Thursday, December 3, 2020

December.

SIGH. Just one more month in what has seemed like the longest year ever. We still don't know who is going to be inaugurated in January. MSM has declared a victor but with numerous lawsuits and recounts in play, there will be no official answer until all votes of the electoral college are counted and certified/confirmed. The registration date for the May 2021 exam has been pushed back to January, so I have about a month to get my house projects done before I return to studying and being focused on my exam. I have already started to develop my plan for preparing for the next exam -- reading schedule, quizzes, etc. So let's get into it...


GOAL: FIRST FLOOR
- Add a fresh coat of "Extra White" to the first floor (dining room, living room and kitchen)
- Add vertical white stripes to main wall in dining room
- Add horizontal white stripes to bar wall in living room
- Clean the floors (living room & dining room)
- Re-lay rugs when floors are dry (living room & dining room)
- Rehang rods and drapery panels (living room & dining room)
- Rearrange furniture (living room & dining room)
- Bring down Christmas from the attic
- Decorate for Christmas!
- Install anchors and hang mirrors downstairs
1. Isabella: Fireplace wall
2. Round: Above the bar
3. Diverging Diamonds: back to its original spot in the dining room (on the striped wall)

GOAL: OFFICE
- Empty the office
- Fill holes
- Add a fresh coat of "Extra White" in office & closet
- Add white stripes to main wall in office
- Rehang rod and drapery panels
- Assemble new desk and arrange furniture
- Hang art/+ 
- Organize closet

GOAL: GUEST BEDROOM
- Sort/organize/purge all the "crap" in the guest bedroom
- Have my mom come get my tall white bookcase to take back to my childhood bedroom (it's a nice bookcase that I don't want to donate in case I want it later)
- Hang art/+
- Work on filing and updating my files (in office closet)

12/24 - 12/28  HOLIDAY + Wrap up projects
- Christmas Holiday + Office Closed
- Add a fresh coat of "Extra White" to other areas of house (rest of the kitchen, pantry and staircase)
- Paint Isabella mirror black! 
- Gather end-of-year donations for the Durham Rescue Mission

12/31  YEAR'S END 
- New Year's Eve

OTHER
- Submit my parking receipts for reimbursement
- Wrap and ship presents (to eastern NC) + send Christmas cards 
- Tally up successes and failures for the year
- Look ahead to 2021 and make the "big" goals for the new year (debt freedom, pass my exam, fitness goals; etc.)


Wednesday, November 4, 2020

November.


I did not post anything for October...I did a draft and then moved on. Just under 2 weeks until my exam, still dealing with stupid restrictions and working towards and through the election...it just didn't seem worth it. So, here we are with just two months left in 2020, I am moving towards a period of reflection and planning for the future which feels more unknown than usual, but I still have hope for the future. I'm hoping this next month will bring a renewed sense of motivation and completion of goals and tasks. 

Important Dates
- (S)election Day - Tuesday 11/3
- Veterans Day - Tuesday 11/11
- Exam - Tuesday 11/17
- Thanksgiving Day - Thursday 11/26

Things To Do
- Pack up Halloween decorations
- Unpack and decorate for Harvest/Thanksgiving
- Fill old holes
- Touch up painting
- Hang new gallery wall in Living Room (I moved the Travel/Architecture-themed pieces including my spoon collection up to the Guest Room and it looks great!)
- Tweak the Office 
- Order new mirror for my bedroom and finish hanging art/+ in Master Bedroom
- Sort/organize/purge/shred...I have at least a dozen boxes/bags/storage containers to sort and so much to get rid of that I've been dragging along for the past several years
- Do another round of donations to the Durham Rescue Mission
- Finish the Guest Room (hang art/mirrors) and closet (need to finish organizing; in October, I reconfigured the shelving/hanging components using what I had)
- Clean the floors and re-lay rugs in Dining and Living Rooms
- Enjoy time with family and friends
- Start working out again now that I'm starting to feel better (cold)


Thursday, September 10, 2020

September.

