Out with the old, in with the new.

That's how I'm feeling lately, anyway.  So many big changes for us are happening right now.  As you probably know, we own a business.  Right now, and for the past seven years, that business has operated out of our house.  It started as just using our home computer to do some invoicing and has grown to the point where we require a large office space with three seperate areas and warehouse space.  The large office space is currently residing in the second largest bedroom in my house.  The warehouse space is currently my garage.  My two and a half stall garage that I can barely park in because there are so many work tools and product boxes.  So what's new?  I'm getting my house back.  Yay!  No more maneuvering around boxes to park my car in the garage.  No more pushing boxes around my garage just to get my kid's bikes out.  We well, once again, have a spare bedroom.  Good news houseguests!  You will no longer have to sleep in Lily's room.  You will once again have your own space, and an added bonus- it's going to be upstairs, complete with it's own (well, almost) bathroom! 

So the new space- it's fantastic.  We have two big offices, a little kitchenette area and a bathroom.  Attached to it is a HUGE garage bay.  It is big enough to keep everything for our business and then some.  Right now, we are painting and adding in a few things to meet our needs, but as soon as we are done, I will put some pictures up. 

So what else is new?  My hair!  I decided to go dark for fall.  I walked in and told my stylist I wanted to go dark with some red and this is what I ended up with:

So far, I love it.  I love that it's bold.  I love that people notice I got my hair done. 

We are also getting ready to start another round of FPU.  I'm excited because I will once again be calculating our debt totals and if I'm right, I think we are now under $10,000. 

Pictures of the new office to come!

Always Fabulous,

Contentment.

We recently had to have a good amount of work done on my minivan.  Don't ask me what, because I couldn't tell you if I tried.  All I know is that the steering wheel is no longer shaky and it doesn't want to drift off the road anymore.  It took the repair shop a few days to determine the problem, order the parts and then replace them.  While it was there for three days, I was driving a rental car.  I told Tim upfront that I just wanted some sort of four door car that had three seatbelts in the back.  Just enough to haul my kids around.  As much fun as it sounded, I really didn't want to rent anything really cool because I was afraid that it would make me hate my minivan more than I already do-- I wouldn't want to go back. 

So we get to the rental place and guess what?  They don't have the kind of car I need available, so can they please substitute a Dodge Nitro.  Really?  I thought God was toying with me.  Testing me, maybe.  So we get the Nitro.  You know what?  I didn't like it.  The seats were uncomfortable, it was cramped, and there were too many blind spots.  As I was driving that thing around I thought about what were are doing.  We are sacrificing now so that in the long term, we can leave a lasting legacy for our children.  Not only that, but we are living like no one else now, so later we can LIVE like no one else.  (Did you catch that, my fellow Dave Ramsey fans?) 

It feels really good to set a goal and then actually take steps towards accomplishing it.  It's not easy.  If it were easy, everyone would do it.  It takes strength, determination, sacrifice and persistence.  We are so close to checking this goal off the list, I can taste it. 

Don't get me wrong.  I have found myself more than once cruising the lot at the local Ford dealership, having no idea how I came to be sitting in front of the large SUVs.  I told Tim the other day, "I check out large black SUVs like some women check out men."  So if I'm out driving and my head suddenly turns to look at the car passing me, believe me, I have no idea who is driving the thing, all I could tell you is make, model and options. 

Always Fabulous,

Shake your Peacock Feathers

Loving them!~  Peacock feathers that is.  I've seen them everywhere, but never done as well as this: 

I picked this up from a local artist who uses vintage pieces to create new designs.  They are so hip- amazing statement pieces.  Here is a picture of me wearing the piece- she designed the piece over a standard clip, so it is super easy to manipulate and put in the perfect spot. 

As you probably remember, I also love headbands.  I am fairly particular about size, style and color and I couldn't believe it when I stumbled on her booth at a local craft show.  It was like she was designing for me.  All of her pieces are very mature, eclectic and original.  Here is the headband I picked up, and I have already worn it numerous times.  Everytime I wear it, I get compliments on it.  Another plus is that she uses a metal headband that fits differently from others I have, and it actually doesn't give me a headache.  Love it!

