Falling in Love
Have you ever told your friends you were in love?
Valentine’s Day is coming up which usually gets people thinking about love – whether they’re currently in love or looking for love. Sometimes falling in love is like seeing a shirt at your favorite store and having to buy it right away… It was love at first sight! Except, when you take it home and try it on, you realize the shirt isn’t for you at all. Unfortunately, once you date someone, breaking up isn’t as easy as returning a shirt and getting your refund - damage is usually always done.
Getting into a relationship
If you jump into a relationship, it can end just as fast as it started. The best possible way to have a long and healthy relationship with someone is if you take your time to get to know them. Have fun and become good friends from the start. Don’t be too quick to put a title on something. It’s great to be sure you’re comfortable around someone before you make a commitment to them.
Keeping your relationship healthy
Communication is vital to any relationship. If something is on your mind, don’t wait for the topic to come up to talk about it… Express your feelings, but be rational as well. Take each others feelings into deep consideration. If your boo is down, make it a point to find out what it is and fix it. Trust is huge! Without it, the relationship will slowly crumble. Make time for yourself, friends, and family … they’re important too. Give each other space and then you’ll appreciate your time together even more. Also, sending a quick text in the morning or at night is really sweet. It lets your significant other know they are on your mind!
Big No Nos
Bringing up past relationships you had with an ex boyfriend or girlfriend can instigate fights out of the wazoo. It’s better to let the past stay in the past! You can’t move forward if you keep re-reading a chapter of your book. Something even worse than considering an ex would be comparing your recent crush to an ex. That’s hurtful and it gets you nowhere.
Dating is a privilege and not a necessity. Most importantly, remember that you’re not defined by your relationship status! You’re young so have fun being you. And if cupid shoots you out of the blue, follow my advice for starting a match made in heaven. And remember - whether you’re single or “in a relationship” you can still have a great Valentine’s Day.
It’s all about how you choose to look at life!
RT4T Super Bowl Pre-Game Party!!
What are you doing Super Bowl Sunday?
Of course, watching the game, chillin’ with friends, and stuffing your face! But why only do that during the game when you can do it before too?! Come kick-off the party with me at my RT4T Super Bowl PRE-GAME Party! All your favorite football grub and drinks will be waiting for you to devour and everything is completely free. Plus, you’ll have tons of chances to win sweet prizes, like:
- 42″ HDTV
- Kindle Fire
- Cash money
- Gift cards
Oops, I almost forgot. There will be really fun activities that will push you to the limits by testing your own football skills and knowledge. Check it out. Just kick a football and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a 42″ LCD Flat Screen HDTV. How sick is that! The better you kick the ball, the more entries you’ll earn into the drawing. And you don’t even have to be an MVP to give it a try. As long as your foot touches the ball, you win an entry. Don’t worry if you’re not the athletic type. There will be plenty of other ways to have fun, like trivia, NFL logo match-up, cornhole bean bag toss & more.
So invite your friends, put your game face on, and get ready for the most legit Super Bowl party of 2012!
Sunday, February 5
2pm – 4pm
Lakeland High School
(Football Practice Field)
Be sure to RSVP on the RT4T Facebook page!
HELLO COLLEGE!
It’s about that time of year for you seniors to start applying for colleges!!!!
I have a few friends in college and they always fill me in on all the cool things college has to offer and how much fun it is to have more freedom. But something all my college friends seem to keep repeating is how much you will spend on all of the hidden costs.
Dorm Room Necessities
Moving into a dorm room for guys is almost effortless because guys are easy to please. A fridge, a microwave, and a bed is all they need! But girls are high maintenance… We need cute bedding, pictures to hang, a neat alarm clock… and that doesn’t even begin to cover half of the basics! A great place to get all your dorm room necessities is IKEA. If you haven’t heard of IKEA, it’s basically a really cool store that sells affordable decorations and space-saving items that help keep your belongings organized and your living space stylish!
School Passes
One thing newcomers to college don’t take into consideration is the numerous passes that are offered. Parking passes cost money and season passes for your college’s football team can cost up to $200!
Meals
A lot of universities actually have meal plans that you are required to sign up for. Plus, everyone likes to eat out with their friends every once in a while, so your food bill can really add up. Just steer clear of the dreaded Freshman 15. Yikes!
