What I Learned From Meeting With A Mortgage Consultant

I’ll be the first to admit it. My husband and myself are not the greatest when it comes to our personal finances. We have some issues with “where the hell did all of that money go.” Don’t get me wrong, we’re doing fine but just like everyone else could probably afford to do a little bit better.
 We’re considering purchasing our first home. Renting is just getting to be a pain. It’s expensive, not investing, & I can’t do any of the amazing Pinterest ideas that I come across {this is a legit concern, don’t judge}. If you’ve ever purchased before you know that they make you bring in like every piece of financial history that you’ve ever had; including bank statements. They go through it line by line and question you on it. This is what I learned….
  1. The debit card is evil. It’s become a total illusion for what money really is. If you just swipe; it’s not like you’re actually spending. They compared it to the casino. When casinos were using actual paper money to gamble you could see that 100 dollar bill disappear. Now, debit cards have become exactly like casino chips. 
  2. Go through the past three months of your bank statements. Divide it into two columns. One being a need and the other being a want. This will help you to find your “problem areas” of spending.
  3. Call your cable company & look for promotions or even cancel those 1000 channels. I mean seriously, are you really watching ALL THOSE SHOWS?
  4. Fast food. Quit it. He said the only food on a bank statement should be the grocery store {except a night of dining out for special occasions} 
  5. Every night before you go to bed check out your transactions for the day. 
  6. Make a budget & stick to it.

Anyone else have tips on how to save / control spending habits?

I Promised…

Okay, since I joined this silly 30 day blog  challenge here it goes ….
I’m drunk. Happy 4th of July 🙂
Does anything more need to be said? 
Yes, it does. ‘MERICA. 
That’s all <3 

Liebster Award


As a new blogger this is a huge honor. I’ve been on the blogging scene for just over 6 weeks now and the feedback I’m receiving is amazing. This is one of the situations where I feel so justified in what I’m doing; thanks to Devon @ La Du It 2 It I have been nominated for my very first award.  If you’re not sure what the Liebster award is; basically it’s a new blogger award that allows us to spread awareness of who we are and get to know others. 

To accept the nomination I must:
1) Link back to the blog that nominated me- Thanks again Devon, you rock! <3
2) Nominate 3-5 blogs with fewer than 200 followers
3) Answer the questions posted for you by your nominator
4) Share 11 random facts about yourself
5) Create 11 questions for your nominees

6) Contact your nominees and let them know you nominated them


The blogs I’ve nominated are:
1) It’s Not My Workout, It’s My Diagnosis 
2) Musings Of A Single Mama
3) The Essentials 

11 Questions for my nominees:
1) Why do you blog? What do you love about it?  
2) If you could spend a day with anyone in the world, past or present, who would it be?
3) What do you think is your “calling”? 
4) What is your favorite memory from your past? 
5) What is your favorite candy? 
6) Do you have a bucket list? If so, share a few things on it. 
7) What was your first car?
8) What would be your perfect date night?
9) What is your favorite sport? Sports Team?
10) What is your dream vacation?
11) If you had a genie that would grant you wishes… what would be your first wish? 

11 Questions from Devon:
1) What is your favorite hobby?
Hobby? Do I even have a hobby? I really don’t have any special talents that I entertain. I guess I really like to read. I can be quite a bookworm. 
2) If you could spend a day with anyone in the world, past or present, who would it be?
I really just want to spend each day with my family. Nothing extravagant. We live across the country from my parents & my in-laws so having us all together for a big bash would be amazing. 
3) What is your calling?
ummmm, Like any mom I’d say my job with my son is my true calling. I love my life more than ever since becoming a mom. With that being said, my work with animals is my passion. 
4) What is your favorite childhood memory?
My best friend Stephanie and I {we’ve been friends for 21 years now- I’m only 27} would have the most amazing summer adventures. I’d say my favorite is tying each other up with stretch pants and jumping in the pool. It’s a BFF thing; I don’t expect you to understand. 

5) What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
Plain old vanilla. Don’t you get fancy with it. 
6) Name one thing on your bucket list
Simple. Actually get a Honeymoon with my husband. 
7) What was your first car?
Well, It WAS a creepy mini van that my parents gave me but I sold it in a parking lot and bought myself a 1997 Saturn. 
8) What would be your perfect date night?
A babysitter. End. 
9) What is your favorite sports team?
Oh you Detroit Red Wings <3 You little shits you.
 
