"Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." Langston Hughes
Updated as of November 2020: If you have a dream, you have to do more than just think about it. Take at least one small step toward it every day. That’s my philosophy. I’ve always been one of those folks who researches everything before they do it, or decide to buy something. So, of course, … Read more About Me
Page updated as of January 2023: If you’ve just stumbled across my blog, or even if you’ve been a long time reader (in which case, I thank you wholeheartedly!), you know that I am a huge animal lover. So much so that I have my own little *herd* as I like to call them. I … Read more The Herd
For some reason this week, I have felt pretty tired most of the time. I even slept in an hour later this morning than I normally do and decided to take another day off from working out. We had a pretty grueling workout with my training small group the other day so I’m giving my body some time to recover. My workout yesterday morning was pretty crappy. I guess as you get older, you get smarter. Or at least that’s the way I’m rationalizing my decision to not work out this morning! Read more
Sorry folks, but yesterday got away from me and I didn’t have a chance to get this post written. But overall, I think it was a good week.
1. My friend who just had twins a little while ago (they came early at around 7 months) just told me last night that they are coming home from the hospital this week – yay! I’m so happy for him and thankful that they have been doing so well. For being born so early, they were in really good shape. I’ve seen pictures and they are just too cute (and tiny) for words! His wife continues to do well, too, and having just seen a picture of her online this week, I am wowed at how she looks already!
2. This week we finally hit the 50s, temps-wise. Tomorrow should be in the high 50s. Get out the bikinis! (Just kidding, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I see something like that from the students who live down the street.) It’s finally feeling (most of the time, anyway) like spring, or at least like winter *might* be going away. Osito and I have gone out on a few walks and she’s super happy about that. I’ve been able to go for a few runs around the Charles River in the mornings and even rode my bike to and from work the other day! I really love that ride along the Charles River paths – it’s my quiet time all for myself.
3. Figured out all of my bills from this paycheck and found I had $163 left over for food for myself and the *herd* as my ex-boyfriend used to call my animals. I guess my mindset has changed. This seems like a lot of money to get me through two weeks! And it’s that amount because I was able to make an extra payment on my private student loan of $433 so that my payment in total for this month is $600. Sticking to the plan and am glad that I am able to pay extra on the loan. Not everyone can.
4. Starting to train more of my friends these days and with every session, I feel like, “yep, this is what I want to do.” I have let the animal shelter where I volunteer in adoption know that I have to cut back on my hours to being more of an occasional volunteer than a weekly volunteer and they were very gracious about it. I just really need to focus on studying for that certification test. And I’ve just signed up for an online anatomy and physiology course through Bunker Hill Community College that will start in a few weeks in order to help me understand a lot of the concepts better. With the freelance work continuing, I’m going to be one busy girl!
5. Speaking of freelance work, I was able to finish another chapter last Sunday! I just really wanted to get it done but do a good job on it. Over 40 hours of work on it! Figuring out how much of that will go toward my student loan and how much will go into my tiny house/land fund!
6. I came across a website the other day for a fiberglass RV that is pretty awesome, and I keep picturing it in my mind when I think to myself “do I use this? Does it have purpose in my life? Should I try selling it on craiglist?” It really helps me to focus on what is important, and it has spurred me on to getting rid of extraneous stuff in my life. It’s called the Lil Snoozy! Regardless of whether I end up in an RV or a tiny house, I’m thankful for this new attitude of having enough abundance in my life and not always feeling like I need “more, more, more!”
7. One of my favorite authors and tiny-housers, Tammy Strobel of Rowdy Kittens, has made the kindle version of her new photography book, free this weekend! Go here to get it!!
Again, apologies for the lateness on this post but hey, better late than never, right? 🙂 Have a great weekend, folks! And if you’ve liked this post, please hit like below or subscribe!
Although I was quite grumpy this morning, I do feel like this was a good week, overall. Feel like I am writing from a place of abundance, you know? (I just wish I also had an abundance of time to get everything done that I want to do!)