So, check out her blog here: http://adesignandfinds.blogspot.com/  And her etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/adesignandfinds

Always Fabulous,

Winning, duh!

I am feeling optimistic today.  I just paid off one of our debts.  It feels good!!  I feel pumped.  After making the payoff at the bank this afternoon, I promptly came home and whipped out one of my blank copies of DR's debt snowball form.  I filled in our new snowball and was amazed at how much it had shrunk in such a short amount of time.  I pulled out my original form when we first got serious about all of this stuff and compared the two.  On November 8th of 2010, we had eight debts that totaled $34,982.47.  Seven months later, as of today, we have four debts that total $11, 691.00.  Our debt snowball is at $815 a month and we are knocking them out left and right.  If we add no more money, we will be debt free (except our mortgage) in eleven months.  At the rate we have been going, I think it will be sooner than that.  God has been good and we have been able to pay above and beyond our "minimum" debt snowball amount almost every month.  I am still shooting for being debt free by December 31st, 2011.  It's a lofty goal, but God is good and He can do it. 

My Observations of California Fashion

I just got back from a week in northern California.  I was super excited to go because I was visiting family that I hadn't seen in a long time (and some I'd never met!) I was almost as excited about the clothes.  In case you didn't know, fashion trends start on the coasts and filter inward over time.  So by the time Uggs got really popular here- remember that?  Cali girls had been rocking them for a few seasons.  So I was totally psyched to be on the front lines of trendiness.  (Is that a word?)  Keep in mind I was in northern CA, so not really the epicenter of new trends, but a LOT closer than Illinois for sure.  Also, these are just my observations I made in the small amount of time and limited area I covered during that week. 

Floral Prints

Pretty floral patterns were everywhere.  Very subdued, nothing like the early '90s florals that were all-consuming and overpowering.  Here is the example that came home with me: 

Feathers: Everywhere!

If you remember, I recently wrote a post about feather hair extensions.  Well, they have those- and so much more.  Earrings, necklaces, purses, bracelets, shoes.... the list goes on and on.  Peacock feathers are the biggest hit (more on those coming soon!) and get the most play, but I brought home something a little simpler: 

Long dresses and bold patterns

Not always together, though.  Long dresses are everywhere.  And I mean floor length long.  The nice thing about the style is that depending on the cut, they can be flattering on almost any body type.  One other thing I noticed very prevalent was bold patterns.  Think '80s but toned down a little. I brought home a piece that brings both trends together: 

(please ignore the sunburn/tan lines- those are NOT trendy!)

  Toms Shoes

Before going to CA, I had heard of this company but never actually seen the shoes in person.   Toms Shoes Website The company is pretty cool, they have a program called the One for One Movement and for every pair of shoes sold, they will donate a pair to a child in need around the world.  I had mixed feelings about the shoes.  I think they are ugly.  The look like boating shoes.  Which is cool, if your boating.  I got over my fear of looking a little funny and tried some on.  They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn.  Its like walking on a pillow.  I had to have a pair.  I can get over the odd look of them.  Plus, it's not often that trendy=comfortable so I take advantage when the opportunity arises. Since arriving back in Peoria, I have only seen one other pair of Toms.  Here are mine:  

There were a few other trends I noticed that I didn't bring back from the coast.  For a reason.  One of those was see through, lacy shirts over tube tops or bikini tops.  Since I wear neither, that one didn't apply to me.  Remember ladies, even if it's fashionable, that doesn't make it advisable.  Beach wear is also very popular there.  Similar to the kinds of things we would see in a Pac Sun store, but it's everywhere.  There are tons of beachwear shops.  Lots of loose, flowy tanks (to fit over your bikini top) and itty bitty shorts.  Since there are no beaches where I am from, I passed on those trends.  And also because me and itty bitty shorts are a big NO!!

