Test. 1, 2, 3. Test.

I am a self-proclaimed horrible blogger. What I mean by that is: in my head, I am a really great blogger.I think of topics and stories and pics to post, but in theory, I always forget (or think I don't have time) to sit down and write them out. Anyways I say that to say this (without being judged by all the veteran bloggers out there who are getting ready to say 'duh!') I just learned about the ability to schedule posts! Yay! What this means is that I really only need to get motivated about once a week, and just write multiple blogs at that time. This definately seem alot less intimidating. So here's to scheduled posting. And here's my t-t-test, test, 1, 2, 3. 

Golden!

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And yet another!

My 2013 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Blog 100x this year. 
2. Pay off my condo. 
3. Make a new recipe a week.
4. Save $10000.00
5. Collect an address book. And write a letter to everyone in the book.
6. Make six figures.

I marked off #5: Collect an address book, and write a letter to everyone in the book. I didn't technically finish this one like I thought I would. But these are my resolutions- so, i make the rules. Even as we speak (and by speak, I mean as I type), my hands are cramping and recovering from addressing save the dates. I have collected just around 190ish addresses from friends and family and am sending out save the dates (kinda like a letter). So as a bit of a reward to myself, I am marking this one compete. Collecting addresses- check. Sending a letter (save the date)- check. 

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Another Mission Accomplished!

My 2013 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Blog 100x this year. 
2. Pay off my condo. 
3. Make a new recipe a week.
4. Save $10000.00
5. Collect an address book. And write a letter to everyone in the book.
6. Make six figures.

       About three weeks ago, I paid off my condo. After 3 years of living in my humble abode, she's my little beut. Which is exciting for a variety of reasons- I don't have to worry about some one (doing owner-financing) is going to take all my money and run, #2, I can start looking for a home to start mine and the fiance's life off together in, and lastly rental income, baby!

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You're never too old for dress up!!

So I have been meaning to blog about the costumes that I have made in the past, so that I can begin to blog about the ones I am making in the present. And since I am working on this years Halloween costumes today, and we are only a few weeks out from Halloween, I thought it would be a prefect countdown of sorts to the Holiday, and maybe help a couple people who need last minute ideas. Today, I will go over a costume for Rawle's 80s theme sports birthday party.

This costume, doesn't take much creativity, I'll admit. For this costume, I used an old pair of grey tights that I already had. I then scoured thrift stores for the perfect ensemble. I was lucky and able to find a black leotard (if you're not so lucky, I will advise how to make your own leotard in a future post). I then found this amazing purple wolf sweatshirt. I cut of the collar, allowing the sweatshirt to fall off one should and the strap from the leotard to show. You can pick up the sweatbands for your head and wrist at any local sports store or walmart for pretty cheap, unless of course you have some already on hand. And not seen in the picture, I created some leg warmers out of a fleece bought at the thrift store with elastic at the top and bottom of the sleeve I had cut off.

Costume topped off with some bright make up and a side pony. You can never go wrong with a side pony!!

Keep on the lookout, they get much better from here.

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oh 25...

i now think 25 is the year you officially become an adult. 

25 is the first year, i started referring to early 30s as young. 

25 is the first year that i looked at myself in a swimsuit and saw cellulite. 

25 is the first year that I didn't freak out when I think about having a job long-term. 

25 is the first year (and hopefully only) that I got engaged. 

25 is the first year that I could confidently negotiate a salary on a new job, because I know my worth. 

25 is the first year that I am having to try (and try hard) to be in shape. 

But even though I am officially an adult, I feel as though it's a beautiful time in my life. To look at your life and be in a spot, where you are confident and thankful for who you are and what you have become. I am blessed with a gorgeous, gracious, understanding fiance. I have a dream job where I am valued, my opinion is heard, and there is opportunity to grow and adapt and change. I have the best friends and family that one could ask for. I have a condo that is almost paid off completely. May never a day go by that I am now thankful for what I have been given. 

