the push to purge!

Just a few days left in the year and before a new one begins! While I will make a
list of goals for my professional life, I've already made my goals for myself. I got wise and broke them into 3 main goals with 3-5 mini goals to help me achieve the larger task instead of just making a "bucket list" of resolutions. For me, 2015 brings the year of the purge! Purge the debt, purge the excess, purge the flab, and purge the inactivity. Let's do this!

2015
Get FISCALLY fit!
 - Debt free in 2015! (credit card debt)
     - Debt Snowball Goal #1 (+/- $500.00)
       *Balance will be paid by end of February
     - Debt Snowball Goal #2 (+/- $2500.00)
       *Got an unexpected boost; balance will be $0.00 by end of August
 - Open a savings account 
     - $300.00 minimum
     - Mainly from rolled currency
       *Got a little help from Christmas - almost 1/2 way there already!
 - Pay car insurance in full/timely manner at each renewal period
     - January
       *Paid minimum; balance will be paid by end of February
     - July
       *Hope to pay in full when due

Get PHYSICALLY fit!
 - Limit/eliminate soda consumption
     - Begin with quarterly 30-day challenges
       *January, April, July, October
 - Monthly exercise challenges
 - Invest in equipment (birthday wish requests?!)
 - Quit

Get EMOTIONALLY fit!
 - Return book & magazine to L.S.
 - End of season, donate at least 25% of wardrobe
 - Donate at least $100.00 to a/some non-profit(s)
 - Hoard sick & vacation hours; accumulate comp time
 - Gossip less (I've been caught up way too much in other people's business socially and at the office)
      - Gossip less may lead to less stress?!
 - Get adequate sleep
      - Watch the 6:00 news instead of the 11:00 news
      - Start preparing for sleep at 10:00
      - Weekdays: be in bed by 11:00; Weekends: something similar

       

another door closes

it's officially the end of another love journey. the boy and i broke up in july...i actually did it the night before i took him to the airport for his trip home. shame. he cried. he's always been the crier of the pair of us. more emotional. i like to try to keep my emotions closer to the cuff, heart of stone so to speak. we were together for over two years. we had talked about getting engaged and what marriage could be like; whether children would fill our life or just dogs (just dogs!). but somewhere along that path, i started to feel like something was missing, that i wasn't my whole self, that something was missing. so we broke up. it lasted a week. i didn't want anyone else scooping him up while i was trying to figure it all out. two months later, i called it quits. immediately, i felt free. like a million pounds were off my shoulders. don't get me wrong, i still loved him. i still cared but i needed a break. so we were "dating" - free to see other people but free to see each other if we wanted to. i basked in my new-found "freedom". i left the house, i met new people. it has been fun.

he moved to michigan on halloween. gone a little more than a month, he came to visit and it was so awkward. it felt almost like we were strangers. lots of silence. lots of pretending we were having fun. some talking about our past, present and whether a future exists. but, something he told me really struck a chord. yesterday i said - i'm pretty much done. there are a lot of things i will take, i will endure. and i know that we both have been single and able to mingle and i fully expected him to meet someone up there -- but not so fast. and not be doing whatever it is they've been doing. to come down and try to smooch on me while he's been smooching on someone else (before i knew about it) is not cool, no matter how single a person is. to tell me he wants to be with me, that i'm his "one", that he wants to marry me but participate in whatever is going on (could be a relationship developing or maybe it's just a good time). i deserve better than that. i put in over two years with him and our relationship. some of it i suffered through, with a smile.

i'm over it. wolf in sheep's clothing - that's what a man is. and, honey, i don't have time for that!

wonder what the new year will bring.....

umm...goodbye 2014?!

someone please tell me where this year has gone! i can't believe it is already december, almost christmas and almost the end of the year. december will be busy between work, getting ready for christmas and everything else life decides to throw my way, so here are my goals/things which must be done for the final month of 2014!

