It's Tuesday, let's do this,

[mrscatfarmer13]

I'm back to the daily grind today.

[becole]

Did you all stay long at the zoo? The traffic was still coming in when I left.

[mrscatfarmer13]

Feb 21, 2017 7:59:17 GMT -5 becole said:

Did you all stay long at the zoo? The traffic was still coming in when I left.

We stayed until like 315. dogmama22 stayed until 1ish.

[mominthemaking14]

Shitty week huge deadline and investigation so I will be MIA. Loving this weather. We cleaned and organized yesterday. I started my stockpile of diapers. I think that's all you missed my life is so exciting lol

[dogmama22]

Yeah I've never seen the zoo so busy. That was craziness.

[mrscatfarmer13]

So I just saw that I got a pay raise when I took my new position even though HR told me I wouldn't get one. This explains why my paycheck was more than I was expecting.

[becole]

Feb 21, 2017 8:10:53 GMT -5 dogmama22 said:

Yeah I've never seen the zoo so busy. That was craziness.

I've gone on holidays before and it's not like that. I can't wait until they open at 9am. So much better when youv got a constant trickle and not a rush.

[chrispy1122]

I'm getting a haircut after work today. I think my last haircut was... April? Oops. What is the in look lately? I'm pretty sure my stylist thinks I'm super weird because I never know what I want when I get there and will unconsciously ask for whatever haircut she has at the moment. Like if she has bangs that day, I might try bangs. Or she has a lob, I try a lob.

[mrscatfarmer13]

Feb 21, 2017 9:25:36 GMT -5 chrispy1122 said:

I'm getting a haircut after work today. I think my last haircut was... April? Oops. What is the in look lately? I'm pretty sure my stylist thinks I'm super weird because I never know what I want when I get there and will unconsciously ask for whatever haircut she has at the moment. Like if she has bangs that day, I might try bangs. Or she has a lob, I try a lob.

I never know what I want either. I need a stylist to be like, ABC will look good on you so let's do that. Please don't ask me what I want, I can't decide which restaurant to eat at, let alone what hair cut I want.

[becole]

chrispy1122 do you curl your hair at all or no time? Does it need to just fall in place?

[becole]

[chrispy1122]

mrscatfarmer13 that's what I need too! Luckily I've been going to the same person for a few years now and she is good at giving suggestions. But sometimes I want to change things up but have no idea what to do.

becole I go through phases. I've been better about styling my hair lately. I usually blow dry/air dry on day one, flat iron on day 2, and curl on day 3 (more for body and volume so I can get away with not washing my hair for one more day). It can't be more complicated than that though because I just don't have those skills.

[sstwinklinglites]

Feb 21, 2017 8:18:58 GMT -5 mrscatfarmer13 said:

So I just saw that I got a pay raise when I took my new position even though HR told me I wouldn't get one. This explains why my paycheck was more than I was expecting.

I thought they had promised you some kind of a raise with the new position though?

[mrscatfarmer13]

Feb 21, 2017 9:40:39 GMT -5 sstwinklinglites said:

Feb 21, 2017 8:18:58 GMT -5 mrscatfarmer13 said:

So I just saw that I got a pay raise when I took my new position even though HR told me I wouldn't get one. This explains why my paycheck was more than I was expecting.

I thought they had promised you some kind of a raise with the new position though?

No, I just happened to accept the position the same week we found out about our annual merit raises. I want to say something about it to my boss, but at the same time I don't...

[sstwinklinglites]

Feb 21, 2017 9:44:00 GMT -5 mrscatfarmer13 said:

Feb 21, 2017 9:40:39 GMT -5 sstwinklinglites said:

I thought they had promised you some kind of a raise with the new position though?

No, I just happened to accept the position the same week we found out about our annual merit raises. I want to say something about it to my boss, but at the same time I don't...

Ahhh. I knew there had been some kind of talk of more money.

[sstwinklinglites]

Ok, so, I haven't mentioned it but we have a few things going on that might put the breaks on buying our house. It's really about a comfort level for me financially, but we're not 100% what we're doing yet.

Anyway, I'm starting to think we might stay in this apartment another year or move into some other three bedroom option, but not our home we want. That being said, I'm trying to think of ideas for organizing the two kids spaces. DS may get moved into the bedroom furthest from the master, and new baby would take his current room. That means no more play space. I need organizational ideas. That also means my office stuff (desk, chair, two smallish bookcases) need a new home... likely my bedroom.

Share all your ideas.

