Thursday, September 23, 2010

Goal met! Now... about that prize...

I've been doing really well with my overtime lately and watching my spending.

Okay, so my 2nd job only lasted a weekend (due to powers beyond my control) and I'm kind of okay with that at the moment. Sure, I'll still keeping my eyes open for something seasonal, but with over 12 hours of overtime in the first 2 weeks of the month, I'm already ahead of my goal. How awesome is that?!

So that said, I am tempted to reward myself with "a little something".

Ya see, for the past several years I've been carring a big red drawstring Disney movie club back pack around the Disney parks. In my circle, it's affectionately refered to as "the obnoxiously red backpack"
Me at DCA in June of 2010

As you can see, it's seen better days. No butts about it. (ha ha ha)

So I'm looking for a new back to become my ultimate theme-park-magazine-research-trip-vacation-park-hopping-buddy!

Originally, I was looking for the sling back design. Something like this:




 but with more pockets for better balance.
Pockets that are easily accesible are a must for the camera and passes and other in-park necessities.
(Water resistance is a definate plus, but I can treat any fabric for that.)
HOWEVER... I recently stumbled across this gem too:
Source
It's NOT the design I was originally looking for, but I could also see myself using this for SO many other things, I can almost justify buying it... in fact, I may just before the night is out.

And then it hit me...
I realized it.
It took me 30 years to do the things most girls/women are conditioned to do early in life -
SHOP FOR HANDBAGS!

Am I a slow learner or what?  ;)

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Tools and Decisions

As you know, if you've been following my blog lately, I've REALLY been working to get out of debt. In fact, last night I looked around at places to move once my debts are all paid off possibly next year. (Now that I'm working from home, I have the freedom to move about the country if I so choose, w/o having to worry about my income changing.)

In looking at my life right now, I'm happy to say I have all the tools to succeed at that. All I have to do is apply myself. My company has approved 60 hr weeks for the foreseeable future, and my second job is also kicking in this week. So I'm currently working 10 hrs/day, 6 days/week, with about 8-10 extra hours slid in there for job #2.

So, here's what all that translates to:

Yes, I'm tired.
No, I can't go to your (fill-in-the-event) unless it's on a sunday.
Yes, I'd love to do lunch or dinner but other than that, I can't really go out unless it's on a Sunday.

But here's the great thing - I hope to owe NO ONE by this time in 2011. Yes, well before the begining of fall, even my car will be paid off (barring any crazy emergencies).

I see clearly how I have been given every tool I need to succeed. It's all about making the plan and working the plan.

I'll admit, the scheduling is tough to deal with. It's only been a week and I'm already having trouble concentrating, but I'm getting through. How? By thinking of all the inspirational people I have in my life - several of which I get to talk to every day. They really help me stay focused AND remind me to take care of myself.

I have learned something great though. Whenever things seem overwhelming, I remember that I don't have to do EVERYTHING all at once. All I have to do is take the next step. And then take the step after that. And the step after that. Things will fall into place.

I'm really starting to get excited about the upcoming phases of my life. (With my debt out of the way, changing fields, moving, and starting a family may be some of the great things I have to look foward to in the upcoming years.)

One foot in front of the other!

Friday, September 3, 2010

Where did this week go?!

It's amazing what happens when you're working 2 jobs, and one of them gives you a ton of overtime. Time really does just FLY!

So here's the latest:
My current day job has authorized all the overtime I can handle until next Tuesday. Then it'll probably drop down to only 2 hrs of OT/week.
I just recieved training for my 2nd job and that's kicking into gear starting next week. Then there is another training phase involved, but I'm sure it'll go smoothly.

What does all this mean?I have little to no social life. I love that I'm getting my debts paid off, and I'm very grateful to have more work than I know what to do with. But I find that when I'm done at the end of the day, my brain is fried. I don't want to leave home. Evenings are usually when I have downtime alone. My roomie is working as a DJ, so he works a lot of late nights. Right about when I'm making dinner, he's leaving, so I have some down time. Problem is, lately I've been getting really bored really quickly. I'd rather be doing something productive than sitting on my butt and watching TV or a movie or something. Last night I crawled in bed around 8pm just because I figured sleeping would be more productive than watching a dvd.

However...This means I'm finally moving forward. I feel like I've been blessed w/ the tools to get out of the rut. All I gotta do is use 'em! So that's what I'm doing now. Using those tools does mean managing time well, and making some sacrifices when it comes to social life - but it also will put the test my commitment to taking care of myself and all the aspects of my health. Currently, I have Sundays blocked off as my day off. Thankfully, I'll also get Monday off since it's a holiday.

A few thoughts about stress...So working like a dog w/ no real vacation scheduled has made me think about stress. How can I help from feeling overwhelmed? Well, I figured it out. I was walking to the store to run some errands on Wednesday and I remembered an old Amy Grant song that helped me out:
"All I ever have to be is what You made me.
Any more or less would be a step out of Your plan.
As you daily recreate me, help me always keep in mind
That I only have to do what I can find."
This was reinforced while I was running on the treadmill. Ya see, when I think of the entire distance or time or number of hills I'm running, I get discouraged. It seems insurmountable. But when I just think about the next step, it suddenly becomes more doable. And before you know it, I've completed whatever the monumental task is.

Keeping inspirational people in my life is even more important right now. Friends and family who ACTIVELY support me have become invaluable to me this past year. I find that I have less and less time, attention, and desire for fly-by-night relationships (friendships or otherwise).

A race is won by putting one foot in front of the other. But it can't be won without a great support team.