christmas-related...
~ decorate my apartment for christmas 11/28-12/13
~ tob pictures with santa, friday 12/5
~ tob senior christmas social, thursday 12/11
~ finish and ship paintings/gifts 
~ finish baby gifts/paintings by sunday 12/21
~ finish all shopping by saturday 12/20
~ christmas party saturday 12/20 (tinsel & bow skirt, anyone?!)
~ gift wrapping party of 1 on sunday 12/21
~ office closed, wednesday 12/24-friday 12/26
~ christmas break: wednesday 12/24-sunday 12/28
~ off at 3pm on nye, wednesday 12/31 (& off on friday 1/2!)

other...
~ neal's here to visit, friday 12/5-sunday 12/7
~ hair appointment, saturday 12/20
~ kitchen clean/reorg overhaul (MUST!)
~ take all remaining donations to drm/goodwill/church by saturday 12/27
~ finish "nesting" from the rearrangement: hang art, work nook, coat closet, etc.
~ football. football. more football.


and take some time to RELAX! and remember the reason for the season - the birth of our Savior! 

november 2014

besides the fact that it is in fact october 31st, also known as halloween - can i ask where october went?! tomorrow is november 1st which means we're less than 55 days until christmas and less than 65 days until january 1st. crazy! i've already started thinking about my goals for the new year (mostly financial, of course). but here are my goals for november

* make my bed daily
* finish trimming carpet
* homestead: bathroom reno, bedroom reorg, office reorg/move to bedroom
* start/finish paintings for family & friends (christmas gifts)
* rearrange living room (mostly because i like the tv on the long wall, but also to make space for my christmas tree)* kitchen overhaul/reorg: empty every cabinet/drawer, clean everything, then reorganize cabinets/drawers
* work nook reorg
* clear out my "hoarder" stash of cardboard boxes (only keep what i need to ship/wrap paintings)
* limit my phone time/data usage//read more
* adhere more strictly to my budget (only purchase "extras" that are christmas gifts/supplies)
* have ECU sweep their AAC opponents (Temple, Cincy and Tulane) - at least they beat Tulane?!

It's Friday!!

It's Friday.
It's Pay Day.
I got my first longevity check this week.
I just paid off my small debt in full, on time.
I will continue to get better, get more sleep and heal from my recent ailments.
No matter what the outcome of the news from my doctor is, I will not treat this day like I did the last pay day. I am fortunate to have life and will live it to its fullest, no matter what. But...I still pray for a good report.
I will work on the apartment - continuing with my "to do" list without over-extending myself.
I will root for the Pirates tomorrow as they take on conference foe #2 usf. Did you hear about their homecoming committee making the t-shirts purple for homecoming (this weekend)? The Pirates are purple & gold. FAIL.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and a great weekend!

october 1-31

make my bed daily
finish trimming carpet
for balcony: plant mums/pansies
take donations to drm/goodwill
pay off my small debt
home
- work on bathroom redo
- work on my room
paint (now for christmas gifts)
- jacob (2)
- ian
- joanna & andy
- diy (2)
finish "fall's here, let's clean" semi-annual clean fest

sept 1 - 30

8.28 - 9.4 my grandma's here
9.1 labor day / office closed
9.10 last day to renew my lease
9.23 fall officially begins
9.24 my 2 year work anniversary
college football season begins!

to do...
make my bed daily
finish trimming carpet
shred fest
take any empty bins/misc. home
for balcony: plant flowers, hang lights, add a table
make longer curtains
read a book for pleasure
read a book b/c i NEED to return it(!!)
bag/tag/take donations
paintings
- baby jacob (2)
- baby ian
- jo & andy's marriage
- diy (2)
spend some time at the homestead
- paint and redecorate bathroom
- SORT my room
- reconfigure/add storage so that my room looks like a room & not a glorified storage unit
- PURGE
money matters...
pay off balance (again)
renew renter's insurance
renew my lease (hopefully at the same rate)
lose the pudge...
change sleeping patterns/bedtime
go for a walk 2x/week
30 reps each, per day: squats, sit ups, push ups
5 min. minimum mobility/stretching per day
wall sits/hand stands 3x/week