Hello September. As we move into the last quarter of one of the craziest years in my lifetime, it began much like every other month since March - heavy. This time, it was personal. I was thrust into a personal crisis which became my focus as I contemplated what happened prior to and during the situation...I am thankful that the outcome ended in my favor. However, a casualty of the crisis is the loss of a 20-year friendship/relationship. I trusted God through the whole thing, believing he was in control and hoping it would all work out. It did. I woke up today almost light as a feather, even with limited sleep, yet excited to have a good day. So far, so good. I hope that it is a sign that this will be a good month.

An update on my journey to not be a slave to my lender. Last month, I essentially used all of my points on two credit cards to get gift cards as Christmas gifts. As a result, I am done with my Christmas gift purchasing except for my nephew. :) There are a couple non-gift card gifts to give and I always challenge myself to get my Christmas shopping done early so as to not over-spend. As far as my debt, last month I refinanced my mortgage to lower my monthly payment by $300. Yay for getting more money out of my paychecks. I am focused on paying off my credit cards. I am down to just over $1,000 on one and plan to have it paid off by the end of October with the expectation that I will close that account by the end of 2020 or in January 2021. I also need to close my 3rd account that has been paid in full for well over a year...I don't have my printer set up, so I've been lazy in writing and submitting the letter to close the account. When those accounts are closed, I have just over $5,000 in debt in another account. The plan is to get that paid off in 2021. After that, I will work on paying back my parents - hoping to do that within 1 year as well (that balance exceeds $5,000). Then, the goal will be paying down my mortgage. I am ready, finally, to make the changes to my spending habits, change them to saving habits and tackle the debt and gain my financial freedom.

Other goals for September:
STUDY...my exam is quickly approaching
Exercise
Close out my home projects
Keep up with my beauty routines...other than masking, I am behind :(
Quit staying up so late...
Get back into cooking my meals...I went off track last week and my eczema told me just how it felt about those choices. :(

Hope everyone has a good month. :)






Image source: every-tuesday.com



Tuesday, August 25, 2020

An awakening is coming...

And it's not just political.

Here we are, 6 months into the worst time in our country's history in my lifetime. China released their lab-made virus into the world, bringing many countries to their knees and the most of the United States continues to cower in fear of a super flu. When this virus was released and spread throughout the world, fear was a common response. I know I had a little bit of fear - mostly about whether I would be able to find the things that I need to get along and thankfully I was able to get what I needed because it was a long time before you could even find toilet paper and paper towels, there was a wait list for food subscription services (so glad I joined Butcher Box when I did because they had a wait list that lasted well into the summer!); hand soap and sanitizer products are finally being restocked on the shelves, and the overall "fear" seems to have lessened,  at least in the sense that people seem less stressed. It seems as if people are finally waking up to what is really going on -- I certainly know I have learned so much in the past few months...my mind has been blown repeatedly. This newfound knowledge includes human trafficking, how deep and wide the circle of pedophilia, corruption, and satanism runs in our country and worldwide (Epstein was the tip of the iceberg, and quite frankly, fairly tame compared to things I've read and seen), and just how much corruption runs rampant within our own government. 

Let's talk about politics for a moment...There are people literally lighting our cities on fire, murdering people in broad daylight and local governments literally gutting police departments across our great country. A majority of these cities are run, and have been run for decades, by democrats. The democrats had their national convention last week and this party will not denounce the violence, rioting, looting, domestic terrorism that reigns in these cities. They will not arrest these people and hold them accountable for their actions. Most of these so-called activists are young people raised, quite frankly, to be buttheads. This occurs when parents don't discipline their children, teach them right from wrong, try to be their friend instead of their parent. There is a video online of young white 20-somethings raising their fists and shouting in the face of a seated woman, in the name of black lives matter. Part of that same video is a young black woman shouting in the face of a young white man seated at a table outside a restaurant, badgering him to put up his fist or be declared a white supremacist. She and the crowd continued to mock and intimidate him even after he put his mask on. If THIS is the kind of country you want to live in, then by all means, vote for the party of empty promises. The party that withheld financial assistance for its citizens in the name of adding excessive non-virus related demands to the bill. The party that wants to keep schools closed, churches locked, and businesses closed while the retail giants continue to get richer each and every day. The party that supports killing babies that survive abortions. The party that continues to put the divide in racial divide. This is the party filled with hate, although they boast tolerance. The party that WILL NOT DENOUNCE the violence, looting, mobs, bullying, and further destruction of American cities. By and large, they are the most intolerant people I know...their way or the highway and you be damned if you don't fall in line. You may not like our current president - I certainly don't always like his approach but applaud his no-fear approach to the job. We didn't elect him to be a politician and he has lived up to those expectations. He has done more for our country in nearly 4 years than his opponent has done in over 40 years. A record I will support. Certainly, republicans are not perfect --- this was especially obvious at the list of unsealed documents released after G. Maxwell's supposed arrest. There are 100 names of local, state and federal officials on a list of mostly men arrested for child trafficking, molestation, pedophilia and general crimes against children and women; and it is equally split between democrats and republicans. I had to take a break from that research because I was so disgusted by the evil that lives among us - and the biased corruption of our justice system. Offering mere months of probation for crimes against a child is heinous and that judge should be disbarred (that one happened in NC by the way). 

