The list

umm, yeah... 

19 days!!!!! eeek! I'm not really sure it feels real. but, oh man, I'm so ready. I miss BL so much and I'm ready to be done with work here in Nashville. So here's "the list" dun, dun, dun.... 

Wedding:

• make veil (second attempt, the first one was the wrong color)
• Shopping: guest book pens, Fishing line, misc. fabric, gift cards
• Confirm ceremony order with Pastor
• Confirm ceremony music with Muscician
• Finalize reception playlist
• Pack for honeymoon
• Pack for week of wedding
• give honeymoon itinerary to parents
• finish day of schedule 
• Finish games for reception tables
• Make and print ceremony programs
• wrap presents (for parents, attendants, etc.)
• Make signs for guest book, lawn games, etc.
• Buy gift cards for people giving us their time
• Make bunting and banner
• go to 2nd and 3rd dress fittings
• get ring plated and cleaned
• buy heel inserts for wedding day shoes
• decide on wedding day hairstyle and practice creating it
• E-mail wedding day details to everyone involved with the wedding
• Make sure wedding day binder is ready for day-of-coordinator
• Create diagrams and descriptions of decor for day of decorating (that I won't be allowed to help with)
• Download sheet music for ceremony and give it to our ceremony musician
• Give Brody a close haircut so it has time to fluff up a bit before the wedding
• Get a facial ? maybe?  probably not...
• Whiten my teeth
• Work on pre-marital counseling homework

Other To-Dos:

• return comcast equiptment
• e-mail about 10 people back
• polish up my resume'
• find someone to buy/take my furniture
• Pack Apartment (enough said) Almost done!!!
• cancel gym membership
• cancel rental insurance
• get copies of medical records from Endocrinologist
• get new glasses 3 pairs! I love them!
• go to the dentist

Week of the wedding:

• make bridesmaids bouquets
• put together napkins with utensils
• get marriage license
• Pay the photographer
• Pay the florist
• Decorate the tent
• Decorate for the ceremony
• Finalize our reception music
• Steam rehearsal dinner dress
• practice dancing

After wed-blues

Ok, so this seems a little silly to me, but I'm going to blog about it anyways. After the wedding, I'm pretty sure I'll be busy (getting a job, sewing curtains for our new apartment, learning how to be a wife...) but some of my friends who planned wedding before me say that it can be a let down to be done with wedding planning. I've started to think about some great projects to do after I get moved to North Carolina.

#1 Scrapbooking--- you know, that thing I said I was going to do before the wedding... Well, as I've mentioned recently, it hasn't gotten done. I need to takle that box of loose photos, and get going on recent life events. Here's a recap of some of the things I need to scrapbook or finish:

• senior year trip
• my birthday scrapbook
• several vacations through the years (3 or 4 or so)
• our wedding
• our honeymoon
• the years 2010-2012

#2 Family History--- I'm really excited to delve into some ancestry work. I studied history in college, and I've always said that social history is my favorite. You know what I mean, the day to day, nitty gritty stuff? Who was who and what they did and what their everyday lives were like? That's what I like. So it's natural that I need to find out these things about my own family AND Blake's family. Some of my relatives have already done a great job of researching our family tree and there are several cousins doing things right now that I want to join in on.

#3 Embroidery--- yes, the needle-craft. I don't know why, but I love it. The winter months will be perfect for this. I did some last year and the year before, but I'm ready to really learn the correct way to do the stitches. Check out these projects I found on Pinterest!

find it here on Etsy

Find it here at the blog jessimakesthings

find it here at the blog yougogirl

Wedding to-do at 46 days!

This is the raw, un-censored version of my to-do list. Thought you might like a peak into my life right now. I'm not feeling too stressed. I feel like everything is starting to come together.

Wedding:

• Make and print ceremony programs
• Finish games for reception tables
• wrap presents (for parents, attendants, etc.)
• Make signs for guest book, lawn games, etc.
• Buy gift cards for people giving us their time
• Make bunting and banner
• go to 2nd and 3rd dress fittings
• buy more ribbon
• buy more fabric
• buy fishing line
• get ring plated and cleaned
• buy heel inserts for wedding day shoes
• decide on wedding day hairstyle and practice creating it
• E-mail wedding day details to everyone involved with the wedding
• Make sure wedding day binder is ready for day-of-coordinator
• Create diagrams and descriptions of decor for day of decorating (that I won't be allowed to help with)
• Download sheet music for ceremony and give it to our ceremony musician
• Give Brody a close haircut so it has time to fluff up a bit before the wedding
• Get a facial ? maybe?
• Whiten my teeth
• Work on pre-marital counseling homework

Moving and other stuff:

• Pack (enough said)
• cancel gym membership
• cancel rental insurance
• get copies of medical records from Endocrinologist
• get new glasses
• go to the dentist
• sell some furniture on Craigslist (bed, tv cabinet, etc)

Week of the wedding:

• Get marriage license
• Pack for the honeymoon
• Pay the photographer
• Pay the florist
• Decorate the tent
• Decorate for the ceremony
• Finalize our reception music
• Steam rehearsal dinner dress
• Give honeymoon itinerary to parents
• Make sure Brody is all taken care of
• Put together flower arrangements and boutonnieres
• Get nails done

The post in which I give you a bullet list...