brief update

before this once again becomes a place to keep track of my monthly "to do" lists, i'll give a life update.
- my family welcomed jacob riley into the family in july on the day they were going to induce. he's super cute, the first baby of my immediate family...and already a month old!
- i broke up with the boy last month before he left for vacation. i just...couldn't do it anymore. there was a part of me that i felt was missing, maybe that i hid on purpose because i knew he wouldn't like it or something. i tried to convince myself that it was just part of growing up - older and wiser - but the bottom line was that i wasn't happy. how can you agree to spend your life with someone without being happy? and i've never been "into" marriage and kids so to me, it almost seems like i'd be settling. not settling on him because he's great. but settling on the situation - time is running out if i want to have a child. and i certainly am not too keen on settling and letting go of life's ambitions and desires. i guess there's a chance we could get back together, but at this point, it's not looking like it.
- i will celebrate two years at my job next month. whoop whoop!
- i am finally starting to get my apartment to feel like home. maybe once i've been in it a year, it will be all good.
- i met someone fun. totally different than what i'm usually into but fun. and by accident. neither one of us is looking for a relationship, so it's just...fun. i assume it is going to be an interesting experience b/c he's into some..interesting..things.

that's me in a nutshell as of recently. and, i must say that last weekend was the best time i've had in a long, long time. i felt like i have found the part that's been missing and i feel so ALIVE and happy. actually, genuinely happy. part of me feels bad that i couldn't have this feeling while with the boy, but i needed this time away. and, i'm glad because this time it was worth it. this time, progress is being made. and if it's progress that pushes him and i further apart, then that's what must be done.

yay for it being wednesday!!

august 1 - 30

pay day - fri 8.1
pfc meeting - wed 8.6
town council - thurs 8.7
planning board (solo!) - 8.14
pay day - fri 8.15
unrba - wed 8.20
pay day - fri 8.29
make my bed daily
finish "trimming" carpet
mid-summer clean fest
- dust for any cobwebs
- spray for bugs that keep coming in my busted door
- wipe down baseboards
- vacuum
1) tweak furniture placements
- bedroom
- living room
- coat closet
- add vertical storage to coat closet, laundry room
2) sort, purge, organize, & SHRED
- receipts (save/file or shred)
- credit offers (shred)
- brown bin (empty & take home)
- clear bins (take home)
- update files (if necessary)
3) hang art
- spoon rack
- tweak entry
- gallery wall #1 & #2
- bedroom
- living room
4) donate or toss as much as possible
5) create a true "work nook"
- decorative storage solutions for office supplies
- add a little lamp (target)
- storage below desk?
- minimally add decorative accessories

take another load to dry cleaners
steam clothes w/ my new steamer
write recipes on cards and add to recipe book
read & return LAM
read & return HP book
pay a chunk on llc ($300 min.)
attend church service at least 2x/month
read jesus > religion
finish paintings
- baby (2)
- marriage (1)
- personal (2)
exercise (for real, yo!)
pvc oh squats, sit ups, pushups
- 30 reps each day 8.1 - 8.15
- 60 reps each day 8.16 - 8.30
5 min. minimum stretching & mobility
go for a walk
- 2x/week 8.1 - 8.15
- 3x/week 8.16 - 8.30
work on wall sits & handstands

ECU football begins - 8.30

july 1 - july 31

town council  - thurs 7.3
office closed - fri 7.4
independence day - 7.5
baby bacon's due! - 7.7
sister's #37 - 7.9
boss' due date - 7.24

make my bed daily
diy wreath for front door
finish "trimming" my carpet (i dropped a hot iron!)
tweak living/dining area
- make room for west elm find (it's a hamper but i'm using it for an end table)
  (i found a round wood piece at lowe's that i'm going to prime & paint and put on top)
- move dining table?
- hang a "gallery wall" above keyboard
tweak bedroom
- add bookcase for jewelry display/storage
- hang art
spruce up outdoor space i think i'm going to wait until the fall & also plant some flowers
- hang solar lights
- "plant" bug zappers
- add a 2nd chair/stool
- will a small table fit?
take bags to goodwill
pay off smallest balance hooray! :)
take a round to the dry cleaners (winter)
read & return historic preservation book
church
- attend service at least twice
finish jesus>religion
baby paintings
- baby bacon
- "you are my sunshine"
- baby brunkhardt
wedding painting
exercise
- 31 reps each per day: sit ups, push ups, oh squats
- wall sits/work on hand stands
- 5 min. stretching/mobility per day
- 2x/week go for a walk