[becole]

I would put your office stuff in with the new baby for right now sstwinklinglites. Our baby is basically in our office right now with his clothes in my closet and the rest in his room. That way if you decide you want baby in a cosleeper in your room you've got the space. And infants don't really need room. I would put some toys in both rooms in a toy chest or bin and one bin in the common area. I think you've seen my options but we have these:

[JoBub]

sstwinklinglites, once you're done working will you be able to condense your office space? We have a file cabinet as a night stand in the guest room, and a small table in the kitchen for catching the mail and stuff, but I just use the dining room table when I need to do work at home. Maybe look at IKEA for something that doesn't take up a lot of space, but opens up to a bigger surface when you need it.

And I would put something like the cube shelving becole suggested in the living area. Some of the canvas bins are really nice looking so it doesn't scream "toys!" in your living room and it's an easy way to keep things out of sight when they're not being played with. I personally like having the play space right there in the open where I can see him from the kitchen, instead of having it tucked away in another room. It just means I need easy quick cleanup, so I like the bins to just toss stuff in.

[vlagroupie]

sstwinklinglites agree with everyone on a cube shelve storage thing. We got one at target with the fabric bins and that stays in the family room along with a storage ottoman with toys. N has been really good at cleaning them up every night so family room isn't a total disaster every night.
Actually I have to recommend the Barney cleanup song for anyone's kiddo that doesn't want to cleanup. They must sing or play it at school bc she was singing it one day. So I googled and found the Barney song. We set a timer for cleaning up in the evening and then play the song and every time she actually starts cleaning up, it's freaking magic, annoying magic lol.

[vlagroupie]

Also I've been putting a lot of N's toys in storage and just leaving out a smaller amount of stuff she really likes and plays with on the reg. There are seriously so many toys that don't need to be out all the time. I'll probably rotate some of the ones in storage back in or just donate at some point. I get annoyed bc mil will come over and ask where something is, bitch do you want to clean this shit up every day?!?!

[JoBub]

Feb 21, 2017 11:21:09 GMT -5 vlagroupie said:

Also I've been putting a lot of N's toys in storage and just leaving out a smaller amount of stuff she really likes and plays with on the reg. There are seriously so many toys that don't need to be out all the time. I'll probably rotate some of the ones in storage back in or just donate at some point. I get annoyed bc mil will come over and ask where something is, bitch do you want to clean this shit up every day?!?!

We're about to do this too. I have a big bin of baby stuff that I packed up before we moved, and there's a lot of other things that needs to go to Goodwill or in the garbage. I feel like we have plenty of toy storage at this point, and if the toys don't fit we need to get rid of toys, not add storage.

[sstwinklinglites]

becole - I really want that brown book case holder thing. I have it bookmarked on Amazon. I also already have the bookcase thing with the cubbyholes. I currently use it in my office space, but can easily use it for the kids instead.

JoBub - I can somewhat condense my space. The only thing I'm sending back is the laptop. But I have my own personal laptop, and the printer and such stay with me. I also have all my crafting stuff in the same space.

vlagroupie - Lol. I have a really hard time getting babe to clean up his mess. I may have to try the song. We also rotate his toys. Right now what's not in use is in the playroom closet, but that will become the closet for new LO. We can def. still store toys in both the closets though.

I just really hope this planning is for naught and we buy the house. But some things came up that put a huge dent in our savings, and I'm just not comfortable moving forward with the diminished savings. Maybe I just have to get over it. Also, DH is looking at a new job, which would be an amazing fit for us and such a great step up for him if he gets it, but it also means, banks may not approve us based on him not being with the employer for at least a year. I know there's ways around that though.

[bazingaa]

Feb 21, 2017 9:25:36 GMT -5 chrispy1122 said:

I'm getting a haircut after work today. I think my last haircut was... April? Oops. What is the in look lately? I'm pretty sure my stylist thinks I'm super weird because I never know what I want when I get there and will unconsciously ask for whatever haircut she has at the moment. Like if she has bangs that day, I might try bangs. Or she has a lob, I try a lob.

I just sat through something for work talking about the latest trends. Apparently blunt cuts and straight bangs are coming back. I tend to like the looks that becole posted though. I'm never one that is on the cutting edge of fashion though.

[JoBub]

Feb 21, 2017 11:43:17 GMT -5 sstwinklinglites said:

becole - I really want that brown book case holder thing. I have it bookmarked on Amazon. I also already have the bookcase thing with the cubbyholes. I currently use it in my office space, but can easily use it for the kids instead.

