My 2015 in One Picture

Thursday, December 31, 2015


This year was a  true roller coaster of a year. There were highs with weddings and babies, there were lows with me being sick, unemployment and my gram passing away and just special moments in between. There were days where we both weren't even sure what we were doing, much like this picture above. I wouldn't have gotten through it without this handsome guy. The guy that makes me laugh and lets me do crazy things like start a bunch of businesses. Our marriage has grown this year through our struggles and I know that the mantra "our lives" will continue always. But that's what makes it so great. It's our lives. And we live it the best way we know how!

What's your one picture from 2015?

Classy & Sassy Mrs.






30 Before 30 Update

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

It's here. I have hit 29. My last year in my twenties. way back when I made a 30 before 30 list. When I was young at 25. I kept up with it for a little bit but haven't given it much thought in the past few years. It's about time to see what quarter life Krista wanted to do before 30.

Taken directly from the 30 Before 30 page....

Since I only have 4 Years to go(ugh, now 1!!), I figured this would be something fun to do. So here we go!
Anything in italics is in progress..
And bold is COMPLETED.


     Try skiing
   Go camping
 Run a marathon <--- What was I thinking?!
   Buy a house<-----Here's Hoping this the year!!
   Have more of a savings account aka. past the 3 digit mark for at least a month
  Find a job I love doing
 Go snorkeling
   Host a themed dinner party
   Develop some sort of green thumb <---sorry Mom...probably never
   Pay off 3 of my student loans..1 paid off! Almost at 2...
 Take a girls trip
  Buy a new car
 Take pole dancing classes
Visit Niagara Falls
  Las Vegas!
 Take a road trip
  Start a family
Buy a DSLR camera and learn how to use it

As you ca see, I have done my fair share since 4 years, but the list could have gone a little better. But thanks to leap year I at least have an extra day of the year to get on the last few. Vegas for New Year's Eve?!


Krista

2015 Goals| How'd I Do?

Tuesday, December 29, 2015



RELAX. I think I have gotten better with this over the year. Am I completely cured of my desire to control? Um, definitely not. But there has been progress been made.

KEEP MY NAILS PAINTED. Success! I have kept my nails lookin fresh since approximately July.



BUDGET. We did it. We made a system. We made a large purchase, had medical expenses but weren't struggling to figure out where it came from.

ENJOY MY WEEKENDS. Can I tell you all the things I did with my weekends this year? I got my nails done, I enjoyed a plethora of showers from bridal to baby, weddings galore, Sunday lazy days, shopping days. It was wonderful to enjoy a full year of weekends.





CLEAN MORE. Let's ask my husband...

BE A BETTER WIFE. It was a tough year for us. No car, unemployment, sickness, death in the family. We had to support each other through the tough times. There were tense moments but those are the moments where our marriage was strengthened. The moments where I evolved in my role as a wife. We celebrated two years of marriage with big plans for year 3!

HAVE CONFIDENCE. In just the past 2 months, I have jumped into two new businesses. I had the confidence to put myself out there. It Works requires me to step out of my shell the most. Be confident that these products are amazing and this company can help everyone get out of debt.

Have you tried that Crazy Wrap Thing?


DISCOVER MORE OF MY FAITH. While I didn't find a church this year, I did start studying the bible more than I had been. It was a huge help the past few months.

The others on the list might not have been met...but I think i have grown so much this year and accomplished more of my goals plus extra ones I didn't even realize I wanted on January 1.

Get ready to see my 2016 on January 1. They might look the same, they might have evolved from this year's resolutions but I can say I am excited for 2016!

How did you do with your goals. resolutions for 2015?


Krista

Show Me Your 2015 + A Giveaway

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Isn't there something magical about looking out your window and seeing the snow glistening on the tree tops? Although, us people on the East coast have yet to really see any of that. I mean, Christmas Eve has a forecast of 70. Um, when did I move to Florida?

