We took a trip to see family in Joshua Tree, California. We found 70 CENTS. Our total is now $12.06. We are selling some things today so hopefully we will make it past step 12. More on that to come...

We're not superstitious about many things. We've both stepped on cracks and our mother's backs have been just fine, our black cat brings us more happiness than bad luck, and we own a few ladders that we've walked under from time to time and we're still alive to tell you about it. We're doing ok even though our life should be in shambles. However, there are some ideas out there that start out sounding pretty weird on the surface, but in principle they actually work; the Law of Attraction is one of them.

What is the Law of Attraction? In essence, what you think about will start to gravitate towards you. It started as a New Age concept and some people have taken it to a weird level. They open their AT&T bill hoping to see a credit instead of a bill. Their expectation is that their thoughts will dictate what they actually see. To us, that's just silly on many different levels. However, in some cases the Law of Attraction does actually work. This project is an example of that.

We are extremely excited to do this project and we hope it shows. We wake up thinking about it, go throughout the day talking about it, and end the night writing about it. It's fun, challenging, and rewarding. Many people around us have been inspired to do the same thing while others have encouraged us in our endeavor. We never expected to get this kind of buzz going this quickly. But, we did believe it would happen at some point. What we have thought about regarding this project is actually coming to fruition. But why? Why is it belief attracting the results we expect? Because belief influences attitude.

We go through the day believing we will accomplish great things and that makes our attitude positive. We're happy and energetic. We talk about it with enthusiasm and cannot wait to share our success with others. We high-five each other over finding our first nickel on the ground and giving away a single CENT. Imagine if our believe was that of a defeatist, always saying it is going to be a tough road and we only hope we can do it. What would our attitude be like? Probably pretty boring if you ask us. There would be no pride in what we're doing and no excitement. This positive attitude feeds directly into our behavior.   ImafasdfasdfasdfImadfsd

A positive attitude begets positive behavior. We set goals for each step and focus solely on that step. We advertise this website to everyone we know. We tell everyone about the progress we've made. We think outside of the box and do things most people wouldn't, and you know what? It's starting to pay off. We went through 8 steps in one day and somehow we were able to make it though three more in six days. We're getting habits put into place that will be the foundation for further steps.

Our belief controls our attitude and that controls our behavior. All of that works together to attract our success, and our success starts with other people. We cannot do this without involving others. People are the most important part of success and we believe the more people we involve the more success we will have. People want to gravitate towards something compelling and they want to be a part of it. Whether it is following and commenting on a blog post, sharing our website to their friends, or contributing to our CENTS, people are attracted to what we have started. It is our hope the attraction is a positive change in their life as well.
 
We knew at some point we were going to have to see if we could gather support from Ian's co-workers. In the past, Ian would have just gone up to someone and asked to do a money exchange (Ian trades $0.25 for $0.50 from David). This has worked the first few times Ian stared the project but only up to a dollar. This time was different though. Ian didn't ask anyone for money at his workplace; he hadn't even eluded to it. Instead he went to work talking about what we are doing and why we are doing it. Guess what has happened? People started to contribute to the project freely on their own good will. We are very humbled and grateful for their support. The Law of Attraction works and this is proof of that. A week ago we said we wanted to complete Step 11 in 7 days and we did it! It's because the law of attraction controls our attitudes and it has rubbed off on those around us. Today, Ian showed up and on his desk was $5.00 from someone at his work with the note: JJ's Contribution :) We are very grateful to Jeff for his support. This $5 has put us over the top for step 11.

Ian was meeting a friend to see a movie at the Palladium today. They got there early to get a drink before the movie but Ian had to make a quick run by the arcade first. His friend, Matthew, just laughed as Ian methodically searched every coin return and the floor of the premises. Tuesday night at a movie theater/bowling ally/arcade/bar is very slow and, as expected, the coin returns were proving worthless. However, in the corner away from all the other games was a Pacman Battle Royale game that Ian was zeroing in on. When he got there, Ian assaulted the coin return just as he was explaining to his friend about how ridiculous this whole thing was when he puled out a shiny quarter...from the Caiman Islands? What? That was a let down. On the way to the bar Ian and Mathew were talking about what the currency exchange is for this coin and how much lower than $0.25 US it was.  Ian was trying to figure out how to make it turn into US currency because at this point in the project every penny counts. What do you think? How well does the Carmen Island dollar fare to the US? Is it 2 Caiman for every 1 US? 3 or 4? Nope, that night it was 1.22 US for every 1 Caiman. That means the 25 cent coin was worth 30.5 cents US. Wow! What a return! 

