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How I Roll: My Blogging Habits

By on April 7, 2011

I’m working on a couple regular posts, but for now, here’s a fun, off-topic post about my blogging/writing habits …

It’s funny how every blogger has their preferred blogging time and place.  Some like it before work, some after; some like to write into the late hours of the night and some like to get up before the sun to write.IMG_0189

My blogging habits have changed over the past of couple of years.  Early on, I would only write after work, but I rarely type posts after work anymore.  Sometimes I do, but I find that it starts the gears turning in my mind and usually sets me up for a restless night of sleep.  (Such a sensitive one, that mind of mine.) 

Now, I find that writing is on my mind much more regularly.  I’m usually jotting down thoughts in one of several mini-notebooks that I’ve started carrying around with me.  Currently, my favorite notebook is the red one that’s covered in pink flowers – totally me – there in that picture to the right.

Almost every post that you see on this blog is drafted during my lunch hour at work.  I like to scout out an empty conference room (sure would be nice to have an office!) and spend 30 to 60 minutes at one end of a long meeting IMG_0190table, clicking away on my miniature netbook keyboard (that cute little white thing to the left there).

Even though I spend most of the day slaving away on spreadsheets and financial systems, I feel that when I write over lunch, I am able to carve a little slice of time out of my day for me and that I get more out of my day (I also used to feel this way when I made time to work out over lunch – but, as I already mentioned, I’m now trying to work out in the morning).

Sometimes, I can’t make time to write.  During the beginning and end of the month, I’m usually annoyingly busy (such is the life of an Accountant) and often don’t have time to break for lunch.  Other times, even when I’m not really busy at work, I just waste my lunch break with:

  • mindless Internet surfing
  • telling my co-workers long, boring stories about my wedding (he he)
  • going on a walk
  • making personal calls
  • running errands
  • staring blankly out the window … whatevs – you know you’ve had days like that, too

These are all good ways to spend the lunch hour, but don’t leave me quite as happy as my lunchtime writing sessions do (well, the walk usually does … gets those endorphins pumping and all that jazz).

I usually always plan time to write during the weekends, too. 

I always daydream about these marathon Saturday morning writing sessions where I have my coffee cup in hand, I’m deep in thought and staring out the window at the stormy weather, while a narrator tells the audience everything I’m thinking … but that hardly ever happens.  In fact, I’m one of those writers that desperately wants to write, but hardly ever gets around to it.  Funny how that works. ;)

What are your blogging/writing habits like?  How do you make time in your day to do the things you love?

Categories: Blogging, Notes, Random10 Comments

Blog Roundup: Nice Weather & Financial Blogger Conference

By on March 11, 2011

I went for my first outdoor spring run yesterday!  It was everything I’ve ever wanted and more.  As soon as I set foot outside, I realized how absolutely awful treadmill running is.  Running outside is so much better – it’s more inspiring, the time flies by, the scenery is beautiful, the breeze is refreshing, and I always just feel more cleansed afterward.  After 4-5 months trapped indoors at a gym, I am ecstatic to get outside!

This weekend, with the nice weather, the Big 12 Championship in downtown Kansas City, and KU hopefully making it to the final game, mis amigos and I will be heading down to the Power & Light district to watch the game on the big outdoor screen (no tickets for us … so sad).  The outdoor area with the big screen (which used to be called “the living room” – do they still call it that?) is one of my favorite places to hang out on summer nights.  So much fun to enjoy the warm weather outdoors than inside (you have all winter to do that!).

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**Is anyone planning on going to the Financial Blogger Conference over the October 1, 2011 weekend?  I found out about it yesterday (through Krystal’s blog post) and I would really like to go.  Chicago is just a short flight away from Kansas City, so it’s a quick trip for me.  I might need to some hotel roomies!  Let me know if you’re going!**

On to the links!  (Including some guest posts by me…)

5 Reasons I’m Happy I Rent

“Cheap rent. I realize this is not the case everywhere (just ask that “rent is too damn high” guy), but, here in Kansas City, rent is relatively cheap. My rent expense accounts for just 9% of my net income (living with someone helps, but when I lived alone, it accounted for about 21% of my net income). This allows me to save a substantial percentage of my income, putting me in a better position to (hopefully) throw down an awesome down payment when I do buy a home.” – guest post by me on Consumerism Commentary

How to Save Money While Planning a Fabulous Wedding

“First and foremost, before you plan anything, set your priorities.  This is important because priorities are different for every person. Although ice sculptures and a string quartets are a MUST for some couples, unlimited kegs of beer and an awesome DJ are on the top of the list for others.” – by me on Money Under 30

File Under “I’ve Lost My Mind” – Student Loans Paid Off By 30

“It seems that most former students have decided that education loans are a necessary evil that must tolerated forever. It doesn’t have to be this way. A year ago, you could have categorized me with the group of post-grads that were content with paying the bare minimum and trudging along slowly, accumulating hundreds if not thousands of dollars in interest in the meantime. While I accept that interest is going to work against me no matter the rate at which I manage these payments, I want these loans gone.” – by Clare on Never Niche

It’s Your Job, but is it Your Passion?

“I always knew that my dream job wasn’t exactly going to be high paying; I just figured I’d find a way to make it work. But when the time came to make that decision, I started to second guess myself. Did I want to spend my life working long hours for a low salary? How important was buying a home of my own, and was retiring early really a goal I wanted to achieve? With the new job, I wouldn’t be able to do any of those things, no matter how much I cut out of my budget. So all of a sudden, The Perfect Job didn’t seem so perfect anymore. It was a hard decision to make, but I had to be realistic with myself.” – by Krystal at Give Me Back My Five Bucks

Have a great weekend!

