan for those days that are really hard.
We'll keep you posted on this.
As for other things going on, recently I've started to receive checks in the mail from insurance patients. SWEET!!! I can't tell you how exciting it was to get the first check in the mail. Unfortunately it's for work that I've done 2-3 months ago. Jeez. I can't start to emphasize how ridiculous health care is from my perspective. Over the past 6 months, we've been either profiting (a little) or breaking even so any additional income is just a bonus!
That's all for now.
Mama Beal
December 6, 2009
November 18, 2009
21 day FOOD CHALLENGE
I heard, somewhere, that in order to break a habit, you have to change the pattern of the habit 21 times consecutively. Has anyone else heard this? The other day, I was thinking about saving money and bad habits that we have and about living within your means and cutting the things that we don't need in life. Thus, one of the main things that our family has cut down on is eating out. BUT, we still eat out on the weekends. We have been really good about not eating out during the week but once the weekend rolls around, we run right out to Buffalo Wild Wings, Chili's, Noodles, etc.
Eating out is not something that we NEED to do, it's something that we WANT to do. It's also something that costs us more money than if we ate at home. We always tend to over-indulge and eat more calories than if we ate at home. It's also a REALLY BAD HABIT. Therefore, on Monday, our family started a 21 day food challenge to break this bad habit. We are challenging ourselves to not eat out AT ALL for 21 straight days. This includes our bad habit weekends. The rules are, we can not eat anything that comes from any restaurant or restaurant like store.
Now, one of the reasons we eat out on the weekends is because we use it as a social tool. The 2 main reasons we eat out on the weekends are; to hang out with friends or because we're bored (I'll admit reason #2 and then reiterate that this is the worst reason to eat out but it's true). Because we use it as a social tool, we've decided we can GO to restaurants with friends but we just can't eat there. (I know, you're thinking "good luck with that!")
But, that's exactly my point. It wouldn't be a "Challenge" if it wasn't somewhat difficult.
Today is day 3 of our 21 day challenge and I would like to extend the challenge to everyone reading this post. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain; less calories consumed, weight lost, money saved, a habit broken ... Could you do it? I dare you. ;)
Eating out is not something that we NEED to do, it's something that we WANT to do. It's also something that costs us more money than if we ate at home. We always tend to over-indulge and eat more calories than if we ate at home. It's also a REALLY BAD HABIT. Therefore, on Monday, our family started a 21 day food challenge to break this bad habit. We are challenging ourselves to not eat out AT ALL for 21 straight days. This includes our bad habit weekends. The rules are, we can not eat anything that comes from any restaurant or restaurant like store.
Now, one of the reasons we eat out on the weekends is because we use it as a social tool. The 2 main reasons we eat out on the weekends are; to hang out with friends or because we're bored (I'll admit reason #2 and then reiterate that this is the worst reason to eat out but it's true). Because we use it as a social tool, we've decided we can GO to restaurants with friends but we just can't eat there. (I know, you're thinking "good luck with that!")
But, that's exactly my point. It wouldn't be a "Challenge" if it wasn't somewhat difficult.
Today is day 3 of our 21 day challenge and I would like to extend the challenge to everyone reading this post. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain; less calories consumed, weight lost, money saved, a habit broken ... Could you do it? I dare you. ;)
November 11, 2009
Dr. Seuss Art
My best girl friend from graduate school is going to have a baby in 10 weeks and for her baby shower I wanted to do something special for her so, I found out what her and her husbands favorite books were when they were kids and one of them was "Green Eggs & Ham" ... Sam I am ...
This picture was a little more challenging than the last one I did. Painting is not only relaxing for me but it's therapeutic. If anyone ever wants me to paint them something, you'd be doing me a favor. :) Just let me know, I'd be happy to do it.
This picture was a little more challenging than the last one I did. Painting is not only relaxing for me but it's therapeutic. If anyone ever wants me to paint them something, you'd be doing me a favor. :) Just let me know, I'd be happy to do it.
November 2, 2009
10 years of Lady Du-Lax
Last weekend, I went up to Duluth for a Lacrosse Alumni banquet and I thought I'd share the highlights.
