3.22.2013

Just Because


A late night photo sesh.






Adding a few more items to my bucket list.

Learning to play the banjo, for starters :)
via


via

Designing my [way in the future] baby nursery.


Source: etsy.com via Kaity on Pinterest

Source: etsy.com via Kaity on Pinterest







Source: etsy.com via Kaity on Pinterest


Playing Frisbee while we wait for dinner to be ready.


Life is so extravagantly {bee}autiful. 

Be sure to take some time in the week ahead to do what you love...just because.

3.21.2013

Thursday Thoughts: Why We Marry


Chuck and I haven’t been getting much sleep this week. He doesn't get home from his second job until 9:30 PM so by the time we flop down on our sinking double bed, all we want to do is snuggle and chat each other’s faces off. Last night was no exception. We started off with a fun fact about why men have nipples and somehow ended up at gun control. And somewhere in the middle, we talked about marriage. And more specifically, why we marry.

You see, a couple hundred years ago, marriage was the furthest thing from romantic. A marriage was usually pre-arranged by the families of the respective parties and was done as a means of economic security. Usually, a groom’s family wanted someone to produce offspring and to guarantee labor for the farm. The bride’s family wanted to guarantee that they wouldn't have to feed another mouth in the form of an old, spinster daughter. There were no white dresses, no honeymoon. It was what it was.

Source

As time has progressed, technology improved and our culture evolved, the reasons for marriage slowly altered. No longer were we tied down to one place, our new-found freedom and mobility allowed us the opportunity for the first time to choose who we wanted to marry.

The institution of marriage stopped being a contract pertaining to socioeconomic status and became a profession of love.

If you are one half of a marriage, ask yourself- why did you marry your spouse? Was it motivated by a desire for economic security? Not likely. What about a desire to bear children? That’s simply a nice perk. I’m guessing that about 99% of the time, marriages are entered into because we’re in love and want nothing more than to be eternally bound to the apple of our eye.

So if this is the case, why are we clinging onto these archaic notions about what a marriage is all about and using them for justification to deny people the right to marry? We think it’s sweet when a man and a woman exchanges vows, shouting their love for each other from the rooftops. We don’t question for a second their motives in regards to acquiring wealth. Nor do we expect them to reproduce if they don’t feel so inclined. And yet, when Adam and Steve want to marry for those very same reasons of love, trust and commitment, suddenly it’s not okay.

Source

I’m not trying to turn this blog into a pit of controversy, or polarize those with opposing viewpoints. I’m simply wondering if our reasons for celebrating one union and denying another hold up.

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of marriage, I’d encourage you to read Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage by Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat Pray Love).

Source



3.17.2013

{bee}losophy


I've been thinking a lot lately. About life. About God. About what's important to me.

And today I wanted to share some tidbits of what I've been thinking about.

This quote:

"I used to think I had to be somebody important to accomplish things, but now I know Jesus uses ordinary people more."- Bob Goff

This is perhaps my biggest struggle as a Christian. 

Understanding that success is not important to God.

Trying to fathom that God uses the weak and the ordinary among us to do the greatest of things.

Accepting that I don't need a fancy, schmancy job title to help people.

Knowing that the best way to love people is to be content and in love with myself and my life.

> > >

I know I keep ever-so-cryptically alluding to life changes on this blog and this mostly stems from an ignorance of God's plan for me for us. I don't know what God has in store for me, I don't know what His timing will look like. But I am trusting. And I am attempting to cling to the things I know to be true in the midst of uncertainty.

Everyone has a dream of what their future will look like and I am no exception. I see a garden blooming with freshly grown veggies, I see pictures of family, friends and travels adorning the walls, I see a house bursting at the seems with babies, and with love.

In this dream, we are not well off, our house is unimpressive and life is not easy peasy. But we are content, on fire for the Lord and our arms are open to everyone who needs a friend, a hug or a good meal. 

