Today I Learned: How Women & Men See Colors

1 down, 1 to go!

I finished my internship last Friday. It was seriously bittersweet for me. I really really really loved the place and everyone who worked there. It was such a fun educational experience for me and I {really} hated to see it end. Thinking of it just makes me hate strongly dislike whatever idiot(s) decided to cut money in the state's school systems. I would have LOVED to have even gotten to apply for a job there! Not everyone has been blessed with such a wonderful internship opportunity.  I really made friends with the ladies over there and they are all so positive and encouraging. They all were eager to teach me and went out of their way to help me when needed. I couldn't have asked for a better internship opportunity. Seriously.

Thursday was the last day that all three of the fabulous counselors {Christel, Sherry, & Kim} were there, as two of them were leaving town the next day {my last day}. They got me a super sweet card and a $30 gift card to Lowe's! They know how many trips I've had to make to Lowe's lately for stuff for the house and they knew there'd be many more to come! :) That was so thoughtful of them. They didn't have to get me anything, and I REALLY thought that was super nice of them! They are all so awesome! 

Christel, my internship supervisor, also got me a little present. :) We had talked about how in public schools you can't really have religious-based decor in your office, so she got me a little somethin' somethin' that flirted the line! ;)

Isn't that so cute?? Again, that was SO thoughtful! I am so blessed to have gotten to work with these great ladies! 

That means I am one internship down, one to go to graduate with my Masters degree! I have YET to find an agency internship for this summer. I have really been praying about it. I am getting pretty desperate but I don't want to take the first offered internship out of desperation if it's not where God wants me to be. So, I'm praying that anywhere {of the million places I've contacted} that isn't supposed to work out, simply doesn't. And I mean that. I want the perfect internship {for me} to cross my path and the stars align for it to be able to happen! 

Is that too much to ask?? :)

I just want everything to work out for the best! :) I got a great lead recently {that has a little something to do with this} & pursued it...hoping to hear back soon!! I will definitely be shouting from the rooftops when I obtain a summer internship! Just you wait.... ;)

Spreading the love....

I saw this floating around Facebook tonight & wanted to share. I pray that God is using this as foreshadowing for great things to come in my life! I would love to do an internship assisting women making these crucial life-altering decisions...

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said:

'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.

So the doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?'

She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.'

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!

'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.'

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb.

The crime is the same!

If you agree, please SHARE. Together we can help save precious lives!

"Love says I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person. Abortion says I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself..."

Jesus sacrificed Himself for the good of sinners! That's perfect love!

-Unknown

Bathroom Inspiration

I'm not even going to throw you a "before" picture of the hallway bathroom, it's that bad right now!

Just know that this picture is my inspiration:

kind of...

I want to paint the walls a light gray color with white cabinets & cabinet top, and either a silver or white framed mirror. I need to head to Home Goods! Mirrors are expensive! Then have white & silver decor in there...I think that'd be pretty, and bright {despite the color gray}!

I've been looking at shower curtains online...again, for something not too girly, not too butch...

Fieldcrest® Luxury White Metallic Printed Fretwork Shower Curtain

$24.99 $17.48 at Target

Ruffles Shower Curtain

$31.99 $25.59 at Target

The ruffles aren't too girly, right?? :-)

Decisions, decisions!

So...I have been a bad blogger! There has been SO many updates on the house and I have not blogged one of them! I am getting a little overwhelmed with all the progress pictures I have been taking. There's just so much progress! ;) Anyways...here's a sneak peek until I can figure out how to blog the rest of it! {To my Facebook friends, it's nothing you haven't seen already.} 

Here's a picture of the master bedroom after it was painted green:

 

Please notice the paint color ONLY! :) The floors have yet to be put down to say the least about the current condition of the room. I do love the new blinds though!

Well, so, we're not married to the ceiling fan but it's not a purchase that needs to be made right away. But I DO have a BIG decision to make:

black vs. brown 

Seriously, decisions shouldn't be this hard!

