1. We want to go on a road trip for spring break. Okay, well, I really want to go on a road trip for spring break. I’m sure Mike will, too, once I plan it. We’ve never had spring break the same week in all our years of both working at schools, and while that was sort of nice in some ways (a whole week at home to declutter everything!), I’d also love to be able to use our week off and do something really fun, but still affordable (and go somewhere WARMER). Any suggestions for a warm place to travel within driving distance of northeast Ohio is welcome! South Carolina, perhaps?
2. Speaking of wanting to go somewhere warmer, I was about to just hop on a plane for any amount of money and just go to Florida for a weekend because I could not handle anymore freezing cold days without curling up into the fetal position and crying. Then we had two wonderful days of sunshine and yesterday it got up to a balmy 39 degrees and we could actually walk outside! It was glorious. Yes, 39 degrees is glorious in February. The weather just pushes me until I can’t take it anymore, then it breaks and gives me a little hope that I will able to make it through until spring. I’m not even using hyperbole; winter is really hard for me. I’m not sure if I’m atypical, but winter feels sort of like childbirth – you don’t think you can make it through, but then you do and you forget how hard it was. I do love having all of the seasons, but I just wish I had enough money to have a winter home and escape for a month of winter.
3. I am trying out a bunch of invoicing and business bookkeeping tools right now to see what fits my business best. I already love and use Todoist for project management and Toggl for time tracking. I’ve used PayPal for invoicing, but I’d like to move to Harvest or Freshbooks instead. I’m testing both of them, as well as Outright for bookkeeping. Harvest is a bit less expensive, but Freshbook’s interface is easier to use. For a long time, I’ve hesitated to spend money for my business, but I’m realizing that it’s sort of true that you need to spend money to make money sometimes. When I take my business seriously, it does better.
4. I never know how to refer to life before Gabe and life after Gabe. “Before becoming a mom” sounds so…grand. Sort of like how I never really called Mike my boyfriend or fiancé, just “Mike” when I was talking to other people. “Before having Gabe” makes me think about having Gabe literally and, like, childbirth. I don’t know. I’m weird. Perhaps I shall call it BG and AG – before Gabe and after Gabe.
5. I’ve been trying to make more of an effort to go and be social even when I don’t feel like it. Because afterward, I always feel happy and supported. Every time I take stock of myself and what makes me happy, I come to the conclusion that my friends make me happy and that I need to see more of them. I’ve been going to more events with my moms club (always sounds so lame, but I swear it’s wonderful) and initiating more plans. I’m so lucky to have such a supportive group of women and friends in my life. I thrive with those connections, but sometimes laziness takes over.
6. I am not sure what I will do without 30 Rock and The Office next year. I am sort of mad at 30 Rock for ending already. NOT OKAY. We should still get a few more months! And I haven’t watched this week’s episode of The Office, but I am also mad at them for the Pam-Jim situation. It is NOT okay. Also, have Pam and Jim never gotten into an argument before? When they got into a fight on the phone, they acted it like it The Worst Fight of All Time OMG and it wasn’t really that bad. I don’t know, it didn’t leave me feeling like, “Wow. That was horrible. They aren’t gonna make it.” I dunno.
7. My design business is going well. I am just so, so thankful that I get to do what I love on a daily basis and get paid for it. I love my hands-on clients, I love the balance of right brain and left brain thinking with coding and creative design work. I’m proud that I am contributing to our family’s income and of all I’ve learned and grown over the last year and a half since officially opened its doors.
I used Harvest while doing some freelance work. At first it seemed not so user friendly, but once I got the hang of it, I really liked it. Very easy.
Also–I love to hear updates on how your design business is going. I know that’s a big part of your daily life, I’d love to hear more about it regularly–what you’re working on, struggles, busy v. non-busy times, ect.
As for #1, go on a road trip that takes you through DC!!! Springtime is the best here and if you’re break is at the right time, you might even see the cherry blossoms at their peak!
