My Total Money Makeover!

Lately, I have been reading Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. If you have not read it, it is a must! The earlier you read it...the better! I wish that I would have read this about 4 years ago before I acquired any type of debt. The idea of paying off the smallest debt first, and then using that money you would have been paying to add on top of your regular payment on the next smallest amount and repeating cycle is genius, even if it does sound simple. I am so excited to start this process and be debt free in a matter of months.

Another way that I cut down on expenses is through couponing. My next post will be dedicated to that subject.

Also, in honor of Derby Week, I will leave you with a picture of beautiful horses racing at Keeneland a few weeks ago. I never imagined I would love horse racing as much as I do!

Oh Glorious Weekend!

It is so nice that the weekend is only 45 minutes away for me! Sadly, however, I am working tomorrow for a few hours. On a happier note, my parents are here to visit this weekend! They got here yesterday afternoon, and just barely missed the snow because it started right after they got here. Aaron and I have both had to work today, so they stayed at the apartment and babysat "the kids" (aka our dog Halpert and cat Gracie).

Does anyone have any recipes for some healthy dinners? We have been trying to eat much healthier lately, and I need some new recipes to try. If you have any suggestions, please send them my way!

Also, I am planning to share some of my homemade cleaner recipes with you in the near future! :)

Wanted: Full Time, well-paying job

In this day and age, I feel like I would be more likely to get a flying pet kanagroo than a full time, well-paying job. I took so much pride in my education while I was in college. I joined every club I could possibly get into, and I became a leader in most of them. I did everything that I was told that would "look good on my resume." I just KNEW that it was going to be easy finding a job, especially since I did "all the right things."

Last spring, I went to a carrer fair to start my job search. I knew that I would be moving, but I was not sure where, so I stuck with looking at corporations. I gave out tons of resumes, shook lots of hands, and walked in painful heels until I thought I was going to cry.

A couples weeks later, I recieved an interview with Rite Aid. I knew it wasn't my first choice for a job, but I thought I could at least get some practice at my interviewing skills. I was offered a position and I accepted just as a "security" because I just knew something better would come along.

About a week after I found out we would be moving to Lexington, I was offered a position with the marketing firm I was interning with. It was my dream job, and I had to turn it down because it was in Cookeville. Besides, I was so ready to leave Cookeville! I also was offered another position from an advertising company in Cookeville because I was recommended by my professors. I had to turn that one down also.

So the day came in June...time to start my big girl job...at Rite Aid. I was embarassed to tell anyone about it. Even though I was the assistant manager, I had set in my mind that the job was way below me (and I still feel that way to be honest!). I stocked shelves, re-arranged toilet paper, and a bunch of other stuff that didn't require any more knowledge than that of an 8th grader. After 3 months, I moved on to bigger and better things, or so I thought.

I took a job with the bank we use. All that had open was a part-time position, and I would be making less than I was at Rite Aid. But I took it anyway. I thought of it as a starting place of something great.

Everything started out great and I was loving my job. Yeah, the paycheck was smaller, but we made it work. The hours were also great.

After a couple months, it hit me how underpaid I was for the things I did, stuff I put up with, and what I was expected to do. While the work was somewhat easy, all the rules, regulations, compliance, and angry customers made it not worth the pay.

I guess I said all that to say: I need a GOOD job. One that pays well. One that is full-time. One that I am appreciated. One that doesn't only give me negative feedback, but positive as well. One that communicates with me if they are closed due to snow.

2011 Book List

From reading some other blogs, I have seen several book lists on different pages. I have been trying to figure out what all I want to read this year, and I would LOVE some suggestions. So far, here is what i have:

1. Choosing to SEE by Mary Beth Chapman (completed)
2. Feminine Appeal (currently reading)
3. Cut your grocery bill in half with America's cheapest family (currently reading)
4. Radical by David Platt

......and that is pretty much where it ends. Suggestions, please?

New Year's "Changes"

I have never been very big on setting New Years resolutions because like pretty much everyone, I never stick to them. So this year, I decided that I am going tp make New Year's Changes.

I have decided I am going to be debt free (minus student loans) by the end of 2011! I had wanted to do this by the end of 2010, but I thought I would have a much better paying job once I graduated college. But I have a new action plan, and I hope that it will work out much better this time. I no longer have a single credit card in my wallet. I had a pretty good time cutting them to shreds. I found a picture of what I would like to do with the shreds.

Pretty cool, huh?

I also, like every other person probably, would like to start eating better, get in shape, and lose some weight. I noticed the other night at Wal-Mart that in the area where they usually place their seasonal items, there are all kinds of workout videos, fittness equipment items, and pretty much anything that Wal-Mart sells that is going to help someone lose weight and get into shape. Pretty great marketing strategy and product placement plan if you ask me. Can you tell I am a marketing nerd?

I have been reading in All You (my favorite magazine...I reccomend it!) about how people save money by menu-planning and lose weight as well. So that is what I am planning on putting into place with the new year. I am going to choose 31 dinner, one for each day of the month, and do all of my shopping at once. By doing all of your shopping at once, you are less likely to make impulse purchases. Also, I will know everything that I am going in there for, how much to purchase, and what coupons I can use for them!

I have about 15 healthy recipes compiled onto my list so far and I am very open to suggestions if you have any. It has been kind of hard because Aaron is a little bit of a picky eater (however, I have gotten him to try

 quite a bit!) and I am the type that I at least try anything once.

Oh and before I go, I must reccommend a book! It is called "Choosing to See" by Mary Beth Chapman. She is the wife of Steven Curtis Chapman. I am only 24% through the book (according to my awesome new Kindle!), but I have a hard time putting it down. It is a story about tragedy and hope and how they got where they are today.I love it! Here is a picture of the cover.

Peyton

Funny and true story....

Last night, Aaron and I were at Target just walking around and being goofy. We were picking up kids books and reading them in the story, looking at old movies, acting like kids in the candy aisle, and then we spent a while analyzing toothbrushes. We are a little lame, but we keep each other entertained!

While we were in the book section, we found a baby name book. ***Let me stop right now and let you know we are NOT expecting a baby! We just picked up the book to play a game.*** Anyways, Aaron said he was going to close his eyes, flip through the boy name section, and whatever name he lands on, we have to name our first son. NO TURNING BACK! Well, he landed on Peyton.

I was so excited! I am a huge Peyton Manning fan, and Aaron absolutely hates him. He has always given me a hard time for liking him. I have been giving him a hard time about it nonstop since it happened. I even suggested that we make the middle name Eli...haha!

New Pet!

Saturday night I brought home the newest addition to the Fields family, Gracie the cat.

We debated for quite some time as to what we should name her. She was being called "Snowball" at the shelter, but that just didn't seem to fit. I have always liked the name Belle or Bella, but we decided against those also.

So we decided on Gracie. 1.) Because she is graceful and can jump up on things and balance very weel, as well as jump and made no noise at all. 2.) I would love to use this name for a baby someday, but I have a friend who has already claimed it and plans on naming her daughter that.

She is quite a diva. The first day we had her, I found her laying on my spot on the bed only minutes after we got home. She likes to climb on top of dressers and the toilet so she can see herself in the mirror.

Pictures to come soon!