june 1 - june 30

town council - thursday 6.5
chicken pickin' - saturday 6.7
bbg's anniversary - thursday 6.12
family dinner for #1 - friday 6.13

flag day - saturday 6.14
eyebrow wax appt - saturday 6.14
massage appt - saturday 6.14
father's day - sunday 6.15
#31 - monday 6.16
official start of summer - saturday 6.21
two years' "official" - monday 6.23
anniversary dinner - tuesday 6.24home
- make my bed daily
- diy no-sew cu rtains for bedroom
- diy wreath for entry
- finish tweaking living & dining rooms
- finish tweaking bedroom
- spruce up balcony: potted plants, solar string lights, another chair/side table

exercise
- 30 reps each, per day: sit ups, push ups, overhead squats
- 5 minutes minimum of stretching / mobility
- twice: go for a walk at least two times per week
- go to bed by 11:00 during the week; 11:30 on the weekends

do
- donate to goodwill and/or durham rescue mission
- pay off smallest, interest-earning balance
- take a load to the dry cleaners
- take a large load back to the homestead
- work on my old room and bathroom at my parents' house (repaint, sort, purge, etc.)
- read & return historic preservation book
- church: attend service at least twice
- finish jesus > religion


break's over

it only lasted a week - the break is over. it was long enough. it hit me like a tornado yesterday. i just couldn't stop crying... i suppose that's what i was waiting for/hoping for - some kind of emotional response one way or the other.

he is the other pea in my pod and i wouldn't have it any other way. and that's the easiest way to put it.

money

it's weird to recognize a transformation with one's self, but when it comes to money/finances, one definitely happened. i'm not sure when or how or anything, i just know it happened because i see and feel the effects of it every day.

i used to DREAD talking about money, thinking about doing a budget, planning...for me, money = stress. not these days...last spring, i took dave ramsey's "financial peace university" at my church. it was great. it gave me a direction. i was trying to save money but because rent & small bills virtually ate my first-of-the-month paycheck, i was swimming just trying to catch up every single month. then, i made a wise decision. i moved. to an apartment i'd never seen with a floor plan i'd only seen on paper. to an apartment with a rate $150 LESS than what i had chosen previously. to the 3rd smallest floor plan in the community...just barely beyond a studio. but it was worth it.

in the past 6 months, although i can't show it to you on a bank statement, i've saved money, diverted it to other places, changed the way i handle money, think about budgeting, and all things money-related in general. since november 2013, these are ways i've saved money:

- $150 per month for rent
- $175 per month for car payment
- $60 per month by dropping cable
- $30 per month by dropping internet (effective 5/7!)
- $10+ per month by turning off my hvac system at the beginning of april & even though temps are reaching 90, i am NOT turning on the a/c until i absolutely cannot stand it any longer -- hopefully not for another month!) AND trying to remember to only turn on lights when i need them & turning them off when i don't to save energy
- $50 per week on groceries -- i used to drop $100 a week sometimes on groceries. i still drink soda, but i only buy when they're on special & then i stock up. i'm trying to limit to 2 rounds a month while also trying to wean myself off it completely; i also meal plan and try to buy only what i need for the week. sometimes grocery bills are higher - like this past week. i went to the store on saturday on bought paper towels, toilet paper, trash bags, soda, etc. and spent $50 and then went back on sunday and spent $100. that's the most i've spent on groceries in a week in a REALLY long time. but, because i haven't, a splurge once in awhile isn't going to break the bank. :)
- when i cook more, i eat out less.

