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

february

- church @ summit

- monthly offering (29$)

- occf (3-4 days/week)

- 30 day nutrition challenge starts 2.13

- occf goals (pull ups & double unders)

- deliver painting

- massage

- build/paint/install fc surround/desk

- sort tubs/etc. in bonus room

- bag/tag/deliveries for goodwill, blbc, nrmcts

- paintings for spring birthdays

- quit

- occf ladies' night @ wine & design, 2.9

- dogsit/housesit 2.2-2.7

- get a p/t job

- occf weightlifting clinic - back squat, 2.18

- job search continues...

church @ summit

+ monthly offering

+ join a small group done-wednesdays @ 7

+ meet new people

spend more time in the Word

oak city crossfit

+ bmi testing 1/16 done but i'm not telling!

+ 6 wk goals: double unders and pull ups

change my diet/lifestyle (paleo, primal, caveman, etc.)

+ cut out processed (junk) foods

+ cut down & ultimately eliminate (daily) consumption of soda/sunkist

run in at least one 5-10k race

+ run for our heroes race in april

quit

read at least 4 books (aka watch less tv)

read & return lauren's book (not included in the 4)

complete projects in bonus room

+ file cabinet surround/desk project for dad's birthday

+ big tv/cabinet placement

+ art storage unit(s)

+ sort/etc. my stuff that lives there (outside storage unit??)

+ organize ikea cabinets

sort/organize/purge/donate/etc.

massage

JOB (search continues...)

finish touchups in bathroom/bedroom

take Bella to a dog park at least 1x/month

obtain a credit report (it's gotta be better by now!)

goals for january

-church @ summit done!

-monthly offering done!

-join a small group done!

-OCCF 3-4 days/week done!

-BMI Testing @ OCCF 1/16 done & i'm not telling!

-work on my goals at OCCF (6 week program to work on my pull ups and sequential double unders)

- deliver Wofford painting

-massage

-build/paint/stain file cabinet surround/table for bonus room

-sort/organize/purge/donate

-art box/toolbox

-start paintings for spring birthdays

-read more/watch less tv

-QUIT (i got 9 days over Christmas; now, doing it quickly makes me vomit. literally.)

-be a better intern at Apex trying!

-car insurance payment due 1/9 paid!

-job search continues

-monthly review with des for benefit continuation 1/26

how is it december already AND that this year is nearly complete? time travels too quickly! during the holiday season, it is so easy to get wrapped up in the hustle and bustle, shopping and being merry, but please don't forget there is a single reason why we celebrate...Jesus Christ. i hope you all enjoy the season and remember now (and all year long) that Jesus IS the reason for the season. God bless!

despite the extra-specialness of december, here are my goals for the month:
- christmas shopping (i managed to get nearly all mine done yesterday. i only have paul and hannah left!) DONE!
- wrap/ship gifts DONE!
- write/mail cards (after a photo session with my furry baby) DONE!
- decorate (my dad's back/hip is impairing his movement/sleep/etc. so i have no idea when the tree will go up) DONE!
- church @ summit WENT!
- christmas @ summit WENT!
- occf (3-4 days/week) CF Total 12.14: back squat 100lbs, press 55lbs, deadlift 135lbs, total 290lbs. +75lbs than previous max lifts! :)
- massage
- FINALLY finish baby painting! DONE!!
- continue to sort/purge/organize/etc. Working on it...
- re-redo computer room DONE and RE-DONE (my folks didn't like me adding the filing cabinets)
- re-redo bonus room DONE and RE-DONE (fc's in new home w/ a desk from comp room for my dad's space)
- dinner @ second empire tavern (i have a living social voucher, but am in need of a date!) gave it away..no date. :(
- 12.15 occf holiday party @ busy bee WENT!
- job search continues...sunday 12.4 i'll apply for 2 online (NC & VA) and prepare a packet (NC). good news: i've made it to the pre-interview round for a job (NC) and have been invited to do a written evaluation (whoop! whoop!) i had an interview 12.12 in VA...went better than the typical "it went well" response. i should know by next week. but, the search/app process is always in progress.

before the month completely gets away from me, here are my goals for november. :)

- church @ summit (2 for 3 so far; monthly offering DONE)

- occf (3-4 days/week)

- schedule appointments (1 of 3 DONE)

- boyles' anniversary painting (DONE & delivered)

- woffords' baby painting (in progress)

- paintings for christmas gifts

- finish christmas planning/shopping/etc. (almost done)

- pack and store spring/summer clothes/shoes/etc.

- continue to sort/purge/reorganize/pack/etc.

