Ready to decorate for fall

A Little Fall Cozy Is Coming Our Way 🍂☕🏡

Well, friends, I have decided that this upcoming weekend is going to be a stay-home-and-make-my-house-cozy kind of weekend.

And honestly? I am perfectly okay with that.

I don’t have any big plans. No running around. No trying to squeeze a dozen errands into two days. Just me, Mr. C, our home, and maybe a little bit of fall decorating.

Yes, I know. It’s September.

But I am READY. 😂

There is just something about this time of year that makes me want to slow down a little, pull out the cozy throws, change a few things around the house, and make everything feel warm and comfortable.

Bringing Out the Fall Decor

My first project is going to be the living room.

I’m thinking cozy throws tossed over the couches, some fall-colored pillows, a few pumpkins here and there, and maybe a picture or two that has more of a fall feel.

Nothing over the top.

Just enough to make me walk into the room and think, “Ahhh…this feels like fall.”

I’m also thinking about decorating the bathroom.

Now, I don’t normally decorate the bathroom for every season, but I’m trying something new. I’ve decided I want to make each room in our home feel a little more intentional.

So I’m thinking about switching out the shower curtain and adding a few fall-colored accessories.

We’ll see how that goes.

Maybe I’ll become one of those people who decorates EVERYTHING for every season.

Or maybe I’ll decide halfway through that the bathroom was perfectly fine the way it was. 😂

Only time will tell!

And then there’s our bedroom.

We recently changed our comforter, but I’m already thinking about changing it again. I would love something a little darker and cozier for fall—maybe a deep burgundy or a beautiful mauve that works with the colors we already have in the room.

I don’t want to completely change everything.

I just want to layer in a little fall.

Learning to Be a Homemaker

One of the things I’ve been thinking about lately is how much more intentional I want to be about our home.

With Mr. C being retired, he has always been the one who keeps things moving around here. He cooks. He takes care of things. He keeps us on track.

Let’s just say I’ve been pretty spoiled. ❤️

So I haven’t always put a whole lot of thought into the homemaking side of things.

But lately, Mr. C and I have been working on making our home feel better, look better, and feel more like a place we truly enjoy being.

And I want to be more involved in that.

Not because everything has to be perfect.

Not because I’m suddenly trying to become Martha Stewart.

But because I want our home to be a place that feels comfortable, welcoming, cozy, and ours.

And maybe decorating for the seasons is just one little way I can start doing that.

Of Course, I Need a Fall Drink! ☕

What’s a cozy decorating day without a good drink?

And before anybody says it…

NO. Pumpkin spice.

I repeat: NO PUMPKIN SPICE. 😂

Pumpkin spice and I have officially decided to remain acquaintances from a very safe distance.

Instead, I’m thinking about making a Maple Brown Sugar Iced Coffee.

🍁 Maple Brown Sugar Iced Coffee

You’ll need:

• 1 cup cold brewed coffee
• ½ cup milk or your favorite creamer
• 1–2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• Ice
• A sprinkle of cinnamon

Directions:

Add the maple syrup and brown sugar to your coffee and stir until combined. Pour over a glass full of ice, add your milk or creamer, and give it a good stir.

Top with a tiny sprinkle of cinnamon.

That’s it!

It’s fall-ish without tasting like I’m drinking a pumpkin candle. 😂

And We Have to Eat!

Since I’ll be home decorating, I don’t want to spend the entire day in the kitchen either.

So I’m thinking something simple and comforting for dinner.

🍎 Easy Fall Chicken & Apple Skillet

This one is easy enough for a weekend when you want comfort food without making a giant production out of dinner.

You’ll need:

• Boneless chicken breasts or thighs
• 1–2 apples, sliced
• 1 small onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• Salt and pepper
• Optional: a little shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

Season your chicken with salt and pepper and cook it in a large skillet until browned and cooked through. Remove it from the pan.

Add the butter, sliced apples, and onion to the same skillet. Cook until the apples begin to soften and the onions are tender.

Stir together the chicken broth, Dijon mustard, and cinnamon, then pour it into the skillet.

Return the chicken to the pan and let everything simmer together for a few minutes.

And if you’re feeling extra fancy, sprinkle a little cheddar cheese over the top.