for may:
- switching back to the envelope system for gas, groceries, fun money. i've estimated $400 for the rest of the month
- in april, i dropped cable. yesterday, i dropped internet. so come june, no payment to Czar TWC! which means, i'll save $90/month by cancelling both.
- make a hefty payment on either account. i prefer to do the interest-earning one, but the zero interest on the other account ends in october. if i make this payment on that account, i'd only need one more payment and it would be paid off 4 months "early". then, my car insurance will be due in july & i'm hoping to have my tax refund by then to pay that in full. THEN, i can really tackle the interest-earing account. my goal is to be interest-earning debt free by the end of 2014...which actually seems like a realistic, doable goal!

if you're reading this  and money also stresses you out, you'll get through it. learn from your mistakes, seek counsel from a financial guru like dave ramsey, learn to budget and watch where your money is going. i keep a record book (a large checkbook, if you will) and check it every/every other day to make sure everything is in tip-top-shape and to adjust my daily budget if necessary. there is hope, but you have to be willing to work for it.

break

so, the boy and i have been together for a little over two years. and for the better part of the last year, i've felt like i've been on this hamster wheel, torn between the strong feelings i have for him and our future and the ongoing season of doubt that marriage is even something i want. last week, i went and talked with my college pastor, to gain the perspective from someone who's not in the relationship, not related to me, and doesn't have a preference in which way it could work out. he suggested taking a break, 3-4 weeks to focus on what it is that's holding me back, to focus on the Word and turning to Jesus during this period of uncertainty.

saturday, he came over. and i told him that we should take a break. he got teary eye - it was so hard to see his lip quiver. i never wanted to hurt him...i think it's better to take this time now to figure things out than be in a lifelong of uncertainty and regret. i do love him and miss him, even though it's only been a couple of days. maybe spending time with other men/people, will help give me some perspective and/or show me i've been foolish.

we'll get back together to see where we stand & how we feel, probably around the time of my birthday. all i want is peace - peace in knowing that i made the right decision in taking the break, peace in the decision of whether to stay or go that hopefully comes out of this time, peace in knowing who i am and what i want out of this life i've been given.

i just feel sad. not hopeless, but hopeful. hopeful this period of time will prove to be fruitful, for both of us.

**update: it's been the better part of a week and i miss him. i know i violate my own rules but i texted him..he started crossfit on tuesday and i wanted to check in and see if he liked it (he did). every day i ask myself the same question: "if i had to choose between him and being a single, independent woman which would i choose?" and every day so far, the answer has been, "him." so obviously, i really do have a problem, issues that need to be resolved (not that that wasn't already obvious). on sunday, i did spend time with a guy - the one i refer to as "douchey dude" and boy was he! even if the boy and i don't wind up together, i am NOT going to wind up with him. he is...a piece of work to put it nicely. but, anyways.....**

may 1 - may 31

mother's day - sunday 5.11
memorial day - monday 5.26

town council - thursday 5.1
clean the communal refrigerator - friday 5.2
clean my desk/surfaces - friday 5.9
county rec advisory committee - thursday 5.8
pay day - friday 5.9
unrba - wednesday 5.21
cog - thursday 5.22 ?
pay day - friday 5.23
office closed - monday 5.26

