Day 3220 – How We Wake Up At 5 AM And Actually Enjoy It – and – A Little Bit About Working With Your Spouse – repost

I wrote the following post in September. Eight months later and we’re still getting up most days around 5 a.m. There are days we sleep in until 7 or 8, if we’ve been out late, haven’t been sleeping as much, or if we’re sick. It’s crazy the amount of work you can accomplish getting up earlier. It’s like the hours from 5:30-9 are magical time expanders. Do you get up early?

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I think we have a new habit, and I think it will be around for a while: waking up at 5:00 a.m. on work days. Since we are building a business (real estate investing), there is a lot to do, all the time. I’ve really been digging in with data mining and management. We’ve recently started outsourcing calls, and it helps to put the pressure on me to keep up with finding numbers and not find excuses to be lazy. Since I don’t track my time on the weekends, I have no idea how many hours I put it this weekend, but it has been a lot. Oy. I have looked at SO many houses online! Though, it does get me dreaming about a home for us down the line. We have some pretty specific needs and wants, so it will likely take a while until we find it. Since Bret is back to school (today is the first day for the kids), having a routine is much more important. One way we’re fitting more in each day is by waking up at 5:00 a.m. I cannot believe I’m saying it….but we haven’t snoozed once since we started. I have ALWAYS snoozed. I have snoozed for HOURS. We’ll still be in bed, but we aren’t hitting snooze and trying to sleep for those precious 9 minutes. Once we have somewhat of a mental faculty going, we’ll start to say things that we’re thankful for. It can be anything from “I’m thankful you’re alive today” to “I’m thankful for this blanket” to “I’m thankful we prepped the coffee last night.” It makes such a difference in mood of the day right from the start. We’ll spend a little time chatting about the day and different things once the coffee is ready. Then I launch into my morning firsts (devotions, writing, blogging, etc).

It’s funny that we’re working together again. After we stopped photography, I thought it would be me working my jobs, and Bret teaching. Us working together, in a lot of ways, came out of left field. But I am SO pumped to be working with Bret again! Working with your spouse isn’t easy, it can be difficult, for sure, but the benefits outweigh those difficulties for us. One thing we’ve noticed is that I can get grumpy if I don’t get 8-9 hours of sleep. It takes a few days, but there is a noticeable difference. Last week, I was REALLLLLLLY grumpy, and Bret was like, ummmmmmmm, what? After more time than it should have, we realize it was because of my lack of sleep. Because Bret knows me so well, he can call me out on things, and we can work through them together.

A bonus to waking up this early is getting to see the sunrise. I was not disappointed this morning.

originally posted 9/5/17

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Day 3217 – It’s Ok To Cry Over Inanimate Objects – or – Ode To My First New Car

As I write this, I am waiting for a tow truck to pick up my car, Sam, for donation.

I have had Sam since 2005 when I bought him new. Up to that point, I only drove hand-me-down cars. I had experienced non-starting cars, no stereos, no heat or A/C, broken windows, and more. When I went to purchase my new car and the salesman asked what I was looking for in a car, I jokingly said – it starts, the stereo works, and I don’t want to have to use two hands to open or close the windows. He didn’t laugh. But that’s ok, I laugh at my own jokes, I’m ok if no one else does.

I only took a five mile test drive. I fell in love as soon as I sat down. It was a brand-spankin’ new car. I never experienced anything like it. There were only just over 100 miles on the car when I got it. Since that point, I’ve experienced some great things with Sam.

I had the first of many long conversations with my now spouse.

I took three cross country road trips with Sam.

I took dozens of shorter distance road trips.

Sam was also “arrested” and was put in an impound lot over the weekend when I was arrested for driving drunk.

I was sitting in Sam when I was on the outskirts of a tornado and was fearing for my life.

Sam took me safely to and from all but one of my weddings. (I did not realize this until just now.)

I always said I would be happy if I could get Sam to a quarter million miles, and I did. The final mileage count was 253,162.

After I cleaned everything out yesterday to prepare for the tow. I came inside and the weight of saying goodbye to this awesome car hit me. I sobbed and sobbed….and sobbed some more.

When Bret came home from work, and after we moved everything into the new car, he suggested sitting in Sam one last time. While I was completely drained at this point, I did. So we sat down and he asked some of my favorite memories. Bret remembered that we had our first heart to heart conversation while sitting in Sam. He thanked Sam for keeping me safe. For keeping him (Bret) safe too. We’ve been in a few accidents separately. Sam has hit a few deer – one totally butt bumped him.

I, of course, lost it again. I am so thankful for such an amazing car. He lived a great, full life, and will now help others.

