And then there were none

My Brussels Griffon, Ranger, was neutered last week.  He is so hyper and humps everything, I really thought this was going to change that.  I heard about a FREE neutering via Twitter a while back and I called to see if Ranger would qualify.  Unfortunately they had filled up their quota for small male dogs.  However, they did offer a $20 neuter service through their PALS program.  I was quoted $200+ from my vet.  When I was in San Antonio I got my other dog neutered for around $30 because they based the cost on your income, and I was a waitress, so I was poor.  I'm not so poor anymore, but I'm still stingy so I wanted a good alternative.  

We ended up at the TCAP they have inexpensive vaccines and everything!  They are located in Fort Worth, Burleson and Denton (where Ranger and I went) but they also have mobile vaccines that you probably see around the DFW metroplex.  We are really fortunate to have these opportunities so close by.  Out in west Texas, where I've been spending alot of my time, there aren't as many resources like this.


Poor Ranger was drugged up when we left the clinic, which was nice on the 1 hour car ride home.  When we got home, he was so confused by the cone on his head he got stuck facing a wall and couldn't figure out where to go.  Poor thing!


He was also a little aggressive while still on the medication, which I wasn't aware was going to happen.  (If I had read my post-Op instructions I would have found this out).  I did noticed I treated him like a baby more than he needed.  I thought he couldn't reach the food in his bowl so I hand fed him, but I missed a piece on the floor and he was able to reach that!  I also carried him up the stairs, but the next day he ran right up like nothing had happened.  A nice life lesson for me when it comes to the next living thing I take care of.  Whatever and when ever that is!  

Christmas for One

 My first Christmas in this apartment, probably won't be my last.  I love that I have a fire place and a mantel!  So many options when it comes to decorating!!  Everything I used to decorate this mantel comes from people I love!  

• Picked this "holly" while on a dog walk with my loves, Max and Ranger.
• Snowman stocking hanger - my parents don't use these any more so my mom suggested I take one.
• Pine cones from my boyfriend's pine tree in front of his house in west Texas.

•  Nativity scene - my parents have TONS of these in various mediums (clay, wood, stone, etc) so I got the stained glass one.  
• Pointsettias - my little sister's choir was selling these for $10 each, so I bought 4....later saw them at the grocery store for $4.00 each!  But I'm supporting the choir...
• And finally, the stocking was made by my mom 25 years ago...ahh the joys of being the first born!

My weekend....

Started with spiked egg nog with my dad and boyfriend.  Ran into too many people I knew throughout the course of the day. Old friends from church, youth group and my mom's CPA.  Best part about spiked eggnog, you don't smell like alcohol, you smell like Christmas!
        Boyfriend was confused about this mobile facebook and freaked out on why he couldn't see my facebook updates and he could see all his other friends'.  Turns out his friends update a million times a day.  I'm more of a once a day poster if at all.
        Bought a family Christmas tree.   It needed to have 12" cut off the truck to fit in the tree stand - so it's a hobbit tree.  My cynical mother stayed up all night waiting to see us put it up, just to laugh in our faces. They say laughter is the best medicine; here's hoping!  
        Went to a college party - haven't done that in a while....realized there's a reason why I haven't done that in a while...it makes me feel OLD.
        Wrapped Christmas presents for the needy.  Had a white elephant gift exchange at work.  
        Ended the weekend with Buffalo wings, fries and The Hangover Part II along side my boyfriend.  Movie was pretty funny, not as good as the first of course, but much better than most sequels.  
     This upcoming week is full of meetings, appointments and weekend travelling....but the light at the end of the tunnel is a case of wine with my name on it!  Ho Ho WineO!


Living life to the fullest, one busy weekend at a time.

white elephant image source  beerpong image source 

Government Employees

I'm a firm believer in knowing your worth.  Of course you can define it yourself; but sometimes the good ole' facts can point you in the right direction.

For a while when I was unemployed I was trying to figure out my future.  What do I want to spend my time doing?  How much time do I want to devote to this?  What amount of money will satisfy my living expenses?  What should I be getting paid?  What am I worth in the work place?

I read up on all the interview questions to ask and to be prepared to answer.  The scariest one is always salary.  Finding out what the salary of the position is can be a tough conversation.  An even more difficult conversation is the one where you ask your future boss how much he/she makes.  Why?  So that you know what your cap is.  If you think you're $30k introduction salary is just for beginners but then find out your boss only makes $43k....now you know - you'll never make more than $43k (unless you're a commission position-which thankfully I am).  Are you sure you want to put in the sweat, blood and tears hoping for a 'raise' that will never double your salary?

