I am super excited! We've already accomplish Baby Step #1 by creating a $1000 emergency fund. Baby Step #2 (other than student loans) will be complete this summer! I can actually see ourselves getting established. Travis has decided, after working a factory job that was detrimental to his health, he is going back to college. He has a strong interest in figuring out how things work, why they work, and he's super good at working with electrical stuff. Travis is pursuing a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology. I couldn't be more proud of him.
What have I been up to? Well, I got a nice job doing a variety of things! Right now, I am finishing up my internship at the zoo in Public Relations/Marketing/Event Planning. I'm busy making training videos, putting together activity packets, planning the Earth Day event, and I get to help out the PR/Director of Communications with any projects she needs done. Not long ago, I had to take pictures of a leopard getting a dental. I even got my picture with the furry guy! (Sorry, I can't post pics on here. It's against policy.) The internship ends April 27th. I told my bosses I am not leaving. One will have to take my arms and the other will have to take my legs and drag me out crying. I love it there. I'll never forget it.
I graduate on May 5, 2012 at 3 PM! I already ordered my cap and gown. I plan on making my own graduation invitations using the pictures my friend Kylee took. I will post pictures of them when I am done!
I landed a great job with an auction company. I enjoy the people I work with. I have my own desk all set up. I just need to add some personal touches - like family photos and quotes. I have a good system down already, so now I'm not struggling to get things done on time. They work around my internship, which is fantastic. I only work 2 or 3 days a week (sometimes I have to pick up a Saturday to stay on top of things, but that's only happened twice). I love dressing up for work, so I thoroughly enjoy that. The two guys who are my bosses are super cool. They have a part-time administrative assistant, and she's such a bubbly, friendly lady. I look forward to the days that she is there. They also have a lot of staff that comes and goes. The head maintenance guy comes around and jokes with everyone. He's a hoot. His wife works with my bosses on properties and payroll/finances. She's a sweet lady too. Every once in a while, I see a cute elderly man named Larry. His desk is in the cubicle across from mine. BTW: the cubicles are not the typical cubicle. These are freaking fancy and large. Anyways, Larry has become my buddy. Right now, I just put together ads, brochures, post cards, and manage the ad budgets. I don't have time to do much else since I'm not there full-time. In April, we are going to sit down and re-negotiate my salary. They casually mentioned something about getting me a Mac computer for my desk!! AHH! I'm so excited! They are hooking me up nicely. Anyways, they have full intentions on keeping me full-time, so that is why we will negotiate a salary. Once I am full-time, I will manage all social networking sites for the company, create videos for the company and properties we will be auctioning, and I will be putting together more promotional things for the company that can be used on an iPad. That way, when they go to speak with prospective clientele, they can show them a nice looking "powerpoint" (but more professional and fancy) of all the different types of auctions we do. Can I just say... I love my job. And to think when I applied, I didn't think I would get it. Out of 155 applicants, I was the lucky one.
I'm so happy that things are falling into place. Everyone asks me if Travis is working. But you know, I don't mind him not working. He's still getting a lot of things done and taken care of. Plus, he's looking for an easy part-time job so that he can finish school. When I was in school, I worked part-time. I tried focusing solely on schoolwork. I want him to do the same. This man busted his ass off for 3 years. He worked like a dog just so that we could keep a roof over our heads. He's taken such good care of me... it's time I do the same for him. It is his turn to focus on getting an education and pursuing a career. It is my turn to buck up, take on more responsibilities, and keep our heads afloat. After all, if it wasn't for Travis's hard work, I would have never finished this degree and landed this job. Besides, he is going to be making the big bucks when he's done! :) Behind every great man is a great woman - and I tend to keep that reputation strong. He's such a great husband - I need to be his great wife. I cannot explain how proud I am of him and what we've accomplished as a team. We're a force to be reckoned with.
Once we pay off these credit cards and polish off that medical debt (yeah, there was a debt for $500 that somehow got lost. We're not done yet. ::headdesk::), we are buying my husband a car. This summer, we are hoping to get a starter home. It won't be our forever home, but it will turn a great profit when we re-sell it in 5 years time. We are thinking after getting a car, we should be set with a down deposit plus fees by fall. Who knows, maybe next year we'll buy a house and have a little bit more saved up. But it's still fun to look at our options.
I'm not going to lie. We did break our habit of saving. This Sunday, Travis and I went on a shopping spree. I found heels that I could wear to work on clearance! I got a black pair and a tan pair. Then I found really cute tops and tanks to wear underneath my suits for work for real cheap! Then I found two blazers that fit perfectly! I had looked at Travis and said, "watch, this is going to be too big." I put it on and it fit! I about shat myself! So I got 2 - one is white with a gold button; the other is a black boyfriend blazer. I also found some nice jewelry on sale that would go with any outfit. So now I have 4 necklaces and a pair of earring to wear to work! Since I splurged on work stuff, I told Travis that he should have some fun. So he bought a new XBox controller (his was broken) and he pre-ordered the new Resident Evil game. While splurging like that is a terrible idea, we don't do it often. We rarely, if ever, buy anything for ourselves. So my first paycheck went towards treating ourselves. But that's it. No more frivolous spending until we get another car.
In my very rare amounts of down time, I've been socializing with friends and talking with family members. I've also been putting together the Woenker Recipe Book. When I am done, I will post free printables on here just for fun. Just don't hold your breath. It'll be a while!
