I have a lot going on right now. I'm working two jobs, which take up most of my time, but I have other things I need/want to get done. I'm still trying to finish my personal training certification (I know, I know) and I really need to get back to working out. Plus, I have a list of things I just want to do and of course I want to do them now, while I have no time.
1. Learn to actually use my camera for everything it can do, and maybe take a class.
2. Learn CSS and maybe Perl. I can use Dreamweaver a little, but I'd like to learn more.
3. Blog more. I'd like to actually get to the point where people read this. Do people read this?
4. Hoist this freelance career off the ground.
5. Oh and I bought this month pass to a rock gym (a groupon or livingsocial deal, I forget) so I need to fit that in somewhere.
6. Meditate. This kind of includes cleaning out my back room to make a space for yoga and meditation (there are definitely still wedding gifts back there and out two year anniversary is in a few weeks).
So, I figure to get all these things done and stay sane, I need a schedule. I'm not too keen on having my life totally scheduled out, but I don't see any other way. And I'm pretty sure a schedule is the only way I'll be sure to sleep. Last week, I was up past midnight every night and that can only last so long.
First, I'm going to have to start preparing for the weeks on the weekends. Meal plan and grocery shop (the slow cooker is going to become my new best friend), maybe I should even start planning my outfits for the week (have I ever mentioned I am not a morning person and pretty slow moving in the AM?). In spite of this, I think I might have to go back to AM workouts.
Okay, let's write this out.
5:50 am - wakeup
6:00 am - get on the spin bike and spin, spin, spin!
6:45 am -shower
7:00 am - dress, eat breakfast or make it to go
7:30 am - leave for work
8:00 am to 5 pm - work job 1
5:30 pm - stop at Starbucks on the way home to get other work done and avoid some traffic
7:30 pm - drive home
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm - more work and dinner
10:00 pm to 11 pm - write or study
Ok, so that's a pretty full schedule and really not that exciting. Maybe I should work more on the weekends to free up some time in the week? Ugh. I'll be happy when I'm only working one job again. I'm aiming to work 40 hrs. at job 1 (because I have to) and 20 hrs. at job 2. That's 4 hours M-F or maybe I can do 4 hours Saturday and Sunday and 2 to 3 hours during the week? That sounds like a better plan. Ha, I've lost it. I need to add about 5 more hours to each day! On that note, I'm going to bed.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Writing
Recently, I've gotten this urge to really put my all into making writing my career. It's always been my goal as a career, but it's also always been on the back burner of my life for the most part. But, something shifted, and I've decided I'm only going to do things to move toward that goal. I went to a writing workshop at my local library the other day and the author teaching the class was the same age as me and this really just made me feel like a loser, but it also made me realize I need to get it together and write. It's like I'm trying to get someone to buy a painting I haven't painted yet, as my boss put it the other day. And when you put it that way, it sounds ridiculous!
Today, I read this post on Orangette and it's exactly how I've felt through the years. I don't have this urge to write all the time (probably that would change the more I wrote) so sometimes I wonder if I should just let it go and do something else with my life, but then I remember that when I am writing, I'm feeling the most challenged and happy. When I went on my interview a few years ago for a freelance position at a paper (that is now defunct) it was the best interview I ever had because I was interested in what we were talking about and I knew what I was saying! For the most part, I've always taken jobs to pay the bills and except for that freelance job, they've been boring and meaningless to me and quite honestly, they've made me feel crappy on a regular basis. That's not how I'm looking to spend my life. Which is why I'm now only taking steps towards the life I want. That doesn't mean I can just quit my job tomorrow, but it does mean I can start laying the ground work to eventually write full-time and that's exactly what I'm doing!
Of course, there's quite a list of other things I'd like to be doing along with writing, but I'll get to that in another post!
Today, I read this post on Orangette and it's exactly how I've felt through the years. I don't have this urge to write all the time (probably that would change the more I wrote) so sometimes I wonder if I should just let it go and do something else with my life, but then I remember that when I am writing, I'm feeling the most challenged and happy. When I went on my interview a few years ago for a freelance position at a paper (that is now defunct) it was the best interview I ever had because I was interested in what we were talking about and I knew what I was saying! For the most part, I've always taken jobs to pay the bills and except for that freelance job, they've been boring and meaningless to me and quite honestly, they've made me feel crappy on a regular basis. That's not how I'm looking to spend my life. Which is why I'm now only taking steps towards the life I want. That doesn't mean I can just quit my job tomorrow, but it does mean I can start laying the ground work to eventually write full-time and that's exactly what I'm doing!
