Changes

This week has been a little rough.  Aside from the fact that fevers and coughing have spread through our house like wildfire and I'm beginning to feel a bit like Florence Nightingale, we're also going through a rough bit financially right now.  Call it a combination of unexpected expenses, a shortage of working hours for Hubby, and being behind on a bill or two...or whatever you like.  The point is, things have to change around here.

Hubby and I took a good look at our finances and realized in order to continue to send our girls to our local Christian school and to get out of debt as we'd like to, we need to make some sacrifices.  Even with those, it's possible that Hubby may have to take up a third job.  This is a scenario I'd love to avoid if at all possible, but we may not be able to get around it.

All this to say that there will be a few things I will have to do differently in the blogging world, too.

For one thing, there may be less reviews after a while.  For now, I still have several reviews that are in draft, so they won't disappear completely at first.  Once those run out, though, I'm going to have to focus more on doll photography and perhaps a thrift store haul every once in a while.  Spending on extras like dolls and doll accessories is going to have to be limited to the bare minimum until further notice.

I also may not be on Blogger quite as frequently after this week.  We've had a wonderful deal on our Internet for the last 2 years, but that deal is up, which means a $20 price increase per month.  We've made the decision to try going without Internet for a while, just until we can catch up a bit.

This doesn't mean I'll disappear completely.  I'll be able to check my Internet and do my blogging from my parents' house.  I just may not be able to respond to comments or emails as quickly as I usually do.  Please be patient with me as I figure all of this out and find my new routine.

Another change you might notice is that I'm going to have to downsize my collections a bit.  I've come to realize that I've been rather selfish in my collecting.  It's been all about me, when my first priority should be my family.  I've never blown $100 on a doll without telling anyone, but I have spent a little here and a little there until suddenly, I've spent $100 over the course of a month or two.  I've really got to work on this.

I know I had a post about this at the beginning of this year, and I was really good for a while before slipping back into the old habits again.  This time around, I hope to stick to it like I should.

In January, I will most likely be listing some of my dolls on eBay.  I'm hoping to start with some of them that I haven't bonded with as much at first.  And don't worry.  Tess, Maggie, Belle, Emma, and most of the regulars will be sticking around.  However, my LIV dolls, Moxie Teenz, and some of my Beauty and the Beast dolls will most likely be on the chopping block.  I will also most likely have to part with my Jess doll.  It makes the most sense...I haven't had a chance to develop her story yet, and she was an extra purchase that I didn't need.  I'd rather part with her than one of my established dolls.

Please pray for wisdom for Hubby and I as we try to cut out some extras and make some changes.  It's not going to be easy, but it needs to be done.  I think it could be a great opportunity to reexamine some of my priorities and get back to the basics for a while, too.  We have so much in this country that we really don't need.  Everything is temporal, and being too attached to our things only leads to heartache and emptiness.  (Says the super-mature woman who looked around the room at her dolls last night, trying to decide which ones to sell, and dissolved into tears at the thought.) :}  I'm not perfect by far, and I'm so thankful that the Lord is patient with me despite my flaws and my close attachment to little vinyl people and ponies. ;)

I'll keep you guys posted on our progress.

Oh, and speaking of progress, I suppose I should give a weight loss update as it's been a while.  I kind of hit a plateau for a while (and even gained a little bit back), so that's been a bit discouraging.  I did keep 10 pounds off, and that's something I can be proud of.  I know I can do better, though, and I'm going to continue doing my best to watch my portion sizes and control my sweet cravings.  Unfortunately, I never made goal weight (although at one point I was just 3 pounds away!), which means I'm still paying for Weight Watchers...and that's one of the extras we're cutting.  At least I have the knowledge and the tools to continue on by myself.  I've lost weight on my own with Weight Watchers before.  It won't be easy, but I suppose I can do it again. :)

Okay, I guess that's about all for now.  Sorry this post isn't as happy and uplifting as my posts normally are.  Just wanted to make you aware of some of the changes.

I don't foresee us having to continue on in such a drastic manner forever.  We just need to get down to the "bare necessities" (brownie points for a random Disney reference) for a while until we can get a little more financially stable.