Week of Money: Where I start needing more breaks…

DAY ONE

??:?? — Nosebleed. And screaming while bleeding. This is … great. /sarcasm

7:25 a.m. — I get up and get ready, then start organizing what to return, what I need to get done.

7:59 a.m. — Big effing meltdown. I am trying to figure out the cost of aquarium tickets to be cheaper when Little Bun just .. LOSES it when we are talking. He hates it when we talk, and he screams and kicks and whines, which makes my blood boil. Now we both are screaming and angry, and my partner just screams that he is not going to the aquarium if he can’t even behave over something simple, and how we are planning a very nice, kind of expensive outing at $40 a ticket and he can’t even behave to let us plan it.

8:08 a.m. — This, triggers more screaming, with this cancellation of said trip. He doesn’t even know what an aquarium is, I had wanted to keep it as a surprise, and he doesn’t understand any of what it meant but he understood “Cancel Trip” and realized it was big. But after this temper tantrum of his from us just TALKING, I am losing it, and I scream back that he is ruining everything Mommy is trying so hard to do for him. I am screaming, effing red faced and losing MY #$(#%.

8:45 a.m. — I am so exhausted. I have him on my lap, he is crying periodically sniffling and just bursting out into tears from what happened. I am really tired. I am lecturing him and telling him he isn’t making Mommy or Daddy happy, and we are trying to very nicely plan things for him but he can’t even let us do it which means THERE IS NO TRIP. And now we can’t go on the trip and reward him because he wasn’t behaving. It is a confusing message. I am very angry right now.

9:11 a.m. — I put on YouTube on my phone, go upstairs, and let him watch videos while I sleep. I am so sleep deprived, tired, angry… I need to rest. I doze off in seconds.

9:38 a.m. — I wake up after a short nap. I feel much better but still tired. Kids are .. kids are monsters. I text my friend to tell her the trip is canceled and he is being punished. I am very disappointed.

10:59 a.m. — I eat lunch. There are no fried potatoes because my partner didn’t buy cooking oil, and the other oil just ruined everything. So… ##$*.. Little Bun had been happy about them all day, and it was the ONE THING HOLDING HIM ON after this morning, and he almost loses it again but he holds it together when I explain to him how the fried potatoes didn’t make it. He is sniffling and very sad right now.

11:11 a.m. — I explain that I am sorry they didn’t work out, and I know how much he wanted them. He seems to take it in stride. He is probably keeping in mind this morning’s ridiculousness and frankly, I am tired.

12:08 p.m. — I plan with my partner to take him out to the market today, and we will buy a little treat for him instead of the fries. I need a treat too. I am so tired. I break open a pack of mochi.

2:29 p.m. — I think Little Bun is finally sleeping. He NEEDS IT.

3:11 p.m. — Little Bun: “We smashed 67 bugs today. We are RICH!” He is talking about a bug app game to learn words, and I guess he managed to smash 67 of them.

3:27 p.m. — “I want to be 99 years old. I am only 5 now.”

6:22 p.m. — My partner headed out during nap time and ends up doing the groceries alone. By the time he is back, it is too late to do anything. All the better. I am too tired to go out anyway.

7:27 p.m. — We play together, read books, play on the piano, my brain is all fogged up. I am very tired right now.

9:40 p.m. — Bedtime.

Spent: $0

DAY TWO

??:?? — Tired.

??:?? — Screaming. Little Bun is just.. screaming. I try to calm him down and he has ruined my REM cycle.. now I feel out of whack.

7:22 a.m. — I make some tea. I picked up a matcha sampler with mint, wild honey, and turmeric mixtures a while back, and so far, they are okay, but I prefer plain, super high quality matcha with milk. I don’t really like mixes, but I’ll go through these tins and finish them off.

8:11 a.m. — We head out for the morning, light little drive around to buy some tissue paper and the like.

