A Short List of Goals Before 30

Goals...
In the next 3 1/2 years (prior to being 30) I want to:
Run a 5K
(This is especially hilarious because I can't run from here to where my car is parked.  Though back in the day, like middle school, I ran a 9 minute mile)
Take a photography tour
(I want to come back with thousands of pictures from some place I've never been)
Learn to sew on a sewing machine...resulting in either a blanket or a table runner or something of that nature
(I feel like every mom or grown woman should know how to sew...sorry feminists)
Pass for being in my late twenties
(we went to a restaurant not too long ago and I got carded 3 times...Wes never got asked)


Wes has decided he will help me with the 5K...when the weather gets nice...now how do I get him to help with the sewing?

My lessons in Philippians

Everywhere I turn around Philippians is being taught in my life...okay maybe not everywhere but 2 places sure is a lot.  The other morning I attempted to memorize 2:14-15...I'm ashamed to say I don't memorize scripture.  I don't feel a challenge to do so like I did as a little kid.  Growing up Lutheran, we had to memorize or not pass confirmation.  They probably would have passed us anyway but the pressure was on and we memorized...a lot too.
I forgot how difficult it can be.  I chose this particular verse because it is definitely something I need to have in my head and my heart as I am not daily surrounded by Christians...and it's different than high school.  Now I'm on the younger side by a few decades which makes being a light that much more difficult when it's seen as ignorance or innocence.
It's so easy for me to forget that I have tools to bring joy and light into the environment I'm in and reminders that at 26, I am not to be looked down upon because I am young (I totally thought I wouldn't need to know that verse after high school)  I just don't take time to read and learn about it!
Interesting enough I have consistently been around people who spend time in the word every day.  (God knows I need this reminder!)  Growing up it was my mom-every morning!  Now it's Wes, who in attitude to me demonstrates my verse daily by not complaining about all the chores that have fallen to him this semester in addition to his full-time school load.  What a solid-in-my-face reminder.  I needed that.  It's a humbling challenge for me.  As my days get difficult and I come home exhausted, it's a reminder that I probably didn't rely on the one I should have...instead I relied on myself.
I'm so glad I have these consistent reminders in my life...but I'm still a work in progress in that area...and in the area I need this verse for...and in just about every area of my life.

"Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world..."

Ph 2:14-15

If you see me...ask me how the memorizing is going...accountability is never a bad thing...

Our Home...we like it.

So this has been our home for the past year and a half.  It's a wonderful 2 bedroom apartment with terrific downstairs neighbors.  Some of you may remember my horror stories with the Palatine apartment we had 2 years ago with horrible dogs downstairs.  This place is so much better...I had to have an awful experience to truly appreciate this place.  I never moved around as a kid but in the past 4 years I've moved 4 times...I know, not that much for some people but I'm ready to have a home to settle in.  I love our place but with Wes's school situation plans are uncertain at this time.  But at the same time, I want this to be a cozy place we love coming home to.  Not knowing if we will be here another year...or two...or three has made us put a hold on some decoration plans...but I am pleased to report...we have shelves!!  No seriously, this is very exciting.  Here are some pictures from when we moved in a year and a half ago (there are some slight picture frame changes but otherwise it's basically the same) and the last picture is the slight rearrangement and the new shelves.
The spare room/office

 family room

 the new shelves!!

front door is to the left of the t.v.
Thank you Wessley!  I am helpless and cannot bang holes in the wall without you!! :)

Nerdy Preparation

Be forewarned...some of you may be disgusted by what you are about to see...

Others of you will applaud my organization

And others will appreciate the insanity and method to my madness recognizing that I am now done and you have hardly started.

(these are not all of my Christmas cards...just examples)

Yes, I made them, yes they look like a 1st grader's craft project, no I don't care-their mine.

Every year at the end of the summer I begin to think what I would write in a Christmas card about the present year.  Wes and I have had some interesting events this year as well as big changes.  It was fun putting in the info to friends and family who don't live close so they can be caught up on our lives.

I love getting Christmas cards.  Growing up, and still today, my mom always put them in places that looked so elegant.  Big red ribbons were involved.  It was so fun to see pictures of people and hear what they're up to.  Facebook has ruined that a bit but at least these pictures I can hold in my hand.  I look forward to the first Christmas card every year.  I still have not mastered how to make them look elegant in our apartment but I will work on that...I've already walked around Hobby Lobby thinking of ideas...yes I just love Christmas.

Gettin' all Gussied Up

Not a fan of all the gross scary stuff, just the fun dressing up part...and eating the leftover candy part...

Party Number One...they just looked so awesome I had to put up a picture

Party Number Two in the city

The Hipsters...

So we've never been at home for Halloween...not sure if we even get trick-or-treaters.  We bought our favorite candy just in case we get to be the ones to eat it.  Um...maybe we should just turn the lights off.

A Dead Desire of My Heart

Ballerina magnets a few of my dance students made me (one of them still needs to be hot glued to the magnet)

This dance class is just another example in my life of God giving me the desires of my heart.  I always wanted to teach ballet and never thought I would be able to.  I don't have a degree in dance, I just have 11 years of ballet, tap, jazz, and pointe experience and while I was in the top classes by the end of my dance "career", I've only entered a small handful of contests and until this studio found me (yes it most definitely found me) I only ever choreographed dances in my head.  I've been doing this for almost six months now and I absolutely love it.  The girls are fantastic, they get my humor, and we have fun!  One mom stopped me on my way out the door last week and said "They are always smiling".  Good!  It's all about having fun, learning and becoming better, but having fun.  It's just something I never thought I would do but always wanted to.  Just another example of how God can and does give us the desires of our heart...sometimes we just have to wait.  I gave up on that dream in college-the dream was dead.  God is amazing.

Budgeting

I just want to make a shout out to all those people who are budgeting.
After being inspired by Dave Ramsey (google him...now).  We came up with a budget.  I know every family is different and is able to budget differently, which seems weird to me because to me budgeting used to mean "you can't buy anything but groceries and gas for your car".  But I'm learning that when you budget well and within your means it means you know where you're money is going and you are keeping good track of it, staying in within the boundaries you set.  It doesn't mean you can't ever buy a shirt, it just means, "let's wait until the middle or end of the month" and instead of going to Ann Taylor Loft, buy it at Target...or not at all.  Budgeting for us means netflix is cheaper than cable...our "tv bill" is $16/month (hulu has anything we would really want to watch anyway)!  It means bringing your lunch every day instead of eating out and saying "no" to starbucks unless you have a giftcard.  We have absolutely dominated our grocery bill for the past two months and it's a good feeling.  Family of 2= under $130.  Thank you Aldi, we couldn't have done it without you.
It also means planning ahead.  Like Dave Ramsey says "Christmas does not sneak up on you.  It happens every year.".  So we have been planning accordingly for that and a few other things we know are coming up.  It's nice to not fear finances.
Dave Ramsey also encourages families to make a little extra $ wherever they can.  Well, we discovered Half Priced Books...okay so we didn't discover it but the actual store is only 2 miles from us.  We sold some books and DVDs we don't use for $40!

So yeah for budgets!  You should make one too!