the giraffe life

My grandmother did a lot of traveling when she first retired. I was in middle school and high school for her most active travel years and couldn't travel with her, but I always had her postcards to look forward to. It was a little peek into what she was doing and kept us connected. I loved that she sent postcards addressed just to me (it made me feel so special). She also wrote postcards to everyone else in the family - but you could tell who she was writing to because she would pick out cards and write her message specifically for that person.  Mr. G and I travel infrequently compared to my grandma's whirlwind, but I keep up the postcard tradition and send at least one to everyone I'm close with at some point during every trip. I know a text message would be quicker (and cheaper) but there's something cool about receiving actual mail from a faraway land, right? :) In that spirit, I'd like to offer to send you a postcard while I'm in California next mo...

I'm sure you're jealous of my jellyfish notepad. :) I cleaned out some old boxes full of paperwork ( inspired by Fiona ) and found some essays I wrote in  high school. My handwriting has changed so much! (This fact was cemented when I wrote a letter to a friend yesterday - good golly it's strange!) Despite learning cursive in 3rd grade, and being required to write only in cursive until high school (9th grade/about 14 years old here in the US), I quickly reverted back to writing in print. Which then evolved into this strange print/cursive combination that you can see above . .  With that handwriting, I jot quick notes to myself or my hubby, make to-do lists, write in my journal, and send funny cards to my family. I figure they'll call me if something's truly illegible.  In my neat handwriting, I complete forms, write notes to work colleagues, address cards, and solve crossword puzzles (or rather, try to solve them. I don't think I've ever finished on...

It's 2014? That'll probably sound weird to me until at least March. I'm looking forward to the new year, despite the fact that it doesn't quite feel right yet. I've been enjoying reading everyone's goals too and have some of my own to throw out there: source:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyTownUSA haha, I love this graphic! Becky and Lucinda also used it, so I'm in excellent company. Finances Put at least $2000 toward mortgage prepayment  - Last year, we put an extra $1550 toward the principal, and I'd like to beat that! :) Save for daycare  - I'm not pregnant. And I know it's impossible to fully prepare to be a parent - but this is something we can start now. Hopefully it'll help us get used to the added expense way before we have a baby. Childcare estimates seem to run about $150/week in our area, so this amounts to setting aside $300 per paycheck. Personal   Finish my degree - Should be done in May! Woohoo :) Read 50...