happy friday y'all! :)

i don't typically do a "mid-month" post and i don't even know if this blog is anything more than an online journal for myself BUT IT'S FRIDAY! it's pay day! 😊 😊 😊 😊 my exam is over and i don't have to worry about studying or feeling guilty about not studying. i have to wait 8 weeks after the testing window closes to get my results. if i fail, which i'm almost certain will be the case, i will regroup and retake the exam next year. the next exam is in november, but with the house hunt & house buying adventure on which i'm about to embark, i will postpone retaking the exam until may 2018. this would allow me time to get settled into the home, get my finances in order and set up an awesome study space.

i checked my credit score yesterday. since i paid off snowball #1, my score went up 21 points. this is my FICO score, but now it's in the yellow! i paid off that balance in april, so it only took about a month for my score to jump. that's another incentive to go ahead and pay off snowballs #2 & #3...to give my score(s) time to rebound before applying for a mortgage/loan/etc. for a house. i need it come up at least another 21 points. i am waiting for my loan to completely clear my account (should be next week) before i start moving money around. after i make the large payments on my snowballs, i will have about $600 left over to pay...as long as i pay them off by my 34th birthday, or close to it, i'll be happy.

in other money news, i am still waiting to receive my tax refund check. i've designated that to go towards paying my car insurance premium in full in july (for july - decemeber) and for my car registration renewal/inspection which is due in august. that should just about cover that amount. last year, i got my refund around this time so my eyes are watching the mailbox!

i was on vacation the first half of this week...which i really enjoyed. obviously. i was able to get in my workouts and study before wednesday. and apply my self-tanning lotion. i went from pasty white legs to gams with a little bit of color. love it. coming back to work yesterday started off fine...then i got some news that just destroyed my spirits. and the feeling kind of continues today with some snarky, condescending remarks from across the hall. but, i'm not going to let her ruin my day. it's friday! it's pay day! i'm going to stop and get some flowers to plant tomorrow! i am just glad i don't have to worry about anything for at least a couple days. there's been so much i've been putting off because of my exam...i'm FREE! :)

hope everyone has a great weekend. i'm going to have beauty night tonight = shave my legs/+, clay mask, pluck my eyebrows, trim and file my nails, watch "SING"...do some chores too, maybe. 

may.

april recap: i attended the raleigh sports club's annual banquet with my dad and got to meet steve logan, former ECU football coach. i celebrated my Savior's death and resurrection (went to Good Friday service at Bay Leaf with my parents and Easter service at RFA). i cut about 3 inches off my hair...i still have my ponytail but it's easier to manage. highlights will come the week before my birthday and trip to the beach in june. :)

even though it happens all the time, i am always amazed by how quickly time passes. 2017 is already one-quarter complete, my birthday is just a month away. my exam is just a couple weeks away . once my exam is over, getting everything squared away and ready start the house hunt/buying experience will become the next focus -- never a dull moment. memorial day weekend will bring an extra "fun" day off from work. i'm taking 3 days off in the middle of the month, but that's for final exam prep...not so fun. :/ here's my 'to do' list for may 2017.

finances. 
1. snowball #1: PIF in april! :D :D :D
2. snowball #2: pay at least $300.00 paid $202.00 5/19; $1500.00 paid 5/24; paid $1500 on 5/26; paid $500.00 more on 5/30 balance is down to ~$500.00!!!
3. snowball #3: no minimum payment due; pay at least $50.00 paid $140.96 on 5/19; paid $1500.00 5/24; paid $1500.00 5/25; paid $1500.00 5/26; paid $500.00 more on 5/30 balance is down to ~$800.00!!!
4. rent/water/misc. payment: $1037.64 due 5/1-5/5
5. bills: car insurance (balance PIF 4/21), cell phone ($80.00), electric ($56.00), internet ($41.00)
6. 31 day challenge: no extracurricular spending (no hfcs soda, packs, non-essential shopping, etc.)
to pay down/pay off my credit card debt faster, improve my credit score and to put me in a better place to buy a home this year; and, after careful consideration of my options -- i took out a 401k loan. i requested more than my debt to be able to put some of it into a savings account to go towards the home purchase in some way. i chose a 3 yr term because i was more comfortable with that bi-weekly amount than a shorter term. the benefit that if i leave my current job before the 3 yrs is up, i can carry the payments with me instead of the balance being due at one time. i also upped by allowances by 1 for my taxes. so today, i got about $30 more than i have been. my bi-weekly pre-tax payments are $165. so essentially, i lose $135 from each paycheck. BUT, since i won't have credit payments to make AND if i pay my car insurance premium in full in july like i plan too, on non-rent paychecks, i would have at least $500 left over. the current plan is to throw most of that, if not all, into my savings account. i'll have that $1k emergency fund in no time at that rate...and would be able to afford to get new brakes -- which i will at least need before next winter, if not before (probably before!). 

