I LOVE books, and I love bookstores.  I can spend hours at Barnes and Noble.  However, I often walk out with about four times the number of books I told myself I could have, so it’s a place I try not to go to often.

Amazon.com, on the other hand, is probably my favorite website.  I can always find great deals, I’m a member of Amazon Prime so, I get things with free 2 day shipping (WELL worth the $75/year), and I have an Amazon.com credit card, so for every $1 I spend I get s free penny to Amazon.com – and since I use my credit card for EVERYTHING, it doesn’t take long until I’m getting free $25 for Amazon.com!

So, I tend to go both ways.  Which way do you prefer?

This post is for the Day of Blogs 2008! I am blogging for Children’s Literacy Initiative. For more information about what I am doing, please click here, or you can sponsor me!

• 7/26/2008 -- Library Thing (Day of Blogs ’08 #22)
• 7/27/2008 -- Books in the Workplace (Day of Blogs ’08 #44)
• 7/27/2008 -- NaNoWriMo (Day of Blogs ’08 #36)

This post is very picture heavy, so read on at your own peril !

This year I decided to tackle my storage issues, which encompasses the outside patio storage closet, my guest room, and the closet in the guest room.

I had Christmas decorations piled up in my living room from bringing them up from Florida, so the first thing I did was pull out everything from the outside closet so that I could put all the Christmas decorations in there.

I didn’t sort them yet – I figured when I had finished everything else I would pull them back out and use them! And when I got them out to use them, I would then sort through them. I put everything else back into the closet as well except for some things that needed to go to work. My reason for doing this was so that I had a living room to work in for all the rest of it. I then proceeded to pull EVERYTHING from the guest room into the living room. First I had to pull all the things out of the room so that I could even get to the back of the room and the closet.

And of course, the closet.

Then came the sorting. I began with all the paper clutter. I store all my financial stuff and school stuff in my desk, but since I haven’t been able to get to the desk, the papers have all been collecting in piles on the floor and I have an entire box of binders and such that I haven’t even used for school this year. So the first order of business was get all the papers in order so that I didn’t lose anything important while I was shuffling things around.

Oh yes . . . the desk!

I managed to organize the entire trimester’s worth of handouts and assignments into one 1″ binder! I was so thrilled to toss out all the excess. I’ll also note that the reason this was possible was because most of my class notes are on my computer – how much clutter have I saved myself from by keeping everything organized on my laptop? I also got the past couple of months worth of my bank and credit card statements all straightened out too (I keep all my receipts, but since I couldn’t get to my desk, they were all in a big pile waiting to be “processed”). It’s nice not to have all that floating around, just WAITING to get lost!

In my progress report I said that I wanted to get done before Thanksgiving, but the contingency plan was to put whatever was left into the closet and come back to it after my family left. Unfortunately, that is what I had to do, and I got slowed down even more because I got sick! Of course.

The day after Thanksgiving started decorating for Christmas. I put out all my Nutcrackers and my nativity set, and then left the tree for last night. Since I included sorting my decorations as part of my storage organization project, I first sorted through all my ornaments. There was a bag that I set aside that would be great for a little girl (but are a little too young and pink for me), and the rest I put on the tree. I also am donating a few other decorations to Goodwill that I don’t think I will be using anymore (some nutcrackers in poor condition and some stuffed animals.

So, without further adieu, my AFTER pictures!!!

The guest room:

The closet:

The desk:

Where the decorations were . . .

And where they are now (please notice that there are two boxes that I was able to get rid of a few boxes and I labeled the ones that I kept as I sorted through everything)!

And, of course, the back of my car (plus two more bags that are still in my apartment, but I had to take them out to use my backseat, LOL)!

One of the hardest things that I found about the challenge this time around was letting go of some things that I’ve carried from apartment to apartment the past few years . . . things that I don’t really ever use, but think “oh, I could use that one day!” It was also hard to let go of some of my sentimental Christmas things that I never use anymore. I love that I’ve finally got my closet functioning so that I know where things are and everything is compartmentalized (things that are longer term storage as well as better paper management). This is so exciting, and since the room isn’t a wreck any longer, it is a room that I can actually USE!

Almost all the purged stuff is going to Goodwill. There are a couple of things that have been relocated in the apartment, but seriously, they would all fit in a purse. It’s all getting out of here, and that is so refreshing! This apartment has so much more room now, and I know that I will better be able to function myself as well as having guests over!