- dentist appt. (DONE)

- follow-up dentist appt. (DONE)

- job hunt continues... (dream job closes 11/25)

october

wofford painting
m/d's anniversary painting
complete asu/assu
begin nb/mirror/storage swivel tower
valentina before 10/15
finish ch's book
read & return lam mag & planning text to my supervisor
adina's in NC!! :D
begin boyles' anniversary painting
redo bonus room while the 'rents are on vacay next week
oak city crossfit (3-4 days/wk)
saturdays @ summit
10 year high school reunion 10/15!!

intentions for september

- church @ summit

- ecu v. south carolina @ charlotte 9/3 :D

- ecu v. virginia tech in greenville 9/10 :D

- complete baby painting

- complete painting for hannah

- complete large art storage unit (asu) project

- complete small art supply storage unit (assu) project

- sort/pack more of what's in bonus room

- goodwill

- finish chelsea handler book

- massage appointment

- look into storage unit rental rates

- apply for jobs....

sigh of relief

GREAT NEWS!! At 2:45pm today, I made a "specific payment of balance" on my final credit card (hsbc) of $617.77. I do believe this was my first credit card (either that or citibank)..in college. it has been following me around ever since..and although the account has been closed for quite awhile now, the balance hung around...until now! FINALLY the last payment has been made! and so, i will continue the journey to becoming debt free! i still have car payments (just over 2 yrs' worth @ 0.9%) and the debt due to the bank of mom and dad...but for now, i will CELEBRATE just a tiny bit more of financial FREEDOM!! :D

intentions for august...

pay my remaining credit card balance IN FULL!! bye bye debt! :D

church @ summit

baby painting for the wofford family (my 1st commission!)

painting for hannah's birthday

necklace board (it's leaning now, but i need support on the backside & to add trim)

large art storage unit (disassembled & resized, but i've decided to paint while in its current state)

art supply storage unit (using leftovers from resized lg. unit)

new photo for linkedin account

bathroom touchups

read chelsea handler's book

trip to goodwill

interview, 8/10 :D

july

serveRDU july 13-16 (diaper drive)

31$ tithe

progressive payment (considering full payment?)

bcbs (321.08$ vs. 622$ cobra premium...duh!)

necklace board (prime/paint trim, attach trim, hang, new hooks..)

redo art "cube" (paint, reassemble); supply storage

sort/organize/purge/pack/etc.

bathroom touchups

job hunt continues...

cancel membership

goodwill

sketch-up

paintings for two anniversaries

paintings for hg and as

ironing marathon

new photo for linkedin profile

how is it already june?!

move 151 into savings account (jan-may 1/day savings)

30 into money jar for the month

summit..i have not missed a saturday in 3 months. :)

order teeth whitening trays from dentist

necklace board (finish painting, add hooks/hardware, hang)

floral installation (sand, add lining/stripe fabric, hardware, flowers, hang)

bathroom touchups (fill holes, sand, paint)

lynda.com / sketchup

read 2 books: water for elephants, coaching third

goodwill donations

pack away cool weather duds ~ summer starts on the 21st!

ikea

put together ikea cabinet (new), add doors, glass shelves

prime/paint parentals' closet while they are in md/pa

thoroughly CLEAN the garage while the parentals are gone

clean my bathroom

reorganize underbed storage/dressers/closet/etc.

**eligible for "new every two" on 6/7 -- i'm leaning towards a blackberry**

side story: my grandma sent me what i consider a significant amount of money to go towards my credit card debt. (i say that b/c to some, the amount may not be all that significant.) i used all but 200 of the money towards my balance...leaving the remaining balance to be just about two weeks' worth of unemployment benefits. remember my plan to be debt-free by my 30th birthday? i'll be 28 on the 16th. so in honor of my vow and about a year early...

***birthday present to myself: paying off the remaining balance / say goodbye to hsbc FOREVER!***

good intentions

~ $31 in money jar and/or give $31 as a tithe at church
~ summit on saturdays
~ dentist appointment: done! (but i have to go back for fillings, boo)
~ necklace board: final on white, grey trim, add hooks, install hardware & hang
~ floral installation: sand, final on white, add fabric, hardware, flowers & hang
~ move low dresser back into my room
~ continue to work on bonus room (i did assemble the ikea cabinets - doors, and clear a bunch of space for my grandma's arrival)
~ the sort/purge/organize/pack saga continues
~ goodwill/church donations
~ pack away cold weather clothing/misc.
~ paintings for adina, beth and paul
~ serious chat with blake
~ plan for tax refund; open savings account
~ design bed options
~ movies: fast 5, something borrowed, bridesmaids, water for elephants
~ upload pictures; more posts with pics
~ container store/ikea
~ install doors on ikea cabinets + glass shelves
~ job packets (3 mailed 5/9)
~ spend time on lynda.com
* remember to take my pill at 9pm every night! ;)

end of april

i accomplished about 1/2 of my good intentions for the month....

~ money jar: i took the $30 i would've saved and gave it to the summit for the believe project (which by the way, the church raised over $1 million).

~ church at least twice: i went 5 for 5. :)

~ contact paper in bathroom: cabinet and back of the etigere (i did take pictures, to post eventually).

~ hung steeple photos (on either side of my closet) & flower prints (over my bed).

~ closet overhaul: seasonal change complete..still working on it though!

~ annual appt: done & test results are all clear!

~ i no-sew hemmed all 4 of my curtains...hooray!

~ sprayed the floral plaques & they now look white-white...i just need to spray a clear coat b/c i miss the sheen. :)

i'm going to take a couple days and think about may before i post good intentions...what a month!

1/4 done...

good intentions for april...

