Q&A: Honest & Unfiltered
QUESTION: How do you deal with negativity?
I was built with a strong heart, but sometimes the negativity is overwhelming and depending on the negative topic, I have to allow myself to cry it out, then move on or do something about the negativity. If other people around me are being negative in a casual environment I try to reinforce positivity verbally and speak my truth and if that leads to arguing or debating, I leave it there. There are just some things in life that are not worth the added stress. This world is already negative enough, I’m trying my best to not feed into any of it every single day. Life is short, positive vibes only, people! One topic in particular that bothers me to my core is when people complain about wearing a mask or are just overall negative about it. I don’t put up with it; I just try to encourage the glass half full perspective as much as I possibly can like I’m a spinning broken record that won’t shut off. If anything, this should be a lesson for everyone to not take simple things for granted in life, like walking into a store without a mask on and seeing smiles on people’s faces. However, I know the way our society works, the second we don’t have to wear a mask again people (maybe it’s just Americans) will never acknowledge the gratitude we should be feeling to not have to wear one. Sadly, that’s the way the world works- sorry if that’s negative. Just factual.
QUESTION: Tips for buying a house in Newport?
The house I purchased is actually in Middletown near the beaches so my advice might vary because of the location. However, some things to consider when purchasing a home on the island in general:
Consider re-sell value: Your home will always be for sale for the right price.
Consider location: Is it in a loud area? What is the school system in that town like? How close is your house to the neighbor’s next door? Is it near an airport (you will hear planes all day if that’s the case!)? Are the property taxes going to be really high in that area?
Do you want to Airbnb it someday? I took this into consideration when I was purchasing my home. I wanted an area that would be an ideal place for guests to rent it in the summer season (I have a lot of dreams for my house some day, but in order to make these dreams realistic I need to make that Airbnb summer rental money honey- brand new kitchen, additional bathroom, front porch addition, etc.) Some places similar to my home can go for several thousand a month on Airbnb so I’d be more than willing to move back in with my mom for a couple months to get that extra $ for future expenses.
Consider condition: Does it need a lot of work? How new is the roof? The septic system?
Not a Newport related tip, but just general: there will be so. many. costs. that you wouldn’t have known about until you actually go through with a home buying process. I would love to do a much more in depth post on this someday, maybe once I’m finally settled into my new home. But generally speaking, make sure you are 100% positive that you are able to afford all costs that will come your way.
QUESTION: Most influential moments of your life?
Oh man, this question is definitely going to get me all sorts of emotional as I type out my response. There are a couple influential/significant moments in my life that have stood out to me over my 26 years and mostly all of them circle back to family. There’s this one reoccurring memory I have of my dad that I hold onto in times I feel directionless. My dad was very proud of his home that he built with my mom back in the early 1980s. He worked hard to be able to build a beautiful life for my family and his pride in his hard work was evident every single day, but particularly in one moment. After my dad would finish mowing the lawn, weed whacking around the perimeter of the driveway, after watering the hydrangeas along the front white fence, he would step back, so far back that he would be in the middle of the street facing the front of our home. He would stand there, place his hands on his hips and just admire what he had done. Not what he had done just that day or that week, but what he had done in his life to be able to get to that moment. My memory continues with my mom unlocking a front window in our dining room and peaking her head outside to ask my dad, “whatcha doin’, hun?” His response was always the same, “Just taking it all in.” This was one of the most influential moments of my life. It influenced me to allow myself to feel proud of my accomplishments and hard work. To give myself the recognition I deserve. To make sure that I give myself the opportunity to be grateful for everything I have been given or have earned and simply, just take it all in.
I could probably write a book on all of the influential moments in my life. I’m surrounded by some pretty damn good people that influence me regularly. Maybe this is something I’ll go into a deeper post about.
QUESTION: What/who made you who you are today?
I definitely owe a lot of my qualities to the strong, female women I have in my life. My mom grew up alongside 5 other sisters, who all had to work especially hard to get to where they are because of the challenging childhood they grew up in. Their father was not involved, which left their mom to raise the 9 children she had up until she passed at 51 years old when my mom’s oldest sister, Helene, took the younger children in under her roof. To me, they defied the odds. There was a lot of heartache they experienced at such a young age and they all evolved into such hardworking, independent, gracious human beings that understand the value of a dollar. They also happen to love and respect each other very much, which I think is such a beautiful thing.
QUESTION: How did/do you like living solo? Pros? Cons?
I’ve always been a pretty extroverted socializer, however, I don’t think I will ever have roommates again (unless I need to financially. The exception is also children and a husband someday, but that’s sommmmeday). I do so much talking and socializing during the day that mentally I need my own home to come back to at the end of the day. I love the peace of it. I’m fortunate that I’ve been able to live alone for the past four years and I have never once taken that for granted; here’s a breakdown of the pros and cons.
Pros
Your mess is your mess (even though my place is NEVER a mess. I am that girl that “apologizes for the mess” when guests come over and their response is always “this is my idea of tidy”)
Peace (unless you have a really loud upstairs neighbor that walks on their heels- which, I can’t wait to never experience again)
Not having to figure out who owes what when it comes to the Cox bill, electric bill, gas bill, water bill, garbage.
Unnecessary ~ roommate drama ~
What’s in the fridge is yours
Cons
All of the expenses are only yours
Feeling lonely sometimes! But I’ll just FaceTime someone and then I’m better.
That’s pretty much it.
QUESTION: Why am I getting gray so fast?
Well, MOM, 2020 has been a pretty large dumpster fire of a year, which is contributing to everyone’s roots during this dark time in our lives. Getting gray is cool though- I mean, take Miranda Priestly in Devil Wears Prada for example.