10) What is your dream vacation?

Bermuda. Bahamas. Key Largo. Montego. Kokomo. Whatever. Give me sun & sand & adult beverages. 
11) What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?
hmmmm oh the possibilities. 
I’d hire a financial advisor so I don’t end up on that show “the lottery ruined my life” 

Eleven Random Facts 

  1. I have a love hate relationship with food. It tastes so good but usually ends up making me sick. 
  2. I really like shoes; specifically high heels. Yet, I think i’m too tall to wear them. So while I own a ton I never wear them.
  3. My biggest weakness in life is Target. I am obsessed. I can’t go in there and spend less than $100. It’s pathetic.
  4. Before my work in emergency medicine, I worked in a shelter. I have euthanized animals & that really bums me out.
  5. I have a soft spot for old decrepit cats. The older, crabbier, & sicker the better.
  6. I’ve been on the other side of the country {I’m in Texas, from Michigan} for over a year now and I still get homesick all of the time.
  7. I’ve had the same best friend for 21 years. I’m only 27. This is impressive to me. 
  8. I started blogging out of sheer boredom. It’s quickly becoming one of my favorite hobbies. I’m amazed at how many strangers are so supportive. 
  9. I think I would die without my iPhone. It’s like my lungs. Can’t breathe without an iPhone.
  10. My husband is the greatest guy in the world. It took me a long time to realize that and finally start to date him {I made him chase me for a bit} but i’m so glad he didn’t give up <3
  11. For my graduation gift to myself I almost bought a VW Beetle. I found out I was pregnant a month before graduation and realized a car seat wouldn’t fit well in it. One day. One day. 
Thanks again Devon for this opportunity <3 I look forward to seeing what my nominees have to say! 

Total "OFF" day

Do you guys ever have one of those days where you just feel weird for no reason? It’s like I got no sleep last night but in reality I had plenty.  Oh, I forgot, It’s Monday. That’s my excuse.

I gave my son a waffle for breakfast and forgot to toast or warm it. “Here kid, here’s a rock hard waffle, enjoy”.  I realized it after he looked at me like I was insane.

While my son naps in the morning / afternoon that’s usually the time I take to play on the internet a little bit, shower, and get ready for the day. I spent 20 minutes playing with my wet hair trying to make it look good because I was too lazy to blow dry it. It only takes me 10 minutes to blow dry it and make it look presentable. So by the end of that 20 minutes I had a damp frizzy mess on my head. I took the 10 minutes to blow dry it.

It’s currently still nap time. Why am I watching Yo Gabba Gabba?!  I now have the song “get the sillies out” stuck in my head.
This show is too creepy to look away!

It’s only 2 pm. I can’t wait to see what dumb stuff I’ll do at the grocery store later.

Dining with the Dead

If I could have dinner with anyone in history it would be…

Steve Jobs. 

I’m a huge Apple fan first of all. iPhone. iPad. iTunes. All of it. To me, they’re the most amazing and innovative pieces of technology. 
With that being said, over some sushi, I’d like to pick his brain on further futuristic technology because you know damn well that he had tons of amazing ideas flowing through that creative brain. 
… I might be able to capitalize on some of that. I’m a jerk. 


A Father’s Father’s Day day.

Hey all. Papa Bear here. I normally post on Saturdays. Since today is Father’s Day, I decided to post today instead of yesterday. Genius, right? Well, it would be genius if I wasn’t simply too lazy yesterday to do it. So anyway, today IS indeed Father’s Day; roughly translated to “El Dia de los Muertos” in Spanish. Actually I have no idea what that means. I don’t speak Spanish. (My wife wanted me to add pictures to this blog, so I’ll add one after this if I can figure it out)

Back to Father’s Day. I realized that Father’s Day is like a second birthday. It in no way compares to my actual birthday because I married my wife on my birthday. Aww. (see what I did there, guys?). Women call me dumb for that one. I call myself one thing: GENIUS. I will NEVER forget the day I got married. Anyway Father’s Day. I keep forgetting I wanted to write about Father’s Day. Today, my Father’s Day consisted of me waking up, not showering, having breakfast made for me, getting a gift, watching the Cubs lose yet again, and taking my pants off. Today rocks! MY PANTS ARE OFF RIGHT NOW! I love it.