This is what last weekend looked like. Note- the remote is in a plastic bag... more on that later.

I keep thinking of things I want to blog about. Recipes, craft projects, things Brody has done... Then I get busy with work (very important, since it pays my rent) or I just continue to sit on the couch, crocheting and watching the Biggest Loser. But I can't help but feel like I'm behind- I want to record what's been going on- even though I feel less than motivated to blog. So here it is, a list.

• I had radioactive iodine therapy done on Friday, and spent Fri, Sat and Sun locked away in my apartment by myself.
• Brody spent the weekend with my sweet friend Kristina. I missed him a lot. 
• We have a new couch and I've been doing re-arranging and re-decorating in our living room. 
• I'm making baby gifts. I love doing it, and wish I could share what I'm making, but my friends might see and the surprises will be ruined.
• Weight Watchers was great for 3 months, but I didn't renew it and I've gained back the weight.
• My thyroid will soon be gone and my metabolism is probably going to tank too....
• I'm on a diet. but this time it just includes a few rules: eat fruits and veggies when I'm hungry between meals, only one treat each day, and eat less overall. In theory it sounds good.
• Exercising is on the top of my to do list, but I severely lack motivation. 
• It is dark at 5pm. This does not help me accomplish my #1 to do...
• Brody spent an hour last night chasing after, barking at, and tossing around an empty water bottle. Why in the world do I buy him squeaky stuffed dog toys??
• My little brother is going to Thailand in December with YWAM. I wish he was closer so that I could take him out to eat at my favorite Thai place before he goes.
• Being in isolation for three days gave me the chance to become obsessed with the Canadian show Heartland. Netflix only has season one and half of two, and now I'm dealing with Heartland withdrawal. Someone help me...
• It was so beautiful outside yesterday that I pulled my folding chair out of my trunk and sat next to my car in the parking lot on my lunch break. It felt like spring.
• I'm going to post about radioactive iodine, but it's still in the works.
• I'm busy making planner pages. I would like to share them as PDFs when I'm done. I just need to figure out how to upload PDFs to blogger. 
• Also, I ordered new glasses today.
• That is all. 

Top 5 things I've learned about money

via here

I'll admit, I'm not in the best position to be giving money advice. I'm going to be pretty transparent here. I'm in debt. 

Yes, I have a pretty small student loan that I've been paying faithfully since graduation. What I'm talking about is the credit card debt I let pile up when I got sick. It turned out that I couldn't afford all of the doctor's visits, scans, and a hospital stay. I bought new clothes and things that made me feel happy when nothing in life seemed right.* Before I knew it I was in over my head and I just figured that I would pay it off when things calmed down. I learned really quickly that life doesn't calm down... First there were doctor's co-pays, perscription co-pays, medical bills for my insurance deductible, then came new tires, new brakes, and finally vet bills when Brody was sick.

In a perfect month, without any extra health, vet, auto or other costs, I have money to put into savings and a little bit extra. But life is far from perfect, and once you spend your savings it seems like it takes for-ev-er to build it back up again. I wish I could do the last two years all over again. (Oh wait, no..I really don't.) But do I wish would have heard it in a way that mattered to me before I got into this mess. I was arrogant and thought I knew better than all of the smart people who had ever given me advice about money. I didn't think credit card debt was something that could happen to me. (Does this prove any cliche about being young?) So here it is, for myself to never forget, and anyone this might benefit:

via here

5 Money Lessons I've Learned

1. Sometimes you can't afford even the basics

• Just because I had a job, health insurance and was over 21 didn't mean I could do it all.
  
• I thought since I had medical bills, I had to pay for them right away. So I would take out my credit card and pay each bill. WRONG! if you can't afford to pay for them with cash, do not put it on a credit card. I didn't learn this until I maxed out a credit card and then wondered how to pay the bills that kept coming in the mail.
  
• Food might be necessary to live, but if you can't afford it, find a way to get it without going into debt. I rationalized my way into using my credit card for "healthy" food, into stocking up on things because they were cheap, into eating out because I couldn't wait until I got home... There are a lot of other options than the way I did it.

2. Ask for help

• I didn't tell my family how much being sick was costing me financially. I figured I should be able to pay for it all since I had insurance and a full time job. I'm sure they would have had lots of support and advice to give had I asked for it. Don't try to do it all on your own!

3. Hospitals and healthcare companies will work out payment plans with you

• I had no idea this existed for every day people (not just for those in true poverty situations). Even if you are able to pay, but it will make money tight for you, call and set up a payment plan. Credit card companies charge interest, health care providers do not.
  