I have a ton of black home decor & most of the house will match brown...so I feel like my home decor stuff needs to be put to use, and some of it's nice stuff, so, at least one room needs to have black stuff in it! Why not the master bedroom?? I have a really big painting from Ross that would go perfect in there, only part of it's black...which is another deciding-factor in my decision-making process. I digress....

I went to Kirkland's today & bought 2 mirrors that could potentially go in the 1/2 bath that's attached to the master bedroom. Guess what colors they were....yep, one brown, one black! I bought them both since they were a STEAL at $30! {Seriously you can't find bigger mirrors at that price anywhere!} I have 60 days to make my decision {& hold onto my receipt!}, so I better get on it! Because watch this be a 60-day decision! 

It's also really hard to find decent  bedding that will match this green too. Something that's not TOO girly but something that's not totally butch either...and with the help of my dear friend, Tori, I have narrowed my choices down to two bedding sets...

Home Creeping Floral Comforter Set - Green (Queen)

$79.99 at Target - Comforter, Bed Skirt, & 2 Pillow Shams

DwellStudio® for Target® Marrakesh Comforter Set - Full/Queen

$79.99 $67.99 at Target - Comforter & 2 Shams

Both would look really good with the green & goes well with the white trim in the room! I can't really tell if one's more girly than the other, but the top one obviously is the best buy, even though it's more expensive, because it comes with the bed skirt as well.

Ah...decisions, decisions! 

See ya later, Blackberry World....

So...to make a long story short: I had a Blackberry Pearl Flip. However-many years later, it got super slow. Word on the street is that you take the battery out & put it back in to reset the thing, causing it to up it's game a bit. So, did that. Only problem was- the stupid thing didn't turn back on! I, in a panic, went to the closest Verizon store, which was a satellite store. I should've known.... I leave the place hearing that my phone has zero hope and that I can pay $50 for a brand-new, out-dated, three-year-old phone. Uh, no thank you. My friend, Yeisson, works at the "real" Verizon store (a.k.a. probably every Verizon customer in the greater Hickory area's worst nightmare). I leave the satellite store, knowing I have to buy a phone, having my heart set on an iPhone, and racing across town to the "real" store so Yeisson can sell it to me and make some commission off of it. You know, gotta help my friends out when I can. :) So, you see where this story is going. I leave the Verizon store, $220ish later, with my beloved iPhone.

I have to give myself credit because I lasted almost two months after I could have gotten an iPhone and waited until I didn't have any more options.

So. Obviously it is WAY better than the crackcrapberry I was using, but I definitely have to get used to using it. I don't know all the tricks like how to not let it autocorrect, and how to change the water drops background on the home screen, and little silly things like that.

I really want to get into using the calendar. I am just so paranoid though about my schedule(s) depending on technology. If anyone wants to give me any suggestions, I'd love to hear them! Y'all know I love my write-in planners!

I've always admired seeing funky-looking pictures that people post on Facebook from their iPhone. I asked my friend Becky what app she used for those picture effects & one of the apps she suggested was Hipstamatic. I have really enjoyed taking pictures of .. oh, ya know .. anything & everything today using this app! The only problem with it is you can't use the phone's handy dandy front camera to take pictures of yourself you & someone else. My other friend, Maggie, suggested the Camera+ app....so I'll try that next! I haven't really played around with it...only enough to know you can use the phone's front camera with the Camera+ app. If it can get my pictures to look as good as these (below), then hey, I'll be in business. As you can see, I've just been snapping shots of whatever I can, and loving the results....

Bless This Home

Mawmaw's hot pink azaleas

Friday morning on my way to my internship...so beautiful

windmill in the garden

Mawmaw's lilacs...they smelled so good.

here is my sweet sweet grandmother :)

and here's my Pawpaw.... :-)

I said "to make a long story short" again, didn't I? My bad... :)

Send me your iPhone app suggestions!