Text Books
Text book prices can get way out of hand! When I attend college I plan on getting my books from Chegg.com. This website allows you to rent text books for an extremely affordable price. Or you can buy an older edition of a textbook. My friend recently told me that his class wanted him to buy an edition 9 math text book that was going to cost him $200, but instead he bought the edition 8 book and only spent $3!!! Just keep in mind some of the homework questions may differ slightly.
Scholarships
One way to help cover all these major college expenses is by applying for scholarships. Many scholarships require you to have good grades and excellent ACT & SAT scores. However, some are based on ethnicity or even what career path you are choosing, so don’t get discouraged!
Did you know MIDFLORIDA offers a scholarship to every public high school in Polk and Highlands counties? Visit their website to learn more about the scholarships they offer and how to apply. It’s another reason why I think MIDFLORIDA is the coolest bank ever.
Just because there are still 5 months left of school before summer break, make sure you don’t let senioritis get a hold of you. Stash your money away for the future, study up, and apply for as many scholarships as you can. You won’t regret it!
Money Smarts
I recently saw an article that made me question how savvy I am with my money. Having the mind set that I would find myself to be GREAT... I took the test.
So only moments later, I found out that I may not be as great as I thought – but I also discovered that I’m not half bad either. The quick quiz results were spot on! See, I am usually very frugal with my money. I rarely ever buy anything that isn’t on the sale rack. But if I see a really cute shirt or a pair of shoes I REALLY want… I usually give in and pay the price. The quiz results said just that – I’m prone to spend when I see something I really want. I think the important word in that statement is WANT. I want it but I may not NEED it. So sometimes my quick decision to buy can be a huge mistake – especially when I find something similar that’s less, my high ticket item goes on mega sale or even worse, something happens to my car and I NEED it repaired.
Of course this quiz is just for fun but sometimes doing little quizzes like this can make you think and maybe see things in yourself that you haven’t before. If you want to see what kind of shopper you are and consequently how smart you may be with your money… take the quiz! Then post and let me know how you did!
(Guys, this might be painful for you . . . I doubt you’ve ever fallen victim to a Juicy Couture hoodie before.)
Stay Warm & Cozy all year long!
Florida winters are usually not as cold as New York winters.
But over the past couple of days, we have been experiencing a taste of New York winter weather! Can you believe that on Tuesday night the temperature reached under 30 degrees?! Unlike New Yorkers, I’m not used to temperatures under 30 degrees and weather like this usually requires layering!
This entire week, I have been adding layers into my outfits. Florida winters are pretty short, so rather than buying really expensive, thick sweaters that I will only need for a couple weeks at the most, I layer clothes together to keep me warm! I also get thermals! This is a great option because they are really cheap and you can find them at Target or Walmart for around 8 or 9 dollars.
I also plan on getting pocket warmers which are amazing because they keep your hands warm so you don’t have to buy gloves. But you don’t even have to buy pocket warmers…You can make them! Grab some old fabric from around the house and sew it into a little pouch, pour some rice in, and sew the rest up. Before you leave in the mornings, throw the little pouches into the microwave for around a minute and stash them in your pockets! Super cheap and super easy!
Also, why not get a snuggie? Yes, I know some of the snuggie commercials look pretty ridiculous but I have one and I absolutely love it. And now, they even make them for pets so your little pooch can stay comfy too. Love it!
Photo courtesy of mysnuggiestore.com
With this cold weather that feels like Antartica, it’s important to figure out ways to stay as warm as possible! So stay warm and cozy this winter, and don’t let the weather keep you from having fun! Also, I’d love to know other ideas on how you’re keeping cozy this winter!
New Year, New Goal!
The New Year is here and that means a new goal!
I remember in 6th grade I wanted a pair of black Converse all stars SO BAD. I had to pay for them myself, so I saved up for them by putting every amount of money I earned into a tin can I had decorated. For a while I had just been sticking money in, and I didn’t even check to see how much there was… But before I knew it I had saved up for a pair of new shoes AND I had some money left over! Sweet!
With the new year here, I figured it’s time to decide what my goal will be for this year. I’ve narrowed it down to 3 main New Year’s resolutions – put more money away for college, make better grades for scholarships, and finish redecorating my room! Two of those things involve LOTS of money, which means saving money just like I did with the Converse shoes! So I’ve got to figure out just how I plan to accomplish these goals.
Your new goal could be saving up for a new car sound system, getting a membership to a gym, or maybe even cutting down on the amount of fast food you eat per week! It’s really easy to achieve any goal you set for yourself if you go about it the right way. To make your goal happen, you have to write down a plan. Otherwise, it becomes a fading thought. If your goal is buying something expensive, then commit to saving a certain dollar amount each week and write it down. Want to get fit? Make a note of which days you will commit to hitting the gym.