9:45 a.m. — I go to try on a few Smythe jackets from Poshmark that were only $100 ( A STEAL ) but none of them fit. *cue tears*…

11:22 a.m. — Home. Little Bun is out with his father. Later, I find out they went downtown to Kensington market in the car, and Little Bun got a lemon tart treat. His favourite.

12:24 p.m. — He goes down for his “nap”. He actually doesn’t nap at all, but plays in the bedroom while his father surfs the internet and he is on the iPad. WHATEVER. I get a break.

12:12 p.m. — I eat my lunch.

1:15 p.m. — I say goodbye to Little Bun because he won’t let me nap and then go to sleep, and find out that I left while he was sleeping. He will wake up in tears, crying. It is best if I go out while he is awake, and he KNOWS I am gone, so he won’t wake up upset. I’m super tired though. I think about napping in the car.

2:04 p.m. — I buy a new shower curtain for my mother. Her old one is covered in mold and she wanted to power wash it (!?!?!?!) but this is nonsense. You need to bleach it, which would have burned the curtain as it is plastic. I end up just tossing it. $25.74

2:28 p.m. — I love being out and alone in my car. I really do.

3:11 p.m. — I drop by another mall, then browse around. I pick up a Japanese cheesecake. $12

4:15 p.m. — I basically window shop and end up buying nothing (YAY FOR SELF CONTROL!), even though I wanted tons of things. I only picked up a matcha sampler set. $22.50

6:10 p.m. — I meet my friend for dinner, and she treats me. SO incredibly sweet. I am very lucky.

9:11 p.m. — I head home after a good long chat. We talk about everything from family to experiences.

Spent: $60.24

DAY THREE

??:?? — Very tired. I feel like I can never get enough sleep now.

??:?? — It is too hot. I am waking up every 2 hours.

7:20 a.m. — Awake. Groggy. I make a tea.

9:11 a.m. — We head out to the malls because my partner has finally decided on what shoes he wants to buy.

10:30 a.m. — 3 stores later, a bit of whining… Little Bun is getting tired of home stores with plates he can’t smash, and shoes he can’t use as cars. He conks out in the car after whining loudly: I AM SLEEPY….

11:25 a.m. — I wake him up. No long naps for you, mister. I carry in this 40 lb “baby” into the store and he loves watching all the fountains.

12:46 p.m. — Home. I’m supposed to leave in 15 minutes to go see my friend for the afternoon. I instead, get caught up in my new Dyson Airwrap hair dryer and am amazed at the curls I get.

2:14 p.m. — At the BBQ place. We eat the pork ribs as suggested by Yelp and aren’t disappointed, but afterwards, I guess I am not used to the grease and meat any longer, because my stomach starts rumbling in a bad way. Like.. smelly bad way.

4:35 p.m. — 3 stores later, my friend has purchased an item in each one. LOL.. I’m a terrible enabler. I am also saving my pennies for the last store – consignment, because I know I will want a couple of items.

4:39 p.m. — Aren’t these Japanese washi papers gorgeous!?

5:04 p.m. — These little fish swimming teacups are pretty.

5:30 p.m. — ARGH! I LOVE this skirt and top, but they are both not my size. The top is the perfect linen black tunic I have been looking for, but is a Large by Helmut Lang. The skirt is Diane von Furstenberg and a size 10, when I could have done with a 6 and nipped in a bit, even an 8! But 10 is far too large to tailor in.

5:37 p.m. — These shoes are hideously interesting. By Maison Margiela.

5:55 p.m. — I end up picking up a really great wrap wool skirt by Helmut Lang, and another Erdem bodycon dress that is one size too small. I take it into a tailor later, and she tells me it is $45 to change it into a skirt. DONE. I would never be able to zip up this tiny AF dress across my ribs even if I lost 20 pounds, but I love the print so much… $230

6:50 p.m. — We stop for some green smoothies which settles my stomach. Then some madeleines. $3.50

7:23 p.m. — We head home separately.

8:15 p.m. — Little Bun is so happy to see me. He has been making frozen berry smoothies with pineapple with his grandmother, and he had a Japanese cheesecake which is my favourite cake.

