It's Been a Simple January

One thing can be said of January.

It is LONG!

Coming back to work after the holiday season, 31 full days, haven't been paid since before Christmas...you get the idea.

Because of that last little fact I just mentioned...about not having been paid in over a month...January tends to be pretty simple, because the budget demands it! Ha! Payday is this Thursday and it's such a refreshing thought!

So...let's take a look at my simple January, shall we?

Cookies and milk for dinner.

Donating blood while my students were at Music. The Bloodmobile comes and sits in our parking lot every few months, and I like to take advantage of the opportuity. I've been blessed with good veins and it takes me about 5 minutes to give my donation!

On Saturday, I went to visit my aunt in Orlando and we ended the day with some of the best Italian Ice at Jeremiah's! We also saw the movie Parental Guidance. Have you seen it?? If not, you should! It's a clean, feel-good movie, with a good message! I loved it.

My sister, Keleigh, came with me to work in my classroom Sunday afternoon, after we went to church and had lunch. She worked on a paper while I did some things to get ready for this week.

Last week, my BFF and I went to a little hole-in-the-wall pizza joint and we each ordered two slices. Well...the guy made it into a heart for us. It was kinda sweet, but then at the same time...I wasn't sure what he was insinuating? Ha.

Only few days left of this long, long month...and I've got some fun dinner plans lined up with fabulous college friends, as well as a much needed hair appointment on Saturday!

3 Day Weekend

Most people are celebrating the fact that we have an extra day added to our weekend in honor of MLK!

I am happy to be one of those people with a 3 day weekend!

After 2 weeks off for the holidays and then 2 weeks back to work, this girl had some major sleep to catch up on. I have been so tired!!

Today I went to church as usual and then went to Longhorn with my BFF and her family. My aunt and uncle were in town for the day so I met up with them downtown for a little while this afternoon. It was good to see them and spend time with them!

After we ate (well they did...I had just eaten an hour before!) we walked around one of the lakes downtown. Lakeland really does have some pretty lakes and walking areas. It never hurts to get some exercise too! ;)

I don't have big plans for tomorrow, other than sleeping in of course. If you're lucky to have an extra day off this week, enjoy it!

Here's to another 4 day work week!

Simple Saturday

Today was very simple.

I slept in.

I got up and did some stuff for an hour or two.

And then I took an afternoon nap.

I picked up dinner from Chick-Fil-A.

I never put on any make-up.

I painted my toes and fingernails.

I watched Pitch Perfect.

Today was very simple.

Many times I feel so ready for the next stage of life...having a family of my own. I truly look forward to it. But on days like today, I remind myself that I should enjoy it...because once God finally does bring me a husband and a family, simple days like today will be very seldom, I imagine.

I'm thankful for my simple Saturdays!

Summer in January?

What in the world is with this January weather here in Florida? I mean...it's January! It's winter (supposedly)!

It's in the 80s here for the next several days. This isn't exactly what I call "winter"...even for Florida! I want to wear my sweaters and boots and scarves and feel like I'm dressing with the season.

Most people who know me know I adore cold weather. These are the only few months I have the opportunity to enjoy my favorite kind of weather!

I am thankful, however, that I just got to see this last week-

Clearly, I was born in the wrong state.

My Favorite Things

I've seen a few blogs with this "My Favorite Things" post over the past few days. It's a post in which you write about your current favorite things (at the end of a year and beginning of a new one) and then when you look back upon it in years to come- it'll just be something fun to reminisce with.

I thought it'd be fun to join in, so I am.

My Favorite Things, currently:

1. Boots! I now have 5 pair. I currently only like the boots that come to the halfway point of your calf. I'm still not into the ankle boots (speaking for myself, of course.)

2. Words With Friends. I have games going with 3 aunts, my mom, my sister, and one of my cousins. Ha!

3. Texting. So cheesy, right? It's true, though.

4. Traveling. I think I always will enjoy traveling!

5. Large Cokes from drive-thrus. This is clearly a bad habit. Nonetheless, it definitely is one of my favorite things. Mmmm, the carbonation!

6. Watches. I don't have many- but I'm slowly adding to the collection.

7. My maroon skinny jeans. First pair of colored pants I've owned since I was a child. I like them!

8. The News. I'm a news junkie, it's true. I have 4 News apps on my phone. I love afternoons when I get home from work in time to watch the 5:00 news. I'm really nerdy like that.

9. Earrings. I have been adding to my earring collection, too...not just the watch collection. Ha!

10. Olive Garden. I love love love their Chicken Gnochhi soup and alfredo dipping sauce w/ breadsticks and chicken parmesan! I love going there as often as I can (which is probably too often!)

What are your favorite things the world has to offer right now?