JoBub - I can somewhat condense my space. The only thing I'm sending back is the laptop. But I have my own personal laptop, and the printer and such stay with me. I also have all my crafting stuff in the same space.

vlagroupie - Lol. I have a really hard time getting babe to clean up his mess. I may have to try the song. We also rotate his toys. Right now what's not in use is in the playroom closet, but that will become the closet for new LO. We can def. still store toys in both the closets though.

I just really hope this planning is for naught and we buy the house. But some things came up that put a huge dent in our savings, and I'm just not comfortable moving forward with the diminished savings. Maybe I just have to get over it. Also, DH is looking at a new job, which would be an amazing fit for us and such a great step up for him if he gets it, but it also means, banks may not approve us based on him not being with the employer for at least a year. I know there's ways around that though.

I think if you can just show that he's been gainfully employed consistently, it probably won't matter that he has a new job. My H got approved for our first house on his own because I didn't have a job at the time. He had been with his employer for less than a year, and his only credit was a credit card that he had less than a year, which he opened just for the sake of building credit so he could get a mortgage. I think lenders are pretty good at getting a "big picture" idea of someone's situation, and one imperfection on paper isn't going to hurt you that much. 

[becole]

Feb 21, 2017 11:21:09 GMT -5 vlagroupie said:

Also I've been putting a lot of N's toys in storage and just leaving out a smaller amount of stuff she really likes and plays with on the reg. There are seriously so many toys that don't need to be out all the time. I'll probably rotate some of the ones in storage back in or just donate at some point. I get annoyed bc mil will come over and ask where something is, bitch do you want to clean this shit up every day?!?!

We have the ball pit, IKEA tent, step on piano- anything big is in the closet. We put away all the younger aged toys but now I have to go dig them back out.
I am about ready to put some of the baby stuff away though. He's not really using the swing anymore or my nursing pillows/ pnps. I should use the pnp to let him play though because then DS1 can't get to him. I still can't leave them alone. I'm afraid DS1 will squash him.

[mrscatfarmer13]

Feb 21, 2017 11:43:17 GMT -5 sstwinklinglites said:

 banks may not approve us based on him not being with the employer for at least a year. I know there's ways around that though.

This isn't a huge deal, the big thing they look for is no large gaps and a consistent amount of income.  So if he's going from one salaried position to another better paying one, they aren't going to fault him. 

Have you considered moving forward with the buying process and setting a smaller budget than you initially planned?

[sstwinklinglites]

Feb 21, 2017 11:48:50 GMT -5 bazingaa said:

Feb 21, 2017 9:25:36 GMT -5 chrispy1122 said:

I'm getting a haircut after work today. I think my last haircut was... April? Oops. What is the in look lately? I'm pretty sure my stylist thinks I'm super weird because I never know what I want when I get there and will unconsciously ask for whatever haircut she has at the moment. Like if she has bangs that day, I might try bangs. Or she has a lob, I try a lob.

I just sat through something for work talking about the latest trends. Apparently blunt cuts and straight bangs are coming back. I tend to like the looks that becole posted though. I'm never one that is on the cutting edge of fashion though.

+1 My go to cut is a lob. I love the way it looks on me. No bangs though. Or extremely long bangs that can hardly be considered bangs.

[babylove518]

I can't wait to actually get rid of baby stuff. It's all stored away now, but I am not looking forward to having baby stuff and preschool stuff out at once. I know a bigger house will help though. It'll be so nice to have a basement.

[sstwinklinglites]

Feb 21, 2017 12:00:20 GMT -5 mrscatfarmer13 said:

Feb 21, 2017 11:43:17 GMT -5 sstwinklinglites said:

 banks may not approve us based on him not being with the employer for at least a year. I know there's ways around that though.

This isn't a huge deal, the big thing they look for is no large gaps and a consistent amount of income.  So if he's going from one salaried position to another better paying one, they aren't going to fault him. 

Have you considered moving forward with the buying process and setting a smaller budget than you initially planned?

Yeah, I feel like the new job wouldn't be a deal breaker really.

We have considered a smaller budget, but it's hard in our preferred area. We were already working with a smaller budget than DH wanted because I'm just paranoid about the finances. So what we're considering now is getting a three bedroom instead of 4+, so long as there's a basement (finished or not).

[becole]

We used the majority of our savings to put 20% down back in 08 when we bought. I wouldn't have been comfy with that if we weren't both working/ not expecting any large medical expenses/ no kids. We also were buying a home in a price range where we could still afford it on one salary. We basically are waiting to do that again with our next home since we both plan to work. We will buy what one of us could afford alone and also have 6 months savings on top of the 20% down. I'm always afraid one of us will lose our jobs. I know we can get back into the workforce but I need to know we could make it on one salary as long as necessary without losing the home.