What I've been up to lately...

I don't know what it is but I have been on a serious redecorating kick lately.

I repainted.  Like my entire condo.  Which was a little bit of a nightmare because of the time, money, and MESS.  But worth it.  SO worth it.
I bought new lamps.  (Obsessed over new lamps, actually.  Luckily, HomeGoods is nearby.)
I bought new pillows for my couch (courtesy of urbanoutfitters.com):

I bought new artwork for my bedroom:

And my kitchen:

And my office (all courtsey of allposters.com, by the way):

I built this (yay for Target!):

(Now home to various office supplies, as well as my purse collection.)

Not to mention the fact that I've been coveting new rugs...but area rugs are expensive!  No fair.

And I absolutely love all the changes.  I walk into my house and think "This is me.  This is where I live."  There's really no better feeling than having your space reflect you.


(Hmmmm, how about pictures?  Good idea.  Stay tuned.)

PS

Oh, and ps:  I did buy that new car.

I walked in (sort of already planning to walk out with a shiny new SUV) and when the salesman asked "how can I help you today?", I smiled and said "make me want to buy a new car."
And it went from there.

Financially, I was able to keep my monthly payments the same, which was very important to me.  However, to make that possible, I had to put additional monies down.  At first, this made me extremely uncomfortable - my goal was to use my old car as the downpayment.  But that wasn't realistic.  Prices have gone up, for one; so even though I bought the same car, it costs more 3 years later.  And two, the new car had a few more bells and whistles.
The old car just wouldn't cut it alone.

I could afford to put down the extra cash.  I just had to convince myself that was an acceptable choice.  IT'S NOT AN ACCEPTABLE CHOICE FOR EVERYONE.  This kind of purchase is most definitely a splurge.  It is not a necessity.  And if you can't afford it, then you shouldn't do it...

..because as enticing as that new car smell is, it is not worth extra stress when it comes to how you're going to pay your bills.

Blogging Fail

Aaaaaahhhh!  I have so many ideas for posts running through my head right now.

• budgeting
• merging finances with your partner
• redecorating ideas
• new storage solutions
• the benefits and dangers of routine

I don't know where to start; that's the problem and probably why you haven't heard from me in a week.  See?  Even the Wannabe Organizer needs help getting her head together sometimes.  

I promise I'll do better this week!

Kindle Update #2

Okay, I'm a believer.  A convert.  A fan.  A lover.  A hater.  Whatever.  All I know is that I very much like my Kindle.

Is it the same as reading an actual book?  Um, no.  It doesn't feel the same, smell the same, or even look the same.  And, of course, you can't highlight.  But you know what?  I got used to it.

While I miss my highlighter, there is a "highlighting" feature.  It's really just underlining but I really didn't mind.  It also shows you the passages most often highlighted by other readers.  (This feature is both cool and unsettling.  I'm not so much into someone somewhere collecting this sort of information about me; however, it is interesting to see what everyone else thinks...)

I was worried about not feeling accomplished.  With an actual book, you can see your progress.  How can you do that with an ebook?  Well, of course they've figured that out!  In the bottom left-hand corner, it shows your progress in terms of percentage.  Not bad.

And there's just no contest when it comes to ease and convenience.  It fits so easily in my bag and there are no worries about folded pages, etc.  It was an absolute dream last Thursday when I was stuck at jury duty for a good 7 hours.

So in the past few days, I read exactly 3 books on the Kindle.  A trilogy of books, to be specific - the Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  In truth, I COULD NOT put them down.  (FYI, did you know I have another blog?  Yep, I'm a wannabe reader too.)  I loved this series so much, that I found myself disappointed that I didn't have physical copies of them.  Like I felt a need to have them in my hands, rather than just on the screen.  And it occurred to me that this is the biggest problem with an ebook - what happens when you connect with a book in such a way where you need it?  Here's the solution I came up with:
A major selling point of an eReader is the fact that it cuts down on clutter, streamlines your library, and ultimately saves you money (because ebooks are cheaper).  And it's true, I read a lot of books that I'd be fine never seeing again.  But every once in a while, I fall in love, like I fell in love with the Hunger Games.  And it just doesn't seem like enough to have it trapped on a screen.
So when I come across a book that sparks something in me, I AM ALLOWED TO BUY IT.  Which means that sometime this week, I will be in possession of Suzanne Collins' amazing trilogy.  I will be able to look at it in my bookcase and actually see it sitting there.
And when I read a book that's just okay (or worse...because we all know that happens sometimes), I will leave it with the Kindle and never think about it again.  In other words, this Kindle will serve as a tool is weeding out the books that don't deserve a place in my house.

The thought of my bookcases soon being full of only books that move me...well, there really aren't any words for how amazing that will be.

Is there New Car Smell in my future?