Grey's is not Glee.

Two nights this week I was up until either 2:30 or 3:30 working on {that thing} so I was seriously lacking in the sleep department this week. {Again, what's new?} So last night I came home after class and after getting some stuff at the store with my RAs, and watched Grey's Anatomy. Can I just say a couple things about that??? .... Good, 'cuz I'm gonna!!

I am not a fan of Glee, because I'm not a fan of musicals. I am, however, a {big} fan of music from Grey's Anatomy. Granted,  most of the music I like from Grey's is from the first couple seasons, but, still. When I heard they were doing an episode devoted to the music of Grey's I got super excited! Then I saw the cast was going to be singing the music, and I didn't know how I felt about that, but of course I gave it a chance!

Here was the preview that got me hooked:

Looks amazing, right? RIGHT!

Ohh, about five minutes into the episode I was so over it. Of course I watched the whole thing because I had to know if Callie lived or not, but I was seriously annoyed the entire episode. ABC, you had good intentions,  but Grey's is not Glee. It was a serious let down in my opinion. They hyped it up so much & then none of the cast could really sing! Luckily Callie {or her spirit/body thing?} sang the most and she could sing the best, but still! She's an actress, not a singer. I did enjoy reminiscing past Grey's seasons with some fabulous songs, but they really didn't need to sing them! It would have been WAY better if they would have just played the music. But hey, at least Callie's still alive! Now, if we can just get that annoying Arizona out of there!

& also, I love when they bring Addison back. :)  I'm not in love with her character {or Kate Walsh in general} on Private Practice....but she always swoops in to save the day on Grey's!

Oh and HOW true is this, Grey's lovers? Tonight Alex Karev said, "She works here at Seattle Grace Mercy Death, so I’m sure she’s pretty much gonna go crazy or get cancer, shot by a gunman or hit by a truck. So, don’t get your hopes up for Karev’s big happily ever after." HAHAHAHA. HOW TRUE!

In honor of ABC's attempt at an awesome episode...here's some YouTube videos of the past Grey's songs and memorable scenes that accompany them! :) Enjoy {if you're as big of a Grey's nerd as I am}!!

Here is the music video for the Season 6 premiere after our beloved George died. GAH what an emotional couple of episodes!


This is the first episode of Grey's I ever saw. It's the "bomb" episode & it's also the episode where Dr. Bailey has a baby at the same time her husband is in surgery from a car accident he got into, on his way to the hospital! Yeah, nothing out of the Grey's norm! I think it came on after a Superbowl or something. Anyways, majorly intense episode that got me hooked!

Here's Snow Patrol's official Grey's Anatomy music video for their hit "Chasing Cars"...


And, of course, if you are a true Grey's fan, you have seen this music video by The Fray for their hit "How to Save a Life" a million times like me! ;)


I like {some of} the fan-made music videos on YouTube, but these are some of the official ones... You can't beat them!

If When Grey's goes off the air in the future, y'all might see me wondering around aimlessly on Thursday nights. Just a heads up...

One of those weeks....

Ever had one of those weeks?

You know... one of those weeks when...

You can't get anything done.
Everyone needs your help.
You need help.
The people you need help from don't help.
You get behind.
You have ephiphanies.
You get motivated.
Your to-do list grows a mile long.
You want to go a mile a minute...
but you can't.
Because your phone is so. freaking. slow.
And your computer's being stupid.
And you want to bite people's heads off.
And you want to be patient.
But you want to get things done.
But you're torn.
Because you want to help people in need.
But you have to have to have to get stuff done.
And then you either feel bad or you get further behind.
And you get too busy.
And you lose touch with people.
And you lose sleep.
And you lose patience.
And you get frustrated.
And you get discouraged.
And you want to quit.
But you can't.
Because people need help.
And you have stuff to do.
And your job is not done.
But you need a better attitude.
And more sleep.
And more time.
But you can't get more time unless you don't sleep.
And then you are so tired you don't get anything done.
So you sleep. And then you're behind.