Before we left, I was SO excited because these banquets are Bi-Annual (every other year) and the last time I went, Abby was about 4 months old so last time I played in the game, pulled a muscle and went straight to bed after the banquet and missed all the fun. But, mind you, that was the only time I was actually getting any sleep at that point so I was greatful to get a full night sleep then. NOW, Abby is 2 and I was SO PUMPED to see all the girls that I spent so many games, bus trips, sweat, blood and tears with.
We left for Duluth Friday evening and we stayed in Park point. For those of you not familiar with Duluth, Park Point is literally on the other side of the lift bridge. So we could hear the lift bridge horn and see the huge boats pulling into the harbor. (Amazing, I forget how much I really miss the lake until I see it again coming down from the top of the hill on interstate 35). When we got settled in, we met with some other people and were up/awake until 3 a.m. (I can't remember the last time I was awake for that long.)
The next morning, we had our Alumni Game and I'm going to toot my own horn, we won our game 5-4 and I scored 2 goals. (yep, I still got it. :)) I'm not as fast as I used to be but I can still keep up with those young-in's.
We then had the Banquet that evening and it was a great time to reminisce with all the girls I haven't seen in the last few years. The ABSOLUTE BEST part was seeing the core group of girls that I really bonded with. (Again, we were up till 3 a.m. oye).
Jen, my best Girlfriend from WI! I miss her so much when she's not here.
Crazy Girls in a clown car. (Left to right: Meghan, Julie, Ashlee)
At the Banquet, aren't we pur-dy, we polish up nicely. (Ashlee, Tessa, Julie, Meghan, Jen, Lisa)
The Whole Crew, Old balls and New Balls. (And a random girl taking the picture.)
This is a Tribute ... to the best team in the world.
Goodbye Duluth and Lake Superior, until next time.
Before we left, I was SO excited because these banquets are Bi-Annual (every other year) and the last time I went, Abby was about 4 months old so last time I played in the game, pulled a muscle and went straight to bed after the banquet and missed all the fun. But, mind you, that was the only time I was actually getting any sleep at that point so I was greatful to get a full night sleep then. NOW, Abby is 2 and I was SO PUMPED to see all the girls that I spent so many games, bus trips, sweat, blood and tears with.
We left for Duluth Friday evening and we stayed in Park point. For those of you not familiar with Duluth, Park Point is literally on the other side of the lift bridge. So we could hear the lift bridge horn and see the huge boats pulling into the harbor. (Amazing, I forget how much I really miss the lake until I see it again coming down from the top of the hill on interstate 35). When we got settled in, we met with some other people and were up/awake until 3 a.m. (I can't remember the last time I was awake for that long.)
The next morning, we had our Alumni Game and I'm going to toot my own horn, we won our game 5-4 and I scored 2 goals. (yep, I still got it. :)) I'm not as fast as I used to be but I can still keep up with those young-in's.
We then had the Banquet that evening and it was a great time to reminisce with all the girls I haven't seen in the last few years. The ABSOLUTE BEST part was seeing the core group of girls that I really bonded with. (Again, we were up till 3 a.m. oye).
Jen, my best Girlfriend from WI! I miss her so much when she's not here.
Crazy Girls in a clown car. (Left to right: Meghan, Julie, Ashlee)
At the Banquet, aren't we pur-dy, we polish up nicely. (Ashlee, Tessa, Julie, Meghan, Jen, Lisa)
The Whole Crew, Old balls and New Balls. (And a random girl taking the picture.)
This is a Tribute ... to the best team in the world.
Goodbye Duluth and Lake Superior, until next time.
September 14, 2009
I Betchya' Didn't Know!
I betchya' didn't know that I paint. I enjoy painting on occasion. It helps me think but be relaxed while I'm thinking. Recently, I found some cheap canvases at Micheal's and decided I was going to paint a picture from one of Abby's favorite books. The book is a Doctor Seuss book called There's a Wocket in my Pocket. This particular picture is of a Zamp in a Lamp. Hope you like it! If anyone out there wants me to paint them something, let me know, I'm always looking for more stuff to paint.
I'll post the original out of the book soon, I'd do it now but it's in Abby's room and she's sleeping. August 20, 2009
Food for Though about Owning Your Own Business
Being a small business owner has been quite the interesting experience. I have learned more about the world in these last 4 months than I have learned in the last 4 years. Here are some things that I've experienced and learned.
