Family time.

I've really been neglecting this blog! I'm still here! Cayle and I just got home from a weekend getaway to Gatlinburg, TN. And it was so relaxing. I drove up Sunday night and stayed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night. I came home Wednesday and went straight to work. Mom came back and I drove her car. That sucked, but the vacation time was so nice! We were able to fit in a lot in so little time. Monday Cayle, Amy (my sister-in-law), and I went to this cute boutique and did some shopping. I got Cayle a cute hat and me some necklaces. That night Zac (my older brother) and Amy went out and did their own thing, and Daddy, Cayle, and I went to dinner at Outback. I didn't realize how much I missed having family time until I actually got some.

The next day Daddy, Zac, Amy, Cayle, and I spent the day together. We had breakfast at Flap Jack's pancake house and then drove on into downtown Gatlinburg. We walked and shopped all day! Cayle got an air brushed shirt, a dream catcher, and a toy car. I got a pair of sandals and two t-shirts. I got to see a real Moonshine still and take lots of pictures! It was really a good day. That night we went to dinner at a place called Howard's. It's kind of like Red Robin but better. We went back to our cabin and I gave Cayle a bath in Daddy's big Jacuzzi tub. He LOVED it! He said he was "swimming".

Early the next morning, Daddy had to take Zac and Amy to the airport so they could fly back home to Florida. Daddy came home and we had breakfast together and got the car packed and I drove home.

It was so nice to be with my family for a little while. I really needed the break from work. It makes me excited for my week's paid vacation I get after May 24th. Not quite sure when or where I want to go (or even if I can) but I'd like for Cayle and I to try to vacation together this year for the first time. Gatlinburg is always nice. I'd like to go when it's cold though. Maybe in October when the leaves change. This is going to be a big year for us with getting a new car (hopefully by the start of Summer) a week's vacation, finding our own home. It's a big change but I'm ready for it all. I'm really working to set us up financially so we won't have any problems.

After being in my mom's big SUV and driving it all weekend, I can't help but think it might be too much car for me to have an SUV. So I've been looking into Honda Accords. They're safe, fashionable, efficient, and long lasting. But this is another post for another day. Here are some pics from the trip!

A little bit of everything going on and coming up!

Well..for the third time since I started doing hair at Regis salon I had a fantastic pay period! Well enough to make my 40% commission of service sales and 8% of my retail sales. So on my next check I will get 40% of 1285 dollars. And 8% of 606 dollars! This check will be better than all the rest of them! Which is exactly what I need right now! The better the checks the better it looks to the bank!

I got called in to work today. That sucked. I was looking forward to getting some quality time in with Cayle. That's all I've wanted lately is to be with him. But I made an accord with my boss. She said if I came in today and worked for her that she would give me a day off of my choosing. So I chose to have Monday the 28th off so I can enjoy a nice vacation with my family in the mountains that week. A MUCH NEEDED VACATION AT THAT! But Thursday I am turning off my phone and spending the day with my son. I miss him so much when I'm at work. And I feel like I miss so much so I have to make the time together worth while. I have to work in order to make the best life for us but sometimes I wish I didn't.

Cayle and I have been doing well. We are really enjoying the winter weather. Recently, I've taken him to the aquarium and Pump It Up. And he's been to see my niece (Kay's daughter) Kynley. He loves her! I'm so glad he's good with babies and animals. The last week on January we are going to Gatlinburg with my family to stay in a nice cabin and relax. I honestly don't want to do much else. I am turning off my phone and I am simply going to kick back. I need a nice little get away and time with Cayle so I can't wait!

An update on the car hunt..I am going test driving this weekend to see what I like and don't like so I can set my sights on one specific car. And I am dragging Daddy with me so those sharks..I mean car salesmen don't eat me alive. I'm really interested in a small SUV if I can find one reasonably priced, however I am not against a small car..as long as it's bigger than the one I already have. 2013 is all about fresh starts. And so far it's getting there. Slowly but surely.

Daddy always tells me to not forget to "pay myself". After putting back some for my car, taking care of my financial obligations (gas for the car, lay away, baby needs, etc) so I bought myself some new work shoes. They're really comfy!

These are some pictures from Christmas to today! Cayle got into the baby powder and made a huge mess! I couldn'

t help but laugh. He was pretending it was snowing!