In the spring of 2008, I bought a new car.  This was an incredibly difficult decision for me because I am weird and was absolutely in love with my old car.  It was a 2000 Jeep Cherokee Sport, red.  It had almost 200,000 miles on it when I let it go, but they were all my miles and I loved having them with me.  But a little fender-bender (not my fault, FYI) left me with a banged up car and $3,000, which was probably more than the car was worth anyway.  I knew it didn't make sense to fix the Jeep.  I knew it was time to move on.

I wanted a similar car:  a small-ish SUV, 4WD, around $25,000, and I wanted it to feel like a truck, not a car.  Almost everyone told me that I was stupid - why an SUV?  You can get more for your money if you get a car, dummy.  But, HELLO, I'm a teeny, tiny person; LET ME HAVE A BIG CAR SO I CAN FINALLY BE BIGGER THAN SOMEONE.  Geez.

Anywayyyyy, I chose a Ford Escape for basically one reason:  0% financing.  Yo, that's like free money.  I'll take it.

And now it's 2011.  And my car is in good shape.  And I owe LESS than it's worth (which is amazing).  And they're offering 0% financing again...

So, I'm thinking about making a trip over to the dealer this week.  I mean, if I can find the same car, only newer, for a price after trade-in that allows my monthly payments to stay the same...um, why wouldn't I get a new car????

There's a possibility I can make this work.  My fingers are most definitely crossed.

Taxes Schmaxes

I worked as a staff accountant for a private accounting firm for 5 years and from mid-February to April 15th, I all but slept in the office.  Why?  TAX SEASON.  (Ugh, even just thinking about those days makes me tired.  I can't lie - I don't miss it at all.)

Even though I don't have to work Tax Season anymore, I still have to deal with Taxes...and so do you.  By now, you've probably received all of your tax forms.  You might even have them in a neat little pile on the edge of your desk - your W-2, 1099s, a 1098-T if you're in school, maybe an unemployment form (yep, I know, times are tough).  Well, what are you waiting for?  Stoping staring at them and do your taxes!  

I mean, seriously: if the government owes you money, don't you want it?

Stuff those forms in an envelope, send them to your accountant or march them into H&R Block.  Or do them yourself!  Last weekend, I used TurboTax to file my step-brother's return.  Such an easy program to, even if you feel like the word "taxes" is a foreign language; I highly recommend it.  (Plus, it files your federal return electronically FOR FREE.  A nice bonus.)

So take a deep breath and get it over with!  I promise, it's really not so bad.

Kindle Update!!!

Okay, it's official:
Last night, I began reading my first Kindle book ever.

Verdict so far?
Love it.
Yep, I'm as surprised as you are about that reaction.

Could also be a result of the book, which happens to be very good - The Hunger Games, in case you were curious.  But, for now, I'll give credit to the Kindle.

Congrats, dude.  So far, it looks like you're going to stick around for a while.

Where does the time go?

The CPA exam is kicking my ass.  For almost a year now I've been studying for this 4-part beast.  Did you know that they design the test for failure?  Truth.  For each section, LESS THAN HALF of the applicants that sit for the exam actually pass.  That's in-freaking-sane.  That information makes me feel slightly better when I know that at this point, I have taken all 4 parts...and failed all 4 parts.  (I've taken BEC twice...and failed it twice.)  And on February 17th, I'll be sitting for the FAR section (again), a section that literally scares me to death.

I know there's a certain magic in thinking positively, but I am really not sure I can do this.  I studied like a crazy person for the first round and failed.  I have never put so much effort into something and not been able to accomplish it; it's been a hit to my confidence, to say the least.  So motivating for Round 2 is daunting.  I'd be lying if I said a huge (HUGE, huge, huge) part of me wants to quit.  Can I have a successful career without being certified?  YES, absolutely.  But my pride is kind of at stake here.  The worst thing would be to look back and feel like I quit just because it was too difficult.  Yuck, who wants a regret like that?  So I'm trying again.  Even though it feels overwhelming.  And even though I honestly feel like I can't do it.  (Yep, that's right - I said "can't".  I told you I'm having trouble thinking positively.)

Forget all the accounting information I'm supposed to be learning - I've learned a lot about myself through this process.  One of the biggest things I've had to deal is my propensity for procrastination!  I am a Master Procrastinator and, holy moly, the dedication it takes to keep on track with my studying regime is almost beyond me.  In fact, maybe it is beyond me.  One thing's for sure - it's putting my time management skills to the test.

For as long as I can remember, I'm always doing everything at the last minute.  From school-work to work-work, I'm right down to the wire, every time.  Throughout my MBA program, I secretly hoped that my procrastinating would get me in trouble.  But here's the problem:  I'm really good at it!  Too good.  I always get my work done and I always do it well.  So, I've never had to change.  But being a procrastinating pro doesn't mean I don't have to manage my time.  If anything, I have to manage it more effectively because I usually have less of it to do what needs to be done.

