What I'm Loving Today

I'm loving...

Today's weather.  Finally some sun!  Monday was a monsoon...seriously.  They were calling for 2" of rain between 7am and noon...and I'm pretty sure we got it.  Add in the additional rain & storms that we got on Monday afternoon and during the night last night, and we are under flood warnings.  But no fears for me...I don't live anywhere near the Yadkin River...which I've heard is already above flood stages.  Yikes!

I'm loving...

When I went to the doctor a few weeks ago, they determined that I have a Vitamin D & B-12 deficiency.  So for 3 months I'm on a Vitamin D supplement and I get to go weekly for B-12 injections...which are not exactly pleasant.  They don't have the 1-2 day pain factor of a tetanus...but they leave a little pain in the arm where they do the injection.  But let me tell you...it's totally worth it.  I didn't realize how drained I was until I felt better.  I've had SO much more energy over the last few days (after my third injection last Friday).  I can't believe this is making THAT much difference.  I'm so thankful!

I'm loving...

That I met one of my other 2012 goals...for now.  I have more than $500 in my savings account!  I finally got my escrow disbursement over the weekend and put the majority of it in my savings account.  According to my "plan", I hope to be able to save at least another $500 by the end of summer and maybe, just maybe, I'll get new living room furniture in the fall.  Or maybe not.  We shall see! :)

I'm loving...

That by this time next week, I should *hopefully* be able to add my new Nook Color to this list!  I've been considering this and I'm hoping to get mine this weekend!  I'm so excited!

I'm loving...

My latest "Pinterest" inspired project, which I finished Saturday afternoon.  Unfortuntely, I took them to Mom's to show them to her on Sunday evening...which is when the monsoon initially started...and I left them there...and forgot to get them!  Hope she doesn't assume ownership! ;)

Hope you all have a wonder Wednesday! :)

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday

Recently Alyson & Ayden got a new dog...well so did Missy & Zach ;)

His name is Oscar.

I think these two are sizing each other up...

:)

Happy Wednesday!

I Kick My Shoes Off...and a few other random facts about me

I have noticed here recently that I have developed some peculiarities...habits...neurosis if you will.  And so, today, and today only...I am going to share a few of them with you.

OK - who am I kidding?  I'm likely to share them with you any old day...just try having a conversation with me about where I have to sit at the table...

#1 - Speaking of where I have to sit at the table...I have developed a preference (I like this choice of word) for where I would like to sit.  Part of this is because I'm left handed.  You right handed people don't know why this is such a big deal...because let's face it...the majority of people ARE right handed.  So there is no real thought that you have to put into where you choose to sit since the likelihood of you bumping elbows with someone during the entire meal is not very great.  I, on the otherhand, constantly find myself thinking about where I can sit where I will have the freedom to eat and not constantly be hitting someone with my arm or elbow.  This...

is where I like to sit. 

At every table...

In every restaurant...

And at church.

I have witnesses that can verify this "preference".

#2 - I do not like shoes. At all. I prefer to wear sandals or flip flops that can easily come off...so that when I'm sitting down I can slip them off.

Currently, I'm sitting here at my desk...no shoes...they are under my desk and if I have to walk around, then I'll put them back on.  Otherwise, no shoes.

#3 - I DO NOT eat meat that is touching a bone.  That's right folks.  I understand that at some point or another most of the meat I eat was touching a bone.  I just don't want the bone to still be there when I go to eat it.

OK - that's all I can think of right now.  I'm sure if I gave anyone I know 5 minutes here on the blog, they'd provide a few other of my "preferences"...but alas, I don't give them my password for a reason.

:)

That time I got a tattoo...but I was on a blogging break; so you don't know about it

Let me back up about 14 years or so ago...

When my sister went to college...her first independent "I'm 18 and can do what I want" decision was to get a tattoo.

My mother was less than thrilled about it.  My sister didn't try to hide the tattoo or didn't even keep it from them...but nonetheless, I know my mother was not happy.  Not sure about dad...he probably was in the same camp, though.

Since then, she has added 2 more to her "collection", if you will - one that she & her hubby got together and her kids' initials on her foot.

