FOR GOOD

So its been 6 months since I started this blog ... I made many New Years resolutions in my first post and this is how they are going ....

1. SAVING MONEY

I have consistently saved $200 a month and sometimes more. Its funny ... because I am still doing everything I want to do (ok maybe not buying as many clothing items) but honestly I don't miss it. I also really enjoy watching that number grow. 

2.  WORKING OUT

Although during school I was doing awful about working out, I have made up for it this summer. My mom, sister, Kaitlyn (aka step-sister), and my cousin Lacey have all joined the gym with me, which makes it easier to go sometimes. I hope I can keep it up while I am in school ... because this was the 3rd week and I really see a difference in a lot of things. My jeans are looser, I sleep better, and I have way more energy during the day. I never thought working out (esp. at night) would give me so much energy the next day ... but I like it!! I am also completely obsessed with this gym ... West Jeff Fitness Center. Its like having a personal trainer ... without having someone breathing down your back constantly. Although Kait has pretty much become my personal trainer ... and sometimes I want to kill her because I feel like I am going to die if I go any longer ... but I must say I did 15 mins non-stop cross-country training on the elliptical on wed. and did not feel like I was going to die and that is something I would have never done before because I would have thought ... "No way I can do that." Well now I can do it because of Kait. She also pushed me to do this Kickboxing class which I am now also obsessed with and would have never ventured to do on my own. Our russian teacher Fabienne is amazing and its definitely a great way to get some anger and aggression out after 4 days of work.

3.  GETTING ORGANIZED

Since January my room has been coming along nicely. My dad and I have been kicking ass. Now I have entered a new stage ... the space is there ... but how do I fill it?? I have been shopping and finding tons of things I really like ... but I have a few problems. There are tons of stuff I packed away after Katrina and then even more from my apartment, and still more from putting things away when I left for Michigan so the room could be torn apart. So now its a matter of taking each box down, and deciding if it will continue into the "new room" or be thrown out. Well last weekend, I started. First, were the dolls my Maw Maw had given me. So I got them all out and put them where they belong. I know this is going to be a very slow process of going through everything but I know it will pay off in the end. 

4.  POLITICS

This one I don't really feel like talking about ... its so sensitive. All I will say is I do like the fact that I have been talking with various groups about Politics ... its a very hard subject for people and it shouldn't be taken lightly. I do enjoy seeing the different views. Its almost beautiful to watch someone talk about politics ... whenever someone speaks their mind about politics they are passionate about it and there is always a reason behind their beliefs. Usually something happened in their life that changed them in some way, and we must all see the beauty in that. Or be very very afraid! haha It could go both ways ... luckily I have only witnessed the brighter side. 

5.  TRYING NEW THINGS ... SEEING NOLA

New things that I have tried ... vegetarianism, kickboxing, oysters, blogging, ... I know there are more but I can't think of them right now. Seeing Nola ... I must say I have been non-stop since Kait got her ... but there is still so much I want to do and see! I have visited new places and ones I hadn't seen in awhile ... bridge lounge, baru, the zoo, St. Joseph's on Tulane. Much more to come this summer I hope! 

PS ... I would like to thank all my friends and family for helping me with my goals so far. You have all opened my eyes to things I have never seen or thought of before. And I will be mushy and quote a verse from a song "For Good" in my favorite play WICKED!

I've heard it said 

That people come into our lives for a reason 

Bringing something we must learn 

And we are led 

To those who help us most to grow 

If we let them 

And we help them in return 

Well, I don't know if I believe that's true 

But I know I'm who I am today 

Because I knew you... 

BATHROOM

My sister and I have been wanting to redo our bathroom sooo badly. Well my dad was trying to put this off until next school year. Since Kaitlyn would not be here ... which I thought was a really bad idea because then I would be going through MORE construction during school. Well my dad had to redo some of the ceiling in the bathroom for the second floor and while he was doing this he stepped down and his foot went through the floor. I never thought I would say this (and will never say it again) but "GO TERMITES!!" They apparently ate up our sub-floor and now we have to get new flooring!!! SCORE!!! We also need to invest in some termite control ... which my dad keeps putting off until the house is done ... which could be in 10 years! But I am so excited about the bathroom!!

We want a piece just like this Pottery Barn one, my dad is in the process of pricing it out to see if it is smarter to buy the Pottery Barn edition or make our own!  Lets just hope this doesn't turn into a nightmare project! But this pieces with our footed tub ... I can't wait!!!!!!

ROOM REPORT CARD ... CLOSET

Well I guess to fully appreciate this, you have to get a little Family History!! My parents bought this lovely house that I have lived in for nearly 21 years while my mother was pregnant with me. The first project on the house was my room, since it was the nursery .... the projects haven't stopped since. When its all done, there won't be a single room in the house that hasn't changed. We started with a 1 story 3 bedroom, 2 bath house with a den and kitchen. Now we have a 2 story, 3 bigger bedrooms and 2 that will eventually be upstairs, a den, dinning room area, kitchenette area, much bigger kitchen, 3 baths (1 will go upstairs), a carport, garage and a gardening shed. When everything is done, we will have added nearly 2,000 sqft to the house that the parents bought 21 yrs ago. 

ANYWAYS ....

This is the closet in all its new glory ... now lets all say a little prayer that it stays looking so pretty!!

I think I am going to get 1 or 2 more white bins, at least one to put linens in, as you can see I already have a blanket just hanging out on the bottom shelf. I think just one, so my exercise ball has a place to live too. I really love having all the little baskets for scarves, hats, belts, bathing suits, and some of oscar's things like his leash and sweaters. I was green too and reused the pretty victoria secret boxes from christmas to load full of cds and pictures too. 

NEXT UP:

Sand, Prime and Paint!!!!!!!