fitness & health.
1. sleep: get at least 6 hours of sleep each night (preferably 7-8)
2. sweat: work out at least 5 days a week "Murph" on 5/29
3. stretch: stretch and roll muscles at least 3 times a week (evenings ok)
4. face: continue using R+F daily; use diy clay mask once a week
5. hair: use leave-in conditioning treatment 1-2 times a month
6. oral: brush/floss/use act after every meal, including at work; start oil pulling 2-3 days a week
7. 31 day challenge: no soda (hfcs, caffeinated or caffeine free), limited candy consumption (portion!), portion popcorn for work, no packs beginning may 1
8. no alcohol until after 5/17 (or for the entire month; but at a minimum, the first 2 weeks)

fun.
1. church: 5/7, 5/14, 5/21, 5/28
2. mother's day 5/14
3. paul's birthday 5/15 (#44)
4. study 5/1-5/16
5. exam 5/17
6. get a massage! :)
7. steam/iron clothes!!
8. memorial day weekend: sort/organize/purge!; organize my files; rehang gallery walls and art; gather items for a family yard sale; fill/touch up paint holes; etc.NONE of that happened...maybe over my birthday weekend in June

work.
1. transportation meeting 5/2
2. town council 5/4
3. pb meeting 5/11 cancelled
4. off 5/15-5/17
5. water resources webinar 5/24
6. rpo meeting 5/25
7. boa meeting 5/25 cancelled
8. office closed 5/29
9. memorial day ceremony 5/29
10. pay days 5/5, 5/19

april.

the pollen arrived for real last weekend, which means spring is really here! we had an early dusting of yellow in late february/early march, but nothing like the coating we have now. thankfully, we've had rain a few times this week to help wash it away. i can't wait until it's gone so i can go over to my folks' and wash/detail my car. spring is by far my favorite season...sunshine, flowers, sandal season, white pants, sundresses, warmer temperatures without the humidity of a north carolina summer, sunless tanning lotions. gimme, gimme, gimme! :)

march recap: i started going back to church and went 3 of 4 sundays. i only went out one night. my mom, sister and i went to the casting crowns/unspoken/danny gokey concert at pnc arena. it was AWESOME! my mom had a great time and it was so nice for the three of us to spend time together. we only had two complaints: 1) that unspoken didn't play longer, and 2) casting crowns took a really long break! we could've been out almost an hour earlier...with traffic, i didn't get home until midnight. but, other than that, so fun!
i did fairly well with not spending much in march. i did order more gifts, but i don't really count that as "spending." it is, but it's not wasting money on stupid crap. i ordered a book for my grandma's birthday, a book for father's day, and a couple christian albums. i met with a family friend who is a realtor. with the anticipation of a hike in interest rates, my parents really want to buy and if i want to stay in my neighborhood, the time to buy is now (!). it's a very exciting time...i just have to get through may 17th first. my exam is in less than 50 days. eek! i also attended my first young adults night at rfa. it was fun. everyone was really nice. a smallish group of 30-40. everyone seems to be in their mid-to late 20's. which means i'm still at least 4 years older than everyone. :/ the group will probably skew even younger once colleges let out. we shall see. they meet about once a month.