Of course, there's quite a list of other things I'd like to be doing along with writing, but I'll get to that in another post!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All book review
Since we've gotten rid of cable (I think we're breaking down and getting some sort of digital convertor soon) I've been trying to read more. I currently have about 10 books from the library and 15 samples on my Ipad. I just finished reading Russell Simmons' Super Rich: A Guide to Having it All and really liked it. I read his first book Do You!: 12 Laws to Access the Power in You to Achieve Happiness and Success a few years ago and found it to be very helpful. It helped me get my first paying freelance writing job! So of course, I had to read his second book. I was a little caught off guard with what the fact that it was mostly about meditation and yoga, but these are two things I've been wanting to get into. I did yoga years ago, but stopped and I've always been curious about meditation. For some reason, I found myself in tears for a lot of the book (hormones? who knows) but there were also some funny, refreshing parts with the way Russell explains things. The book really drove home the idea that you should work on being a giving person and not worry so much about what your getting. That once you don't dwell on the material things, you'll have everything you need. Russell also speaks about Transcendental Meditation which is something I remember hearing Howard Stern talk about.
I looked into a place in NYC to learn it back when I heard it from Howard Stern (the same place Russell apparently went to) but it's not cheap to learn ($1500 I believe), luckily Russell offers some tips in his book. I decided to give it a try for the first time today and unfortunately, I fell asleep. But, before I fell asleep I did feel like things got very quiet around me as I was humming in my head. I'm not really sure what's supposed to happen with meditation though, so this might have meant nothing. I'm going to keep doing it though. I'm sure I can get better.
The other things that Russell talks a lot about in the book is yoga. As I mentioned, I did yoga a few years ago. I loved my instructor, but I wasn't so great at the yoga. I'm not a very flexible person, so yoga kinda just stresses me out with all the things I can't do. I also have a metal rod in my big toe, making things like Downward Dog not very comfortable. (Though Russell mentions a woman he met at yoga who did the entire class on her knees because is missing one of her legs, so things could be worse.) Anyway, my instructor, Paris, was very good about modifying things to help me and he even did some Thai stretching with me sometimes at the end of class. He seemed very interested in helping me get better. And as the weeks went on, I did get better. But then I moved and just sort of stopped going. A few years later (he'd since closed his studio) I found him subbing at another studio and so we started again, but it didn't last long and now I'm trying to find him again. I would love to get started and this time stick to it, just to see what I can do. The last time I took a yoga class was at my gym and I was hating it the whole time. I've definitely gotten worse in the time that's passed. I'm hoping to find Paris, but either way I do plan to start yoga again. We have a spare room that currently houses junk and I'll be turning that into a yoga/meditation/relaxation room. The idea of becoming a calmer, clearer, more flexible person really appeals to me.
The book also talks about the idea that you can change your life, that it's like a Subway car, if you were going the wrong way, you wouldn't just keep going, you'd get off, cross to the other car and start going in the right direction. This has really opened my eyes and and me realize that I can change my life if I want to! I recently have been looking for more freelancing work as well as other job opportunities because I'm just not happy at my current job and the other day a temp agency called me for an admin assistant/office manager job that pays more than what I make now, but still has nothing to do with what I want to do. I almost went on the interview, but that's exactly what I've always done, taken the first job to come along even though it's rarely been something I've wanted to do. I decided to give myself a chance to find something better. Taking that job wouldn't have put me any closer to where I want to be in life. I read a quote recently that said something about how if it's not moving you closer to your goals, it's pushing you farther away. And that's the truth. So, it's about time I started moving closer. And Super Rich helped me to see that even better!
I looked into a place in NYC to learn it back when I heard it from Howard Stern (the same place Russell apparently went to) but it's not cheap to learn ($1500 I believe), luckily Russell offers some tips in his book. I decided to give it a try for the first time today and unfortunately, I fell asleep. But, before I fell asleep I did feel like things got very quiet around me as I was humming in my head. I'm not really sure what's supposed to happen with meditation though, so this might have meant nothing. I'm going to keep doing it though. I'm sure I can get better.
