things to do: may 2013

** office closed // memorial day holiday - monday 5/27**

- church
- return book to l.s.
- fitness challenge: do SOMETHING at least 3x/week (broken into five weeks)
- finish kitchen projects: a) concentric rectangle paintings above cabinets; b) new glassware; c) new potholders/trivets/dishtowels; d) new rugs
- small painting for grandma in honor of mother's day
- large canvas painting for living room
- food/drink challenge: drink more water/less soda! choose better snacks at work!
- tackle projects at work in a timely manner: gis; hand-drawn map project; minutes; map reviews; etc.
- credit
- save $$$ for computer fund/IKEA trip in june
- donations: a) goodwill; b) durham rescue mission or similar
- artsplosure, downtown raleigh ~ may 17-19
- celebrate my brother-in-law's 40th birthday- sort/organize/purge/redecorate at mom & dad's: a) my old room; b) bonus room; c) help them!
- health-related appointments
- sort THE BOX: sort/organize; purge; add to shred bag; etc.
- honor my mother
- make a browsing/shopping list for charlotte trip in june (so i have a month to fine-tune it)- cancel netflix subscription (not worth it since i pick up cable via my internet hookup)


...i'm sure i'll think of more things. :)

trip to the motherland!

Briarwood Inn Dining Room

My sister flew out Tuesday morning, my parents left this morning and I arrive tomorrow morning...to the MOTHERLAND. :) Thursday is my Grandma's 90th birthday and she is tickled I am arriving on her actual birthday. This will be the quickest trip ever to Colorado for me...but I wanted to save some days for the trip to Michigan this summer with Neal. It makes it easier (harder?) to pack since I'll really only be there for a couple of days...although while it's spring here in NC, it snowed 10" on Monday in parts of CO. Hard to pack for winter when you've already traded out your seasonal wardrobe for warmer-weather duds. ;) But, I'm really excited. I think it will be quite fun (as usual). I included the pic above because that's where we'll be Friday night: The Briarwood Inn Restaurant in Golden. That's where Grandma wanted to go so that's where we'll go. It should be the Birthday Girl, my aunt Holly & uncle Rodger (from CO), aunt Beth (Marilyn) & uncle Rod (from DC) and my family, my parents, sister (brother-in-law absent) and myself. 9 for 90!! :D

april goals

APRIL 2013

* TAXES (mail by 4/12) DONE!
** Call to reduce cellphone bill: save 20% on local gov't plan
- Read/return book to L.S. started on the plane
- Return LAM to L.S. i think i already did
- Food Challenge: No grains! No candy! Limit soda/caffeine!
- Fitness Challenge: Exercise at least 3 days/week, Order bands from Rogue, RFOH 5K
+ COLORADO to celebrate my Grandma's 90th birthday! DONE!
- Church: new series starts this weekend
- Spend more time with Neal, especially weeknights!
- Finish kitchen projects: Paintings above cabinets, New glassware, rugs, dishtowels, etc.
- Finish projects for all main living areas
$ Save at least $200 for computer fund
- Apply for/get a regular credit card (for emergency purposes, not day-to-day purchases)
- Get my new glasses from TEI (ready 4/5) DONE! love them :)
- Remember to change my contacts every 2 weeks so far, so good
- Donations: Goodwill, Durham Rescue Mission



march 2013 goals

BBQ Bacon Asparagus

Caveman Feast, Paleo Recipes by George Bryant & Abel James

man! did february just fly by or what?!

goals/things to do in the month of march
- read/return book & landscape architecture magazine
- food challenge!
- fitness challenge => work out 3x/wk min. + run
- register for race for our heroes 5k (april 27)
- buy a new laptop
- bowling (league ends 3/11)
- ArcGIS II class at my alma mater 3/11-3/13
- painting/fabric solution for living room
- NOT in my car!
- tickle the keys
- total money makeover continues: *lower grocery budget
- work on guest room/closet
- work on laundry room/storage
- donate to durham rescue mission *get new, smaller microwave
- birthday cards for: mom, beana, jax, grandma
- easter cards
- graduation card/start saving some dollars for neal's brother
- acquire work out equipment => no-screw pull up bar, abmat, bands
- get my butt to church!
- easter at bay leaf

Neal & I ~ Chateau Chantal Winery, Traverse City, MI ~ October 2012

Neal and I are getting ready to celebrate one year since our second 1st date this weekend. He calls it our first date since the real first date a year or so before didn't really take (remember, I was really hot for who I came to realize was a super douchey dude) AND since that place burned down (Glenwood South icon, The Hibernian).

I've dated pretty steadily since my first boyfriend in college. Jocks, nerds, military, fraternity, loners..all types and I thought I'd seen it all. Until Neal. It sounds so cliche: "when you know, you just know," but true. Now, I can't say for sure that when I saw him that second time (this time at Raleigh Times) that I knew we would be where we are today. But, I knew something was different from that first side hug..whether it was me, him or the situation. It was just easy. And, here we are a year later.

Our relationship hasn't been perfect but what one is? I thoroughly enjoy his company, he enjoys my cooking and we enjoy each other (among other things). He is one of the nicest guys I've ever known but not in a doormat kind of way. He's smart. He's handsome. As my mother puts it, "he has a nice smile." He likes sports (especially Michigan State). He makes me want to be better. I've probably said that before & it's also another cliche, but one that's totally true. I mean it through and through. He's quite kind and treats me well, probably better than anyone else. Before him, I was a New Belgium snob and now, my tastebuds have been enjoying what Michigan brews (Bell's). Quite simply, I love him.

I count him a blessing and God's timing as way better than mine. I think if we'd tried after the first-first date, we wouldn't have worked. I was different, my priorities were different, I wasn't really into "serious" relationships...and here I am: in a serious, monogamous relationship; and loving it! :) It's amazing really...how the choices we make, however insignificant they may seem in the moment, can really change your life.

I pinned this today...Just simply true. :)

goals for february 2013

* read & return book to l.s.
* read & return landscape architecture magazine to l.s.
* food challenge! going back to the primal/paleo life...i have a new cookbook and i am quite excited!-going pretty well so far-
* use gym @ complex (i scoped it out for equipment..now to program my workouts)
* order abmat & bands from rogue
* hair appt. -2/21 after work-* save at least 200$ in "savings envelope"
* bowling league with the boyfriend 1/28 - 3/11 -our team's tied for 1st!-
* celebrate my dad's 70th birthday! -done!-
* painting for the living room (i'm thinking chevron) -stretched & ready for gesso!-
* read a book for pleasure
* wean towards quitting
* register for the "run for the oaks 5k" 3/9
* church/tithe
* get my rope back from the gym -done!-
* play the keyboard at least 1 day/week
* spend more time with the boyfriend -trying!-
* virginia tech @ nc state basketball game with the parents + boyfriend, 2/16 -done!-

break it down...goals for january

1. read and return book from internship
2. 31 for 31 challenge: overhead (oh) squats
3. finishing sorting/organizing/nesting
4. finish diptych for the dining room
5. large canvas painting for living room
6. church @ summit: 1/5, 1/12, 1/19, 1/26
7. monthly tithe
8. exercise beyond the 31 for 31 challenge
9. go to the carolina fitness challenge @ crossfit durham, 1/12
10. pay off car insurance
11. gis training 1/7-1/8
12. save money...bringin' back the money jar!
13. play keyboard at least once/week
14. donate blue chair + old 21" tube tv
15. get my eyebrows waxed!
16. 12 for 12 challenge
17. bowling league with the boyfriend (this is a bucket list item!)
18. start to wean myself off in the direction of my quit date