But enough of me complaining about the lack of seasons we are experiencing (and come back and remind me of this when I'm complaining about too much now heh) and on to me complaining about the fact that 2015 is almost over. These past few months have been quite the whirlwind of ups and downs and I was hoping for a different outcome to the end of the year.

Nonetheless, this has been a year of growth, change and hope. Hope that our next year will be a good one and bring us the blessings we have so hoped for. I love looking back on the year of pictures. Of smiles, little moments and big moments. So. I'm announcing a New Year link-up. Your 2015 in ONE Picture.

One picture might sound like it's crazy but I can assure you, you will find that one perfect picture that can sum up the rest of your year. Come back here December 31, see my 2015 picture and link up with me!


Classy & Sassy Mrs.


And even if there is now snow around here, there is something to be celebrated...a Winter Wonderland Giveaway!




Two of you get to win $400 PayPal cash!! That means you can pay off those credit cards from the holidays or get that massage to destress from the holidays. I would personally use it for a Caribbean vacation. What would you use it for if you win?


a Rafflecopter giveaway


This giveaway is open WW. The giveaway goes live on 12/20/15 and ends on 1/25/16. The winners will be chosen using random.org and will be notified via email no later than 1/30/16. The winners have 48 hours to claim prize before it's forfeit and another winner is chosen. Entering the giveaway you must be 18 years or older. Void where prohibited.

Krista

#HowWeFamily

Monday, December 21, 2015

I have received information from the makers of TYLENOL®. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post.



My family holidays haven't been the typical, commercial holiday we all see. I am the daughter of a divorced couple so that meant morning at mom's, afternoon at dad's/step mom's and dinner at my mom's family. That's how we did family when I was younger.

Then, my mom passed away. There wasn't mornings under the tree, just trying to spend time with my mom's family in our own way. It's aunts, uncles,cousins all together to share some laughs and memories. That's he family now.

My husband and I were married in 2013. We have been together almost 10 years. We are an interracial couple that sees the stares, sees the looks when we are walking in a mall. Spending time with each others families on holidays is what it's important. Even if we don't look the same, we love the same way. That's how we family.

It doesn't matter if I split my time between 3 different family functions. It doesn't matter that some of us don't "look" alike. It doesn't matter that how we family doesn't match the commercials on TV. All that matters during the holidays is celebrating the ones you love. Your own definition of family.

Tylenol truly believes it's not about who you love, it's about how you love them by creating the #HowWeFamily program. This means celebrating all families that come together this holiday season, no matter what size the families are, no matter if there are multiple families, no matter the race, age, sex of the families, it's a time to share. This video shows real moments from real families that shows what the holidays are really about, unconditional love, joy, surprises and laughter.



Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!


Krista

5 Best Christmas Songs

Friday, December 18, 2015

The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is signing loud for all to hear...



//Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays
NSync only.

// Rockin Around the Christmas Tree
Classic Version

// O Holy Night
Celine Dion Version

//All I Want for Christmas is You
Mariah Carey of course!

// Happy Christmas, War Is Over
Original Version

I have put together a playlist of all my Christmas favorites. Maybe not ALL because any Christmas song can pretty much get me in the spirit.


What are your favorite Christmas songs?


Krista

Financial Resolutions for the New Year

Thursday, December 17, 2015


Did you know we have 8 bank accounts? That's right. 8 accounts. Before you think we have taken the crazy train to who knows where, let me explain.

Our financial resolution for 2016 is to make sure we have our finances on the right track for buying a house. Because let's face it, that's a huge purchase and hit on your hard saved money. First, we want to make sure we do not end up "house poor" as some people might say. That means not only making sure we have enough for the down payment but also all the fun stuff that comes after. Then, we have to make sure where we are currently with spending allows us to still enjoy our life after a house or if we should adjust now to prepare for when we do purchase.



To help us achieve our financial resolution, we utilize those 8 bank accounts I had mentioned. I won't say we have fully mastered all the accounts but we are pretty close. We have a system for every paycheck and what can be adjusted if we feel like one account isn't thriving as much as it should.