~ $1/day into money jar

~ church @ the summit (i went 4 for 4 in march!)

~ plug holes/paint touchups (bathroom)

~ redo new contact paper in 3rd drawer of chest

~ contact paper in bathroom (cabinet & tower)

~ floral installation (changed from white to silver flowers found at target)

~ necklace board (as part of overhaul, to be hung over chest)

~ hang steeple photos, floral prints

~ closet overhaul (change of seasons in my wardrobe; donations)

~ bonus room: sort!, new art/etc. storage solutions; IKEA cabinets; 3rd bin for wrapping paper from TCS

~ schedule annual appointment

desire: to build a platform bed with storage that can support a box spring & mattress, with beadboard/post headboard. anything i've found that i like, is over $1200. i think i can do it for less..with my dad's help of course! :)

start to march

an hour left in the month of february. time flies! i did pretty well on my intentions for the month by accomplishing about half of my list: 1) on the 3rd, i put all 28$ in my money jar for the month and plan to do the same for march; 2) i went to church twice, complete with communion & hearing/seeing clayton king preach; 3) finish, pack & ship the gift to georgia for leah/kyle/baby emery!! (hopefully it will arrive just before she does!); 4) finish my prep work for the gym; 5) box & label linens/towels/etc.; 6) continued skin care regimen.

also, last week, my sister and i went to see the new familiars at the pour house. it was awesome! (we got, okay..rephrase..i bought us t-shirts & a cd for me)

so, here's my list for march:

* GREENVILLE 3/2-4 (adina is in nc from orlando & i need QT with my little one!)

~ put 1$/day in my money jar (or 31$ all at once)

~ go to church at least twice

~ reframe "jessica" -> i did spray (hopefully) a final coat

~ plug holes/paint touchups in bathroom

~ hang floral plaques (currently in my room) in bathroom

~ move white dresser to computer room & reorganize

~ put TV on cart & carry coffee table to attic

~ floral installation (get wood/prime & paint/hardware/flowers/hang)

~ hang steeple photos (2) (where plaques were?!)

~ hang floral prints (3)

~ HEADBOARD!!

~ bonus room (sort/storage/make space for my sofa/etc.)

~ hand-painted gift for ldb (hopefully in time for her shower on 3/5!)

~ dr. appts. (lady/dentist/physical)

~ continue skin care regimen

i PROMISE, once my bathroom & bedroom are complete, i will post pictures!

transparency

i am challenged each day to live an honest, God-focused life. i'd like to think i'm doing a better job but each day brings its own set of challenges..it is my hope that i can return to the me i used to be, so in love with Jesus, ready and willing to worship, pray and listen, in spite -- or more, because of --what i have been through in my 27 years (particularly at age 12, 21, 22, & 26). He saved me, before i even knew what it really meant to have my life saved. He taught me to give it all over to Him; He is the reason i believe in the ability to forgive..even the worst act.

i am praying for:

* optimism

* faith

* thirst only God can quench

* ability to start to to turn away from my vice (idea: use that money to tithe instead)

* ability to let go of the people that don't deserve to be in my life

what are you praying for this week?

2011 resolutions

save money, on purpose...

start taking better care of myself

run in at least one road race (5k at the minimum)

finally finish my room!

finally sort EVERYTHING & pack what will move when i move/be organized/etc.

finish the bonus room

attend church more frequently (at least 1x/month)

get new foam for the futon

quit

pay off my hsbc account (last one!)

oh, and last but not least, GET A NEW JOB!! :)

january..

put 1$/day in the money jar each day (& NOT take any out!)

new foam for futon

finish my room!

- make headboard for my bed (i'm thinking, wide white stripe with white molding)

- iron & hem curtains

- hang floral installation

- install floating(?) shelves & framed photographs

church

sorting saga continues...

- computer room

- "stairwell" in bonus room

- art supplies/portfolios/cube

- clear bonus room & get carpets cleaned

- figure out storage system for the bonus room

- finish the bonus room (should include a fresh coat of paint?!)

exercise at least 2x/week

work on paintings

december

~ job (i had a phone interview today and have another one next thursday)

~ massages (plenty to have before the end of the month!)

~ decorate (this weekend! i made space for the tree yesterday)

~ sort/purge/repack (living room & bonus room will be ready by christmas!)

~ gifts (i am ALMOST done!)

~ bowlin' in dc (pirates take on an acc opponent in the military bowl, 12/29 in washington dc)

november goals

1. JOB (STILL working on this one..but november has started off right with two packets mailed, two more to be mailed later this week, and one to be done online. i have an interview lined up on nov 10th.)
2. court (nov 16th, a result of my accident last month)
3. work out the insurance "stuff"
4. car (i can tell you i've ruled out the mazda2. it is TINY!!)
5. gym (my account's on hold for the next 3 mos.)
6. church
7. massage (i have 5, maybe 6, to get by the end of 2010!)
8. finish the "jessica" project (it should be ready to hang this week!)
9. finish my room
10. sort, purge & re-pack the living room
11. start to work on the bonus room (to be finished by christmas, as a gift to my parents)