I took off some time to concentrate on getting my nail license, so I decided to take four months to dedicate to school and now I’m almost finished and I’m all over the place. How am I going to plan for the next phase in my life? One key word: Organization. I’m going to get everything I need set up and ready to go. This means going down the list of things that need to be done and checking them off one by one.

 


Laundry is always needed to have a successful work week. It eliminates the need to run around looking for clothes to put on. I need to print off some weekly schedules from Canva (Quick tip: write in pencil so you can erase the schedule and use it all over again… We don’t waste around here)


This might not be something a regular person would put on their to-do list but one of my most difficult ones is hair. Yes! I spend way too much time trying to maintain not only my hair but the hair I buy (aka wigs) So having my hair in a style I can do in minutes is important for me.


 Make sure all transportation is loaded and ready. If you have a bus/train card load it, If you have a car put some gas in it, or if you are doing rideshare make sure the phone is charged, the bill is paid for and the correct payment is linked (I have a horror story about how I forgot to pay my phone bill and I was in the middle of nowhere).


I plan on making more posts like these to keep myself accountable and on track. I count everything in quarters like a game, so we are ending the second quarter and have to finish off strong! I’m also planning on a brand-new website/blog that will be self-hosted. I’m very excited about that! I plan to have an amazing recap of the year 2023.


Make sure to stay organized & keep your eyes on the prize. Make every day count and go for your dreams! 


 I've been asked repeatedly if my press-on nails are manufactured and the answer is no. The nail themselves may come from China but they are definitely designed by myself all by hand. From that point on (a couple years ago), I said I would make sure to also hand paint and hand write each and every Thank You card so when a customer gets their order off of whatever platform I sold it off of they would know it came from an indie operation. 

Sharpie, Stamp Pad, Watercolors, Rubber "Thank You" Stamp, Index Cards

Everything I use to make my Thank You cards can be found at Dollar Tree, eBay, and Hobby Lobby. It's extremely easy and relaxing to do. Even though it's nerve-wracking when you have a bunch of orders and forget to make the Thank You cards I still feel grateful when making them.
Water Colored Index Cards

I can sit on the floor and make loads of these watercolor designs on the blank side of an index card. To me, it's therapeutic and calming. I'm usually listening to a podcast or watching a show while painting.
Stamped Watercolor Index Cards

After the index cards dry after a couple minutes you can now stamp them with your choice of color ink pad. I ran out of black so I'm using dark purple. I stamp "Thank You" in the middle with a flower on each side. leaving plenty of room for cutting shaped edges and writing your desired website at the bottom.
This is the finished Thank You watercolor card with my chosen website written at the bottom with a fine sharpie marker. I always cut the sides down with  special craft scissors and add in a pretty nail decal set (I have many repeat customers so I like to give everyone something every time they order to show appreciation) I really enjoy the art of things being hand painted and hand made. I will always be a fan of indie work I mean Hello my name is Melle INDIE lol. Make sure your supporting indie businesses and indie business owners. Thanks for stopping by! Now go paint something!

If you have recently handed in your key at work and packed up your briefcase and business suits, you probably have thoughts of sunny weather and relaxation. When thinking of retirement locales, Florida probably comes to mind quickly.


However, there are so many options when it comes to which city in Florida to retire to. As you decide on a new city to call your home in retirement, consider Fort Lauderdale. These are the reasons you will love retiring in Fort Lauderdale, Florida:


Photo by Lance Asper on Unsplash
Weather and Beaches

Fort Lauderdale is known for its fantastic weather and beautiful beaches. If you have always dreamed of retiring somewhere warm and lounging on the sand listening to the waves crash, Fort Lauderdale is the retirement city for you. 


The weather in Fort Lauderdale is known for being consistently nice, with an average year-round temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit (obviously warmer in the summer) and with the majority of days each year being sunny. This amazing weather combined with beaches that are within 30 minutes of each Fort Lauderdale neighborhood make for a fantastic retirement location.

Affordability

Compared to other beach cities in Florida, like Miami, Fort Lauderdale is considered relatively affordable. It is actually considered one of the most affordable beach cities in the state. Housing, specifically, is considered reasonable compared to some other coastal cities in Florida.


This is an extremely important variable for retirees, who are generally on a fixed income, and who need to focus on living within a set budget. Luckily for retirees, there are plenty of Fort Lauderdale houses for sale in this affordable beach city.

Lifestyle and Things to Do

Lifestyle is an important part of retirement because for the first time, you have complete control of your time and how you want to use it. If you are looking for a relaxed retirement, Fort Lauderdale is for you, as the city is known to have a laid-back vibe. You can take long walks on the beach, lounge in the sand and read, or spend a relaxing afternoon shopping and then head to one of the many restaurants for dinner.


