Framed Bulletin board

Over the years I have almost always had a bulletin board in my room and I always used them a lot. But when I moved into my condo, they didn't make it into the condo. I either tossed them or they are at my parents house. Well I had seen all these cute bulletin boards with old picture frames. So I did the same.

First, I went to Goodwill and found a great picture frame with a not so pretty photo. It was a modern photo from the 90s of a bird or something. But the frame was so nice I just had to buy it. I think it was $15.

I took out the photo (not fun, it was stapled in), took it outside and sprayed the base coat on it. I had originally purchased for my tray. Then I painted it with the oil paint I also used for my tray. When I was painted the first coat I realized how cute it was with just a single, thin coat. It's kind of shabby chic. The original color was a dark silver, so it really looks great. Here are some photos of the finished product!

Current events

This is my opinion on recent events. I do want to say that I don't think ill of anyone involved and I don't mean offense. But everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and here's mine!

I don't know if this is a photo pre-announcement or not, but I know I've seen a photo of her obviously pregnant recently before she announced her pregnancy today. Either way Jessica Simpson is preggers! She is the last person I ever thought would become pregnant out-of-wedlock. I remember in hs (I think?) when she married Nick, I read that she was a virgin. I'm not overly surprised she had sex before another marriage, but I am kinda surprised she got pregnant. Either way, she is beautiful and seems so sweet. I think she will be a wonderful mother and I am so excited for her!

Celebrities are the kings and queens of quickie weddings, one can only assume for the attention. I've seen the show a few times and I get the impression that the three girls are the only ones with good heads on their shoulders. But everyone has their quirks.
Either way, the beautiful Kim Kardashian has filed for a divorce today. Also today, her wedding special aired. I believe the special just began airing, it was filmed only 72 days ago. She sold the rights to her marriage photos for $79 million dollars. That adds to over $10,000 a day! On top of this, her husband was supposedly unaware of her intentions of divorce. So happy I'm not a celebrity!

First of all, I think it's very brave that they are standing up for what they believe in so strongly. To continue camping for so long, through this weather, it's truly amazing to me. And I love the way they have set up green energy when their gas generators were taken away, that have a library and a convenience store.
But I will admit that I don't completely agree with what they are doing. Now I will admit that all I know is what I have read in the first paragraph of a Wikipedia article, so please forgive me for my ignorance. But representatives have admitted that they don't have any real goals aside from recognition. They aren't asking for government assistance, tax changes, nothing. But I don't really know exactly what they can ask for. It's not really fair to ask those who worked hard (or who's grandparents worked hard) for a large amount of money. I like to believe hard work pays, but I know that unfortunately this doesn't always happen.

I come from a family of white-collar workers who went to college, but none of them ever did overly well. I don't believe any of my family has ever been impoverished, but definitely have never been living in the lap of luxury. I am currently unemployed and my parents are supporting me. They pay my bills and give me money for crafts to give me something to do, but I'm not making as much as I would if I were teaching. But I don't blame it on anyway, it's just the way the cards were dealt. I have no experience teaching elementary except for being a TA for a year. I have all the qualifications on paper, but there is always someone with better qualifications for the position. Since my parents are able to support me rather than getting money through the government, I'd rather it be me than someone with children to support and no financial support.
But I don't think they are going to get anywhere by sitting around with signs. They need to by out their hunting for jobs and going back to school like everyone else, becoming more qualified for jobs. They need to create a plan that the government can implement that will benefit the poor and the rich. They need to calmly speak to the 1% and the government, sharing their side, listening to the others side, and coming up with a solution together.
I agree that the money should be more evenly distributed based on work. Unfortunately it will never happen that way. Even in a communist civilization, someone must be in charge, and that power will often go to their heads, making society uneven again. Life will never be perfect, but with help from the government we may be able to persuade the wealthiest to donate money and the unemployed to do odd jobs, working on roads and construction, that may not be necessary but would benefit the public.

These are all just my opinions. I don't think any of the people I mentioned are bad people, but I believe I have every right to disagree.

DIY tray

I have been looking at home design photos online, and in all the elegant ones I saw a beautiful tray on nearly every table. Of course I have expensive and picky taste, and couldn't reasonably afford the one's I liked. So I purchased a tray and the paint to do it myself. It's not nearly perfect, but I love it and I'm proud of it.I started by purchasing an orange $20 tray for Tuesday Morning. It was really cute, but I didn't like the color. I decided to paintover it, but when I was buying the paint I found an unpainted one at A. C. Moore for $15 that had curves and was more elegant.

This photo is of my original orange tray. Wouldn't it be perfect if it was pink? But I love the one I ended up with!

This is a photo of the tray I ended up with. This is a photo on my back porch spray painting a base on it.

Now I'm doing the first layer of white paint. I spread it really thin, and put a lot of payers on and it did really well.

You can see slightly darker white in the middle, this is my stencil. I got some cardstock, traced the curved end, measured a certain length at each end and then traced the curve where I marked.

Bit of advice: Make a plan on placement ahead of time. For instance, do you want it up on the sides, do you want them symmetrical? If you want a line in the middle of the tray, do this line first. My mistake was to start from one side and go to the other. One line ended up going up the edge. I ended up using oil paint (great paint for coverage) to start with a clean white slate again.

Also: Don't use pen or pencil to draw boundaries, the paint doesn't cover it very easily. Next time I will make multiple stencils, place them where I want it to be white, and keep them there until I am done with the pink.

At this point I am painting along the lines. I found it easiest to use foam brushes and slowly paint a solid line along the line using the side of the brush. Also, the oil paint did a great job over covering mistakes, so I did all the pink and then touched up the lines using the white.

Finally almost done. As you can see the pink is drying, almost ready for another coat.

At this point I just got frustrated with it and stopped taking photos. I just wanted to be done. After this I did touch ups and painted gold along the edges. To do this I used a little foam brush and did a kinda sloppy job. Then I used the larger foam brush's side to make a solid line between the white and gold.

When it was dry I sprayed a top coat glaze on it to give it a sheen.

The next photo is the finished product. Keep in mind this took about a week of constant work. It isn't nearly perfect, but I'm proud of it.

Yay! So pretty! I think the pink lines are a little crooked, but they all are so it doesn't look very bad, I don't think. Also, I accidently painted some white on one of the finished lines. In order to fix it I would have had to remix the pink and waste a lot of it. I decided to just keep something on top of it instead.

This is what it looks like now. I have my twig pumpkins I bought from Target for $1 and $2.50 each. I also have my mom's book "Small and Container Gardening." To the left of the tray is a photo book of Audrey Hepburn, and a small book call "How to Live Like a Lady."

I hope you enjoyed this. This who project probably came to around $30 at the most. Some of the paint I already had, and all of the supplies I ended up with extra. I would say that it was worth it. One day I may try it again, once I have more experience.