This dream is what keeps me going. This dream is attainable, right here and right now. It is not an extraordinary dream, but Jesus does not need it to be. He will take my ordinary dream and create good and wonderful things out of it.

> > >

This is what I've been meditating on lately. And this is all I can hope for in the days, weeks and months to come. 

That my ordinary life will be a vessel for God's extraordinary love.

3.12.2013

Financial Peace v2


A few weeks ago, I wrote an introductory post about the Financial Peace University class we'd been involved with since January and what we had learned. Our last class is next Saturday and I have to say, it's a little bittersweet. As things begin to wrap up, however, I wanted to share how we've been applying the advice of our personal finance guru, Dave Ramsey.



1. Discipline is hard

This is the first lesson we've learned. Dave says that personal finance is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior and boy, is he right! Owning up to your splurging and unnecessary spending is no walk in the park. But Hubby and I have committed ourselves to getting out of debt and we work every day to get one step closer to that reality.

We've gotten much better at passing up the opportunity to order a pizza when we have cupboards full of food that need eaten, and have been saving up money for the trips we have planned for the spring and summer, so that we aren't taking a hit in the "gas" category of our budget when the time comes.

2. Emergency Fund

Dave's very first Baby Step is to put aside $1,000 for an emergency fund. We're not there yet, but expect to be in one or two more paychecks. This will ensure that if something unexpected happens, we won't be completely screwed.

3. Our Debt Snowball

So although it's a little embarrassing sharing the extent of our debt, I wanted to give an honest of portrayal of our current situation and how we're tackling it. I know there's a lot of people in the Blogger world who are in a similarly tight financial place, so I hope we can serve as inspiration!

Using Dave Ramsey's FPU software, I plugged in all of our current debts (most of which are student loans). These are outstanding debts, but this does not include regular bills, gas, rent, etc. 


This shows all of our debts, ordered least to greatest, along with the minimum payments for each. The trick of the debt snowball is not to pay off debts with the highest interest rate, but to focus on tackling the smaller debts first and then applying that minimum payment toward the next largest debt...creating a snowball!


This graph illustrates what our debts will look like as they're paid off and gives us a time frame of when we can expect to be debt-free.


Lastly, this cute little illustration shows when we can expect to pay off specific debts using the Debt Snowball method and the exact month and day we'll be debt free!!!

These figures are based on the calculations if we were to use the Debt Snowball method, and don't include any extra money. So, as our incomes increase we'll be able to apply any extra funds toward our debt and hopefully pay it off even sooner!

4. Tax Refund

As I previously mentioned, unfortunately about half of our tax refund went toward car repairs, but I'm just thankful we had the money! The remaining funds went toward paying off our smallest debt in full- my Mom's credit card! We used this to pay off the remaining balance of our honeymoon, and I'm so glad it's one less thing to worry about!

5. Planning for our Future

Because of Dave's lesson on Real Estate & Mortgages, we came away with a much more realistic idea of when we can start growing our family and buying a house. Dave suggests the following before investing in a home: 

1. Have zero debt, 
2. Have 3-6 months worth of expenses saved, 
3. Have enough money saved for a 20% down payment. 

So although our my baby fever is running rampant and we'd love to have four walls to call our own, we've accepted that we have about 10 more years before we can expect to buy a house. It's a little discouraging, but it's also really helpful to have a timeline in place for our future. No babies for us any time soon!

I hope this was helpful to anyone in similar financial standing. If you're interested in getting a better grasp on your personal finances, I would highly, highly recommend Dave's class.

Go HERE to find a class near you!

All images courtesy of DaveRamsey.com


3.11.2013

Quarter Life Crisis


Next month, I turn 25. It seems like such a high, scary and intimidating number. And if I'm being honest, I'm not who or where I want to be at 25. 