If any of you have gotten married, you know that when you walk into a bakery to look at a cake or if you walk into a flower shop to pick out your flowers, and you tell them you're engaged, the price skyrockets for that cake or flowers. Well, the same happens if you are a small business. Our phone bill is through Qwest and the advertisements on TV make claims that you can get a small business package for $99 per month. Seems like a good deal so Qwest is who we went through. 2 months later, the we got our bill in the mail and it was $700!!! My jaw hit the floor when I saw this bill. I knew it was going to be one of our bigger expenses but $700??? Needless to say, we got it worked out but it took several weeks for ust to find someone that wasn't trying to screw us over for our loan money. Lesson #1, do NOT use Qwest as your phone company and do NOT tell other bigger companies you are a small business. Not only did this happen with Qwest but other companies wanted our money as well such as Yellowpages.com, Startribune, etc. We are now a target because we have loan money just BURNING a hole in our pockets.
Because we are a new small business, our lovely friends at Qwest then sold our phone number to credit card companies so at least 4 times a day we get phone calls from people wanting to sell us a credit card or a credit card processer. We already HAVE a credit card processor and we don't NEED a credit card. One day a credit card processor solicitor called and I proceeded to tell her we were already the proud owners of a CC machine. Her next line was, "okay well, please don't tell me you got the CC processor through the bank, they just can't be trusted." Dumbfounded, I could barely grasp the words to say to her, "and I'm supposed to trust YOU?! I don't even KNOW you!" ... click. Lesson #2, don't trust anyone.
Lastly, I've learned that EVERYONE in business has an alterior motive. This is the most difficult aspect of my job. Because I am in healthcare, I try my best to trust the people I talk to and care for them. Two personal aspects that other business personel push aside to make a quick buck. Lesson #3, always ask yourself, what does this person have to gain from what I can give them and will it TRULY help me in the end.
That's all for today, just some food for though on this rainy afternoon.
Dr. Julie
If any of you have gotten married, you know that when you walk into a bakery to look at a cake or if you walk into a flower shop to pick out your flowers, and you tell them you're engaged, the price skyrockets for that cake or flowers. Well, the same happens if you are a small business. Our phone bill is through Qwest and the advertisements on TV make claims that you can get a small business package for $99 per month. Seems like a good deal so Qwest is who we went through. 2 months later, the we got our bill in the mail and it was $700!!! My jaw hit the floor when I saw this bill. I knew it was going to be one of our bigger expenses but $700??? Needless to say, we got it worked out but it took several weeks for ust to find someone that wasn't trying to screw us over for our loan money. Lesson #1, do NOT use Qwest as your phone company and do NOT tell other bigger companies you are a small business. Not only did this happen with Qwest but other companies wanted our money as well such as Yellowpages.com, Startribune, etc. We are now a target because we have loan money just BURNING a hole in our pockets.
Because we are a new small business, our lovely friends at Qwest then sold our phone number to credit card companies so at least 4 times a day we get phone calls from people wanting to sell us a credit card or a credit card processer. We already HAVE a credit card processor and we don't NEED a credit card. One day a credit card processor solicitor called and I proceeded to tell her we were already the proud owners of a CC machine. Her next line was, "okay well, please don't tell me you got the CC processor through the bank, they just can't be trusted." Dumbfounded, I could barely grasp the words to say to her, "and I'm supposed to trust YOU?! I don't even KNOW you!" ... click. Lesson #2, don't trust anyone.
Lastly, I've learned that EVERYONE in business has an alterior motive. This is the most difficult aspect of my job. Because I am in healthcare, I try my best to trust the people I talk to and care for them. Two personal aspects that other business personel push aside to make a quick buck. Lesson #3, always ask yourself, what does this person have to gain from what I can give them and will it TRULY help me in the end.
That's all for today, just some food for though on this rainy afternoon.
Dr. Julie
July 23, 2009
Holy Moly Batman!!! Margaret, if you think it's been a long time since you've written anything on your blog, it's been OVER a month for me.
Alrighty well, I've obviously been busy ... but what have I been busy doing? WORK WORK WORK WORK WORK! I feel like ALL I ever am doing is working but that's a good thing! I love what I do so most of the time it's fun.