I also really love book on my coffee table. This week I have three books coming in the mail: "Essentially Lilly," "The Official Preppy Handbook," and a decor book with bright colors. I can't wait to add them to my coffee table.

No Shave November

One of the rivalries between men and women involves the ease of a certain type of grooming: controlling ones body hair. I may be slightly biased, but I think that men have it significantly easier. Men have a smaller area to shave, and can even be very attractive skipping a day. Women have the contours of their legs to get around (although I couldn't imagine the contours of the jaw and lips), and the sensitive skin of the underarms. And if we forget to shave a day and decide to wear a skirt and sleeveless top, or worse, go to the pool without trimming our nether regions, we are thought of as disgusting. Even a long time boyfriend, who is comfortable with us without make up on, when we have the flu, won't touch our unshaven legs.

Well next month begins "No Shave November." Men have the opportunity to show off their ability to grow hair, something they make out to be very difficult. Women have the opportunity to scare every man off with a forest on each legs. I have read tweets from both sides in reference to this event, and am unable to choose a side.

Women, of course are pro "No Shave November." We already have enough to deal with. Dressing nice for each other (would a guy really notice us wearing the latest style?), styling our hair as though we just rolled out of bed sexy for the gentlemen, and doing our makeup as though we don't have any on. It's a lot of work to be naturally beautiful. Plus the discomfort of heels, belts, chunky jewelry and headbands worn for 12+ hours straight. Must we really also shave our legs everyday?

Men are anti "No Shave November." Unless men are having a contest (which usually means some sort of activity, not just watching hairs grow), or it is related to a sporting event, generally men don't follow shaving events. If a man ants to shave, he's going to do it! If he doesn't want to, he won't! If he's told he can't for the month of November, we will have to put up with a whining, itchy boy who's facial hair has never been this itchy and must be shaved immediately. They are more concerned about how this may affect their love life. One man went so far as to say that a certain women's planned celebration of this holiday is why she is single. If a lady is single, there is no reason to. If she is a true lady, even on a first date (or first several), she has no reason to. She may decide to shave as a confidence boost, but no one will be touching her legs. And when someone does, it will be a planned event with hours of grooming and preparation.

So what are you going to do? Are you for or against this razor free month? I'm personally going to be a female taking male advice (hopefully I don't get lost) and do what I usually do. If I want to shave, I will shave. If I don't want to, I won't. Have a great hairy (or hairless) November!

A Classy Wardrobe Without the Classy Price

The first thing many ladies say they would buy when they win the lottery is clothes. A full wardrobe. While its I advisable to base yourself on your appearance, it can boost confidence. Also, you can only make a first impression once. Which would make a better first impression of being a classy lady: worn, dirty sweatshirt and jeans or a clean, tailored dress? But which would cost more?

Depending on how you shop, you could easily get a nice tailored dress or less than a good sweatshirt. I have purchased a DVF silk wrap dress for about $30. And despite the fact that it is adult size, the fact that it's wrap makes it look tailored just for me on my petite frame. I purchased this several years ago from Plato's Closet, a consignment shop chain. But with the scare of bedbugs over the past few years, the idea of purchasing second hand may scare you. If you decide to go for it, here are some tips:

• Before you even begin your search, do some research. There are websites where people can report bed bug sightings. Once you arrive ask an employee what actions they take against the pest. No one wants to be known as having bed bugs, and so it would be in their best interest to fight them.


• Before you expose your belongings to something second hand, inspect it. Look in every seam. Bed bugs are similar to ticks, they are flat and can squeeze into any crevice.


• Before you purchase the item do a closer inspection. If you find any evidence of a bed bug (little black spots (feces), eggs, or a bed bug), I would advice to carefully and discretely give the item to an employee, explain the situation, once again discretely. Before you enter your car make sure you don't have any bed bugs on you. I would suggest postponing any plans. Go home, change, and put all your clothes in the dryer. Heat kills bedbugs and their eggs. This is something done in NYC apartments. Rather than using expensive and dangerous chemicals, the thermostat is cranked up for a few days and this kills everything. Also once you get home I would suggest finding a website to report the bed bugs. Reporting it to a local news agency will also get the word out.


• Once you find your perfect clothes and make your purchase, tie the bag tightly so nothing can escape. But the bugs won't suffocate, they can become dormant for up to a year and a half (I think, that seems excessive but I really think its true), without food or air. As soon as you get home carefully put your new purchases in the washing machine (or dryer if it's dry clean only), use hot water, and dry it with hot air. Consignment shops also don't clean the clothes before putting them on the rack so I would suggest washing the items anyway.


• Anything can be purchased second hand if you are careful. Even if an item has no fabric, check every crevice. Also smell the item very carefully, who knows how the item was cared for before,

If purchasing second hand scare you, I don't blame you. Clearance racks at high end stores are great places to find items. Getting on email lists will tell you when things go on sale. If you know your size at a particular store, and/or the items are returnable, feel free to order online. This will give you a larger and more organized selection. This is how I would suggest purchasing your staple items.

I'd also suggest checking stores such as Target or Forever 21. Items purchased at these stores may not last very long (although I've had some items from both stores that have lasted a long time), but these stores are great for items that will out of style within a few seasons. Accessories can also be purchased at these stores. But once again, they will easily fall apart quickly. They also often look cheap, so either be picky or only wear them when those around you won't look very close.

Sample sale sites are another great resource for great items at a low price. Ruelala and GiltGroup are two of my favorites. Both sites will give me a credit with your first purchase. It will give you an option to insert a reference's email. Please enter ryann.warlick@gmail.com.

I hope this information helps you. Enjoy shopping and looking classier without spending as much!

Decorating to Make a Home

The first time we leave home, whether you are 18 or 40, it is often a difficult transition. Not only are we forced to take care of everything on our own for the first time, but we are struck with the way our new residence doesn't feel like home. Whether we move a fraction of a mile away or across the country, you live alone or with three other people, it can be lonely in the beginning. One big thing that will help is to make you new residence feel like home by adding your own personal touch. Unfortunately, this can be expensive. Here are some tips on make a house a home without breaking the bank.

First, make a plan. When I had my first apartment I had a new style idea every week. Of course I couldn't buy new decor every week, so when I decided to buy a home I had the chance to start over. I went the notebook route. I put a blank sheet of paper in a notebook for a every room. As each page filled up I taped a new piece of paper to the previous. I got most of my photos from Rate My Space. This is a site by HGTV in which real people post photos of their living spaces. Most are finished, some are blank slates asking for advice. It has been up for years and there are new posts everyday. There has to be something you like on there. I printed off photos from here, cut them up and tape them into my notebook. I then drew an arrow to the part I liked and jotted a note.

Other options include iPad apps and saving images. There is a great app called Moodboard that I have really enjoyed using. You can add photos, symbols and text, and a color palette. It is a lot of fun to play around with. To create my fall decor I actually printed out a board and took it to Joanne's. It is also possible to save photos to your computers photo app. This can get overwhelming though. As I have shared, I have really enjoyed Pinterest. I pin photos to various boards for each room I have. I also have a board called "craft don't spend." It's often cheaper to buy a few items and spend a few hours on making decor rather than shopping around all kinds of designer shops, spending a lot, and probably not get exactly what you want.