The other things that Russell talks a lot about in the book is yoga. As I mentioned, I did yoga a few years ago. I loved my instructor, but I wasn't so great at the yoga. I'm not a very flexible person, so yoga kinda just stresses me out with all the things I can't do. I also have a metal rod in my big toe, making things like Downward Dog not very comfortable. (Though Russell mentions a woman he met at yoga who did the entire class on her knees because is missing one of her legs, so things could be worse.) Anyway, my instructor, Paris, was very good about modifying things to help me and he even did some Thai stretching with me sometimes at the end of class. He seemed very interested in helping me get better. And as the weeks went on, I did get better. But then I moved and just sort of stopped going. A few years later (he'd since closed his studio) I found him subbing at another studio and so we started again, but it didn't last long and now I'm trying to find him again. I would love to get started and this time stick to it, just to see what I can do. The last time I took a yoga class was at my gym and I was hating it the whole time. I've definitely gotten worse in the time that's passed. I'm hoping to find Paris, but either way I do plan to start yoga again. We have a spare room that currently houses junk and I'll be turning that into a yoga/meditation/relaxation room. The idea of becoming a calmer, clearer, more flexible person really appeals to me.
The book also talks about the idea that you can change your life, that it's like a Subway car, if you were going the wrong way, you wouldn't just keep going, you'd get off, cross to the other car and start going in the right direction. This has really opened my eyes and and me realize that I can change my life if I want to! I recently have been looking for more freelancing work as well as other job opportunities because I'm just not happy at my current job and the other day a temp agency called me for an admin assistant/office manager job that pays more than what I make now, but still has nothing to do with what I want to do. I almost went on the interview, but that's exactly what I've always done, taken the first job to come along even though it's rarely been something I've wanted to do. I decided to give myself a chance to find something better. Taking that job wouldn't have put me any closer to where I want to be in life. I read a quote recently that said something about how if it's not moving you closer to your goals, it's pushing you farther away. And that's the truth. So, it's about time I started moving closer. And Super Rich helped me to see that even better!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Babies
A friend of mine had a little baby boy the other day and I got to meet him for the first time today. He might just be the cutest newborn I've seen to date. It's possible this has something to do with his full head of dark hair, I have a thing for babies with lots of hair. In fact, I'll pretty bummed if my own baby doesn't come out with a full head of hair! I was born with red hair and it fell out and grew back in white blonde. I'm not sure about my husband, I should ask his dad. But, based on the fact that we both have thick hair now, I'm willing to bet our baby will have hair from the womb! We both think it will be red because I was born with red hair and he has a reddish beard (but dark brown hair) and also my dad has red hair (not sure if that matters).
Getting to meet RJ today, hold his tiny little body and have him look at me with his big eyes, just reiterated my desire for my own baby soon. I mean, really, it can't be soon enough! Not to mention I also found out today that the new hospital delivers food to the patients like room service and it can be ordered from like 7 am until midnight! I'm not gonna lie, that sort of thing totally appeals to me! Ha.
I've always wanted to have a baby (or 2) even before I was sure I wanted to get married. In fact, I used to see my future with a baby, but never a husband. Now, I'm happy to say I have a wonderful husband who will make a great father and I can't wait until that happens! The idea of teaching a little baby how to be a good person really appeals to me. It's pretty much the main appeal, but the fact that babies are so cute doesn't hurt either!
Getting to meet RJ today, hold his tiny little body and have him look at me with his big eyes, just reiterated my desire for my own baby soon. I mean, really, it can't be soon enough! Not to mention I also found out today that the new hospital delivers food to the patients like room service and it can be ordered from like 7 am until midnight! I'm not gonna lie, that sort of thing totally appeals to me! Ha.
I've always wanted to have a baby (or 2) even before I was sure I wanted to get married. In fact, I used to see my future with a baby, but never a husband. Now, I'm happy to say I have a wonderful husband who will make a great father and I can't wait until that happens! The idea of teaching a little baby how to be a good person really appeals to me. It's pretty much the main appeal, but the fact that babies are so cute doesn't hurt either!
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Finances
Okay, I admit it, I'm bad with money. I'm not awful, but I could certainly do better. And recently, my husband has been working less overtime and we're starting to feel it. So, I thought it would be a good time to start cutting back on our Whole Foods visits, cutting coupons and packing lunches (Brown Bag Challenge anyone?). We also got rid of cable tv and our house phone. We have cell phones, Apple tv, and Netflix, so we should be fine. We watch too much tv anyway.
