Most of you know that I've been living with my mom for the past couple of years. I was in an apartment for around four years before that, and decided I was tired of throwing my money away on rent and would live with her for a while to save money and buy a house. Obviously, the saving money part hasn't happened quite as fast as I would have liked it to. About the time I moved out of my apartment I needed another car. I had my Altima (aka Peggy) for ten years and the time had come to put her to rest. Of course, that meant a car payment. While the payment is reasonable, it still takes a chunk out of my paycheck. I pay my mom rent- not because she asked me to but because I want to. Add student loans to that, a storage payment, church contribution, and a few other expenses and it makes for not a whole lot left over. Bottom line- I can't buy a house this very moment, but I'm working really hard to pay off a couple things within the next few months, and then want to get serious about some house shopping!
While I'm sooo excited about the prospect of being a homeowner, I'm quite terrified. I know this is a great time to buy a house and I feel confident I could get a really good deal. I'm just nervous that I not only need to pay off some bills now, but I need to establish a big savings in case something goes wrong once I buy. What if the roof starts leaking? The air conditioner goes out? It's overwhelming to think of all the things you have to be prepared for when living in a place that is your sole responsibility.
I guess the purpose of this post is to pole all you homeowners out there....How prepared can you truly be??? Do I just stop analyzing every moment, bite the bullet, and do it? Should I ever feel 100% prepared? Are my nerves to be expected? I'm S-C-A-R-E-D! I'm doing this on my own. There won't be a supplemental income as of now and it's all up to me.
I know you probably could care less about my currect financial status, but I truly am seeking your advice. I know for sure I won't be seriously looking to buy until at least six or eight months. After that, I guess it depends on what you tell me. No pressure or anything... :)
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Monday, March 09, 2009
Picnik.com
If you haven't heard of this website, let me introduce you to my new "favorite thing." Picnik.com is a FREE online photo editing website. You can edit colors, exposure, crop, add text and frames, etc. If you know me well at all, you know that I almost always have a camera in my hand and love, love, LOVE to take pictures! Therefore, this website has occupied lots of my time in the last couple of days. Here are a few of my latest projects. These are all pictures I've taken that I uploaded to this website and edited.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Diets and Chocolate
I am finally admitting to the blogging world that I am on the diet train. I've spent my entire life (literally) on a diet but lately, I've been convicted to get it together...FO' REAL this time. I'm trying really hard (yes, some times more than others) to eat better and be a more health conscious eater. I've almost totally cut out fried food and try not to drink anything that's not water, diet, or sweetened with Splenda. Other than that, I'm just trying to cut out most snacks and not eat any later than 7:00. I guess I'm admitting this as some sort of accountability between myself and this computer, which happens to be inhabited by a few readers. Since the time I started about six weeks ago, I've lost 9 pounds. That's not a lot, but the positive note is that the slower it comes off the less likely it is to come back. Bottom line- I'm trying. I'm not comitted (yet anyway) to posting how much I lose each week, for fear of public embarrassment. My first step is this. Say a prayer for me and all my fellow dieters out there. It's possibly the hardest thing I've ever tried to do.
Now, having said that.......Typically, I don't crave candy bars or chocolate. I'm more of a salty kind of snacker, like wheat thins or cheeze-its. However, my mom put one of these puppies in my stocking at Christmas and my life hasn't been the same since.
I am not a Goo Goo Cluster fan, but these are PHENOMENAL! I can't begin to describe the taste. It's a mix between chocolate, caramel, toffee chunks, and a Cinnabon cinnamon roll. It's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The good thing is, there's only 4.5 grams of fat, if my memory serves me correctly. If that's not right, it's much lower than a normal candy bar you buy at the store. I've only treated myself once since then, but these things far surpass any other candy bar in my opinion.
