This morning I was in church with Hubby and got out my phone to take some notes (after all, Pastor Anderson is fiyah!), and saw a text come in from my 14yo. It said: "Mom. Can you make Sunday Dinner today? Thanks." And it was accompanied by 2 photos - obviously from Instagram - of other people's Sunday Dinner plates. I chuckled and had to admit that the bbq chicken, mac and cheese, yams, and cornbread looked good. So I replied back: "Sure!" And started plotting my spread.Fast forward 6 hours and everyone is sitting around in that Sunday-lazy-sort-of-way, after chowing down on smothered pork chops, red bliss garlic mashed potatoes, greens and cornbread. Mission Accomplished.And evidence that kids really do notice and appreciate traditions that you set out to create for them. A great way to kickoff the new year.It's been 7 years since I wrote a Sunday Dinner Diaries installment! Check them out HERE. … [Read more...] about giving the people what they want
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solo travel: apparently i’ve been missing out
Over the holiday break I met my friend Monica for brunch to catch up. Somehow our conversation turned to trips and travel and my dirty little secret came to light: I've never taken a solo vacation! Monica was truly surprised and told me that it was a MUST, and she challenged me to add this to my goal list for 2019.I mean, I've been on solo trips, don't get me wrong. Like, traveling to a conference or a business meeting and that kind of thing. But as far as me accompanying myself to a resort for a couple of days and just enjoying my own company? Especially amid all of the energy it takes to be a mom? Nope. It's interesting because I have several friends who do this regularly; it just never occurred to me that I was missing out.My friend Jana used to take herself to the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island yearly for her solo getaway. And let's not even get started on Jazzy. She is a pro at solo vacays (and even - intentionally - spent Christmas by herself in a beachfront hotel). And so, in the spirit of New Year, New Me, I've decided to make this a goal of mine. Nothing big or major like a trip to New Zealand; I'll be super happy with a long weekend in Destin, FL or Tulum, MX. All I need is the hot sun and a beach!What's your take on solo vacations? … [Read more...] about solo travel: apparently i’ve been missing out
Budgeting, Staying Within Limits, and Financial Life Lessons
This post was created in partnership with American Express. All thoughts and opinions are my own.I’ve taken to calling 2018 as our Year of Adulting. Here’s why: for the last several months, Hubby and I have been getting our financial house all the way in order.The other day we were asked what our monthly budget looks like. I chuckled because this topic has been an ongoing debate between Hubby and I for years. He doesn’t “believe” in budgeting - he calls it “living within your means.” On the flipside, my perspective is that having a budget means that we can plan for activities that might *seem* beyond our means but that are actually attainable with some preparation. Our difference in approach has resulted in miscommunications and tiffs, but during our budgeting discussion a friend pointed out that we are actually saying the same things, just differently. That was an eye opener!While we don’t have a set monthly budget that breaks down how much we can spend of various things, we do have a number that we try to stay under each month as a whole. How do we do this? We put almost all of our purchases on one credit card and we pay off the entire balance each month, so we don’t pay interest. We keep an eye on the balance as the month goes on to make sure that we are on track to not exceed our agreed upon number. Of course, some months are harder than others (i.e. back to school or Christmas) but we try to plan for those (aka budget!) It’s been working for us AND we earn rewards from putting all of our expenses on the credit card each month.We really try to keep the kids looped in on where we stand with spending on a regular basis. I try to be mindful to walk the line between keeping them informed so that they will have a firm grasp on financial impact of eating out or buying a new video game, and allowing them to enjoy the blissful ignorance of youth. One key part of keeping them in the loop is going through monthly statements together now that my eldest is an Additional Card Member. We’re able to track her own budgeting so that she can get a grasp on understanding how to dissect monthly statements.In the meantime, our current system works for us. And now we even earn rewards on the purchases our teen makes on her Additional Card the same way we do on our own purchases. As we move through our Year of Adulting, we’re testing out different ways to approach our finances and are looking forward to teaching our children responsible spending habits and lessons that will stay with them for life.Here’s to being grown! Learn more about how to add your teen to your account as an Additional Card Member here: https://amex.co/2njaoF2 … [Read more...] about Budgeting, Staying Within Limits, and Financial Life Lessons
What I Wish I Had Learned About Credit Cards, Before, During, and After College