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Yesterday, I had a few good talks with people whose opinion I trust. One is a friend who has known me for about 10 years now, and she’s always been one to tell me straight on things. She doesn’t sugar coat things, and that’s one thing I really like about her. I asked her if I was thinking about things in the wrong order – looking online at RVs and tiny houses, trying to figure out where to live, etc., without finding a job in those locations first. She thinks I’m narrowing my options down too early and also, most importantly, that she didn’t want me to give up on my dreams of a tiny house, or as she put it “half ass my goals.” And I respect her for that. She fears that RVs just are not meant for longevity, living-wise.
Then I talked to my financial adviser tonight. I really looked forward to this meeting – what a change from a few years ago when I used to be depressed at my situation.
My guys above are invaluable in helping me to keep my spirits up. It always amazes me how they can find such amusement in something so simple as a box. 🙂 “Oh boy, it’s a box!”
I mentioned last week that I would talk about how I keep from letting myself feel down about my debt. I try to not think about it in overall, total sums, but rather what I can work on at the moment. This does not mean I am in denial, by any means, but as my grandmother used to say when I would stress out about my debt or other matters, that I shouldn’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Or, I guess in this case, not turn a 20,000 foot tall molehill into Mt. Everest. As weather such as wind and rain gradually wear away at such massive structures as mountains or the Grand Canyon, so will I do so with making extra payments over time. (I just thought of that analogy, what do you think of it?) Read more
Woohoo, Friday!!!
Yes, the day I look forward to every week. Seriously. Even though this weekend I am working at my full time job on Sunday, it’s ok because it’s the end of spring break for our students. It will either be really dead (allowing me to catch up on that stuff you never to otherwise) or really busy and the time can fly by. That’s the way I choose to look at it.
So anyway…. Read more
One thing I have to say about my employer is that we do have really good benefits, including 3 personal days per year. So, yesterday, I used one of them, and went to the Massachusetts State House to take part in Massachusetts’ Humane Lobby Day (i.e. we were there to lobby on behalf of animals.) I am very glad I went. I admit, I usually feel pretty jaded about the whole political process, especially when it comes to the federal level of our government, but still, yesterday was inspiring. I’ve been trying to figure out how to live a more authentic life and to be true to my heart and to passions of mine, and today helped to partly fill a need I have to help animals.
First, I want you to see a video of a beautiful pit bull named Turtle, who was at the state house yesterday and literally everyone that saw her smiled. She just had the sweetest demeanor and was so patient with everyone all day. So many hands were reaching out to her over and over.
Here is what Turtle used to look like (by the way, the lady who is sitting with her at the beginning of the video is Debby Vogel, the volunteer coordinator and person responsible for educational programs, and so much more. She is really loved by all the volunteers, myself included.) As you can see, Turtle suffered and there doesn’t seem to be a lot of light in her eyes.
Please click here to see what Turtle looks like today!! Seriously, she had that smile on her face every time I saw her yesterday! And look into her eyes!!! They are so alive now! Read more
Just a short post this morning but one that I feel like I need to make. When I write a post, it’s because an idea has been gnawing at me for a bit. Either that, or I start writing in my journal and the need to write about it here overtakes me. Read more
Been a few weeks and I haven’t reported in on my progress. Well, not much has changed since the past two weeks, but that is about to change this week. I should have been able to pay my extra $430 to my private loans, as usual out of my regular paycheck, but this month that didn’t work out. I am now taking an e-course called Dreaming of Mortgage-Freedom that is run by Hari of the Tiny House Family blog and one of our first assignments is to start tracking our spending. (To get to where you’re going, you need to know where you are right now.) She suggested an app and I know others who do the same thing. (By the way, she was on the Today Show this morning! But for me, sometimes, it’s literally the writing down of everything with pen and paper that helps me to see things clearly. And here’s what happened this month: Read more
Sorry for the lateness in publishing this. I started writing it yesterday but then something happened. I lost my phone on the bus. Yes, I really did. It sounds weird to say this but I almost feel naked without my phone. Yes, I used the word “naked.” Can’t wait to see what search terms might lead people to my blog after this, LOL. Read more
Chasing Simple Dreams 