Here’s a side effect I never saw coming. Lately I have been so much more aware of the little blessings in life. Things that I would have normally brushed off as a random, cool thing have been BLOWING MY MIND.

For example. I have this thing where I am terrified of running out of toiletries. There have been times in my life where I’ve had, no joke, four or five unopened bottles of conditioner. Just to be safe. My initial plan for this month was to be completely stocked up on everything I could ever need for the month, but as I was talking to Bradley in late July, he challenged me to really experience a month of not spending without a safety net, to see what I would really do if I ran out of or needed things without spending money.

«« MONDAY AUGUST 12TH »»

 I walked downstairs and saw this:

I’m sure you want to know what was in the box, right???

Mel, during her own “un-stuff”ing decided to send over a box full of lotions and hair products and stuff. But you know all I saw when I looked at this box? CONDITIONER.

It had slipped my mind to buy a David Ryan Harris ticket for his show that night, and I realized I would have to deflate my whole month’s $5/week experience allowance in order to go with my dad, but I hardly ever get to spend quality time with my dad so I figured it was worth it. We walked up to the box office… and my dad bought my ticket. I wasn’t expecting that at all, and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

Then, to kill time… we went to Everyday Music. and that was BRUTAL. I usually walk out of record stores with $20-$60 in damage to my wallet, but this time I walked out empty handed. But it was TOUGH.

We had a fantastic time, though. I hadn’t seen DRH in 8 years, and I don’t think my dad had seen him in 9.

«« TUESDAY AUGUST 13TH »»

I did absolutely nothing. I sat in my pajamas watching “What Not To Wear,” and it. was. wonderful.

But Tuesday was Micah’s 5th birthday and I was trying to think of what I could give him. It was somewhere inbetween awake and asleep on Tuesday evening when it came to me.

«« WEDNESDAY AUGUST 14TH »»

I made a quick stop at Starbucks to pick up a birthday cake cake pop for Micah. He loves those things. A lot. and I delivered the cake pop along with a little gift…

The kid loves Allen, and in cleaning out my room I discovered a little pile of Allen posters I’ve somehow collected. It wasn’t a whole lot, but it was very thought out.

«« THURSDAY AUGUST 15TH »»

 I received a Klout perk. $25 at coffeebean.com, so I quickly ordered two bags of coffee. The shipping was free, but the tax  was not and since it expires on the 31st of August, I’d have to pay the 84 cents no matter what. So I did it. I remembered to bring a dinner for corps council. Hilary took me to Starbucks.

«« FRIDAY AUGUST 16TH »»

Friday, I got ANOTHER Klout perk (Prior to August 2013, I have received 0 Klout perks at all relevant to my life) for a $5 Archcard for McDonalds. Look, I am so tired of McDonalds. I never knew that being in youth ministry meant a higher consumption of fast food, but since February of this year I have had McDonalds more than I have in probably the past 10 years. I’m not excited for me to have the $5 Archcard. I’m excited to give it to someone else, though I’m not quite sure who.

I met Susannah at Monty’s, where we discovered many more ways we are alike. I wasn’t sure about the traffic situation so I decided… I will go to Kohl’s because I have been carefully holding on to my $25 gift card, and mostly I just really love trying on Lauren Conrad clothes. As I was carefully examining every. single. item. of LC’s fall line, I heard my name and saw my stepmom! I have never unexpectedly run into her. She was waiting for my cousins and invited me to get dinner with them. I said I would and that I’d go try on clothes while we waited. When I was walking out of the dressing room, she asked me which one I was going to get and I said none, since I didn’t NEED any of them. Edna insisted. I resisted. Then I tried walking away, and she grabbed my arm and started pulling me back to the dressing room. I realized that she really WANTED to buy me something. She had a 30% off coupon and wanted to use it on me. I quickly grabbed this lovely pink LC dress… that was on clearance.. and ended up being $13.

As I was driving home, I started thinking of all of the unnecessary gifts and treasures I’d received this week. I could have reasonably purchased my own DRH ticket.  I have plenty of coconut oil (I made sure of that one, at least) so I could have been alright without conditioner. Free coffee and McDonalds… definitely a blessing. My life would have gone on without the beautiful dress.

But I’m seeing it all with new eyes, and I’m appreciating the thoughtfulness more now than ever.

In conclusion.
I spent .84 cents this week, plus .11 the first week. I’ve spent .95 this month.
I still have the $5 my mom gave me.