Websites are also great for novice designers. My mother is constantly telling me I should look into interior design. I am not a designer, I simply recognize what I like and copy it. Everything in my home was inspired by some part of a photo. I add things slowly because of budget, but it has proven to be beneficial because I can look around and see what needs to be added without being cluttered. I work on one thing at a time. Currently I'm working on a tray for my coffee table with a display of candles and bowls.

Overall, three things need to be done when you make a house a home:

1. Plan ahead by looking at photos. Make sure you have the perfect idea planned out before you start anything.


2. Add things slowly and look at the big picture. Make sure everything goes together and it doesn't look cluttered.


3. Work on one project at a time. Don't have five incomplete design projects sitting around.

Upcoming Projects!

Lately I have been doing a bit of close out and second hand shopping. One of my favorite stores is Tuesday Morning. It is similar to TJ Maxx in that it's close out items, and a consignment shop in that it's a whole bunch of random stuff. At Tuesday Morning I purchased a wooden tray, and a large candle holder. Then today I went to Goodwill and found an amazing serving bowl, and a tin tray. Then when I was in line to pay I found the picture frames and picked up a fantastic frame with a large chip in the paint and a not so pretty picture in it. All of the following photos were found on Pinterest, then I followed them to their respective blog. Here's what I plan on doing coming up:

First are my little projects that will probably only take about a day. They mostly involve painting and other little upgrades.

This is something I may do to the tin tray, as shown by the Consignment Designer. It has etching in the center. I'm thinking of either hot glueing beads like these to it, or painting it gold. I'm leaning towards painting it gold, and getting a mirrored piece of glass (or making one with the Kylon mirrored product), and glueing beads on it. Does anyone know where to get fun cut glass or mirror?

Next up is the tray. This photo comes from Canadian House and Home. I haven't decided how I will decorate it, but I'm leaning towards chevron. I don't know if I will paint or use fabric, or maybe ribbon. I was originally thinking of using scrapbook paper and am so grateful I found this photo. Painting may be easier. What do you think, white and pink stripes?

In this photo Centsational has glued a glass plate to a wine and margarita glass. I already have the two pieces together, all I have to do is paint. Maybe a light pink? I am going to place it on the tray so maybe gold. What do you think?

This is what I plan to do with the picture frame I purchased. Here, Love Feast Table has painted a frame and is putting in a cork board. I plant on also putting fabric over the cork board or painting it.

This is a photo of one of my bigger projects. I'm going to begin my kitchen redo soon. The DIY Showoff has done a great job here of painting her cabinets. I'm painting my cabinets white. I'm also going to get some cute knobs and paint them white with little blue flowers. I'm very excited about the finished product!

I'm also going to paint the walls white. I may add these stencils just like in the photos. My kitchen is so small though, I'm not sure.

Keeping a Clean Home

I know somedays I just don't want to clean. I'll rinse the dishes, but they may not make it into the dishwasher. The toilet is starting to get a little dirty but I just don't feel like scrubby the nastiness. I regularly have shoes strewn about and clothes laying on my bed. I have a blanket that clashes horribly against my light green couch that I rarely put away. And I won't even begin to talk about Zoe's toys and hair everywhere. But it is always on the worst days that someone is driving through the neighborhood and decides to stop by. I clean the next day and no one comes over for another few weeks or months.

When everything works itself up it is hard to look at one thing and just do it. You tend to see the whole picture get very overwhelmed. So you don't clean, let it get even messier and you get even more overwhelmed. I know this isn't everyone, and for those of you who maintain a clean home please leave advice. For the rest of you, here are things I have been told work and I hope to implement into my daily routine.

I have talked about FlyLady before, and I do again because it really is a great resource. It gives great advice on keep a clean home, decluttering your home, and living an overall relaxed life. She walks you through baby steps to set up a routine for your everyday. She advices against starting a routine you haven't eased your way into. But if done properly you will have a clean home ready for guests at anytime.

She will take you through steps to have a clean sink, bathroom, and living area. You will get into the habit of preparing for tomorrow, tonight, so you won't be stressed out before a big presentation. You will read testimonies from others just like you (or worse) who have tried and failed, only to succeed later on. People's lives have been changed by this, and even if your life isn't in shambles, your life can only benefit from these suggestions.

I'd love to hear what you think of this system. I've tried it several times and never get it going. But I'm going to try again! Wish me luck!

My kitchen

My continuation of Pinterest. For this one I want your opinion! I'm redoing my kitchen based on this design:

I love these dishes and have already gotten 6 of them off of RueLaLa. I'm going to hang three of them on the wall. What's stopping me and giving me problems is the color. I have great granite countertops and I don't have enough money to replace them, and I don't want to paint them. I want to paint everything white, maybe a light blue, but in my mind the color clashes. Here are some photos that I think look good. What do you think? And one is a bathroom, just look at the colors.

This one is a great example of the white beside the granite countertops.

And this one has a great shade of blue in it beside the granite countertops.

If I do paint the walls white, I might do a stencil. I found a set of stencils that would match the plates.

I have one more set of photos that I'll post soon!

Elaine Turner

I absolutely love Elaine Turner, and I love RueLaLa for hosting this great brand! RueLaLa has hosted other great brands such as Lilly Pulitzer, and Kate Spade. For those of us on a budget, it is difficult to get these wonderful designers. But when they are marked down I know I stock up! And on October 20 I know I will be checking out some cute fall flats by the one and only Elaine Turner. Join RueLaLa if you haven't already and join the party as well!

In case you can't read that it says: go to RueLaLa.com/friends and type in my email address (for each person I recruit who makes an initial purchase I get a $10 credit.) which is ryann.warlick@gmail.com. I hope everyone finds what they are looking for!

These are some amazing shoes that I got a year ago and I love them! (FYI, Elaine Turner shoes run a bit small. If you are between sizes think about going to the next size up. These were a bit tight and uncomfortable at first, but my feet molded to them. Most RueLala sales are returnable so if you aren't 100% on something, check the return policy and at the very least you can try them.)

My New Obsession

In the past, when I saw a picture of an idea I liked I printed it out. Once I had it in my hands I was not going to loose it (but then I'd step on it or spill something on it and I'd toss it, never to find the picture again). Then recently I began saving them in my photo app, but I'd usually never go back and look at them again.

A few weeks ago I discovered Pinterest, a social networking website involving "pinning" photos for others to see and also "pin." Pinning them puts them into various folders you create, which you categorize into standard folders. Once a member, one can follow whomever one wants, look at thousands of folders, and get ideas on anything from outfits to home decor, new products to traveling.