Always Fabulous,  

New Debt Totals

For those of you who didn't know, we are now a minivan family.  There are a few reasons driving our decision to get rid of the SUV that we (I) loved and drive a minivan.  First, God asked me to do it.  No, He didn't send me a postcard.  There was no magical moment when I heard His voice and He certainly didn't appear to me in a dream.  Those would have been much easier.  For quite a few months I was wrestling with the decision.  God was using situations and people in my life to convict me about my vanity.  My Expedition was a status symbol for me.  It was big, it was cool and I felt like a stud (or whatever the female version of that is) driving it.  I was proud.  I finally gave in and we unloaded the beast.  I'd like to say it was a proud moment and I was brave and strong. I was not.  I cried... almost.  I was fighting back tears as they drove my baby away and pulled up my new minivan.  And if you know me at all, you know that is a big deal. 

Second, we were able to walk away from the deal with absolutely no payments on anything.  We had enough equity in the truck to trade it in and walk away with an older model, used minivan and no debt.  Since our overall goal is debt reduction, it was a great plan.  The only downside is that we know this van won't last us too long so we are putting what used to be our monthly payment in savings each month to buy another used van when we need it.  We are hoping to get about two years out of the one we have now.  Yes, there will be repairs, but we are prepared for that. 

So the big question is, how do I like driving my swaggar wagon?  It's OK.  I don't hate it.  It is nice knowing it's completely paid for.  It has lots of cool features- I told Tim that if I'm going to drive a minivan it's going to have some options so at least I don't feel so desolate.  The kids love the DVD player and I have been enjoying the sunroof.  I do miss my Expedition.  It was big, black and beautiful and bigger than a lot of the other cars on the road.  But I don't miss the payment. 

With that being said---  remember in April our debt total was $24,089.33.  Our debt total as of today, just two months later is $12,615.85.  Most of that is (obviously) the truck.  A little bit of that is progress we have made apart from the truck.  That number isn't so daunting.  We could actually do this, we could be debt free.  It's amazing what a little progress can do for you. 

Always Fabulous,

Show off your personality with ~feathers~

I have always wanted to do something cool and different with my hair, but I've never been brave enough to actually rock a big pink streak in my hair.  I tend to be a little bit on the conservative side when it comes to changes to my look that I can't just change back quickly.  I have no tattoos, and doubt I ever will.  The wildest piercing I've ever gotten is a second hole in each ear. 

So I've been seeing something that I had to check into- feathers in your hair.  Kind of along the same lines as hair extensions, but much less expensive and far less permanent.  Most salons are hopping on the bandwagon and are doing this technique now.  It is painless and takes just a few minutes to do and is relatively inexpensive.  The best part is, if you don't like it, no big deal, it takes about 30 seconds to pop off your hair and doesn't leave behind any damage. 

A stylist will use a hook device (looks like a knitting needle, but much smaller) and place a small silicone-lined bead on a very small chunk of hair.  They will then insert the ends of the feathers into the bead and clamp it shut with a special pair of pliers.  The great thing about the feathers is that you can wash, dry, curl, and straighten them just like you would your regular hair.  Prices vary depending on the area and salon, but you can expect to spend about $10 per feather to have this done.

So if you've always admired the women who can pull of the super trendy hairstyles and wished you had the guts to try it, now is your time!  Here is what mine looks like:

It's here!

My long awaited package came in the mail today!  Okay, so it's wasn't that long awaited, I think I placed the online order last week.  I saw an ad-I don't even remember who the retailer was- but it was one of those that I just knew I had to duplicate the look.  Something similar to this:

White sundress, brown boots.  Hello! Of course, my look is minus the belt because belts cinched above the waist on me make me look pregnant.  And unless I want some well meaning stranger asking me when I'm due, I think it's better if I just skip that part.  So, I started my quest for a white sundress.  I knew exactly where to look.  My first stop in my online shopping was American Eagle, or ae.com.  I knew I needed something that fell right at the knee to showcase my boots.  I found the perfect two dresses.  Being a savvy online shopper I put one of each in my cart and proceeded to checkout, knowing that I would be keeping the one that fit the best and looked the nicest and returning the other to the store in my local mall.  The boots were a piece of cake, I already have some and they are super cute. 