- find a new dentist that is on my insurance
- make appointments: lady doctor (must go this month!), dentist, eye doctor
- returns: michael's, target, walgreens, loft
- exchange green ladder for one with a slimmer silhouette going to keep it b/c a) i can't find my receipt, b) i've made space in the closet & c) it has the handy holes on top for my hammer, screwdriver, etc.
- get work e-mail on my phone
- cancel home internet service & free myself from time warner cable (!!) i did it! bill needs to be adjusted & paid and then i'm free!
- make a sizeable payment on account
- 5.10 revert to envelope system
- take a load to my parents' (including big ladder)
- do some work at my parents' house
  * my room (is too much like a storage unit these days!)
  * my bathroom (patch holes, sand walls, re-paint, repair/stain/paint vanity cabinet, add hardware, soft textures)
  * computer room (find animal control ordinance research, clear out my stuff to store in my room)
- take a load to goodwill and/or durham rescue mission
- take a load to the dry cleaners
- diy wreath for entry (i did finally buy the yarn & felt!)
- diy no-sew curtains for my bedroom (i'm trying to decide if i want to keep them short or go with 96" panels)
- read & return historic preservation book
- daily challege: 30 overhead squats with pvc, 30 butterfly sit ups, 30 push ups, minimum 10 minutes of stretching/mobility
- weekly challenge: go for a walk at least 2x
- quit eating out as much, including breakfast. get back to cooking a weekly breakfast, lunch and two dinners.- have the much-needed, serious conversation with the boy. i think we need a break. :\ did it...& we are temporarily not together
- church: attend contemporary worship and sunday school at least 2x
- shred fest
- adjust entry wall/gallery wall...it feels too empty.
- hang perspectives
- redo clothing storage in my bedroom: closet, drawers, underbed boxes
- read 1 book: either finish jeff bethke's jesus > religion that i started at the beach or alyssa's spoken for

hopefully my tax return payments will come and i can decide what to do with the money...i can either apply it towards my chase account (which is 0% interest until october) or go ahead and pay my car insurance in full (again) when it's due in july. or, i could pay the insurance in full and make a small payment on the account that could be supplemented by an even heftier payment from my paycheck. not the worst decision to have to make - since there'll be money to "play around with". :)

...is it friday yet?!

i've been thinking about blogging more. lately (as in the past year +), it's become a place for me to keep my lists of things to do and things to try to do. not that anyone really reads it anyways, but i liked it better when i wrote about more than just lists. although being able to strikethrough what's being accomplished as it's getting done and seeing it on the screen can be quite satisfying...

so, yes. i cancelled cable & turned in the equipment last friday. i am seriously considering dropping internet too. it's still a time suck. do i really need it? m-f 8-5 i'm at work with internet access, so i'm able to pay bills online and check personal e-mail if i need to. i just feel like going "off the grid" so to speak...reading more, getting more done. something to think about for sure. they did drop my payment down to $30 after taxes/fees, so it's better, but $0 would be even better. ;)

last friday - sunday i went down to emerald isle to see my BFF adina. it was fun - great to see my little one! and i'll be headed back in september, after labor day. she won't be able to get any more weekends off this summer and i'm not really good with tourists...boys were cute, we went to the beach, i bought gifts for my grandma and sister's still-in-the-oven-cooking baby, AND found a new tasty alcoholic beverage: cider and blue moon, with or without the orange slice. it's right smooth! :) i did drink more alcoholic beverages, over a longer period of time, than i have in at least 3 months. ...if my 21 year old self (heck, even 26!) could see my 30 year old self now! lol.

this is a pretty light week. i got my taxes mailed yesterday - sent them certified just to be certain. should get a return from both state and federal - although the state return is < $10!, thankfully if my math is right, i'll get much more than that back from the feds. i'm trying to decide if i should hold it and pay my car insurance in june, in full; or, use it to pay a chunk/almost pay off my credit card. it's a toss up because i really enjoy not having a monthly car insurance payment. plus, if i cancel internet too then i'm only down to 4 payments other than rent. and once my credit cards are done, then i'll be left with 2: cell phone and power, combined $130.00. that would be awesome!!

it all wraps back around to money. and i apologize. if you must know, i'm also struggling with my romantic relationship but it's just easier to talk about money (if my 26 year old self could hear my 30 year old self!)!

take it easy...

i did it! :) i've been stressing over cable for more than 6 months and now the stress has ceased! first it was whether or not to get it or not, since i had previously been living with free cable (in the same building, which was weird). so i decided to get it. but after 6 months of paying up to wahzoo for cable and internet, i finally pulled the trigger. i'm going to be off on friday anyways - setting out for a girls' weekend - so i'm free to turn in my box/remote/etc. i was going to ditch internet too...since their basic is so reasonably ($15.00 + tax/fees) and without my bundle, my internet (only one step above basic) would've been $40+...but the rep brought my after-tax/fee payment down to a "reasonable" rate. i'm very excited.

