Monkey Mama's blog about life insurance reminded me that this was about the time last year that I got some. Then I was looking at my various credit cards, and I saw that I'd been charged my yearly premium. --Something I'd forgotten to include in my budget. Oops.
Then today I went into town and did some grocery shopping - both for myself, and for the book fair. On Monday (if we don't have a snow day!!!) I'm having refreshments for the teachers during the teacher preview. Then on Tuesday (again, if we don't get the monster storm predicted ...) I've promised to provide snacks for my mid-school helpers.
I also stopped at the Party store, Big Lots and Family Dollar ... all in search of cheap plastic tablecloths to cover the various boxes so I can put them on the tables. The least expensive one I found was $3.25. Ugh! I think I'm going to try just cutting one of the tablecloths provided in half (I get to keep them) and then if that works ok, I'll do the same to the rest of them. Total budget buster today of about $95 between Walmart and the other stores.
At Party City I did see they had some luau themed table trimmers .... at $20 each. NOT!!!! My tables will go undecorated thank you very much!
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Today we did the set up for the book fair. I had 5 8th graders and two 6th graders helping me. They all worked hard for most of the two hours they were with me. On paper my plan for the setup seemed like it would work really well, but in reality ... it is really really crowded. 
I'm going to have to go in there on Sunday and spend a few hours++ to see if I can figure out how to get a better flow to the whole thing. Next year I hope to have the book fair in the fall (to potentially avoid snow days!!) and I hope to see if I can have it in someplace larger than the library.
I really hate to think how long it would've taken me to setup what we have done by myself ...
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I got my leis yesterday from amazon, which was relief. (Although at this moment I'm afraid they are buried somewhere in the library classroom ...)
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Today when I was in town, I decided to stop by Carl Jr's and get a shake (was really thirsty and out of water ... justify....) This white truck pulled up behind me with three people in it, and I was struck with the urge to do a PIF. So I told the lady at the window that I wanted to take care of the people behind me ... figuring it would be at least $20. After I got on the highway I looked at my receipts ... they'd gotten a small drink ... $1.50. LOL! (The only reason I share this is due to my expecting the bill to be so much more than it was. Too funny not to share.) 
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I think that this month I'm going to be doing good to save 20% of my income ... I guess that is okay, as long as it doesn't become a recurring theme. I'm not going anywhere in April (well, at least I don't think I am ... we do have a 4 day weekend -i.e. Easter - so who knows what might happen then ..) and May also shouldn't be too spendy (I hope!!)
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I'm really looking forward to my July trip. It already was going to be good, getting to spend time with my brother and other family, but now with the SA get together, it'll be awesome!!!
This is going to be a spendy month ..
March 17th, 2012 at 03:27 am
March 17th, 2012 at 01:39 pm 1331991545
Your July trip sounds like fun!
March 17th, 2012 at 02:16 pm 1331993805
As an experienced scholastic book fair volunteer, I would highly recommend help with set up and tear down(which goes much faster). A fall sale sounds like a great idea. Ours always corresponds with conferences at the school. I bet you'll have a great sale.
March 17th, 2012 at 05:30 pm 1332005452
March 18th, 2012 at 01:19 am 1332033560
Yes, I was pleasantly surprised.
CCF,
I'm a little afraid of the tear down ... in the setup process the books from the boxes have gotten kind of mixed up (out of categories) in trying to find room for them ... I hope when they go back to wherever they go, that there is a person who makes sure they are sorted in the right boxes!!
I hope we do have a great sale ... if the darn weather would cooperate!!
Joan,
Yep, as far as I know we don't have any true dollar stores around here. I thought about using shower curtains too, but they were more expensive (cheapest I saw was $9!)