I’m excited to make new memories in our new car. I can’t wait to start taking road trips with my new, amazing gas mileage. But I’ll never forget this amazing little 2005 Honda Civic LX Special Edition car, with blue sparkles in the black paint.

Thanks for the memories Sam.

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Day 3214 – Reading Challenges Update

I was gathering my thoughts on what to write this morning, and thought, oh hey, I haven’t done a reading challenge update in a while….turns out I haven’t updated since February. Whew doggie, I have a lot to update. I finally added some new shelves for each reading challenge on my Goodreads account. Given that I have so many to share with y’all, you’re just getting titles today! πŸ˜€

As you’re looking through and see a book you want to buy, please use my Amazon shopping link. This will give us a small percentage of what you order at no additional cost to you. It’s a super small percentage too, so just think of it as funding out Krispy Kreme doughnut runs. Or if all y’all buy, a road trip!

Links to all of the reading challenges are below.

Book #24 – My Friend Fear: Finding Magic in the Unknown – this fulfilled a memoir or biography about a person who doesn’t look like you on the #bewellread challenge.

Book #25 – Chasing Light: Michelle Obama Through the Lens of a White House Photographer – this fulfilled a book with a weather element in the title in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #26 – The Edge of the World: A Visual Adventure to the Most Extraordinary Places on Earth – this fulfilled a book set in a country you want to visit in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #27 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince – this fulfilled a book you borrowed or that was given to you as a gift in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #28 – Edible Ensembles: A Fashion Feast for the Eyes, from Banana Peel Jumpsuits to Kale Frocks – this fulfilled a book that’s published in 2018 in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #29 – The Color of Pixar – this fulfilled a book chosen solely by its cover in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #30 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – this fulfilled a book with over 600 pages in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #31 – Rover: Wagmore Edition – this fulfilled a book with non-human characters in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #32 – Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Parts 1 & 2 – this fulfilled a book that is a stage play or musical in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #33 – The Book Thief – this fulfilled a book that’s more than 500 pages in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #34 – Where’d You Go, Bernadette – this fulfilled a book set in a country that fascinates you in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. This was so fun to read, since I work for Lori Gross of The Antarctic Experience. I enjoyed it so much, that I made her read it too. πŸ™‚

Book #35 – Great Lies to Tell Small Kids – this fulfilled a book with a six word title in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #36 – Loads More Lies To Tell Small Kids – this didn’t fit in any of my challenges, but was super funny.

Book #37 – Sober Mercies: How Love Caught Up with a Christian Drunk – this fulfilled a book about mental health in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. This was such a great book about alcoholism and being a Christian too. I’ve tried to read memoirs about alcoholism for inspiration for my memoir, but none of them really stuck, this one did.

Book #38 – DROPKICKromance – this fulfilled a book recommended by someone with great taste in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #39 – The Witch Doesn’t Burn In This One – this fulfilled a book by a favorite author in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #40 – T-Rex Trying and Trying: The Unfortunate Trials of a Modern Prehistoric Family – this didn’t fit in any challenge.

Book #41 – Poorly Drawn Lines: Good Ideas and Amazing Stories – this didn’t fit in any challenge.

Book #42 – Random Illustrated Facts: A Collection of Curious, Weird, and Totally Not Boring Things to Know – this didn’t fit in any challenge.

Book #43 – Uglies – this fulfilled the first book in a trilogy in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #44 – Let’s Get Visible: How To Get Noticed And Sell More Books – this fulfilled an e-book in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #45 – Pretties – this fulfilled a science fiction novel in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #46 – Specials (Uglies, #3) – this fulfilled a book with a one-word title in the #bewellread challenge.

Book #47 – Peter Pan – this fulfilled a classic you’ve been meaning to read in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #48 – @NatGeo: The Most Popular Instagram Photos – this fulfilled a book about nature in the Read Harder Challenge.

Book #49 – Let Me Lie – this fulfilled a book about death or grief in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #50 – Can Somebody Please Scratch My Back? – this didn’t fit in any challenge, but I had to read it cus it was illustrated by one of my fav illustrators, Liz Climo.

Book #51 – Every Note Played – this fulfilled a book published in 2018 in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #52 – Everything, Everything – this fulfilled a book that’s been on the New York Times Bestseller for more than 10 weeks in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #53 – Herding Cats – this fulfilled a book about a topic you’re passionate about in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #54 – What’s It Like in Space?: Stories from Astronauts Who’ve Been There – this fulfilled a book recommended by a librarian in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #55 – Creative Pep Talk: Inspiration from 50 Artists – this fulfilled a memoir, biography, or a book of creative nonfiction in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #56 – Afterworlds – this fulfilled a book with characters who are twins in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #57 – The Spark and the Grind: Ignite the Power of Disciplined Creativity – this fulfilled a book already in your bookshelf in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #58 – The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain – this fulfilled a historical non-fiction book in the The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge.

