Important Influences part 1- raised by the television

So a friend of mine posted a video on Facebook I forgot about but was a huge influence on me when I was 4 and 5 and really explains everything and why I am the way I am:

Seriously, this was my first impression of what a fashion show was like. I wanted to BE Miss Piggy. In this scene from The Great Muppet Caper she is the epitome of feminine beauty and glamour. I wanted to swim around with syncronized swimmers and I often practice when we would go to the public pool during the summer. When I was the Student of the Week in Kindergarden I think I even said I wanted to be a syncronized swimmer like Miss Piggy when I grew up but my teacher told me that it wasn't a real career and then asked me what else I wanted to be and she put down "nurse" for me.

This let me to think about other influences of televison and movies in my formative years that were important to me that make me the person I am today. I thought I would provide a photo and video list of these things...

First and formost:

Miss Donna Summer. Specifically dressed up in her gorgeous pink waitress outfit. I would make my mother play "She Works Hard for the Money" over and over starting when I was 2 or 3. I thought the lyric was "She Works Hard for Mommy" I was obsessed with Donna. Around the time I was interested in her, another music icon emerged. For the longest, I though they were the same person. Donna Summer apparently sounds a lot like Madonna to a 3 year old.

Madonna was a big influence too, specifcally in this outfit:

Who reminded me of two of my ultimate fashion icons, Peaches and Cream Barbie:

And Dream Glow Barbie:

"We Girls can do anything. Like Barbie!" Oh silly 2nd wave feminist advertising executives.

Which brings me to another strong woman of the 80s:

Mary Lou. I totally had the leotard when I was a kid. I think my favorite is that horrible dribble of milk on her face at the end..

I totally would wear my Mary Lou Retton leotard and dance around with a ribbon on a stick in the front yard.

Part 2 to come later!!

Time to get serious..

I signed all my bankruptcy paperwork today. I'm not sure where it is at now, I'm assuming with interest I have about $55,000.00 in credit card debt. I'm still nervous about a lot of things. I feel like there are some things stacked against me. However, I am feeling better about a few things I was worried about and that despite the outcome, even if it's shitty and horrible, it'll be over soon.

I'll still be in debt from the school loan I just took out but that's ok and a good investment.

For now, lets assume all is going to go swimmingly and talk about the things I'm looking forward AFTER the discharge:

-Really strict budgeting. I haven't been as careful as I have been since I stopped paying my credit cards but it's definitely has simplified things for me and it's not nearly as hard as I thought it would be getting by. In all, I'd say, I'm less stressed about money than BEFORE I stopped paying my credit cards. I want to really start to buckle down though.

-Saving all the money I can! I've become so much smarter about the purchases I do make and I feel like I buy a lot less things out of feeling "entitled" to them. I can't wait to save an emergency fund and then, eventually save for large things I want. :)

-Starting an IRA. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to starting some sort of retirement fund. I hope to save 100.00 a month if I can manage for 2-3 years and eventually go up to 200.00 a month after that.

-Health Insurance! I think there's not much to say besides that. For me, its tax deductible! If I can afford it or not really depends on what I'm making while I'm in school.

-Getting ahead on tax payments! Yes, actually paying ESTIMATED taxes until waiting until April to sort it all out.

Let's just hope that things go well for me...