Finishing What I Started.

Many of us find that our book shelves are weighed down by books we're going to read 'when we have time'. I find that even though I'm constantly working through any number of books, I still tend to ignore a few shelves and constantly borrow books from the library or buy/download new ones! I hear about a great book and I run out and and acquire it one way or another, forgetting that I was going to read the 30 books on my shelf that I've acquired as gifts, loans, or giveaways. And so that point, when I'm going to read them, never quite arrives...

Well, one thing I determined I would do in 2012 is work through the books on my shelves. This hasn't meant that I don't buy books along the way as well (afterall, I'm 18 books into 2012 already) BUT it does mean I've read and either given away or sold off the books as I go. Some I have kept as 'resources' or because the author has signed them and I want them as keepsakes but for the most part, I'm working on clearing my shelves (and drawers...and kindle...)

If you have an ereader this can become equally bogged down with good intentions of reading. I'm also working on reading and archiving those, to clear room for new. There's something refreshing about clearing off shelves, real and virtual.

Probably the most fun I've had with it so far was reading the cupcake book and promptly mailing it to MK from Blonde Out Loud - she's currently reading it and we're chit chatting about it on Twitter as she goes. I'm jealous she's already made some of the cupcakes shared in the book (there's a cupcake recipe at the end of every chapter - amazing).

Right now I'm working through a signed, free copy of Dave Ramsey's - Total Money Makeover I acquired after I saw him speak at my works banquet two years ago. After reading it though, I must confess I bought these 2 books (one was recommended in the money makeover):

I'm probably a few weeks away from actually reading these but I'm proud that for every library book or new book I bring in I'm also tackling one from my shelves. Currently two, actually. I hope to finish up a few this week so that I can move on. American Wife has been good but slow and the print is incredibly small - boo. Maybe I will link up for book club Friday when I finish, though, since I'm enjoying the actual story (just not the workout it's been for my eyeballs).

Anyone else reading the books they haven't gotten around too in oh, 5 years or so? What do you do with your books when you're finished?

Love,

B

Projects and Productivity.

Whew. Is it really already Monday? This weekend flew by in a blur. I managed to knock out a huge chunk of reading (mostly in my Dave Ramsey book - Total Money Makeover), make some money towards my home projects, pick up a free bed for my guest room that my sweet friend Auburn gave me, and fall in love with granite.

I have to say it wasn't a restful weekend for me but with a trip coming up on Saturday of this week, it was a weekend to take care of business. It's looking like I may be installing my new granite countertops in both bathrooms the same week my whole house gets painted - the first week in May. Whew. The picture above shows the 'samples' I was given upon request and the piece on the right is the one I love.

My friend Pedro was kind enough to let me bribe him with dinner to pick up the bed in his truck ( I always feel bad asking friends with trucks because I know they get asked A LOT). But I feel so excited and blessed to have the bed and the help. It's home will the the garage for a few weeks at which point my neighbors have offered to carry it up and put it together for me. Have I mentioned enough that I have the BEST neighbors?

I got together with another guy friend on Saturday night (after working a 12 hour day) to talk business. It's becoming more widely known that I am a total nerd at heart and I love to talk business from taxes to wages to savings and investments. Nerd flag proudly flying - I am constantly reading business books lately. I just finished one on real estate investments and I'm flying through Total Money Makeover. Anywho, got to chat with a friend who's trying to start his own business and give him what I hope was some positive feedback and ideas.

I have lots to say about what I'm learning from Dave this time around but I hope to share that in a future blog post. Since I have to hop off here and head to work I wanted to leave you with this quote, for now:

'What you have falsely believed and acted on or not acted on has brought you to the place you are today with your money' - Dave Ramsey

Happy Monday!

Love,

B

A Home in Progress.

I am a finisher. I hate to start a project that has to be 'in progress', I always want to finish right away. This is most likely made worse by the fact that I keep a notebook of checklists, and I love to check things off. So projects that take time to complete are a stretch for me. But when you're on a budget and you're trying to be responsible to spend what your categories allow, this is just how it has to be.