Well, it is time for people to be independent thinkers. To push back against what mainstream media (MSM) shoves in our faces -- they are told what to report and do as they are told. They are the ones that helped caused paranoia and fear when news of the virus was released to the public. It is time for us to rise up and be the voice for the voiceless - the men, women and children being bought and sold into slavery (which extends to work containment camps, sex slaves, pornography). It is time to stand up to the elites and take back our freedoms, to say "no more", and to require they stand trial for the crimes they have committed. It is time for the censorship and so-called cancel culture to take a hike. The truth is coming out and it is time for us to accept that this world is not what we think it is. It is time for us to TAKE OFF THE MASKS, to get closer than 6 feet and demand our businesses be reopened. The audacity of our mayors and governors to pick and choose what can open and what must remain shuttered in the name of "science" is beyond treasonous. I know that in NC, ABC stores were considered essential from day 1 of our shutdown while churches, restaurants, small retail businesses, gyms, service-related businesses were considered nonessential. Even now, a restaurant can serve alcohol, the ABC stores are open, breweries/distilleries are open yet bars remain shuttered. Traditional gyms are shuttered while CrossFit gyms are open. Even today, you can't find a weight online without paying an arm and a leg for it...I finally found a 3-pc kettlebell set from Kohl's that should arrive this week.

This is a virus with a
99% survival rate. It's time to stop acting out of fear and use common sense. I know so many intelligent people and I have watched them lose their minds over this virus. It's a virus with particles that are smaller than the weave of your homemade mask. You know the cure for a virus? It's not a vaccine -- the same vaccine owned by one of the richest men in the world, being rushed through the testing process and filled with absolutely grotesque ingredients. A healthy immune system is the cure for a virus. Eat a balanced diet, exercise, get adequate sleep each night, get outside, wash your hands, don't touch your face and don't make out with strangers.  

Friday, July 31, 2020

August.

August-Harley-Quinn-and-co - Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church

The year is flying by...so much has happened this year that it is kind of a relief we are past the halfway point. This month officially kicks my focused studying into high gear...just 3.5 months until test day (just before Thanksgiving).



Goals for August 2020

 Beauty + Health
- Do a face mask at least 3x a week, each week = Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings
- Use facial tools much more often!, at least 3x a week: zit zapper, zit sucker, exfoliator, dermaplane, tweezers, etc.)
- Use creams and serums consistently
- Walk + WOD at least 3x a week. 4x is good, 5x is best. Walk at least 30 minutes followed by a Home WOD, alternating between body weight and weight training
- Continue going to bed earlier so I'm getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night
- 31 Day Challenge: No HFCS soda + No bread/gluten + No drive-thru or take out meals + Drink more water + Reduce Ensure Intake to help with bloating (i.e., actually have breakfast!)

Home
- Finish guest room, guest closet, office, office closet, and master bedroom 7/31-8/2
- Move Diverging Diamonds mirror from DR to above bar in LR 8/8
- Move Isabella mirror from stairs to DR 8/8
- Hang metal daisy trio on stairs 8/8
- Add white flower 3D art in guest bathroom 8/9
- Add art to master bathroom 8/1-2
- CLEAN master bathroom 8/1
- Bag/tag clothing donations for DRM 7/31-8/2
- Pack up all the clothes/shoes/accessories for F|W and S|S 7/31-8/2

Other
- Refi Closing 8/24
- Send in parking receipts
- The countdown begins to 11/17 aka TEST DAY!!


