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! :)

opportunity!

last week, i had an interview for an internship opportunity with a town near raleigh. it's a part-time, unpaid gig but i am pleased to announce: i got the offer! FINALLY! after over a year, it's my first bite. i'm excited. they say they're busy and in need of an intern, so we'll see. i start tuesday @ 10am. i'm thinking 10a - 2p three days a week, but that will be finalized next week.

yay! yay! yay! yay! yay! yay! yay! yay! yay! :)

thoughts on the bachelor

i've always liked emily. i thought she seemed very genuine and sweet. my heart broke the first time i heard her story. i'll admit, i have a girl-crush on emily. she seems so classy and ladylike, not like the way many are (edited to be) drunk whores. i am currently watching the "after the final rose" special. when emily said that she would not move to austin today and the audience more or less booed her...how can she just pick up and move? she has a daughter who should be getting ready to start the first grade! besides that, they need time to get to know each other. and yes, they can do that in austin too, but i wouldn't just pick up and move unless i was sure. i think she just wants to be sure. i find no fault in that at all.

thoughts on the final episode...

i had heard rumors brad was going to choose chantal. first of all, you weren't swimming with sharks. you were in a cage, up against a boat, watching sharks swim around you. also, how is being in a cage with sharks going to define your relationship? lame.

i think if this show occurred when brad was in his early 30's (you know, the 1st time), he would've chosen chantal. she showed him everything for free (hello, white shirt?!). emily is a lady, with a child. i think he's pushing 40 and is ready to settle down and start a family..not have fun & travel the world.

i am excited he chose emily..but sad because i still say she's too good for him. but, if they really do love each other, i hope it works out for them.

also, i do not want to date the next bachelor or bachelorette. i just want to watch the people who do make fools of themselves on television.

p.s. how are roberto and ali a success? they haven't gotten married yet!

p.p.s. who is going to be the next bachelorette if chantal is in a relationship?!

p.p.p.s. (or however it goes) should i mention how much i have teared up in the past two hours? i hope i meet THAT man one day..only God knows.

i love "reality" television because it almost always makes me feel better about me and my life. :)

update on intentions

i'm only 9 days into march, but i thought i'd give an update on the status of my goals for this month...

a GREENVILLE...ecu was on break, so dt was dead BUT i did get qt w/ beana, banana, jax & her adorable son, gage. :)

a $1/day...i put $31 in the jar on the 1st, bringing my 3 month total to $90.

a church...already been to the summit twice. we started a new lesson last week, so i bought the accompanying study guide so i can get more out of jd's sermons.

a reframe "jessica"...done on 3/1. it looks gorg & i think better than when it was gold & yellow (pics to come).

a hang floral plaques in bathroom...done yesterday. (i still need to patch & paint holes from the now-dead towel rod.)

a move white dresser to computer room & reorganize...done 3/2.

a TV is on the cart (it's so high, it's like being at the movies! lol.)

a the completely uncomfortable futon has been pushed to the side & my sofa (that's been living downstairs in the nook for nearly a year!) is currently under my tooshie while i watch my high-rise tv. :)

a hand-painted gift for ldb turned out ADORABLE! (pics to come) she loved it & other women loved it as well (might have some orders coming in?!)

a dentist appt. is scheduled for the first week in may. hey--at least i have one lined up!

** also, this morning, i had an interview for a part-time, unpaid internship opportunity near raleigh. i don't mind the part-time or unpaid aspects, i just wanna get back in there! (and the added resume boost is a given bonus!) :)

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?

i heart spring

even though it technically isn't spring, it is in the stores! my mom and i spent the afternoon at southpoint. we both had coldwater creek gift cards and i had a return for the loft (sweater that my folks gave me for valentine's day). i had great luck! :)

~ coldwater creek: gift card 71.21$. they were running a promo on certain items + my mom had a 30$ off 100$ purchase. i got a cute top and a jacket i'd been looking at (but in blue instead, since i already have a few black jackets). full price @ 119.90$ + tax. after the discounts and my gift card, the total amount due was 4.11$. (and my mom put the balance on one of her gift cards, so i paid nothing.) amazing! :)

~ ann taylor loft: return 79.50$. they were doing 25% off your entire purchase today. i got an exposed back zipper sweater and a sea blue stitched skirt. full price @ 109.00; - return = 29.50$. but with the promo, it was 81.76 - 79.50 with an amount due of 2.26$. better! :D

~ belk: my mom bought me a pair of super cute shoes (see photos)..so, technically, for my wallet, they were free; saving me 85.12$. best!

~ among my miscellaneous purchases: clinique makeup & eyeshadow + free gift = 39.33$; mumford & sons cd on sale from 11.99 to 9.99 = 10.76$; 3 birthday cards at hallmark = 8.29$; and a pkg. of 5 paint pens (even though i only needed 1) 16.99 - 50% off coupon = 9.15$... = 67.53$.

if you add up everything at full price, it equals 372.60$. i paid 69.79$. so fun! :D