Cleaning without chemicals

I know I've mentioned I have migraines. I still don't know what causes them, but I have noticed that there are things I can do that limit me having horrid death-pain types.

All the cleaners that you can buy at the stores can give me a headache if I don't air out the room during and after the cleaning process. Sad right? Cleaning makes me sick! Terrific excuse to never clean again (actually--I have several of those, I tend to hurt myself when cleaning. I've managed to crack my tailbone and bang my fingernail right off.)

So, I'm constantly on the search to figure out how to clean without normal cleaning things. You know, stuff grandma would do (well, my grandmommy was older). Baking soda and vinegar are my go to at the moment. And they work pretty well actually.

from Picklee.com

I know you can't see that really well...but the website, 10 Remarkable DIY Cleaning Solutions, has the image where you can blow it up and read them all like the first image.

I'm always looking for new things, hopefully I'll have a clean house eventually.

fab birthday gifts!

So the cost of going back to grad school has me a tad stressed. I'm probably going to have to get a laptop...plus all the textbooks, moving and school fees. Eek!

My dad thought way ahead though, and he bought me the Amazon Fire Kindle for my b-day. I'm pretty sure I can get a lot of my textbooks through it (ok...i HOPE i can get most of my textbooks through it because some of the schools I applied to are not in the USA). And because my daddy and brother are super awesome, they also got me a pink case and screen protector.

from engadget.com

I downloaded all the free books I could...and it seems like some of them are torrid romance novels. I'm slightly terrified of them but my grandmommy was the harlequin romance queen. BOXES of those books were in her extra bedroom...I have no idea what happened to them either. There's some very full library somewhere!

I also got a new tape dispenser as a tease gift from my dad. I've been complaining because everyone steals MY tape dispenser so he went and got me one (from Scotch tape). It's so freaking cute! And I'm positive no one will steal it. Because let's be honest, my brother and dad are fairly macho...and this is definitely NOT macho.

from officemax.com

I also got some ridiculously awesome see through note-tabs/stickey notes from Avery. I LOVE office supplies. I have a fully intact office. That I don't need. Because I don't work from home, and I don't have a job. But I'm super ready...for something. These notes are transparent (some are colored) that you can write on (over the writing on the page) or even highlight on. It's really ingenious and I've been wanting to use them on some of my books (that are more intellectual than say...Pride and Prejudice and Zombies).

Top (L): Millennial Professor.com

Top (R):  Amazon. com (direct link for shopping)

Bottom: unclutterer. com

Speaking of zombies, I also got a gift certificate to a bookstore and went a tad crazy...I got some fabulous books that I can't wait to read. 

from Books-A-Million

from Books-a-Million

Budgeting for College...Applications

budgeting means putting my credit cards on lock down. sadness :( 

Before I started applying (or writing my essays) I looked up how much it was going to cost for me to actually submit an application. Mostly so I would know before I turned it in. And to get the shock out of the way first.

I estimated that each school was going to cost me about 100-200 (American) dollars. Which was super excessive with some schools and right on target with others. Whatever remained I split between my future college costs and my "congratulations/splurge account".

For instance...after completing five applications, I bought myself a new dress and a new belt and a coffee.

1. Mossimo Crepe Dress with Cascade Ruffles. In blue, found at Target
2. Skinny belt. I tried to put the teal one I had on their but oh well. In real life, it's teal...
3. Nude pumps

After applications are all done (I've got a couple more) I'm going to start figuring out my future budget for college. Which might be slightly excessive. But I'd rather be incredibly prepared than broke and stuck. No matter where I end up going, I want to go exploring in the surrounding areas, shop, eat out with friends, party (although I can't drink) and live more or less comfy. So, budgeting is the way to go. 

While perusing Google images for student budgets and grad school budgets, budgets by countries, budgets for certain schools (it's going to be awhile on those budgets), I found an info-graphic that I love. I got a little snapshot but the entire info-graphic has a ton of information and is kinda scary. 

Via: Infographic called How Much Americans Save Annually. 

Apparently Americans spend more than 90% of their disposable income. That's scary. 

Perhaps I should add "budgeting the Chinese way" to my google search? 

Image Sources: 

• credit cards on lock-down (WeHeartIt.com)
• clothes found via shopstyle.com. Individual links listed above
• How do American saving habits compare globally from the infographic How Much Americans Save Annually from the webpage Finance Infographics.