Tuesday, July 7, 2020

July.

♔ JULY PLEASE BE GOOD | Hello july, Welcome july, July quotes
The year is officially half over and what a year it has been - definitely one for the record books. The past few months has exposed A LOT...from the total bias of mass media, hypocritical actions by our politicians (from the local level all the way to the top), and even just regular folks. People I know that I've always considered intelligent and sensible have appeared to lose their minds over this whole thing, which to me is a more highly contagious flu. They tout "science and data" like it's gold and honestly, I've done the research and the so-called experts can't even make up their minds and keep flip-flopping, which only furthers the political and other conspiracy theories. It's just a really crazy time...time future generations will read about in the history books.

As for me, I completed the 6-month probationary period for my new position with more than half of it spent working mostly from home. I was able to transfer my certification exam from May to November thanks to the virus. In the next week, I hope to finish my seasonal chores, finish the guest room and finally hang my favorite pieces...so that I can start studying (after I mail off my taxes). That will allow be a solid 4 months of preparation and studying for my exam. *Crossing fingers*


Goals for July 2020



Beauty
- Do a mask 2-3 times a week (alternating between BC charcoal, R+F and other clay masks)
- Use zit zapper, zit sucker, exfoliating tools 2-3 times a week
- Use creams and serums more consistently
- Get a spray tan (I think since salons are open, this is possible and probably good to do it sooner rather than later)

Home
- Finish the guest room (clean out/organize/hang art/figure out storage, etc.)
- Finish the office (hang art/figure out closet storage/etc.)
- Finish cleaning the windows
- Move mirrors (diamond mirror moves to above the bar and large square mirror will move to the dining room)
- Purge! Donate! Get rid of a lot of stuff!
- Clean the dining room from top to bottom including chandelier, floors and windows
- Clean and rearrange the living room from top to bottom, including floors and windows
- Hang string lights on back patio
- Hang mini string lights in master bedroom ("mood lighting") ;-)

Fitness/Health
Gyms remain closed so Home WODs continue
- Walk (30 min./2 mi. minimum daily)
- Home WODs at least 5 days a week (alternating between body weight and weight training)
- Consistently take my B12 vitamins 
- Consistently get at least 7 hours of sleep each night (I need to be in bed by 11pm at the latest, more regularly)
- Start weaning myself off the bad habits (soda consumption, ordering so much take out/delivery, etc.) and restarting good habits (meal prepping on Sunday, increasing water and non-soda intake, etc.)

Other
- Sister's birthday
- Nephew turns 6
- Do and mail my taxes! (High importance*)
- Finalize refinancing my mortgage (hopefully losing my PMI!)
- Start going back into the office all day, beginning 7/22

Monday, June 1, 2020

June.

If ever there was a word to describe what the first part of 2020 have been like, it would be extraordinary. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines this word as "going beyond what is usual, regular or customary; exceptional to a very marked event; and, nonrecurring." Synonyms include abnormal, uncommon, peculiar, unique, and exceptional.

The "end of the world" virus erupted, putting everything on hold for months. This virus struck fear in so many people, caused massive unemployment, churches and schools closed their doors, and businesses were shuttered (unless deemed "essential". Those fortunate to still have a job (like me) were forced to work from home, losing daily contact with our families and friends. To say it was an exhaustive, stressful time would be an understatement. In May, it finally seemed like things were headed in the right direction, normal was coming back - albeit slowly, but coming nonetheless. Then, the world sank. 

On May 25, a police officer held his knee on a man's neck for 9 minutes in Minneapolis and contributed to his death. A man few knew but will never be forgotten. Another case of a Black man killed by a White officer. People were rightly shaken, brought to their knees being filled with emotions. Emotions ranged from anger, sadness, rage, empathy...and some just indescribable. 

I support the rights to gather, to protest, to march, to raise voices in the his name and in the name of change. Unfortunately, I believe mass media, social media platforms, politicians, and political activists are using his name to push their own agendas. This should be a time of unity, a time for reflection, and action to bring about real change. Instead, the division among people only grows deeper and wider. 