10:13 p.m. — Time for bed.

Spent: $233.50

DAY FOUR

??:?? — Tired. Little Bun was screaming.

??:?? — I am very tired. I cannot sleep. Too hot.

7:20 a.m. — I make a cup of tea.

8:16 a.m. — I have a light breakfast.

8:58 a.m. — We head out very quickly for a short jaunt. I go through all the items I have so far. My mini wardrobe has really grown… O_o .. No more shopping. But some of the pieces I find really are quite unique and only $130 for a $3000 dress? Listen….

9:45 a.m. — I am watching Big Little Lies and it is incredible. I mean, episode six, season 1 when Celeste is at the therapist’s, talking about the situation she is in, it is just so deep and amazing.

10:11 a.m. — I also really love Bonnie from Big Little Lies. Her style, her whole demeanour.. I LOVE HER. I want to BE HER.

11:27 a.m. — Time for lunch. We are going to eat pizza. He made a great homemade pizza.

11:50 a.m. — Time for a nap. My nap I mean. I fall asleep and just conk out. Little Bun keeps creeping up towards my cheek trying to be super close to my face to watch me sleep, which annoys me as I am sleeping.

12:27 p.m. — He is POKING ME. OMG. Poking AND trying to tickle me and turn me over so he can sleep on my belly. I am annoyed. I am still sleeping though. I need to finish this REM cycle.

1:13 p.m. — I am done sleeping. I finally feel better.

2:34 p.m. — Sounds like Little Bun is up. Is he up? Are we going out? I am too tired. I want to finish this episode of Big Little Lies. I pre-read the Wikipedia for this because I hate surprises and I like knowing what is going to happen so that I can watch without stress.

2:56 p.m. — My partner is furious. He isn’t napping and he is blaming ME for trying to force him down at noon (I WAS TIRED! I NEEDED THE NAP), when he normally naps at 1 and now he won’t nap. I head upstairs.

3:15 p.m. — He’s out like a light, snuggled in between my legs, and I am reading a book while stroking his head and back. We had a little chat, I told him he was grumpy and needed a catnap to feel better or else we wouldn’t go out.

4:04 p.m. — He is up, and we are out. He is eager, and aiming for the market bakery, keen on getting his lemon tart because that is the ONLY THING he is here for.

4:48 p.m. — This grocery store is just beautiful…

5:20 p.m. — Ooooo . these rings and items are so beautiful. Little Bun is in the hot sun, grumpy and saying very loudly: MOMMY. THIS IS NOT A BAKERY. I want a market BAKERY... I can’t shop calmly with him. I ask her where she will be next or if she will be here tomorrow and she says yes but down the street for the pedestrian Sunday. I make a note.

6:33 p.m. — Lemon tart in his belly, he is better now. I bought one for my mother as well. $14.95

7:15 p.m. — At home, I see nothing to eat. Literally, we have nothing. Just fruit. *sigh*… I dress and ask my mother if she wants to go eat Thai food. She says yes — apparently no one ever treats her to this food because it is at least $15 a person and she only gets McDonald’s as of late (yuck .. did you know they put SILICONE as one of the 18 ingredients in their fries so that the hot oil doesn’t splash up on people? … Isn’t that the grossest thing you’ve ever heard?)…

8:00 p.m. — I swear.. my mother takes forever to get ready. FOREVER. She only has to dress and bring herself. That’s it. I am paying, driving….. At least my dress is cute.

8:27 p.m. — We are there, and take two Tom Yum Goong’s to go. $35

9:11 p.m. — At home, I finish the most delicious soup and vow to learn how to make it. Vegetarian style, no meat. I love the flavour so much.

10:22 p.m. — Time for bed.

Spent: $49.95

DAY FIVE

??:?? — I wake up tired, but with a plan. I want to go shop at that woman’s store again. I have never seen rings like that and I am very keen.

7:25 a.m. — I make a cup of tea, do all the dishes and laundry.