So, if you're trying to be good and don't want to eat a whopping 10 or 12 grams of fat worth of chocolate, try one of these! I really think you'll love it! Oh yeah, my mom found it at the DOLLAR TREE! I haven't seen them anywhere else, although I feel sure they're at Wal-Mart or your local grocery store. Enjoy!
Now, having said that.......Typically, I don't crave candy bars or chocolate. I'm more of a salty kind of snacker, like wheat thins or cheeze-its. However, my mom put one of these puppies in my stocking at Christmas and my life hasn't been the same since.
I am not a Goo Goo Cluster fan, but these are PHENOMENAL! I can't begin to describe the taste. It's a mix between chocolate, caramel, toffee chunks, and a Cinnabon cinnamon roll. It's A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! The good thing is, there's only 4.5 grams of fat, if my memory serves me correctly. If that's not right, it's much lower than a normal candy bar you buy at the store. I've only treated myself once since then, but these things far surpass any other candy bar in my opinion.
So, if you're trying to be good and don't want to eat a whopping 10 or 12 grams of fat worth of chocolate, try one of these! I really think you'll love it! Oh yeah, my mom found it at the DOLLAR TREE! I haven't seen them anywhere else, although I feel sure they're at Wal-Mart or your local grocery store. Enjoy!
Monday, February 23, 2009
One GREAT Weekend!
This past weekend was so much fun! I went down to visit Cortney and Trey and had a blast!
Friday night we had dinner at Logan's with Trey's parents, his cousin Jim and his wife Allison, and their little girl Natalie. It was lots of fun and good for me to get to spend more time with Trey's family and get to know them a little better. They're great people and definitely made me laugh a lot!
Saturday morning, Trey and Camron (Martina's husband) went fishing so that left us girls with some time to go out on the town. We picked up Martina and sweet little Colton and headed to Ragtime Cafe to meet Haley and Mary Ella. While Colton and Mary Ella enjoyed their first date, we were able to catch up on important topics such as the Bachelor and coupon clipping. I think the babies definitely hit it off. About 25 years from now, we may be planning a wedding!
We spent the rest of the day shopping. We went in a new favorite store of mine called Ulta. If you haven't visited there, definitely do so. They have every kind of make-up, nail polish, perfume, brush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, etc. I'm telling you, this store is a woman's dream. We also went into an Accessories Plus. It was also really neat. There were necklaces, earrings, rings, wallets, purses, everything, from wall to wall. Cort and Martina had a little bit too much fun, as you can see. I could have spent hours in there! We cooked dinner Saturday night and watched a movie, followed by a fairly early bedtime because we were so exhausted.
Sunday was church, followed by a quick lunch and the most important part of the day...NAPTIME! I left around 4 coming home.
Weekends like these are ones that remind me of how blessed I truly am. Getting to spend time with my family and close friends- that's what makes me happy. I can too easily get caught up in what I don't have or what I wish were different about my life. But to step back for a second and just enjoy the here and now and the many, MANY blessings of my life was very good for me. I needed that.
Friday night we had dinner at Logan's with Trey's parents, his cousin Jim and his wife Allison, and their little girl Natalie. It was lots of fun and good for me to get to spend more time with Trey's family and get to know them a little better. They're great people and definitely made me laugh a lot!
Saturday morning, Trey and Camron (Martina's husband) went fishing so that left us girls with some time to go out on the town. We picked up Martina and sweet little Colton and headed to Ragtime Cafe to meet Haley and Mary Ella. While Colton and Mary Ella enjoyed their first date, we were able to catch up on important topics such as the Bachelor and coupon clipping. I think the babies definitely hit it off. About 25 years from now, we may be planning a wedding!
We spent the rest of the day shopping. We went in a new favorite store of mine called Ulta. If you haven't visited there, definitely do so. They have every kind of make-up, nail polish, perfume, brush, comb, shampoo, conditioner, etc. I'm telling you, this store is a woman's dream. We also went into an Accessories Plus. It was also really neat. There were necklaces, earrings, rings, wallets, purses, everything, from wall to wall. Cort and Martina had a little bit too much fun, as you can see. I could have spent hours in there! We cooked dinner Saturday night and watched a movie, followed by a fairly early bedtime because we were so exhausted.
