-
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…
-
November Budget Checklist
It’s the last Thursday of October. Has October flown by to anybody else? I feel like I say that every month, but now that we’ve already had snow where I live and the holidays are only weeks away, it seems I blinked and October was over. It’s the start of a new month, so today I’m putting together a budget checklist. If you’re like me, you’ll find November to be one of the craziest and most expensive of the year. Below are some things you might want to remember to add to your budget for this exciting month ahead. Snow Tires Do you live in a high probability snow…
-
Q & A with Kayla: Halloween Edition
Hello! You might already know this if you’ve been around A Zesty Existence for awhile or you’ve checked out the “About Me” section on the blog, but if you’re new here, hi, I’m Kayla. Nice to meet you! Since I haven’t done a Q and A before on the blog, I thought today might be a good time to share a little about me with you. Feel free to check out the video that goes along with this post below. Let’s get to it! Where are you from? I’m a born and raised Michigander. Currently Northern, but have lived all over the state. What’s one of your…
-
15 Cheap Fall Activities
We’re two feet dipped into Fall now. Yesterday may have been 78 degrees here in Michigan, but today we’re hovering below 50 and it’s here to stay (for now). Pardon me while I say this again, but I love Fall. Everything about it. The colors, the cozy feelings of home, the anticipation of the coming holidays and time with family. It’s just a fun season to do fun stuff. And if you’re worried about breaking the bank while participating in the fall attractions, don’t sweat it. There’s a lot you can do during the fall that won’t take all of your monthly budget. Today I’m sharing some cheap fall activity…
-
October Budget Checklist
October? 10 Months in? What?! Believe it or not, October is here. And with it, comes a new budget. Fall is already in full swing, the leaves are changing, school has been in session for a while, and it’s time to plan your big Halloween bash. With everything going on during this festive and season-shifting month, there is a lot to remember to budget for. Check out my list of suggestions for October budget reminders. Happy Fall! 1 Halloween Is that the first thing that came to your mind? It’s at the very end, but it tends to sneak up earlier in the month every year. Here are…
-
September Project: Fall Inspiration
While I was hesitant to say “Au Revoir!” to summer because it was just way too much fun, I’m warming up quickly to the approaching fall season. Fall is my favorite, and I’m very fortunate and appreciative that I get to experience a healthy couple months of beautifully changing scenery here at home in Michigan. Fall is also a special time where memories of our engagement and marriage are celebrated and delightfully reminisced. I just love this time of year. Fall is also my favorite decorating season. There is nothing like a cozy home, and I believe fall endorses the comfort, companionship, and restfulness of a welcoming space. The…
-
5 Fall Decorating Tips for Creating a Cozy Home
We haven’t quite hit the official first day of fall, but we are already there in the minds of fall lovers everywhere. If you’re like me and you love this season, you like to bring fall vibes inside. Check out my five easy tips below to make your home a cozy fall gathering place. Use Leaves It might seem obvious to suggest using leaves in your fall decor. That’s what fall’s all about, leaves changing into their beautiful next act colors and then falling to the ground in preparation for winter. Now’s the time to bring alive the vibrancy that naturally decorates our land and hone in on the pretty…
-
6 Ways to Save Money Every Month
If you’re familiar with A Zesty Existence, you’ll know that my husband and I are in the phase of life where paying off debt is our top financial priority. It’s a trail we’ll continue to walk until every student loan has been shed and there aren’t any emails informing us of our upcoming automatic withdrawals. Oh I can’t wait for that day! So right now, it’s important for us to be choosy with where our money is going. And the more we keep in our cash envelopes the better! Being picky pays off when you can save a little cash. And while we know we won’t be existing between…
-
September Budget Checklist
I’m all for Fall, it’s my favorite season, but I’m grasping tight to the few days of summer we have left. It’s funny that I’m seeing Fall and even Christmas displays around town, and yet we haven’t even breached the first day of September. Even into early September we have warm days, (here in Michigan) so I’m going to hold onto these last few “summer” days like we won’t see them for another eight months. September 1st will probably be the day the switch flips for me; when I’m antsy to tear down my spring/summer décor and put up all my leaves and orange pumpkins. Isn’t there something so…
-
What You Can Learn About Contentment from A Day at the Lake
Contentment is a simple concept. It’s the calm of a soul satisfied, the recognition of abundance when there is no excess. Contentment is being thankful for what you have and knowing more won’t increase your happiness. Contentment is a desire for many, an idea chased by the masses. There always seems to be a caveat though, a “When I get to that point I’ll finally be content with my life” mantra said over and over again until it manifests into truth. Why do we look past our own blessings? Why does someone else’s home cause us to rethink our careers and beg for raises we aren’t meant to…
