1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on credit card payments. Poop. Not the most exciting, especially when it's combined with bad news from the bank. Why the world is determined to keep me beat down is beyond me, but I shall persevere!

2. Today I am thankful for my friends and my upcoming vacation. Even with the bad stuff I know Dragon*Con is there to keep me cheered up!

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was make dinner for a friend visiting from New York. Spaghetti might not be glamorous but it really hit the spot.

4. I will consider this week a success if I can manage to go to bed before 11pm.

5. The last thing I won was a was a set of three books from Michelle's Book Blog. It was a wonderfully random surprise and the books themselves didn't suck either, lol.

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Weekly Money Check-Up is a weekly series on My Pretty Pennies.

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was rent and food. BUT I have an appointment on Wednesday that I hope will mean some positive things for my financial future. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

2. Today I am thankful for things finally going as planned! On Sunday I managed to successfully send two kids off to summer camp for two weeks. THANK GOODNESS.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was paint my Power Ranger helmet for Dragon*Con. I can't wait to get everything finished!

4. I will consider this week a success if I finish my helmet headband and go to yoga on Wednesday.

5. I am trying to incorporate more vegetables in my diet. I'm just lazy and hate veering off and trying anything new. But I did end up having a turkey burger for dinner on Friday night - super yummy!

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Weekly Money Check-Up is a weekly series on My Pretty Pennies.

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on home goods. A friend and I went to Potomac Mills and a store there was going out of business. The deals were literally more than I could handle and I ended up happily spending $120.

2. Today I am thankful for good books, good friends, and an apartment I'm really coming to love. Moving might not have been my first choice but it's really starting to feel like 'me' and that's been a lot of fun.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was start organizing my closet. My linen 'shelves' and the stuff they contain are now hidden by cute purple nylon bins.

4. I will consider this week a success if I manage to hang the short curtain across the top of my closet! I'm having height issues that I'm not totally sure how to overcome yet.

5. This summer has been so hot. SO HOT. I know it's a broken record with me and the rest of the world chiming it, but I really hate it. I can't wear anything without feeling like death the moment I step outside and I'm sick of sweating!

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Weekly Money Check-Up is a weekly series on My Pretty Pennies.

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was $100 at Ikea to organize my life - Hautelook didn't end up working out but this is definitely a start! My linen shelves/closet/whatever you want to call it is now organized with pretty purple bins and I have a curtain to put up over the top of my closet this weekend. There were a few other things I picked up too :).

2. Today I am thankful for good friends and Star Trek: TNG events.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was drop off clothes at Goodwill - I got to give back and get more floor space.

4. I will consider this week a success if I manage to fill an empty spot the organization I volunteer with currently has for a camp scholarship.

5. I am most looking forward to the ????? in the Olympics. Lame I know but I really haven't been paying attention. It's not a public statement, I just rarely watch any of  the sports. Maybe gymnastics? Even that I couldn't say with certainty....

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Weekly Money Check-Up is a weekly series on My Pretty Pennies.

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on crafting supplies for my Dragon*Con costume. Which would make me extra happy except I just realized that I bought more paint than I needed and it's so expensive to metro out to Rockville that I don't know if I'll ever take it back.

2. Today I am thankful for my health. I thought about this later in the day after posting my last weekly check up, but I am truly thankful to be able to walk around and do what I want to.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was spend Sunday dying a friend's hair. That counts right, since she spent the money on dye, lol?

4. I will consider this week a success if I make significant headway on my Dragon*Con costume - I will not be denied!(And do yoga twice - I've been slacking!)

5. One recipe I want to try soon is ...hmmm I don't know. The only one lately that I wanted to try was chicken katsu and I managed to pull that off. I like to look at dessert options on Recipe Girl but I haven't settled on any one specifically.

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Weekly Money Check-Up is a weekly series on My Pretty Pennies.

1. The most I’ve spent this last week was on rent and bills - though my quick weekend trip to NY did my budget no good.

2. Today I am thankful for good books. I picked up a few ebooks for the bus ride and then a used one at The Strand and I love knowing I have something great to read at hand.

3. Money can’t buy happiness. One free thing I did last week that made me happy was walk down to the National Mall to watch the fireworks on 4th of July! I didn't bother last year but I have to admit those 20min were pretty amazing.

4. I will consider this week a success if I manage to pick up the books I have hold at the library. I had to get them transferred when I picked the wrong library to begin with and I want them!

5. This week I am looking forward to being home! Sometimes I forget how much I like my couch and my bed, my bookshelves and my stuff. They're pretty awesome :).

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Weekly Money Check-Up is a weekly series on My Pretty Pennies.