Oh my gosh, “your” break, not “you’re.” I have been so sloppy with your/you’re lately, it is annoying the heck out of me! I’m a very good speller, I swear! Just shouldn’t comment or tweet without reviewing before I press send.
Have you thought about getting a light therapy box for the winter blues? They can make a huge difference, especially if you’re really sensitive to the weather!
I recently tried out EchoSign for my freelance writing business. It worked really nice and seemed like a professional way to get contracts/terms signed quickly! I would recommend it.
Oh man, I feel you on the being social thing. It takes such an effort for me too, but I am always glad I did afterward! What’s UP with that?
Totally know what you mean about winter. We just moved to Minnesota in October. Today it is in the upper 20s and sunny and it feels really nice. 39 would feel heavenly. Which also makes me sad about how my standards for “warm” have changed. And I KNOW re: The Office! The whole Pam/Jim thing feels so contrived. I get that things are tense in their relationship right now, but…really? We all know Pam isn’t about to up and leave Jim for the weird cameraman. Puh-lease.
I am the same way about winter. It just makes me feel blah. Especially when you have those super cold days that it’s hard to even stand outside for a minute or two. Now, I’m about to get a huge blizzard so who knows!? I also wish I could just fly to Arizona for the winter!
Since moving to central NY from SoCal, how I used to feel about 60 degrees in Cali is how I now feel about 30 degrees in NY. Yeah. Can I join you and this road trip to warmth? I don’t take up much room… *bats eyelashes*
I use the terms “pre-GT” and “post-GT”, but that’s sort of medical jargon… that I pretend is normal. I totally feel the same about winter- I can barely tolerate leaving for and coming home from work in the dark and cold. And we still need to see each other- it’s been months.
You could always visit Nashville! Lots to do here & the food is fantastic! Let me know if you come this way & I can introduce you to the best coffee ever!
Hi! I love your blog–my partner and I just moved to NYC this year, and am trying to be frugal in some aspects of my life so I can enjoy others. My first winter outside the Southeast is really taking a toll–we took advantage of a great sale and went to New Orleans Monday-Friday (not realizing it was Mardi Gras, but enjoying the surprise). Unfortunately, returning just hours before the blizzard reversed all the goodness I felt in the seventy degree sunny Louisiana.
As for Spring Break, is Charleston, SC too far? I grew up there and it is a great blend of beach and history. Even if it’s a little chilly (for there) the buildings and wardrobes of residents are so bright you won’t even realize it! And such good food!
We were actually thinking about Charleston! The weather seems perfect. Glad to hear that you think well of it.
I’ve been using Harvest for awhile, and I really love it. I’m testing out FreshBooks, but I’m not totally sold. Would love to hear your thoughts when you get closer to making that decision! Also, I have LOVED Outright for awhile, but they were recently bought by GoDaddy and I am having feeeeelings about that. Not sure if I’m going to stick with them, but haven’t found anything comparable yet.
I think I loved Savannah more than Charleston, but that might have to do with the fact I visited Charleston as a college student and went to Savannah as a working 20-something. Ahem. Anyway, pretty please consider Savannah (it’s not that much further than Charleston) and if you do wind up going there, let me know because you must visit a beautiful boutique owned by a very dear friend of mine.
How you describe winter is how I feel about the summers here. (Although I really do think surviving such hard winters might be tougher because no matter how hot it gets, we can still drive without fear of conditions.) But, MAN, something happens to my brain on the 50th straight day of 100-degree temps. I hate everything, I’m grumpy, I LONG for October, Texas’ prettiest and best month. We have A/C and sno-cones and pools and all the things that help us get through summer but by mid-August, I don’t care about any of it, I just want the highs to dip below 90. I’d do anything to get the weather of S. California with the housing costs and food of Texas.
(That was a lot of words on our stupid summers. I HAVE MANY DEEP THOUGHTS ON THEM.)