So, here is my finished look: 

If I can pull this off, you can definitely pull this one off.  The only problem is figuring out where I can wear this dress.  Definitely no where with kids.  Or animals.  Or food.  Hmm...

Always Fabulous,

Summer Style

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of summer.  Don't get me wrong-- I love the fact that I don't have to wear a coat and there is no snow on the ground.  I like the freedom of my kids being out of school and the longer days.  What I don't like about summer is trying to clothe myself.  Being a mom of three, I have a few... problem areas.  They are much harder to hide in tank tops and shorts.  My secret?  Buy clothes that fit well and are designed in a way that enhance my good features and distract from my bad ones.  My go-to styles are shorts with about a five inch inseam and loose fitting, flowy tops.  I do wear tighter fitting shirts too but always with another layer on top such as a vest or knit shrug. 

Some of my favorites for this season:

Yes, those are my actual legs and my actual shorts.  Please forgive the quality of the picture, as it is hard to take a good picture of yourself by yourself with three kids running around you the whole time. 

An easy way to dress up your summer style without trying too hard is plaid shorts.  I have a pair that I love from Old Navy.  Just pick out one of the colors from the plaid and find a solid color shirt or tank that matches.  So simple and so cute!  The beauty of an outfit like this is that because the shorts are so loud, you don't need to do much accessorizing over them,  It's a great choice when you are in a hurry.

The beauty in a nice pair of dark shorts is that they hide so much.  Those of us who are little too well endowed in the rear can benefit from a nice fitting pair of dark shorts, because they make us look like we aren't carrying so much junk in our trunks.  I chose this top because of the beautiful print and the lace detail at the collar, and because it's nice and flowy at the waistline which helps hide my mommy tummy.  I love this paisley print especially because the dark wash of the shorts pops out the dark blue flowers on the paisley.  I don't recommend the cuffed shorts for anyone who has thighs that need to be minimized.  They tend to draw attention to that area. 

There is nothing more comfortable than a pair of knit capris.  Of course, they are great for working out but in order to get more mileage out of them, I pair them with a pretty top.  The key to this looking good is making sure the top comes down over your butt, just enough that it could be considered a very short skirt, just past the pubic area.  Also, the top needs to be a little fitted.  Too loose and it looks like you are on your way to the gym.  Whenever I wear a more fitted top, I always pair it with some sort of accessory to help hide my belly.  In this case, a nice scarf. 

I am totally loving this vest.  Such a great find!  I like to wear skirts when its super hot.  They are cooler and can be worn a little longer than shorts and still look nice, which means I don't burn the back of my legs on the leather in my car when I am wearing them.  (Oh the things that I consider when choosing my clothing for the day.) I found the v-neck t-shirt at the same store that I found the vest and they go together perfectly.  The shirt is just plain enough that it doesn't distract from the detail of the vest, which is really the centerpiece of this ensemble.  But it also has enough detail that it adds to the interest of the outfit.  Again, since the shirt is a little bit on the fitted side, I have put a vest over it to distract from my mommy pooch. 

Always Fabulous,

My Favorite Easy Updo

Being a mom of three keeps me on my toes.  I don't have a lot of time to put into getting myself ready if I want my kids to be fed and clothed each morning before we have to get out the door.  When I'm crunched for time and my hair is a hot mess, this is my go to style.  Here are (hopefully) easy to follow directions to looking like you spent the morning making yourself beautiful when in reality you spent the morning arguing with your five year old about whether or not he could wear a cape to school.

To start, you will need a few basic supplies:  1. cute headband  2. hair tie  3.  (optional) a few random bobby pins

With your hair down the way it would naturally lay, position the headband so that the decoration is over or closest to your part.

With the hair tie around your wrist and using both hands, pull your hair back and gather it at the base of your neck and push up, creating a sort of bubble of hair at the top of your head. 

Use the hair tie to secure your hair however you would like it.  I prefer a sloppy half pulled through look.  Be sure that the pony tail feels tight at the base- it should feel loose towards the top.  Gently pull the hair around the crown of your head to make the bubble of hair bigger. 

