June Goals

Well-It looks as if May didn't turn out as hot but here are my goals for June! Let's cross fingers and toes that I keep it up!

*Fun
- Read the whole Little House series (Count 'em-9 books!)
-Visit the lovely Lauren in her hometown of Henrietta.
-Visit my BFF in Pensacola, FL.

-Finish organizing my iPod-it is a LONG and tedious task but TOTALLY worth it!
-Read A Death in the Family for the Boro Book Club.
-Have friends over for dinner at least twice.
-Create D.C. itinerary for our trip in July.

-Walk Tucker 3 times a week, where at least 1 will be to the Greenway (weather permitting).

*School
-Confirm registration for Fall classes.
-Set up GA schedule/hours with professors if I find out who I'll be working with.
-Get books/literature for Violence in the Family course in July.
-Prep for research in July.

*Health
-Come up with a meal plan for dinner 3 times per week IF funds allow.

-Start transitioning substitutes. This will be hard for me (and especially for Derrick) but I think that if I can do it slowly and subtly then we should have a good go with it! We've already traded out some sugars and some carbs so that's been good but I want to go a bit further with it-wish me luck!
-Book appointment(s) to get two crowns for my teeth *insert boos and hisses*  Since they're SO expensive we'll have to break them up.

*Home
-Stay on top of cleaning. I was so busy with school in April that it caught up to me in May and took what felt like the whole month to feel normal again! No more-I do hope this goal lasts!

-BUY BEDROOM CURTAINS AND MAKE THEM (Seriously this time! There's no excuse!)
-Dry clean comforter.

Busy busy busy!  Let's see how I actually fair, eh?

May Goals-The Tally

Alright-let's check out May's goals and its wares!


*Health
1) Work out more! After going to the MD I should be good to start fully working out again soon i.e. running, Zumba, swimming. I am very excited about this prospect because I've felt like such a sloth these past 2 months! COMPLETE-though not as much as I'd like I'm still content with being able to actually do it!
2) Chug chug chug that water-I've been getting back on track with the h20 but if I'm working out full force again I need to chug! COMPLETE-though still not as much as I needed to.
3) Walk Tucker at least 3 days a week-he'll love this! FAIL-I did for all of the weeks except this one, but I hope to pick back up in June
**Addition-Went to the dentist and found out I have to get two crowns (booooo!) on my teeth-most likely to be placed in July.
*Home
1) Hang pictures in the hallway-I've got most of the frames and pictures selected I just need to narrow down & see if I need to change sizes for anything. FAIL-but we've found a mirror to hang there instead and are planning on hanging the frames in the living room so though it's a FAIL it's a good thing!
2) Pick out new fabric for bedroom curtains and make them-I think I've got my sites on a pattern at Hancock's Fabric but I'll have to see how much it is per yard! FAIL-I just didn't make the time to even go pick up the fabric! I swear I'll do it in June!
3) Get new area rug for living room.  I'm thinking something like this. FAIL-again, just didn't think about it.
4) Search around for mirrors in white frames-this will be an interesting task. Note I said search, so if I come up with nothing at least this won't be a fail, haha!  I like this idea but preferably with more elegant shapes, if  I can find them. COMPLETE-WalMart actually has some good deals on mirror collections for fairly cheap! I didn't get them because I wanted to gauge the sizes and the shapes first but I now I know where to get them!
**Addition-clean clean clean! I finally got to catch up on some much needed cleaning our apt so desperately needed!


*Fun
1) Celebrate MY birthday! COMPLETE- I'm 24 baby!
2) Celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary. COMPLETE-1 year down
3) Celebrate Danielle and Ben's wedding. COMPLETE-It was so much fun!
4) Read 4 books (I know-intense right?!)-here's what I hope to read: 
     -The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
     -Life, the Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams
     -So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams
     -Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.
COMPLETE-though I did alter what I was reading. I still read 4 books BUT I opted out of the 2 from the Hitchhiker's series and instead read The Holocaust Diaries and A Million Little Pieces-both of which I recommend!
5) Re-organize my iPod-a long and daunting task, LOL. FAIL-well sort of...I started it but I didn't know just how LONG of a task it would be so I plan on finishing up in June.
**Addition-Derrick got a great job at Best Buy-YAY!
**Addition-I got to babysit my favorite nephews-by-non-blood, Andrew and Dylan. We had so much fun!
**Addition-Go to Macon Co. and watch Kelly's musical directorial debut of "Little Shop of Horrors"


So the grand totals are:  COMPLETE-7   FAIL- 5  ADDITIONS- 5.
I figured I cut it pretty close this month but I've had a GREAT time relaxing and catching up on a lot of things I really wanted/needed to do.


