Being a Grown Up

Now that Joshua and I have finished our undergrad degrees, we have moved into a lovely little house and are making grown up plans for our future (post graduate school, which we are both working on right now).  With big-kid lives come big-kid responsibilities (Spiderman, anyone?).  Therefore, when the number of our bills increased, I began looking for a way to track them and maintain a budget. I started looking into pre-fab organizers at the store and came upon this one at Target, made by Mead.

I really liked the way that this was organized with a folder for receipts, a page to fill in your household budget, and a sheet for listing and tracking expenses.  It was all very logical to me and seemed simple enough to accommodate the structure of how our new little family works.  However, this particular organizer is $14.99.  A little rich for my blood.  I kept going back and looking at it thinking I could make the price drop with my Jedi mind powers.  No such luck.  BUT I noticed today while I was drooling over it that on the packaging there was a website where you could download replacement pages (the organizer comes stocked for 12 months upon purchase).  

I went to the website when I got home and found out that not only where the exact pages from the planner available online (I figured they were probably a simplified downloadable version), but they were free!  You didn't even have to have proof of purchase of the organizer to access them.  Here is the website where they can be found.  

So, instead of shucking out $15 for the pretty (yet expensive) Mead book, I downloaded the pages for free (which are in PDF format, so I can edit them in illustrator if I want to customize them.  There's the benefit of a four year degree in Graphic Design.  w00t).  I bought a $4 8-pocket-folder from Target ($3 with a Target Web Coupon for $1 off an Up and Up product of $3 or more) that has pockets and label tabs to hold my newly downloaded sheets along with bills as they come in the mail.  This way, everything is in one place and is organized and clearly labeled when it comes time for me to pay bills.  I'm super excited to use my new system (it's nerdy, I know, but school supplies make my heart flutter).  

This is the result:

Sorry for the crappy lighting.  I'm really bad about being patient enough to wait for natural light, so a lot of times my blog photos look like myspace pictures (imagine the typical camera-in-view standing in front of a mirror kissy-face pose)

I reformatted the downloadable pages to only include the categories that I thought Joshua and I would use, so I was able to get the budget to fit onto one page instead of two.  Then, for each category I printed out an edited version of the expense tracker page so that we could keep track of how much was spent in each respective category and make sure that we didn't go over the budgeted amount.  The folder that I bought has four pocket pages, each with a tab and a folder pocket on either side of the plastic sheet.  I slid the budget sheet and the expense sheets (paper clipped together) into the front side of the pocket, and on the back I placed an envelope to gather receipts from the recorded purchases (I have a thing for labeling inanimate objects with "Hello, my name is" name tags.  I think feel like it gives them a personality, and it makes me giggle), and a binder clip to hold bills that will need to be paid throughout the month.  Because the folder has four pockets I will be able to view and record four months at a time, and when it gets filled up, I'll just remove and file away the sheets, as well as any receipts that we might need when we file our taxes for the year, and then print out new sheets for the next month.  

I am really excited about this new system, and I think it's going to work really well for Joshua and me.  The hope is that by tracking our spending more closely, we will be able to pay off debts more quickly and *crosses fingers* start squirreling some money away for our future plans. *sigh* A girl can dream, right?

What is your favorite way to organize bills/budgets?  Are you the person who handles the finances in your family, or do you and your partner share the responsibility?  I'm always fascinated to hear how other people handle money and the balance that they are able to achieve in their lives :)

xoxo Alyssa

*coming soon* HOUSE TOUR! (at least a partial one)

Tattoo Plans . . .

Those of you who know me, know that I currently have three tattoos.  I have plans for three more . . . eventually. haha.  These things are pricey, especially when your Mister has plans for at least one, probably two, more, as well.  I have determined what my next one is going to be, and have been trying to decide on the placement.

This is kind of a crappy picture, and it's an even crappier sketch, but I think I have decided that this will be the location for my next tattoo, which is based on the image seen in this previous post.  Happy as a bird with a french fry.  That's what I want to be :)  I think I'm even going to get color with this one.  I'm pretty pumped :)

What about you?  Any plans for tattoos?  Any dreams that you wish you could get but are still out of reach?  Any stories of tattoos that you already have, and would be willing to share?  I love hearing tattoo stories :)

xoxo Alyssa

What a ride it's been.

Well, the Mister and I have successfully moved to Kansas City and are comfortably settled in our new home :)  It has been awful silent around here lately but I intend to change that.  I have a lot going on right now:  just started a new job, have my VERY OWN studio, start seminary in the fall, living near my most favorite people ever (those are FOUR different links.  And you should go to all of them).  Life is good, and I want to share that with you :)

UPCOMING POSTS:
-House Tour
-New Business Venture
-Kittie Update
-Anniversary Dinner (only two months late)
-UPDATED Yearly Goals
-Reading list/Currently Reading
-Recent Movie/Television addictions
-Favorite Blogs/Posts!
-And more . . .

Are you excited yet? Because you should be.  This is going to rock . . .  hard.

If you're reading this, thanks for hanging with me through the silence :)  More coming soon . . .

xoxo Alyssa

Remember Me?

So, I know I've been absent for . . . a while.  Apologies.  My excuse, you ask?  I graduated college and moved 400 miles across Missouri.  I say that's a pretty good excuse.  


Although, I have exciting news!  Blog makeover!  There are all sorts of changes in my life and I want this blog to reflect those, so coming soon there will be a brand new look and direction for Adorkable, and even (probably) a new name.  *SHOCK*  I know.  It's huge.  