Serve it with some roasted vegetables, a salad, or even a little mashed potatoes.

Easy. Cozy. Dinner is done.

A Cozy Weekend at Home

So that’s my plan.

I’m going to put on some music, turn on a few pretty lights, make myself an iced coffee, and start moving things around.

Maybe I’ll decorate the living room.

Maybe I’ll tackle the bathroom.

Maybe I’ll change the bedding.

Maybe I’ll get distracted halfway through and sit on the couch with my coffee.

And you know what?

That’s okay too.

I’m learning that homemaking doesn’t have to mean spending an entire day cleaning, organizing, and making everything Pinterest-perfect.

Sometimes it’s simply putting a cozy blanket on the couch.

Sometimes it’s changing the pillows.

Sometimes it’s adding a little seasonal color.

Sometimes it’s turning on the lights, playing your favorite music, and enjoying the home you’ve created.

And that’s really what I’m after.

I don’t need a perfect house.

I just want a home that makes us happy when we walk through the door.

So here’s to a quiet September weekend, a little fall decorating, a little homemaking, a good iced coffee, and hopefully a whole lot of cozy.

Bring on the burgundy, mauve, pumpkins, blankets, and fall vibes!

Just keep the pumpkin spice latte away from me. 😂🍂

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Cheers,
Karen ❤️

Car Payment Freedom

🚙 One Payment Down, One Step Closer to Financial Freedom

Good morning, September!

Well, y’all… I finally did it.

I made my LAST car payment! 🎉🎉🎉

Yesterday, I made that final payment on my Jeep, and I honestly cannot put into words what a relief it was. That car payment has been sitting in my monthly budget for a long time, and knowing that I no longer have to write that check—or, more accurately, watch that money leave my account—is a pretty amazing feeling.

It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

And you know what makes me even happier?

That money is now going to have a new job.

I’m not planning on taking that old car payment and immediately finding a dozen ways to spend it. Nope. I’ve learned enough about money to know better! 😂

My goal is to put the bulk of that payment into savings.

I want to treat it like the payment never disappeared. Instead of sending that money to the finance company every month, I’m going to send it to Future Karen.

And I think Future Karen is going to be very thankful.

Waiting on That Magic Piece of Paper

Now comes the part where I’m going to have to practice a little patience.

I was told it could take approximately 20–30 days for me to receive the payoff paperwork for the Jeep. Once I get that letter, I believe I’ll need to take it to the DMV so they can get everything officially recorded and the lien released.

I’m not going to pretend I know exactly how every step works because, honestly, I don’t. 😂

But I know I’ll be watching the mailbox like a hawk!

Thankfully, I get an email notification showing me what mail is coming to our mailbox, so I’ll be keeping a close eye on those notifications while I’m at work.

And naturally, I’ll have Mr. C checking the mail, too.

“Anything from the Jeep people?”

“Nope.”

“Check again.” 😂

I’m just ready to have that whole process officially finished.

There is something incredibly satisfying about finally owning your vehicle free and clear. One more thing checked off the financial list!

Another Financial Win I Didn’t Expect

And then, as if paying off my Jeep wasn’t enough of a financial victory for one week, I got another little surprise.

I had been trying to get my membership with The Joint Chiropractic canceled. I originally walked my cancellation letter into the Lawton, Oklahoma, office on July 9th and personally handed it to Dr. Cole Young.

I knew I would have to make my July payment to finish out that commitment, and I was okay with that. I just wanted to make sure my cancellation was taken care of so I wouldn’t have another payment coming out of my account.

Then August 16th rolled around…

…and they charged me again.

I thought, “Well, maybe I did something wrong.”

I was actually planning to drive the 45 minutes to Lawton and hand-deliver another handwritten cancellation letter.

But before making that trip, I decided to contact corporate by email and explain exactly what had happened.

I wasn’t even asking for a refund.

I simply wanted the membership canceled and wanted to make sure there would be no more payments coming out of my account.

And wouldn’t you know it?

They responded, canceled the membership, and told me it could take three to five business days for the refund.

Well…

SURPRISE!

I checked my account the very next morning, and the refund was already there!

I was shocked. 😂

Sometimes you just have to speak up, explain the situation, and keep pushing until you get things straightened out.

And now that account is one more thing I can clean up and eventually close out.