Cheers to May and on to June!

Danielle & Ben's Wedding

So on Saturday, the 28th, I journeyed to Suck Creek for my friend Danielle and Ben's wedding! They have been engaged for over a year so we had a lot in common when it came to long engagements, spring venues, and wedding planning.  It was a  GORGEOUS ceremony with a lot a wonderful details tying Ben and Danielle even closer, now as husband and wife.  Their ceremony was very similar to ours with the hand ceremony speech.  It took me back and made me remember my wedding day (not too long ago!) and I couldn't help but smile and be so happy for the journey their taking together! I'm so happy for the two of them!

I took a bunch of pictures but below are some of my favorites.

The setting for the intimate ceremony-the theme colors were red and blue with silver undertones.

My BEST FRIEND Destiny-in her full Navy dress blues.  She wasn't sure if she was going to be able to make it to the wedding since she is in Naval school but she was! Doesn't she look sharp?

A blurry pic but the pronouncement of Mr. and Mrs. Kailing!

The cake-this is one of the coolest twists on the already original cupcake cake idea. They had the top tier for them to cut into and then had about 15 different mini-cupcakes of a ton of cool flavors! There was chocolate mint, strawberry, key lime pie, red velvet, s'more, tirimasu, and lots more!

Me and my sailor

The bride/wife after the ceremony-she had this fantastic 1950s vibe going with her entire look and it worked SO WELL for her!

Me, Danielle (the bride), and Destiny (post ceremony/clothing change).

The happy couple cutting the cake.

Best friends.

LOOK AT THIS DRESS! I was pretty obsessed with this look the entire time, haha!

The Guardian of Cleveland team! From L: Tracy, Mary, Danielle, Kristy, and Destiny.

The couple's first dance-this was so sweet!

<3

Not only was it an absolutely gorgeous wedding but it was a ton of fun and lots of laughs!

ENJOY MARRIED LIFE BEN AND DANIELLE KAILING! IT'S SUCH A NEAT ADVENTURE FULL OF LAUGHTER, INTRIGUE, AND FUN!

XOXO

Sunburns

Nobody has ever believed me but it's true. Sunscreen/sunblock does not work on me.  It doesn't matter the brand, the SPF, the re-application, nothing.

Last summer I hardly spent any time in the sun since I was working through the day (with the weekend as the exceptions) and when I did go to the pool it was usually after 5 pm so the sun was mostly hidden but the heat wasn't.  So I've kept a fairly pasty (not pale, as in gorgeous Snow White) complexion the past year and a half.

And here I go, trying to be the celebrity/pro-skin/no cancer hero by buying 50 spf water/sweat resistant, sunblock for fair-skinned children and I spray it on my entire body (read from face/ears to in between by toes), waiting the 20 minutes (as suggested per the bottle's directions) before putting on my suit and going out.  I go out for about an hour, flipping every 15 minutes or so....It gets so hot, and it's only about 12:30 so I go back inside, cool off and chill for a bit.  I go back out round 2 and lay out a bit, continuing the flipping and dipping in the pool every 20 minutes or so because it's so damn hot.  I go back home again around 3:30 to eat some lunch, re-apply the spray and we go back around 3:45 to swim for about 30 min-all of which I am in the pool, NOT sunbathing....

Then a few friends and I decide to go eat and when I change clothes I notice how hideous my naked body is with what is becoming the most bizarre sunburn ever.  I laugh and show my husband who noticed nothing but my naked body (surprise, surprise!) and proceed to gently put on a sun dress to head out.

