How Much = Comfortable?

On my way home tonight I was listening to NPR. Big surprise, I listen to it everyday. Tuesday nights around 7 or 8ish seems to be Canadian news. They did a survey and asked a bunch of people how much money they would need to make to be comfortable and not need or want anything. The answers varied as follows:

"$2,00 a month so she could take care of her animals" (equals $24,000 a year)
"$150,000 a year so he could have a nicer home, travel, dine out, and get a new car every couple years"
"At least $200 a week so I can always pay my rent, even pay it early, and always have food in my cupboards." (equals $10,400 a year)

At the end of the story the comment was made about the difference's in being "comfortable" means to everyone.

This is something I have been thinking about for a couple of months. How much money do I need to make to feel comfortable. And what does "comfortable" mean to me? I have decided that right now "comfortable" means being debt free. So, I either need to make bunches of more money or I need to scale back my current lifestyle to pay of debt more quickly. Once I am debt free I am almost positive "comfortable" will change for me.

So, here is my question to you...What does being comfortable mean to you? Is it associated with a dollar amount earned per year? Or does it mean you own a home? Being debt free? etc?

Birthday Gifts

Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday to ME! Happy Birthday D'Nell...Happy Birthday to ME!

2002-One of the best birthday gifts EVER was the "package" I received in China. Above is a picture of the ladies I spent the most time with. Left to Right - Jill (she's 6'1" and don't let her deny it.), Kiley (her nickname was "mouth" for a reason...), ME! (I look slightly dorky), Terusha (It's always a party when Terusha is around. PINK ELEPHANT), and Sarah (the kindest, funniest, sweetest snuggle bug ever.)

These cute ladies sent me a package for my birthday, made me a birthday crown to wear around and were all around just amazing. Being in another country with out your family or friends could have been wretched, but lucky for me I made some of the best friends of my life...and they took care of me. Thanks Chicas!

2009-Worst gift ever? Expired drivers license. Doesn't the DMV usually send you a reminder? Well I certainly didn't get one. So if you see me driving don't tell the cops...I am going tomorrow morning to get it renewed...



On a side note, this is the face of a friend when he heard that I am MORE awesome than him. He looks scared huh! Sorry, friend...but it's the TRUTH. D'Nell = AWESOMEST, YOU = Not quite as AWESOME, but I love you anyway!

Is The Sun REALLY That Bright?

Last Friday I was at Ross with my roommate Nicole and I almost purchased an amazing pair of sunglasses. I mean, c'mon, EVERYONE needs a pair of sunglasses. I refrained from purchasing them because I am trying out this new "budget" thing. I figured I could suffer and just quint when it was bright out.

Right now as I am sitting in my room I can see no less than SIX (6) pair of sunglasses. All 6 pair are fabulous (did you expect anything different). So now my question to myself is: "D'Nell just how many sunglasses do you need? REALLY need?" I am thinking the answer is 6.

Well...until I see some new sunglasses that are fabulous....

Right This Minute...

Right this minute....
...my room is colder than an industrial freezer.
...my hair is curly, did you know I am starting to do it this way every week?
...I am sad I have to work tomorrow...I like having Friday's off...why did I trade this week? WHY?
...I am reminded that I had the best friends in China. Thanks for posting the pics Jill...I giggle everytime I look at them!
...my mind is trying to think of something exciting to do for my birthday!
...TEO needs water.
...I am surrounded by chaos.
...I am dreaming of getting a pedicure of Saturday!
...my credit card has enough points to buy a roundtrip ticket to NYC...that's what happens when you have a CC for 10+ years.
...Big Dave the Korean is dreaming of Grandma bringing "The Incredibles" when she visits in 2 weeks. (David called me today to tell me to send it to him.)
...I am STiLL freezing.

Hilarious

My friend Josh has sent me to very funny e-cards. Above is the one I received today. Don't be offendend...but this card may be talking about you and I. In case you may wonder...I am the slightly funnier person.

(the cards are from www.someecards.com)

Did Not Expect To Say This...

I was chatting with my roommates and my friend Heather. I told them I was really excited for church on Sunday because it is Ward Conference. I think they were a little taken aback and asked what "big thing" would be happening. Nothing big is happening...at least that I know about. I am just super excited for Ward Conference.

Is that lame? Seriously?

I am just really excited for it. So, sue me.

Book Report

A couple of months ago while I wandered into the young adult section at the bookstore and picked up "The Goose Girl" by Shannon Hale. I loved it! It is a fun, light, and interesting fairy tale. Just adorable.

In preparing for my trip to AZ I downloaded "Book of a Thousand Days" by Shannon Hale from Audible.com. I wondered if I would like this book as much as I did the last. I wasn't disappointed. I listened to it in the car on the trip down and back as much as I could and I listened to it every night before bed. I finally finished it today at work (after 5pm lest you think I ignored employees). This book is also a fairy tale, c'mon who doesn't like fairy tales.

If you read these (or listen to them) let me know if you like them. I plan on reading all of her fairy tale books. I just love them!

(p.s. I also read "The Princess Academy...and loved it too!)
(p.p.s. Audible.com is great for downloading audio books. The library is cheaper...but Audible has a better selection and takes less time!).

Wordle

So my friend did this on their blog and I loved it! You go to www.wordle.net and type in your own words, or you can type in a web address (i.e your blog address) creates a word picture for you. The bigger the word in the picture the more frequently it appears on your blog.

The big words in my picture gave me a lot to think about. Obviously there have been a lot of things on my mind lately.

Happy Valentines Day!

**please don't judge that this made me laugh really hard**

Happy Valentines Day to you! I love you all! (Well...except YOU...you know who you are.)

3 Things

3 things I love about Ardell:

1. She is her own person. She doesn't need to be hip, or have the latest or best anything. She is who she is and doesn't apologize for it. She taught her children the same values.
2. She likes to "party". Party in Ardell (and Dean) lingo is going out to lunch with friends, dinner with family, or socializing. I spoke with my mom just now and asked what she did today, her answer: "I partied. I went to lunch with my high school friends."
3. Her love of family. She loves her children unconditionally, which doesn't mean she always likes us, but she always loves us. Growing up I never heard "your dad's family" or "my family" it was always "our family" meaning she doesn't think of my dad's family as something less related than her family. She has always made my dad's side of the family feel like they are related a lot closer than just through marriage. She also gets just as excited to learn about my dad's family history as she does her own.

I just love my mom. She is the best ever and make me laugh often!