Birthday Parties, Hats, and Memories

My niece will have her eighth birthday party tomorrow.  Their will be goody bags, brightly-colored packages, and cake...but no birthday hats. The lack of birthday hats has had me thinking a lot about my own birthday parties as a child.

Whatever happened to the birthday hats? Why do children today think they are too cool for birthday hats?

I reflect back to my own birthday parties. As a small child, everyone wore party hats. It was exciting to show up to a party, and wonder what type of hat you would be honored to wear. The above picture was taken at my 4th birthday party. I am seated at the head of the table in the pink hat. Look around the table. All you see are party hats. Now there is no mistaking...you know that was a birthday party!     

As we grew older, we did ditch the hats, but that was much later in life. As I think of my birthday parties from 3rd grade on, I remember swimming parties at my house, and skating parties at Hot Wheels. Now of course, once you are in 3rd grade...you ARE too cool for hats, but for those first eight years, it was hats all the way. No one complained about the itchy, rubber strap that you had to slide under you're chin, or behind you're ears. You wore the hats because it was you're duty as an honored party guest. It showed respect to the "birthday girl, or boy."

 I say bring back the party hats. The world would be a brighter, happier place! 

Weight Loss Journey

Starting Monday I will be embarking on a weight loss journey. I will not admit to how much I need to lose, but let's just say it is a lot. There are many reasons for me wanting to lose weight. Some of the reasons are health related, but I will admit that most of the reasons are for vanity purposes.

I have known I have needed to lose a lot of weight for some time. My most recent motivation came from looking at old pictures of myself from a few years ago. I do not want to brag, but WOW!! So the time has come to gain myself back, one pound at a time.

Below are the reasons that I want to, no, have to lose weight.

1. I want nice clothes that I look great in.
2. I have some trips planned, and I do not want to be fat and miserable.
3. Health reasons.
4. I will need energy to teach.
5. I want to be able to have nice clothes to teach in.
6. I want to be able to post new pictures of myself on facebook. (pictures I am 
    proud of.)
7. I want to get back into the dating world, and will not do so until I feel great
    about myself. I also will need the nice clothes to date.

Well there it is. There is my motivation.

You may be asking yourself if I have a plan. Why, yes I do. I will be losing weight on Weight Watchers. I have started Weight Watchers many times throughout the years. Some of those times I have lost weight, but more often I just do not stay on the plan. So this time, when I start, I will not be able to get off of Weight Watchers. So, what's the problem with staying on Weight Watchers? Well, for starters I love food. Sweets are not my weakness, good food is. Mashed potatoes, chicken, shrimp creole, gumbo...you get the idea. I also hate salads, and do not exactly love exercise. The exercise part I realize that I will have to change. The bottom line is that at my age, I will have to exercise to lose and be able to keep it off.

I also do not feel as though I need to attend the Weight Watcher meetings. I have done Weight Watchers so long, that I know the drill. I have never been one to be helped by groups. Group therapy would never work for me. It does not help me to know that a bunch of people are going through the same thing as I. I only know that I will be hungry, grouchy, and irritable and that is what matters to me. I plan on skipping the meetings, and just using that money for frozen Weight Watcher meals.

So there you have it. My plan will go into action tomorrow. Today I plan to eat!!!

The Life of a Realtor

I have been a Realtor for the past eight years. Sometimes I can not believe that I have survived that long, but it's true. Some how I have managed to make enough money to survive for eight long years. Some months have been leaner than others, and the stress has almost killed me, but I have survived. Don't get me wrong being a Realtor has it's perks, but it also has more than it's share of negatives. Let me shed some light on the life of a Realtor.

I want to begin with the positives, the reasons that I became a Realtor in the first place. Well the best thing about being a Realtor is that I do not have a boss. I am self-employed, an independent contractor, and I only have myself to answer to. I can not begin to tell you how much I enjoy this aspect. I have never been one to fit into the "corporate world." For the thirteen years prior to my real estate career I worked in the "corporate world." I was always in some form of sales, and I always hated it and just squeaked by. Yes, being self employed is wonderful. I do not have to call in sick, ask permission to go on vacation, or be lectured on my performance. I am free to do as I see fit. I also do not know of any other profession that pays as much for selling one item. If I sell one house a month, I can pay all of my bills for the month with some left over.

Now for the negative side of being a Realtor. Well for starters, I do not have health insurance. It is entirely too expensive to afford on my own. I do not get reimbursed for gas mileage, although many clients are under the impression that we do. I do not get a base salary or any compensation that I do not earn. I may work months with a buyer and then they can decide that they are no longer in the market for a home, they can buy a "for sale by owner," or they can decide to build a house, and I have to cut my losses. I do not make one dime for my time spent with them. If a house is under contract, I can not count on spending my money until it closes. I can not tell you how many times a deal falls through for one reason or another. It can totally fall apart two days before closing due to financing without any notice whatsoever. That is awfully nerve racking when you are counting on that money to pay your bills for the month.

Yes the life of a Realtor is stressful. I knew that I could not go on living like this forever. I needed a steady pay-check, and health benefits. I also knew that without a college education I would be forever stuck in those dead-end jobs. No, I wanted a career. I knew what I had to do. I have always wanted to be a teacher, so at the age of 36 I entered LSUS as a freshman. I graduate in December of this year. I am so excited, and I can not wait to get my classroom.

Wow! A steady pay-check every month regardless of what happens. What a novel idea. You mean I will also be able to go to the doctor without it costing me full price up front? Wow! The question I have is why didn't I think of this when I was 20? Oh well! We live and learn, and I have definitely learned. Now you might be asking yourself, "Well what about real estate?" Real estate is in my blood now. I can't give it up, and I plan on continuing real estate. The only difference is I will not have to depend upon it for survival. It will be my fun, travel money. My knees will not have to go weak, and the color will not have to drain from my face if a deal falls through. Oh happy day!!