i am looking forward to what april will bring! here are my goals for the month.

fiscal.
1. pay off balance on snowball #1 made another $500 payment 4/7; < PIF 4/21!!
2. pay at least $200.00 on snowball #2 paid 4/7
3. pay at least $255.00 on snowball #3 paid $155.00 on 3/24, $100.00 on 3/30; $100.45 on 4/21
4. rent/water/misc. payment: $1034.26 paid 3/30
5. bills: car insurance, cell phone, electric, internet made second payment on car insurance to PIF for may & june! :)
6. purchase gifts for may: brother-in-law's birthday and mother's day (4/21-4/22)
7. file my taxes by 4/18
8. adjust withholdings/dependents for my paycheck (advice from my realtor)

physical.
1. consistent sleep schedule: bed @ 9pm, rise @ 4am for weekday workouts; bed by 11pm, rise by 8am for weekend workouts
2. consistent workouts - work out at least 5 days a week
3. remember to stretch and roll out my muscles
4. get a massage! (i have needed one since november in the worse way -- even if it's just a quick 30-min squeeze on my shoulders and back)
5. continue using R+F regularly
6. continue using diy clay mask once a week
7. continue weaning off caffeinated soda - i cheated a little bit but have mostly stuck with cherry 7up
8. start coconut oil pulling - begin 2x/week
9. floss/brush/act after every meal, even at work

fun.
1. church 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/30
2. raleigh sports club's annual banquet 4/6 so fun. spent an evening with mostly men 65+ and met coach logan.
3. comp time! 4/8
4. hair cut 4/15
5. easter 4/16
6. grandma's birthday 4/18
7. not so fun --- STUDYING when i'm not at work, working out, sleeping or eating

work.
1. ctp meeting 4/4
2. cwep meeting 4/6
3. town council 4/6 i'll miss it because i have the rsc banquet
4. website subcommittee meeting 4/13
5. planning board 4/13 cancelled
6. office closed 4/14
7. county parks & rec advisory committee 4/18
8. pfc meeting 4/26
9. board of adjustment 4/27
10. pay days 4/7, 4/21
11. website updates - ongoing

march 2017.

since my mid-month attempt to make february a "no non-essential spending month" failed, i am going to begin again, at the beginning of march. march will be a month of fresh starts! i have finally finished hanging most of my art (3 gallery walls) and feel like my apartment is livable and feels like me (minus the corner of the closet that needs to be sorted/shredded/purged/reorganized). and, i love it. i will begin again with workouts before work (which are growing even more important as my frustrations with my job continue and my mid section continues to jiggle). studying is in full force...exam is just over 2 months away - eek! and, the ongoing goal of quitting. i'm going to give it a real chance. which, if i'm designating march as a no spend month, makes total sense because this habit/choice is non-essential. and church...i haven't been in months. i need my 'at least once a week' solely focused on jesus time back. he helps even me out and not constantly want to punch or kick people in the workplace (i don't, but there have been times i've been "this close" to potentially getting to that point where i've completely lost my mind and my last shred of patience).

march also brings some fun. for my mom's birthday (#65), i surprised her with tickets to the casting crowns/unspoken/danny gokey concert. she is EXCITED. i am too. and we're making it a mother-daughters' night out because my sister is coming too. i sprung for her ticket as part of her birthday present (even though her birthday's not until july). tickets were reasonable at $25.00 each (+ fees of course), so just over $100.00 for the 3 of us to go. they can buy my pretzel and soda. ;) it will be fun. casting crowns is an old favorite and my mom turned us onto unspoken. later in the month, i'll head down to the beach to see my bestie for her birthday. i love getting to spend time with her and her last pop-through wasn't long enough.

let's do this march!