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Selecting a date.

This may be the one thing that is just as terrible as everyone says.

Originally I had said that I would either get married in October (5 months from proposal) or April (11 months).

Things to consider when choosing a date:

-Is the day going to fall on any big gamedays, that the groom or men in your life are going to grumble (at least one time) that it is on that day? This may only be an Oklahoman thing where college football (which is played in the fall) dictates most people's schedules. 

-Doing the once over with everyone to see if they have any major travel plans or events that would cause them to not make it. Some people would disagree and say "pick the date", they'll make a way to be there if they want to. While I agree you can't accommodate everyone, there are certain people that you probably really really want to be at your special day. My mom and grandma both have major vacations scheduled for October, leaving only the 5th available (and yes- it wasnt a major gameday). However, my finance's grandmother could not make it. In my mom's defense, when planning the trip, she did check to see if I was going to get married then- i responded "of course not" considering I was yet to get engaged. 

-What season do you want to have your wedding in? Honestly, to me, the thought of a winter wedding mortified me. I do not like the cold, and the thought of trying to get things planned during the chaos of the holidays, easily wiped out the winter months.

-When do you want your anniversary to be? It may sound weird, but this one of my biggest influencing factors. My birthday and Christmas both fall in December. Valentine's day is February. And my fiance's birthday is in March. Because of this I wanted a celebration to be a few months after Christmas and my birthday. Which is why I had always been drawn to late spring versus October.

-Decide if having it sooner is going to stress you out. If having it sooner will stress you out, then its not worth it. If you are going to spend the rest of your life with them, what's 6 more months? Also, youre only engaged for this short period of time, so soak it up.

-Decide what day of the week you would like to get married on. When it came to a Sunday vs. Saturday, there were a few things that influenced this decision for me. If you are having your wedding on a Sunday, there are some things that may be less expensive (which you will see in future blog posts). Also, I work in the car industry, which is only closed on Sunday (statewide), this allows me to plan best for not only the wedding, but vacation time for a honeymoon as well, and all of my friends who also work in the car business will able to be off, when getting off for a Saturday would be nearly impossible. And in opposition to some recommendations by a couple of people, I am fully convinced that those friends who would stay late on a Saturday will be the same ones to stay late on a Sunday. And those who leave early "because its Sunday", would be the same ones to leave early on Saturday.

-May sure not to forget those floating holidays. It's easy to plan or not plan your wedding on big holidays- Christmas is always December 25th, Valentines- February 14th, the floating ones (as I like to call them) are a little tricky sometimes. For example: Mother's day, Easter, Labor Day. For us, we had are hearts set are April 20th, then realized that was when Easter fell next year, followed by the OKC Memorial Marathon the next week, which takes place downtown (where our wedding will also be), which finally pushed on date on into the first Sunday of May, which is the one before Mother's Day. 

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Planning my dream wedding.

I do not consider myself a wedding planning extraordinaire, nor do I consider myself any sort of wedding planner. I mean after all, this is my first, and hopefully, only wedding I have planned.

However, if I do say so myself, I am doing quite well at this thing.

I got engaged on April 28th, 2013, and we have set a date: May 4th, 2014. Which allows for basically right at a year. A little longer than I would have originally anticipated, but that picking the date thing, may be just as tricky as they say. We'll get into that one later.

Since we do have a little over a year, we have time to be patient about decisions, time to look at every single location we need to, time to scour stores for the perfect sale. I do realize there may be someone reading this that has shorter of a timeline, and for those, I'll do some of the dirty work for you. While this blog may have helpful tidbits for the masses, it will probably be most beneficial for those ladies in the oklahoma city market, so that is where I am located and where my dream wedding will be taking place.

And for those of you who normally read my blog (my mom and less than a handful of friends), sorry if there are no surprise factors, as they will almost all be talked about here. But then again, you guys are the ones helping me and that I am sharing with in my real life.

So not only do I hope one or two people find some of this info a tad helpful, I am also very excited to look back and reminisce on how exciting the planning was.