Sunday was church, followed by a quick lunch and the most important part of the day...NAPTIME! I left around 4 coming home.
Weekends like these are ones that remind me of how blessed I truly am. Getting to spend time with my family and close friends- that's what makes me happy. I can too easily get caught up in what I don't have or what I wish were different about my life. But to step back for a second and just enjoy the here and now and the many, MANY blessings of my life was very good for me. I needed that.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Fourth Graders' Thoughts on Love
In honor of Valentine's Day (bah humbug), I thought I'd survey my 4th graders and ask them what love is. I greatly anticipated reading their responses but I have to admit, I am in total awe of their precious words. I found some quite hilarious, but others are adorable and very insightful. Their thoughts on such a deep topic are so pure, even so mature, and reading them made me appreciate who they are even more.
I'm writing them "as is" and not changing spelling, punctuation, etc. They're so cute and yes, they are ACTUAL answers from my class. Enjoy.
* Love is a feeling you get when you like someone a lot. For example, your mom and dad. They love each other a lot. So they get married. Sometimes people just love each other at first sight, like a lot of those shows and movies.
* Love is when you hug people. Do not hug random people. Love is when you get married and have little kids. Love is when you kiss people. Do not kiss too long. Anyway, love is just what I feel when my dog licks me. I also feel love when my mom or dad get me a new video game. Love to me is sorta gross.
* Love is when your brain decides to do something nice for other people. When you love someone it is sowing kindess to someone else than yourself. If you are pacient kind trustable loveing that is showing true love. You need to do something for someone else it makes you feel good to. When you are hatefull mean selfish that is not love. Love is kindnes.
* Love is when you fell wered inside and when you want to huge someone. You want to get all kissey kissey and you draw hearts all over your locker. Later on you ether get mared or you hate the person allote. Yuo make kissiy faces all the time. You want to kiss all night.
* Love is when you are in a deep relationship with someone. You show your feelings. When you get married that's an excample of love. How you ask? Well they like each other so much you want to be with them the rest of your life. Liking someone is like loving someone except you like them more. Well theres some facts on love. Remember I'm the Love Doctor.
* Love is when you chairish someone. You don't want to let them go. Their like a piece of a puzzle inside you. They are very special to you. When you love somebody you never get tired of them.
* Love is when you hug your grandmother. Love is when you kiss yuor mom. Love is when you help your dad mow the grass. Love is when you give to others. Love is how much God loves you. God loves you more than anything. Jesus had love for people, whether it was a person who had beaten him with rocks and whips. Jesus cares for us.
* Love makes me fill really cufterbal with that person. When you love someone sometimes you don't want them to know that you do. Love is when you love and care for that thing. And when you take good care of it. When you tell someone you love them you are spost to mean it. Sometimes it makes you fill really good and sometimes it is really wird. Sometimes it makes you feel wird inside and sometimes it makes you feel warm and gowe.
* Love is when...Like when I got my dog. It was like love at first sight. For example: when two people get married they love each other so much that it makes them feel funny! That's what you feel when you're in love! You feel funny inside when you love someone so much. You think about your wedding day with that person and the far away future. Love is just part of your emotions.
* Love makes you feel like you've never felt anything like it in your whole life. Love is very romantic. It is like at first sight it is better than a chocolate bar with a cherry on top. Love makes you feel like that's the man/woman you've waited for all your life. Love is the main part of life (after God).
* What love is, is when your heart is like melted butter I guess...
* Love is when two people love each other. You feel good when you are loved by your parents or anybody. When two people love each other they useally go out on a date. The girl is relaxed and excited however, the boy is a nervous reck and can't get himself together. Eventully the boy and the girl start dating regularly. Then, when the two people feel comfortable about it, they get married and have a family. Then they are all happy and the cycle starts all over again.