Here are some pins I would like to share:

This is a great example of what it means to be on Pinterest. Pinterest has all kinds of photos on it, and it is impossible to get on without finding 50 things you want to do, and then even more impossible to ever get off again.

I had been looking for this hairstyle forever and was so excited when I found it. I have lived in North Carolina all my life and couldn't imagine calling anywhere else my home. Part of being a Southern Belle is always looking ones best, which includes ones hair. There are all kinds of hair and make up tutorials that link to various blogs all over Pinterest, it's impossible to not find the perfect look for you.

I love to travel and there are all kinds of amazing photos to give me ideas on my next destination. This is a photo of the tallest church in the world. It is in Ulm, Germany. I actually stayed in Ulm for 2 weeks when I was 15 and too young to fully appreciate the opportunity. This is the town where Albert Einstein was born, although you wouldn't know it because Germany disowned him when he allied with the Allies during WWII. I also had never seen meat sold the way it was here. In America we don't see what the animal actually looks like except for fish. In most other countries they sell parts of the animals whole in the city market.

This is an example of one of many great ideas I have found on the website. Being more of a killer than a grower of plants I can take all the advice I can get. I'll need to go out and buy some generic diapers and see if this works!

A photo of a craft project someone completed and posted. There are all kinds of holiday ideas and links to tutorials on creating holiday decor. It is so much cheaper to buy a few supplies and create it than to go to Pottery Barn or Pier One. And this way you can personalize it. I'm showing this one because I actually recreated it! I will post photos soon!

I think that's enough photos of now. I hope you enjoyed these pics! I'll post some pics of kitchen inspiration soon!

My Self Improvement (so far...)

There are many areas that I want to improve. Someone famous once said something about always improving your life to be happy. And I can say that doing all of these things has truly made me happier!Cleaning: aside from a few days when I have not been feeling well (I am recovering from a total of 3 weeks in the hospital and 2 surgeries in the past month), I have cleaned everyday. My living room and kitchen are definitely showing great improvement, and FlyLady is to thank. I have been:

• Shining my sink every night and wipe down the counters and the stove
• Getting dressed everyday, and doing my make up
• Doing a few missions, cleaning or decluttering for 15 minutes everyday (my bedroom is the worst and that's mostly teaching stuff that I can't do anything with, I just moved and tossed a bunch then), and do a hot spot daily
• I pick out my clothes every night, check my calendar and make sure everything I need is out
• The other day I dusted everything in my living room/entrance/dining room/home office (it's a small place by I bought it!), and the next day I swept the whole place!
• When I shower every morning I wipe down a part of my shower to keep it clean

I am very proud of my home and am willing to have someone over at any time. Before I was always running around straightening when I had a friend coming over (even I could make 560 sq ft a disaster), but now it's just the bedroom and even that clutter is somewhat organized, just waiting for a classroom of my own.

Physical Fitness
I came out of the hospital stronger after the second visit, having been bored out of my mind and walking for 30 minutes just for something to do. I'm up to walking a half mile at least with my dog at least once a day, and multiple quarter mile walks daily. I even jogged about 20 feet the other day. I plan on taking her to the park soon.

Diet
I'm going fairly strong with the food journal (oops, slacked off today! Better not make it a habit) but haven't really noticed any correlations yet. I'll give it another few weeks before I move to the next step. I finally made my own real meal last night: chicken breasts with a paprika and garlic...dusting I guess, and frozen vegetables warmed up. I was disappointed, however, when the whole meal turned out to be less than 100 calories. I do have an appointment with a nutritionist next month. And I'm reading a lot about healthy diets and trying to find stuff on higher calorie healthy foods I like.

Friendships
I must admit, aside from making myself promises, I have done nothing here. I have told myself I would call a friend every day and make plans once a week, I have done none of this. I'm just so nervous because most of my friends are still new friends and it's that old sort of grade school feeling... What if they don't like what I said... What if I'm annoying them... Just silly nerves. But I must do it! Especially those who were sweet enough to visit me in the hospital, and Lacy who did twice. I really must do a better job of being a good friend.

Overall, I'd say I'm doing pretty good! I'm not perfect, but I don't want to be. I'm trying hard and I'm succeeding in some areas, and am going to work harder in others. And I will call Lacy tomorrow to set up something this weekend. Or Elise, whose who family came and whose father was sweet enough to buy a book and let me borrow it first. I have amazing friends, I really must do a better job of them!

Is anyone else doing anything for self improvement? How are you doing? What tips could help others?

Why do we need friends in the first place?

One of the big issues that plague fresh college graduates, and 20somethings in general, is the starting of a new social circle. Before you went to school your parents arranged playdates, then you made friends in school and in after school programs and activities. These friendship circles grew as you continued into middle and high school. Then you went to college where everything was new. Sometimes a few (or a lot) of people from your high school went to college with you and you already had your social circle. But even if you went to an obscure college, it was still pretty easy to meet people. Living in dorms, walking to class, riding the bus, taking classes and other activities led to routines in which you would see people regularly and develop acquaintances and friendships based off of commonalities. Not to mention a quarter of those on campus were in the same boat you are.

But now, you are in the "real world." You are in a new city (or you're the only one left in your old town), and you have to start a new life. New routines, new job, new home, new bank, grocery store and commute. It can all be overwhelming. Plus having to set up a new social circle. Why not just throw one of these to-dos out. Obviously you need a place to stay, and a way to pay for it, and of course you need to eat. So often times the new social circle is what is put on the back burner. But this is never a good idea either. It may be overwhelming, but putting more of a priority on making friends can help you cope with everything else, and help you settle into your new life.

Think about what you did in high school when you got your first job. Did you go home and write about it in your journal, or sit alone with a grin of self satisfaction? Or did you call up your friends to make the announcement, set up a celebratory dinner, and share the joy you have?

What about when you had a hard first day at that new job? Did you go home and cry into your pillow? Or did your friend call to ask how it was, you shared and he or she came over and supported you, told you how great you are, how hard a new job is, and cheer you up?

Friends are necessary to bring out the best (and sometimes the worst) in us. They strengthen our good emotions and help us get through the rough patches. They give us something to look forward to. They give us a chance to let go, or they make us let go of the rough patches of our lives. We are able to relax, be ourselves, and not worry about being judged. They are great as a springboard for ideas on how to deal with the annoying coworker, whether your summer dress is work appropriate, to overanalyze a phone call from the cute guy at the coffee shop, or to talk us out of eating that third slice of cake and into taking a jog.

Unfortunately, and to be addressed later, making new friends when you have no base from which to start can be one of the toughest things you have to do. It can almost be too overwhelming to add this to your ever growing to do list called life, and you may just want to go ahead and set up a good relationship with a cat breeder.

