Being Grown Sucks

This past weekend my little family went back to my home town and spent the weekend with my parents and sister. My littlest sister is a sophomore in high school and as I sat and listened to her talk with her bestie, I had a moment where I missed being in high school. I missed picking out my best outfit and spending too much time on my hair each morning, I missed those lunch time friends - you know the ones who aren't your usual friends but the ones you sat with at lunch because you had the same class that day, I missed the giddiness of talking to a new guy and I even missed note taking and homework. 

Everyone wishes away those younger years and all your look forward to is being able to just 'graduate and be done with school and finally have a big girl job'. I know I did. Something I wish I would have told my 16-22 year old self  - sometimes being a grown up isn't all that fun. 

Sometimes making life decisions sucks.  

Right now I'm having to decide on which insurance is going to be best for my little family. How the heck am I suppose to know what type of coverage we are going to need for next year? Will we break a bone, get ebola or will nothing happen and all we need are our annual appointments? 

Insurance is confusing enough because of the various options, each with their own benefits. 

1. Low premium, no copays & pay everything out of pocket till we hit high deductible then most everything is covered after.

2. High premium, no copay & no deductible but pay 25% of almost every bill.

3. Medium premium, copays with medium deductible & medium % to pay after deductible is met.

Decisions, decisions! 

Last year we chose option 1 and it saved us a lot of money during Kingston's birth. We had our deductible met when it came time for his birth and then most everything was covered after that. We didn't have to pay a cent of our $16,000 hospital bill and now each doctors appointment costs us $5-$10. Needless to say we are getting everything checked out this year! 

I think we are leaning toward option 1 again because we have the option to use a health savings account which makes it less of burden when we have to pay big chunks at each visit. 

Which option would you choose? 

Chalkboard Walls . . . Drooling

I've been doing the equivalent to drooling with your mouth, with my eyes in regard to these awesome chalkboard walls. Chalkboard paint is nothing new to anyone, but I stumbled across some really classy/clean chalkboard walls on pinterest the other day and I knew I had to have one in my house someday. 

I love the sharpness of the lettering on this wall. I need to find out how they made it so perfect? A chalk pencil? A stencil? I need to find out their trick! 

Who doesn't love a calendar and even more a calendar in chalk? The colorful frames finish the look. I love them! I've seen the exact same ones at Michaels for less then $3. I even have a few laying around the apartment waiting for me to turn them into something cool. 

I like the size of this chalk board wall. It's not too big and it's not too small. It's my fave that I've stumbled across! I also love how the shelf separates it from the top of the wall, making it look super classy. 

 all via pinterest

I love how they used this chalkboard wall to draw frames for their already hanging artwork. This technique would be super fun in a playroom.

There are so many fun and creative things you can do with chalkboard paint. Painting walls is only the beginning! I just need to figure out how to eventually one day talk the hubby into this! As long as I can make the writing look pretty and be able to clean the chalkboards so they look crisp, I think that'll convince him! And if it doesn't, you know how the saying going "happy wife, happy life" (I'd probably get my way anyways!)

How have you used chalkboard paint?

My Dream House: According to Pinterest [4]

Linking up with Michelle for "Oh How Pinteresting"

Feel free to check out my dream house part 1, part 2, and part 3.

 

Before I start, I just want to throw this out there: Pinterest is the deadliest website ever. 

It has my expectations so high for how I want my future home. 

 

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• How magnificent is all the natural light coming in from the windows and doors. I love the color on the walls too.
  Mint is so hot right now!
• How sweet is this little dog bed. Bentley would love to have his very own hide-a-way. And it's so chic. 
• This is the perfect breakfast nook. I don't think anything could make this  any better. I love the mismatchness of the chairs and pillows.
  Absolutely perfect.
• This closet has me drooling. CT and I would be set for life. And a plus, there would be no need for dressers because of the built in drawers. 
• How fab is this great room? Exposed wood beams, the walk way upstairs, the floor to ceiling stone. WOW!
  
  
  
  Do we have any of the same tastes?

Dabbling in Etsy . . . HELP!

The more I craft and make awesome handmade goodies, the more I want to sell some of my creations on Etsy. 

Taking this jump is a huge step for me. It means possibly a huge time commitment, coming up with new ideas that are different from everything else that is out there, perfecting my craft, and really being fully committed to making this new business venture work. 

For all of you who have Etsy shops:

What does it really take to start a handmade business? 

Things on my to-do list before opening up for business.

- Cute packaging 

- Business Cards

- Facebook page

- Having good descriptions for the products

- Photography back drop

- Creating an Etsy email account

- Get a good amount of product created 

Is there anything I'm missing? 

Help! 

My ultimate goal is to have this up and running before the holidays.

Wish me luck!

Weekly Inspiration [4]

Are you feeling stuck in life? Does your life feel like it's at a stand still? 

I totally feel like today's message at church was directed towards me. 

It's difficult when it seems as everyone around you is doing bigger and better things [using their degree towards their 'big people' jobs, buying homes, and having babies] and it feels as though you are just stuck, waiting. 