I can't believe we are still here - still living in a country where people are judged by the color of their skin, their appearance, disabilities, etc. People's actions: where they put their effort, work ethic, how they treat others should be the basis of judgement. It is unfortunate and sad that the actions of few have completely destroyed...everything. Businesses that were beginning to come back from being shuttered by the fear of the coronavirus may not be able to recover - some people have lost everything. The riots and violence destroyed businesses, taken innocent lives, and increased bullying, hate and shaming...and it's inexcusable. I believe we are all children of God, made in His image, and should be treated as such - to be treated reasonably with love, kindness, compassion, and just general human decency. 


I hope that this will be a season of positive change, but I'm not sure that will be the case.

20 Ideas: June Social Media Posts for Chambers


As is the standard, here's what I hope to get done this month...

Beauty
- Do a mask 2-3 times a week
- Use zit zapper, zit sucker, exfoliating tool 2-3 times a week
- Use creams and serums more consistently
- Get my hair done
- Sleep. This is the hardest beauty goal -- I am a night owl. But, I'm tired of having dark circles and my parents telling me I look tired. The common theme in my life -- tired.
- Now that salons are open -- get my eyebrows waxed/shaped!

Home
- Finish master bedroom (closet, art, etc.)
- Do the guest room (clean out/organize/hang art/figure out storage/etc.)
- Touch up painting and repairs (ceiling (DR, LR), walls, doors and trim)
- Kitchen island project
- Clean the windows inside and out
- Paint the dining room
- Move mirrors (diverging diamonds will move from DR to above the bar, large square mirror will move from the stairs to DR)
- Power wash porch and patio
- Have a yard sale and/or take a lot of items to be donated

Fitness/Health
Since the gyms remained closed...I need to become more disciplined about home workouts.
- Walk: minimum 10 miles a week
- WOD at Home 2-3 times a week: weight training and body weight programming
- Consistently take my B12 vitamins (3 per day, 3 days a week)
- Lady doc appointment (gonna get my cyst drained/removed!)

Other
- My birthday
- Father's day
- Wash and detail my car
- Do my taxes!

Monday, May 4, 2020

May.


Transparent May Flowers Png - Printable Watercolor Floral Wreath ...


May The 4th Be With You! There seems to be enough craziness and shadiness (hello NC legislature) to go around, so I'm going to keep this light. I'm coming off a high of paying all my bills for the month, along with crossing off a couple home projects off the list today, so I figured it was as good a time as any to write down my goals for the month.

Beauty
- Do a mask 2-3 times a week
- Use zit zapper, zit sucker, exfoliating tool 2-3 times a week
- Use creams and serums more consistently
- Use $30 credit from BeautyCounter (it expires this month)
- GET MORE SLEEP!! This is especially important was the city works towards reopening to the public and transitioning away from teleworking as we move into the latter part of the month and into early summer. I have been staying up way too late, and usually sleeping in which means I'm staying logged on and working later into the evenings...a trend that needs to cease.

Home
- Have thermostat moved on first floor
- Get wall switch for garage door fixed
- Finish hanging art/decor: master bathroom, master bedroom, guest bedroom, office, and elsewhere
- Annual thorough cleaning of the floors downstairs (Memorial Day Weekend)
- Touch up painting and repairs (ceiling, walls, doors, and trim)
- Tackle Hoarder's Paradise AKA the Guest Room: completely empty the room and closet except for sleeper sofa; dust/clean/vacuum; hang art (I have a plan for over the sofa to incorporate my travel-themed pieces including spoon racks); organize off-season storage; organize the "stuff"; purge as much as possible.
- Clean the windows (many look worse since the HOA had our houses power washed a couple weeks ago -- better notice so that I could have removed the screens would have been a huge help with the spottiness)
- Power wash porch and patio (my new power washer - one with real power - should be here next week!)
- Move mirrors downstairs and find a home for my "Skull Twins"

Sweat
- Walk! I'd like to do at least 10 miles a week -- I really like walking around my old neighborhood because I can do two big loops and log at least 3.5 miles at a time.
- Home workouts will continue as gyms remain closed...even if they reopen this month, it's likely I won't go right away -- it'll probably be a lot like January 1! I'd like to get in home WODs 2-3 times a week...alternating between body weight, weight training and stretching.