I'm not sure when my personal desire to get a tattoo kicked in...but I would have to say that it may have started back when I was in grade school...when I went to a certain camp...a church camp no less...and learned this song:

I've got a daisy on my toe
It is not real, it does not grow
It's just a tattoo of a flower
So I look good taking a shower
It's on the second toe of my left foot
It has no stem, it has no root {cause that wouldn't look good}
I've got a daisy on my toe
My right foot loves my left foot so {kissy sound}

Several years ago, my BFF and I started talking about getting a daisy on our toe...on  the second toe of our left foot.  We've gone back and forth on the issue...should Christians have tattoos...we've researched it...we've looked in the Bible...discussed the pain factor, many, many times...we did our due dilligence and then decided (well, I did anyway) that it was Ok. And she is OK with it too - especially once her uncle, a Methodist minister, showed up with one. ;)

So, we started talking to different people about what...where...we looked at pix online...this that & the other.  And somewhere in the midst of all that, I started thinking about this necklace that I own.  My parents gave me the necklace several years ago...it's a heart shape with a Jesus fish and cross in the center.  It's one of my favorite necklaces - it's unique.  I've never seen another like it. And I thought, "Hey! That'd be a great tattoo".

Last year I had pretty much decided I was going to get that tattoo for my 35th birthday in June...and then came to a screeching halt when I found out that you couldn't swim for at least 2 weeks.  So, I put the whole thing off until September.

And Labor Day weekend of 2011, this is what I did...

Of all the things I could've gotten, I thought this was the best choice.  I love it.  And it's unique...the artist looked for something to "go by" other than my necklace when he was trying to draw it up...but he couldn't find anything.

So, there you have it...just call me "Girl With the Heart/Cross/Jesus Fish Tattoo". :)

And just so you know...my mom & dad have come to terms with their tattooed children (and son by law) and are OK with it.  I don't think they are going to join the tattooed world anytime soon, but they are OK with us having them.

Monday Musings

I love alliteration! :)

So...it's been a while...I actually intended, hoped, dreamed and planned (I also love redundancy) to blog last week.  Every day, I thought, this is the day.

And every day, I was WAY too busy to blog.

Stoopid job.

Just kidding...I really like my job.  Really I do.  I mean, it has it's down days...like every job out there...but for the most part, it's not horrible.

But the last two weeks, have been slammed.  I appreciate the busy-ness...sometimes I wish the busy-ness was just a little more steady and not all at once, as it usually is.

Anyway...

I have decided that 2012 is the year I'm taking control.  My first step was taking control of some financial decisions.  You see, I hate making financial decisions...and I hate pricing stuff like insurance, etc.  It intimidates me to no end.  Basically because I've never paid attention to anything.  Truly, when I bought my house, I signed documents that I semi-understood...but my main concern was the bottom line.  If the monthly payment fit my budget, then all was well. 

So, last week I *finally* closed on my house refinance...still semi-understanding what I was signing...maybe with a little more knowledge than the first time...and with a new homeowner's policy...which was my other step in "taking control".

A couple of weeks ago, I decided I had put off going to the doctor long enough.  I won't even tell you how long it has been that I've been to the doctor for anything other than sickness.  I won't tell you because I don't know.  I *think* it's been less than 5 years...but I couldn't put money on it.  So, I called a new doctor's office to set up a physical...which ended up being a nightmarish event.  Evidently you can't just become a patient...you have to come to a "new patient" appointment and then they will schedule a physical (or whatever you are pursuing, unless you are sick, I guess).  To me, this read as their way of collecting two co-pays...but whatever.  My new patient appointment was last week...and to my surprise, the PA decided to go ahead and do the physical.  Mostly because she couldn't code the appointment to anything else...which I kind of thought about beforehand...but what do I know.  "Taking control".

I'm not really sure what else is on this "taking control" list...definitely some improvements at the house...and really working hard to control my eating...and getting in the gym more often.  All of my 2012 goals are part of the list...so, we shall see how this all works out.

Today, I'm thankful for a beautiful Saturday...and a rainy Sunday...but I am not digging the COLD today. 

Yes, it's snowing in the mountains today.

Take that, Spring! ;)

Happy Monday!

