Spectacular September

Another month gone, and here's the damage...

Total: $2,100

(approximately, I'm not entirely sure how much money I spent in Athens but I just factored in how much I converted and ran with that)

The Breakdown:
Travel - $1,325 (this includes money spent and the hotels once we got there, only a portion of them were paid before we left, I just buy $1,325 worth of stuff while we were away, that would be a tad excessive)
Gifts - $200
Entertainment - $91
Bars/Restaurants (including bars at weddings) - $84
Gas - $82
Random Crap - $82
Clothing - $79.95
Health and Beauty - $67
Groceries - $51
Maggie Mae - $26.55
Coffee - $11.78
Snacks - $1.25

So I realized that I made a slight omission in my frenzy to get ready to leave on vacation. I purchased the Alibi special being offered on Rue La La a ways back and never reported it. It was for two signature drinks and a bottle of wine for two at the Boston bar/lounge Alibi, if you haven't been there before it's a pretty good time, granted it gets a bit crowded later in the night on the weekends. It cost $39, the exact amount of the credit that I had sitting in my account, just waiting to be spent. Well friends, I spent it.

We all knew this was going to be a heavy hitter of a month, given the fact that I was traveling for a decent portion of it. I counted everything that was spent in Greece on this month's tally just to make thing easy for myself.

New Online Shopping Discoveries

So as you all know by now I just got back from vacation, and like any of you would if they were just getting back from not having checked your email in 11 days, I spent a lot of time weeding through junk emails. As such, I have been unsubscribing from no less than a gazillion online stores that send me countless updates on every insignificant sale they're running. It's actually quite freeing, and maybe it will help me in spending less time shopping online and more time doing something more important...like blogging (right?).

Anyways, there were a couple of emails for new shopping sites that my friends (ever supporting of my goal of ceasing to shop so mindlessly, a goal which I fear I'm failing miserably at) invited me to, and I have to say I was intrigued, so I chose to sign up for two of them.

The Clymb and SniqueAway.

The Clymb is kind of like Rue La La, only the boutiques are all for outdoor gear/outdoor brands. For example right now they're running deals on Acorn (slippers), and Alite (sleeping bags and bags). Clearly this site is right up  my alley. My only complaint is that they've been running the same deals since I signed up on Tuesday, so they're getting a bit stale for me at this point. I wish they had a higher turnover. I bore easily and would like some new product to peruse. BUT one thing that I must mention is that they ship all of your purchases 100% carbon neutral, which is absolutely fabulous!

SniqueAway, sells exactly what you would think it sells. Getaways for various fabulous location all over the place, much like Jetsetter (which I also check out every now and again, mostly just because they have deals on places that I drool over traveling to, like Bhutan, Bali, Africa, etc.). As far as I can tell so far, SniqueAway has slightly less exotic destination choices, but still some great deals.

So anywho, I thought I'd share my recent discoveries in case any of you had an interest in snagging an ever elusive deal.

Tuesday & Wednesday Damages (10/6 & 10/7)

Tuesday

• $2.43 - Dunkin Donuts (iced coffee to start my  morning, god how I missed them)
• $2.66 - Panera (Cinnamon crunch bagel with cream cheese...another thing I missed)
• $5. 23 - Starbucks (some Pumpkin spice latte thing and a sugary treat)
• $24.32 - Roche Brothers (food for dinner and some other very random stuff that I passed and bought because it was on sale)

Is it just me or do you get back from vacation and have a need to buy the things you feel you've been deprived of while you were away? In my case, iced coffee and bagels...obviously it was going to be food of some sort, what else would it be?

Wednesday

• $8.42 - Russo's Market (delicious salad bar and macaroons)
• $50 - American Cancer Society (donation for D's walk against breast cancer)

• $465.62 - Michael's Crafts

Okay, so you're probably a little shocked over the amount of money dropped at a crafts store. Let me explain. Aaron and I bought a plethora of paintings while in Greece, and believe it or not I still have a print that I bought when I was in Africa way back in 2002 that needed to be framed. Michael's was having a 60% off sale on custom framing so I couldn't resist. So we got three pieces framed for ourselves, which came to something like $250 or so, then got two pieces custom framed for friends/family for present (getting started on Christmas a little early), and then bought a bunch of do it yourself frames for some smaller prints, which we'll be giving out as gifts.