Other
- Mother's Day (I hope we'll be able to gather together...I haven't seen my sister and her family AT ALL!)
- Memorial Day Weekend
- Wash and detail my car
- Plant flowers in the back, and maybe the front; replace flowers in pot on front porch? I got a really great (sarcasm) sunburn on my back for my efforts. 
- My brother-in-law's birthday is this month too
- Do my taxes!

Friday, April 3, 2020

April.


APRIL-HEADER-2 - Space Coast Iceplex
It's April 3 and we are still in limbo over the COVID-19 pandemic. We are still under the stay-at-home order issued by the governor, effective March 30 for 30 days...set to sunset on April 29.  Given the way this virus is presented in the media and the way information and data seems to change on a daily basis (and a lot of it contradicts itself which is only leading to more fear and paranoia for a lot of people), I would expect the governor to extend the order to further limit our freedoms and continue to keep people out of work, businesses would remain closed and continue to murder our economy (he is a democrat after all). I think if you look at California, where you would expect to be a hot spot like New York...and they (being a liberal state) will tell you that the early and aggressive response is why the numbers of positive cases and deaths are low. If you allow yourself to use your mind, thousands of Chinese flew into that state on a daily basis post-outbreak in China. They brought the virus with them...it was there, California just didn't know what it was and probably chocked it up to an aggressive form of the flu, and it was treated as such prior to January 21. They walked around with it, exposed thousands of people who now most likely developed antibodies and wouldn't get it. Now, I'm not saying social distancing and washing your hands frequently aren't good mitigation strategies, but to shut it all down, I don't agree with whatsoever. I'm not a fan of government assistance and being dependent upon the government to live...and I have - I collected unemployment insurance for two+ years during the Great Recession of 2010-2012. It sucked...it was nice that it was available to me, but I would much rather work to support myself, my home, my lifestyle and I think 99% of people would agree. I think we should let the order sunset and slowly start putting people back to work, reopen restaurants and retail and restart our economy. Obviously, schools are out until May 15, so you would probably have a lot of parents still working from home over those two weeks or so...so it is possible to have a staggered start. But, I'm not politician and what I think doesn't really have weight.

**UPDATE: April 6, 2020. Prometric has cancelled my exam. I got an email at 12:30 this morning. They're supposed to email more info in 7-10 business days. 7-10 days?! The anticipation and anxiety levels have peaked with the unknown. I've been stressing about this exam far more than COVID-19, but I will admit the idea of sitting in a little cubicle with 20 other people for 4 hours with the highly contagious virus running around was definitely giving me pause about whether to skip this one and try to take it again in November. According to Prometric's website, they are closed in my area until May 17, which was the last day of our testing window. I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I'll just keep studying until I know more.

***UPDATE: April 16, 2020. I contacted APA because I'd heard some chatter in my online class about transferring to the Fall exam. I did it. I cancelled my appointment for the Spring, now Summer, exam. I have to re-register when the window of opportunity opens (beginning June 1). SO, I have a few months to get my house in order, figuratively and literally. Then, I will begin again...this is my last chance under this cycle to get it right, to pass. This is so important to me, that I need to give it all I can. I'm sitting next to a room filled to the brim with "stuff" that needs to be sorted, organized, donated, sold and/or thrown away. So, I'll be taking the next couple of months to do just that - get my house in order. I'm unsure of how much longer I'll be working mostly from home, so it's a good idea to start sooner rather than later. I'm hoping to start tackling it this weekend.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

APRiL 2020

Sweat Goals
Walk around the neighborhood at least once a day (make at least 2 loops)
Home workouts at least three times a week - these can vary between body weight and weight training...
Other than heavier weights, a pull up bar and a treadmill, I have everything I need here at home.

Beauty Goals

Do a mask (charcoal, clay or other) at least once a week. I like switching between the clay/ACV mask and beautycounter's charcoal mask.
Use the zit zapper at least once a week (preferably twice).
Order the zit sucker from rodan + fields.
Use creams and serums more consistently.
GET MORE SLEEP!!! My ass needs to be in bed no later than 11pm each night...I have not been doing that and the constant dark circles under my eyes are the result...blah! I blame the Murder, She Wrote reruns on the Hallmark Channel that start at 11pm M-F.

