Life Update: There's no place like home!

My last few blog entries have been about a positive and healthy self, despite my demanding situation and being more financially responsible. I have to report that I have in fact made a big decision that will affect (hopefully) both of these areas. I am going to move home with my parents for the summer, and part of the fall.

In taking an extremely close look at my finances, I have a very clear picture of what I can afford at this point, and what is too much. It has been determined that living in my apartment is causing me a very large amount of financial stress. I love my apartment, and I love the town in which I live, but when I moved in, in true Jenelle fashion, I did not take the proper steps to make sure that I was going to be able to afford it. I was so stubborn. Loved ones in my life told me that their was no rush, and to stay at home as long as possible... but I wanted to live on my own, I thought (and still think) I was too old to be living at my parents house, and I wanted to live closer to my work, to cut down on the commute.

So in looking at what I wanted out of moving out, here is what is true. I have lived on my own for almost a year now. I am proud of myself for being able to do this. It is not easy! I have learned that I am NOT as much of a neat freak as I always thought I I am too old to be living at my parents house, but I think it is important for me to suck up that pride, and do what is best for my future. I enjoy living with my parents, spending time with them and just being there gives me a sense of calmness I never got while living alone. I also succeeded in cutting down on my commute. Living 15 minutes away from work is conducive to pushing snooze at lease three times each morning,  and causing Billy and I to have to drive quite a distance in order to spend time together. I found myself driving home (commuting if you will) about 2-3 times per week. Does this not almost defeat the purpose of cutting down on my commute?

was, that I enjoy and relish the peacefulness that comes with living by myself, and that I get very lonely. I can say that I have had the experience, and I am proud of that fact, but I'm ready to move on from that experience. I still believe that

All in all, I am glad that I got this I have to move out right now! mentality out of my system. I learned a lot about myself, and even more about what it means to be responsible. I have given this decision a lot of thought, and I am excited to be moving back home. I miss my parents, living close to Billy, and more than anything I miss my Bellatrix! I will miss my apartment, and being a Sierra Madre local, but my home is calling me back, and I am excited to indulge this opportunity.

With that being said, I AM moving back home with a plan, how long I will be there, and what I need to do to ensure the success of moving out when planned. I am not planning on just inevitably mooching off my parents.

Someone Pinch Me

I feel like at any moment, someone might pinch me and I would wake up from this dream where everything works out the way I plan it to! Recently I posted about the permanent position I was offered at the school of my dreams: Aveson School of Leaders. The way I came to be at this school is actually an interesting story. I was randomly selected by an automated phone system to take a long term sub job last school year when I was working for the Fontana Unified School District. While working at this school I had the amazing opportunity to work with a group of educators who started a consulting company. This group of educators had also opened up their own charter school, and before I knew it I had been recommended to apply for a job. The first time I walked onto the Aveson campus it was for my first interview (the only teaching job I have every been interviewed for), known in the Aveson community as a performance day. The second I walked onto this campus I knew it was the place for me! Unfortunately no one was hired from that performance day because a teacher had decided to transfer from their secondary school. However, they asked me to take over for a teacher that was going to be having a baby. I was bummed to not have gotten my own classroom at that time, but I was optimistic about the opportunity to long term sub. Looking back now I am glad things went the way I did, because I had this year as a sort of training year of sorts. I was able to take over for an amazing teacher, and it was great to be able to learn from her before she left. I also got to work alongside a spectacular teacher who I have created a deep friendship with. It's weird to think about how I came to be at this school.... it was all by chance of luck.

Since I have been hired full time for the 2013-2014 school year I have started to look for places to live around the Altadena area. The very first place I looked at was a small studio apartment in the Sierra Madre Canyon. I wasn't particularly looking for a studio apartment, but the rent was a great price, and from the picture the place looked serene. The next day I went to check it out. Driving up to the apartment I felt like I was driving to a vacation destination. A mountain region with small winding roads, and really quaint neighborhoods. Walking into the apartment for the first time I felt that it was perfect for me! The next day I was sending my application and other information to the realtor. It has been about a month since I sent in that information, and since then I had been visiting the apartment semi frequently as well as emailing with the realtor. I started to doubt wether or not I was going to be approved for the place because it was taking so long. Last night the realtor began asking me about my finances, which made me feel even more uneasy. But then today, on my way home from school I received an email from the realtor stating that I have been selected as the new tenant!!! I couldn't believe it!!!!!!! Unfortunately I was driving, so I couldn't go too crazy... but I did let out a few squeals of joy!

I am not the person who always gets what she wants, so these past few major life events have been surreal, and I just feel like any moment someone is going to pinch me, and I am going to wake up. However, for now I am greatly enjoying my luck, and until the pinch happens I will be looking for ways to decorate my new place! I'm hoping to post pictures and videos as the decorating starts :)