I really hope that I win this challenge because I put a LOT of hard work into this (especially considering that I work 30+ hours a week, am a full-time graduate student, and hosted my first holiday with my parents coming from Florida, my brother coming from his university, and my boyfriend, who I had not shared a major holiday with yet). Sorted through so much stuff, and have made my life so much more functional. In all honesty, just finishing the challenge feels like winning to me, and the prize is an apartment that works!!!

I can’t wait to read everyone else’s challenge posts!

• 12/5/2006 -- The Closet Caper!
• 12/18/2005 -- 101 in 1001 – 67.33% Complete
• 9/15/2008 -- 101 in 1001 #2 – 47.52% Complete

In an effort to get a better handle on my finances, I’ve started to learn about credit . . . specifically, the magical credit score that determines all of your financial future. It influences your ability to obtain a credit card (and the card’s interest rate and credit limit), mortgage, loan, or any other number of things that I may or may not need to do in the future. Poor financial decisions will create bad credit which limits what you can and cannot do in the future.

One of the best things you can do for your personal financial health is to regularly check your credit report. It is now FREE to obtain a copy of your credit report once a year from each of the three credit reporting bureaus. Because of this, many financial advisers are now recommending that every four months you check your credit report.

What exactly is this credit report, and why do you need to check it so often? It is a listing of all the accounts that you have on record. Remember that credit card that you opened at the mall one day three years ago and only used once? It’s on your credit report, and every time an employer/lender/bank/etc. checks your credit, they see this card. You forgot to pay your cable bill when you moved to a new state? You’ve got a missed payment on your credit report that shows up and detracts from your credit! Or perhaps you thought you paid off that outstanding rent payment, but for some reason it’s still there . . . four years later, giving you bad credit. It’s important to keep tabs on your credit report so that you know what is happening in your life. This can also be VERY useful if you think you may have been a victim of identity theft, because if someone else has been doing things in your name that you don’t know of, this is where you can catch it.

However, there are scams out there trying to GET all your credit information by posing as “free credit report” websites. Don’t be fooled! THE website to go to is AnnualCreditReport.com. This one is not a scam and is safe to use. You can go to this site to get your report from Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian (the three reporting bureaus). They also make it available to get your actual credit score, but this costs a little money (I got mine from TransUnion for $7.95). From what I’ve researched, it’s recommended that you get your credit REPORT every four months (since it’s free) and your credit SCORE once a year, just so you know where you stand.

I was quite pleasantly surprised when I checked mine. I figured since I’ve only been building my credit for about 18 months that it would not be very good, and there wouldn’t be much information, but there was quite a bit on there, including an account that I had forgotten about. The report also gave me some thoughts as to why my score isn’t higher (accounts haven’t been open really long and I don’t have any involvement with real estate).

You can find way more information on credit by reading any good personal finance blog (check out the links in my sidebar). For more specific information about this topic, read How to Obtain Your Free Credit Report @ Get Rich Slowly.

Taking control of your financial situation by keeping tabs on your credit? Works for me!

• 9/14/2006 -- Thursday Thirteen #27
• 12/18/2005 -- 101 in 1001 – 67.33% Complete
• 9/5/2007 -- Works for Me: Brand Loyal Edition

Wow, it really has been a while since I did a WFMW! I thought I’d jump back in with this week’s theme – the “Brand Loyal Edition.” We’re supposed to post about what brands/products we can’t live without. So, here are a few of my favorites!

Starbucks – there’s a reason I love my job. Not only do they make quality products, but they are becoming more socially responsible and they are an AWESOME company to work for (that is not marketing hype – all the rumors you hear about them being a great employer are true).

E. Webscapes – there’s a reason I love my other job too, LOL! I was a very loyal customer for E. Webscapes before I joined them this past spring, and now that I get to work for them every day I see just how much hard work and personal care goes into each design project. Most definitely worth the money!!!

WordPress – it is so freakin’ versatile! If you haven’t experimented with WordPress as a blogging platform (or just a site management too) I SERIOUSLY recommend that you do so. I’ve tried many different platforms, and WP by far outshines them all. You can do so many things with it, and it is super crazy user-friendly. I have 2 blogs run on it, plus I’ve set up blogs for 4 or 5 friends on WP as well. And they are people who don’t know HTML from PHP from voodoo . . . and they love using WP.

Bookcrossing – this site has revolutionized the way that I think about books. I was always taught to hold on to your books since they are such a precious item. I still have great respect from books, and if a book holds special meaning for me or if I REALLY enjoyed it, I will still hold onto it. However, I’ve also learned the joy of sharing books. It’s so awesome to read journal entries as your books travel around and are enjoyed by countless others. And, if that’s not enough incentive, think about how many trees you could save by not printing new books!

