It all sounds easy until you actually start...

Stressed...

That's been my mood today. Just got overwhelmed last night after we got home with the new car and I sat for a while thinking about my financial plans for the next 7 months. I started to get scared and worried. What if everything I had been planning doesn't work out. I have an idea on my head of an estimate of what I need to move down to Florida with. However I've been told by a few friends that I may be in over my head and not prepared enough. I don't want to wait any longer. I've already waited years to move on with my life after my divorce, trying to keep some stuff between myself and Kayla's father civil and without argument. But I need to live my own life and do what I want to do now.

I've been looking around online for ideas of how much things would be to rent in and around the Orlando area and surrounding  areas. I've been able to find some places for under $800 rent, with the average between $800-1k per month.

I have some employment leads as well, which be is good because I can start to think about what my budget would look like.

It's definitely a bit of a worry when you start to plan a new chapter of your life. Not only do I have to make sure I can afford it for myself, but also Kayla. It's different budgeting while we are living with my parents, but being on our own and worrying about everything myself everything myself, it's making me a little panicky. But I'm going to take my time and keep researching and planning and I hope that with my local Orlando friends help over the next few months I can figure this out and get ready to start #newlife #flochiohana #arewethereyet #2016 #mommydaughter

Let's drive...

So.....This happened today! Looks like 2017 is starting off good!

This is a great start for #newlife #flochiohana #arewethereyet #2017 #mommydaughter

Definitely will help!

I am so excited! I have never had a BRAND NEW car in my life! So this is amazing!! 2016 Hyundai Accent! 30 miles on it!

I feel very blessed.

Unexpected...

I found out a few days ago that I need some work done to my car. I've been leasing it for 2 years, is a 2003 Saturn, 146k miles. I've already done some repair work on it, close to $1k. I am not sure about putting more money into a car that I still have to make payments on, so, this week I'll be looking into finding out about getting a new car. Like a NEW car.

I'm nervous because I've never had a brand new car before, always just gotten hand me downs or bought used ones. However, since I have 7 months until the move, it's probably the right time to look into this. Of course this makes me nervous because right now my money is still a little tight and I wasn't planning on this expense, but life doesn't always go as you planned. 

So, I'm gonna make it happen and work my way through this situation. I'm excited though to get a new car, it's finally something that I am going too need for our #newlife! 

2017 - #NewLife #FloChiOhana #AreWeThereYet

Happy New Year! 2017!

This is the first day of a brand new year. A chance to start fresh. A day to begin planning for a new life!

Those of you that know me are aware that I've always wanted to move back to my home state of Florida! This should be no surprise to anyone who knows of my love of warmth, palm trees, beaches, and Walt Disney World!

So last August 2016, while on vacation with Princess Kayla and Mommy, I came to the realization that I was tired of waiting and that I would finally do it. So I made a plan that by August 18, 2017, we would move down and become Florida residents.

Tentatively, I am hoping to move down once Kayla finishes the school year, which is the end of June, so I have a July 1st at the earliest for a move date. I am going to give myself that little bit of time between then and August 18th, just in case.

We are so excited for this change! We can't wait to be out of the cold Chicago winters and into the beach any time we want! Of course, being close to Disney will be a small plus, lol.

I am scared of course. I have so much to plan and figure out still over the next 7 months, but I know it will work out. There's some criticism of course from people in our lives, but this is the best for myself and Kayla. To live in a place that feels like HOME, where I can be myself and truly be happy. To be able to provide for Kayla a better quality of life and happiness! My daughter is my WORLD and I have always done anything and everything I can to take care of her every need.

It's time for me and her to be happy... It's time for us to have our own life an do things how we want to do it and do things that we enjoy.

I'll be sharing ever day things that I am working on as well, as my thoughts and feelings, so please check back often for updates! Thank you to everyone who has been supportive and offered advice and recommendations so far! I definitely will be reaching out more over the next few months, so please feel free to contact me at FloChiOhana@gmail.com!

Happy New Year my loves! XOX