I’m Getting Serious About My Money

So when I look at everything happening right now, I realize I’m really in a season of tidying up my finances.

It’s happening pretty rapidly, too.

I’m looking at what comes in, what goes out, what I actually need, and what I can put away.

And I’m learning that financial progress doesn’t always look like suddenly having thousands of dollars sitting in the bank.

Sometimes financial progress looks like:

✔️ Making your final car payment.

✔️ Getting an unwanted membership canceled.

✔️ Getting a refund you weren’t even expecting.

✔️ Closing unnecessary accounts.

✔️ Reworking your budget.

✔️ Putting money into savings instead of spending it.

✔️ Saying, “Nope, I don’t need that.”

Those might seem like little things to someone else, but when you’re working hard to get your finances in better shape, those little things add up.

Three Ways We Can Save More as We Get Older

I’ve also been thinking about how important it is for those of us getting a little older to be intentional about our money.

And yes, I’m officially calling myself a senior now. 😂 I mean, if somebody else wants to argue with me about that, I’ll let them!

But seriously, here are three things I think can make a difference.

1. Take Advantage of Senior Discounts

Don’t be embarrassed to ask!

Restaurants, stores, entertainment venues, museums, hotels, and other businesses sometimes offer senior discounts.

The discount might only be 5%, 10%, or 15%, but remember:

A discount is money you didn’t have to spend.

And I am absolutely willing to ask, “Do y’all have a senior discount?” 😂

2. Revisit Your Monthly Bills

This is one I’m working on right now.

Look at those recurring charges that quietly come out of your account every month.

Streaming services. Memberships. Apps. Subscriptions. Clubs. Services you signed up for and forgot about.

If you aren’t using it, cancel it.

Even $10 here and $15 there can become a nice chunk of money over a year.

3. Give Your Extra Money a Job

This is probably my biggest lesson right now.

When you pay something off, don’t automatically replace that payment with something else.

Give that money a purpose.

For me, that means taking the money that used to go toward my Jeep payment and putting the majority of it into savings.

Maybe your extra money goes toward an emergency fund.

Maybe it’s for home repairs.

Maybe it’s for Christmas.

Maybe it’s for a future vacation.

Whatever it is, give your money a job before it has the opportunity to disappear!

And Then There’s Work…

Now, while things are looking good financially, work has been a little bit of a struggle lately.

I’m not going to sugarcoat that.

But today, I’ve decided I’m going to really buckle down and focus.

I’m going to do my very best on those phones, and if I haven’t met my goal by the end of my regular shift, I’m willing to stay late and pick up two extra.

Because right now, I have a bigger goal in mind.

I’m working toward financial breathing room.

And sometimes that means putting in a little extra effort today so that tomorrow can be a little easier.

A Little Fun This Weekend

Thankfully, I don’t have a whole lot planned for the weekend, which is perfectly okay with me.

Sunday, I’ll be heading out with my best friend, Cherrie, for our monthly grocery shopping trip.

And y’all know how that goes.

We will shop.

We will probably eat somewhere good.

We’ll do a little window shopping.

And we’ll probably find something we absolutely didn’t need but somehow convince ourselves we couldn’t live without. 😂

That’s just how we roll.

But even our grocery trips have become part of my financial planning. I’m paying more attention to what I’m buying, what I’m spending, and how I can make that grocery money stretch.

It’s all about being more intentional.

And isn’t that really what this whole season of my life seems to be about?

Small Wins Are Still Wins

When I look back at where I was financially and look at where I am now, I realize something.

I may not have everything figured out.

I may still have things I’m working on.

I may still have moments when I worry about money.

But I’m making progress.

My Jeep is paid off.

An unwanted membership is canceled.

A refund came back into my account.

I’m reworking my budget.

I’m planning to save the money I just freed up.

And those are some pretty darn good reasons to celebrate.

Maybe financial freedom doesn’t happen overnight.

Maybe it happens one payment, one cancellation, one budget adjustment, and one small decision at a time.

But I’m going to keep going.

Because I’ve worked too hard to get here to stop now.

Here’s to fewer bills, more savings, smarter spending, and a whole lot more breathing room.

And maybe…

just maybe…

Future Karen is going to be pretty proud of Present Karen❤️