2012 Goals - Update

A couple of months ago, I finally decided on setting some goals for 2012...things that I felt like are very reasonable...doable.  As a reminder, these are my 2012 Goals:

I thought it would be good to give a little update on where I am...mostly because I'm excited to see some of these getting ready to be crossed off the list! :)

1 - I am nowhere near accomplishing this goal.  My problem is that once I create a list, I want to cross everything off.  Never mind that this list is supposed to be something that I take 12 months to  finish.  So...after I set the goal, I took off...pushing myself (which is good for a runner mentality)...but I think I need to back up a little and work on some other areas of my physical fitness...and then begin to push further into this.  I would say I AM working towards this goal...it's a work in progress.

2 - I am very happy to say that I have made significant progress in this area.  I still have a ways to go in paying this off, but I feel really good about where I am with it.  And while I am still striving to have my credit card balance down to $0 by December 31st, I feel very certain that if for some reason I don't quite hit that mark, I will have it paid completely off in early 2013.

3 - I am CLOSING on my home mortgage refinance on Monday! :)  I'm so very excited about this...because who wouldn't appreciate a month without a house payment?  But also...I'm excited about reducing my interest rate by a little over 2%.  Also, within this process I had my home owners & auto insurances reviewed by another agent...and I cut my home owners down almost $200/yr.  The auto stays about the same...but I had been thinking for a while that my home owners was way too expensive - turns out I'm right! So, with the reduction of my home owners & the interest, I should see a good monthly saving in my house payment!

4 - Currently I have $300 in my savings account.  I had put a portion of my tax refund in savings for the appraisal that had to be done on my house...but I put more than I thought I would need, hoping to jump start my savings goal.  I really feel like I'll be up to the $500 mark by May or June.

5 - No progress...sadly enough...

6 - Eeek...I was doing really well with this for a while...and then I didn't.  Still need to work on this one.

7, 8 & 9 - I believe will all be accomplished within the next 30-60 days.  A lot depends on what happens at my re-fi closing.  If they cash out my existing escrow (*fingers crossed*), then I will have a nice little chunk of change that will go directly to accomplishing these three items...and maybe, just maybe, some new living room furniture.  I'm trying not to count my chickens before they hatch...but these are exciting times for me! ;)

So there you have it...Out of 9 items, I really feel good about the progress I've made (or should be making relatively soon) on several of these items.  I'm already doing better than I did in 2011!  :)

What I'm Loving Wednesday

My friend, Rachel posted today what she's loving...so I thought (in my effort to blog a little more often, as I have time) I would jump on that bandwagon for today! :)

I'm loving...

Our weather this week...although, it appears that today is the last of the warm weather days.  It's not going to jump down too awfully cold...but today it's supposed to be around 80.  Tomorrow, low 60's for the high.  I will take it while I can get it!

I'm loving...

Now that my BFF is on Twitter, it's all about the hashtags - in texts, e-mails, in real life conversations...everything has a hashtag!  And I'm loving that she's there and can share in the Twitter madness! :)  Once again, blurring that line between virtual and reality...

I'm loving...

That tomorrow is my last work day for the week!  I'm off on Friday...but no sleeping in for me!  I will be watching my niece & nephew while my sister works and my brother-in-law sleeps (since he's on night shift this weekend). 

I'm loving...

That I DO get to sleep in on Saturday!  Dylan is going with Seth to his grandma's house to do some yardwork...so he's sleeping over at Seth's Friday night...which means that I don't have to get up super early to take him anywhere!  AND I have no plans on Saturday...AND it's supposed to rain (I think)...so I'm feeling a major movie marathon day!

I'm loving...

THIS song by Mercy Me...




So much so...that I went out at lunch and bought an iTunes giftcard so I could add it to my music! :)

I'm loving...

My new phone! :)  I got the iPhone 4 last year...fell in love with it.  Dylan has needed to upgrade his phone since December...and since I'm the cool mom a pushover I really wanted the iPhone 4S, I decided to use his upgrade to get ME the 4S and I gave him my old 4!  The best news???  If Apple DOES come out with iPhone 5 this fall (as is rumored)...my upgrade is in November!  Although, I have to say...the 4S is not a huge jump from the 4...so Apple is going to have to blow my socks off with the next phone for me to layout the moo-lah for another iPhone!

Happy Wednesday!