It really sucks being trapped by this debt we're living with and I know with absolute certainty, that if not for the gravity of our financial situation, it's highly unlikely we would still be in Pittsburgh. I've been really ruminating on this a lot lately. Winter blues and homesickness have made me an unhappy camper more frequently than I'd care to admit. As an almost 25-year old, I've been very vocal about my distaste for our living quarters. I'm at a job that I don't envision myself being in for years to come. I'm mushy and out of shape. I'm not eating as healthfully and I'd like to be. And I miss my family and friends.

But you know what? 

I AM NOT A VICTIM OF MY CIRCUMSTANCE.

I saw this quote today and knew it was convicting me to take action,

Everyday you have a chance to be a better version of yourself.

A happy, happy memory: On the beach with my girls.

If I'm worried about being a person I don't want to be at 25, there's only one person who can change it. I will not continue to throw myself a pity party because life is not exactly as how I would have it. Instead, I will delight in the beautiful things that are surrounding me. I will seize every opportunity to become better and love harder. And in taking ownership of my life, I will kick my blues to the curb.

And in the spirit of documenting my life and holding myself accountable, here are the little things I want to do by the eve of my 25th birthday on April 26.

1. Pay off a portion of our debt
We still have about half of our tax refund remaining after a crap ton of emergency car repairs, which is going to go straight to our Dave Ramsey Debt Snowball. Debt-free is the way to be!

2. Return to yoga
I have literally had a two-week pass to a yoga studio within walking distance of our apartment since August...that I somehow have yet to use. I miss having energy, I miss being flexible and I miss being healthy! I'm going to be a Yogi if it kills me, dang it!

Taken on my 23rd birthday.
I hate this picture, but love my counterpart and the fact that I had just gotten done with a serious workout.

3. Devote more time to my blog
If you've noticed my absence recently, the reason is this: Because I'm still figuring out my voice...4 years later. Reading back on some older posts, there are a lot of posts that I lack pride in. I want every one to be a real, authentic representation of my life.

4. Plant some seeds
The growing season is almost here and it's time for me to start growing some veggies! Even if I'm growing them in milk jugs and upcycled pots like last year, I cannot deny that gardening has become such a labor of love for me that I plan to invest in for the rest of my life.



5. Eliminate processed junk from our cupboards
Hubby is looking to drop a few post-nuptial pounds, and I just want to have less nights with a grumbling tummy. We're thinking about trying out the Paleo diet- does anyone have any good resources for us?

6. Go for a run/hike
As the weather starts to warm up around these parts, I'll have no more excuses for not fitting some cardio into my life.

7. Pray
I mentioned here that I always feel more at peace after some spiritual time with my God. This one is pretty self-explanatory.

New hair, for a new me!

Seven things that take so little effort, but amount to a huge reward: me being a happier, healthier version of myself. Regardless of my physical location or job status, if at 25 I can say I am happy...well then, crisis averted :)

3.10.2013

Sunday Blessings


After almost two years in this unfamiliar city the husband I finally made it to Church. PTL!

The sun is shining, we're so thankful for a new Church to attend and my blessings are abundant.


(Bee)autiful Blessings

Church and schtuff

To be frank, I love Jesus, but I could do without the religious institution of Christianity most days. However, I do acknowledge how imperative fellowship with other believers is to spiritual growth. And consequently, Church is the easiest way to go about that. So, Chuck and I made the call that we would check out the Church that we've been going to on Saturday mornings for Financial Peace University. Not only did we love it (nearly half the congregation is made up of refugees from Burundi- HELLO?! Made for me?!), but the young couple leading our class invited us out to lunch this afternoon. 
Hooray for making friends!

bookworm
Since I left my second job, my evenings have been...more peaceful. I'm not a huge TV girl, so I've been getting back into the swing of actually reading for pleasure. In the past few weeks, I've finished The Birth House by Ami McKay, Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money and Bloom by Kelle Hampton. Right now, I'm working on Love Does by Bob Goff and Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. I love reading!!!!!

Courtesy of GoodReads
If you're on GoodReads, follow me and let me check out your books!