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Home Sweet 'Homa.

I love Oklahoma.
Always have, always will.

Born and raised. I was getting ready to say 18 years strong, and then I thought, no 23. Then I remembered the reality: 25, 25 years strong.

Yesterday seemed like a dream. A very very bad dream. One of the most surreal days I have ever experienced.

From the moment I walked outside to head to work, feeling the eeriness of the skies. Knowing already of the forewarned threat of severe weather. Trying to soak in a previous day of heartache and preparing yourself for the upcoming unknown.

It's hard to explain the feeling; numbness, stress, worry, hurt, heartache, helplessness. From the moment you hear the first tornado sirens sound to the moment you finally pry yourself from the horrific footage of the EF5 tornado- thoughts and concern still lingering in your head.

While trying to go throughout the day, my heart ached. Ached for the parents. Ached for the trapped kids. My heart even ached at the thought of me having my own children. If I knew I would ever have to face that type of loss, I think I would refrain from having children altogether. I'm not sure I could handle it.

I wanted to make my rounds around the city to hug every member of my family's neck. I stressed because I couldnt get a hold of my fiance when the storm began to develop, and it wasnt even headed his way.

I'm sure this post is quite scattered, and if so, I think that's a good inclination of exactly whats going on in my head.

My heart is heavy still today. And in that hurt, I pray and I weep and I hope along-with and for my fellow Oklahomans.

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Mission Accomplished.

My 2013 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Blog 100x this year. 
2. Pay off my condo. 
3. Make a new recipe a week.
4. Save $10000.00
5. Collect an address book. And write a letter to everyone in the book.
6. Make six figures.


I have accomplished my first new year's resolution of the year. And I actually completed it back around the first of March. I have saved $10,000!! Honestly, a year and a half ago, when I started that savings account, I never really thought that would be possible. 

BADABING!!!

Through lots of discipline, a career change, some tax returns, and selling a pickup I acquired through my brother, it was accomplished.
And most of my real life friends (who would also be the only people reading this blog) know what that beloved money was being saved for. 

I'm 1/6th of the way there. Woot, Woot!

 

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Sorry for the disappointment.

If I were seriously into reading this blog (which I'm not sure any one qualifies), I would be majorly disappointed.

Not only is this blog hit or miss with when there will be a new post, it is also filled with its fair share of false promises. I won't even try to go back and read the number of posts that state something to the effect of "I'm serious this time....I'm really going to start blogging....Sorry for it being so long..." If you need to see an example, look at the last blog right below this one written APRIL 15....almost a month ago.

So I don't want to make any promises (though I do really want to make those promises- its just part of who I am, I guess), let's juts hope that it get better than this. Because sometimes it can't get any worse.

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Oh man. Oh man. Oh man.

Well I have something good and bad for the blog readers...the whole two of you...

The BAD: I haven't blogged in so long and am so far behind on all the goals (the # of blogs, the # of recipes, the workout tips, the finance advice, and the life updates).

The GOOD: I have lots and lots to catch you up on. Oh so so much. And this is my jumpstart to hop back on the productive train.

I would be lying if I didn't say I was a little overwhelmed about all that I have to write about.

So I will spend the rest of the evening (probably about 30 minutes or less) to construct a list of all the catching I need to do.

So prepare yourselves...I'm serious this time.

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oh february.

Oh, february. You short, sneaky, sly month.

I don't know if there are statistics to back me up on this, but I am convinced this is the month that derails everyone's resolutions and motivation.

This blog post will make my 14th blog post (3 for february, 11 for january), leaving 86 for the rest of the year. Not too shabby, I'd say. That's only 8.6 per month starting in March. However, THREE posts for february. That's not helping anyone.

And recipes have slacked off a bit. 6 down. 46 to go. Technically, I think I am only 2 recipes behind where I should be, but this is not a good slump to be getting into.