I'll let you know what works for me:
I find that my time is best managed when I write things down in a planner.  Old fashioned?  Yeah, probably.  So, fine - I'll accept punching your schedule into a BlackBerry or an iPhone or whatever too.  There's just no doubt that having a written down list forces you to be accountable for how you're spending your time. (PS, this tip directly relates to creating a budget with your money).  Don't worry, I have a post about that coming up soon.)

I also find it's helpful to take a few minutes at the end of the day to think back and write down what I actually did.  This is beneficial in a few ways: it ensures that I'm sure about what was done and what needs to be done; it means that I know exactly where my time goes everyday; and recounting what I do everyday makes me feel incredibly accomplished.  Which is EXACTLY what I need with something like the CPA exam.  That way when I fail my practice tests and feel really down, all I have to do is flip through my planner to remind myself of the effort (read: blood, sweat and no-joke-for-real tears) I put in.  Believe it or not, this reallyyyyyy helps me stay on track.  It's proof to remind me that I'm actually doing something.  And that's a great boost...



...especially when I feel like the only thing I'm good at is procrastinating!

My biggest fear...

Here's something not a lot of people know about me:
I'm terrified of becoming a hoarder.  I very literally have nightmares about it!
Don't laugh.  It could happen to me.  It really could...
Sometimes I feel like I'm only one traumatic event away from living surrounded by piles of junk and making excuses for why the all the food in my fridge has turned to green liquid.  I watch Hoarders.  I know the warning signs.  Here are the ones I exhibit:

1. I catch myself stockpiling.  Whether it be cleaning supplies, office supplies, personal care items or other nonsense household items...there is no doubt that I have a. lot. of. stuff.  Worse?  I get anxious when I think I might run out of something or when I think something I use will be discontinued.
2. A few weeks ago, my grandmother found some pencils with my great-grandparents' names etched on them.  My sister said "Hey, give them to Rachel!  We'll find them in some plastic container 10 years from now."  And she's right.  I like to save things.  Right now, I have 3 plastic bins in the storage space under my stairs filled with childhood memory items.  I have 1 bin in my office and a trunk in my mom's basement.  While that may not seem like a lot, I'm only one person!  And I'm only 29.  I'm only going to collect more things I want to save.
3. I have the ability to ignore spaces in my house that overwhelm me.  For example, I use one of the bedrooms in my condo as a "storage" room and when I felt like it was too full, I simply closed the door.  Out of sight, out of mind.  Not good...
4. I like to shop.  I am very careful not to spend beyond my means, but I do spend!
5. I can be messy.  Clean?  Yes.  Tidy?  Um, most of the time.  But I am definitely guilty of not picking up the laundry on the floor and I don't immediately put everything back in its place.  And, living alone, there's no one I answer to if it doesn't get done.  Sometimes I do feel like it gets out of hand, at which point I just buckle down and do it.  But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the day I don't.
6. I feel emotionally attached to things.  An old mix tape, a ticket stub from a movie, a hemp necklace I made when I was 13, a picture someone drew for me - they all mean something to me and I would feel sad giving them up.  Right now, I can manage that attachment and am able to purge some things without feeling too badly about it.  But what if it becomes more difficult for me?  Am I doomed to a life surrounded by piles and piles and piles of stuff?

Guess we'll just have to wait and see...

Daily Quick Cleaning Checklist

Totally use this checklist to help stay on top of my cleaning!

Daily Quick Cleaning Checklist | Real Simple

Giving in to the Kindle...

Two years ago, my brother-in-law bought my sister a Kindle.  She is the PERFECT Kindle candidate:  she's an NYC girl who reads at least a book a week, and we're talking big, giant, hardcover books.  Lugging them around all day wasn't ideal (but it was a good workout!).  So, for her, it was love at first use and that didn't surprise me.

Here's a little perk about getting married - you get presents forever.  Last year, a year after their wedding, my sister and my brother-in-law received two brand spanking new Kindles as a wedding present.  The best part was that Ellie's old Kindle was still perfect, so guess who got it?  Her lovely older sister, of course.  So I am now the proud owner of a Kindle...

...except I'm not so proud.

Because I don't think I like this whole e-book craze.  Because I love BOOKS, like actual, physical books.  I like the weight of them, the way the pages feel, the way you can immediately see how much you've read (or haven't read) and I love highlighting.  I always read with a highlighter and whenever I come across a line that speaks to me, I make it glow yellow (or pink or sometimes orange, but yellow is my favorite).  You can't do that with an e-book.

But, I'm going to try to give in.  The reality is that my book cases are full (ahem, I also like looking at my books...something else you can't do with an e-book!) and the organizer part of my brain screams "DO IT!  Don't bring more books in here!  Keep your space clean, sleek and simple!"  This, of course, goes against the side of me that says "But books are so pretty!  And look at everything I've read!", ha; quite a struggle I have going on in my silly head.  

Plus, let's face it, e-books are where we are headed.  It seems like everyone I know is using some form of e-book reader.  Which means...

Okay, Kindle:  you and I will try to make this work.

(I'll keep you posted.)