next step: buy a digital antenna for ~ $30. :)

in other news, tax day is in a week. i'm halfway-ish done. i'm also planning on mailing them out on thursday/friday. and it would appear that for the first time in YEARS, that i should get a little chunk back. i was just hoping to not have to pay more this year, so a refund was unexpected. and that's just federal, so far. :)

happy tuesday..hope you're not as tired as i am!

april 2014

palm sunday 4/13

good friday 4/18

easter 4/20

earth day 4/22

 

gun range 4/5

get my hair done! 4/5

off work! 4/11

girls' weekend 4/11-13

my grandma's birthday 4/18

 

presentation to town council 4/3

p/u rezoning signs 4/4

wynngate hoa meeting 4/8

easter egg hunt, county greenway technical committee meeting, count recreation advisory committee meeting, planning board...all 4/10

 

- be on time (8:00)
- hoard my time -- summertime's coming!
- save $20/week ($100/month) -- put in money drawer
- sizeable payment on acct (+/- $150)
- returns: anthro (do i really NEED 3 pairs of black linen pants?), sears (exchange tees)
- mail my tax returns (due by 4/15)- bag & tag items to donate
- take donations to goodwill, durham rescue mission
- dry cleaners
- diy wreath for front door (spring/summer) i got the felt & yarn(!!)
- diy curtains for bedroom
- redo gallery wall in entry
- adjust art placement following furniture rearranging from march
- take remaining out-of-season wares and decor to m/d's

- #1 thing to accomplish this month?! CANCEL cable & internet...highway robbery i tell ya! i'm reluctant to cancel internet but since it's a bundle, my after cancellation rate would be $40/month which is ridiculous for 2nd to the bottom internet. i did it!...hooray!

march 2014

• st. patrick's day - monday 3/17
• mom's birthday - wednesday 3/19
• jenn's birthday party - saturday 3/22
• beana's birthday - sunday 3/23
   
• be on time (8:00 not 8:15)
• hoard my time (vacation & sick)
• update zoning maps
• continue to save money each pay period
• make sizeable payment on account (+$200)
• make returns: office depot, sears, j.jill
• finish hanging art (gallery wall in entry, dining room, etc.)
• diy wreath for spring
• take donations to goodwill, durham rescue mission - piles made. just need to bag & tag.
• take winter clothes to m/d's
• set up filing system, cabinets, etc.
• take heavy coats to m/d's
• redo coat closet with additional storage
• diy curtains for my room
• read & ship historic preservation book
• read & ship landscape architecture magazine
• dry cleaners
• challenge: 10 15 push ups/day + 20 30 sit ups/day + 30 squats/day

february 2014

does the shortest month of the year deserve a shorter goal list? nah. here are my hopes for february.

work
* be on time
* hoard my time (vac, sick, comp)

wallet
* continue to save money (in anticipation of opening a savings account)
* pay more than the minimum for my credit account
* patience. i want to knock out my credit debt first (at least the small balance) but i know i'm supposed to stay diligent in saving for my emergency fund ($1K).
* continue to think about ditching cable - i pay almost $90 for internet/cable. ridiculous! ...and downgrading my internet. it's all about the benjamins - at least when you're starting out!
* returns: target, office depot, etc.

home
* finish hanging art
* diy under-cabinet lighting
* diy new wreath for entry
* take "leftovers" to m/d's
* set up filing system, file cabinets, etc.
* tackle the laundry room
* tackle the coat closet
i bought some "tall" cabinets from target last weekend and redid my room, except for hanging art. i still need to tweak some things but i think it's almost there..almost done. :)
body
* 10 reps/day push ups
* 20 reps/day air squats
* 30 reps/day sit ups
* 5 min. stretching/day (minimum)

fun
* super bowl party with young pros/young marrieds
* family dinner to celebrate my dad's birthday - i'm making boston cream pie cupcakes