Story of my life the past couple weeks or month or possibly even more.
So ready for May...SO ready!
I know you hear this far too often, but it's my blog & I'll say what I feel.
And this is how I feel.

But it's not May yet.
So, until it is...

I have work to do.
People to please.
& Places to be.


*47 more days!*
...& counting. :)

WHAT THA....?!?!?!

So, funny story. Mawmaw gave me a "fruit basket"...you know, fruit IN a basket. Probably in an attempt to get it off my counter {like everything but the kitchen sink's not already ON my counter} I put the fruit basket on top of the refrigerator. Now you know that you can leave a banana out on the counter for a total of like two seconds before you start to get fruit flies. SOO gross! And WHERE do those things come from?!?! Well, if you see fruit flies, you know to get rid of the fruit.

But, what happens if you don't see fruit flies?
Or smell anything?
Or remember that your fruit basket is on top of the refrigerator?

Well, if you forget, for as long as I did, you get a little something like this:

What tha....?!?! Seriously, I don't know what is yellow underneath. But the apples were a smidge rotten and yes, that's my banana. It totally shrunk, shriveled up, and turned black as night. I seriously must have magic walls or something because ANY OTHER TIME I would have vomited from the smell alone.

But since I didn't, it makes for a funny gross picture and story to tell. :)

Mens' Rules (to Women)

My friend Caitlin sent me this forward today in an email. I like {some} forwards and this is one that made me laugh. I also find it crazy that it's almost exactly like an even older forward I {must have} got five years ago. Literally. Read it. It's funny how this thing is still in circulation, and how it changed a bit in the last five years! But anyways, the 2011 version reads as follows:

We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are OUR rules:
Please note… these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!

1. Breasts are for looking at and that is why we do it. Don’t try to change that.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You’re a big girl. If it’s up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don’t hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Saturday = sports. It’s like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1. Shopping is NOT a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:

* Subtle hints do not work!
* Strong hints do not work!
* Obvious hints do not work!
* JUST SAY IT!

1. ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That’s what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for

1. A headache that lasts for 17 months is a problem. See a doctor

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after 7 days

1. If you think you’re fat, you probably are. Don’t ask us

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done, not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colours, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a colour. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing’s wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don’t want an answer to, expect an answer you don’t want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine, Really

1. Don’t ask us what we’re thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as:

* Sex,
* Sport,
* Cars,
* or Computers

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round is a shape.

1. Thank you for reading this; Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight, but did you know men really don’t mind that, it’s like camping

Sunday night chatter

I have just absolutely, positively tried my hardest NOT to do work over Spring Break. I have enjoyed {almost} every minute of it, and had definitely decreased my need for rest. I have done this by napping {I'm pretty sure} every day while I've been home. It's been so stinkin' nice- napping with the windows open, breeze coming in, birds chirping. Some would say they would have rather been outside, but really- what was I going to do outside that I wanted to do more than nap? I mean, come on....I don't think you know how much my body hated me. But, we've talked and, we're back on speaking terms. ;)

Did you catch Coming Home episode #3 tonight on Lifetime? You know I sure did!! I swear, if you're in the mood to cry happy tears, that show'll do it for ya! {Do you like my Southern accent coming out in my blog....."show'll"} But if you haven't heard of it...come out from under your rock! It's a new show on Lifetime that comes on at 10pm on Sundays. It shows real-life surprise military family reunions and they all touch your heart! I haven't heard of anyone {with a heart} watch it without tearing up at least once! I dare you to try it! No but really, watch it. I want to support the show because I know it provides chances and memories like that that wouldn't otherwise be possible....and because I can't get enough of it and the more viewers then {I'm thinking} the longer it'll be on TV. I'd hate to see such an amazing show go off air. Here's a little clip....