April 3-5
Hang WOW mirror on the stairs
Rearrange/tweak the office...working from home in an "off" space is a little difficult
Wash all my linens...woke up in a sweaty mess Thursday morning
Study, study, study...Less than 45 days to go!


April 10-12
Good Friday
Easter Sunday

April 17-19
Finish cleaning the bathrooms (guest and master)
Rearrange furniture in master bedroom
Hang art/+ in master bedroom
Finish the office: hang art/+, organize closet, etc.
Start unpacking/organizing spring | summer wardrobe


April 24-26
Pack up fall | winter wardrobe
Work on guest room & closet: completely empty except for large pieces, clean, organize closet, hang art/+, etc.

Tuesday, February 25, 2020

March.

I had a really great intro but then it all changed. S*** hit the fan; this month has thrown "us all" into a chaotic panic. I use "us all" because other than buying toilet paper (I knew that when I needed it, there wouldn't be any) and stocking up on soup and ramen (I promptly ate the soup because I didn't feel like cooking), I haven't really bought into all the hype. It's not that I don't think Corona virus/COVID-19 is serious and problematic for our inept system to care for American citizens...but, when I look at the data, I just don't have fear. The truth is that the seasonal flu and pneumonia have a kill rate 7x higher than that of this virus. Illnesses with available medications and treatment protocols kill SEVEN TIMES MORE people than those who have died from COVID-19. 99.9% of the people who will have it, recover. Yes, a lot of it is unknown and that can be scary, but what we do know should quell the hysteria. Yes, if your grandparent gets it and they have a pre-existing condition, they are more likely to die from it than you. But, that is true for a lot of other illnesses, including the flu and pneumonia. The news just stated we had our first death in NC. 10,498 people have been tested, 504 have tested positive. That's less than 5% that have been tested having it...and with 1 death, that's 0.002. I understand wanting to keep the numbers low, so maybe that's the reason for the stay-at-home orders because a lot of people were assholes and not following the rules, thus making it worse for the rest of us. A sarcastic thanks goes out to all of you -- like the folks in CA and FL that were out on the beaches last weekend...very clearly more than 50 people. D****.

Don't even get me started on the bailout/stimulus bill....

Getting on with what I had planned for the month -- we can basically throw all of it out the window. We can try again in April. *eye roll*

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

February.


Related image

Priorities
Get the office ready for some heavy study sessions
Order/purchase mirrors for living room (above bar) and stairway


January 31 - February 2
got some stuff done but not enough; watched the Chiefs win the Super Bowl.



February 7-9

got a lot done except for going to church and studying. 

February 14-16
got a lot done except for going to church and studying.

February 21-23
meh. spent time with the guy (Friday), shopped with my mom (Saturday), and played racquetball with my mom (Sunday)

February 28 - March 1
Friday = gym after work (Y), meal plan/make grocery list
Saturday = clean the bathrooms; hang mirrors; grocery shopping; Lauren Daigle with my mom in G'boro
Sunday = STUDY


Other...
Cancel other PIF account
Call HVAC guy to move thermostat
Call garage opener guy
Call electrician about adding outlet in garage for freezer & updating some lighting
Pay HOA for Feb-June ($700)


Thursday, January 16, 2020

Mid-January Update


Image result for updateIt's about halfway through January. Since I am all about making this year one of the best ever, I thought I would start doing a mid-month check in to make sure I am staying on top of my monthly and yearly goals and intentions.

It's only been 2.5 weeks but I am going after my intention to be consumer debt free by the end of February, and have at least 3 of the 4 accounts closed by June. In order to do so, I essentially cashed in some investments left over from when my grandma passed. I didn't take everything at one time because I didn't want to blow it and have nothing to show for what she'd done for me. I'm glad I waited. Because as Dave Ramsey says: "Debt is not a math problem, it's a behavior problem." Isn't that the truth?!? So this year, I'm trying to be INTENTIONAL - not only when it comes to my finances, but also with every other area of my life. To be more mindful of how I spend my time and with whom I spend it. To be mindful of the limited days before my next attempt at the certification exam and to go all in on the effort -- lots to read! To be mindful of my emotional and physical health -- making the time to go to the gym and to rest, to read. With all the good things that happened at the end of last year to really set this year up for success, how can I not take these goals seriously?!