Also, it's just occurred to be that I have not posted many (I think only 1) financial tidbits. And 0 costume designs. I'll try to get on that.

Oh, and I've definitely not written anything about working out....I'll just let you guess as to the reason why.

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recipe four. recipe five. recipe six.

These are my super bowl recipes (previously mentioned):

Disclaimer: these recipes are in a specific order, from most recommended to least. i love love love the dill oyster crackers, the mini corn dogs would be super delish in the mini muffin tin, however i only had the full size one, and the deviled eggs were okay to those who liked deviled eggs, i just hated the deshelling part...nobody has time for that.

Dill Oyster Crackers

1 cup vegetable oil

1 bag oyster crackers

1 tsp dill weed

1 tsp garlic powder

1 pkg ranch mix

Mix oil and spices together, pour over crackers and mix together. Let it set for a while until oil soaks in and crackers are dry.


Mini Corn Dog Muffins


Ingredients:
-1 box of cornbread (and the ingredients it takes to make)
-1 pkg of hot dogs.

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk together cornbread.
-Spray a MINI muffin tin with non-stick spray, and spoon 1 Tablespoon of batter into each mini muffin cup.
-Cut hotdog  into smaller pieces.
-Place one hot dog bite into the middle of each cup.
-Bake for 8-12 minutes (oven temperatures vary), or until cornbread is golden brown.

Deviled Eggs

 

Ingredients:

 12 eggs
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
2 teaspoons sweet relish
Salt
Pepper

Directions:
Place eggs in a large wide saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil for 12 minutes. Remove eggs and and cool in refrigerator. Remove shells from eggs and slice in half lengthwise. Separate egg yolks and place into a bowl. Place whites on a separate plate. Add mayo, mustard, relish and salt and pepper, to taste, to yolks and mash together with a fork until creamy and smooth. Using a large star tip and resealable plastic bag, pipe the yolk mixture back into each egg, enough to fill yolk holes completely.  Refrigerate. Serve cold.

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It's been a great week!!!

Man, oh man.

It's been a great week.

I have had an airbag light that has been on in my 2003 vehicle for the past couple of months. With my experience in dealing with vehicles, I know this: anything with airbags is expensive. Because of this, I decided to just deal with it. I figured that the chances of it just exploding while driving were slim. I figured what was more likely to happen would be that it would not work properly in a collision. Well my patience and deciding to take my chances has paid off.

This week a recall was issued for my vehicle and for this issue. While the solution has yet to be issued, long story short- this issue will now be resolved, and for free.
 
The next thing has got to be the best thing that happened. (If you would like the full version of this story, feel free to ask me in person.) I received a promotion at work and my official title is now Assistant Finance Director. This also includes a raise and much more authority (say) in the way my department runs.I have been nothing but blessed by God since I decided on a career change last July.

Anyone who knows me, knows the kind of phone that I can carry. They know its a simple phone, not a smart one, not one with internet, nothing cool. I bought an android phone for my boyfriend for Christmas, and ever since I have been admiring them. I found one I really like a couple months ago, but decided if I could just outlive the itch for one then I would be fine. Well, I have been checking websites occasionally ever since.

 Well it just so happens that the phone went on sale this week, so I would be able to save $40 on the phone. And because of the sale, and recent raise, I have decided that now is the time to move forward with the purchase.  

P.S. I also made 3....yep you read it right...3 new recipes today for the SuperBowl, all of which I will post over the next couple of days. 

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Workout Wake-up Call

Today was my workout wake-up call.

For the past couple of weeks, I have been moderately running. And by moderately, I mean some days I would, some days I wouldn't. When I would decide to go I would run 2 or 3 miles on the treadmill and then call it quits. The reasoning behind this is that I believe that running is the best way, for me personally, to get in shape the quickest.

But today was different....

Today I did an arm workout. My legs are still feeling the pain from yesterday, and Rawle does a rotation of arms and legs workout, and since today was his arm workout, I decided to join. The arm workout usually begins with the bench press, however tonight they were all full, and that't when it began....