Amazon.com – speaking of books, LOL! Amazon is almost ALWAYS my first stop when I’m buying something new. The prices are almost always the cheapest (plus, within 30 days if the price changes you can get back the money you would have saved by using Price Protectr), the reviews are EXTREMELY helpful, and if you join Amazon Prime you get EVERYTHING with free 2 day shipping (yes, there is an upfront fee, but I’ve found that I save way more than that by not paying for shipping or having to bump my order up to $25 for free shipping, and there is the benefit of not waiting a week). I even applied for the Amazon.com credit card, and I use that as my primary card. I get 1 point for every dollar I spend, and once I get to 2,500 points, I get a $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com! Since I keep track of my spending like a debit card, it’s not rare for me to see one of these almost every month. AWESOME. Books? Check! DVDs? Check! Canvas grocery bags? Check! New external hard drive? Check! All things I’ve bought (for less) on Amazon.com!

Finding awesome brands that I trust and have proven themselves to me time and again? Works for me!

• 12/18/2005 -- 101 in 1001 – 67.33% Complete
• 8/10/2006 -- Thursday Thirteen #23
• 9/14/2006 -- Thursday Thirteen #27

PayPerPost rocks. I just got $20 this week from some blog posts I recently, and all together I’ve made $72 from posting on PayPerPost. It’s ridiculous! I’m not even taking most of the opportunities!

There are tons of different opportunities about different topics. I pick opportunities that are about things that I would be posting about anyways – like NASCAR, and the hookah I bought in Istanbul.

If you haven’t at least looked into PayPerPost, at least give it a try. I know it’s not for everyone, but if you haven’t considered monetizing your blog in any way, this is a great thing to consider!

• 7/26/2008 -- Brick and Mortar or Online? (Day of Blogs ’08 #16)
• 9/5/2007 -- Works for Me: Brand Loyal Edition
• 12/3/2006 -- Blogging Chicks – Holiday Recipes

When we consider emergency preparation, most of us think to make sure we have bottled water, nonperishable food, batteries for our flashlights . . . but how many of us think to prepare our finances for a disaster?

I found this great guide that outlines in detail what you should do to prepare for an emergency from a financial standpoint. Biggies include:

Keep some cash in a safe, accessible place. In a major disaster, if electrical service is not available, your ATM/Debit card may not work.
It’s important to keep a “buffer” on credit cards and in your bank account.
Don’t wait until your gas tank is on empty to gas up your car.

I highly recommend checking this out – you never know what might happen. Being ready in EVERY way for an emergency? Works for me!

• 10/24/2007 -- Works for Me: Get Your Credit Report – Free!
• 9/6/2006 -- Works for Me: PearBudget Revisited
• 8/22/2006 -- Works for Me: Personal Finance Savvy

I got my own credit card (it’s a purdy Amazon.com card), and I am the ONLY person on the account. The card I’ve had for YEARS was on my parents’ account – now that’s in the back of my wallet, in case I wind up in the hospital or something. For real – emergencies only. Big step for me, LOL! That satisfies #31!

And #53 – I got rid of all my old textbooks. Didn’t sell them, I wound up releasing them through Bookcrossing, but the main point is that I got rid of them, LOL!

So that means I’ve completed 23.76% of my tasks in in 22.38% of the time . . . seems right on track to me!!!

• 12/18/2005 -- 101 in 1001 – 67.33% Complete
• 9/5/2007 -- Works for Me: Brand Loyal Edition
• 6/15/2006 -- Thursday Thirteen #45

Your risk for developing breast cancer increases dramatically with age.

AGE RISK
40 1 out of 217
50 1 out of 50
60 1 out of 24
70 1 out of 14
80 1 out of 10

Source: National Cancer Institute, 1999

This post is for the Blogathon 2006! I am blogging for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information about what I am doing, please click here!

• 7/30/2006 -- Blogathon 2006 Wrap-Up!
• 7/30/2006 -- Reading Memories (Blogathon #46)
• 7/30/2006 -- Movie-aholic? (Blogathon #41)

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on my part).

This project was taken from Triplux.

The things that I say I want to MAINTAIN will be counted as completed if they are maintained for at least two months. I figure that if I maintain something for at least that long, then it’ll be habit. If, however, I stop doing it before I reach the due date, I will take the completion date off and I’ll have to do the two months again before I can put on a new date.

Tasks I have completed will be struck through and a completion date will be listed that is linked to a post about the completion of that task. Tasks that I have begun will be italicized and a beginning date will be listed.