fiscal.
1. pay at least $50.00 on snowball #1 paid 3/10
2. pay at least $200.00 on snowball #2 paid 3/10
3. pay at least $50.00 on snowball #3 paid 3/10
4. rent/water/misc. payment: $1041.95 paid 3/5
5. bills: car insurance, cell phone, electric, internet paid 3/9, 3/10
6. purchase birthday gifts for mom, grandma and bestie i'm glad i waited b/c both mom's and grandma's gifts were on sale ($10 off each --both getting the same thing). 
7. travel reimbursement from work for ncazo workshop means +$300.00 comes back to me (and will be split between snowball #3 - hotel purchase and snowball #1 - just because)

physical.
1. consistent sleep schedule: bed @ 9pm, rise @ 4am for weekday workouts; bed by 11pm, rise by 8am for weekend workouts
2. consistent morning workouts - work out at least 6 days a week
3. remember to stretch!
4. use R+F regularly
5. quit - if only as part of no-spend challenge
6. 31 day challenge: no caffeinated soda, no skittles...just homemade goodness :)

fun.
1. church 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26
2. birthdays: mom 3/19, bestie 3/23
3. concert 3/10 my mom LOVED her bday present! we had so much fun! :)
4. st. patrick's day 3/17
5. beach beach trip has been pushed to june -- i never get to see my bff during peak season!! time to really start working on my bikini body! :)

work.
1. town council 3/2
2. ctp meeting 3/7
3. rpo meeting 3/8
4. p&r advisory committee 3/13
5. county rec advisory committee 3/21

Mid-February Update
2/13/2017

I have designated February as a "no non-essential spending" month (even though I kinda blew that Friday when I bought 5 CDs (4 at Lifeway {1 as a gift for my mom} + the Grammy 2017 album at Target). But, after getting blood drawn, I did return over $130 worth of shoes to DSW. I still have 2 pairs of shoes that are "maybes". So, I did some returns at Michael's, DSW and Target. Buying Jesus-centered tunes...I don't know if I can consider them non-essential but the $11 for the Grammy preview, sure.

Another one of those questionable "non-essential vs. essential purchases" would be getting my hair done. I have begun splitting my appointments between hair cuts and highlights. It's a lot easier to shell out $50 or $100 versus $150 at one time. Plus, I got a gift certificate for Christmas, so I used a portion of it last month for a hair cut and the rest towards my highlights. My out-of-pocket expense was $32 + $23 for product ($55). Not terrible. And, if that's it for the month, I'll count that as a win. With the exception of 2/24 - Crush is playing that night and I'll out for sure - so count that as another non-essential purchase for cider at the bar...maybe a shot or two. K will be out of town so I'll be going home alone. Whomp whomp.

How I spent my weekend...
Saturday. I worked out in the morning, ate breakfast, cleaned the rest of the kitchen [microwave, sink, swept & swiffered]. I swept & swiffered the entry. I planned my meals for the week, made my grocery list, showered (without washing my hair). My hair appointment was at 12:45 and wrapped up about 2. I grabbed some cash and hit the Harris Teeter for Sweet Loren's chocolate cookies (they are so good and with no crap in them!) and went back to my parents' house. I had borrowed one of their cars because my dad wanted to change my oil and rotate my tires, now that my car has 90,000 miles! Eek! My sister and nephew were over there, so I stayed much longer than I normally would have...but it was fun. Then I picked up groceries on the way home. I was beat by the time I got home so...I watched tv, ate dinner and went to bed. Speaking of dinner - one of my new favorites is the Chicken and Chinese Broccoli with broad noodles from Good Foods. It's gluten free and delicious. I'm not really into pre-made frozen dinners but this is SO good. I also tried their moo shu chicken (or something like that) with little GF pancakes. Next time, I will wait until I cook the chicken to warm the pancakes because they were like cardboard by the time I got to them...didn't taste like cardboard, but still hard.