It was really good (duh were not going to tell you to see a lame movie). For being  about 2 hours long, it didn't fell like it. You see, its not a action flick, or a romance, or cliche, or super comedic. It was just a good movie bases on an historical even about a real person. It's about the guy who solved the Enigma Device the Nazis were using to encrypt their messages during WWII. It was critical to the war effort to get this code cracked. Sometimes history is the best author and this movie proves it.  It will be in our collection once it is for sale. There is really not much more to say because we're not movie critics so we'll stop there. Anyway were still on Step 11 with $6.36 with only $3.64 to go. Wish us luck. 

Bridgeway Software employs some of the best people in Houston, TX. Ian went to work and was very excited to tell people about the 100 Million Cents Project. He was met with a lot of questions and support. Two people approached him and wanted to give CENTS to the project. Kelsey (on the right) found a penny on the ground and handed it to Ian. Not wanting to be outdone, Chelsey (on the left) pulled out a dollar from her purse and gave that. We're very grateful to the both of them. Thanks girls! 

Our total for Step 11 is $6.01. Only $3.99 to go.  

Ian had one of his best friends come over to our house tonight, Chris Shay. As Ian was updating Chris on our project, without even asking, Chris proceeded to pull out his wallet and said, "I've got $5", then handed it over.  Naturally, he wanted us to trade up. He got 250 dirty CENTS we found on the ground in malls and gas stations while we got a crisp-ish $5 bill. It just did not seem fair. 

Chris claimed that since he would be along for the ride, and would see our ups and downs in the project, he figured there would be less at stake to trade when the amount of money is low. He was trying to convince us that he is now entitled to 1/28 of our earnings when the project is over. We figured that would be a total of $45,714.29, should we agree to it? 

This doubling has given us the opportunity to give one CENT! YAY! 

Now our plan is to get a few free items and sell them. We will do this for as long as we can while we figure out what to do in terms of buying low and selling high. Actually spending our CENTS seems like a big hurdle right now. Do we find antiques or do something crafty? If we buy something low like an old fan, how do we ensure we make our money back? Guess it is time for us to grow a little more. 

Back to Katy Mills Mall tonight to scour coin returns and floors for change. Only .89 short of Step 10 when we walked in. While getting some great exercise in too, we proceeded to find change throughout the entire mall's walkways and our first nickel to date in a coin return. Not only did we find money, but we also found two kids' sweatshirts and a high schooler's wallet, which prompted us to take an extra detour to security. 

It was getting close to Nehemiah's bedtime, and we were still 31 CENTS short of our goal but we decided it was time to leave the mall. 

Upon leaving, the mall door slid open to the chilly outdoors, and we were greeted by a lovely cloud of cigarette smoke. Six young men were hanging out puffing their cigarettes and unbeknownst to Karina, Ian had decided to give a go at asking someone unknown for change. We think it is awkward asking strangers for money. We don't need the money and we are working off a self imposed timeline so asking strangers for change felt kind of ridiculous. However, Ian's rational was simple; if we cannot ask strangers for $0.50 now then what makes us think we can ask them to buy something that costs more later on? This was one of those times where the steps and principles of the project worked together to make us grow. 

"Do any of you happen to have like 50 CENTS?" Ian asked boldly. He was met with awkward pauses and blank looks all around.

"I have a dollar," replied one guy. 

"Cool, that would really help us out." Ian answered. 

He pulled out his wallet and handed us the dollar. We thanked him, and as we were grasping for the dollar bill, one of the other guys proceeds to comment, not so under his breath, "That's weird; white people asking for money..."

We could barely walk away without laughing. Little did they know the one who gave us a dollar also gave us an opportunity to give to others. After all, he gave us more than we asked for. Even though it's only 69 CENTS, we are still sticking to our Giving Principle (3) and will give away any extra money we make beyond the step goal. So, on only the third day in to this project, step 9 is complete! 

Our theme song is about freedom and how everyone must do their part, and that part costs something: a buck o' five. That happens to be the same amount we needed to complete step 9 ($1.28 - $2.50). Here is the official music video. 

It's a little disappointing but we will get over it. Finding 16 CENTS on the ground is still good considering the mall we went to was quite a bit smaller than the one last night and cleaner too. Right now we're sitting at $1.61 and tomorrow is another day.  

This project started at 12:01am New Year's Day as we clinked glasses with friends. It was hard for us not to start sooner because we really were excited to get going. Sleeping was a tossing and turning event that was a mere formality in order to get to morning. Yes, we are that excited. 

