Well I was...

I had every intention of showing you fall decor

but the others had another plan for the morning...

How was your Monday morning?

Don't forget about the giveaway from the last post, it's open until Friday.

I remember

I remember 9/11 vividly.

It is a day that is etched in my memory as America was under siege. I remember the feeling of helplessness. Of confusion. Of fright. But I know there are so many others that can still smell the smoke, taste the ashes, feel the deepest darkest pain imaginable because someone they loved lost their life that day. That tragic day.

My prayers are with everyone affected and with all Americans.

May we turn from our evil ways and look to the One whose plans are greater than ours could ever be.

Frugalista Fashionista, sort of

I try to be conservative with how I spend my money, okay our money, Dunbar money these days. Back when I was a working woman I had "personal spending money." Money that was all mine to do with as I pleased, and got to spend All. On. Me.

It was fab.

These days there is no more personal money. You know that whole one income with kids thing. (It really throws a rock in your "personal stuff.") So now I have to get creative and get only the things I really truly like or love or need. And when you find a cute dress for 75% off at Target for six bucks that is rockin'. Seriously, I hardly ever peruse the clearance racks because I usually only find junk. But today there were some good steals. If you haven't made your Target run for the week, head over there, lots of good things were 50 - 75% off.

Notice the BIG difference

Check out the new alarm clock on Mr. Dunbar's nightstand.

Here's a picture of mine, just for comparison.

And Mr. Dunbar's one more time. Notice anything? (about the numbers.)

So far its been named Big Ben.

Last night he said, "Hey kids look, it's the Helen Keller Special." (Please don't think ill of him. Mr. Dunbar really is funny.)

Two nights ago he said it probably competes with the Great Wall of China, as one of the Seven Wonders seen from outer space. The austronauts could see what time it was.

The first night, he said it was glowing in our room, and then he turned it away from his vision, only to point it straight at his mirrored closet door. I thought he was going to get up and get his sunglasses.

We were laughing so hard.

You know those gut laughs where your stomach hurts.

If there is one thing I am learning about this marriage thing, it's that you have to learn to laugh. Even if all of your nice efforts to replace his taped together alarm clock receive a snide remark each and every time your head its the pillow.

UPDATED: Tonights comment "Alex Trebek reads "Things we can see from outerspace."

I made it... barely!

Amount of money in my wallet on July 31st.

July was the L - O - N - G - E - S - T month of my life.

But a month of many lessons.

Lesson 1: I spend a lot of careless money. Even on a budget. Even though living on one income has put us in the position to have to choose this or that, we Dunbar's still enjoy lunch out after church, snacks at Disneyland, Fastrack, cute t-shirts because they were on sale, small trips to JoAnn or Homegoods, $5 this or $5 that. Which adds up. Quickly!

Lesson 2: I can go without spending money if there is an end in sight. We had $100 to last us a month for anything that wasn't a true necessity. I went week by week. The last week was the hardest. I look like a frizzy rat with roots. (Ha.) Seriously I do, which will be cured on Tuesday night when I finally get to get my hair done. But if I had done that in the month of July there pretty much wouldn't have been room to get anything else. Probably not even toilet paper and I think we would have had a problem if I would have let that happen. So no, I don't want to live like this every month. There was an end in sight and I worked towards it. This whole project has given me a sense of what I can and can not live without.

Lesson 3: Budgeting can work, you just have to set your mind to it. With an end goal. My end of the month goal was to cut our family's expendable budget. I think I did that by almost 50%. But then again, it's just like Mr. Dunbar asked, "Are you going to just spend more money in the month of August?" The answer is, I am going to try to spend less than I did in June, or May, or any month before that. Our life is so different then when I was working. My wardrobe is different, my schedule is different, my purpose is different. Even though my priorities are still the same though, I'm learning that those don't necessarily cost money.

Lesson 4: God is good. We were totally blessed with gifts, groceries, free activities, and opportunities to improve our total budget this month. I truly believe God used many people this past month to bless us. And I am so so grateful.

Although I only had cents in my wallet on July 31st, I kept several hundred dollars out of Target and the mall. We threw less food away this month. I can tell you where pretty much every single dollar in our budget went. We were totally blessed by this little project.

ADDED: I just visited my very good friend Cathy's blog. She goes on a missionary trip to Alaska every summer with her family. Her post reminded me that what I think I can not live without is not really selfless at all. She just threw a monkey wrench to me. Thanks Cathy!

Vacay

I totally need a vacation. I love to travel. According to my random-vacation-generator above I should be visiting South Carolina and Honduras this year. (I was aiming for Costa Rica.) Every odd year Mr. Dunbar and I have gone on a nice vacation. In rescinding order:
2009: ???

2007- New York

2005- Australia

2003- St. Lucia

2001-Washington DC (pre-9/11)

But this year the Dunbar's will be enjoying a stay-cation. No big trips, just a few small ones planned. I told my darling husband in 2013 we are going on a BIG vacation, destination to be determined, but it will be good. Any favorite vacation spots I should know about?

The Old and the Young

We've been spending a lot of time at my Grandma's recently as she needs care around the clock. It's amazing what young ones do for the old ones, how they renew the spirit and give others the desire to live.

Monkey has been off playing with his friends and cousin, while Bogie has decided my Grandma is his personal servant. She loves it and in the midst of chaos they are creating their own memories.

I once read a quote and I can't find it right now, but it talked about the greatness of society is not about how it treats its' young, but how it treats its' elderly.

Fourth of July Letter and Prayer

Dear Soldiers, Wives of Soldiers, Sons and Daughters of Soldiers,

Thank you for protecting my freedom and that of my family. Thank you for your dedication, your sacrifice, and your commitment.

Most Sincerely,

The Dunbar's

Dear God,

Thanks for making me an American. May I use the freedom I have in You to show others your love through the freedom we take for granted.

Happy Birthday America!

Me, Today

I wasn't liking the other layout.

Time for a change.

Something new, soon.

I was inspired by Casey.

Life is pretty crazy over here.

Sickness... again!

Major illness, another grandparent.

Career change on the horizon.

Feeling more and more like an adult, everyday.

Wishing for a nap.

Grateful to be with my boys.

Wanting to vacation with my husband.

Longing for peace. And quiet.