* Love is when you feel all fuzzy inside. If you love somebody you feel as if you can fly sometimes.
* Love is when you feel good. It's when you are in your happy place where no one can reach you. It's when you don't know what's going on. You love someone with your emotions.
If I say so myself, I was very, VERY impressed!
P.S. As for me, I'm getting as far away from town as I can to celebrate this wretched holiday. Road trip to say, Little Rock? Sounds good. See you when I get back.
I'm writing them "as is" and not changing spelling, punctuation, etc. They're so cute and yes, they are ACTUAL answers from my class. Enjoy.
* Love is a feeling you get when you like someone a lot. For example, your mom and dad. They love each other a lot. So they get married. Sometimes people just love each other at first sight, like a lot of those shows and movies.
* Love is when you hug people. Do not hug random people. Love is when you get married and have little kids. Love is when you kiss people. Do not kiss too long. Anyway, love is just what I feel when my dog licks me. I also feel love when my mom or dad get me a new video game. Love to me is sorta gross.
* Love is when your brain decides to do something nice for other people. When you love someone it is sowing kindess to someone else than yourself. If you are pacient kind trustable loveing that is showing true love. You need to do something for someone else it makes you feel good to. When you are hatefull mean selfish that is not love. Love is kindnes.
* Love is when you fell wered inside and when you want to huge someone. You want to get all kissey kissey and you draw hearts all over your locker. Later on you ether get mared or you hate the person allote. Yuo make kissiy faces all the time. You want to kiss all night.
* Love is when you are in a deep relationship with someone. You show your feelings. When you get married that's an excample of love. How you ask? Well they like each other so much you want to be with them the rest of your life. Liking someone is like loving someone except you like them more. Well theres some facts on love. Remember I'm the Love Doctor.
* Love is when you chairish someone. You don't want to let them go. Their like a piece of a puzzle inside you. They are very special to you. When you love somebody you never get tired of them.
* Love is when you hug your grandmother. Love is when you kiss yuor mom. Love is when you help your dad mow the grass. Love is when you give to others. Love is how much God loves you. God loves you more than anything. Jesus had love for people, whether it was a person who had beaten him with rocks and whips. Jesus cares for us.
* Love makes me fill really cufterbal with that person. When you love someone sometimes you don't want them to know that you do. Love is when you love and care for that thing. And when you take good care of it. When you tell someone you love them you are spost to mean it. Sometimes it makes you fill really good and sometimes it is really wird. Sometimes it makes you feel wird inside and sometimes it makes you feel warm and gowe.
* Love is when...Like when I got my dog. It was like love at first sight. For example: when two people get married they love each other so much that it makes them feel funny! That's what you feel when you're in love! You feel funny inside when you love someone so much. You think about your wedding day with that person and the far away future. Love is just part of your emotions.
* Love makes you feel like you've never felt anything like it in your whole life. Love is very romantic. It is like at first sight it is better than a chocolate bar with a cherry on top. Love makes you feel like that's the man/woman you've waited for all your life. Love is the main part of life (after God).
* What love is, is when your heart is like melted butter I guess...
* Love is when two people love each other. You feel good when you are loved by your parents or anybody. When two people love each other they useally go out on a date. The girl is relaxed and excited however, the boy is a nervous reck and can't get himself together. Eventully the boy and the girl start dating regularly. Then, when the two people feel comfortable about it, they get married and have a family. Then they are all happy and the cycle starts all over again.
* Love is when you feel all fuzzy inside. If you love somebody you feel as if you can fly sometimes.
* Love is when you feel good. It's when you are in your happy place where no one can reach you. It's when you don't know what's going on. You love someone with your emotions.
If I say so myself, I was very, VERY impressed!
P.S. As for me, I'm getting as far away from town as I can to celebrate this wretched holiday. Road trip to say, Little Rock? Sounds good. See you when I get back.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
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