March 28, 2012

debt diet and replacing cars: how to pay cash for a car

it has been 6  months 
since i celebrated this day
the day we could officially
declared at the top of our lungs

that we
had
no 
more
credit 
card 
debt!

i swear i never ever 
want to be in that place again.
ever. 


we now pay off everything monthly,
sometimes sooner
and we
prefer it that way

(again, thanks to
this man and his book
can't say enough about it)


so with 6 months of 
dutiful financing underneath our belt
we must think about the
inevitable

it is time.

it is time for us to upgrade the vehicle.

now most sane, normal, everyday americans 
go through this process every 3-4 years.
some wait even 6-8 years.
die hards will make it 10-12 years.
(the average is about every 5 years)

not sure what category we fall into.
we have been driving our beast for
14 years.  

crazy?
i know.

this is us the year we  bought our car.
the twins are 5 months old and big sis is just two.



it truly has been the greatest car ever.

many treks to our beloved disneyland
back in the day.


this was the girls
all geared up for a dad's-only
camping trip.


not sure where the time goes but it has gone

so now the search has begun.
let me add,
after we paid off our last car
(probably in 2008)
we continued to pay our car payment 
to ourselves.

**this is the key, peeps.
continue to pay yourself 
allowing at least 4-5 years of this 
and before you know it.
your pile of car payments to yourself 
is now equal to writing a check for your next car.

i know you want to celebrate
when you make that last car payment 
with a big steak dinner and 
more moolah for you.

but instead, 
start that 'car fund', 
stash it away
and watch it grow.


not a bad gig
really


lo and behold,
 we have a small stash of cash
ear marked just for that.

mamma needs new wheels.
so i must ask myself,
what do i want to still be driving 
in at least 14 more years?

i have some ideas...

hint, hint...

ever pay cash for a car?

would love your thoughts, strategies, car ideas.

all of it.


March 23, 2012

bracelet love

been stalking bracelets lately

of all kinds:

silver
gold
beaded
pave
bangles







even stainless steel

i think you could
say it's my new obsession

what do you think about stacking bracelets
and clinking down the street
with your wrists all 
blinged out?

well, apparently,
it's my new thing...


March 15, 2012

trending: what i learned from my teenage daughters

you all have probably 
already discovered this
new trend

creative 
nail polish 
patterns

isn't pinterest
dreamy?


so my three, 
ever fashion forward girls 
have been all over this 
latest nail trend


ssshhhh,
the girls get a ton of inspiration from
ahem, i mean,
style icon.
check her out for even more 
fashion trends

 
 here is my 
43 year old 
soccer mom
version

verdict?

tell me about your latest fashion trend?

March 14, 2012

48

i must beg your pardon

please
please
please 
excuse my delay

guess we have been off in la la land
enjoying every second having
daddy'o  back on the scene

i just couldn't pull myself away
for one single second
to record a thing

so let's catch up:

today is a special day over here

 today marks 
mr. man's birthday
 
i know.

first homecoming,
then birthday
big 
big 
celebrations 
all 
around

can you see the smiles 
plastered on our faces?

  
the girls and i tried to get
as dolled up as we could
for the big welcome

this was us a little over a week ago

obviously off in 
family land
enjoying all the wonderfulness that
having the five of us together again

soccer
track
eating in
eating out
daddy's weekend waffles
 big bed
 non-stop laundry cycles
*thank you, honey, for being the laundry guy.
we and our clean clothes thank you
morning notes

and that's just off the top of my head

 now we get to wish him
a happy birthday
48
 
holy cow
that's almost 
half a century

tonight 
we will eat pizza
surround mr man with 
as much love and adoration 
as this family can muster

and of course 
our 
around the table
staring mr man himself
always the best part
happy birthday, honey.
we love you to no end

and welcome home, sailor

March 2, 2012

we are ready...

we 
are 
ready

flags in place.
check.

 sign up.
check.

fresh flowers

 in full bloom.
check.

just waiting on one last thing...

hurry
up
2:30
get 
here 
fast.