But when you think about your life before now, what got you through the tough, and the great times? What was involved in your favorite times? What do you remember most happily? Most of these memories involved friends. Not only this, but scientific research has shown that this interaction is necessary. From a study in which babies that were fed, rocked, and burped by machines, developing babies who were not as well adjusted as those who were cared for by people. Here are some other benefits of having friends:

• Scientists have discovered that those with a social circle are less likely to be afflicted with psychological issues (such as depression and anxiety) and have a boosted immune system.
• Sharing your emotional experiences can provide meaning, insight and perspective. Sharing our fears makes them less frightening, sharing our triumphs makes them more exhilarating and sharing our grief helps relieve the burden.
• Friends can help us create and find our identity. Good friends tell us what they appreciate about us, and even better friends share with us our weaknesses.

Currently I am reading The Friendship Fix, a book written by an older women (older than us and so more experienced) who provides excellent advice specifically for those in their 20s. The book covers a wide variety of topics, from making friends, to cutting off friendships. Much of the knowledge I will be sharing is from this book, and even more can be gained by actually reading the book. I would greatly encourage you to do just that if you have any questions on how to handle friendships in this new stage of your life,

Friendships and Social Networking

Social Networking terminology, and thus the culture, has become a part of our daily lives. We are able to keep up with the daily ins and outs of the lives of our closest friends, our social circles, our acquaintances, and even those random people we aren't really sure how we met. We are able to reconnect, or remain connected, with friends from 10, 20, 30 or more years ago. We can connect with our grandmothers cousin's niece, some random person with our same name, or someone on the other side of the country with whom we have a similar interest. With this new technology there have come new etiquette, and new things to consider in how to use it. In this blog post I am going to go over some things to keep in mind as you navigate this world of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, some pros and cons, and how this has, or has not, affected our daily relationships.

This commercial exemplifies one of the biggest problems in social networking, defining oneself on their social network account, and spending their entire lives on it. Unfortunately this is becoming more and more common (or has already reached a level beyond comfort). When on a social networking site, there are a whole different set of social skills necessary, that can not be translated very well into the daily grind of the outside world. And unless one is a social savant, spending this much time in social networking sites can greatly hinder face-to-face social interactions.

What can happen if you define yourself by your [insert social networking site here] profile and how to avoid the social blunders of doing so:

• You may begin talking to yourself: when you are sitting alone at a computer, tablet or on your phone, it is very easy to have a verbal conversation with the profile at which you are looking. No one else is around (or maybe just your 3 cats), and so no one will notice your comments that you make out loud about X's weight gain or Y's ugly new hairstyle. But imagine for a second you are grocery shopping, and this personal conversation has become second nature to you. Do you want to be the crazy person who talks to herself while comparing breakfast cereals?But, more seriously, you may begin uttering things out loud that should remain in your head. We all have different styles and ideas on what looks good, and sometimes we should share them (like when your best friend is trying on the cutest dress in the store, that is 75% off, but is two sizes too small). But in other situations it is better to keep you lips shut (such as at a large social gathering where you are seeing acquaintances for the first time in awhile, and someone got a haircut that isn't quite even). In the privacy of your home it is ok to make an ugly face or a comment, but not when there are other people around, and especially not within earshot of the unfortunate.
• We are loosing our conversations. We all have busy lives, and it is no longer possible to see all of your friends on a weekly, or bimonthly, basis. Usually we have to schedule a walk or a meal between life, and it is nice to be able to use that time to the fullest. One of the best parts of good news is sharing it, telling your friend that you are engaged, pregnant, buying a home, or just have a date. The excitement on their face and the questions and suggestions they have for you lead to exciting conversations that fill up the time and make the time worth repeating. But, unfortunately, this information can often get on the Internet long before you have time to have that special lunch. By this point your friend may have already heard about your bun in the oven, has congratulated you via the social networking site, and the excitement has worn off a bit.
  
  This happened to a friend of mind recently. While my friend was on a weekend trip with her long-time boyfriend, he proposed and of course she accepted. They had just moved in together, had been moving in that direction, but it was still a complete surprise. Being the sweet and social lady that she is, she called her friends that afternoon, rather than sending out a mass text or announcing it via Facebook. She is also incredibly laid back and doesn't take offense easily, but I can only imagine that she was a little hurt when she began receiving congratulatory texts from those she had intended on calling. People had begun posting the news on her Facebook wall, others were reading, and were sending impersonal, but well intentioned, text messages.
• Once something is said, it cannot be unsaid but it can be forgiven. We all have bad days, and on those days it's often best to avoid strained relationships or other situations where we may say something we don't really mean. But it happens, and when it is a seldom act it can often be forgiven. Unfortunately, with social networking, it's much more difficult to forgive and forget. Those drunken tweets that are forgotten about until someone calls you and asks you about it, or the message to a friend to address A, but you casually mention B and it is miswordedd can remain online and in peoples inboxes as reminders for a long time. While it is possible to delete comments, tweets and status updates, they are available for the world to see in the mean time, and for the world to remember.
• Is big brother watching you? While, hopefully, the government doesn't have a reason to watch your online activity, there are other people, closer to home, that have an interest. Once something is on the Internet, it is up and open for everyone to see. And despite privacy settings, things can still be found. With the growing popularity of social networking sites, people of all ages are joining. While it is always a good idea to think about what you are doing before you do it (what would my grandmother say if she were to see me at this bar right now?), the possibility if her seeing your less than stellar behavior is more possible thanks to Facebooks popularity. And even more importantly, there is an increasing number of corporations who will search social networking sites for potential employees, and schools are beginning to do the same. While what you do in your free time should be your own free time, it is becoming the business of everyone from your Great Aunt Ruth to the hiring manager of your dream job. So before you go out for your monthly (or weekly or nightly), evening out with friends, make sure you have explained limitations of picture uploads and comments to your friends (does everyone really need to know you wiped out on the sidewalk on a particularly good (or bad) night?). And maybe even consider stowing your smartphone somewhere that is difficult to get to, so that you aren't tempted to sloppily update about the beer goggled 10 you just spotted, or what you want to do to the person who "looked at you wrong."
• The hurt it can bring. There is often an urge to share every moment of your life on these sites. Your weekend plans to the beach, or the photos from the amazing hike you just took. While it may be unintentional, it can be bragging to others about your great life. But there are other ways it can hurt the feelings of your friends. While everyone has their own lives, and it is unreasonable to expect to be able to tag along to every social gathering or trip, it still may hurt when you read about a great trip one of your close friends has planned and your biggest adventure coming up is discovering how big the dust bunnies are under your bed. It could hurt even worse if you had a big celebration planned (such as a baby shower or your wedding), and you discover that a friend is unable to make it because they are going camping. Bearing in mind that these other plans could involve unknown acquaintances that do not allow an invitation for you, or a yearly family camping trip, it isn't always the best feeling in the world knowing that you are being left out or are second choice.
• The ending of a friendship. Social networking has gotten out of control, and periodically people will realize that they may have talked to the majority of their "friends" once. People will periodically do a sweep of their friends and delete many with whom they no longer have any contact. The next time you log in you may notice your friend number has gone down, and you may spend hours scouring your friends list trying to figure out who was rude enough to unfriend you (and you probably will never find out, driving you crazy). But the act of unfriending can have more serious implications. It's never easy to end a friendship, but at times they fizzle. Sometimes there is just a slow progression of fewer lunch dates and calls, but other times there can be a sudden event that leads to The End. And just like the end of a good book, you are aware the end is growing close, but once you turn that final page, there is a sense of sadness that the book is over. The finality of discovering that your once best friend has unfriended you is much the same way. Know that the friendship is over, and that you only have 3 pages left in a book is disheartening, but once you read that final page, the finality can be a little overwhelming.

