Why does it always have to be about money?!

"Show me the monneeeeeyyyy!!"

I hate that money is involved in EVERYTHING.  I can try to be all positive about love and life and relationships, etc. etc...

But the reality is that money is on all of our minds EVERY day.

It's so annoying!

I don't want to think about it all the time, and I wish it wasn't such a stresser and constant thought on my mind.

This month alone, I have my regular bills (rent, BGE, verizon, gym, student loan, cell phone, gas, food).  I also had my huge 6 month car insurance payment (over $500), and I'm getting a lot of maintenance done on my car too (about $550).  Not to mention the money I have put into starting my own business (Thirty-One).  I feel like every time I feel good about money, there's always a random other bill or expense that pops up!

I wonder if my wallet/bank account are traitors! Maybe they tell everyone that I have some "extra" non-used money in my account, so that's why I get random bills/expenses?!

I have my master's degree program coming up as well.  For the first semester, I need $700.  I know that that is a severely discounted rate, considering the fact that the rest of it has been reimbursed by the county.  I reaaallllyy didn't want to, but I think I will be taking out a student loan for my master's.  My hope would be to pay some of it myself initially and then use the loan for the rest, so that when I finish my master's, it won't be for the full amount of the degree.  We shall see.

Do you ever feel annoyed that it's always all about money?!

Business Cards!

I took out my phone number for this picture, but on the real thing that is included.  Aren't they so cute?! I LOVE the pink and black, the polka dots, and just how Jessie they are! This is definitely my kind of business card!  I'm so excited for when they get here!

I even ordered a business card holder that is personalized as well!

Can you tell that I'm really excited?

I'm a 31 Consultant!

I just became an independent consultant for Thirty-One gifts!

I'm so excited!

I am in love with all of their products, and I'm already a frequent customer.  So now as a consultant I can sell them and make some extra money!

My kit just came today, and it makes me even more excited!

I even have a website!

http://www.mythirtyone.com/jstrunk/

PR here we come!

We bought our tickets and hotel reservations last week for Puerto Rico.  April cannot come sooner!

I can't wait!  I'm really excited to have a fun vacation to look forward to :)

Happy Wednesday!



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 I'm gonna be all teacher-y on you and make a personal glow on/grow on list for myself, based on how I've been doing in the New Year.  (In case you didn't figure it out...glow on is thinking about the positve things that should be praised, and the grow on are things that could still use some improvement -- we use this model a lot when we do parent/teacher conferences). 

Glow On:
*I have been much better about washing my face every night!  I used to awful at it, but now with a new skincare line (more on that later) and the results that keep me going (mostly clear skin! woo!) it's easy to stick with it.
*I have been maintaining my consistent gym routine - 3-4 times a week no matter what. 
*I have been more productive at work during the day, so I don't feel the need to stay late/come early anymore.  Sweet!

Grow On:
*I want to try and make sure Dan and I have more couple time together during the week.  I thought moving in together would mean that we would see each other automatically all the time, but in reality we really don't, given late night gym workouts, babysitting, tutoring, meet ups with other friends, dinners with parents, etc. 
*I still need to get better at saving more money, and more consistently.  I wouldn't say that I'm bad with my finances; I always pay my bills and I don't usually splurge a lot with my credit card.  However, I really want to figure out a way to save more each month, especially for retirement since my retirement benefits are pretty crap-tastic.
*I need to eat more veggies!  I have been on a fruit crave for a while now, so I'm covered with that, but I have been slacking on my veggie intake!  I hope to start packing some in my lunches from now on, whether it be a salad or some carrot sticks with hummus, or just some cut up bell peppers (Mmm!).  

I know I said I wouldn't do a New Year's Resolution post, but I guess these things can be sort of like a resolution...or just general day-to-day goals for myself.  :)

Organizational Tips and Tricks!

I got this AWESOME email from one of my bests, and I'm pretty much obsessed with it.  I LOVE finding out stuff like this.  (duh! organization is one of my favorite hobbies!)

I found the original source: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/blogs/135499623.html

Enjoy! Let me know which one was your favorite!  I love all of them, but especially the magnet strip for bobby pins, and pillowcases full of matching linen sets! So smart!

Hull strawberries easily using a straw.

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.

Remove crayon stains from tvs or computer screens with WD-40.

Stop your cut apples from browning in your lunch bag by putting a rubber band around it.

Store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone & iPod in a bowl. The concave shape amplifies the music.

re-use a wet wipes container to hold plastic bags

Use baby powder to help get sand off your skin.  Take it with you to the beach!

Store soft toys by putting a velcro strip on the wall



Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.

 

Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.

FINALLY! How to fold a fitted sheet!

Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins, tweezers and clippers, behind a vanity door

Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel.

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.

Bread tags make the perfect cord label.

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones, so much more fun and easier for kids to eat.

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.

Install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles.

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila, you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.



Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

Create a window veggie patch using gutters

Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.

Updates

• Working Out - I am still working out at least three times a week, and taking my GNC vitapak.  I fianlly saw the scale move (down of course)!  Not by a lot, but at least it was SOMETHING like I had wanted.
• School - It has been pretty stressful lately, because of some seriously misbehaved children combined with a lack of support from....a lot of people.  I'll leave it at that.  So now when I get home, I'm not only physcially exhausted like usual from standing and walking around children all day, but also mentally exhausted from arguing my case with co-workers, and dealing with the political side of teaching that they don't warn you about in your education classes in college.
• I got a new bedding set from IKEA today that I have been anxiously waiting to get.  I literally wanted to wash everything immeadiately when I got home tonight so I could put it all on right away. BUT our knob for the washer temperature broke off last week, and the new one won't be here for a few days.  Normally I wouldn't care, and just wash the duvet cover in cold water, but since the insert that came with it specifically said use hot water only, I'm apprehensive to use anything other than that, ESPECAILLY because I just bought it and you never know what new sheets/clothing items will do in their first wash...  So anyways, you'll probably see a post with lots of bed pictures once I can switch our washer to hot and get all that ready for my bed :)
• We made a definitive decision on our Spring Break vacation in April: Puerto Rico, here we come!  We are planning on purchasing the tickets/resort package this month.  Probably towards the end of the month, so I can add in all my extra babysitting money (I've been picking more up just so I can save for it faster).



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• One of my bffs is totally preggers and due on Feb. 2nd!  That's SO soon!  I can't stop thinking about how exciting it is to see one my close friends as a mom and to have a baby around!  I know it will change a lot too, but it's just so surreal and exciting right now to think about.  Woo!!

That's about it.  OH and I will probably not be making a resolution post.  I'm not sure if I really believe in them much, especially because I can't think of one serious resolution that I honestly stuck with for a whole year.  So we will just say that in general I am trying to maintain the healthy habits that I have been doing for the past month. :) I am also trying to make a more consciencious effort to have more do-nothing non-planned time.  It is HARD to do for me, but I'm trying! We shall see how that works out...


Anyways, have a good night!