Finish off with a good amount of hairspray and use random bobby pins to hold any strands of hair in place that decide to escape from your pony tail.  Three minutes, and your done!

Always Fabulous,

I can't believe it's been so long!

Shortly after I published my last post, I threw my back out.  Meaning, I couldn't walk for several days and was in such intense pain I would rather go through labor and delivery again. But, the good news is my back is slowly getting back to normal and I am feeling better.  So, on to more exciting matters...

We have decided to sell my truck.  Unfortunately, I will soon become a minivan mom.  I have nothing against minivan moms.  My biggest beef with it is that it is seriously hard to feel cool driving a minivan.  I've had mixed feelings about this all along.  We've kind of toyed with the idea off and on.  I've had meltdowns, I've stomped my foot and outright said NO!  But the truth is, we haven't been able to make much progress in a while on our debt because business has been slow.  We're paying our bills and things are going fine, but there has been no extra for the debt snowball.  Isn't it ironic?  We've gotten really serious about paying off debt, and were making really good progress for a few months and then all of a sudden the well dried up.  Add in all of those car repairs we had to deal with last month and it's been a downright crappy spring, finance wise.  So, here we are.  We will be either trading in or selling outright my truck and taking the equity and buying a used minivan with cash. Why a minivan?  We have three kids.  They have friends.  If we ever want to go anywhere as a family again and possibly haul an extra kid or two, it's either keep the truck or get into a minivan.  I am hoping that once I get into that minivan, knowing that it's completely paid for and by my driving it we have eliminated our largest debt, I will drive it proudly.  I think it's gonna be more like I endure driving it until we can purchase another SUV with cash.  That will be, of course, after we are completely debt free, have six months of expenses in an emergency fund and can pay cash for it.  It's going to be a while.  I'll live.  Maybe.

my expedition- more like my 4th child

So, if you are in the market for a 2007 Ford Expedition with about 87,000 miles on it that has been well loved and makes you feel really cool when you drive it, let me know.

*SIGH*

Right this minute, my husband is sitting at a Burger King in a town about an hour and a half away.  Why?  He is waiting for his van to be repaired.  It broke down today and of course, it's not a cheap fix.  Know how much a new fuel pump will set you back?  About $750.  Just what I wanted to spend that kind of money on today.  I feel so BROKE right now.  I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.  You know, this recent rash car repair emergencies (up to $3700 in the last month now) wouldn't feel like such emergencies if we had a nest egg to pay for them.  Sure, we've managed to either cash flow or use our tiny emergency fund for all of them so far, but there is literally just $1,000 between us and going back to the credit cards again.  I don't want to do that.  It pains me to think about it. 

Add all of that to the fact that we need a new water heater, my car needs brakes, the septic needs pumped, the kids all need new clothes and the baby is running out of diapers and I am feeling like a total HAM.  Hot a$$ Mess.  You know why I'm in this position?  Because I put myself here.  I take personal responsibility and total credit.  My husband and I were out chasing the American dream.  With a Visa.  Bad choice.  We know better now.  If we can't pay cash, we don't get it.

In the next year to 18 months I plan to be debt free.  I plan to owe nothing to no one.  I will never have another credit card.  I will never finance anything again.  I am done being a slave to my poor decisions.  Watch out, AMEX I just got angry.   

Always Fabulous,

Jeans are one of my exceptions when it comes to spending money on clothes.  I think a high quality pair of jeans is worth it's weight in gold and therefore, I spend more on them.  I have found that investing in a few good pairs of jeans ends up saving me money in the long run.  I used to spend $20-$40 dollars a pair, wear them for a while and then after being washed a few times they just don't fit the same and they would go into the jean graveyard.  The brand that I wear now I spend about $80 for a pair, but I wear them for about three years.  Two pairs of boot cut and one pair of skinny jeans is what I usually keep on hand.  So that ends up being about $80 a year that I am spending on my jeans.  Twenty-two cents a day isn't that much to pay for a piece of clothing that you wear almost daily.  Previously, when I was buying a new pair  every other month, that put me around $180 year.  The point I'm trying to make is that since jeans are such a staple in our closets, it makes sense to spend more money on ones that fit you really well, are high quality and will last you for a long time.  Just to drive the point home,  I recently sold four pairs of my preferred brand on ebay.  After wearing them for about three years, I still got around $20 a pair for them-- on top of that, they still looked brand new! 