This post was created in partnership with American Express. All thoughts and opinions are my own.So there I was a college freshman setting foot on a ginormous, gorgeous campus of an SEC school, and feeling like the sky was the limit. I was both super nervous and insanely excited for this experience to begin. Having grown up in Montreal, Canada, I had dreamt of attending an American university and there I was, living the dream! Who knew that The Dream would include racking up crazy amounts of debt thanks to the dozens of credit card booths peppered all over campus, touting enticing spending limits, free pizza, keychains, and T-shirts. I mean, what newly independent 18-year-old could possibly resist?In high school, I did have access to a credit card. It belonged to my mom and was to be used in emergencies. (Side note: a teenager’s definition of ‘emergencies’ is always subjective, yes?) But I rarely used it although I remember feeling empowered just by having it in my wallet. It also gave me a sense of comfort that, if something happened, I would be covered.When the opportunity arose for me to get my own credit card, in my own name, with no one looking over my shoulder or having to approve my purchases, I have to admit that I went a little crazy.First, I used the credit cards for small things: developing pictures (remember that???) or a bathing suit on sale. The problem (and beauty) of credit cards is that you buy now, worry about paying them off later. And, well, later came reallllll soon. Before I knew it, I was doing my darndest just to keep up with the minimum payments, which we all now know is the fastest way to trouble. I carried on this way for several years. Mind you, I was working hard in college - I started out working in The Racquet Club (one of the campus cafeterias), then worked as a book shelver in the Marston Science library, then made calls for the Alumni Association seeking donations from Alumni, and finally spent most of my time at the University of Florida as a receptionist for doctors in the the Student Mental Health Center. Still, multiple monthly minimum credit card payments were no small thing to manage.It wasn’t until I was engaged to my now-husband that I had a much-needed conversation in managing my finances and credit card management. We sat down together and talked through everything from APR to monthly interest rates. Let’s just say, after 15 years of marriage, I now have a stellar credit score and exactly 2 no-interest credit cards that carry no balances. Thanks Honey!If only the wild, wild world of credit cards had been explained to me at a young age; it might have saved me years of throwing money at minimum balances and trying to improve my credit. The cool thing about parenting is that we get “do- overs” with our own kids for things that we didn’t have the opportunity to get right when we were kids. And so, I am making a point to teach my crew about credit, credit cards, and the like. Having … [Read more...] about What I Wish I Had Learned About Credit Cards, Before, During, and After College
Helping Your Child Develop Financially Responsible Habits Through The Use of American Express Additional Card Membership
This post was created in partnership with American Express. All thoughts and opinions are my own.Given that money and finances are such a crucial part of life, it's baffling that more lessons on financial responsibility aren't taught in schools. All that means is that it's up to us parents to pick up the slack. At the end of the day, what we teach our children about money will largely depend on our own experiences with finances.Confession time: I've never been fantastic at budgeting or being financially responsible. While I've had a job ever since I was legally able to work, I was not the best "saver" and I had (have!) champagne taste. That said, my parents tried their best to instill work-ethic and the concept of earning potential in me via tried and true strategies like allowance. I distinctly remember having to complete my set of chores (including cleaning the bathrooms, ugh) weekly, so that I could get my bi-weekly allowance to do with whatever I pleased (within teenage limits, of course).One story that my mom loves to tell (still, to this day) is about how she would give my sister and I money to purchase our city bus pass; we had a choice: we could either use the money to buy the bus pass, or decide to walk to school and just purchase a strip of bus tickets in the event that the weather was bad. Lo and behold, once we got the cash in hand, we quickly opted to walk - go figure! It was great lesson in weighing the pros and cons of making a purchase, and appreciating the value of money.Fast forward to 2018 and here I am with a rising high schooler of my own. She is actually the most responsible of my three kids and approached my husband and I about earning an allowance a couple of years ago. She's very good about completing her chores and saving (and spending!) and recently she's been having to "pay us back" using her cash allowance savings so that she can order items online using our credit cards. Let's face it - it's a different time than when we were teens! We didn't have big online brands so we didn't have the same need for an online payment option as these kids do today.Enter the American Express Additional Card. If you're an American Express account holder, you can add your teen to your account as an Additional Card Member. You'll receive a separate card, tied to your account, for your teen that you can monitor. Adding your child as an Additional Card Member is great way to teach kids financial independence and responsibility, while being able to set alerts and spending budgets. You can add Additional Card Members from ages 13 and older to your account to start teaching responsible spending habits and help those over 18 years old begin building their own credit.Here's the part that I like the most: you can set a monthly budget - as well as alerts, so that I can keep on top of their spending. What's also really cool is that charges for each Additional Card Member on your account are separated on your monthly … [Read more...] about Helping Your Child Develop Financially Responsible Habits Through The Use of American Express Additional Card Membership
