Month: October 2012

Check Marks for Fall

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

fall

Now that it is finally starting to feel like fall around the heartland I can create my fall to do list.  Here are a few of the things that I cannot wait to cross off with my favorite season of the year.

1) Ghost Tour of the historic Pythian Castle here in Springfield.

2) Carve a pumpkin.

3) Host a ‘family’ Thanksgiving dinner with J and the pup.  Since are families live 3 hours apart it will be hard to spend time together on the actual day, so we have hopes of celebrating together – just our little family.

4) Update my wardrobe with a few new chunky cardigans and eye catching scarves.

5) Spend some time reading something out of enjoyment and not necessity.  First up – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.

6) Complete a few crafts that I have been putting off, including my new nail polish display rack.

7) Start researching a new home to rent this coming Spring.

8) Become a bit more organized with my budgeting.

9) Drive to my absolute favorite in the world Apple Butter Festival in Kimmswick, MO

10) Develop some new post ideas and tutorials.

Now that fall has officially arrived, what are your plans?

Days like these

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Sleeping beauty.
On days that start off like this one
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where Maggie and I spend most of morning in bed, watching rom-coms on Netflix and being lazy
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then I can guarantee you that my class notes for the day will look a little like this.

Here’s hoping today is better than yesterday for my attention span.

Breathe in, breathe out

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Red & Peace

red & peace.

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studying for an E-Marketing test. I know all about this chapter on Social Media… some would like to call me “addicted to all forms of social media.”

Pinterest – Twitter – Tumblr – Flickr – Bloglovin

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My Empire … My Rules by OPI

I have this tendency to do a DIY manicure at least once a week. Sometimes, though, if I have extra time or if I’m stressed (like I was this past week) I can fit in 2 manicures.  Then when the color dries on my nails and that topcoat goes on – all is right with the world.  Call me crazy, but it relieves the stress.  And since it only seems to relieve stress for just a minute I like to keep a bottle of polish near by.

Fall y’all

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Last week it finally started to feel like fall around these parts. I was excited. I love fall.

Something about the cooler weather, carving pumpkins, and sweaters to make me happy.

sweater: Ross, leggings: TJ Maxx, boots: Hunter, purse: Coach (similar here), watch: Relic, bracelets: given.

Trouble, Trouble

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Is this not the face of one pup that knows she’s in trouble, but is hoping that this pathetic look will make it all go away?  I get this look … a lot.  Maggie is a very well-behaved pup, normally.  She does like to push her limits though.  When she does, I get this look. It works.  Every time.  That look can melt my heart so fast.

twirly, twirly, twirly

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

When I was a little girl my favorite game to play was dress-up.  My mom would save what I called “twirly dresses” where I could spin and spin in them.  I dreamt of this life where I would be able to wear fancy dresses on a regular basis, have my hair beautified.

I was the little girl who would play in my Mom’s makeup collection.  I would step away with makeup caked on, mascara all over my eyes and the brightest lipstick shade that I could find.

Years later, I’m still that same little girl when it comes to getting dressed up.  Well, minus the mascara all over my face.  I have a little bit more skill in applying makeup these days.  Although, I find that I still like the bright lipstick from time to time.

J and I went out for a night on the town a few weeks ago for a red carpet night at a local bar.  It was nice getting all dolled up and meeting up with friends for a good stiff drink.

Maggie – so grownup

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®


Maggie will be four in a few months and it’s hard to believe. I honestly couldn’t imagine a life without her or the past four years with another dog. Maggie came into my life at a time of transition. I was going to embark living on my own for the first time – no parents and no roommates. At the time I learned that I was going to be all on my own, my Mom’s coworker discovered a pregnant stray on her farm. The mom had a litter of puppies. All looked very different. Knowing that she couldn’t keep all of these puppies, she began to search for new homes. I drove over 2 hours to see the two females out of the group. The one that stuck out and the cutest with her black fluffy hair was Maggie.

That was it. I was hooked. Now, I’m a dog mom.

Four years have flown by. We’ve lived in three different homes. By ourselves and with a roommate including a chihuahua. Maggie has a personality all her own and she no longer is a black fluffy girl, now she is a long, blonde hair dog that loves to sleep on my feet throughout the night and cuddle with my pillow in the early morning hours.

It really has been a wonderful four years and I can’t wait to see what the next phase will be for her and for me.

It was my first time

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

At the races!Why are we outside when it's barely 40 degrees outside?

J and I went to the races a few weeks ago… it was my first time at a dirt track. Truthfully, it was the first time at any race. As soon as the cars started to go around and around, I just got pretty caught up in it.

J and I started trying to pick our winning car. I have to say, by the outside and having absolutely zero racing ability I can pick the winner majority of the time.

Happiest 5K – The Color Run

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Finished @TheColorRun this morning in #memphis. Had a blast!!UntitledUntitled

Finished The Color Run in Memphis this past weekend. Ummmm…. it was awesome! First off – everyone is there to have a good time. I mean, competing for time was just going to mean that you ended up with little to no paint on you. And who would want that?

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Color explosion at the end of the party.

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Then we headed down to Beale Street for a night out. I made sure to look pretty darn awesome. haha