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,
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
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:
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:
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
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,
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,
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
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,
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.
Always Fabulous,
Thursday, May 26, 2011
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,
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.
Always Fabulous,
Friday, May 20, 2011
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.
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.
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 |
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
*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$$ Mess. You know why I'm in this position? Because I put myself here. I take personal responsibility and total credit. My husband and I were out chasing the American dream. With a Visa. Bad choice. We know better now. If we can't pay cash, we don't get it.
In the next year to 18 months I plan to be debt free. I plan to owe nothing to no one. I will never have another credit card. I will never finance anything again. I am done being a slave to my poor decisions. Watch out, AMEX I just got angry.
Always Fabulous,
Add all of that to the fact that we need a new water heater, my car needs brakes, the septic needs pumped, the kids all need new clothes and the baby is running out of diapers and I am feeling like a total HAM. Hot a$$ 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,
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