Started: December 19, 2005
Due Date: September 15, 2008
Tasks Completed: 68
Tasks in Progress: 12
Tasks Remaining:33

1. Make this list of 101 things to do in 1001 days, and make the items be actual things that I will be able to complete and will somehow be beneficial to my life. (Making a list of my 50 favorite actors does not make my life better – though that would make for great procrastination the night before a paper is due.) Completed 12/19/05

Religious
2. Create and MAINTAIN my faith blog Reading Red Letters. Completed 11/08/06
3. Plan a religious fast and complete said fast (probably 3 days, but that’s flexible).
4. Read the Bible from beginning to end.
5. Officially join Episcopal Church. Completed 4/17/06
6. Read at least 10 books by C. S. Lewis.

Family
7. Stay in touch with Bo once he’s at college. Completed 11/08/06
8. Go to at least two concerts with Daddy.
9. Complete a Bible study with Mama.
10. Spend a day at the spa with Mama. Completed 5/31/06

Health
11. Start and MAINTAIN regular exercise.
12. Learn to eat at least 3 new fruits and vegetables. Completed 9/12/08
13. Reach my weightloss goal and MAINTAIN it.
14. Start and MAINTAIN regular flossing. Completed 11/08/06
15. Get my stomach into fit enough condition so that a pierced bellybutton won’t look ridiculous (and if I keep my courage, actually pierce the bellybutton – but even if I don’t go through with it, the option is nice to have).
16. MAINTAIN taking vitamins regularly. Completed 11/08/06
17. Start and MAINTAIN monthly breast self-exams (and no, 21 is not too young to start doing this!). Completed 12/3/06
18. Begin eating breakfast everyday and MAINTAIN it! Completed 8/19/06

School
19. Study for and take the GRE. Completed 5/22/06
20. Get caught up in school after having mono (complete all my incompletes). Completed 3/2/06
21. Graduate from Wake Forest University. Completed 5/15/06

Living Parables
22. Get Living Parables reimbursement/business manager issues worked out. Completed 5/19/06
23. Get Living Parables scripts published. Completed 9/12/08
24. Get new Living Parables constitution approved. Completed 5/19/06
25. Make a video of Living Parables performances for all members. 9/12/08
26. Organize Living Parables Coordinating Director materials and create a timeline for next Coordinating Director. Completed 5/19/06

“Real World”
27. Get a job. Completed 1/30/06.
28. Set up a new place to live (once I figure out where I’ll be after graduation). Completed 7/10/06
29. Get post office box at wherever I move to after graduation. Completed 9/12/08
30. Switch my financial managing to a computerized system (i.e. Microsoft Money). Completed 1/5/06
31. Get a credit card that is mine, and only mine – my parents aren’t on the account. Completed 7/17/06
32. Save $5 a day and deposit into my savings account. Completed 11/08/06
33. Host a formal dinner. Completed 8/4/2008
34. Get a pet (something I can pet and play with). Completed 12/4/07

Travel
35. Travel to Europe (anywhere in Europe for any length of time). Completed 6/19/06
36. Visit Stephanie in New York. Completed 6/7/06
37. Take a trip to California. Completed 6/8/08
38. Take a vacation to Atlanta with Mama – go shopping and see an exhibit at the High Museum.
39. Travel to Washington, D.C. At least see major monuments, the White House, and the Smithsonian.
40. Buy nice map and put a push-pin in every place I’ve been.
41. Go to the MOMA. Completed 6/8/06

Personal Betterment
42. Begin creatively writing again (re-write novel).
43. Pay for the person behind me at a fast food drive thru. Completed 9/12/08
44. Become an organ donor. Completed 5/26/06
45. Give blood. Completed 9/12/08
46. Subscribe to a newspaper and read it regularly. Completed 12/28/06
47. Stop biting fingernails.
48. Update my journal and MAINTAIN it. Begun 11/21/06
49. MAINTAIN cleaning my apartment (dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing the shower, etc.) on a regular basis – AT LEAST once a month. Completed 11/08/06
50. Sponsor a child in an impoverished country. Completed 1/23/06
51. Become more politically aware. If someone talks about something that I don’t know about, don’t say “oh, we don’t keep up with current events in college” – ask them about it. Completed 11/08/06