Sunday, I stayed in bed longer than planned (alarm had PM instead of AM); thankfully, my body naturally woke up. I cleaned my tub, made the bed, made breakfast and watched the rest of The Lucky One on MTV (even though I own it)...Zac Efron just gets me every time. :) Once the clock stroke 12:00, I hit it. Cranked up the music, opened the windows and went to work. I worked on my closet and it looks quite fabulous. I still have the corner of shelves that mainly contain items which need to be sorted, filed, shredded, and/or thrown away. But, I'm thinking that will wait until after my test in May. I was even able to hang 3 of my favorite pieces of art in or just outside my closet. WIN! So, now what's left is to hang art in the living room and finish my room (hang jewelry boxes, sort my clothes, etc.) and take a load to the Durham Rescue Mission (my preferred donation spot over Goodwill). I ALMOST feel like my space is mine and that I live there. My kitchen is the cleanest it's ever been since I moved in -- all I need to do in there is install my cb2 task lighting, move my clock and hang something over the sink. Almost there...

Kind of boring but still fun. Here's to hoping the rest of February turns out fabulous. Because other than the fact that I feel like I'm eating for 2 (which I'm 99% sure I'm not), I feel great. Chubby, but great. Operation #34 kicks off this week. My birthday is just a few months away (4) and I want to be able to fit into the dress I wore last year. I may not wear it..just want the satisfaction that I could if I wanted to. :)

february.

fiscal.
**it's a 2 pay day month so money is going to be tight.**
1. pay at least $50.00 on snowball #1
2. pay at least $200.00 on snowball #2 paid 50% on 2/10
3. pay at least $100.00 on snowball #3
4. rent/water/misc. payment $1100.00+/-
5. bills beyond rent and debt payments: car insurance (2/9), cell phone (2/15), electric (2/21), internet (2/15)
6. purchase gifts for march birthdays (mom & bestie)
7. STOP SPENDING MONEY!! Take returns back to stores.

physical.
1. consistent sleep schedule - Sun - Thurs: go to sleep by 10pm, rise by 4:30am (M-F)
2. consistent work out schedule - Mon - Fri: 4:30am, Sat-Sun: 8am
3. use R+F regularly
4. improve dental regime - brush/floss after every meal; coconut oil pull 3x/week; whiten teeth
5. quit

fun.
1. church 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26
2. babysit 2/4
3. dad's birthday 2/5 | party 2/4
4. super bowl sunday 2/5
5. hair appt. (highlights) 2/11
6. valentine's day 2/14
7. crush @ WW 2/25
8. mardi gras 2/28

8 to 5.
1. website subcommittee 2/2
2. town council 2/2
3. code enforcement brief 2/3
4. website updates - ongoing
5. newsletter release 2/2 (2/6)
6. pay days 2/10, 2/24
7. path forward 2/22
8. ncazo workshop 2/27-28

unplug. delete. let go.

"Eat better. Run more. Squat more. Sleep earlier. Wake up earlier. Make a good breakfast. Drink water. Eat fruits. Read books. Adventure. Talk less. Listen more. Feel deeper. Love better. Open your eyes. Experience life. Be happy."

I took a step towards a more stress-free life. I deleted the fb app off my phone. Maybe one day I'll delete my account, but for now, just getting rid of the insta-access is a breath of fresh air. All the negativity and cyber bullying I've witnessed and experienced, especially in the past year or so with the emphasis on politics. I appreciate all the friends I have and the fact that we don't all value the same things or want the same things, but it was time. I'll continue to post on ig - because it seems to be positive real with more uplifting content. So, I'll keep posting about decor, food, work outs and good words. It's only been a day, and while it feels weird to not see what other people are doing and saying, I really DON'T CARE. The people that I really care about (family, friends) - we communicate in other ways already so I don't have to rely on social media to keep up with them.

The goal is to slowly unplug. To read more. To interact more with the "outside world." To love myself enough to get off the phone. It shouldn't be so hard to be happy and with all the stress of dealing with everyone's version of crazy..it just became too much. Too much of a burden on my heart. For someone who feels so much of everything, it was too much to bear. It was affecting my emotional health and overall happiness; which, is sad to admit. But, I care about people and want everyone to be happy and kind. We can disagree but if we're assholes to each other, and just plain cruel, no progress will happen. The 2017 Presidential election is a prime example of that. Just sayin'...

Be kind to one another. It's the least we can do.