8:59 a.m. — I head out to shop for the morning ALONE.

10:08 a.m. — I drop by a favourite hat shop of mine, and end up buying a wool fedora in a light grey (so that it looks less cowgirl) with a simple leather trim, and a larger wide brim fedora in a light straw with a black ribbon. They were very expensive but handmade, and the quality is beyond amazing. $458.17

The Lucy – a Straw Hat with a black ribbon and a very wide brim for the sun. This is so incredibly chic and classic and not a fedora but a sun hat.

The Director – A wool light grey / beige fedora with a brown leather trim.

12:15 p.m. — Love the flowers along the way…

12:40 p.m. — I go crazy shopping. I mean her stuff is gorgeous. I pick up this beautiful purple sari printed dress in a wrap style called Devi (Goddess)…

…..three gemstone rings

….a woven brass plaited cuff..

…..and a necklace.

Very beautiful pieces. Obviously my brain is inspired by Bonnie’s style from Big Little Lies, but I really do love pieces and prints like this anyway. $422.45

1:56 p.m. — I head home. I wanted to be home before three to take Little Bun out later..

3:40 p.m. — STILL SLEEPING? Hmm… I wait for him to wake up.

5:26 p.m. — We decide to take him to the park.

6:05 p.m. — At the park, he plays and loves being there. He runs after the bubbles blown by another boy, and I stupidly forgot his water bottle so we don’t stay long. They play together very nicely….

7:08 p.m. — At home, he gulps down two cups of water. I feel terrible. I should not have forgotten his bottle on such a hot day.

8:20 p.m. — He is playing with his grandmother. He loves her so much.. and is so talkative now.

10:11 p.m. — Time for bed.

Spent: $880.62

DAY SIX

??:?? — I wake up rested. Finally. Still tired, but not sleep deprived and I don’t have a headache.

7:22 a.m. — Little Bun leans into my face and says: I am going to solve problems today with my grandmother.… problems being that the bedroom is dusty and he will crawl under the bed to help her get things out and clean up. LOL….

8:38 a.m. — I have a brunch with a friend today. I am SO into this purple dress I got, I am going to wear it again.. I literally feel like a floaty goddess in it.

8:42 a.m. — I finish my cup of tea, and start slowly cleaning up and getting ready. I have been curling my hair lately with the Dyson Airwrap and getting goddess curls, so practicing is good. I am just not very good at it… or too nervous to burn my hair. One of the rings I bought, also looks like the YSL Arty Ring that retails for a lot more than just $65 CAD.. You can find it used for $250 USD, which means it must have been closer to at least $600 USD at retail:

Sure it doesn’t look exactly like it, but I get the general gist, which I love.

9:10 a.m. — Okay he is driving me mad. I have to get ready and get out, bring a book, drink some tea and relax before my brunch. He is jumping around me, always trying to hold my attention 24/7, whining.. just.. WTF.

9:17 a.m. — Little Bun spends the morning “solving problems” with grandma (read: clean the entire bedroom with the Dyson). It is kind of hilarious because he was waiting all morning for her, and then waiting for grandpa to wake up and then waiting to finish his breakfast of cherries. He is SO EXCITED right now it is hilarious.

10:29 a.m. — My mom does one sweep of the floor and the Dyson is FULL of dust. It also dies because 20 minutes on Max is its .. well, maximum.

10:33 a.m. — My brunch is cancelled. 🙁 .. I want to go out anyway so I get dressed and head out. Isn’t it funny that when we get new stuff it is all we want to wear!? :-p

10:42 a.m. — At the mall now, waiting for doors to open.

11:28 a.m. — I return a pan, a plate, and get a credit back. +$72.58

12:08 p.m. — Time for some Chipotle. I really want it today. $14.95

1:49 p.m. — I go to Kensington market hoping to see more street vendors but it was only on Sunday. Boo. Oh well. I pick up some hair clips and head home. $8.60

2:13 p.m. — Home, I ice my knee and wait for the baby to wake up so we can go out to the park and see some festivities.

