Haiti Update: January.

Image.

Whew, it seems like just yesterday I sat down to write the December update. I supposed that means April is going to sneak up on in a fury of preparations.



Thank you for the kind words since I announced my intentions to go to Haiti. Your encouragement has lifted me up and grown my excitement for all that the Lord has for me on this trip. I've read every comment, text, e-mail, and tweet with your words and soaked them up!

I had my first missions meeting yesterday. I was excited to finally get a little more info after felling like the last month my mind has been swinging with Haiti info. I will say, I got a little scared when I realized how phyical this trip will be. We will be doing construction, which I knew, but this will include lugging and laying 35lb cement bricks for the foundation of a church in Haiti. Ouch. I've been advised along with the rest of my team to train, physically, for the difficulties we will experience physically. Jillian Michaels and I have some big dates coming up!

I'm pleased to announced I've been officially 'approved' to go from the church - so this trip is REAL!

Many of you have been kind enough to want to help! I've spend some time thinking about how this could best be done. I LOVE finding ways to contribute to others mission ambitions myself, so I wanted to find real, tangible ways for you all to be a part of this trip (if you want too) whether you're a friend, neighbor, family member, or blog world friend. So here are some ways you can help, all of which I would be grateful for!...

1. Prayer. I mean it when I say that if what you've got to give is prayer - I will TAKE IT! I am excited, peaceful, and confident in the Lord's provision for my safety, finances, etc but I will take every last prayer with a grateful heart. This is certainly a crazy little adventure of which, I will need the Lord direction every step of the way. If you're committing to pray for me - I'd love to know about it, and I would also love it if you'd remind me along the way that you're praying and how you're praying! That would really to my heart good.

2. Supplies. If you want to 'give' in a tangible way, I still need a few supplies. I shared before that my Mom bought quite a few things from my list for my trip as stocking stuffers, but there's still some basic supply needs. If you aren't in Tampa but you'd like to send me a supply care package, I will happily e-mail you my address (as long as I semi know you - so I'm not giving my address to creepers ha ha).

Here's a list of some of the things I still need:

- Water purifying tablets (you can google them - they're for international travel)
-Granola bars and...
- Other prepackaged snacks
- Peanut butter
- Dry shampoo
- Baby wipes
- Hand sanitizer ( I got some in my stocking but I'm thinking I may need a good bit of this)

(May I state as a disclaimer that if I end up with too much of any of these things I will happily donate them to my fellow travelers. I promise not to hoard 100s of packs of baby wipes all for me)

3. Treasure/Trash. Yep, you read that right. What might be your trash can be turned into treasure. My sweet friend Jess has agreed to host me a yard sale and I will be accepting any donations of things you no longer need/use/want to be sold to benefit my trip. I figured this was a simple way that anyone who wanted to contribute would have a chance to do so, however big or small your donation. So if you want to clean off your bookshelf, clean out your closet, or get rid of a pile of tees taking up too much room in your dresser save them for me! The yard sale will be Saturday, February 18th in the Northdale area - and I will most likely start taking the donations in the week before (I can't store them for 6 weeks...) Again, if you want to ship a box of stuff, I'll take that too.

4. Finances. I wanted to list this last because I'm not a big fan of asking for money. So I'm not going too. I'm just going to put it out there, that if you want to contribute financially to my trip - that would wonderful. The trip itself costs $900 and in addition I have to get immunizations, a passport, etc. So it's not cheap. I trust the Lord to pave the way and feel completely comfortable with it all. But several of you have asked about giving and I am touched my your generosity. If you're interested in giving money wise - please e-mail me for further info.

(Another disclaimer - if there is a crazy influx of funds I do promise not to use your money on a new handbag - if I raise over what I need for this trip, I will be donating the rest to the members of my team who need funding as well. All donations will go towards the Haiti trip)

For more info on any of the above need listings you can e-mail me at: thequeenbc@gmail.com

Thank you for your continued love and support.

Love,
B

12 Things I'm Already Loving in 2012.

1. Starting the year off with friends, over brunch. It was a delicious and relaxing way to ring in the New Year with some of my favorite people. A great way to start this year off on the right foot.