Keeping in touch with friends, reconnecting with friends, and making connections through friends can always be a positive thing that social networks have allowed. But making your life so public can have its implications. Friends can feel left out because their presence wasn't desired. Your nightlife behavior can be discovered by your family, or your boss, and this can lead to gossip and judgements. Conversations may stalemate because everything has already been shared online. Next time you log into your own social networking website, think about these implications and decide if the membership is worth the price, or if you may just want to tweak your profile a bit to allow for a greater social life beyond the computer screen.

Step 1: Keep a Food Diary

For about a week now I have been tracking my food intake. My own reasoning is part of the Sugar Addict's Recovery Program. It is step two of seven of the program to change your diet and body chemistry to help you no longer crave sugar.

For the past two nights I have had abdominal cramping and nausea, what happens to me after I have consumed too much sugar. But I can't help but eat it because I'm addicted to it. But seeing myself write it will hopefully help, I'm having to own up to my bad habit.

Baby Steps to a Healthy Diet

Eating healthy is very difficult, especially in a time and money constrained world. Fresh out on our own we are trying to prove ourselves to our colleagues, keep a social life, network, stay in shape, and stay in budget. Millions of people have done it before us, so it shouldn't be so hard, right? Well, everyone is different, we all have different strengths and weaknesses and that is what makes the world wonderful, but our own lives stressful. When deciding to start something new, it is important to take baby steps so you won't be overwhelmed. In this blog I will go over some tips to hopefully get you started on eating right.Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional and not liable for your health (but I am doing research and following my suggestions myself, I won't intentionally steer you wrong). Seek the guidance of a healthcare professional when changing diets or starting a new fitness program.

#1: Make a food journal

There are multiple ways you can do this. You can get a small, pocket-sized notebook and write down everything you eat (write down the date and time as well) or write it on napkins and scrap pieces of paper (unless you are prone to loosing those) or use a smartphone app. The purpose of this exercise is to see what you eat everyday. You may be unaware how much junk food you eat, or how healthy you eat. At this point I just want you to write down you daily meals and snacks, go over them at the end of the day and begin thinking about them. Jot down notes when you think of them about how you feel about your meal. Are you proud of yourself for what you ate that day? Do you think you made some wrong decisions?

#2: Drink plenty of water

The rule of thumb is to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Dehydration is very serious and can occur very quickly. By the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated! Early symptoms of dehydration include tiredness, low energy and headaches. Do you feel this way through out the day. Try just carrying around a water bottle and drinking out of it regularly! This may solve your problem! On top of that, water helps with digestion and helps your immune system. Drinking this much water is very easily doable for several reasons:

• A single glass of water is only 8 ounces. That is about the size at least 3 medium drinks at a fast food place.
• This includes all liquids consumed: juice, fruits, soups... But keep in mind that caffeine and alcohol are dehydrating. So sodas and martinis don't count.
• It is now the in thing to carry around a reusable water bottle. No more going to the drink machine and shelling out more money every month, flattening your last dollar bill on the corner of the machine, or begging people for change.
• It is also possible to flavor water without spending much financially or space wise. Just stick a box of the flavor pixie sticks at your desk and dump a new one in each time you fill up. However, these are full of sugar also. I would suggest, instead, adding a bit of fruit juice to your water as a healthier alternative.

So I want you to go out and make a small investment in your health and buy a reusable water bottle, and maybe even a refrigerated filtration pitcher while your at it! The water bottles are usually just around $10, and they are reusable! Water is cheap, this one little change will do you a great deal of good with little cost. Maybe even just reuse the last bottle you will ever get out of a soda machine. But there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Wash the bottle daily!
• If you purchase a bottle, purchase one with a kind of a spout that you put your mouth around (I have one like a coffee mug and it spills everywhere! But if you have a trick then buy one like that).
• Do your research. There are certain chemicals in plastic that are being discovered to be harmful when used in water bottles. I would suggest reading several, recent articles on the subject, or going to a camping/sporting goods store. You would not believe how much those guys know.

This is all I will leave you with for now. Be sure to watch what you eat and drink you water. Write down how many times you drink your whole bottle a day. There is such thing as water poisoning, but that involves so much water it is very uncommon. And hold yourself accountable! Look at your food journal, and even show it to others. You may be able to hide your junk food habits behind closed doors, but once it's written down for even just your eyes, your secrets out!

Crohn's Disease and Diet

Sitting here, in the hospital, without much to do, I have begun my research on my projects. I have begun with what I think is the most important: diet. What you eat is everything! It controls how your feel physically and emotionally, and whether or not you are able to complete simple or complex tasks. Think about how you feel at the end of the day when you realize you had nothing to eat, or nothing but junk food out of the snack machine, or if you ate healthy, balanced and regular meals. What you eat makes a huge difference in your day.

I began my research with what is suggested for a normal person. The government just came out with a new method for figuring out what to eat each day called MyPlate. They have simplified the classic pyramid to hopefully help people figure out what the are supposed to each at each meal. But this isn't the answer for everyone. I did research on this and found a great article that goes over MyPlate and gives it's own suggestions for making it even healthier. For instance, they suggest putting dairy foods in with protein, rather than making them separate. I will write a comprehensive blog with this information and other information, but in the mean time, here is a link to the article.

Along with discovering what is important for everyone to eat, I did a lot of research on what is important for those with Crohn's Disease to eat. As I have mentioned I have Crohn's Disease, and am currently in the hospital recovering from some sort of infection caused by my second bowel resection about a month ago. A bowel resection involves removing a portion of the diseased intestine in order for the patient to hopefully go into remission for a number of years. It worked really well the first time, and aside from this infection, I have done very well this time.

But because of diseased intestine, which doesn't absorb nutrients as it should, and bowel resections, Crohn's patients often have issues with absorption of nutrients and it is often necessary to take supplements. Along with this, many Crohn's patients are sensitive to some foods, varying case by case, which can prevent a patient from getting the necessary nutrition. There are a wide variety of methods for getting extra nutrition into a Crohn's patient, from OTC vitamins to IV nutrition.

I have enjoyed doing my research and doing everything I can to have a healthy future, and helping everyone have a healthier and happier future.

Starting Over

One of the best things about life is that everyday you wake you, you can start over. You can decide to be a different person, a better person. Now I can't say you can change everything about your life (your job, your living circumstances, your credit), just by waking up and wishing for it, but by having this attitude, that you are ready to change you can make a drastic difference.