Book #59 – Take Me with You – this fulfilled a book recommended by a librarian or indie bookseller in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge.

Book #60 – You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth – this fulfilled a book by an author with the same first or last name as you in the Popsugar Reading Challenge.

Book #61 – Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir – this fulfilled a memoir or biography about a person who doesn’t look like you. This was a fantastic graphic novel about Stan Lee. If you’re into comics, check this bad boy out.

Book #62 – Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World – this fulfilled a book with a cover you hate in the Read Harder Challenge. I have to say, this might be one of the best books I’ve read this year. I love Tim Ferris and everything he puts out. I highly recommend this book, if you want to pick up a copy, use this link, it will give us a little percentage.

Book #63 – You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life – this fulfilled your favorite prompt from the 2015, 2016, or 2017 Popsugar Reading Challenges in the Popsugar Reading Challenge. I picked a book with a subtitle.

Links to all of the reading challenges:
The 2018 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge
The 2018 #BWELLREAD Reading Challenge
The 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge
The 2018 Read Harder Challenge
The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge

Again, if you want to check out and buy any of these books, please use my Amazon shopping link. This will give us a small percentage of what you order, and it encourages me to write super long book posts like this. πŸ˜€

Here are my current stats:
Books read – 63
Pages read – 16,024
2018 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge – 8/12
The 2018 #BWELLREAD Reading Challenge – 4/12
The 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge – 18/50
The 2018 Read Harder Challenge – 4/24
The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge – 22/52

I’ve learned a lot about myself, my businesses, how to view the world, and childlike wonder about things through my readings. You might be thinking, “holy crap, does she do ANYTHING but read?” But here’s the thing. I don’t feel like I read that much. I read out of three books in the morning for about 15-30 minutes as part of my morning routine. I might read a fiction book during the day, if I’m really into it. I’ll listen to audiobooks while I drive. I’ve started to listen to audiobooks in the evenings when I’m playing games on my phone. THIS is a game changer right here. I knocked out book #63 SO fast because of this new habit. Depending on the day and my brain capacity for more information, I’ll spend an hour or two reading at the end of my work day and evening. Since we don’t watch TV and have little to care for in our home, we have more time to focus on things like this. One thing I’m working on this year is ruthlessly saying no to things so I can say “oh heck yea” like Jenna Marbles for the precious few. Reading gives me wings (no Red Bull needed). It shows me worlds and personalities and thoughts I wouldn’t have experienced on my own. It gives inspiration to my blog, my books, my social media posts, and my life. It shows me what is possible. Having reading challenges to do also pushes me to expand my scope even more. I hope that this post gives you even a taste for reading and opens your eyes to what’s possible. And that you really do have time to read.

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
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Day 3213 – Cubicle Day Thoughts

I have been a freelancer for 2,423 days. I’ve really only had one office job where I had a cubicle, but it was enough to completely sour me to cubicles. Oy. Now, it’s was probably more a matter of me being in a job I didn’t love and didn’t let me thrive than being a bad job. Like anything in life, my worst job is someone’s best job. But a cubicle life is not for me.

When I first started working freelance, I was running a wedding photography business. My income was ok, but nearly as good as my 9-5 job. Even now, I know I am making much less than I am worth. But, I am taking steps to learn more so I can earn more. It wasn’t until recently that I realized I had a deep set belief that I was not worth more. While in some respects, I was completely surprised by this realization. In others though, it was obvious – one only had to look at my bank account to see I did not value myself like I should.

But that right there is one of the biggest things I’ve learned over the years – all of it is a process. You grow, you change, you take ten steps back, you learn more, you take 100 steps forward, then you fall down the stairs. But you just keep going. I can look back and see that if I wasn’t freelancing right now, I wouldn’t have been able to help with our real estate business as much as I have been. Given the fact that we’re sharing a car and Bret has a day job, I can be the one to run errands, and he doesn’t have to take off.

While there is a part of me that misses having a fully stocked office supplies closet, I am so thankful that on most days, my cubicle is wherever I am.

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
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Check out our resources page.
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Day 3210 – Immersive Advertising Research

One of the things we’ve started to do is immerse ourselves into the subject we’re trying to create a marketing piece for. If we’re creating a postcard for a Cinco de Mayo postcard, we go out to a Mexican restaurant and eat tacos.

We’re creating a postcard for a summer promotion and decided to get into the summer vibe by going to Rita’s. Funny enough, we ate in the car with the heat on. Hey, that’s what imaginations are for, right?

I have to say, this ice flight is THE greatest idea, thanks Rita’s! I always get the same flavor, so it was fun to try new things. The cotton candy was AWESOME!

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel