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June Budget Checklist
Can you believe we are 6 months into this year? I can’t, I refuse! While that doesn’t seem right, summer season sure does. And while June can be a fantastic whirlwind of joy and excitement and the start to your warm-weather dreams, it can also become a wild money month. I feel like there are two strong scenarios that take place during the summer months. Position one saves money. These are the people that enjoy nature and enjoy its free entertainment. They aren’t looking to spend cash on things to do because the outdoor world has more than enough to offer. You might not spend as much cash, except maybe…
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May 2019 Budget Checklist
Hi, guys. It’s me, Kayla. It’s nice to see you again. I’m so sorry for leaving this blog silent for two months. The crickets were having a gathering, I’m sure. That short break turned into an extended vacation and I found it difficult to time my jump back into the waters of regular blogging again. Some really exciting things happened while I was away, and I’ll share it with you shortly. But I’m back, and excited to return to the swing of a static routine! As we’re nearing the end of April, it’s time to plan for the expenses we encounter in May. I’m still getting over how we can…
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February Budget Checklist
Hey guys! It’s time. I know it seems like we just did this, but we’re closing out January and peeking in on February so it’s budgeting time. February is a fun month, a lovely month, don’t you think? It’s short, we celebrate love, and we pay attention to the groundhog. If you’re looking for a budgeting checklist for this 28 day month, then check out my list below! What do you always budget for during February? Winter Activities We’ve (Michiganders and other out-of-staters) have been hammered these last few weeks with winter’s rain. And with all that snow comes travel restrictions, white out conditions, and (this week, dangerously) cold temps.…
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The Goal on the Other Side of Your Obstacle
I’m 5’6″, 5’8″ with my hair in its signature messy bun. I stared at the bar ahead of me, three inches shy of my own height, hair excluded. It was the highest I’ve ever attempted. Each time before I’d failed, knocking the bar down with my arm or back. But there was something about that day, that meet. The sun was setting and athlete shadows surfaced on the turf, everyone circling certain events to cheer on their teammates. I was a freshman, a newbie, but my legs felt good. It was our conference track meet, and I’m a high jumper. I’d been running track and jumping since the 4th grade,…
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2019 Goal Setting Strategy
Let’s talk about setting goals! I’d love to hear from you if you feel the same as me, but this time of year gets me so jazzed and motivated. I absolutely love the holiday season and I’d never want to rush past it, but after they’ve stopped playing Christmas tunes on the radio and the celebration is a few days removed, I can’t help but look forward to January first. Does anyone else feel empowered, cleansed, and alleviated once the holidays are over and you can start to reorganize your life that was scattered about during December? It’s like a big satisfied sigh. We can now reset, clean up, think…
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January Budget Checklist
Ohh, it’s here! It’s finally here! The first day of January, numero uno, day 1 of 31 and 365. We’ve come to the wonderfully satisfying restart, the day where a new day, a new week (remember last year?), a new month and a new year all hang out at the same time. They mingle until they combust into a million little sparks of motivation and manifest into resolutions we intend to see through to habits. Right off the coattails of Christmas, this New Year jolly disposition is the icing on a perfectly decorated holiday season. It’s a hopeful vision for an equally exciting year ahead. If you’re like me and…
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Red Themed Christmas Decor Ideas + Tips
Don’t you just love decorating for Christmas and the holiday season? There’s nothing cozier than snuggling up in blankets, sipping hot drinks, watching a Christmas movie, and the only lights illuminating the room are those wrapped around your tree. I’ve decked the halls of my home in a red theme this year. So welcome, come on in, and check out some of my design ideas and tips on how to create a festive red-themed space this holiday season. Stockings Stockings perform just as they do on your feet: if they’re done right, they compliment the whole home. I wanted to go with that ski sweater print, so after looking…
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December Budget Checklist
Ah December, the jolliest time of the year! Can you believe that we are just 4 weeks away from 2019? We’ve got a lot to do before then, so today I’m sharing with you some expense ideas to add to your December budget. Before we get started, what is your favorite Christmas tradition? Christmas Gifts I had to kick off this list with the obvious budget expense. Christmas gifts! Whether or not you’re a late shopper or have been gathering gifts since October, there always seems to be something we’ve forgotten, are still holding out for a better deal, or can’t seem to get our hands on yet! Try…
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To Be Thankful Pt. 2: Thankful in All Seasons
Happy Thanksgiving! Are you thankful today? I mean really thankful. As the name suggests, today we speak our gratitude for the many blessings in our lives: our family, our jobs, the food on our plates. We express thankfulness to friends for their loyalty, give thanks for safety and togetherness, and gush over the blessings of health and shelter. But what if you don’t have the idyllic meal prepared in front of you today, the typical holiday scene? What if you’re going through a phase of life of uncertainty, of pain, of frustration, of drought? Giving thanks can be difficult to do when you’re struggling to emerge from the…
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To Be Thankful Part 1: Unexpected Blessings
It was cold, after all it was mid January, and piles of snow sat in mounds in parking lots and Christmas trees were found lying across driveways. It had been a typical day at the office when an unexpected hour trek home for a forgotten possession prompted the dreaded engine light. The oil had leaked from his car, causing an emergency stop for enough oil to make it home. With a quart he picked up from a gas station, he filled up just to be nearly dry once he pulled into the apartment complex. He made it home safely, and the following week had an appointment scheduled for a…