I have written about my health several times. Just to refresh, I have Crohn's disease. It is a very serious and very unpredictable digestive disease. I was very sick in middle school, and went into remission after a bowel resection. That surgery was 11 years ago. Over the past 5 years I have slowly becoming ill again, and my Crohn's became fully active about a year ago.

About a month ago I woke up in severe pain, and went to the ER. From the first moment I stepped in doctors were mentioning another surgery. I was caught by surprise because my own doctor was hopeful that we could get me into remission without surgery, and I wasn't nearly as sick as I was in middle school. A few days later I had my second bowel resection.

I was granted the chance to start over. Over the past year I have lost 20 pounds, lost a significant amount of energy, missed out on social events, and hadn't been able to properly organize my new home. I already knew that my Crohn's was active, but it was a relief to realize the reason for my recent extreme lethargy.

I was granted a chance to start over, and I am going to take full responsibility for myself and use my fresh start to the fullest. The Lord has granted me this start over at the best time possible. I am ready to start my career and my life, and with my new health I can put everything into this.

Soon after being released from the hospital I discovered some websites that would help with just this. They are all free, and are all designed to make over different parts of your life. I am very excited to follow the free programs, and set up routines that will give me a clean and orderly home when I wake up, peace and serenity, lots of energy, and be a better person to those around me.

The first is called FlyLady. FlyLady is a sweet woman with lots of advice, suggestions and encouragement for those who are interested in becoming her Flybabies, She, and several others, hand out daily advice and encouragement on cleaning and organizing your home, and on improving your life. There are a series of baby steps that I have just begun that help you to set up routines to keep your house clean. Most of them involve a daily wipe down or few minute clean. It is amazing how much can be cleared in just 2 minutes, and how great ones sink can look if you wipe it out once a day. A new, small task is added on each day, and individualization is encouraged. Once the baby steps are completed there are daily missions to be done around the house as your time allows, and a new task is added on monthly that just takes a few minutes. This program is very well organized, and did I mention free! I have really enjoyed every part of it so far.

Another program is similar to FlyLady, but a little bit looser. This one I have barely started, and look forward to starting it fuller soon. It is called HabitHacker. This one is comprised of three ninety day plans, Create, Nest and SOS. I'm going to do Nest first. This involves cleaning and decluttering your home. Each day you receive an email about the next days project. For instance, spend 5 minutes cleaning one area off, and keep it clean. The Create program helps you discover your inner artist and the SOS program is for your personal health.

Currently I am reading a book and the accompanying blog, the Happiness Project. A women, who was completely content with her life, decided she wanted to be more than content. She did a vast amount of research on areas where she felt she could improve, created resolutions, and followed them. In January she decided to "boost energy," and in February she decided to "remember love." I have just begun reading about March in which she decided to "aim higher." While reading this book I have gone ahead and written down various areas in which I plan to improve my life. I am very encouraged by what she has discovered in herself, and how much it has helped others around her. Ones attitude is truly contagious.

My final plan is to completely revamp my health. I have always been very small, and viewed exercise as a method to loose weight, and then maintain it. Over the past year I have changed this view, but was too weak to act on it. I viewed dieting the same way and would eat junk food as much as I could. I plan on beginning a loose workout plan, simply running and walking regularly, and more importantly I am going to work with a nutritionist about eating healthy for me.

The most invasive part of my plan for health comes from a 7 step plan to break a real addiction that I, and many others, have. It is a sugar addiction. Dr. Kathleen Desmaisons is a therapist who specialized in alcoholism, is a recovering sugar addict, and is currently researching sugar addiction. She noticed that a lot of recovering alcoholics exhibited the same symptoms she did in relation to sugar, and that many alcoholics turned to sugar. Her own experience has shown that she feels physically and mentally better when she doesn't eat sugar, something I have noticed as well. And she has discovered that there is more to both addictions than just saying no. Her book "The Sugar Addicts Total Recovery Program" outlines these sevens steps, and how to customize them for yourself. The steps are primarily about changing your diet to satisfy the chemical imbalance that causes both sugar addiction and alcoholism. There is also a website, called Radiant Recovery, that accompanies this book that outlines the seven steps, has a support community and online classes to help you with each step and beyond. I am very excited about this program and knowing that this will give me many more healthy years.

These are my self improvement plans. Everyone has areas in which they can improve themselves, and these programs will by no means make me perfect. But I would encourage everyone to wake up every morning and tell themselves "this is a fresh start," and to do what you can to enjoy your day to the greatest extent possible.

Jesus has become too generic

Imagine a recent historical figure who fought the standards of today's society. A person whom many followed, but also whom many hated, and who willingly died for the cause. (a good example is MLK)
But of course this person was a mere human, with limitations just like the rest of us. Now this person claimed to be the son of God, birthed by a miracle, with the power to heal, expel demons, and forgive sin. What would be your reaction?
We have been created numb to the idea that Jesus appeared to be a mere human, which was the importance of the Lords purpose in sending Him. He sent a His only son, in a humans body, to suffer alongside us, to be disbelieved by us, and to be shunned by us, in order to save us.
Imagine your reaction to the claims that He made, and remember the truth that we all believe as naturally as 2 plus 2.


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Forgiveness

What we do today and what we did yesterday is done. There is nothing we can do about it, it is done, forget about it.




Day in and day out we make mistakes. We put our faith in success, meaning something different for everyone else. Some want to get that great promotion (then the next promotion, and the next one), or have the husband, house and car, and children, or the look of being 5, 10, and 20 years younger than we are.

Putting your heart and soul into something tangible, or an ideal, can only disappoint you. Nothing is perfect, and so it will only break you even more. And when these things disappoint us, we blame them.

There is only one perfect thing in this world, that is the Lord, our savior, Jesus Christ. I'm currently reading a book called The Reason for God by the amazing Timothy Keller.

We live in a broken world. Nothing in our current world is perfect, including us. We sin, everyday, when we put our hearts and souls into something else, or in other words we idolize something else. This is the core of all sin, idolizing.

But we have already been forgiven. Why do we have to be forgiven? Sinning is like turning our back and walking away from God, and this hurts Him very much. And unfortunately every time someone or something is hurt, someone must pay for it.

One example would be your friend, whom you allow to borrow your car, and who then backs it into your fence. Someone must pay for this damage. The same go for times when a friend, coworker or stranger hurts your feelings.

In the instance of feelings hurt, or disappointment in an ideal, you have two options: forgive and forget, or think about it all the time and seek revenge. Seeking revenge will simply stress you and hurt the other person. Think about how you feel when you think about what hurt you? Is this a feeling that you want to feel all the time? Will your energy and time be well used against this silly thing that hurt you? What kind of mood will you be in, and how will those around feel about spending time with you? Does this sound like an ideal situation?