God's timing
So, Hubby and I got a pretty hefty tax refund this year which we were obviously stoked about. We were ready to take every cent and put it toward our debt snowball. And then his car went kaput. As frustrating as it was to not be able to payoff as much debt as we were hoping to, we're so thankful that God knew what he was doing and allowed the car to crap out when we actually had the moolah to repair it. Thank you, Jesus!

sunshine
I am not a winter person, y'all. I was born in Southern California, and although I only spent the first 4 years of my life there, I blame that for my serious aversion to cold weather. To see the sunshine so gloriously shining outside my window brings delight to my soul! Hubby and I took an afternoon cat nap under the warm rays yesterday and it. was. heaven

long-distance friends
One of my good friends from college is from Kenya...aka about an 8 hour time difference. Communication has been difficult needless to say, especially with working as much as I was, but after over 6 months of practically no correspondence I spent over an hour Skyping with him yesterday. He's one of my favorite people ever and I'm so blessed to have him in my life.

this kid

We're classy folks.
Enough said.


How have you been blessed this week?!
Grab a button and link up!

3.08.2013

For Mommy


I know every person thinks that their mom is the bee's knees. That they're the most perfect person who ever lived. That they're the greatest person in the world. Well, I'm hear to tell you, my Mom is not without flaw. And she's probably not the most fantastic person in the history of the world.

But she's the most fantastic mom in my world.

Oh, and she's most definitely the bee's knees.

I'm being a good daughter and posting this goofy picture because my Mommy looks adorable.

I'll be honest, I've viewed my Mom through multiple sets of eyes. Through the eyes of a jealous toddler with a new baby sister. Through the eyes of a child getting picked on at school. Through the eyes of an egocentric teenager with a heart full of pain and anger at the world. And today, through the eyes of a humble newlywed who is starting to figure out just how much my mother sacrificed for me.

Through the 24 years I've been alive, I've witnessed my Mom being an absolutely adorable brand spankin' new Mama. I've witnessed her as a full-time worker, Girl Scout leader and domestic goddess. I've witnessed her stay with a man she didn't love for years just to make her daughters happy. I've witnessed her role as a broke-as-sh*t, single mom/divorcee. I've witnessed her stand up to a man who tried to push us all around. I've witnessed her as the supportive, loving Mother of the Bride.

I am certain that there are tons of contenders out there for the Mom-of-the-Year award. But in my world, my Mommy wins it hands down, every year.

My mother exemplifies a solid work ethic, an adventurous spirit and being a woman of God.

Every ounce of strength, independence and compassion I contain, is not of my nature. It is learned from years of watching my mother be not the strongest woman I know, but the strongest person I know.



Happy Birthday, Mommy.

I love and appreciate you more than you'll ever know.

3.05.2013

Six Months as Mrs.


This past weekend- Chuck and I celebrated our 6-month wedding anniversary. And with this milestone, I of course want to document what I've learned thus far and where I'm at six months in.

Date night!

sacrifice

We had a little bit of a scary incident this weekend that I'm choosing not to divulge. But suffice it to say that Hubby and I were a little shaken up. This incident really caused me to examine the lengths I'm willing to go for my husband and how stinkin' lost I'd be without him. It's an incredibly overwhelming feeling to realize that your identity is so wrapped up in the existence of another soul. 

balance

I'm learning what this means. There's a lot of pressure in the first newlywed year to kind of set the tone for the rest of the relationship. Setting rules, boundaries. But knowing when to forgive and let the little things go. I'm trying to do both, and some days it's a struggle, but I feel as though all the effort is going to be foundational in our marriage.



growing in love

I can't recall the context, but I remember reading not too long ago that your wedding day is the least you will ever love your husband in the entirety of your marriage. Truer words have never been spoken. Every day, the love I have for my husband grows exponentially and I'm completely confident that tomorrow morning when I wake up, I'll love my husband even more than I do as I type these words.