Anywho, I hope you all are as excited as I am about the coming changes.  I think it's going to be good for all involved.  That means you.  Yes.  You.


xoxo
Alyssa

Oh Goodness . . .

click image for source

I am seriously failing at the "4 blogs a week" goal.  However, there are some new developments in my life that I would like to share.  Things are a'changin' and I'm doing very well, which is probably why I haven't been blogging—I'm busy with other things!

 Joshua and my future plans have taken a turn.  I don't have tons of details to share right now, but when I do I promise I will have an ENTIRE post dedicated to what our lives are turning into.  Some of these developments are a little disappointing, while other are very exciting.  Overall, things are good and I am thankful.

My BFA project (which I don't know that I ever mentioned here, but has been ALL over facebook and flickr) has gone very well!  It's been so much work and a lot of sweat and tears, but I am very excited to see the final product in a couple of weeks and be able to tally up how much money we have raised for Birthright!

Joshua and I both go into the Juried Student Exhibition at SEMO!  I have been entering for the last FOUR YEARS and never gotten a single piece accepted and this year I had THREE get in (a ceramics piece, and TWO websites).  Obviously, I am thrilled and I cannot wait to go to the opening and awards ceremony on Friday.  Pictures afterward, I promise.

I started reading a Chuck Palahniuk book, specifically "Diary", and I think I have found a new author love.  He is fantastic, even if bizarre at times.

Well, I'm sure there is more, but that is all for right now.  I have decided that, while I probably will NEVER blog 4 times a week (even after graduation) I think I am OK with that.  This blog is for me, and not anyone else in particular, so it is silly of me to try and model myself after people who do this full-time.  I have about 3 or 4 other things that I do full-time, and until at least one of those goes away, one or two posts a month or however often I remember will just have to do. :)  I'm sure you all won't mind.

They grow up so fast

She's getting so big!  And Yare is even bigger than her . . . They're going to get fixed soon thanks to the SNAP Program (Spay and Neuter Assist Program) through the Human Society.  It helps people with low income affordably take care of their pets.  $25 to get a cat spayed or neutered and $35 for dogs.  If you have a pet and are having trouble affording this care, I highly recommend it.  You fill out an application and once you are accepted, you have 60 days to pay the fee.  Then the Human Society gives you a voucher to take to any participating vet to have the procedure done.  The only requirement is that they have their shots.  We just got our acceptance letter in the mail today and I am so excited!  We're finally going to be able to take care of our little kitties now that we've gotten this help, and they are finally old enough to have the surgery.

They may be getting big, but they still like to take naps with their mamma :)

This is her "I'm sleepy, why are you taking my picture" face.  :P

xoxo Alyssa

pea.ess.  Like the new typeface?  I think I'm going to stick with this one.  It's a little easier to read than Courier . . .

Goal Update:

So, as most of you can tell, I am minorly failing at some of my goals that I posted a couple of months ago.  For instance, I have not been blogging four times a week . . . but who's counting ;)  I really am going to try and do better, for those of you who enjoy reading this blog, but I just thought I would give an update on the goals that I set, whose results might not be quite as evident to those who read here.  

1) Get Etsy shop running:  This is going slower than expected.  HOWEVER!  I do have some merchandise for sale at a local consignment shop called Annie Laurie's.  I have a small table with some business cards there that have been in place for about three weeks now.  I haven't gone in to check on sales, but I have noticed an increase of "likes" on facebook, which I am assuming have come from the business cards on the table :)  I should find out in the next week how much (if anything) I have sold, and I am very excited :)  So, while this isn't an etsy shop, it is a step in the right direction!

2) Read 1 hour a week:  This is going OK.  I usually do read for about an hour a week, but lately it has been materials for classes.  The goal was to do more pleasure reading and take time for myself, but it just doesn't seem like there has been much of that lately.  I know this goal will become easier after I graduate, but for right now, it's definitely one of the most difficult.

3) Blog 4 times a week:  I know, I know . . . . fail.  I'll do better next time, I promise!

4) Keep checkbook balanced:  This one was been going pretty well.  We haven't had any of those unexpected surprises I mentioned in the first goals post, but I probably haven't been as on top of it as I should be.  Money is a little tight right now with Joshua commuting to KC nearly every weekend, but we have high hopes of things getting a little easier in the next month or so :)  I guess, until then, I'll really have to stay on top of this goal!

5) Be proactive with Anavah House:  I have had good intentions with this goal, but haven't actually *done* much, which I suppose is the actual definition of "proactive".  *le sigh*  I'll have to get something together in the next couple of weeks while Joshua is out of town so he doesn't feel like we haven't made any progress while he's gone :)

6) Create product line for BBRC:  I have all sorts of ideas for the line and can't wait to start sketching :)  This goal is a little more long term, so I'm not so worried about not having anything actually *made* yet, hopefully that will come to pass sometime in the next couple of months or shortly after graduation :)

7) Get REAL business cards:  I did this one!  They should be coming in sometime in the next couple of weeks :)  I am SO excited!

Well, thanks for listening and caring!  Hopefully I"ll be able to do better with my goals in the next few weeks.  I think I"m going to add another one to the list . . . 

8) Create regular blog feature:  I have heard from other bloggers that it helps keep you on schedule with your blogging (and attract readers) if you have regular "features" on your blog.  Some you might know from other blogs are "Ten Things I Love Friday/Sunday" or "DIY Wednesday".  I think I might do a little better with my blogging if I have something like this in my line-up.  Now to brainstorm ideas . . . . :)

Thanks, again guys!  Love you all!

xoxo Alyssa

image courtesy of weheartit