A New Adventure!

Well, I've been contemplating where to go with this blog. You all know I'm all about the healthy life and how to do it without obsessing about it, and how I manage being a mother while still feeling attractive as a wife.

It really is a balancing act and not one I'm very skilled with, but I try and I think that's the key. You have to keep trying, otherwise we end up with ponytails, smelly pits, and yesterday's clothes. That's actually a true story and something I've done more times than I care to admit.

It's life. It's life with kids. It's life with creative endeavors. It's OKAY! I went through a short-lived (thank god) phase when I worked in retail and was so desensitized to the prices on poorly made (let's be honest) mall clothes, that dropping over $100 for a blouse was nothing.

I had 8 credit cards to support it too.

I don't recommend it.

Living like that is not living and it will catch up with you. My father gave me little advice growing up, but I remember two things he said, that I apparently ignored, and now know they are both accurate:

1. If you can't live within your means making what you're making now (however much that may be), you'll NEVER be able to live within your means...and it's easier to learn it while you're not making much.

2. Tweezing chin hairs is a bad idea. (trust me, this one is advice to follow!)

So, I've forgotten the point to all of that...oh, balance. Yea, balance is the key and it's about as easy to obtain as it was for Alice after falling down the rabbit hole.

What I'd like to do, if you're willing, is let you ride along with me, as my husband and I begin a new adventure. Before we begin though, I need to let you know where we stand right now.

Here it goes:
My husband is a tattoo artist who works entirely too hard and too much.
I am at home, doing the nanny thing, while running a home-based business.

We own 3....count them....THREE properties, all of which have mortgages. We are trying to sell these properties and anyone who has tried to sell properties in this market can understand the uncertainty we are feeling in regards to this. We do have friends who are planning to move into one of the houses, whether to buy outright with cash, or to lease to own. Thankfully, it'll be gone eventually. Yay!

The condo is located in an area with a busted housing market, but it's very nice and we don't owe much on it, so it's really the least of our worries.

The third house is the one we are currently living in. We LOVE this house and honestly wish we could pick it up and move it with us, but this is not possible, so I'll likely cry when we move.

We have one car with a payment now, because Kevin's mom bought the other car. Yay! One goal accomplished.

Anywho...

Our plan right now is to move to Florida, very likely the Tampa Bay area, because the cost of living is similar to here and they have all of the cultural attractions that I love having here for Kathryn, such as the zoo, museums, plenty of parks, amusement parks, etc.

As per my usual, I've already begun my research and haven't found much negativity about the area at all. My friend, who I used to teach with moved back down there (to Clearwater) and told me we'd love it. I trust her judgment for sure.

Here's a cool site I found about why to raise your kids in Tampa that I think sounds amazing.

I've contacted a realtor with our budget and he said he sees no problem with us being able to find what we're looking for in our range and that makes me super happy! While we plan to rent initially, the thought of living on the coast and being able to BUY an affordable home there is just icing on the cake! I mean, can you even believe it???!!!

This is all on the DL. I am just so damned excited that I have to share it somehow!

Our goal is to move NEXT YEAR, however, it's VERY possible that it may have to be postponed. That's the "fun" part and why I wanted to bring you along. I want to keep you up to date on the shenanigans, the wins and losses, the stress and struggles. All of it.

Will we get there next year? I have no idea.
Will we get there eventually? I believe we will.

Since leaving Orlando and Cocoa Beach, Kathryn has been asking to go to the beach every day. Also, coming back here to the gloom of Ohio, after enjoying beautiful sunny skies in Florida, is just more than I can bear. It brings me down and I simply cannot take it.

For a while, we kept saying no and finally settled on the idea of staying here because of family...but the thought of settling for anything...anywhere for other people just doesn't sound appealing, especially when we will be coming back here often for Kevin's work and to visit family and friends. The drive really isn't that bad and Kathryn does great in the car (a HUGE change from the first four months of her life, if you've been around long enough to remember!)

So...that's it. That's the plan.
I'm so excited to share it with you.

Oh, today's stresser: Kevin made a cash payment to our credit card on Saturday, but as of yesterday, it still hasn't showed up. So, there are 3 possibilities:

1. The payment is taking longer due to technology.
2. The teller typed the wrong number.
3. The teller kept the money for Christmas spending.

I'm crossing my fingers for #1.
I'll keep you updated as we learn more.

Kat is crying. I must close for now.
She's making a point to look straight at me so I am well aware that she is "crying" and in need of my attention....my constant attention.
Thus is the life of the SAHM, right?

I just remember that one day she won't even want me to hug her in public, then I take a deep breath and...
hug her tight.