2. Being halfway done with my 5th book of 2012. When I'm in a reading groove, I'm REALLY in a groove. (I read 15 pages while doing my hair the other morning)

3. Friday Night Lights on Netflix. My boy E hooked me up with Netflix on my new iPad and I'm pretty much obsessed with this show right now. Even though I've seen at least the first 3 (of 5) seasons, I'm going back through from the beginning. I should probably be pacing myself so I don't run out of episodes too soon.

4. Year Three. I'm in my third year as a homeowner and well into my 3rd year at my current job. Year three feels good.

5. Travel! My decision to make this year's theme 'experiences' was well received by friends and blog readers alike. And I am welcoming the first few months of that with travel. I received my e-mail from Southwest yesterday saying 'your next trip is just around the corner' and I squealed with excitement. First up, Scottsburg, Indiana. But that is only the first of many travels coming soon (FSU, Haiti, DC...).

6. Family. I feel closer to my family than ever going into this year and I am loving that.

7. FaceTime. I started using FaceTime after I got my iphone in the fall but since becoming an iPad user, I'm loving it even more. Feeling like I can sit at home and have a face-to-face chat with my best friend in Indiana, one of my closest guy friends in Chicago, my niece in North Carolina, etc has really made this year exciting so far.

8. Budgeting. After 2 years of successful budgeting I started 2012 with the best lead yet. I feel good about reaching my financial goals this year, staying debt free, and enjoying that travel budget I've worked so hard for.

9. Living in Florida. May marks 4 YEARS since my move to Florida and I can say very honestly, I've loved every minute (ok fine, maybe there have been 10 minutes here or there where I curse the heat or something).

10. Chasing Dreams. I've determined that your 20s are the time for chasing your dreams and I'm giving that my full attention and effort. Stay tuned for how that's shaping up for 2012.

11. Cleaning up and cleaning out. Since I came back from Christmas vacation a few days before my return to work I had time to do a little simplifying. Clean up some clutter, prep a few boxes for my upcoming yardsale to raise money for my Haiti trip, and make a list of what I still want to go through. Honestly, I even cleaned out the condiment section of my fridge, some of which has probably been hanging out there since I moved in, in December of 2009.

12.Being Me. That sounds weird, but honestly - I love my life. I'm so thankful for the people in it, living in my favorite city, and all that the Lord has given me. It's good to be me in 2012.

Love,
B

#3.

Well lovies, my flight is booked. DC 2012 is happening. I was talking to a friend over Christmas who said, 'I really want to come visit you this year, but I just have to find the time'. Here's what I've learned about life - you don't find time, ever. You make it. Make time for what matters and what you value, because otherwise it slips by and the next year you'll say the same.

One of the great benefits to my job in events is that I travel for work. While traveling for work (on flights I book) I rack up points, usually with Southwest, my favorite airline. I get to use the points for pleasure. And so, after my trip to NYC last year where I used a freebie flight to make it an affordable, though not 'cheap', trip - I was inspired. Why not for this season of life where I get to travel for free one or twice a year to see major US cities? And so, the plan to visit Washington DC was born.

Truthfully, I'm already dreaming of where my 2013 destination will be! I know, ridiculous.

I did get that across body bag I wanted for my trip for Christmas so I can travel light at least while I'm perusing the city. I've started a list of all the places I want to go, see, and of course, eat (hello, DC Cupcakes).

Going to DC is #3 on my list of goals for 2012 - so here I am taking a big stride towards it, with a booked flight. May can't come soon enough. But it will have to wait it's turn, because Haiti is coming up first, in April. And before that I'm headed to Scottsburg to see my best friend and Tallahassee to see my cousin play baseball in March. Whew, 2012, I like you already!

It's OK Thursday.

I'm back in Tampa and back on this link up with the girls. I love Amber and Neely - especially interacting with them in twitter world.

So here we go again...

It's ok...

... to not know what to do with yourself when you're visiting your parents for 9 days (why yes, I read 4 freakin books).

...to hate the cold weather and want to live in Florida forever.

...to over commit, sometimes. ( fly home, work 11.5 hours, host a brunch less than 8 hours after that...whew).