2:25 p.m. — Watching Amazon’s series – The Giant Beast that is the Global Economy – very interesting mini series on money from laundering to how really arrogant guys end up being rich because of their arrogance.

4:37 p.m. — I have been texting with my friend all day. Her in-laws are super involved in their lives and it is causing a lot of friction and annoyance. I would not be able to handle that, I’d probably blow up. She is far sweeter and calmer than I am.  She is irate that her husband wants to constantly give in to her MIL and spend time with the family all the time and wants space to have him and her as a couple too, and to do things together.

10:25 p.m. — After dinner, bedtime. Little Bun spent most of the night with his grandparents, playing, reading, piano playing, and just being a grandson.

10:25 p.m. — I start on two books with him and am halfway through the second book when he gets distracted and runs off to his grandfather. I am almost asleep on the couch, so I just head upstairs and he follows.

??:?? — He is awake, waking me up a few times from my REM, SCREAMING. He wants to go and finish the second book. OMFG ARE YOU KIDDING ME. I am so tired right now.

??:?? — Now he wants to talk about how much he hates fruits and vegetables. GO THE EFF TO SLEEP.

??:?? —Now he wants to head out to the last station and ride all the subway lines. I tell him through gritted teeth that Mommy is about to lose her patience and we can do this the Hard way or the Nice way and I’d prefer the Nice way where we can do all these things and talk tomorrow, and sleep now because it must be midnight..

Refunded: $72.58

Spent: $23.55

DAY SEVEN

??:?? — He is grumpy. So am I.

8:00 a.m. — I make some tea even though I shouldn’t because I am going in for my microblading touch-up today. I need it. I really need some tea.

8:28 a.m. — He heads out with his father to buy fruit. I stay back and ‘organize’ (really just take a break).

9:11 a.m. — He is home. I head out for my appointment after convincing him that his grandmother misses him and wants him at home and he cannot come with Mommy to her appointment.

8:28 a.m. — I am on the phone with my friend chatting about her in-law situation.

11:00 a.m. — He’s already down for his nap when I am back. Makes sense, he didn’t sleep much last night with his midnight whining.

12:15 p.m. — I take my mother out to the bank to withdraw money to fix a roof.

1:08 p.m. — Home, after we picked up some fish to fry for dinner. $11.98

1:21 p.m. — I hear Little Bun rumbling upstairs, and I stay quiet downstairs, talking to my mother.

3:41 p.m. — My partner gives him milk, and comes downstairs puzzled. He drank his milk and then flipped back over to sleep. O_o .. It has been almost 5 hours!

4:22 p.m. — He is finally up. And rested. A little grumpy but rested. I feed him some cherries.

4:59 p.m. — I try to feed him vegetable stew but he runs away.

5:24 p.m. — I spend the next half hour sweating and swearing, trying to get a passport photo of Little Bun. We have tried “professionals” but I am sick of all that, he never sits still and is distracted, so I take 500 photos of him sitting in front of a neutral wall, and decide to do the work myself.

5:33 p.m. — Tired and annoyed, but I think I got it. I make his French passport photos which are 35mm x 45mm. I think there is a special hell that all parents have to go through to get their kids passport photos if they wish to travel and have papers from that country.

5:44 p.m. — I feed him a handful of cut cherries.

6:15 p.m. — I feed him his vegetable stew, finally. Then, half a fish and a lot of rice which he wolfs down. My mom is so happy and amazed (she cooked the sea bream)… and then I feed him another handful of cherries. He is now happy, not grumpy and well-fed and well-rested. Let’s hope this lasts.

7:36 p.m. — He is playing with his grandmother on the piano, and hanging out. I am working on the passport photos and measuring to make sure it is perfect.

9:15 p.m. — I feed him again — he loves to eat, another round of cherries, and then hustle him to bed.

Spent: $11.98

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Want more? Read all of my previous Week of Money Diaries.