• Call as soon as you get the bill. I let several hundred dollars pile up in medical bills while I was stressing over how I could pay for them. By the time I called, several of the bills were months old and headed to collections.
  
• The biggest bill I had was almost $2,000. I had no choice but to call the hospital and find out what my options were. I was so surprised, there were options and the person on the phone was not condemning. I set up a manageable plan to pay $200 a month until it was gone. 
  
  

4. Things cost 2 or 3 times more if you pay for it with credit (and don't pay off your credit card balance each month)

• If you're buying something now because it's on sale, but can't afford it without a credit card- it's really not on sale. I'm still learning this one. A good deal, is so hard to resist. My idea of a "good deal" is changing.

5. The bad financial choices you make will catch up to you (quickly)

• Even if your finances don't matter to you today, they will matter in the future. I thought I would have more time before I would have to deal with it all, but the bills come fast and the debt piles up.
  
• If you can't afford it, don't buy it. This might be common sense, but I didn't think it applied to me when I was spending money I didn't have.
  
  

*I knew then that I was looking for comfort and peace in the wrong place, but it still didn't change the fact that buying a new pair of shoes or craft supplies made me forget how stinky life was. Sometimes I think that doing something special for yourself, like buying a new pair of shoes, can be a great reward, but I took it too far. Now I'm paying the price. Now every time I pay my bills and have little left over I'm reminded that God is my sustainer. He is the one who will give me sweet comfort, lasting joy and the strength to keep moving through life. (take a look at Psalm 46:1 and Mark 6:25-34)

Some links to bloggers who talk about money and wisely using it:
Faithful Provisions
Simple Dollar
Christian Personal Finance
Get Rich Slowly
My Coupon Teacher

Blog Award

Suz from 30 before 30 gave me a Stylish Blogger Award! Thanks Suz! It was sweet of you to think of me!

So here are the rules:

1. Thank & link back to the person who awarded me this award
2. Share 7 things about myself...

3. Toss this award to 15 other bloggers

Sooo.... 7 things:
1. I'm ready for spring: warm air, birds chirping, flowers and bushes blooming...
2. Brody will have a new puppy to play with soon, my new roommate has a dog. I think they're going to be best friends.
3. I like nicknames.
4. Everyone at work is sick, and I mean everyone. I don't think I've ever heard so many sneezes, coughs, and congested voices all at once.
5. At Christmas I had one lipbalm on my nightstand, one in the car, one in my purse, one at work and one extra. I'm down to one at work and one in my purse. Apparently my favorite lip balm is also Brody's favorite food.
6. I don't like cough drops.
7. 15 fine point sharpies are sitting in a pencil cup on my desk waiting to make my notes colorful. they make work more fun.

Now here is the fun part! I'd like to introduce you to 15 lovely bloggers:
MoonWalk
The Bohemian Chick
Complete organizing Solutions
Mabel's House
Color Me Ducky
Peachy Perspective
Faith Barista
In the Name of Love
Thoughts and Other Useless Stuff
Tammy's Recipes
Style your Life
Kendi Everyday
Coupon Teacher
Finding Lana
Life Abroad

 I hope you enjoy visiting these blogs!

Terrific or Terrible Tuesday (depending on how you see it)

I really wish I were somewhere else today...  like Antarctica or India or Norway or... somewhere.

One disheartening thing: a migraine settled in at 8 am Sunday morning and has yet to leave.  I keep warning it that it had better scram, but so far no luck...

One happy thing: I have a beautiful new tv cabinet (pictures to come)

One yummy thing: I let myself have as much diet coke as I want when I have a migraine.

One wishful thing: that my sick day will be paid for yesterday

One thankful thing: a job, job, job...

One frustrating thing: relationships

One glorious-wonderful thing: relationships

One curious thing: my downstairs neighbor has boxes piled in front of her windows...

One healthy thing: I feel good (Addison's-wise) and, latest blood tests are today!  (results will take a few days though)

One weird thing: my left turn signal randomly speeds up and slows down.  This has happened for at least 6 months.

One very boring thing: lunch today = baked chicken, broccoli and rice

One unfortunate thing: I borrowed 65 cents from Eddie this morning, and now I owe him 65 cents.


One random thing: Brody and I both have paint in our hair from hard work painting this weekend. 

One joyful thing: Bible study tonight with the girls!  can't wait!

This week has been...

a doozy.

To keep perspective I want to focus on the good things. And I am a list writer, so what you get is my list of thankfulness for today:

1. Medicine to keep me feeling well
2. Doctor's who know what they are doing
3. Sunshine and blooming paper-whites
4. Safe, warm home
5. sweet, sweet family
6. kind and supportive friends
7. a job
8. lavender lotion
9. Arby's mozzarella cheese sticks
10. Hope for tomorrow.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:4-9