Since January, I have worked at a great restaurant in Brentwood (just south of Nashville) called J. Alexander's. I work 4 shifts there each week, on top of working Monday-Friday at school.
Here is how my weeks have looked (not including the few summer weeks that didn't include trainings and traveling):
40 hours a week {working in my class with the kids}
25-30 hours a week {shifts at the restaurant}
10 hours a week *approximately* {planning, grading, organizing, etc. after school at home for my class}
So, 75-80 hours a week, as you can see, has been spent working.
Here is my week-at-a-glance to give you a more detailed glance at what my weeks have looked like:
Mondays
7:00am - 3:45pm Teaching
4:30pm - 9:00pm {or after} J's
Tuesdays
7:00am - 3:45pm Teaching
*this is one of two afternoons I have in my class, so I typically stay late
*Tae Bo if I can get there!
Wednesdays
7:00am - 3:45pm Teaching
4:30pm - 9:00pm {or after} J's
when I wake up - 2:00pm Adventures with Cam, cleaning, laundry, etc.
3:00pm - 11:00pm {or after} J's
Sundays
11:30am - 12:30pm CrossPoint Church
*Adventures with Cam, hanging with friends, grocery shopping, laundry, still trying to unpack our new place (we've been here for over a month), plan for the week, etc.
I'm not outlining my week to make anyone feel sorry for me, or be impressed that I've {somehow} maintained sanity for nearly nine straight months of this.
I'm sharing it so you know why I've been distant, and out of the picture for so long.
When I moved to Tennessee, I didn't realize how drastic the pay cut I would take was going to be. With that said, even if I had realized it, I would have moved here anyway.
{Here is where the title of this post comes in.}
For several weeks I wrestled with whether or not I would be able to "make it" with just my teaching salary. I prayed about it. I balanced my budget. I talked to my dad to see if he thought I was being foolish, or if he supported this decision. {He supported it!} At the end of those weeks, I made a decision that will change the course of my life in Tennessee.
This Wednesday marks my LAST shift at J's!
I am going to miss my co-workers, though I plan on still seeing them when I go in to eat. {The food is really some of the best I've had. Ever.}
I'll also miss meeting so many different people (from locals, to people from my small southern California hometown of Rancho Santa Margarita -- I've met TWO people! -- to Martin from "Duck Dynasty," to Colin O'Donoghue -- didn't realize who he was, and to say I embarrassed myself that day would be an understatement -- to JAKE OWEN! <-- I'm still giddy over that one).
I will reeeally miss having cash in my wallet at all times and living without worry of when the next payday is.
I know that financially I will feel this. So, I've been preparing. I have a good amount in savings for emergencies and unexpected expenses that will undoubtedly come up. {Dave Ramsey would be proud.}
And I have recently become a Rodan+Fields Independent Consultant! THIS is the reason that I am able to step away from working at the restaurant with peace. I am already using their products, and I believe in them because I have seen results on my skin! (I will be posting before and after pics in the next two to three weeks. Stay tuned.)
I am about to close another chapter from my big adventure in Tennessee. If I were to name this one, it would be "Too Busy for Anyone's Good."
Though it hasn't started just yet, I've already named the next chapter: "Let the REAL Adventures Begin."
Hopefully, as things start slowing down, I will be able to adventure and explore more of this beautiful state that I live in. And, in turn, blog about those escapades to let you in on them!
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Until next time, y'all!
4:30pm - 9:00pm {or after} J's
Thursdays
7:00am - 3:45pm Teaching
4:30pm - 9:00pm {or after} J's
Fridays
7:00am - 3:45pm Teaching
*again, one of two afternoons I can stay in my class, so I stay late
*Tae Bo if I don't have too much to do in my class
**I'm usually home around 9:00pm and in bed shortly after
Saturdays4:30pm - 9:00pm {or after} J's
Fridays
7:00am - 3:45pm Teaching
*again, one of two afternoons I can stay in my class, so I stay late
*Tae Bo if I don't have too much to do in my class
**I'm usually home around 9:00pm and in bed shortly after
when I wake up - 2:00pm Adventures with Cam, cleaning, laundry, etc.
3:00pm - 11:00pm {or after} J's
Sundays
11:30am - 12:30pm CrossPoint Church
*Adventures with Cam, hanging with friends, grocery shopping, laundry, still trying to unpack our new place (we've been here for over a month), plan for the week, etc.
I'm not outlining my week to make anyone feel sorry for me, or be impressed that I've {somehow} maintained sanity for nearly nine straight months of this.
I'm sharing it so you know why I've been distant, and out of the picture for so long.
When I moved to Tennessee, I didn't realize how drastic the pay cut I would take was going to be. With that said, even if I had realized it, I would have moved here anyway.
{Here is where the title of this post comes in.}
For several weeks I wrestled with whether or not I would be able to "make it" with just my teaching salary. I prayed about it. I balanced my budget. I talked to my dad to see if he thought I was being foolish, or if he supported this decision. {He supported it!} At the end of those weeks, I made a decision that will change the course of my life in Tennessee.
This Wednesday marks my LAST shift at J's!
I am going to miss my co-workers, though I plan on still seeing them when I go in to eat. {The food is really some of the best I've had. Ever.}
I'll also miss meeting so many different people (from locals, to people from my small southern California hometown of Rancho Santa Margarita -- I've met TWO people! -- to Martin from "Duck Dynasty," to Colin O'Donoghue -- didn't realize who he was, and to say I embarrassed myself that day would be an understatement -- to JAKE OWEN! <-- I'm still giddy over that one).
I will reeeally miss having cash in my wallet at all times and living without worry of when the next payday is.
I know that financially I will feel this. So, I've been preparing. I have a good amount in savings for emergencies and unexpected expenses that will undoubtedly come up. {Dave Ramsey would be proud.}
And I have recently become a Rodan+Fields Independent Consultant! THIS is the reason that I am able to step away from working at the restaurant with peace. I am already using their products, and I believe in them because I have seen results on my skin! (I will be posting before and after pics in the next two to three weeks. Stay tuned.)
I am about to close another chapter from my big adventure in Tennessee. If I were to name this one, it would be "Too Busy for Anyone's Good."
Though it hasn't started just yet, I've already named the next chapter: "Let the REAL Adventures Begin."
Hopefully, as things start slowing down, I will be able to adventure and explore more of this beautiful state that I live in. And, in turn, blog about those escapades to let you in on them!
Until next time, y'all!