I'm currently saving up to have my entire pad painted (the inside, not the outside). Since moving in I've really wanted to have this done and I believe it will improve the look of the place drastically. I'm going to keep it neutral for resale purposes, but I just want all the dinks and scratches gone and quality paint so I can wipe off things along the way. I found the painter I want to use and I got the quote back in December but there were a few things that needed to be done first, so this got put on the back burner.

However, after some hard work scrimping and savings (as well as a few ebay'd Coach bags) - I have scheduled the painter to start May 1st. It will be a 2 week process. Between now and then I have to pick paint, pay for that, and have it ready. But that should be the fun part - making the money while delaying gratification is not as fun.

I have become the nerdy homeowner who will return a great top to spend the money on guest bedroom towels. Yes, that's me. But honestly, the more I grow into my role as a homeowner the more I love every moment of it.

My projects after the paint? Actually decorate my walls. I have literally hung almost no photos, so I've bought some cool artwork, 2 funky clocks, etc. and I'm ready to hammer them in as soon as the paint dries.

I've acquired a free queen sized bed from my bestie and will be on the hunt for a fun headboard to go with over the next few weeks (the bed will be in the garage til the end of April so I have some time). But thanks to her, this project of furnishing another bedroom has gotten much cheaper. I feel grateful! (also to my sweet guy friend who is allowing me to bribe him with dinner to pick up said bed in his truck).

I've started a Pinterest inspired project for a wall upstairs between the two bedrooms which will involved 7 framed prints of the states I've lived in thus far. I think this project may be my favorite - it's going to be a tribute to my childhood. I want my home to be classy and beautiful, but also a reflection of who lives there - me.

My biggest project yet to pay for and schedule is having my counter tops in both bathrooms replaced. They are currently the normal white of most bathrooms but I'm hoping that switching them out to granite will be a worthwhile investment in the future of my home. I've found a granite wholesaler here in Tampa that I hope will be able to do this for me in the near future when that fund hits the mark.

Whew, well I think those are the changes coming soonest. But don't worry, my mind is always swimming with new ideas. I will keep you all posted as things come together but I wanted to share for now that my home has officially become a home in progress. Many little, life-changing fixer-ups to come.

Love,

B

Friendship that Fits.

Source.

This post is inspired by a sweet guy friend of mine who came into my life while I was traveling. I admit that I didn’t expect it to grow to be one of my best fitting friendships. You know from reading this blog that I take friendships seriously and place high value on making my friendships a top priority. I have learned through a series of hard situations that it’s important to choose your friends wisely and that sometimes less is truly more. Keep your circle tight, in other words.

I know there’s some controversy around guy/girl friendships and what motivates them or where they’re headed. I will speak for myself but some of my closest friends are guys. I don’t want to over generalize but guys tend to be honest, low drama, and let’s be real…fun! What I appreciate most about being friends with this particular guy is that I feel more myself in my friendship with him than with people I’ve known for 10 years. Maybe that’s the test of a friendship, does it fit like your favorite pair jeans? I’m honest, open, and comfortable within the friendship and I love that feeling.

I tend to be the girl who fixes other peoples problems, offers a shoulder to cry on, picks up the pieces, etc. But like the quote above that I love (which I borrowed from Lydia's blog) it turns out that even those of us who are there for everyone else, need someone to pick us up now and again. This friend has been that for me. Through a tough couple of months for my family and myself he has really been the friend I've needed. The one that allows me to feel how I really feel, instead of just expecting me to be 'up' on the time.

I should take this time to say that honesty may be the best policy but it can sting. This friend called me out recently on a rather petty ‘girl’ thing I was feeling and literally called me 'pathetic'. I did a bit of a double take (especially that dreadful word - pathetic) but in the end, he was right. I enjoy people who will give it to me straight, even when I don’t want to hear it. It reminds me of the movie ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’ where it finally takes a guy telling her what no woman will, the guys she likes just aren’t that into her. They didn’t lose her number, or die in a fire – they didn’t call because they didn’t want too.

Friendships that fit aren’t always opposite sex by any means. I have some great fitting friendships with my girls as well, in particular Candy and Auburn. The idea really is that when you find friendships where your friend loves the you, you love, hang on to them. Appreciate the people who really see you (or through you when necessary) and love you anyway. Be thankful for honestly, even when it has a touch of brutal in it. The friends that will risk making you mad or hurting your feelings to grow you as a person in the end? Those are the winners.