Other than that, just looking forward to getting to Hickory tomorrow and getting all my crap done that I can as fast as I can because I get to come home Tuesday & spend the evening with Alex {& others, I'm sure :)} beginning work on the house! He admits that he has no earthly idea what he's doing when it comes to decorating, etc. so I think I'm going to go look at {some more} paint colors tomorrow while I'm out running some errands! I now have more of an idea of what we're doing & what I we want! ;) It'll be interesting, that's for sure! IS IT MAY YET?!?!

The answer is no, Nicole, it's not May. So, until then, I have work to do! Nothing to wake up early tomorrow for so I'm going to get to work, yes at 11:43PM. That's what I do. I'll never learn.

BIG NEWS!

So...BIG news!!!

As you may {or may not} know, Alex has been house hunting for months now! I really really really encouraged him to buy a house before I graduated moved back to Lincolnton, if not for the obvious reasons, then solely for the fact that I would give my "things" a new home! In the two years spent in Hickory, I have filled UP my apartment! Well, Alex {luckily} is a stickler for figuring out his budget, figuring out how much he can AND WILL pay for a house {and everything else} and he is pretty good awesome at sticking to it! We counter each other well. ;)

Well, the time has come! Alex has purchased a house!!! I definitely won't tell you how much he paid for it {without his permission} but let me just say, he got a S-T-E-A-L! Gotta love it!!! It's a little fixer-upper in Lincolnton with 3 bedrooms & 1 and a 1/2 bathrooms! He closes on it this Tuesday & we couldn't be more excited! I think I'm more excited than he is!

We get to begin the journey of fixing up & decorating the house together, with the help of family & friends! It'll be a lot of work but hardly anything we can't do ourselves....and by "ourselves" I mean with the help of family & close friends! ;) A lot "needs" to be done {Alex says I use that word more than I should} & we are going to get started on it ASAP....literally, like, Tuesday. :)

We are going "yard saling" in the morning in hopes of finding some good {and by good I mean good and cheap} pieces of furniture that we can either use right away or "fix up." We went & got paint cards tonight to compare on Tuesday, & looked for some things like a ceiling fan and a dining room table today. We didn't buy anything yet. Remember, Alex is frugile so we are comparing prices!! :) We counter each other SO SO well. Trust me! ;)

Of course my camera's battery is dead and I didn't get to take any pics of the house when I visited this week. There will DEFINITELY be some before & "after" {work in progress} photos taken & shared....so stay tuned!!!

I will definitely be blogging our journey with this as we fix the house up....Pray we don't kill each other in the process!! ... Juuuuuuuuuuuust kidding. ;)

Friday Randomness

Exciting things are coming! But until they get here, I am going to enjoy the rest of my Spring Break! I ended up traveling to Maiden High for internship hours four days this week. During my Spring Break. Good thing I love Maiden! :) I really do feel blessed that I have such a great internship site & have three wonderful counselors to advise, supervise, and teach me during my time there!

But today....today I got to sleep in. Y'all know how much I love sleeping in! :) But, in actuality, I had a bad dream and woke up at 9:30, wide awake, and ready to start my day! I felt rested! For the first time in a while! Hopefully I will take this rested feeling & run with it.

Speaking of- I want to get back in the HABIT of running! Or, get IN the habit...you know. My schedule's getting a TAD less crazier so, why not fill that little bit of spare time up with running until my legs fall off?? :) Just kidding. Y'all know I won't start that hardcore. ;) But I am going to put my shorts on & go running around Mawmaw and Pawpaw's neighborhood later this afternoon. Looking forward to it too! It's a beautiful 73 degrees outside right now & I'm sitting in the bed getting work done blogging with the window beside me up! I feel the sunshine, hear the birds chirping {and the cars going by}, and just feel so happy inside knowing that winter is {hopefully} over!!