Two Resolutions

The other night while visiting my family in Virginia after leaving West Virginia, my 13 year old cousin asked me, "What are your New Year's resolutions, Kaitlin?" I replied with a very matter of fact answer, "I don't make those."

It might have sounded snobby the way I quickly rattled off that reply, which made me reflect on what I answered him with.

"I don't make those."

I haven't ever made a New Year's Resolution that stuck, really. When I was younger I would make simple resolutions because I overheard conversations around me about New Year's Resolutions...so I made some of my own, just because I thought I was supposed to. I couldn't tell you what they were, though.

Then maybe when I was older, say...high-school/college, I made some more meaningful resolutions like exercising more or something of the sort. I honestly don't remember. {I just know they weren't long lasting, obviously!}

It's not that I don't believe in New Year's Resolutions- or the purpose of them. I do think they serve a good purpose! I just know that if I resolve to "exercise more" or "stop eating fast food" or "save X amount of money each month"...there will come times where I won't be able to fulfill those resolutions and then it will seem pointless. Just my opinion.

I want my New Year's resolutions to be things I know I can accomplish. And so, I have made two resolutions this year in 2013.

1. OPEN and READ my mail. I have this horrible habit of only opening the absolutely necessary. I need to do better at opening every piece of mail and shredding what I don't need. What happens is I end up with this huge and unneccesary stack of unopened mail...just because I am lazy. Not anymore- I'm opening everything and shredding what I don't need.

2. Set up online payments for ALL bills. I am old fashioned in the way that I like writing checks and sending in my bills. {I'm actually old fashioned in more ways, too, just in case you were curious. Ha!} But I have realized it really will save time and postage. It's been a long time coming, but this is the year. I am signing up for online payments.

See, those two resolutions I know I can make happen. I will. It will make my life more organized, and that, in and of itself, is a productive resolution!

Instead of making so many resolutions, which I know all won't be accomplished, I like going into a New Year with things I'm believing in. Wishes and goals that I have, that I believe God will help me accomplish and desires that only He can fulfill. I believe that each year, God has new things in store for us. New people for us to meet. New friendships to be formed. New places to go. New opportunities to be a light in the dark. New challenges in which we learn to trust and rely in Him more. And honestly, I think those things are more important than me reading every piece of mail, or making payments online versus writing a check. Sure- those things are useful and help me to be more organized- but at the end of the day, it won't really matter that useless pieces of mail are opened or unopened, you know?

So, while I work to be true to the two resolutions I have made, I will also focus on the bigger picture through prayer; asking God to help me achieve goals I have, to grant the desires of my heart, and to help me live like He would have me live.

What about you? Do you make New Year's Resolutions or goals?

It's a New Year!

Happy New Year! Is it true that it's really 2013 already?

The years truly do go by faster every single year. It's scary, really.

It's been a while since I've blogged. In this new year, I've made a goal to blog more regularly...even if it means my posts don't have pictures, or if they are short-and-sweet type posts. Just for myself (and the few who enjoy reading this 'ole blog) to have a record of what I was up to in this season of life!

I'll begin my first post of 2013 with a quick recap of my most recent travel experience- skiing in Snowshoe, West Virginia! My roommate/best friend and I drove straight through the night last Friday- December 28th. We left our apartment about 9 pm and arrived in Elkins, WV (where we stayed) around 12 noon on Saturday. We did well for driving straight through. I didn't need any type of drink to help me stay awake- the fact that I knew we were going to see snow around 6 a.m....I was fueled! Haha. I absolutely adore snow. I realize, as a FL girl, that I don't endure the not-so-good parts of snow that those who live in it do...but I still think it's magical and beautiful. I look forward to a trip each year in which I will get my "snow fix!" I certainly saw plenty of snow this trip!

{These pictures are in no particular order, fyi.}

This was right before we hit the slopes on our first night. We had purchased 2-day lift tickets and decided to night ski on our first day. And...it was FREEZING just so you know. ;)

I love this picture that I captured. This amount of snow is perfection, in my opinion.

Sooooo happy to be sledding in the snowfall! {On another note, how ridiculous is the fur on that hood? I don't think I ever realized until this picture.}

This was taken our first night there. This picture tells the perfect story- I love snow!

Sledding on a sled made for children- but that's all Walmart had. Technically, snow makes me act like a child...so I guess it's okay? ;)

Snow= love.

I have plenty more pictures from the trip- but these will suffice for now!

We returned home last night/this morning at 3:45 a.m. I was in bed by 4:30 a.m. and slept until about 2! I needed it. The rest of today I have spent doing laundry and cleaning up from Christmas. There's still a lot to be done tomorrow. As much as I am sad to see my 2-week break come to an end, I'm thankful to have been able to go on a fun trip and spend the holidays with family and friends. It's always nice to get back into the routine, too, after beginning a new year.

I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday season in 2012.

13 is my lucky number...I'm hoping for good things in 2013!