So we moved on to push-ups.

I've always been someone who has been able to plop down and do a number of push-ups. Welp, not tonight! I plopped on down to the starting position and I could not lift myself up. I don't know if its because I've gain a little bit of weight or lost a lot of muscle. I felt like my mom (no offense, mom, since you may be th only one reading this). My mom a few months ago showed my how she attempted to do a sit-up and could not complete it, and I thought (arrogantly) to myself that that would never be me. Well, not the same, but pretty close. [and just for the record, after not being able to complete said push-up, I did roll over to confirm that I could still do the good ole sit up.]

And that, my friends, was my workout wake-up call. Time to kick it in to high gear!!!!

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First Date Finances.

This is the first of (hopefully) many financial tidbits.

I was working out this morning (yes you read that right) and while running on the treadmill was watching the Today Show. They were showing a clip about a credit score dating website, based on(you guessed it) finding a match for you based on credit scores. WEIRD. Anyways their financial expert did state one thing that I thought was very important and that every couple should do. I believe this is somewhat common sense, but for those of you who hadn't thought of it yet....youre welcome.

This is not necessarily first date material....but I would have this conversation take place sometime between then and getting married. You should know the following things about your significant other:

1. How much they make?

2. What they own?

3. What they owe?


I think all of this questions are important. The first one is kind of something I think that you would know naturally. But if not, it is going to be necessary is order to form any sort of budget/ spending habits. The second is important so that you will know what assests are actually theirs (paid off and all) and which ones that are still purchasing (financing). And lastly, I personally believe this may be the most important, is knowing what they owe and on what. You don't want to blindly be taking on lots of debt that you are unprepared for. Once you know what they owe, you can (together) come up with a plan in regards to repaying the debt. Also, it wouldnt be bad to know their credit score. Eventually you will may have to buy something on credit, and knowing that at least one of you can get a loan approval may be neccessary.

Finances play a big factor is the happiness/stress of one's relationship. Airing the much needed out in the open is one way in which you may be solving a problem before it ever becomes an issue.

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Recipe Three.

Doritos Taco Salad

1 lb. ground beef

1 head iceberg lettuce, cleaned and torn into bite site pieces

1 envelope of taco seasoning

1 medium sized tomato, diced

1 bag of nacho Doritos

1 bottle French Dressing

1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Brown ground beef. Drain fat. Toss with dry taco seasoning.  Set aside until cool. In a large bowl add lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. Then right before you serve it add the beef, Doritos and dressing and mix.

...I do believe that Rawle is beginning to jump on board for this new year's resolution. He smiled with delight as he tasted recipe three. 

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Cheers.

The funk has ended.

The weeklong funk drew to an end today. It seems that the funk that seemed to set in last Sunday was a predictor of the week that was to work. When chaos taking place in the workplace, it made for a long and tiredsome (and unmotivated) week. However, today, after much needed sleep. I can feel the air of productiveness has come back.

Today, after the initial peptalk to get out of bed. I decide to tackle some spring cleaning early. I gathered up the information I will need to file my taxes in a couple of weeks. I also began to brainstorm recipes to get me inspired to cook again. I began to clean my condo. I cleaned through my closet, getting rid of 3 laundry baskets full of clothes. I was out of kitchen size trash bags, but gathered of a half dozen sacks of things to throw away. I brainstormed a list of repairs/ upgrades that I wanted to take place on my condo over the next couple of months.

I then went to the store to gather groceries for this week's recipe and to pick up an address book (see new year's resolutions). 

So this week will consist of beginning to write my recipes, starting the address book, brainstorming the condo upgrades, and finishing gathering my tax info. 

So cheers to productiveness....and to a great week to come!