Organize/Purge
52. Organize, file, and store all my notes/keepsakes from my undergraduate classes. Completed 6/15/06
53. Sell all textbooks that I will never use again – if they’re too used to sell, get rid of them. Completed 7/11/06
54. Finish entering all my DVDs into a database. Completed 11/29/06
55. Finish entering all my CDs into a database. Completed 12/14/06
56. Finish entering all my books into a database.
57. Sell, donate, give, or throw away 101 items. Completed 5/18/06
58. Sort through all my chick lit – take the majority and release them into the wild with Book Crossing. Completed 6/3/06
59. Take all my collected change to the bank and turn it into paper cash. Donate cash to my church. (Final amount: $165.52) Completed 12/5/06
60. Sort through all of my clothing, especially what’s at my parents’ house. Donate to Goodwill. Completed 5/18/06

Technology
61. Get Mama’s beads inventoried and make the inventory something she can easily work with daily. Completed 8/4/08
62. (CHANGED: Please see “Green Living” section at the end of list)
63. Re-create email filing system and MAINTAIN it. Completed 6/15/06
64. Get a Palm Treo. Completed 12/4/06
65. Get a desktop PC that works with my home media setup. Completed 6/12/06
66. (CHANGED: Please see “Green Living” section at the end of list)
67. Regularly back up my computer. Completed 8/21/06
68. Regularly back up my websites. Completed 8/21/06
69. (CHANGED: Please see “Green Living” section at the end of list)
70. (CHANGED: Please see “Green Living” section at the end of list)
71. Complete The Sims 2 Legacy Challenge.
72. Get all Mama’s email switched from Yahoo to her ISP account. Completed 8/4/08
73. Reformat artists’ names on my iPod so that each one isn’t listed more than once. Completed 8/4/08
74. MAINTAIN updating Doodlebug Designs. Completed 6/10/07
75. Write 1001 blog posts. (472/1001) Begun 12/19/05

Entertainment
76. Read 75% of the list of books that my friends have sent me. (24/85) Begun 12/19/05
77. Clear my current Netflix queue. (234/494) Begun 12/19/05
78. Read 75% of the Greatest Books in 101 Things to Do Before You Die. (17/64) Begun 12/19/05
79. Watch 85% of the Greatest Films in 101 Things to Do Before You Die. (92/112) Begun 12/19/05
80. See a Cirque du Soleil show that I haven’t seen before. Completed 6/8/06
81. Have a Star Wars marathon day and watch all the movies in chronological series order – with someone else! Completed 5/27/07
82. Finish watching all the DVDs I own (includes TV shows). Completed 8/22/06
83. See 75% of IMDB top 250 movies as of September 1, 2008 (this list changes). (148/188) Begun 12/19/05
84. See 100% of AFI top 100 movies. (74/100) Begun 12/19/05
85. See 100% of Netflix top 100 movies as of September 1, 2008 (this list changes). (63/100) Begun 12/19/05
86. See 75% of Entertainment Weekly’s top 100 movies. (50/75) Begun 12/19/05
87. Read 50% of books on the Modern Library (Random House) top 100 list (board). (10/50) Begun 12/19/05

In the Kitchen
88. Learn to use cast iron skillets without messing up the seasoning.
89. Start and MAINTAIN a wine journal. Begun 8/23/06
90. Drink a vintage wine. Completed 8/4/08
91. Organize recipe book. Completed 3/2/08
92. Find and make a good cheese fondue recipe (may require several tries).
93. Switch from Diet Coke to black coffee in the mornings – it may take more time, but it’s less chemicals and more caffeine! Completed 8/19/06

Just for Fun
94. Learn how to build a fire for my fireplace. Completed 1/14/06
95. Attend my 5-year high school reunion. Can’t complete
96. Lean to drive a stick shift.
97. Test drive a hot sports car with no intention of buying it.
98. Inspire at least five other people to make a 101 in 1001 list. Completed 8/6/2006
99. Win something (anything) from a lottery ticket.
100. Shout “Drinks are on me!” in a pub or bar.

Green Living
On January 24, 2007 I changed 4 of my list items to better reflect my goals. Here are the new items for my list.
62. Change all the incandescent light bulbs in my apartment to compact fluorescent light bulbs. Completed 8/1/07
66. Stop using plastic bags at the grocery store and switch to reusable canvas bags. Completed 1/1/08
69. Switch a significant portion of my food and cooking supplies to organic. Healthier for me, healthier for the planet. Completed 6/26/08
70. Search for organic and free trade coffee and tea that I like, and make the switch. Completed 8/4/08

101. On September 15, 2008, publish a new 101 in 1001. Completed 9/15/08

• 9/15/2008 -- 101 in 1001 #2 – 47.52% Complete
• 7/19/2006 -- About
• 12/29/2006 -- Thursday Thirteen #35