> > >


3.03.2013

Sunday Blessings


In like a lion alright, but March is here and I'll take it! Happy first Sunday of March, everyone! Can we please celebrate that Spring is almost here? I know I am. And I'm taking this happy moment to do some counting of blessings...


(Bee)autiful Blessings

bookworm
I finished Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace book, and although I have a feeling Dave and I probably did not vote for the same candidate in November, I feel like I've gained so much from his teachings. I had no idea about insurance, college savings plans and mortgages until reading this book. Those topics aren't exactly an exciting area for me, but Dave really helped me to understand them. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, any age. Check it out here.
I've also started reading Bob Goff's book, Love Does, which I talked about here. So excited to love more!

music
I love music. And I love that I married someone who loves music just as much as I do (if not more). As I write he's simultaneously listening to Neil Young on his laptop while practicing "Blackbird" on his guitar. He's a keeper.



and speaking of my husband...
We've been married for six months. Six. Heck yes. Stay tuned for more on this tomorrow :)

church
For the first time in almost two years of living in Pittsburgh, we're finally doing it. We're taking the plunge and going to Church. Wish us luck!

prayer
I've been feeling such a wide array of emotions lately. Unsettled and yearning. Content and in love. Exhausted and burnt out. Happy and blessed. I'm finding the only way to stay centered and level-headed is prayer. Prayer for myself, prayer for my husband, prayer for people I've never even met. It's only when I'm in those moments with my Creator that I'm finally at peace. And I'm so, so thankful for that.

> > >

How have you been blessed this week?
Grab a button and link up!

3.02.2013

Blog of the Month: The Wiegands


Last month, I posted my inaugural "Blog of the Month," choosing Kelle from Enjoying the Small Things. Well, as fate would have it, another month has come and gone and although I'm a tad bit late in the game I have some more Blogger love to give.

So without further ado, here is my...

March


I'll be honest, I tend to be a bit skeptical of "bigger" bloggers. Maybe it's the jealousy I talked about in this post. Or maybe it's just a desire to shy away from giving them any more fame than they already have. Regardless, I tend to be a much tougher critic for blogs with a ton of followers.

All of the above was true when I was led to Casey at The Wiegands. But within minutes, I became acutely aware of why this gorgeous (inside and out) lady has developed such a following. It was a little bit because of her art and whimsical, bohemian fashion sense. A little bit because her obvious evangelical faith. A little bit because of her picturesque family of five. But a lotta bit because this girl can write.

Photobucket
Her get-to-know-me post for new readers was so refreshingly down-to-earth, I developed an instant friend crush on her. I wanted to be invited into her home, drink warm tea and "ooh" and "ah" over her lovely, tow-headed mini-mes. 
And then the other day, as I nonchalantly moseyed on over to her post entitled "love & loss" I was completely blind-sided by the pain and beauty of her heartbreak. Like nearly 1 in 3 women, Casey has experienced the agony of losing her unborn child. I don't know how she so artfully and honestly wrote out her story, but her closing words read, 
"I am walking into the gates of heaven. 
My family is there, smiling, rejoicing. 
Chris and Aiden and Ainsleigh and Apple are all there. They run to me- there is hugging and crying. 
Jesus is there, smiling and welcoming me. 
And then. There is a tall boy. 18 years old, sandy blonde hair. big blue eyes. 
As soon as we make eye contact he breaks into a gigantic smile and runs to me, "Mom!!!!" 
I cry every time I picture it. 
And I think about how thankful that I am, that I will get the chance to know him one day."

How do you read that and not sob?

I am so thankful for women like Casey who are able to wear their heart on their sleeve. Who are able to see the silver linings and count their blessings. I am so thankful to Casey for sharing this with me.

Photobucket


Please do yourself a favor and check out Casey's blog. I can guarantee you, you will fall just as in love with her writing as I have.


CUSTOM BLOG DESIGN CREATED BY PRETTYWILDTHINGS