Darling Little Things: iPad Accessories & a good lesson

So I mentioned earlier this week that I’m spending most of my days working all day and juggling a plethora of tasks and activities. I decided that in order to hold myself to such a to-do list on a regular basis and actually expect most of it to get done (and done well), I should probably invest in the necessary tools to do so.

I’ll start off by saying that I really tried to be budget friendly and I tried the android version FIRST. I have a droid phone that I’m perfectly happy with.. But unfortunately, my Kindle Fire was just too limited compared to the true android platform that is available on my phone. I do think I may still try and root it though once my warranty is up and I may have a different opinion or use for it at that point. Overall though I was a bit disappointed in its inability to match all of the apps I read about being available through an iPad or iPhone even.

So, I did some research.. I took a couple polls comparing the iPad 2 vs. the mini and new vs. refurbished. I decided to go with the iPad 3rd generation and chose to save $130 by buying a refurbished iPad directly from Apple because they offer the same 1-year warranty as new products. By purchasing through my Discover card, I extended that 1-year warranty to 2 years and earned double miles. 🙂 So, while I’m loving the iPad.. I’m REALLY loving the accessories I got to go with it.

I love turquoise, sea foam, greenish colors. I had my entire living room painted a turquoise color at one point. I found this pretty kelly green cover on Amazon for $31. See how it’s crossed out? I used my Discover miles available and got it for $13. SCORE 🙂 See how it says Prime next to that price also? I got free 2-day shipping. I tell you what, Amazon Prime is worth the $75 annual fee just from the shipping savings, plus it arrives so much faster! So the iPad is protected. I wanted another layer of protection though for when I carry it with me. I browsed Etsy shops for days. I finally narrowed it down to one shop called Bertie’s Closet. SO many cute patterns. After about 3  days of browsing the patterns and going back and forth between the same few, I made my selection. 

My iPad sleeve

I love it!

On a slightly but related note: I read a very interesting discussion about the topic of surviving vs. thriving. I’m adding it in with this post about my iPad purchase because I totally related to what Jess Lively wrote about surviving vs. thriving.

For the last year or so I’ve had a “tighten up” mentality and have been trying to cut back and pay down some debt but not really written out a complete, specific plan. I’ve been making payments and more conscious of spending, etc. but not really doing it in the most efficient way. I’ve been operating in surviving mode for the last year, knowing I need certain things and putting them off until absolutely necessary and then feeling guilty for spending on necessities when I know I need to be paying down debt.  When I say necessities I’m talking about clothes and shoes to replace the 4 and 5 year old pieces I have now in order to continue on the business path that I’m trying to begin for myself, that type of thing.

” I now encourage you to find your own ways to expand your time or money in order to thrive. The choices are endless, the important thing is to think about what is financially do-able, but feels awesomely excessive. The goal is to silence that internal voice that tells you that you are still in “survival mode.” You also do not need to commit to doing this millionaire thing forever, maybe it’s just a month or two. It’s all up to you.

Remember, as entrepreneurs it’s easy to feel like so much is beyond our control (when the next client will appear, what we will pay in taxes, whether the magazine picks our product for the gift guide), but whether we survive or thrive is completely relative and within our means at all times.”

I’m working 2 jobs right now. Sure, it’s to pay off credit card debt. But that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t treat myself here and there and keep myself pumped up and going on the right track of accomplishment. As long as I am killing myself with 65+ hour work weeks and still expecting myself to get all of the cooking/cleaning/socialize so I stay sane bit and not indulging at least a little or feeling guilty about small indulges, I’m surviving.

I thought long and hard last night on my drive home about small ways that I can treat myself and things that I can do that won’t get me off track but might allow me to enjoy life a little more and feel like I’m doing things right, like I’m getting somewhere.. and thrive.

These fun accessories for my iPad.. a tool that I’ll use to stay organized with all of my business venture activities, blogging, personal finances, among other things.. are a small indulgence that is perfectly within a miscellaneous spending budget that I’ve allowed myself (but try not to use so it can just sit in the bank) and make me happy.

I’m always talking about balance. A balanced life is a happy life. Discipline is good but all work, no play.. never REALLY worked for anyone, did it?

I definitely encourage you to subscribe to Jess Lively’s Wish I Knew Wednesday email subscription, she has some great thoughts!

Happy Thursday!