If you want a more active retirement, Fort Lauderdale is also known for its golf courses and opportunities for fishing, including deep sea fishing. If you plan to travel in your retirement, Fort Lauderdale is also a great choice, since it is a popular tourist destination and as such has a robust travel infrastructure. Most residential neighborhoods are just a few minutes from the airport, where you can fly out to a myriad of domestic or international destinations.


Many people dream of retiring to a warm beach town, and Fort Lauderdale is a top choice if that is your dream. From fantastic weather to beautiful beaches to affordable housing to golfing and fishing to travel options, it seems like Fort Lauderdale was made for retirees. If you are having a hard time choosing among cities in Florida for your retirement, consider these attributes and put Fort Lauderdale at the top of your list.


 

I wasn't really looking for an online library but since we have to do many things we are used to in a different way, I start searching for various book titles online. We live in a new day in time and going to the library was out of the question two years ago (Y'all remember 2020) But did you know you can still borrow books for free online?! I know there are probably plenty of websites like this one but Internet Archive is my absolute favorite! I’ve been reading books everyday since I found this website! To a nerdy type of person like myself this is better than Netflix! (Which I canceled by the way)  There are not just books but articles and videos. It really feels like the library because you have an hour at a time to read and once the hour is up you have to borrow again for another hour to continue reading. I’ve sat on the Internet Archive for hours reading and giggling. It’s a must if you're on a strict budget like myself but want some free entertainment in the form of a book.

Make sure when you find a book you like to add it as a favorite. This way all your books are in your favorite section and when you go back to borrow and continue to read it will take you back to the page you left off at. I’m super happy I found this one by accident. Internet Archive is a non profit online library and a true gem. I’ve been reading celebrity autobiographies lately and have been quite amused. One night I stayed up till 3am because I couldn’t stop reading the book I'm currently on right now.

I’ve been MIA lately on social media and my blog. I'm trying to really get my scheduling together because I’m all over the place. I had to post something about this though. The stereotype of people of color not reading is a bunch of B.S. I’ve always liked to read and so does my Mother. Your imagination will beat out a movie any day. Why do you think the movie version of a book is never as good as when you read it and pictured it yourself. I hope you guys take this resource and use it to your advantage. There is so much to gain on the internet if you use it correctly. Have a great one and read a book today… it's on the house.


 The hottest place to move used to be Los Angeles, California but with rent prices skyrocketing people are moving to the south. One of the most popular cities to move at the moment is Atlanta, Georgia. It sounds great right!? There is a music scene, TV and Film industries and of course plenty of celebrities. I know what you're asking… How much is the cost of housing in Atlanta, GA? It depends on your current situation, how much space you need and how close would you like to be to the city? 

If you look on Craigslist.org you will find some good deals but this is also where a lot of scammer activity takes place. I found a couple apartments between $900 - $1500 that looked decent in the picture but there is always a risk with a website like this. There could be no apartment available at all. Be careful and use extra caution when on Craigslist.org


Zumper was one of my favorite rental research tools. With Zumper I was able to put in exactly what I was looking for and it brought up the prices. On a studio up to 1 bedroom apartment according to Zumper rent would be an average range of about $1,100 - $2,000 which is good considering the average studio in LA is double that price. There was a wide variety of rent prices and covered many areas in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding areas (Which may cost a little less per month)


Maybe you want to live in the place your looking to move but don’t have relatives or friends in that city. Check Intown Suites to see if they are in your chosen destination. Another similar choice is Airbnb. These are both temporary options but could get you in that city you want to live and work. The prices vary depending on if you want the entire space or a room. Intown Suites cost around $1,200 -$1,600 a month to stay for a whole month. These could easily be used to get a place to stay for the short term.


Do you need help or assistance to move to a new city? Try ProMove they can actually assist you with your move to Atlanta. Whether you're looking for a house or apartment they got you covered and can give you assistance with movers and other companies you may need to use while transitioning to Atlanta, Georgia.

Moving to a new city, state or even out of the country can be hard. Using the above resources can help you with your move to Atlanta, Georgia and make it a less stressful situation. Even when you're looking for a new apartment to move in the same city can be just as difficult. I’m hoping you take advantage of the great websites listed above and here are some tips to get you in that moving mindset.


Here are some things to consider if you are trying to move right now:


  1. Look into renting a room or having a roommate. It could cut down your cost if you don’t mind sharing your space.


  1. Have a budget. Make a monthly budget for all your rent and living expense and try to stick to it


  1. Get rid of your car. If you live in a city and have public transportation plus rideshare (Uber or Lyft) you can definitely let go of the cost of a vehicle.


  1. Put away a few months rent (if possible) this is like an emergency fund in case you need extra money.


  1. Be flexible. What you want could take a temporary move to get to the perfect long term stay

Please do your due diligence when looking for a new place in Atlanta, Georgia and only use reputable companies and websites. I’m hoping this is your time and you find a new home in Atlanta, Georgia this year. See ya when you get here!