Now, on to some of my own personal rules for jean wearing:

1. Wear the right size!! 

I think this is so important.  Please don't suck it in and squeeze into a pair of jeans just because you don't want to move on to the bigger size.  You aren't fooling anyone.  Everyone can tell.  Ever hear of muffintop?  Just don't do it- be realistic with yourself.  It actually makes you look thinner to wear a pair of jeans that flatter your body shape and are the right size for you. 

2. Wear styles that flatter your body shape, size, and hide problem areas. 
 My personal problem area is my tummy.  After three kids, my abdominal wall has taken a permanent vacation.  For that reason, I choose mid-rise jeans that help to contour and flatten my tummy.  I am also a little on the short side.  To create length in my legs, I choose a small boot cut and wear them just a little long and with a small heel.  Not sure what your body shape is, or what styles of jeans look best on you? I really like this article:  Click Here

3. Wash is so important!
I don't own a single pair of jeans that aren't a darker wash.  The darker washes are so incredibly flattering on everyone and can hide a multitude of problems.   Plus, with dark washes, you can dress them up or down and they look great either way.  It's nice to have some variety, but in general I avoid anything that isn't at least a middle of the line wash- not too dark or too light. 

4. Just say NO!  (to mom jeans that is)
You know the ones.  They fit in the waist, but no where else.  They are so baggy you can't tell where the hip ends and leg begins and they make your crotch look like it is half way down to your knees.  Then, even more horrifying, they taper in all the way down the leg and cuff at the ankle.  And the worst part of all, they are usually a really light wash.  They make everyone look wider in the hips than they really are.  If you have any in your closet right now, run-don't walk, run- and throw them away!  Goodwill doesn't even want them. 

 Just Say No!

My personal preference for jean brands is BKE, which is the Buckle brand.  You can find a Buckle store in just about any decent sized mall.  I love them because you can walk in and tell them what kind of jean you like (mid-rize boot cut with a dark wash) and before you know it, there are three pairs waiting for you to try on.  Get one on and come out and say, "I just don't like how it does ______ (fill in the blank)" and again, there are three more pairs.  This goes on until you get that pair on that feels like it was literally constructed for you.  It's like when a woman is wedding dress shopping and when she tries it on, she just knows.  This is the one.  I promise, once you do that, you will never be able to go back. 

BKE Tenley

 

 

Always Fabulous, 

As promised: new debt totals!

I've calculated our totals and they are exciting!!  We are making progress, even if it doesn't feel like it.  The last time I tallied them, we were at $28,327.62 in debt, remember?  Drum roll please...  our new debt total after the last 13 weeks of working the debt snowball is:  $24,089.33!!  That means we have paid off $4,238.29!  Woot! 

And here I was getting discouraged about our lack of progress.  It just goes to show you that if you continue to make good decisions, even if they seem inconsequential, you will get there.  I love the empowered feeling it gives me to know that my own hard work put me there.  And Tim's of course.  He is, after all, the one with the income.  I just tell it what to do.

Today's post is short and sweet, but coming soon watch for my personal (and very strong) opinions about jeans.  Such an thrilling topic!

Always Fabulous,

Murphy has Moved into the Spare Bedroom.

I'm sure you know Murphy.  Just when you are on a roll and making progress, she comes along and derails the train.  And yes, I strongly believe that Murphy is a woman. It's always the women who want to throw a wrench in everyone's plans.  The men I know don't usually care enough to rain on anyone's parade.  No, she is definitely a  woman.  So, how do I know Murphy so well?  She has officially crashed my party.  Our debt snowball was about to take off down the hill at a speed we had never seen before. We had a few large jobs that were about to be completed, and we planned to spend that money paying off all but our last two debts.  Just imagine!  (Insert silent moment here as we imagine what could have been.)

