Posted in Entertainment/TV

Once Upon a Time

Posted on by teresamunoz91

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A few weeks ago, on September 12, I decided to finally give Once Upon a Time a chance. I said I would watch one episode and if I didn’t like it, I’d stop watching it. At the time, the first five seasons were on Netflix. I got hooked after the first episode and ended up watching the entire 5 seasons (about 110 episodes or so) in 13 days! There was one day when I didn’t have work or school and I was able to watch 12 hours of it!

In fact, in less than a month, I became such a fan of Once upon a Time, that I have bought a few pop toys of characters from the show! I also bought a 2017 calendar and a poster with the characters of Once Upon a Time.

I usually don’t like newer shows, I’m a little bit picky. I didn’t expect to like this show at all, honestly. When I first heard about it, I figured it would be over the top or too childish. After all, it incorporates fairy tales into their storylines. But the writing and acting is so much better than I expected.

My favorite season so far has to be season four, which included a storyline with Anna and Elsa from Frozen, which is one of my all time favorite movies. My favorite characters are Belle, Emma Swan, Hook, and Regina. I think one of my least favorite character has to be Peter Pan.

Posted in Life

Spending Fast

Posted on by teresamunoz91

Going into debt is as American as apple pie and baseball. Not all debt is created equal. When people hear the word “debt”, they immediately see it as a bad thing. This is not always the case. Many of us don’t have the money to pay for a car or a house or education at once. This is when it’s fine to borrow some money because it is for a good cause. Bad debt is when you use credit cards to buy youself the newest and latest things and then have no way to pay the money back.

Like many college students my age, I have multiple credit cards. I also have store credit cards for Target and Amazon. I am lucky enough not owe $15,000+ like many people my age do, but I want to make sure that it doesn’t happen to me. Although I have a minimum wage job, I have been pretty good about paying all my bills on time. I have never paid any bill late or had to turn off my phone or other “luxury” items because I coulnd’t afford to pay it that month. At the moment, my credit score is 700. Despite all of this, I know how easy it is to go into debt and owe credit card companies thousands of dollars.

I’ve read plenty of books about what to do to save more money and spend less. Also on how to not go into debt. There was even a movie that I watched, while it was exaggerated, it showed what could happen if I continue buying things I don’t need on my credit card.

My goal for October is to go on a spending fast. That means for 30 days, I will not buy anything online or in person that isn’t groceries or anything I absoultely need. Maybe I can even go two months on this spending fast. I want to see how much money I can save in these two months.

Posted in Running

Training for My First 5K

Posted on by teresamunoz91

Although I have never really struggled with my weight, I haven’t always been in the best shape. When I was going to community college, I did go to the gym 3-4 times a week, but never achieved my fitness goals. One group of people who I noticed seemed to be in good shape were runners. For the last three or four years, I kept putting “to run 3 times a week” on my annual bucket list, but I never did it. Until this year, that is.

In the past I have tried running, but it was too hard for me, I’d get pain in my sides, headaches, etc. So of course, I would just give up. I started going to the YMCA at the beginning of the year, in January. A few months into it, I started using the treadmill. At first, I would only walk. Then I started running. I started off by running for about 15-30 seconds and build up on that. Eventually, I could run 4 minutes or so, without stopping. I started thinking that maybe I should try running outside. I ran for like 15 minutes at first. It was hard, I had to walk a lot at first. But I continued to push myself even more. Right now, I am up to 3 miles! I don’t run the whole way yet, but I try to run at least 2 miles and walk 1 mile. Sometimes I even go uphill, which is even more challenging.

In approximately 5 weeks, I will be running in my first 5k ever! Really looking forward to it. Kind of nervous too, but I have been training for the last month or so. In total, I have signed up for 5 5k races this year. Three of them in October, one in November, and one in December. My only goal is to just finish the 5k races. As time goes on, I will be more concerned about the time, but for now I will be happy just finishing within the time limit they give us.

Posted in Life

Finally Have a Car!

Posted on by teresamunoz91

Here in the United States, we are expected to do certain things by a certain age. We are supposed to get our driver’s license when we turn 16, get a car soon after, graduate university with a Bachelor’s degree by age 22/23, get our first job between 16-18 years, to name a few.

As with most “major life events”, I was a late bloomer in getting a car. I am 25 years old and just bought my first car a few weeks ago, July 30, 2016 to be exact. What else have I done later than most average people? I got my first job at 21, barely got my driver’s license at 24, just to name a few. For years, I had to get around on the bus. I would go to school, work, the gym, library, you name it, I went there on the bus. I even went to Santa Monica Beach, Disneyland, LA County Fair on the bus. Those trips were about 2 hours each way!

After getting my license last year, I knew it was time for me to finally get a car. But unfortunately, I had accumulated credit card debt and had to pay that off first. Last month I went to a credit union to apply for a car loan, but unfortunately, I didn’t qualify. When they told me I didn’t qualify, I was so disappointed. I had honestly given up on getting a car anytime soon. My mom insisted I would get a car before starting school, but I didn’t believe her. She went online and searched and searched for a new car, while I just sat around complaining about not having a car and having to take the bus everywhere. Then one day my grandpa asked me if I wanted him to loan me the money for a car and I said yes please. We went to a dealrship in Alhambra (our second one) and found my car there. It is a small car and a 2014, but it’s perfect for me. Without my mom and grandpa helping me, I don’t think getting a new car would’ve been possible, so I owe it all to them.

Here are the best things about finally having a car.

1. I have a new place to go during my lunch and break when I work. I can read my books and eat with no interruptions

2. I can go to the gym more often, I don’t have any excuses!

3. More trips to the library

4. I can go to Yogurtland and Jamba Juice more often.

5. I no longer have to depend on others to take me to work or pick me up from work.

6. I can leave my house much later than I normally would, which means I have time to just relax at home, always a plus!

Posted in Year Review

2015 in Review

Posted on by teresamunoz91

2015 was a pretty good year for me. While I didn’t get to travel, I still got to enjoy the year with my family and my boyfriend.

My boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary in 2015.

One of my favorite memories of 2015 was finally going to Disneyland with my boyfriend.

As a season ticket holder for Knott’s Berry Farm, I was able to go a few times in 2015. My favorite was going to the Boysenberry Festival with my family.

My youngest sister was baptised and I was one of her godmothers, along with my other sister Destiny.

I finally got my driver’s license! Had to take some driving classes, which was almost $300, but it was worth it.