Our account
This is our joint checking account. Both of our paychecks are deposited here to make it easier to transfer all in one place. We pay all of our bills from this account, including rent, car loan, etc.

His Account & Her Account
These are our separate checking accounts. I know it's always an interesting topic asking married couples if they share an account. We have the best of both. I like having my own not necessarily to splurge but to also be able to surprise Brian if I wanted to. This is where I get my nail money from or my morning coffee fix. It comes out to around 10% of each paycheck.

Regular Savings
20% of our checks go into this account to be used for the down payment on a house. Once we accomplish that savings goal and purchase the house, we can utilize this as regular savings for the future. This is money that we do not touch and you can pretend is not even there.

Will this be my house?


Short Term Savings
10% of each of our paychecks goes into this account. This is for any short term purchases you are hoping to make. Most recently for us, it was the bed, the car before that, etc. That way we did not have to take anything out of our regular savings and were able to see this separately for our purchases.

Fun Money
What goes in here really depends on what we have "leftover" for the month. It usually turns out to be around 5%. We use this for our date nights, ordering in, nights out with friends. If we know we are going out, we place the money that we want to spend in the checking account ahead of time.




Kid Fund
Yes, the child fund because kids are expensive and there might be a chance I just can't go back to work. We like to be prepared ahead of time for the large chunk of expenses it takes. It's 5% that goes in here.

Capital One 360 Savings Account
Seeing as I struggled with saving pennies always, it was important that I had my own savings account. It helped me feel empowered to save and was a small win for me for when I hit my goal at the end of last year. 360 Savings from Capital One account makes it extremely easy to save money. The ‘Automatic Savings Plan’ tool allows users to maximize their savings by having a fixed amount of money regularly transferred from their linked checking account to their online savings account, giving them a higher interest rate. I have it set up for each paycheck to automatically be transferred over so I basically don't even have to see it before it leaves!



We also currently have minimal debt {...I mean besides the student loans that I pretend don't exist..} and want to continue down that road. We only use our credit card for things like gas or groceries that we pay off completely each month. This is so we can build credit and still earn rewards. The Capital One Venture Card is a great option if you are looking for a travel rewards credit card. The Venture Card is a travel rewards credit card offering double miles on every purchase – anywhere, anytime, and without the restrictions commonly found in rewards programs. I personally love making money while spending money or getting free points for stuff. Ask my husband, if it has a rewards program I sign up. 

We feel that we are ready for 2016 with our finances to move forward with our future and you can be too just by following our steps for the accounts. What are your financial goals for the new year?


Krista


I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Christmas Photos

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

 This is the second year we have taken our own "professional" photos. And by professional I mean, put my Canon on a stand, pressed the self timer and posed on a blanket in the park.


Some of them came out not too bad and were able to make it to our Christmas card. Blanket for the win.





And it wouldn't be photos without a little bit of crazy mixed in.





Krista

Christmas Decor

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

With the addition of our Christmas tree this weekend, we have finished the house for Christmas. We had been needing a new tree for a few years but never really made the plunge. But after most of our floor was covered with artificial needles last year, it was obvious it wouldn't make it another year.

We were able to grab a 7 foot tree at Target for under $50. Right up my alley. Not prelit because I like to torture myself making sure the lights are just perfectly placed while also untangling at the same time.


I am not sure I will ever have that Instagram perfect tree of matching ornaments and just the right amount of lights, but this, this is perfect to me. It has our wedding ornaments, some colorful ball ornaments and Batman to round everything out ;)



These are my favorite Target Dollar Spot find. Small tiny stockings. And what would it be without the furry animals to join. Clearly, I win at Christmas decor.



I added some leftover ornaments to this bowl to compliment my poinsettia case. It was my mom's so I always love to have that out at Christmas.



We do not have a fireplace to no burlap ribbon to show or stockings hung with care. But I did put a small tree in our kitchen. So there's that. 