What I took away from today's sermon was that our future requires our full attention. If you want to succeed, you need to be intentional in all aspects of your life. You can't just go with the flow hoping things work out. We need to be proactive and use the power of prayer to work together with Him.

Remember: our potential is limitless.

Philippians 3:13-14

I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

All He wants is for us to be happy in the path He has for us.

New ways of living never come from old ways of thinking. 

Let go of the past and focus on your future. 


**On a different notes, prayers are needed! 
CT and I have a very exciting/nerve racking appointment tomorrow. Hopefully we get good information and that we are able to financially afford some things that are about to happen! 

My Dream House: According to Pinterest [3]

Happy Hump Day ya'll!

Here is where I'll be linking up with Michelle to showcase some of my latest to die for Pinterest finds. 

 

Check out part 1 and part 2 of my future dream house. Unfortunately, at this time we have it too good paying only $300 a month for rent, that I can only 'pin' ideas for the future! 

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• For the space challenged outdoor areas, this vertical herb garden would be the perfect alternative. Think of how easy it would be to get out the kitchen shears and go around to the side of your house to pick some herbs for dinner. Love it!
•  This broken pot turned into a little fairy garden. Things like this confirm [God willing] that I have to have at least one girl! I need to make these things!!
• This kitchen looks like one you are only allowed to look at and walk through. It's too clean and too perfect. My favorite thing about this is the double bench pulled up beside the island.
• I am loving all this METALLIC I'm seeing these days! I just redid the decoration in our master bed room: black furniture, grey walls, and red and metallic decor. I am itching to paint something with this trendy metallic paint.
• Who doesn't love an over sized colored mirror? It would definitely help me with my OOTD posts!

Do we have any of the same tastes? 

Signs of Your Coming

Matthew 24:6-8

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of the birth pains." 

I always think of this verse when I hear of the abundance of earthquakes going on these days. Yesterday there was half a dozen in Oklahoma, a huge on on the border of Iraq/Iran, and then I wake up and read that there was another one on a Japanese island. 

I have no doubt that these are the beginning of our birth pains.

 Jesus is coming back ya'll!

Our world is so far gone, there is nothing more that can be done to save it. People target schools, movie theaters, and now sporting events. It's so sad that it has come to this.

It makes me so nervous to start a family in a world like this. A world that looks as though there is no hope for it to get any better. 

That is until we reside for eternity in Heaven!

Some advice for me: 

Find and strengthen your relationship with Jesus, because He is the only way to get there.

Books on Books

Check out my new page in regards to what books I have in my collection and what books I am wanting to read.

Any suggestions on an author or a particular book? I love suggestions from other readers.

 The next book on my Kindle app ready for me to read is Naked by Raine Miller. This is the first book in the Blackstone Affair Series.

 

CT may not love it, but I love getting lost in a story! I get so caught up in the book making me basically dead to the outside world until I finish. I read while I'm in the car (being the passenger), while I'm browning hamburger, or while CT is watching a game.

 It is so difficult for me to put down a good book!

You know you found a good book when you wish the story could continue for the rest of the characters life.

I have also been thinking about getting involved in a book club. Add that to the list of things/projects I have going on!
How does one go about joining a book club and what exactly do they entail? 

Looks like I need to do a little more research.

Weekly Inspiration

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."

 

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We all need a daily reminder that The Lord has the perfect plan for everything. We may not be able to see it now, but things are happening behind the scenes every second of everyday to eventually get us to that perfect place.

 Ultimately, we have no control over what is happening. We can only go with the flow and put all of our trust in Him. He has a plan far better than we could ever imagine. Have faith and ride the waves.

My Dream House: According to Pinterest [2]

After my post on Wednesday about my first apartment/home, it has really given me the itch to move. It doesn't help that one of my best friends just purchased a house and has finally completed decorating it, and another one of my best friends just had their offer accepted on their first home. 

Since it's not quite my time, I can't do anything other than turn to Pinterest to pin for the future! These are some things I'm loving at the moment. 

 

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• Potted herbs in the ground. I'm obsessed with outsides and gardens. What a classy and controlled way to contain the herbs.
• If I had an outdoor kitchen like this, there would be no need for me to have an inside kitchen. How fabulous is it? And look at the view from the grill. It's to die for!
• This is what a sun porch is suppose to look like. Light and airy! I love the color scheme. Pillows are an easy way to spruce up any room.
• How warm and cozy is this room? There is no way CT would ever go for something like this in our bedroom, but I could totally see this as the color pallet for a little girls room. I can picture it now: white crib, pink accents, dark gray accent wall and rug! =)
• I am such an organizer, so of course this closet organizer makes my heart happy! You spend so much money on all those articles of clothing and shoes, you might as well have a beautiful way to display it all. This design is awesome because it is snug against the wall and has a fabulous curtain that it hides behind. 

Until the day comes where I have a beautiful house of my own, I will continue to pin for it! Follow my progress here, and check out my first set of pins from My Dream House: According to Pinterest (1).

Linking up with The Vintage Apple for OHP!