I've definitely never had money to burn, even growing up and I just don't want to spend my life broke and in debt. So, before it gets too out of hand, I want to get rid of the debt and stop living paycheck to paycheck (living off credit cards in college, may not have been the best idea), I long for the day when I have one credit card that I never carry a balance on! I applied for the Citi Simplicity card to transfer all my balances to a 0% interest for 21 months. Citi card was my first ever credit card, I applied for it on campus just to get the free t-shirt for my now husband, BIG MISTAKE! If only I knew then, what I know now. But, I was hoping since I've been a customer of theirs for so long and I always pay my card on time, they'll approve me for this new card. We'll see. It would definitely help me get my finances in order.
In the meantime, I also got a second job to help get back on track quicker. It actually sounds pretty good and I'll be doing some writing and editing, as well as editing video. Which I've never really done but am excited to learn.
I realize that at my age and with the idea of starting a family on the horizon, it's time get things under control!
I was inspired by this blog post as well. And I even put The Total Money Makeover on hold at the library. We are also in the process of switching to an ING electric orange checking account. I've actually had the savings and checking accounts for years, but I never used the checking account. So, I ordered a new card with my new last name and added my husband to my account. There are no fees, unlike our current bank that charges us to use our debit card and take our money out of the bank and the overdraft charge is substantially lower than the other banks. When you're not rolling in it, sometimes you overdraft your account and most banks like to just kill you with fees if that happens. Basically, banks steal from the poor. It's no secret. For now, my ING account still needs to be linked to a regular checking account to deposit checks, but I'm hoping they figure out a way around that very soon because quite frankly, I hate my bank. And when I do finally start making some real money, I'll be sticking with the bank that didn't try to steal from me when I was broke!
I've definitely never had money to burn, even growing up and I just don't want to spend my life broke and in debt. So, before it gets too out of hand, I want to get rid of the debt and stop living paycheck to paycheck (living off credit cards in college, may not have been the best idea), I long for the day when I have one credit card that I never carry a balance on! I applied for the Citi Simplicity card to transfer all my balances to a 0% interest for 21 months. Citi card was my first ever credit card, I applied for it on campus just to get the free t-shirt for my now husband, BIG MISTAKE! If only I knew then, what I know now. But, I was hoping since I've been a customer of theirs for so long and I always pay my card on time, they'll approve me for this new card. We'll see. It would definitely help me get my finances in order.
In the meantime, I also got a second job to help get back on track quicker. It actually sounds pretty good and I'll be doing some writing and editing, as well as editing video. Which I've never really done but am excited to learn.
I realize that at my age and with the idea of starting a family on the horizon, it's time get things under control!
I was inspired by this blog post as well. And I even put The Total Money Makeover on hold at the library. We are also in the process of switching to an ING electric orange checking account. I've actually had the savings and checking accounts for years, but I never used the checking account. So, I ordered a new card with my new last name and added my husband to my account. There are no fees, unlike our current bank that charges us to use our debit card and take our money out of the bank and the overdraft charge is substantially lower than the other banks. When you're not rolling in it, sometimes you overdraft your account and most banks like to just kill you with fees if that happens. Basically, banks steal from the poor. It's no secret. For now, my ING account still needs to be linked to a regular checking account to deposit checks, but I'm hoping they figure out a way around that very soon because quite frankly, I hate my bank. And when I do finally start making some real money, I'll be sticking with the bank that didn't try to steal from me when I was broke!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Brown Bag Challenge- Day 1
On the way home from vacation, I was perusing Twitter and I came across the Brown Bag Challenge. I have a tendency to eat out for lunch pretty often and it's not always the healthiest (Chick Fil a nuggets may be real chicken, but they're still deep fried!), plus it starts to add up in cost after awhile. Even if I only spend $5 a day that's $25 a week and let's be honest, it's usually more than $5 a day! So, I figured this would be the perfect challenge for me. And then I got home from vacation and kind of forgot about it. BUT, I happened to remember today when I looked at the date and saw it was September 1 and luckily I brought PB & J today! True, not too exciting, but it was quick and cheap. I'll try to make it more exciting once I go grocery shopping. Tomorrow it'll be egg salad though because my husband just bought a gazillion eggs.
I can't wait to see if I lose pounds and save dollars!