Then we found out my truck needed a big repair.  New axle seals and a control arm?  No biggie.  We put about $750 into it.   Oh, wait- the water heater is on it's last leg.  That's going to be another $750.  Okay, good thing we've got the cash flow to cover it.  At least we don't have to tap into the emergency fund.  Oops,  the power steering is out in one of the work vans.  That will cost $810.  Bye Bye debt snowball for April.  Uh-oh, another work van needs $540 in repairs.  And of course, we can't leave out the last work van- it will get lonely.  It is now leaking power steering fluid and antifreeze, and is going to the shop at the end of the week.  Bye Bye emergency fund!  It's was good to know you!  I enjoyed the time we spend together!  Hopefully we'll meet again someday soon!

It seems that every year we hit a snag around springtime and usually it stops us dead in our tracks.  This is the kind of thing that in the past we would have thrown our hands in the air and given up.  The battle by now is usually lost.  Not this year.  I took a day to mourn what could have been, but I'm going to be thankful that we had the emergency fund to cover what we couldn't cash flow and keep on trucking.  First order of business now is to refund the emergency fund.  After that it's back to the debt snowball.  Thankfully, we have incurred no new debt.

I'm hoping that Murphy has decided to move on and this will be the last of our expensive repairs for a while.  I'm anxious to get back on track kicking this debt's butt. 

Oh- also new debt totals coming soon.  We are again coming to the end of a round of Financial Peace University, which is a fabulous course that gives you the knowledge and skill you need to take control of your financial future.    (learn more here)   We lead it a few times a year, and each cycle we calculate our debt totals at the beginning and end. 

Always fabulous,

What I'm Into Right Now

Every now and then something comes along that grabs my attention and doesn't let up.  Most of the time these things are uber-trendy for a while and then the next year when I'm digging through my closet they are the first things to go into the Goodwill pile.  Not so much because of "what was I thinking" but more like saying goodbye to a treasured piece that was with you for a season but that you have outgrown style and personality wise.  Last year, I couldn't get enough camo-green with a little bit of mock military twist thrown in for good measure.  This spring I am totally digging FAUX DENIM.  Its almost like a high school-esque crush. You know, when you are thinking about it all the time and start to notice it everywhere?  I've been seeing it in a lot of the magazines I read.  Not so much featured, but in a lot of the advertising.

So, how do we normal people interpret what the fashion industry is doing with faux denim?  Here's my take.  I have been sporting  my faux denim with jeans.  Normally I would say that is a definite no-no but it seems to be everywhere right now, denim on denim.  Just to break it up a little bit, I've been using layering.  A long sleeve, collared faux denim shirt open over a few layered ribbed tanks- so cute.  A little bit dressier ruffled faux denim short sleeve button up with a cami underneath that peeks out at the bottom would look great on anyone.

The nice thing is that blue is such a flattering color, the faux denim looks great on just about everyone.  I've seen shirts and vests in all sorts of ranges of colors, from stone wash all the way to dark wash.

Always Fabulous,

The Way I See It

This blog is serving a duel purpose for me.  It is a place that I can go crazy venting about the path to becoming debt free and it is also somewhere that I can share my many thoughts on fashion.  Before I start blathering on with my opinion on the latest trends, I thought I would throw a disclaimer out there and lay down a few of my "ground rules of fashion."

First, I in no way claim to be an expert in any way in the area of fashion.  I just know what I like and I glean a lot of information from magazines like Glamour, Cosmo and Vogue.  I do follow trends- a little bit.  However, anything I write in this blog is my opinion and only my opinion.  If you don't like what I say or if I somehow offend, I am sorry.  Leave me a comment and maybe we can have a good discussion about it.

Alright, on to the good stuff.

My own personal basic rules of fashion:


1. When I speak (or type, rather) about fashion, I am not talking about designer labels.  I am a Midwestern girl and live in the real world, where I can't afford to spend $500 a piece of clothing. Most of my clothes and accessories come from stores that you should be able to find at any good mall.  There are only two exceptions to this in my wardrobe, and I will talk about those in a later post.