...to refuse to call your goals 'resolutions' even though it's pretty much the same thing.

...to want to travel every weekend.

...to obsess about budgeting in an attempt to stop obsessing about spending (clearly, not obsessing about anything doesn't work for me)

...to obsessively watch the NFL twitterfeed for the fate of friends.

...to want to watch every single episode of Friday Night Lights (best show, ever)

...to be giddy with excitement at the progress towards previously mentioned 2012 goals

...to be freakishly proud of yourself for finally having a 'big girl' savings account

..to have a crooked spine because since Christmas you've been toting your Kindle, ipad, planner, and book EVERYWHERE.

...to fake like you're asleep when the nutcase beside you on the plane seems too chatty.

...to check your southwest rewards points regularly to see how close you are to more free flights (even though I booked a freebie YESTERDAY)

Hey, it's ok.

Love, B

Christmas Vacay Recap.

Disclaimer: I promise this blog will not be this boring forever - new layout coming soon.

Hello loves,

I hope 2012 is off to an excellent start for each of you. I feel refreshed, motivated, and blessed as I begin what promises to be my most exciting year yet (do I say that every year? Well, it's true).

I returned on Saturday from an excellent, and blessedly long, relaxing trip to Indiana where I'm pleased to report I finally met my niece...

Noa. Sweet Noa.


Noa and her crazy Aunt B. ; ]

I flew in just in time to witness a Colts win (those were few and far between this year).

(this is my sweet baby sister Ruthie)


Me & my sweet Momma.


Got to see my best friend!

And have breakfast with my college roomie (well one of them).

I read 4 books, did a little shopping, ate too much, only worked out once...and came home excited for all the Lord has in store for me and my precious family in 2012.

Love,
B

12 Goals for 2012.

Photo Cred.

1. Read 50 books. (I'm baaack)


2. Leave the US for the first time (hello, Haiti)


Photo Cred.

3. Take Washington DC by storm (May 2012)

4. Skydive - even if it's only indoors.



5. Lose another 20 pounds

6. Finally see my cousin play college (base)ball

7. Shower my niece with love letters


8. I'm sorry to do this - but #8 is going to have to be an unspoken. Due to...well, just take my word for it: I can't tell you yet but if I make this goal a reality I will blow up blog world with it.

9. Finish at least 100 pages of my book (writing).

10. Visit one new state (on my way to 50)



11. Get back into photography - for pleasure.

12. Write. Write often, write honestly, and write here.

Well 2012, lets do this with excellence.

Love,

B

2012: the Theme.

Welcome to 2012 friends, family, and blog followers!

In my life it seems there are themes for every year. 2010 was about discipline. Learning to eat healthy, workout, budget, and be healthy in all aspects of my life by making discipline a priority and reseting my habits. It was a hard, successful, and rewarding year that set the tone for what would come next...

2011 was a year about relationships. When I sat down at the end of 2010 I thought, I've worked on 'me', now it's time to build up my relationships to where they need to be. I purposed to spend more time relating to others in the ways I love: entertaining, cooking, random gifts, and hand written letters. I also spend time making an effort to love others in the ways that made sense to them, in their love language, if you will. This included stepping up my phone call game.

With purpose, I devoted my time to the friendships I value most and that I see being for the long haul. What few people know about me is that while thousands of people have read this blog, 1500+ people call me a 'friend' on facebook, and over 500 people follow me on twitter - there are really only a small handful of people that I 'let in'. I may be a social media over-sharer but what I share with others and how close I let them is calculated. I can count on one hand the people I let know my hopes, my dreams, my fears, and hardships. Those are the people I most sought to invest time in, in 2011, and I have seen that be a success.

So what about 2012? Two great years have come to an end and enter 2012 with more promise than any year before it. How will I spend it? What will be my focus? And what will the overwelming theme of 2012 be?

Well ladies and gentleman, I won't even leave you in suspense. 2012 is a year to experience. I'm taking on 2012 as the biggest adventure yet and the chance to take it all in. This is a year for experiences. I welcome it with great excitement and I hope even a bit of courage as I plan to go after this year with all I've got.

Happy New Year, to each of you...what a great new year it will be.

Love,
B