other
* read & ship: historic preservation book, landscape architecture magazine
* dry cleaners
* more donations to durham rescue mission pile is growing, as is one for goodwill!
* valentine's day - friday 2/14
* two year anniversary of our 2nd first date - monday 2/24

it may be hump day and my work day is far from over, but man! i am definitely looking forward to the weekend - especially since it's a long one! what makes this weekend even sweeter? the extra pay check coming my way on friday. since i'm a list-maker, here's what i'm hoping to accomplish friday through monday:
1. open a traditional (branch-based) savings account
2. take cardboard/boxes/big plastics to recycling area
3. trips to rescue mission/goodwill, dry cleaners
4. take remaining items to my parents' house: art, ladder, empty bins, big ladder, etc.
5. invest in a decent shredder
6. invest in a file cabinet (2-drawer)
7. trip to staples: haning file folders, manila file folders, assorted clips, etc.
8. sort/purge/organize: low desser, last tub, work nook
9. hardcore clean session
    a) empty cabinets & drawers / wipe down shelves, doors, etc.
    b) reorganize cabinets & drawers
    c) vacuum
    d) clean bathroom / install new shower head
    e) attach ironing center to wall in lauy room
    f) install additional shelving: laundry room, coat closet
    g) basically - fix laundry room to function better
    h) miscellaneous things that need to be done...
10. hang out with my favorite guy
11. catch up on sleep, laundry, general nonsense
12. meal plan / cook 

i know the list is hefty but i firmly believe it's all doable. i just need discipline and stamina. here are my good intentions for january 2014!

work
* enjoy time off: 1/1 new year's day & 1/20 mlk, jr. day
* be on time, more often
* finish hand-drawn map project
* hoard my vacation hours
wallet
* open savings acct (need at least $300) - emergency fund
* make a sizeable payment on one of my accounts
* returns: belk (makeup), target (wall nails)
body
* 12 for 12 monthly exercise challenge, month #1: reps/day - 10 push ups, 20 air squats, 30 sit ups
* get more sleep! go to bed earlier!: 10:30 bedtime sunday - thursday & 11:30 bedtime friday & saturday
home
* finish hanging art
* diy under cabinet lighting (command strips & string lights)
* diy wreath for front door
* shelving/redo laundry room
* invest in a GOOD shredder
* invest in a file cabinet (or 2)
* sort/purge/organize
fun!/other
* bowling league starts monday 1/6! not enough people + delays so N & I asked for refunds* girls' day out @ shen yun (chinese dancing)* read & ship landscape architecture magazine
* read & ship historic preservation book
* take a load of in-season clothes to the dry cleaners

i have a feeling 2014 is going to be a really great year. starting fresh..take a deep breath..and dive right in! it's my life - no one else is going to live it for me!

two thousand fourteen
financial health:
* FPU Baby Step #1: $1K in the bank
* 0% on Chase ends in October: Pay off balance before interest kicks in
* pay off LLC balance by December
* save, in addition to the Emergency Fund, to be able to pay car insurance in full again in July
* in addition to EF, put at least $500 into a separate accountphysical health:
* 12 for 12 Monthly Exercise Challenges
* train/run in at least 2 races
* cut down/eliminate soda consumption
* drink more H2O!
* quit (for real) & celebrate
* lose some flab/10-15 pounds
* go to bed earlier! Get more sleep!

spiritual health:
* attend worship service and sunday school at least 2x/month
* read 4 Jesus-centered books (that I already own)
* add a devotional to my life?

love life
* find more time for him
* cook more
* kiss more
* more overnights (just sleep people!)

general stuff
* read/return HP book & LA magazine to their owner
* redo/restyle my old bathroom at my parents' house
* sort/purge/organize what's left of mine at their house
** file cabinet?
** additional shelving?
* sort/purge/organize more of my stuff
** file cabinet(s)?
** add shelving to laundry "room"
** adequate storage in coat closet
** adequate storage in my room/closet
* donate to Goodwill, Durham Rescue Mission
* hoard my vacation/sick days

"a year from now, you'll wish you started today." -karen lamb