Financial Shamble Scramble

Feb 14th, 2012 11:47 AM EST

Hello All,

A new month is here and what’s a better way to greet it than with living in a new apartment? Yes – you got that right – a new apartment. You might be thinking “wait, didn’t Shea move into an apartment in December?” Yeah you’re right. I did. But – a few things happened.

1) Zander moved in!

Yay Zander for moving in…yeah so that means there’s not enough space.

2) Our apartment got broken into!

Not yay for me paying a HUGE amount for 24/7 security to have someone walk right past security (on camera, may I add) and just break into my apartment and steal things.

3) Me and Zander wanted to figure out a financial plan that was doable for both of us – so we decided to move.

This month has given us a lot to reflect on when it comes to the swipe of my credit card or flick of a pen finishing a check that usually would make me cry at the amount in fear when I was younger. Thank God I was saving.

Finances aren’t anything new to me though. I’ve been saving and spending money my entire life – whether it’s for personal or business reasons when it comes to running JEMS Productions. I’m so anal about planning for the future when it includes all of my ventures (which now include Zander, which is amazing). Now being out of school and on my own completely, all I can say is PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE IS ESSENTIAL!!!

The only reason why I am not in financial shambles right now is because I was thinking ahead, saved money, started building credit, and a big book of “how to do financial planning for dummies”.

So right now, I’m sitting in my brand spanking new loft apartment in downtown Los Angeles with the love of my life…and a new puppy we just adopted. While he wasn’t in our budget before, we are somehow fitting him in. He’s worth it. His name is Remy. He’s a Catahoula Leopard Dog. Cool, right?

My dream is that I can sell Breaking the Silence soon, then I won’t have to worry as much about paying next month’s rent. Any buyers out there? Selling it sooner rather than later would be preferable so I can buy my man something nice for Valentine’s Day…and our anniversary. We’re getting tattoos together for it. Sounds really naive and stupid but we don’t care. We love each other. We’re committed to each other for life. What’s the big deal? Don’t answer that. Let me live in blissful love.

But yet again – thank God I saved so we can afford this.

Our Story Continues Another Day,

Shea

What Lies Ahead

Jan 20th, 2012 11:47 AM EST

Hello All,

So good news…

1) I got another job!

2) It’s where Zander works!

3) Zander got promoted!

This week has definitely been a roller coaster in one form or another. Everyone in the apartment has been losing jobs, getting jobs, getting promoted in their job, etc. But all seems to be settling in the household as the week comes to an end.

Here’s what lies ahead:

1) Epic Saturday Date with Zander

2) Filming in Colorado

3) Start new job

4) Animations Arrive

5) Grum reveal

So this week is going to be pretty busy. To start: the date. Me and Zander have reservations at one of the best restaurants in LA. It was one of my Christmas presents to him. We’re also going to the tide pools today. Sometimes I have to get a reality check because I realize me and Zander do the most lovey-dovey things in the world. Am I complaining? Hell no. I love it. I love him.

Beyond that…I’m picking up the camera again starting Monday. I’m off to Colorado to film some pick-ups for Breaking the Silence. I can’t wait to work with my crew again! This signals the true end to the film wrapping together. It’s definitely surreal. It’s these kind of trips that make me realize I’m living my dream right now. I’m traveling across the country on business trips for film. Not too long ago, I would wake up in my bed daydreaming of that every single day. But now I’m doing it. Let me catch my breath.

Now. Grum. There is a reveal that is going to happen soon. Check the countdown clock for the official time…

www.whatisgrum.com

If you haven’t gone there yet, click on the black bleeding heart and subscribe!

I have some great things that lie ahead of me. I can’t wait to experience them. Oh! One more thing: Week 1 of living with Zander was a success! One week down…the rest of our lives to go.

Our Story Continues Another Day,

Shea

The Difference Between Deadlines and Due Dates

Jan 16th, 2012 2:18 PM EST

Hello All,

2012 has started out with a bang. First, my boyfriend has moved in with me to my beautiful new apartment in downtown LA. It’s been a long time coming and I’m so excited to share my life further with him. We decided to have our second first date on January 1 this year to celebrate a new life together. He took me to where he grew up in Palos Verdes and it was one of the most beautiful settings of my life. We went to the house he grew up in, the schools he attended, and we gazed out in the distance at the buildings touching the Los Angeles skyline where we live now.

Every time I want to write about Zander, I find myself lost for words on how to say how much I love him. I think the closest thing I’ve gotten to is the Beetles song ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’. The Beetles got it right. It’s weird to think that I met him just 10 months ago – during filming of Breaking the Silence.

Speaking of Breaking the Silence…

There’s two things I want done: 1) to finish it 2) to make it perfect. But the former seems to be the most important at the moment. The deadlines that have been broken, pushed back, excused, etc. is sometimes infuriating. I guess my artistic mind justifies it for the quality of the film. “If we push back this, then it will be better” seems to be my mantra. But there’s a limit.

What’s stressful is now that I’m on my own (aka not in school and pushing to make my business successful), I have rent to pay. Money never seemed to be too much of an issue before I knew it had to be in someone else’s pocket by the first of each month. I woke up in the apartment next to Zander this morning before he did and was able to see him as the perfect man he is. For the record, when I mean perfect, I mean it by the way he makes me feel. I wake up to him every morning loving him just as much as, if not more than, the previous. I want to provide for him. I want to support him. I want to be successful for him so that the definition of “us” can be stable. I want to make our due date.

What do I sacrifice? I need a higher paying job right now so that when our monthly due date of rent comes up, I can put in my share with him. What’s scary is if I do that, Breaking the Silence is going to be pushed back…even further. But I guess it comes down to the difference between deadlines and due dates: one is for me and the other is for him. My decision is I need a higher paying job. As I write this blog post with a tear of stress rolling down my face and craigslist up in the background, I hear Zander studying his rap in the other room for his new full-time job to support us. I’ll finish this sentence and then go hold his hand as he held mine for the majority of the day today.

Our Story Continues Another Day,

Shea