The morning starts like any other; Nehemiah (our 1.5 year old son) wakes up and hangs out in our room while we get ready for the day. Then, downstairs for breakfast. Ian is busy getting our website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter feed up and running while Karina takes care of the family food situation. After we're all ready for the day it's time to hit the road for some penny searching.  The first place we go is Fry's Electronics because Ian has some things he's looking to get. 

On the way over, we ask each other what year our first penny will be, Ian says 1994 and Karina says 2011. We arrive at Fry's and immediately start scouring the parking lot on our way into the store for anything round and shiny. Nothing is out there, so inside we go. Once in the store we look at a few items Ian is interested in, moving from aisle to aisle with our eyes focused on the ground.  No penny found. We do however see a mouse trap behind a line of refrigerators: pretty gross. Unsuccessful, we leave the store and take a very roundabout way to the car. Ian is kicking over piles of leaves and trash that collected in the corners of the parking lot. Still, nothing. 

That is the question we ask each other as we leave the parking lot. We figure anywhere physical money is routinely used, pennies would be dropped. The problem is that the list of places is getting smaller as we move to a more cashless society. We come up with gas stations, malls, and drug cartels (they only deal with cash, right?). Because drug cartels are not a safe place to bring a small child, and we need gas if we are to make it to the mall, to the gas station it is. 

We pull up, Ian gets out and starts to pump the gas, then takes a stroll throughout the premises. Nothing by the pumps and nada is by the door, so he heads to the coin-operated air pump. While looking around, he finds a deep crack in the cement with two quarters lodged in! 

Ian runs back to the car, drives it back to the air pump, jumps out, and starts to work at the quarters in the crack. Using two pens, Karina's coffee straw, and a very small multi-tool he moves one quarter around and starts to lift it out. Karina tries to catch it, but it slips down. If we get these two, we would be propelled to Step 7. Ian tries a second time and it falls a second time, then a third, and fourth time. Eventually, the quarter gets lost further in the crack, and then it's lost forever. We're frustrated, but sitting on top of the air pump we are hunched next to is redemption! There lies a dull, dark, and unremarkable penny! 

We did it! It's from 1990 proving that neither of us have clairvoyance in predicting the dates of coins we find randomly. We pick it up, snap a few pictures of our success and head home. 

On the way home, we decide to grab a quick bite to eat while Nehemiah sleeps in the car. Neither of us have had Burger King in years, so we hit up the drive-thru. It didn't occur to us at first, but drive-thrus are the perfect place to find coins. People pay with cash and change is given so the dollars are handed to the customer first and the coins second. That leads to coins falling to the ground, never being picked up as the customer is in their car. 

We order our food and drive up to the window to pay when Ian starts looking at the ground. He finds one in another crack! Burger King is slow so we get our food and park in the parking lot. As soon as the BMW in line behind us pulls away, Ian runs back to get that penny on foot. Along the way he finds 5 more! We gain a total of 6 pennies in just a few seconds of looking! Our total is now at $0.07. Time to drive home until we go out later that night. 

After dinner we go to Katy Mills Mall. First stop is another tire pump at a gas station where we find a penny. We pull into the mall right as the stores close, but the mall itself is still open for another hour. It's time to scour the mall. Here is how we did:

We know that the night will not be over until step 8 ($0.64 - $1.28) is complete. We decide to go to our local mega entertainment complex where they have movies, bowling, food, drinks, and arcade games. Karina stays in the car while Ian goes to find at least eight cents. 

Entering the Palladium is always a mad house. People are leaving as you enter just to be greeted with long lines of people choosing movies. Ian pushes through everyone and heads directly to the arcade. The third place he looks, he sees a quarter between two shooter style games. People were playing on each one. He just hangs around, looking awkward, and waits for one of them to leave so he can squeeze between the two games and get his reward. The problem is no one playing is leaving; instead they decide to add more dollars to the game. Not caring at this point, Ian just asks the two people to kindly move so he could get the quarter. Who cares about the weird look at this point? Step 8 is complete and the day is over! 

We're now officially on step 9 with $1.45. Only $1.05 left until it's completed. It was a good first day. We had a lot of fun on our hunt. 

Welcome to Launch Day! We are so excited to embark on our project, 100 Million Cents today! Since we decided to go ahead with this project shortly before Christmas 2014, we have been so eager to start the hunt for our first penny. Our plan: parking lots, parks, the floor around ATMs... you name it we'll be keeping our eyes peeled. 

You know how when you first buy a red car and then you start noticing all the red cars that look just like your's on the road, yet you didn't ever notice them before? How many people actually notice loose change just lying on the ground? We would venture to guess that most people would just walk on by a few coins even if they did notice it. Now that we're searching, we have a feeling we will stumble upon much more than just one cent. 

So it begins...