Lots to do before I head back to Hickory on Tuesday. Gonna try to enjoy every minute of it too...and this weather sure is helping!! Happy weekend everyone!!

BLONDE MOMENT!

HAHA! It's always good to laugh at yourself every once in a while. I will share my latest blonde moment with you!

So, Laura posted a blog talking about Groupon. My friend Meredith introduced the idea to me this past summer, but I forgot about it. I thought there might be some good deals to try on there, so I thought, what the heck! & I signed up for their free daily e-mails with deals! Well, at the bottom of the daily deal I was reading it said "The Groupon Guide to: Writing a Check." Then it showed a picture of a check and a how-to blurb on check writing. Knowing how to write a check (thank you, Lincolnton Middle School!), I just scrolled down the screen. Then I saw this:

4. $: This one is obvious—circle the dollar sign if you want your intended recipient to receive some money.

Now! Wait a minute! For real?!?! How have I been writing checks for 8 years and NOT known this?? Seriously?? I thought, "I have NEVER done this!" ... I don't know that I've ever written a check to someone for more than I owe them to receive cash back, but still... HOW did I not know this?!?!

And then I continued to read.... the blurb looked a little something like this...

The Groupon Guide to: Writing a Check

Thanks to the popularity of credit cards, many colleges no longer offer a major in filling out checks. Here's a guide:

1. Your Address: Similar to how you should dress for the job you want, your checks should list the address you wish you had. This is why most checks list the White House or an imagined attic above a McDonald's as the address.
2. Date: If you would like to date the person you are sending money to, write yes on this line.
3. Payable to the Order of: Write the name of the secret religious or fraternal order you want the money to go to on this line.
4. $: This one is obvious—circle the dollar sign if you want your intended recipient to receive some money.
5. MP: Write the name of your favorite member of Parliament on this line. If your check clears, this counts as voting for him.
6. Number Line: This string of digits is the maximum amount you can write a check for.

HAHAHAHA! Thanks, Groupon, for the laugh...at myself!

"Hear about Charlie Sheen from every angle...."

{Disclaimer: This is no joke.}

I received this email from XM radio, to whom I subscribe monthly because it is FABULOUS! It read a lil' something like this:

March 5th at 6 AM - March 6th at 6pm
Hear all about Charlie Sheen from every angle on

TIGER BLOOD RADIO

Sirius Channel 108 & XM Channel 139

Tune in to "Tiger Blood Radio," a 24-hour limited run channel that will explore the breaking news, facts, fallout and career implications of the Charlie Sheen controversy.

"Tiger Blood Radio" will take listeners behind the headlines, exploring the media frenzy/media reaction, as well as the medical, psychological, psychiatric and pop culture and celebrity angles. Additionally, through a recap of news coverage, it will offer a timeline of recent events.

During the exclusive, limited run channel, SiriusXM listeners will hear archival Playboy Radio clips featuring "Goddess"/current live-in girlfriend Bree Olson, a Playboy Radio contributor. In addition, Sheen's ex-fiancée/Spice Radio host Ginger Lynn shares stories of her relationship with him on Tiffany Granath's Playboy Radio show; and adult film star Kacey Jordan talks to Playboy Radio's Night Calls about her times with Sheen.

Charlie Sheen is getting SO much attention just.for.being.CRAZY.

11 more weeks

11 more weeks. That's it. That's all I've got left in me. I knew this semester would be hard but I didn't realize how much my body and my spirits and my apartment would suffer during this time. From last Thursday until today, I hadn't been at my apartment to do anything other than eat or sleep or shower and get ready. Seriously. Not exaggerating. So what does that mean? A hot dog mess is what it means when you are talking about the condition of my apartment! But it means that I counted down the days & hours until I left my internship on Thursday and could come home and tackle my apartment. What did I do instead?