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I hit the wall.

yep...

just like with every good thing....

i hit the wall.....

and at only 20 days in.....

i hit the wall yesterday......

i felt as thought this year was on to a productive start....

blogging, cooking, running, saving....

then BOOM!!!.....

for the life of me, i cannot get motivated....

not yesterday...

not today...

and for sure, not tomorrow.....

maybe i'm in a funk.....

i thought this short spouting might help...

nope...

and im already stressed about my workday tomorrow.....

i look at recipes....overwhelmed...

think about running....no way

try to blog....about what?

save money...well...this one's alright.....

here's a toast (without a drink in hand)....

though i wish i had some milk right now....

and cookies...

but im in bed....

here's a toast....

to letting this funk reside tonight....

and kicking it to the curb tomorrow....

or maybe the next day....

but definately before thursday....

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Blog-Vision.

 

 

While recently talking to one of my comrads about my new year's resolutions, and more specifically- blogging 100x this year- she asked "well what are you going to blog about?".

 

And while mostly, it'll just be anything and everything that i want to, I do have a few things/ideas that will probbaly dominate the blog.

 

What I plan to blog (mostly) about:

 

-Recipes that I try:

These will be good for the cook-wannabe. This means all the recipes will have only a few ingredients, and more than likely no of the outlandish ingredients.

 

-Homemade Costumes:

Anyone who knows me remotely well, knows my love for costumes. And knows my love for making them myself. When it comes time for some sort of costume to be whipped up, I am usually scouring the web for ideas. Most of the time, I end up just using original ideas after lots of searching leads to deadends. So I thought it only makes sense for me to write about my awesome costumes to assist with those others who are diyers.

 

-Financial Tidbits:

Due to my recent career change and personal financial lifestyle change, I thought I would post the tidbits that are assisting me in getting things done financially. These are not your parents financial tidbits, this is advice for you, in your life, at this moment. Just as a disclaimer: this is my personal opinion. This is not fact, this is not a dave ramsey/suze orman class. This is what has worked for me.

 

-Workout Regimen:

Based on my workout history, if I were to guess, this would become the most flaky part of the blog. But, then again, maybe I will suprise myself. We'll see. So if this portion happens to become consistent, then it would contain tips for the highly motivated unmotivated workoutter, and things that have made me stay on track.

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Recipe Two.

This recipe I also made for my Mad Hatter shindig. Super super easy and super super delicious. 

Here it goes: 

Limeade Pie

Source: Sheri Denney
Ingredients:

-1 (6 ounce) can of frozen limeade concentrate

-1 (14 ounce) can of Eagle Brand Condensed milk

-8 ounce container of thawed Cool Whip

-couple drops green food coloring (however green you want it)

-9 inch pre-made graham cracker crust

 

Instructions:

 

-Thaw out the limeade so that it is runny. 

-Mix it thoroughly with the condensed milk. 

-Stir in food coloring and fold in whipcream.

-Pour into the graham cracker crust 

-Let set up in the refrigerator for at least an hour.

 

.....and Tadah!!!! 

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Recipe One.

So with this receipe part of my resolutions, I thought I was way behind on trying new receipes...but thanks to my birthday gathering on January 5th, I actually tried 2 receipes. So while I am attempting to do a recipe a week, I'll consider myself golden if I even attempt 52 before the end of the year.


Cherry Limeade (Courtesy of The Pioneer Women)

Ingredients:

- 2-liter bottle of lemon lime soda
- 1 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 10-ounce jar of maraschino cherries (with juice)
- Thin lime slices

Directions

 

-Chill all ingredients before mixing.

-When cold, combine the lemon-lime soda, lime juice, sugar, cherries with their juice and lime slices in a large pitcher and stir. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

 

-Serve with a ladle, getting cherries and limes in each serving.

 

 

This recipe was super super easy, and served as our punch for the party. Was a great drink by itself or an alcholol of your choice.

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2013 resolutions..for now.

I guess it's better late than never.. 

...drum roll........My 2013 New Year's Resolutions:

1. Blog 100x this year. 

I have always loved blogging and really have a desire to do it regularity. For the few times, I have done it regularly, I love looking back on the times and being able to read and remember specific details about them. 