A slight change

I mentioned before about having furniture on hold at American Freight Warehouse. I had a sofa and a faux leather upholstered bed in layaway. Well..I changed my mind and decided on something a little less costly. Seeing as I have nowhere to put a sofa right now I decided it would be better to upgrade my bedroom instead. I won't have to rent out a storage unit to store the sofa. Which means more money for my car. And more money I can put back for a house. I can get the sofa later so this seems like the smarter route. I've given it some thought and if I play my cards right, I might be able to go straight to buying a home as oppose to renting. The thought of 600+ dollars going out the window every month turns my stomach. So after my car is almost paid for I'll look for a townhome like I want. The American Freight let me switch out the sofa for bed room furniture and all the pieces cost as much as the sofa (actually a little less) so it wasn't going to cost anything extra. All the money I've been paying on what was my sofa and bed can go ahead and be my bedroom stuff. I chose a black set (surprise surprise haha) to match my bed. I'm going for a glam theme for my room. With deep purple, black, zebra print, and paintings of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. I want to paint the inside of the drawers of my furniture dark purple or maybe even zebra print to add a touch of my style to it. I think it'll be really nice once I get it all set up. And once I get the payments rolling on my car I think I'm going to buy some bigger ticket items for my home. Like a new television. This way I will be all set up when I get where I want to be.

W-2's come back in a week or so and income taxes soon after. All that money is going towards a new car. I can't wait! I really want to talk my Dad into going to test drive with me next weekend. That way I can have a set in stone idea of what I want and what I have to work towards. I have been building up some $$ and its starting to show! I can't wait to get my car loan!

Kay seems to think Cayle and I need to take a vacation with some of the money from income taxes. She pointed out that we have never stayed anywhere together just the 2 of us. And to be quite honest..she's right. We've never had a vacation just the two of us..and honestly..I think that would be kind of nice. It's just a matter of $$. I'll have a week's vacation time after May 24th. So the time off will be nice..but I think a week off...in Gatlinburg would be even better. So maybe next Fall Cayle and I will take our first vacation together. Seems pretty plausible to me. We'll see how everything with my car loan pans out and how much of my paycheck it will actually be taking.

I've said before about 2013 being all about fresh starts a new car, a better attitude, and a family vacation all seem like great starts. So let's see how it goes. It's all about budgeting right now. And playing the cards just right.

Here is a picture of my bedroom suit I chose and an idea of what it will look like once I paint the inside of the drawers.

2013 please be good to me..

This year is dedicated to fresh starts. From the things in my life that cause grief. Whether they be materialistic or emotional or whatever. My resolutions this year will help me succeed and feel like a better all around person, mom, and friend.

The biggest resolution I have that is materialistic is that I want a new car. I want a safer car for Cayle and I to get around in. My Volvo is okay, but in all honesty, it's not big enough, it has too many bad memories attached to it, and just looking at it really and truly brings me down. So after income taxes, I plan on getting the loan and getting a small SUV. Something more efficient. Banking with the credit union and speaking with them about my plans, they made it sound really easy to get a new car. So I'm going big or going home. So here's to getting a fresh start with what I drive.

I want to spend more time with Cayle doing things he loves. When we spend time together it can consist of anything from shopping to a trip to the aquarium. He loves the sharks! But I feel like there should be a happier medium of errands and quality time. So tomorrow I'm going to see what he feels like doing and make it happen! Somehow I think we will end up at pump it up or something along those lines. But still even if we don't go out I want to make our time together special. He means the world to me and I want him to always know he is loved. Work can get in the way of our time, but I have to do it for him. For us to have the best life possible. But it's like the saying goes "Never get too busy making a living that you forget to make a life".

I don't think it would kill me to skip a sweet or a trip to a fast food place. I can't cut out caffeine (I get headaches that last for days if I try) but I can add more water. I can try to do some yoga or go walk outside. I won't label it a "diet" because I won't stick to it, but I can say that I will make healthier choices. I want to try hydroxycut to help it along. Because being on the go all the time makes it hard to always eat healthy. Being a hair stylist (it's a way of life) we eat like scavengers. Whatever we can get whenever we can get it. I've noticed my diet consists of mostly coffee and trail mix now. But I can and will definitely try to take better care of myself physically.

Mentally, I feel like I should stop worrying so much about every little thing. I worry myself sick sometimes. So I want to get more organized. I used to keep a notebook of everything I needed to do, wanted, or needed to remember. So I think I will pick that up again. It helped with my anxiety. Last night I stayed up until 2 a.m. cleaning my living space. It looks better. And I'm really happy with the work I put into it, but I want to take it a step further and clean out all the old clothes I don't wear, things I don't use and either sell them, or give them away to a second hand store. To give me more room and to clear my head a little more.

Also, I am resolving to find a better job. I want somewhere with a schedule closer to 9-5 and two consecutive off days. When I can break away from Regis I will. I will miss my co-workers, but I have to do this for Cayle.

These resolutions will make me a better, happier person. And I'm going to do whatever it takes to get there.