I continue to be grateful for great friendships.

Love,

B

It's Ok Thursday.

Whew, I need an it's ok Thursday this week more than usual. Let's get down to business.

It's ok...

...to listen to Adele on repeat and cry when you're sad (even though I've been forbidden to do this by Aubs).

...to waste a little gas taking a drive when you need to clear your head....to have a guilty pleasure show (or shows for some of you TV junkies). I've been watching the Vampire Diaries on Netflix.

...to want the bad guy to get the girl when he looks like this:

(Damon from Vampire Diaries)

...to wave your nerd flag. I just finished a book about being a landlord and I'm working on one about budgeting.

...to be obsessed with selling things on ebay. I figure that's better than being obsessed with buying them, right?

...to have a few TV show crushes. Like this guy:

(Tim Riggins - Friday Night Lights)

Dang, I always like the bad ones, huh? Oh well...

...to take a few days off from social networking from time to time.

...to occasionally wear a trend that doesn't look good on you.

...to obsessively use chapstick.

...to go in public without makeup on the regular.

...to eat fro yo for a meal more than once per week, every week.

...to not play by anyone else's rules.

Love,

B

Pick Me Up.

Note: I'm also on Neely's blog today with 5 dos and a don't of being in your 20s. So if you haven't, check me out there (and follow her) and if you're here because of that post, well thanks for stopping by!

I'm a firm believer that sometimes it's healthy to run away. In honor of this I keep a healthy sized travel budget and when life gets really ecky, I buy a flight to some place else. Don't worry, I always come back to Tampa. This is home. No matter what people say about where your heart and your family are - Tampa is my home, even if I live here alone. But sometimes the grass really is greener on the other side and you just have to go.

I got some hard news on Monday. Hard not necessarily meaning bad, but difficult all the same. As you grow up your life is always changing and people are coming and going as they pursue their own dreams. As the one who's always moved before now, it's a new phenom for me to be left behind. I've said it before and I'll say it again - I have the kind of friends who will change the world and you can quote me on it.

I was feeling especially blue yesterday after a tearful night on Monday. And so, in an attempt to bounce back, I have booked a flight 24 days away to go spend a weekend in my favorite small town - Scottsburg, Indiana. Time to go see my best friend, get away, clear my head and focus on the future and all that it holds for me and the people I love.

The next few weeks are heavily travel laden so be prepared for many updates from afar (and probably some picture overkill). First up: Tallahassee, followed by the burg, Raleigh, Haiti, and Washington DC.

Love,
B

Weekend Recap.

Welcome welcome! I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Mine was busy as usual but there were a few highlights worth sharing. I took the weekend off the blog and just spent it living real life without talking about it (shocking, I know).

On Friday my shoes for Haiti arrived and I spent some of the weekend breaking them in. We needed 'hiking' boots for our trip and I orded these from The North Face, they're water proof, light weight, and built like sneakers which I love. They're super comfortable and I'm thankful to my Aunt who supplied them. The countdown is on...we are fast approaching Haiti departure.

My poor little bulb I felt sorry for at Target after Christmas has now grown to this:

Someday it may actually grow flowers, as it's supposed too. For now I'm just glad it's alive.

Managed to get the house clean this weekend which I feel stoked about since other than that I didn't feel prepped for this morning to happen. Whew. House is clean just gotta finish cleaning out this head of mine.

I reached 2 new financial goals this weekend which was huge for me so early in the year. Feeling very hopeful about my decisisions I've made and where I'm headed in this department. Headed towards financial peace in all areas.

The highlight of my weekend was brunch with the blog girls at Grillsmith. I love them. I didn't get nearly enough pictures but I did borrow this one from Jen's facebook of us:

Jen and I did a little post brunch shopping as well. I managed not to spend too much money but we had a great time and each found a few special things. Love love shopping with her.

Headed to work shortly and to fro yo with my bestie, Auburn between work and bible study tonight. I am LOVING studying Romans with my sweet small group. I feel so challenged and encouraged every week.

Happy Monday to All...ready for not, this week is here!

Love,

B