This is our 3rd month in business and we are doing considerably well for our first few months of being a new business. Each month we are reaching our goals and we are getting closer and closer to breaking even which is practically unheard of within the first year.
Last month we attended about 5 different marketing events and so our days were filled with doing mini massages and talking to people about how chiropractic can help them. So after last month's craziness Jason and I got to go on a little retreat up to Margaret and Greg's Cabin for the weekend. It was a much needed get away, I think Jason and I had both been running on empty for a bit and we've been working so hard at saving money and making money and this little vacation was one of the cheaper routs we could go. BUT on the way up to the cabin the car started having some minor problems ... such as the spedometer stopped working, all the electrical aparatus' stopped working ... we were lucky to actually drive the car all the way up to their cabin in Baxter, I'm pretty sure, we rolled right up the driveway and we weren't going to get any further.
Ugh, trying to forget the car for the rest of the weekend, we all ran a 5K for breast cancer. I've never run a 5K before and I was so excited to finally say I have run a 5K. We got ready to start by putting these chips on our shoe laces that keeps track of your time when you cross the finish line well, of all people's chips to not work, MINE did not work so I didn't even get a time. I DID finish and there were about 8 people that can prove that I was there and DID run the race but I have no idea what my time was and it's not official. Oh well.
We relaxed the rest of the weekend and it was GREAT. Fantastic food, Great company, and the choice to do Absolutely NOTHING if we wanted to.
AFter the weekend, we luckily got the car home and had to spend about $250 to fix it (so much for the cheap vacation) and Abby was REALLY crabby when we got home and were forced to put her in her very first time-out. I guess going for 2 years without a time-out is pretty good but you could tell she was distressed that we'd been gone for the whole weekend.
But, now things are back to normal. Abby's birthday went well and she loves all the presesnts she got, especially the Tricycle we gave her. When Jason brought it to her, she got up and yelled, "My bicycle!!! I'm so HAPPY Daddy, I'm so Happy!" (so sweet, how cute.)
Alrighty well, I've obviously been busy ... but what have I been busy doing? WORK WORK WORK WORK WORK! I feel like ALL I ever am doing is working but that's a good thing! I love what I do so most of the time it's fun.
This is our 3rd month in business and we are doing considerably well for our first few months of being a new business. Each month we are reaching our goals and we are getting closer and closer to breaking even which is practically unheard of within the first year.
Last month we attended about 5 different marketing events and so our days were filled with doing mini massages and talking to people about how chiropractic can help them. So after last month's craziness Jason and I got to go on a little retreat up to Margaret and Greg's Cabin for the weekend. It was a much needed get away, I think Jason and I had both been running on empty for a bit and we've been working so hard at saving money and making money and this little vacation was one of the cheaper routs we could go. BUT on the way up to the cabin the car started having some minor problems ... such as the spedometer stopped working, all the electrical aparatus' stopped working ... we were lucky to actually drive the car all the way up to their cabin in Baxter, I'm pretty sure, we rolled right up the driveway and we weren't going to get any further.
Ugh, trying to forget the car for the rest of the weekend, we all ran a 5K for breast cancer. I've never run a 5K before and I was so excited to finally say I have run a 5K. We got ready to start by putting these chips on our shoe laces that keeps track of your time when you cross the finish line well, of all people's chips to not work, MINE did not work so I didn't even get a time. I DID finish and there were about 8 people that can prove that I was there and DID run the race but I have no idea what my time was and it's not official. Oh well.
We relaxed the rest of the weekend and it was GREAT. Fantastic food, Great company, and the choice to do Absolutely NOTHING if we wanted to.
AFter the weekend, we luckily got the car home and had to spend about $250 to fix it (so much for the cheap vacation) and Abby was REALLY crabby when we got home and were forced to put her in her very first time-out. I guess going for 2 years without a time-out is pretty good but you could tell she was distressed that we'd been gone for the whole weekend.
But, now things are back to normal. Abby's birthday went well and she loves all the presesnts she got, especially the Tricycle we gave her. When Jason brought it to her, she got up and yelled, "My bicycle!!! I'm so HAPPY Daddy, I'm so Happy!" (so sweet, how cute.)
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