Your goals are important. But the only way it’s going to turn from a dream to reality is to write it down and make a plan. Keep it at the front of your mind. You can even write personal reminders on sticky notes and place them on places like your bathroom mirror or the steering wheel of your car so that you can reach your goal faster. You never know – you just might surprise yourself at what you accomplish this year.
So tell me, what are your goals for 2012?
Are You Coming down with a Brain Freeze?
No, I'm not talking about when you eat ice cream and your brain starts to freeze up...
I’m talking about when you can’t figure out what gifts to buy for Christmas!
I use to get brain freeze all the time. Especially when I had to buy gifts for my dad or grandparents. A couple years ago for Christmas, I couldn’t figure out what gift to buy my dad. Before I knew it, it was Christmas day and I was still empty handed!
I let my brain freeze keep me from finding a gift and after sharing my experience with my friends, I found out some of them experienced the same thing!
If you currently have a brain freeze, here are some homemade remedies from your gift doctor, Hannah Sells, that will get you better in no time!
Remedies:
1. Get crafty: If you’re on a budget this year, try to make something! There are tons of websites that have “do-it-yourself” tutorials on how to make really awesome stuff. This option will save you money, plus show the person you’re making it for how much effort you put into it. (p.s. Parents love when you make them stuff. It just melts their hearts!)
2. Team up: Do you have brothers and sisters? Why not put your money together and buy something special for mom and dad? You’ll be able to buy something nicer without spending a ton of money individually.
3. Gift exchange: Do you have a ton of friends but don’t have the cash to buy them all a present? The solution is simple, have a holiday gift exchange! Set a price limit and tell all your friends to buy one gift. Then pick names from a hat and trade gifts with that person. (While you’re at it, turn it into a party! Gosh, I love parties!)
4. Gift cards: Buying a gift card is easy and fast. It also gives the person you’re giving the gift to the freedom to buy what they want. Gift cards sometimes get a bad rap becuase they lack any personal touch but sometimes, the packaging for a gift card can be as much fun as the gift card itself. There are all sorts of cute and inexpensive ways to personalize this convenient gift.
5. Cook up a great gift: Cookie exchanges are pretty common this time of year but there are a ton of other ideas of good-tasting gifts you can make. Chocolate covered pretzels are easy and fun. Creating a unique chocolate sauce for ice cream – of course with your own custom label. What about BBQ sauce? Definitely a winner in the south. With the internet, countless options are at your fingertips and you can get started with a quick trip to the grocery store.
Gifts don’t have to tax your wallet or your brain to be great. It really is the thought that counts. So kiss your gift brain freeze goodbye!
Just a few helpful hints once you’re past your gift brain freeze:
Ask for a gift receipt – that’ll keep the price you paid between you and the salesclerk. And of course, remember to take the price tag off! (A lot of great gifts can be very cheap but you don’t want to share with everyone how much you paid for it.)
Gifts in hand but no cash left for wrapping – don’t sweat it! Grab a newspaper and use the “funnies” section. Plus, you can even cut the paper into strips and gently glide scissors over it to curl it like you would ribbon to make a fashionable bow. You’ll end up with a super unique gift – and no extra debt for purchasing wrap.
My Top Ten Gift Picks!
Are you having a hard time picking out a gift for a friend, family member, or special someone?
Take a look at these top ten affordable gift picks on my christmas list this year! Maybe some of the things on my list will help you with the people you have on yours.
CHRISTMAS GIFT LIST:
Scarf or beanie hat: Staying warm for the winter is a must, even for us Floridians! Plus with all the styles and colors available, scarves and hats have become a stylish accessory.
Portable speakers for phone or iPod: I was just at American Eagle and they had a speaker in the shape of a squishy ball that attaches to your phone or iPod. Not only cool, but super affordable.
To go cup or mug filled with candy: Always a popular option, I mean who doesn’t love candy? Especially around the holidays! Plus for those of us who are eco-conscious, you can always use a mug for your favorite coffee or cocoa over and over and over again. Yum!
New smartphone case: If you’re like me and drop your phone almost every time you pick it up… it’s time for you to get a case. Not only does it make your phone stand out, it protects it from scratches, dents and may prevent complete social devastation.
iTunes gift card: Nowadays, if you want new music, you don’t buy a CD – you buy it off iTunes! Plus you can make a $10 gift card stretch even further by making a list of single songs that you think your giftee will enjoy. Or take thoughtful to a new level and use the song titles or parts of the lyrics to craft a unique Christmas card to hold the gift card.
