Funny things

Yesterday was a long day! It was my first day with school AND work! After work, I still had to come home and do homework. Of course...dinner was in the oven and almost ready when I got home! I read my chapter, ate dinner, did my hw, watched half of glee, and came upstairs to write a blog. I couldn't decide what to write about and this head popped out from our bedroom asking if I was gonna come to bed. Since I really didn't have anything to say (my mind is full of teeth terms and body parts and systems and life and work and whatever else), I turned off the computer and went to bed. I didn't think I was acting out of the ordinary. But my observant husband thought otherwise. He asked me if I was okay. And I looked at him puzzled and said "Yes, why?" And he said, "because you didn't sing any of your songs tonight." His words still make me giggle a little inside and smile. Let me explain... I don't know when this started or who I picked it up from. I believe it to link back to my mom. I didn't even know I did this until Nic pointed it out one day in front of my family and my brothers girlfriend said he does it too! That makes me laugh! If you know me, you know that I am a bouncy person. I walk on my toes a lot. I smile a lot. I laugh a lot. I'm spunky and happy. And a lot of times people think I was a cheerleader in the past. I wasn't! You get the point. So when I have to go to the store, I don't simply say "I am going to the store" I break into a song, a made up song, a lame song, that says "I'm goooooooing to the stoooooorrrrree I'm gooooooooing to the stoooorrrreee." Or something along those lines. Tonight we had pizza (I really need to post this recipe) and in my head the song "I'm gonna have some pete-zaaaa I'm gonna have some pete-zaaa" came to me. Life is a song in my own little world and Nic has gotten used to my songs. So when the songs are not present, he thought it meant something was wrong. I think I am super lucky to have a guy who notices the little things about me! Now that I told you one of my quirks, what is something funny you do?


until next time...

The D word

...DEBT! I have been very lucky to have two parents who have supported me in every way possible. No set of words can say how appreciative I am of them! They also set up stock, mutual funds, and Roth IRA's for us. They taught us how to save money and take care of ourselves. Until recently, I didn't realize how many people know NOTHING about how to invest or save money. I never realized how many people don't understand how credit card debt can grow out of control. I was taught you use it and pay it off every month. If you can't pay it off then you better not charge it. I never even realized this was an option until college. I never looked at it as a means for extra money borrowed from someone else. I thought I just had to have it in order to build credit and if I didn't have to have one I wouldn't. This all means I did not have any debt. I said did because now that I am married I DO have debt. I knew it was coming with Nic and I braced myself. Remember that first blog and how I am slightly stubborn? I told Nic I would help him with his student loans. That made sense to me. They were something he couldn't avoid and it has helped him find a great job. The truck was a different story. That was his toy not my problem. WRONG! I recently read Dave Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover". It said to pay off all debt before investing your money. Once again, I said to myself no I won't pay for the truck. We go to Scott our financial guy. I say I read Dave Ramsey and we made an emergency fund that would support us for 6 months if we both lost our jobs or something bad happens. I put aside the max amount I can put in my ROTH this year. I am also going back to school and paying for tuition so I put that aside and here is what I'm left with after I pay Nic's student loans. Scott remembered that Nic has truck payments... uh oh here it comes. He said Stef I am trying to make you great clients for me and with that debt you won't be. Why pay the extra 2000.00 in interest when you could save that amount and just pay it now. Nic and I sat there in silence. Scott knew it was hard for me to let go. I'M A SAVER I COULDN'T GIVE IT AWAY! But I realized I needed to. We can now put the student loan payments and truck payments into the savings and not into a lenders pocket. It will take time to rebuild what I called "my down payment on a house" but we will get there and very fast because we are debt free! I'm pretty darn excited to start our marriage off debt free! Besides having a mortgage, I don't ever want debt again! If you need help with money or debt please read Dave's book! It even talks about life insurance... everyone should have life insurance! Did you know there are two different kinds of life insurance? I didn't know there was so read the book!

On a different note....
Is it sick that I love learning about biology? We are doing anatomy and physiology right now. No messing around on the first day. We were talking cells, tissues, organs, the whole system. Ribosomes and cytoplasm! I LOVE SCIENCE! I am so eager to learn about dental! Is it sick that I love school in general? I guess when it is something you really like and are interested in reading chapters is fun! Well, as you can see the first day of class was great! My peers are nice and professors are the ones that really want to see you succeed. The ones that say you can talk to me anytime about anything and really mean it. I am so glad and relieved!

Until next time....

Mission accomplished

Happy Sunday! Not to toot my own horn, BUT this morning Nic and I went for a 3 mile run (yes in the mist and wind of the WA elements), showered, I did 3 loads of laundry (folded and put away), did prep for 4 dinner meals (normally this would be 7 but we won't be here for 3 dinners this week), put 4 pieces of chicken in the crock pot, and washed the dishes! All completed by 11:56am and no, I did not wake up before 7:30am! I was a woman on a mission! Nic participated too!!!! He made coffee, cinnamon rolls (his favorite of course), put away his laundry, AND VACCUMED! He rocks!

Usually, I do the dinner prep stuff on Monday's. Monday's used to be my day off and I would go to Tami's house to plan out the entire week. On Sunday night, we would text back and forth what meals we should make and who would bring what ingredients. Then we would attack her kitchen until every meal was in a dish and set for the week. Why would we do all of this? Because it makes life a lot more simple and evenings easy! I do not get off work until 7pm and Nic has lectures and homework to watch and do. I realized eating at 8:45pm was not working for me! Now, I have all the meals ready and Nic just has to throw them into the oven! They are ready when I get home and dinner isn't at bed time anymore!!! I will post some recipes soon!

As I mentioned, Monday's used to be my days off. Why are they not my day off now, because tomorrow is the first day of school!?!? Never in a million years, did I think I would have another first day of school! I am going to be in a 10 month program for dental assisting! I love hair but unless you own your own salon... a life of living at poverty is what you will accomoplish. It isn't just the pay. It is no health care, no 401k, working weekends, work till 7pm, and no paid vacations. I want a family in the future and doing hair does not fit into that reality. I will be part time at the salon while going to school. I will no longer be working Saturdays (oh I can't remember the last time I had a job that didn't work weekends)! And in 10 months working at a salon will be the past (not that I won't do hair on the side at home for my favorites)! Dental has always been an interest of mine and I am very excited to dive into it! I will be working a normal schedule, with benefits, paid vacations, and most likely half days or no work on Fridays! I will keep you all posted on how things progress!

So much more to say but that's enough for now!
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!!!!

How I ended up here...

We were in church a couple weeks ago and it was about being an open book. What do you want people to say about you as a person. The story you want told. The only way to make it told... the way you want it to be told... is to be that person...open and honest and true to who you are. I realized at that moment it was time to blog and be an open book. It also made me think about how people would describe me as a person. So, I decided to try and be even more of the person I want to be in hopes that people would describe me as happy, spunky, fun, giving, caring, serving, etc. I realize when I get around complainers I tend to vent right along with them. I don't want to do that anymore. The negativity is draining and often times puts a damper on my day. A friend gave me a book called "Created to be his help meet." (I will explain the book later because I have much to say about it) There was a piece that said make a new habit. When you feel yourself beginning to have a critical spirit, stop,take a deep breath, silently ask for wisdom, then think of something that is on your thankful list. This is remolding a habit, and, in time, practice makes perfect. Now lets be real, do you think every single time I will be patient enough to take a deep breath and track down my thankful list, NO! I am slightly stubborn with a nasty bite sometimes. I've realized just don't talk to me right away and I don't bite. However, most of the time I should be able to stop and realize life is too short to let someone get to me and waste my breath on being critical of them. I have so much in my life to be thankful for!