I've been at my new job for almost two weeks and I gotta say, being a newbie is HARD. It's been a long time since I've been new anywhere (over 7 years) and I'm in this weird head space. I went from being one person in a small town doing a bazillion things to being one in a zillion with not much to do (yet). I will say that I LOVE being downtown -- other than having to pay to park ($14 a day!), it's everything the small town was missing -- places to eat for lunch, GF options, things to do after work (hello happy hour), my bank is literally a skip away with the YMCA in between. I hope the 8-5 picks up and pushes the weirdness out.

**UPDATE Thursday, January 16: The only real update I have as of today is that I am SUPER close to having one of the two remaining credit cards PIF. I made my last $1,000.00 payment this morning, so I have less than $300 to go! Then, once that account has a zero balance, I will leave it along for 60-90 days and then go ahead and close the account. Because...two other accounts that are PIF and one has been just sitting there since September 2018 with a zero balance. Talk about LAZY! :( So, the goal is to get the first two closed by the end of February and then have this account closed by May.

I am gearing up for the long weekend. It will be the last long weekend until April, so I need to make the most of it! Hopefully I will be able to check a lot of tasks off my January list come Tuesday. :)

**UPDATE Friday, January 17: It's official! One account is closed. One down, one to go! :)

**UPDATE Friday, January 31: <$2,000 to pay on last account; mailed check to cover HOA dues for the next 5 months; shelled out $$$ for a new exam prep course & books.

Friday, January 10, 2020

New Year, New Decade

Image result for 2020more reading, less scrolling.
more social, less media.
more celebration, less comparison.
more prayer, less grumbling.
more rejoicing, less ruminating.
more purpose, less deadlines.
more moments, less stuff. 



It's hard to believe the new year has begun -- and a new decade! The end of 2019 was pretty fruitful and I was/am excited for the arrival of 2020. Everything is really starting to come together and it's looking like 2020 is going to be a great year...at least the first part anyways. :)

My goals for the new year are mostly the same as I seem to make every year, but so much has been happening that it feels like it will *actually* happen this year! These goals include becoming debt free (except for my house), passing my certification exam, conquering "Murph", reading a book a month, and staying on top of my household chores. Oh, and finding a good guy to spend time with because as much as I don't "mind" being single, I am tired of wasting my time on the wrong ones.

JANUARY - JUNE 2020
1. Pay car insurance in full
2. Close two credit accounts
3. Pay off balances on other two credit accounts by end of February (thanks Grandma!)
4. Close fourth account (let it have $0 balance for 60-90 days before closing)
5. Conquer "Murph" in May
6. Pass my certification exam in May (STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!)
7. Have a garage sale (& promptly donate whatever doesn't sell)
8. Pay HOA for February - June (funds hadn't rolled through yet for January payment)

BIRTHDAYS
- Dad (February)
- Mom (March)
- Bestie (March)
- BIL (May)
- Me (June)

JULY - DECEMBER 2020
TBD

OTHER GOALS...
a. Read at least 1 book each month (studying counts?!)
b. Attend church regularly (Saturdays?)
c. Get sweaty/burn calories at least 5 days a week (my gym, racquetball with Mom until it's warm enough/light enough for tennis), YMCA after work)
d. PURGE A LOT: shredding, throwing away, donating or selling! I have WAY TOO MUCH stuff!
e. Call garage guy to fix wall control for my garage door
f. Call someone to come tweak my shower (trade the tiled wall for glass)
g. Get my personal e-mail inbox under control!

Purging seems to be the theme for 2020: Purge the debt, the excess clothing, accessories, home decor, the excessive content in my inbox, etc... and to read more, do the things that give me joy! 

september.

  Labor Day Weekend 9/3-6 8-Track Minds @ WW 9/3 PM Family Fun (Cook out, Cornhole & Wine) 9/11 Church @ Bay Leaf 9/12, 9/19, 9/26 Just ...