Tech-Friendly Gloves: It always annoys me when I have to take off my gloves to send a text or check my Facebook on my smartphone. Thankfully someone came up with tech- friendly gloves, so I can do everything I want or need on my phone without suffering from finger frostbite. Check out The NorthFace brand, they have SWEET tech gloves!
Colorful Slap Watch: You may have seen people rockin’ these on their wrists already and for good reason because they are sick! This is the new style for watches for both girls and guys! And, you can get them in almost any color you want – and they are so affordable you can have one for every day of the week or every outfit.
Gamestop gift card: I may not be a guy but I know that guys love video games! Why not get your brother or perhaps a boyfriend a Gamestop gift card this Christmas? Whoever said “the stomach is a way to a man’s heart” must not have known about video games!
Stylish tote bag: Tote bags make traveling so much easier. Whether I’m going to a sleepover at a friend’s house, a football game, or a trip to NYC for Christmas, I throw all my must-have items in my tote bag for easy access!
Lunch gift card: I almost always get a gift card for Chick-Fil-A in my stocking for Christmas! I can’t express my love for delicious chicken nuggets, waffle fries, and a cookies-and-cream milkshake! I can’t be alone in my love of a free, delicious lunch so this might be a great gift option for someone on your list too. Gift cards that involve food are always a good thing!
If you want to give an amazing gift this year, get your hands on one these hot christmas gift items!
Holiday Party!
If you want to throw the Holiday party of a lifetime this year, don't let a tight budget stress you out!
I’ll admit, throwing & attending parties is an addiction of mine… especially during the Christmas season. It’s super fun to get with friends and just be wild! Except this year, I’m on a budget and that got me thinking, “Can I still throw an awesome Christmas party if I’m on a budget?”
The answer is YES!!!!
First off, sticking with internet invitations this year is the way to go! Cards, envelopes & stamps all add up to be pretty pricey, and there are many free options out there in cyberspace. Websites such as evite.com and punchbowl.com offere free e-invitations for just about any occasion. Just choose your invitation, type in the email addresses and send. Plus, those sites help you keep track of who’s coming and who’s missing out.
Another option is Facebook. Most of us are on Facebook already. You can make an event on Facebook and invite all the friends you want to be there. For those friends who don’t have a Facebook page, you can always send them a text!
Another way I can cut costs is to ask each of my friends to bring a different dish of food. That way I won’t be stuck having to make all the food! As the host, I’ll take care of the main dish and my friends can bring the sides. Small dishes like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, apple pie, or chocolate chip cookies wouldn’t be hard to make or find at the grocery store.
Now when it comes to decorating your house, just settle with the decorations you have. You don’t have to get crazy! Work with what you have! For my own party, I’d consider using outside lights to decorate the inside of my house, draping string lights over windows, and propping up reindeer beside our christmas tree!
Another idea is to make some new decorations. I love making things myself and adding my own unique flare. I get a lot of awesome ideas from pinterest.com. If you haven’t heard of Pinterest yet, you totally should check it out. You’ll find ideas galore. I found cute ways to cut out colored paper letters that spell “Christmas” or “Holiday” and how to use the classic white paper snowflakes for a snowflake garland – those never get old!
Planning a fabulously festive Holiday get together is easy and cheap! So chill out, relax, and let the festivities begin!
The Gift of Giving!
During the holidays, most of us can't wait to unwrap the presents on our wish list!
Sometimes we get the cool beanie or scarf we want for Christmas, sometimes even both, SCORE! But did you know, a lot of teens don’t have the advantage of getting what they want for Christmas? It’s sad, but true. That’s why it’s really awesome that MIDFLORIDA has a TOY DRIVE going on!
HOW TO GIVE:
- Stop by any of the Polk County MIDFLORIDA branches now through December 23.
- Donate a new and unwrapped gift.
- If you don’t know what to buy, make a donation. (You can write the check to the “Willie Bush Toy Foundation” and they will pick a gift out for you!
Every holiday season there are many children and teens who don’t get a lot of presents, if any at all – but you and I can make a difference! Just imagine the bright smile that will appear on the face of a child or teen as they open up your gift… totally heartwarming!
To find a branch near you, visit midflorida.com
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