Tag: Fall

8 Reasons I Hate Halloween

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Reasons I Hate Halloween
Is it bad luck to start off a post with words like “I hate”?  Perhaps.  I mean, hate is a very strong word and I was always taught to never say it unless you could live without that person/event/situation/shirt for the rest of your life.  Let’s just say if Halloween disappeared off a calendar I would be none the wiser.  Halloween has never been a favorite holiday. Christmas, now that’s a holiday I can get behind and get fired up about.  Halloween is one that I would prefer to keep my front porch light off and go to bed early.

My top 8 reasons why Halloween can just fade away:

1) masks, face paint, wigs… Basically, I have a paralyzing fear of all things that disguise one’s appearance.  Last time I checked that was a main part of Halloween.

2) excuses that I can tell myself to gorge on candy

3) scary movies that seem to be on every TV station for the month

4) obnoxious downtown bar scenes that have too many people and too long of lines to get drinks

5) random strangers knocking on my door until late.  Mostly kids, but you never know who is knocking on that door and when I lived alone I prefered not to know

6) crazy animatronic creatures that go off at the grocery store causing me to scream, jump and then drop everything in my hands

7) oddly shaped food.  Who wants to head a pretzel that looks like a finger with a nail? I don’t!  I made them for a party once and absolutely could not force one down – my imagination was running too wild, and I’m the one that made them!
Reasons I Hate Halloween8) having to come up with a costume each year.  Since I do not like masks, face paint, or wigs it’s hard to come up with a costume for the years I do go out.  I think I have been a hippie every since high school.  Once my friends and I went as Captain Planet and the Planeteers, that was pretty fun

I might be a bit cynical, but I am okay with that.  Now if only I could hold my breath long enough for Halloween to be over and Thanksgiving to be on its way.

Cheers!

Diet 7-Up Biscuits

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a day filled with love and yummy goodness!


J and I celebrated our first Thanksgiving together this year.  Due to work schedules we both weren’t able to make the drive home, especially since our drive is in opposite directions of one another.  It just made it too difficult.  So, we made the best of it and celebrated on our own.

I got there just in time for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to start, which is my absolute favorite part of the day.  I’ve seen a 7-Up Biscuit recipe on Pinterest lately and it looked delicious.  I adapted the recipe to be a bit more Weight Watcher friendly and the results were a-mazing.

Ingredients:

2 C. Heart Smart Bisquick
1/2 C. light Sour Cream
1/2 C. diet 7-Up
1/4 C. melted butter (I used I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter)

Directions:

In a large bowl, mix sour cream and bisquick together.  Add 7-Up to mix.  The dough will be really soft.  Melt the butter and pour into the bottom of a 9×9 pan.  Next, sprinkle some bisquick mix onto the counter and spread out the dough.  You don’t want to knead the dough, but just pat and spread to be about one-inch thick.  Use a glass or a biscuit cutter and cut out biscuits.  Place in pan and bake at 450 degree for about 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Makes 9 servings – 4 WWPointsPlus per serving

I had one biscuit that didn’t want to cooperate when I was putting it into the pan… I’m sure you can figure out which one that was.  Oh well! Recipes can’t always be picture perfect, but they were still delicious.

10 Things I’m Thankful For

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

B&W #roadtrip

Happy Thanksgiving! I’ve decided that since it was Thanksgiving and all that it would be a good time to write down what I’m Thankful for this year.

1. My family. After this afternoon’s FaceTime session with them I realize that they are quite unlike any other family I know and for that I’m truly thankful.

2. J. It has been a wonderful year with him and I am grateful every day that we met sitting in Steak-N-Shake late one night.  It’s great having a guy that is so supportive of my ideas, my dreams, and everything going on in my life.

3. My friends. The first text I received this morning was from friends wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving. It’s great to remember all the fun times we’ve shared in 2012: a cruise, a haunted house, road trips, weekends at the lake, ‘family’ dinners, and so many more.

4. Work. This year has been quite a departure for me from the past several.  I started an amazing journey as a Weight Watcher Leader and have met so many amazing, supportive people since that time.  I’ve also been blessed with a job at a local law firm that has supported me through my school with a flexible schedule and has always been a place to go when I need an extra quiet study room at midnight.  Finally, I recently started a job as a Sales Associate at a retail store and cannot wait for my future with such a bright company.