2. Pay off my condo. 

I have own my condo for a little over two years at this point. I am doing an owner-finance loan, which has been pretty seamless thus far. However, it always makes me a little nervous. Once the condo is paid off, it will be easier to save money and/or rent it out at that time. 

3. Make a new recipe a week.

I do feel that over this past year, I have expanded my cooking abilities. I want to try new recipes and begin to build a cookbook with recipes that I can (and have) actually made.

4. Save $10000.00

I opened up a savings account in November 2011, automatically adding $25 per month. I continue to have that same $25 put into the account monthly, and contribute additional money as of late. I am trying to aggressively save this amount. And this amount is for something particularly important. My much loved boyfriend and I use the countdown method, with a running total of what is left, which make it quite fun to see progress of little and big amounts.

5. Collect an address book. And write a letter to everyone in the book. 

Always have loved receiving and sending mail. I would love to have all of my loved ones addresses, so at moment's notice I could send something to them without having to ask for their address. I believe if I completed this project not only would it be making the days of people that I love, but remind me of  how blessed I am and grateful I should be. 

6. Make six figures.
Uh, a little bit (and by little, i mean alot) of a stretch. I am very curious to see what my career has in store for me this year. I will be put on a performance-based pay plan. So by setting this goal, I am really setting more of doing my absolute best in sales and maybe, maybe, maybe it could be achieved.

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There is such a thing as beauty sleep.

 After yesterday, I am convinced there is such a thing as beauty sleep. And here is why...


 On Thursday evening after going out to dinner, I returned home and all but immediately feel asleep on the bed. Boots, jeans, fleece on and all. It was 8pm. I slept just like this until 11:30pm, at that time, I woke up, changed into pajamas, drank a glass of milk, and fell right back to sleep until 9am the next morning. With the brief stint of being awake at 11:30pm, I slept right around 12 1/2 hours, give or take a couple of minutes.

This feat was amazing even for myself, who has always been a lover of sleep.

Well Friday, I went into work at 11am. I had 5 customers on Friday. Here are excerpts from 3 of them:

A couple of Asian gentlemen: "We get to work with this good-looking women!?!?!"

A young lady with her mother, in response to the Christmas picture of my boyfriend and me: "Shaila, you look much prettier in person." (I took this as a compliment, because I thought personally I looked pretty cute in the picture.)

Family of three, in reference to the same picture: "You are much too good looking for your boyfriend (sidenote: if you don't know my boyfriend, he's quite dreamy), you are such a nice looking lady and have a great personality to match."

So, if anyone claims or thinks I ever sleep too much, please reference this blog post. I am just testing my hypothesis and getting my much-needed beauty sleep.

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2012- Doneski!

I am so tempted, like so many times before, to go ahead and write right here about not blogging in such a long time, blah, blah, blah, and how I swear it'll be different this time. Well, by looking at past experiences, the odds are against me..so I won't even go there. But I can't even believe the last blog was about blueberry pancake cupcakes and it was ONE YEAR AGO...that feels like yesterday.

With this first blog post, I want to recap last year, because I think it's so important to recall the amazing things that came and went this year, and be grateful for them now and years from now.

-Continuation of living on a budget and I took financial control of my life
-Began paying on my student loan.
-Was the maid of honor at my best friend's wedding.
-Continued playing co-ed soccer.
-Road trip to Nashville for said wedding.
-Being blessed with 25 amazing, full years thus far.
-Continued contributing money to my savings account.
-PAID OFF MY STUDENT LOANS!

-Quit a job that I realized would never make me happy.

-Found a job I love and is rewarding in multiple aspects.

-Stood up for myself.

-Again, attended and made costumes for birthdays...though not as many this year.

-Fell more in love with the man of my dreams.

-Began to go to a new church -NorthChurch- with said man.

2012 was an amazing year. I do feel as though it was the year that I officially entered into Grownupville. And as scary as it may be, I am liking what I see so far.

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