2. I don't think looking good should be uncomfortable.  I'm not trying to squeeze into something that doesn't fit my body because it's trendy right now.  I don't buy a smaller size pants even thought I can get them up if they make it hard to breathe.  I'm not going to wear a shirt that in order to look good, I have to suck my stomach in all day.  The only exception to this rule is shoes.  Sometimes, your feet are just gonna hurt.

3. It's only cool if it looks good on you.  Perfect example: high-waisted pants.  They looked good on NO ONE.  That's why the trend was over before it began.  

4. Ultimately, it's not about what other people think.  If you love it, rock it.

Always Fabulous, 

The Crockpot Method

So this whole getting out of debt thing has been compared to cooking with a crock pot.  The theory is, you didn't accumulate all of your debt in one day and you can't get out of all that debt in a day.  That theory is a bunch of crap, in my opinion.  I could definitely get into massive debt in one day.  One totally epic day.  I'd start with a private jet flight for me and a few of my closest friends to Miami where we would do some light shopping.  Nothing a few personal assistants couldn't carry around for us.  After that we would continue on to our private beach front luxury home and my chef would cook everyone a hearty lunch.  All cooked to order, of course.  While we were waiting for lunch to be served, the local Cadillac dealership would be bringing Escalades around, of which I could have my choice.  I would choose the black one, and obviously it would have every bell and whistle available.  After lunch, everyone would go to the beach where we would all be wearing new swim suits, in which everyone would look great because of the massive amounts of nipping and tucking we would have endured for our big day on the beach. (It's a dream, right?)  There would be rounds of drinks served by the waitstaff and we would end the day with a bonfire/cookout on the beach. 

But I digress, while all of that sounds so very lifestyles of the rich and famous, it really wouldn't make me happy.  I have learned (and am still learning!) to find happiness in my husband, my kids and my accomplishments.  Having a happy marriage, raising good kids and meeting goals I have set for my life are what drive me.  Getting out of debt is one of those goals.  And while it would be easier to find a huge chunk of money somewhere or get an inheritance and pay stuff off,  where is the accomplishment in that?  Working hard to achieve something is a reward in and of itself.  Being able to look back and say that I did it with nothing but sheer determination and hard work will make it so much more meaningful. 

Now, will I have that kind of attitude through this entire process?  I hope so.  But probably not.  Which is why I have a post-it note up in my office that reads, "I did not get into debt in one day and I will not get out of debt in one day." 

Always Fabulous,

A bit about my journey so far.

My husband, Tim and I have been on and off the debt-free train for a few years now.  We would get really gung-ho about taking charge of our finances, make a little progress and then hit a road block.  Or tiny hiccup.  Either way, our excited-ness wore off quickly each attempt we made at taking charge of our finances.  We are now fully committed to the ride and have made excellent progress in the last six months.  We started our journey in August of 2010 with zero savings and $34,662.74 in consumer debt.  That is all the debt to our name except our mortgage.  Wowzers.  Read that number again.  Yep.  As of a month ago, when it was last calculated, our current debt level is $28,327.62 and we have a small emergency fund.  We have been following Dave Ramsey for a few years now and have gotten very serious about his program in the lasts nine months.  What changed?  Why nine months ago did we decide to tackle this once and for all?  We were sick of working hard and having nothing to show for it.  We were working 60 hours a week for Capital One, Fifth Third Bank, Visa and the local credit union.  Our goal is to have all of our consumer debt paid off by December 31, 2011.  It is a reasonable goal for our family and we are working very hard to accomplish it.

Now, the reason for this blog.  I want to prove that you can be fashionable, trendy and frugal at the same time.  I plan to post about our journey to become debt free, including victories and set-backs.  I also plan to post my thoughts, ideas and tips to dressing well all while not blowing the budget.

I mean, I'm all for this debt-free goal and living frugally, but let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater and think we have to dress like paupers just because we are living like them.

Always Fabulous,