It's an important question to consider...even if you're not looking for a job.  It's interesting to see where your boss stands in comparison to positions similar to his/hers.  For example: I work in a city facility (but am not a city employee).  But my big big boss is a city employee.  I found out his salary on this website: http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/government-employee-salaries/  So now I know what he is 'worth' in comparison to other positions identical to his in the state of Texas.  It's shocking really.  I love his guy, and I thought he'd be making much more than he does.  But now I get a glimpse at how other cities see our facility and the people who work in it.  I know there's more that what's on the surface, but really money talks.  And this website says it all loud and clear.

Seriously, take a look:  hint: highest paid state employee is a football coach.  Surprised?  Not if you're a true Texan.

Things I need to do

1.  Get a tablet!  Mobile computing, networking, etc is a MUST in my life



Thinkin' this Samsung is the one for me



2.  Take my vitamins every morning.  I took them today and I am SUPER productive

Usana!!  Vitamin D (natural caffeine) all the way!



3.  Create deadlines for myself.  I am only productive if I know I need to do something.  I get distracted SO easily it is ridiculous....I have so much going on in my life I NEED to prioritize my priorities. 

  

  i.e. I can't find the time to put away my clean clothes and it's annoying the heck out of me!!!!

30 before 30

At first I thought this was a 'lose 30 pounds before the age of 30' goal but it's the "30 things to do before the age of 30".

Here are mine: 

1. Pay off all loans except Sallie Mae (the big one)
2. Marry man of my dreams
3. Become a director in USANA
4. Travel to Europe
5. Vacation with best friends!
6.  Run a half marathon (yikes!) but after reading this: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/01/26/27-marathons/?cp=23 I'm not going to do it publicly....  That will probably help it happen!
7. Grow an herb garden
8. Complete wedding planner certification
9. Make a dress from scratch
10. Lose 35 lbs (if I can do #6 i can probably do this)
11. Begin a blogging habit
12. Have multiple streams of income
13. Get a mammogram (mom got breast cancer at 40)
14. Get dogs UTD on shots
15. Get a big dog!!  (bullmastiff!)
16. umm finish this list (30 things is alot! with only 4 years to do it! ay!)
17. Become a CMP
18. Make multiple pins from pinterest http://pinterest.com/rachelkellar/to-do-how-to/
19. Remember friends' birthdays and send card in mail!
20. Throw really great party for each friend (birthday, baby shower, bridal shower, whatev the reason)
21. Help mom on her dental practice website: http://www.drpaticiakellardds.com/ SEO, Google Anayltics
22. Travel to NYC with sisters
23. Restrict eating habit - mainly vegetables, pasta, rice and fish.  Honey=sweets
24. Get my fashion sense back - ay!  suits suck
25. Be grateful that I have time and effort to volunteer (I'm giving, not receiving acts of service)
26. Help someone who is unemployed find a job
27. Make spiked eggnog
28. Eat crock pot meals 2 weeks each month (save time and money)
29. Get business name registered
30. Be determined

Try to be better than your best

"Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered,

you will never grow."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think of a millionaire, think of a person of power like a politician.  Think of someone you like.  Think of someone you don't like.  Do you have their shining faces in your mind?

Of the millionaire and politician that came to your mind, which one do you respect? Which do you look up to?  Are you jealous of either of them?  Do you know someone who does disrespect these people?  Are there people who don't look up to them?  Don't deny that there is someone in the world who is jealous of these successful people....

What about the people you selected as people you like and dislike.  Why do you feel that way about them?  Do you like them because you respect and look up to them?  Or do you dislike them because you are jealous of them or don't understand their life choices?  Would you ever consider learning more about the person you dislike in order to understand where they are coming from?

This is a small exercise about the misconceptions thrown the direct sales industry.  Those women driving around in pink Cadillacs, those Usana reps traveling the world... Do we really dislike them or do we just wish we were them?  Do we doubt ourselves so much that we write off the possibility of being them?  What about the possibility of being BETTER than them?  Are we so scared we can't even take the first step? 

It seems people are very vocal when it comes to sharing negative feedback.  Don't believe me?  Look all over the Internet!!  But do you know what's harder than speaking up?  Keeping your mouth shut and proving someone wrong through actions.
Instead of knocking the millionaire, the politician, the person you dislike....learn from them, be open to where they are coming from and come to a conclusion out of educated respect not pre-judgement.  Being open to direct sales means creating your own business and getting to work!  Putting the ACT in Action.  Actions speak louder than words - so stop making excuses, stop complaining, shut your mouth and either get to work or get researching.  But either way, TRY SOMETHING NEW.  If you're salary you'll never make more money, and if you're hourly making more money costs you extra time and energy....research direct sales and see what residual income costs and see how much you can gain from it too!

"The men who try to do something and fail are infinitely better

than those who try to do nothing and succeed." 

~Lloyd Jones

Living life to the fullest and trying every day !!

http://www.livinglifetothefullest.usana.com/