The Fiscal Cliff has landed...

If you're blessed to be employed on any level, have you gotten a check for 2013 yet? If so, have you seen a difference in your check amount? What are your thoughts and feelings? How are you planning to adjust this pay period and or month to compensate for the pay cut you just received from our lovely elected officials.

Finally, was Congress paychecks impacted too? O_o

The above picture depicts how I feel right now (I'm trying to carry the same load with less & the path just got steeper as well).

God bless all the Americans impacted by this foolishness. I suggest we fire our Congress & elect toddlers nationwide to run these United States of America.

Hooray!! It moved..it really did...

At the beginning of 2012, I decided to forgo putting money aggressively into my efund and begin to finally get back to paying my student loans with a minimum amount as a base monthly. After not putting anything towards it by way of deferment for years, I decided it was way over due. Why? Well it's debt that I took out, the government wasn't interested in assistance persons' with SL debt and these loans can catch up with my in my senior years. Now, all that became crystal clear after viewing a series on prime time world news in 2011.
Naturally it all was placed on paper during my AP and I's initial goal session so there was no turning back. I was discouraged at first that my hard earned money was not significant enough to move the percentage bar much at all; so I told myself it will not be moved until ti reaches at least five percent. During the year I refused to check or update it though my AP begged me to do so. Well, with the success I was having with making 2-3 payments monthly, I knew it had moved but still refused to check. In December, I forfeited traveling to make not the minimum of two monthly payment but as many as possible. I stretched myself wide like the mountains above and made five payments. My payment percent in December after the second payment was 5.5 and after making three more payments along with January's initial payment, it has moved another one percent. I am so excited right now. I believe this year it will finally begin to move a bit more than it did in 2012. Now, I obviously have a very long journey to go but at this moment; however, I'm celebrating my SL progress to the fullest. On that note, I'll do my best to make at least 18 payments this year.

The next excursion is to see how much of a benefit it was tax wise to have made said payment. A post will be written about that when I file my taxes.

There's hope--y'all, LOL!

Clean vegan eating lives on in 2013

I opt to believe that my food is my medicine; hence I've opted for the healthier options to reap the best results. With all the newness around the New Year we're in, what kinds of foods are you eating to reach the wellness live you envision? It's a personal question that may take some prolonged pondering. Naturally, at the end of your session, you'll have to make a decision. 

Hoping it works out in your favor in 2013. Much success on your wellness journey.

From plastic to glassware...finally

I've planned to switch over from plastic containers to glassware for a few months and lucked up on a great sale that saved me $110 tonight. In addition, I bought two ceramic stove top pots that also can be used in the oven as well. I have been in need of some new pots but were concerned greatly with the ingredients so held off on doing so for more than a year. However, tonight, I decided by chance to stop into Corelle's to see what they had on my way to a specific store and left very happy. The store that brought me to the mall didn't have what I was looking for in terms of cost or style so I left in a matter of five minutes. Obviously, I left happier than I came seeing a goal was accomplished this evening. One goal off of my list already. 

I'm vegan and currently do not allow anyone to cook meat in my home; however, while my mom was visiting, she made fish in my pots and stored them in my containers. I was torn about it but didn't say anything since I should have already secured new dishes to prevent this encounter. Nonetheless, she enjoyed her fish and I enjoyed my vegan dishes (she loved my food and ate what I did for half of her stay). Now when she comes back to visit, she will still be encouraged to eat as earth based as possible since it's good for her to have several meatless meals as possible. Moving forward, I will have a box of cooking and storing food items readily available. The sale ends tomorrow so I caught it right on time. Next on my list is to get a toaster oven. I've been looking but haven't narrowed down my choices just yet. Stay tune for an update on that adventure.

2012 Student Loan goal and verdict

During my 2012 goal session on Jan, 15, 2012, I decided to begin paying my student loans after years of having them in deferment. I sat here in my living room with my AP and put it on paper. The goal was to shift putting money in my efund which was to an acceptable level to my student loans. I saw a story on ABC News about the government garnishing one's social security and other funds in their old age for not paying their student loan and that stopped me in my tracks as I walked to the kitchen from the living. Right then and there, I decided my student loan vacation was over. 

2012 student loan goal was to make one payment in January and two payments monthly through December. In 2012, I had a very busy lifestyle which led to paying out a lot of unexpected funds but I met my goal. Rather, I exceeded it by paying twenty-nine payments instead of twenty-three payments. Between June and December, I made nine payments alone and it felt good. Naturally, I didn't like making all these payments when I could be putting the money else but I knew it was best to aggressively pay down my loan will I was healthy, young and able to do so. My AP was uber excited that I made so many payments when I shared my success on our end of year goal session on December 30th. Now, as it relates to 2013, I'm unsure if I plan to reach or exceed last year's goal; nonetheless, I do plan on making a minimum of one to two payments monthly when feasible. I have yet to make a dent in my SL; however, I'll keep it at during the coming years.

Do you have a goal you reached in 2012? If so, what was it and how did you reach it? 

2012 Fitness Recap

I'v had a very busy fitness year in 2012. Not only did I hit the weights, crossed trained, learned to swim, mastered road biking and it's many gears but stayed on a healthy path with my food as well. It's never easy but always worth it to be disciplined as you enjoy the journey you're on in life.
2012 race recap:
3 5ks
2 10ks
2 Sprint Triathlons
2 50ks
1 Half Marathon
1 Virtual Half Marathon
2 Unofficial Triathlons
1 Unofficial Half Marathon

The best part is majority of these goals such as learning to swim, competing in Tri's and Half Marathons along with everything beyond the 5ks weren't on my radar the beginning of 2012. That tells me being open minded to new challenges and adventures can blow one's wildest dreams.

I hope you had a healthy and physically active 2012!