Being hurt is never an ideal situation. It causes pain and anguish, but forgiving can help this feeling. Revenge is a natural feeling, and forgiving will cause you more pain, but think of all that you have done in revenge. The next day, hour or minute have you still felt as though this was the best decision? But rather, forgiving allows you to move on, learn from your situation, and loving what has remained in your life.

I once held grudges over anything. People would do something silly, and I wouldn't talk to them, I would spend all of my energy avoiding them and giving them attitudes. But I as unhappy, lonely, and had no friends. I have since realized a lot about life. That was all wasted energy. Friends, coworkers and strangers have hurt me, but I just moved on. They made their decision, it may have been a bad day, or I may have truly wronged them.

But what is done is done. Putting energy into trying to fix the problem will only make you unhappy. Through the Holy Spirit a full man was born of a virgin, who was also fully human. He came to be a teacher and a leader. He partied with the wrong crowd, and befriended everyone who would accept him. Then He was falsely accused of sinning, and was put to an agonizing death. Through Him we are forgiven of our sins. God no longer stresses about all the sinning we have done against Him, because He has forgiven s. He is now simply working towards saving us and restoring the world to the way it was meant to be, with no suffering, pain, fear or sin. So follow His lead, and accept Him into your life, because He will hold your hand through this difficult journey of forgiveness.

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Making a Home

This past weekend I had a wonderful time with 3 of my closest friends. We sat around with wine and caught up with each other. This is part of what makes a home, somewhere where you and your friends can relax and unwind.

When deciding how to make your house, condo or apartment a home, it's always best to start with a plan. In my former apartment, I chose a wall color and went from there. Every few months I changed my mind on the style. This time I spent nearly a year in advance deciding color schemes, layouts, and decorative details. Combine is somewhere where you can see it all at once. This could be on a bulletin board, or in a notebook. I taped sheets of printer paper together for each room and taped photos to these pages. Any little detail I saw that I liked I printed and circled. It has made decorating so much easier. I have been able to go out and buy exactly what I wanted with no regrets.




No matter your style, if you like to socialize at all, your living area should be set up in a way to condone this. This is why I have a big, comfortable sofa, and several comfortable chairs facing a center point.

To save money it is also important to use as much of your furniture as possible. If you look closely, the chairs covered in white "slipcovers" are my former dining room chairs
- To do this I bought a bag of non-fusible queen sized batting, and roughly cut sections to go over the chair. If you plan on using the chairs again later, but tight slip covers in a light color to put on under the batting to avoid damage to the chairs. I then put white slipcovers on top of the batting. I couldn't find what I wanted in time for my gathering, so I used my white drapes. I folded and hot glued them in the back and I plan on sewing and neatening up the bottom. If space is an issue for you, it is better to keep them short to show more space between the legs.




Bright colors also set a brighter mood. This is just the beginning of where every home differs, every person has a different opinion on color. I chose a preppy, bright and happy pink and green for my color scheme, with light yellow walls (that is the actual paint name). Everything around my apartment is bright pink and green, it looks bright and happy no matter my mood.

In my opinion, it is important not to leave your personal items laying around. Your home should look lived in, but guests should be able to sit down comfortably without worried they may see something too personal.




I keep magazines on my table for myself and guests. I also keep my coat, keys, purse and a place to put mail by the door. For everything else I use drawers and baskets. In the far right corner you see my mail basket. In the drawers in the console I keep daily necessary items, the second console is also a make shift desk. The drawer holds stationary items, the basket contains more stationary and I'm going to get a file folder to place beside it that will match the over all decor.

My coffee table has baskets in it, I use these for blankets while watching tv, without causing clutter. I will also use them to clear my coffee table in the event of a last minute guest.

If you look closely in my photos you will also see some moving boxes. I plan to put white bookshelves on either side of my tv. The chairs will go in front of them to hide personal items I will store in baskets on the bottom shelves, on the middle shelves I will put things I may want, such as books and DVDs, and more decor on the top shelves. I would like to paint the back of them the color of the walls, and add a connecting shelf between the two to create the look of built ins. These will make them appear more flush to the walls, less invasive into my small living room.

Lots of lights are also important I have five us far, all easy to turn on using high efficiency bulbs. Even if you have a ceiling fixture, it is important to have lights at all different levels for all different uses. People will be in every inch of your living room if there is a chair available or something to look at. So think about where people sit and what you want to show off, place lighting especially near these places.

The most important thing to remember is that your home represents you when you have guests. Make sure you keep it in a manner in which you would be proud to show. Use color that you love, but I would suggest looking into color meanings, and look at photos to see what you like. Also decorate with items that mean something to you. It could be an item you hold special to your heart, or just something you thought looked nice. Seeing things that make you happy will make you more comfortable where you live, and will make your living arrangements a home!

Good luck!

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The Final Chapter

What to do when you find out that a final friend from a former life has been significantly hurt by you.

I have decided to ignore it. There is nothing I can do to change her mind. I still think great things about her and wish all three of those ladies the best of luck in the future.

I realize that I have caused many changes is several peoples lives. After a huge fight with one friend, she moved back home. I ruined a friendship with a best friend of many years, and two more wonderful friendships.

But there is nothing that can be done, once a person makes up their mind that you are a bad person and not worth there time, there is nothing that can be done to salvage the friendship. It would be like chasing after an old boyfriend. If it is meant to be, we will be friends again in the future. But it is pointless to chase them trying to change their mind.

This is an important mentality during a fight or falling out with a friend or significant other. Continuing to push is like scratching a sore. Unfortunately, you have to let things heal in order to mend anything salvageable.

Also look at what they have to say, because there is some truth behind it, always. While what they say is said with passion- it is still their feelings. Use what they have to say to change and better yourself.

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I am a homeowner!

I bought my home yesterday! My mom and I have already rolled the entire living room, I'm getting a couch and a new closet on Tuesday, my dining room table and coffee table I ordered online and should arrive soon, and so I plan to be living there end of next week, slowly moving over the rest of my stuff.
Life is also starting to get back to normal which is wonderful! One of my bible studies starts back next week (I better get going on my homework!), and I have dinner plans with some girlfriends... And I finally paid for a match.com month, and I've been emailing a guy and we have plans coming up. We'll see how this goes.
But life has returned to normal! After everything that has been going on, my life is finally starting to settle down. And I will share my adventure in my new life!
If your life has been like mine over the past few months, here is what to do:

- Compartmentalize and separate. Create a folder for the big things (buying a house) and only deal with that when you literally sit down with it. Don't worry about it at work.

- Mark big dates on the calendar. Of course mark the date you must turn in such and such information, but keep the date in mind that the big thing is over (closing date). It may inch forward for awhile, but it will speed up.

- Once that day comes, relax! Because you have earned the result! And you probably have a lot of work to do now with the result.

I have really enjoyed my time of house hunting, and am very happy with the result. I can't wait to share the finished project. But here are a few teasers from before I bought it!







This photo was taken during the inspection, so just look past the sweet inspectors gear.




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