Am I doing this picture thing right, babe? Anyways, what does Father’s Day mean to me? You know, I never understood Mother’s Day and Father’s Day as a kid. I never understood what it meant. Well, now that I’m a father, I get it now. It’s a day to celebrate, not yourself, but your child. I take a look at my son WHO SOMEHOW HAS POOP ON HIS FOREHEAD… BRB….. I take a look at my son, and it just sinks in that I MADE THAT. Granted, that type of prideful thought happens daily, but not to this scale.

I think I’m just babbling now. It’s not something you can really explain. Anyway, I’m out. GO BLACKHAWKS!

First Fathers Day.

Happy very first fathers day to my amazing husband. This is such an exciting day for him <3 I wish I could be there to spend the entire thing with him and thank him for being so wonderful BUT I must go to work all day. That's why I'm posting this tonight. He gets to spend the day being the great dad that he is.
I have gotten SO LUCKY with my husband. Not only does he treat me exactly how I deserve to be treated but he’s great with our son. I knew when I married him that he was going to make a great father but I never knew exactly how amazing he was going to do with him. If i’m the slightest bit overwhelmed he always tries to help out. He spends his weekends home from work with him so I’m able to get out and go to work. Everett adores me but once Matt walks in the door, I no longer exist. He laughs and gets so excited the second he sees him. It truly melts my heart. 
So happy fathers day Matt (yes, he does read this) I love you. Everett loves you. Life wouldn’t be complete without you. Thank you for being you. 
<3 
Oh, & look for a post from him tomorrow! It’s his weekly blog post time! 

#FTSF – The Hardest Part Of My Day

As lame as this may sound the hardest part of my day is keeping myself & the baby entertained. There is only so much cleaning and housework that can be done on a daily basis before I start to feel like a slave. I need FUN in my life and lots of it. 
Being a stay at home mom during the day it gets difficult to find new things to do with the baby. He isn’t the most “portable” little guy and usually gets upset if we’re out and about for more than a few hours. I’m not used to the Texas heat yet so a lot of outdoor activities get shunned. (Although, we’re waiting on our pool pass!) I’m always looking for new games to play with my 8 month old that will be stimulating for him <3 




First Feature!

photo NEWFeatureFridays200x169_zps66dd474a.jpg

 I’m so honored to have one of MY blog posts featured 🙂

Check It Out Here

I’ll also be co-hosting there next weekend! Blogging life is looking up! I want to thank all my readers for all of the support thus far! You guys are fantastic <3

Bullying. What can we do?

I promise that there will not be too many of these “serious” posts because I’m more about having fun and filling my blog with laughter but there is one topic that has been going around the news a lot lately that has really been getting under my skin. Bullying.
I find it to be the most disgusting, saddening, horrific thing going on with children and teenagers. When I was in school, which wasn’t even 10 years ago, there was nothing like what is going on today. There weren’t videos of girls kicking the shit out of each other. There weren’t clubs that are devoted to getting someone to kill themselves.  Think I’m joking? Kids are SERIOUSLY ganging up together and trying to get others to kill themselves.

This young girl was forced out of school because the bullying was so bad. A group of fellow classmates started a club called the “KKK” which stands for the Kill Kate Klub.

You know what I see here? A beautiful young girl who is getting teased because of the fact that she is pretty. I thoroughly believe that kids are bullying because they are lacking something inside of themselves; either they are insecure or their home life is less than stellar. 
That’s where I believe parents have to come into play. I understand not all children are going to have ideal situations with their parents but the ones who do are the ones who can help to figure out this problem. 
I don’t even know what I would do if I found out that my child was participating in these kinds of actions. What can we do? 
Cyber bullying: well obviously parents should be aware of what their kids are doing on the computer; but wait. Most children (especially young teens) now have cell phones with internet access. So how can we watch what their saying on those when they aren’t home? 
This post is really asking for opinions.  What can we do? How do we talk to children about this? What do you do if you find out your kid is involved with bullying? Either the bully or the one being targeted?