Categories: Announcements, Blog Roundup, Notes11 Comments

Thanksgiving Week: My Thanks & No Thanks

By on November 24, 2010

I’m throwing my hat into the ring of Thanksgiving posts this week.  This one’s got a twist though….OOOooohhhh.  Brace yourselves:

  1. I’m sharing what I’m thankful for and NOT thankful for.  Let’s face it – we all have things we’re not thankful for, too.  ;)
  2. The things that I’m thankful and not thankful for are limited to personal finance and health topics.

Thanks:

Personal Finance

  • Mortgage interest rates are at an all-time low!  And I mean LOW!  When we do buy, we’d love to snag one in the 3% range….or, dare I say, maybe even in the 2% range?
  • I have a stable, well-paying full-time job.
  • I’m DEBT-FREE!!!!!!!!
  • I have parents and in-laws to-be that are generous enough to help G and I with our wedding.
  • I’m smart enough to not be a name brand groupie.
  • G and I are well on our way to having a very sizable down payment for our future first-home and our new home expense fund.
  • My credit cards are ALWAYS paid in full every month, so I haven’t paid a lick of interest in YEARS.
  • I save enough money to donate to charity and to give gifts to my awesome family and friends (because that’s what it’s really all about, right?)
  • I don’t stress about money anymore.  I just plan about money and/or think about money.  It’s more fun that way.

Health:

  • I have somewhat of a fast metabolism.  Partly by genetics, partly by weight lifting.  I could easily gain a lot of weight when I slack on clean eating and exercise, but I’ve wavered in the same 10 pound region for years now.  I guess I’m here for good!
  • I enjoy exercise enough to stick with it.
  • I actually like most healthy foods.  But… I also like unhealthy foods and drinks.  It’s all about balance. ;)
  • Weight lifting is my BFF.
  • Sweat is also my BFF.  Love that sweat.
  • I’m starting to find my inner-Zen through Yoga.  I’ve been practicing Yoga a lot more these days and I love it!
  • I have no major health issues and neither does anyone in my family.  Although, I might have some mental health issues after all this wedding planning. ;)
  • My husband-elect is way more obsessed with healthy living than me.  I am so thankful I never have to worry about his health down the road.

No Thanks:

Personal Finance:

  • Weddings are so damn expensive.  Vendors are so scandalous.
  • It always seems that someone in my family or group of friends has money problems.  I wish no one I loved ever had money problems.
  • There are those that don’t know how to handle money.  Those people need to STOP ACTING RICH.
  • Wine at restaurants is really expensive.  Just once, I would like to order a glass of wine with dinner without paying more than I usually pay on ONE bottle at the liquor store.
  • Finally, I wish I had the ability to give more.  I try to give consistently.  I enjoy buying others gifts.  But I wish I could give more.  I know that’s not really something to NOT be thankful for, but you know what I mean.

Health:

  • Only one: I wish staying in shape didn’t get harder the older you get.  I used to be able to drop 5 or 10 pounds without much effort at all!  Now, I’m having the HARDEST time losing 10 pounds before the wedding.  Literally, I’ve been working my butt off and lost A POUND  ONE. POUND.  This is not okay!  NO THANKS!!!!

Categories: Body, Dollars, Health, Life, Notes2 Comments

On the Lending Tree Blog: Are Budgets the Latest Wedding Trend?

By on November 22, 2010

Wedding-Budget-PiggybankAs I delve deeper into my wedding planning, I’m finding that I’m not the only one planning a lovefest on a budget.  Weddings that I attend these days are more budget-friendly, which is quite a turn of events from 4 to 5 years ago when weddings were inflamed and expensive.

In my latest article for the Lending Tree blog – posted today – I discuss this wedding trending topic.  Here’s a sneak peak at what I had to say:

Since I’m in my mid-twenties, I attend, on average, 2.2 weddings every weekend.  Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but I do attend a lot of weddings.  Four years ago, most weddings I went to were at trendy downtown lofts or fancy country clubs.  The centerpieces were glamorous works of art.  The cuisine was exquisite.  The décor was awesome.  And the price tags were unreal.

Check out my post – Saving Money When Budgeting for a Wedding in a Tough Economy – on Lending Tree’s blog!

I’d be honored if you showed me some love over there and let me know what you think in their comments section!  Have you noticed a trend in budget-friendly weddings where you live?

(source)

Categories: Blogging, Dollars, Notes, Wedding1 Comment

My Journey To First-time Home Ownership on the Lending Tree Blog

By on November 16, 2010

First-Time-Home-BuyersG and I plan to buy a home pretty soon after we get hitched.  I’ve wanted to own a home for as long as I can remember and I cannot believe it’s creeping up on us so fast!

I was lucky enough to write about the impact the current housing market has had on my home-buying views for the Lending Tree Blog and the article was posted today!

Here’s a snippet from the article:

Homeowners are being hit hard by the failing housing market: decreasing property values, inability to sell, or being forced to accept lowball offers.  While stories like these are abundant, there’s another side of that equation: renters and future first-time homebuyers are able to purchase dream homes with a lower price tag and snag shockingly low interest rates.

Please head over and check out my article – Taking the Plunge: A First-time Homebuyer Considers the Housing Market!

I’d love to hear what other fellow future or current first-time homebuyers think.  How has the housing market hurt or help you?

(source)

Categories: Blogging, Dollars, House, Notes, Saving, shopping6 Comments