Well, I broke a nail at my internship today so I first took my fake nails{courtesy of my fab boyfriend for part of my Christmas present that I just now took the time to do for myself} off and if you've ever done it yourself before you know it's a process if you want to do it right. I don't find that a waste of time because I was missing a nail and saved money by not going to the nail salon and paying for them to do the same exact thing I did. So, that was done.

On the way home I stopped to tan in the most fabulous tanning bed I have ever used. It's hot as freaking youknowwhere and they have an A/C unit in the room with the bed because it just gets so dang hot in there! It's 100% bronzing bulbs so you will not burn using it, which is great... and it has a MASSAGER on it! Ever heard of that, because I sure never had before?! Dumb thing is though, whatever genius designed it wasn't thinking that the white leather bottom of the bed gets freaking HOT and you need to lay a towel down so you don't get 7th degree burns. {Obviously exaggerating but you get my point.} I froze my account while I was there so my half month of tanning in great beds & trying out Mystic {spray} tanning is almost over. What a deal I got though! $40 for unlimited usage in any bed AND spray tanning! Gonna miss that for sure...

Anyways, so.. tanned on the way home, took my nails off when I got here.. then got in the shower because I smelled fried.. then took a 2 hour nap, WITH my hair still wet. So you know what that means. I was ex-haus-ted!!

Something's. Gotta. Give.

I wanna say "Is it May yet?" but all day yesterday I thought it was Thursday & all day today I thought it was Friday, so, no Nicole, it's not May yet.

Made to Crave

I can't wait to receive this in the mail and begin reading it! I have heard TOO many amazing things about this author and this book in particular. It's Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst, a Proverbs 31 Ministries author. There's a whole Made to Crave website you can check out too!

I ordered the book from http://bookdepository.com/ which has free worldwide shipping & sales on tons of books! Y'all know I don't buy anything at full retail price! Hopefully I'll remember to tell you how much I love the book! :)

Inspiration

I read this and thought this would be a GREAT Bible passage to place in my future counseling office as a reminder to what I believe I am called to do!

The Year of the LORD’s Favor

 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
   because the LORD has anointed me
   to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
   to proclaim freedom for the captives
   and release from darkness for the prisoners,
² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
   and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
 ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
   instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
   instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
   instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
   a planting of the LORD
   for the display of his splendor.

{Isaiah 61:1-3}

Goodbye January

I changed my calendar over to February today! I will missing seeing this picture (below) every day, making me smile. Click the picture if it's too small for your liking, but, it says:

She welcomes the years

with arms open wide

and loves life with the

kind of passion

that comes

straight from God.

I love my wall calendar! I always find the best, most cutest, inspirational calendars at Christian book stores! And *as always* ... on sale. :)

Digging in the Word!

I am loving doing my morning devotions! I've learned if I can shower & {here's the key:} dry my hair at night, then I have made time in the mornings to spend some time in the Word. It is making such a positive difference in my day! They don't take a lot of time and are actually really enlightening! What probably takes the most time is sharing what I have learned on in my Facebook group. {Someone let me know if those links don't work please!} It's just too good of information not to share! It especially drives me to share when I get comments, etc. of people telling me they've read it & enjoyed it. It's my way I've found to share the Word of God...so I guess that makes getting up at the crack of dawn worth it! :)

Here is today's verses. I have a parallel Bible and it has The Message and the NIV versions in it. I like reading both and comparing them. Here below I have combined the two to form the verses that speak to my heart the most.

"Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
or whine, Israel, saying
'God has lost track of me.
He doesn't care what happens to me'?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?

God doesn't come & go. God lasts.

He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
He knows everything, inside & out. [The MSG]
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired & weary
and young men stumble & fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint." [NIV]

-Isaiah 40:27-31

I have also really been enjoying reading Proverbs 31 Ministries' Facebook postings and  the devotions they post on their website. I get their daily texts/devotions on my phone & they are ALL SO GOOD! I am actually in love with their whole website and look forward to purchasing and reading Made to Crave. I can't wait to share more about that with you later! :)