There are a few other odds and ends here and there. I must admit, as much as I love Christmas I wasn't all in it this year. Fingers crossed next year will be quite different. 

What's your favorite Christmas decor?


Krista

8 Christmas Traditions for Couples

Thursday, December 3, 2015

I am big on traditions. There are moments from my childhood that



//Decorate the tree
Add some merriment. Even without kids, decorating the tree can be fun. Open a bottle of wine, put on the Santa hats and deck the halls.Enjoying it this much now means it will be even more enjoyable for your kids.

//Christmas Cards
It's a great way to get to snuggle up to your sweetie for those photos. And if you're anything like us, it's also a great way to get a laugh or two. We never sent them out when I was younger so I wanted to start this when we got married.


//Christmas Eve by the tree
We like to be home late Christmas Eve, by the tree, watching It's a Wonderful Life. Or rather, I made my husband like this tradition. The moments before kids where we can relax and enjoy the season before the rush of Christmas hits at midnight.

//Driving around to see Christmas lights
It's a tradition you can start when you are cramped up in your apartment as newlyweds, talking how someday you will decorate your house that way. Before you know it, it turns into a tradition with your children in the backseat sipping cocoa. Ours is Christmas Eve after we leave his parents.

//Warming up by the Fireplace
It can be real or fake. Roast some smores, sit in front of the fire and share about Christmas past. Childhood stories, stories about your future Christmases and what they might look like.

//Buy an ornament that represents your year
If you take a holiday picture every year, it's easy to make an ornament that shows off the Christmas card photo.  I always buy an ornament that shows something that happened the past year. One year it was our wedding another Disney and this year, well I haven't quite found the perfect one yet. I am even more excited for what kinda of ornaments I can add next year.

//Stuff the stocking
As much as I love presents, there is just something different about opening up a stocking. It's the small trinkets or practical gifts that lie inside the cloth lining. It's usually where we gift our ornaments, add some chocolate and even socks occasionally. Plus, we even stuff one for our current little baby.


/Christmas Get together
Hosting one at your house as a couple is a great way to have friends over during the holidays. It can be a themed get together {ugly sweater, swanky cocktail, etc.} or just a casual get together. Plus, everyone gets to see all those decorations that took awhile to put up!

These are just a few traditions you can start with your significant other. If you're really feeling fancy, you can even go ice skating or snowboarding.

What are your couple traditions?

Krista

'Tis the Season| December Goals

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

All the hustle and bustle of Christmas is here with the start of December. If only evidenced by the joy in people's eyes at the grocery store already. Grumble, grumble.

Let's look back at my November goals...
I feel so much better than I have been and I am so thankful for that. There are a few things to iron out with my health in the coming months but I am glad to be mostly on the mend. About that novel though, it's like maybe a quarter done and even that's a stretch. Christmas shopping completed with the addition of an Etsy shop. So I would say successful November.




Enjoy my holiday
Because isn't that what it's all about? I want to get wrapped up in all things Christmas. I have a Christmas tradition post coming soon just to show you how I get my Christmas on.



Rock my NEW ItWorks! Business
Have you heard of about that crazy wrap thing? Or how about any of the other products we offer? I am so excited to be able to offer you all these products for a healthier lifestyle and the opportunity of joining me on my team! I know I'm working my way towards that $500 bonus.


Go back through Quit Your Job to Blog
I have gone through the courses, jotting some notes. But I really want to dive in and really put some of the lessons to work. Mostly, AdWords and figure that business out.

Turn 29
But only because I absolutely HAVE to..

Make 3 different items for my Etsy shop
With engagement season about to be in full force, I want to make a few extra options to hang those diamond rings on. Any thoughts?


Book final cruise details

I have never been on a cruise and I am so excited to go in February. We still have passports to renew and flights to book but I'm getting more and more excited! Just 87 days...

Here's to the last month of 2015!


Krista
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