New and I like it.

There have been so many new "happenings" around here lately; I feel like I'm living a different life.

We moved into a cute place in Barrington.  We have definitely had to simplify our life a bit.  We gave a lot of our furniture to family who can use it at this point more than we could, we sold a good portion of our books (thank you HalfPrice books for the $87), and I boxed up about 1/3 of what was in our kitchen to sell at a garage sale in July.  Simple is good.  It continues to remind me how nothing is really mine anyway.

Pulling two jobs a day is no more!  I will miss my previous place of employment but I am excited about this new chapter.  I am greatly looking forward to pursuing photographer even further because of my less rigid schedule.  Here are some fun pictures from the session with my brother and his family two weeks ago.

 He is sooo my brother's child.

I have 3 goals now that life looks a lot different than it did a few months ago.  I hope to keep an update here on how I'm doing.  Accountability is a good thing.

#1 Run a 5K

There is a 5K in August that I hope to run in.  I began the "Couch to 5K" plan last week and am already on Week 2...7 weeks to go!  Let's see if I can bring my 14 minute mile down to a less embarrassing 10.

#2 Make my own cleaning supplies

I don't feel quite educated enough to do this yet, but I have made a huge effort to buy supplies that are a lot safer.

#3 Make a new meal a week

Heh...we'll see how long this one stays on the list.  It's not that I hate cooking.  I don't.  There is just this small part of me that wants to rebel against the statement that "a woman's place is in the kitchen".  If someone were to ask me to bake brownies I would probably subconsciously do it wrong just so I'd never be asked again.  There are a few things I make well.  Mostly...mac n cheese.  No, but really, I can cook.  I just don't want anyone to EXPECT me to...because I'm a woman, a future Pastor's wife, etc.  But I suppose now that I work until 2pm everyday instead of 7pm I should take the lead on meals.  I suppose that's fair.

I'll let you know if I can control my subconscious and make something edible.