So while spending close to $500 on framing is a bit steap, I think it's totally worth it. I like to buy art and/or jewelry whenever I go on a trip, and what's the point if you don't get it framed and take care of it when you get back? I mean come on now, it only makes sense. Not to mention we did save a lot of money with that whole 60% off thing.

I should also mention that Aaron will be reimbursing me for some of the cost of the framing, so really the final cost won't be quite so high. Side note: you should have seen his eyes bug out of his head when the lady told me the total. AND some of these are Christmas presents...so we're getting a head start on the holidays already.

The Greek Lowdown

 So I should start this post by telling you that there's just absolutely no way I am going to account for every penny I spent in Greece. It's just way to much work and I have neither the time nor patience for such an undertaking. Suffice it to say I did a healthy amount of shopping and a healthier amount of eating while in Greece.

Here are some of the highlight purchases...

• Many, many, many paintings (presents for Aaron and I, family and some friends)
• Ouzo (booze for the brother)
• Jewelry (for myself and family)
• Olive oils soap (presents for my mom, aunt, and nan)
• T-shirts (for me, and my dad)

As for the food....delicious. Did you know that you could get a vegetarian gyro! Holy hell is it delicious. Also, they put french fries in the gyros in Greece. Genius.

 Sunset in Naxos.

Some other interesting tidbits I picked up on while I was gallivanting about...

• There isn't any lettuce in a greek salad in greece. Just cucumbers, tomatoes, onion, feta, olives, and capers (sometimes)
• Feta is so much more delicious in Greece
• Sea-band bracelets are a savior for anyone who gets seasick
• Baklava isn't all that prevalent 
• Stray dogs and cats are everywhere (cue me wanting to adopt each and every one of them...one special pup in particular, who we named "Big Megs." If I could have figured out a way to get her through customs she'd be in the U.S. right now)
• There's an ungodly amount of graffiti covering every surface other than protected ruins in Athens
• My fear of fish runs deep
• The London Heathrow Airport is the most miserable airport in the world, which I will avoid like the plague from this day forward.

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday Damages

Monday

• $39.70 - Jerry Remmy's (pre-game drinks)
• $26.70 - Fenway (drinks)

 Sadly...we lost, but \te good news is that the tickets were free (thanks Chrissy!).

Tuesday

• $67 - Ouidad (time for a hair product reorder..free shipping!!)

 66 ounces...remember I buy in bulk. :)

Wednesday

• $0

AND NOW...OFF TO GREECE (well technically I'm just getting back from Greece and just posting this belated blog entry now...but let's not be sticklers)

More about my trip later...but for now...jet lag delirium, food, sleep, coma....

Weekend Damages (9/17 - 9/19)

Friday

• $1.25 - Diet Pepsi from the vending machine

Saturday

• $2.34 - Dunkin Donuts (pick me up iced coffee on my way to a site walk...yes work on a Saturday...lame)
• $20(ish) - Tips for bartender at wedding (actually am not quite sure how much I spent...which is why I should not carry cash on me...ever)

Sunday

• $2.11 - Marriott (Tums...necessary after putting down as much wine as I did at the wedding)
• $25.44 - Barnes and Noble 

 Wait, what? We leave for Greece on Thursday and neither Aaron or I can speak a lick of Greek?? Hence the pocket translator...granted everyone will more than likely speak English, but it can't hurt to have one...just in case. 

And a little something to play on the plane...cue a million little pieces being lost forever...

FYI...this game was created by a Rhode Islander, which adds to it's awesomeness.

Monday - Thursday Damages (9/13 - 9/16)

Monday

• $0

Tuesday

•  $0

Wednesday

• $28.77 - CVS (randomness)

Thursday

• $0

So far so good this week. Lets see if I can keep it up through the weekend. So far this weekend, I have dinner with my brother and Aaron Friday night, wedding Saturday, wake Sunday. It will be a happy/fun and depressingly sad weekend. Interesting mix.