5. Maggie.  We all know how obsessed I am with that pup so it’s no surprise that I can’t even make it half-way through my list without mentioning her.  Maggie and I have had quite a life together these past years.   I am thankful that she picked me that cold, rainy day in a hospital parking lot.

6. Graduate School.  Though I complain about it.  I am grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to further my education.  In less than 25 days I will be walking across the stage at Missouri State receiving my Masters in Business Administration degree.  Alright, so I actually won’t be getting my diploma that day, but I will be receiving an empty leather holder that symbolizes all the hard work and late nights I have put in these past 2 years.

7. My parents.  I know that I mentioned family as number 1, but the more I thought about it I really think my folks deserve their own number.  My Mom and Dad are awesome.  Seriously, I have the best parents around.  They support one another as they support their two kids.  I cannot say thank you enough to the two people who brought me into this world, guided me, and taught me to be an independent, educated, young adult.

8. J’s family.  They have welcomed me into their lives this past year and I’m grateful.  J’s family is absolutely wonderful and knows how to have a good time.

9. My Grandmas.  I’m lucky to have two amazing Grandmothers that have taught me a lot as I’ve grown up.  Still to this day the sound of wind chimes puts a smile on my face thanks to my Grandma D. who always had them on her front porch.  Grandma W.’s sandtart cookies are my all-time favorite and each Christmas I look forward to them.

10. Creativity.  I like that I can think out of the box (most days) and have a passion for creating.  There are so many ways to reduce stress out there and I’m glad that the one that helps me calm down the most is just so simple.

Okay, I know this post was a bit long.  Sorry.  Happy Thanksgiving and may your day be filled with happiness!

2 weeks

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®


It’s been a long while since my last post.  I figured it was time for an update.

Life has been crazy and not in a sweep me off my feet, good crazy.  More of a I want to pull my hair out, I miss sleep crazy.

First change – I started a new full-time job at a major retail chain.  Training has been a great experience so far and I’ve met a lot of new people who are super nice.  The downside to training is that… well, I’m training.  I keep being moved from department to department and have absolutely no idea where I am going to land.  Another downside is that Thanksgiving is next week and this will be the first time in 5 years that I am working retail for the holidays.  It’s going to take some adjustment not being able to spend days with my family.  On a good note – I am so freakin’ excited about my new job!  Retail is a passion and I’m finally back in it.

Second – I’m still working my other 2 part-time jobs.  Honestly, the hours are meniscal each week and I enjoy what I’m doing so I can’t really complain.  They are just adding to what is keeping me uber busy.

Finally – 30 days until graduation! One month. I can do it. I can do it. I have no choice at this point! Projects. Projects. Projects. They are kind of taking over my life. Group projects, individual ones, tests to study for, papers to write. It’s ridiculous how much time I’m spending at the library each evening.  Honestly, I got done an hour earlier than expected tonight and that’s why I’m writing my post.

I can talk on and on about how tired I am or how I constantly seem to be sick; and perhaps that’s what this post will come off as, but I don’t want it to. I wouldn’t change one thing about my life right now. I really don’t know what I’ll do when I have graduated. It’s going to be a surreal, out of the body experience for a bit.

Grad school has been an amazing adventure and I’m pretty proud that I kicked its butt.  Maybe, the next time I have some free time, I’ll write about my favorite parts of grad school… ya, that’d be a good, exciting posts. Right? Right!

Until next time…

a day in the park

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

This past weekend was the Apple Butter Festival in Kimmswick, MO. But before we made our way to fried-food heaven, J and I took the pup to the park and had some pictures taken by SMR Photography.

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?

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.

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.

September Favorites

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®


1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10

Looking back at my favorite fall posts for the month of September.

Fall is here

Posted on by Meredith Rines, MBA, CFP®

Morning cuddle buddy #dog
J and I are fighting off colds and have spent most of the weekend wrapped up in blankets watching football.

Headed to the park for a walk. Look who's excited!

We did get up and out yesterday. Took the pup for a walk at the park. She was in 7th heaven, struttin’ her stuff.

I will spend the rest of today in a nice comfy chair wrapped up in my oversized fleece blanket working on a 20-page paper that is due tomorrow. Sometimes I surprise myself on how easily I can knock out a 20-page paper…something I never thought was possible pre-grad school.

I guess that’s something I can put on my future resume:
fast-paced essay writer about topics that are not interesting to me.

yea… that’ll get me the job.

Happy first Sunday of Fall!