As the evening progresses, I get more and more uncomfortable and after some movin' and shakin', I notice just how awkward this pain-in-the-ass-sunburn is really going to be.  I've got burns in the creases of my butt, my boobs and upper back, showing up like paint ball splatter all over my legs...it's bizarre, stupid and frankly pisses me off because it looks so damn silly! It's not that I even mind being sunburned or the "pain" associated with it, but with it being all goofy looking just makes me mad.

So believe me: with every inch I was able to reach with sunscreen/block burnt to an uncomfortable crisp, varying in shades of lobster pink, it DOES NOT work for me.  These burns are my proof.

So bring on the skin cancer and the wrinkles and the need to wear long sleeves in the middle of a Southern July...because this shit just plain burns.

Rituals

Every weekend that I am in town I wake up, feed the dog and fish, take the dog out to potty, and start my coffee.  Once my coffee is done, I grab whatever book I'm reading, sit in the corner of the couch I deem "my spot", cover up with a cozy blanket, sip my coffee and read.

My husband sleeps soundly and sweetly in the other room while me and the pup lounge in the living room letting the sun stream in while we take in the day.

It is wonderful.

This is my ritual. 

My place of comfort. 

I look forward to this small ritual every weekend.

What do YOU do for comforting weekend rituals?

Bizet-the opera "Carmen: a story of Love and Betrayal"

I won't lie-I've been in love with this opera since I was a child, though I don't remember where I first heard it, and if you haven't heard it-now is the time!  It's the oh-too-common story of love, betrayal, lust, money, greed, and death. I won't spoil it but you really need to see it-either on stage or film. It's a favorite!

I've been wanting the Bizet Carmen on my iPod for a while (so I finally got it!) and I'm also fortunate enough to have been given the records *gasp!* from my DotDot-both of which rock.

I'll show you a few clips that have made me fall in love all over again with the opera-though both are a good 10 years old!

(Source: Hey Arnold! the cartoon via YouTube.com)

When I saw this as a child, though I had heard the themes and melodies before, I was absolutely sure this would be my favorite opera-and thus far it still is!  How can you not love this fun cartoon adaptation for children?! You can't-so don't even try.

Then there's this hip-hopra made by MTV staring Beyonce when she was about 20 years old!  Though the lyrics are kind of lame I can't help loving this adaptation as well-I mean come on: it's got Moss Def and Beyonce!

(Source: YouTube.com)

Now-if these two clips haven't aptly whet your appetite then you need to go ahead and quit listening to this awesomeness.  If you pallete is longing for some more glam-go to this link to hear the sound bites from the CD I've purchased.  I get chills up and down my spine everytime I hear the opener and if you ever thought French is sexy-the ante will up and you'll want to move to France, become a Gypsy, and go to bed with many glorious men (at least...I do, LOL!)

Tell me what you think and if you have any favorite operas you'd love to share!

The Married Life-Part II

Wow-1 year later and I am still and lovingly Mrs. Raley! How amazing <3

We've gone from this:

to this!

Totally okay with it.

I can't believe that a year later, my best friend and I are still best friends.  It's pretty fantastic.

On our anniversary we went and had lunch together, got some cupcakes (since we didn't keep the top of our wedding cake) for after-dinner dessert, walked around the mall, hung out, went to a yummy hibachi dinner, and came home to watch our wedding video, let me wear my wedding dress again (guilty!) and spend love time together.  It was wonderful.

I'll say: this first year has been trying and strange and wonderful and fun and scary and hard and fast.  I can't believe it's already been 1 year-it seems like only yesterday (cheesy, but true) that I was planning flowers and discussing food choices! 

Check out a few of the picutres from our day:

Since we didn't save the top of our cake-we got some wonderful cupcakes from GiGi's!

Our yummy Hibachi left overs!

Me in my wedding dress-it was so much fun to put it on again!

He's my happily ever after <3

You don't have to be in love to believe in it...I'm just fortuante enough to do them both and oh-so-proud!

Love-make it meaningful and honest,

Mrs. Raley

24 baby!

Sorry it's so late BUT...I turned 24 at the beginning of May! YAHOO! I can't believe it!  I got some amazing cards from a BUNCH of different people along with a few gifts (Thanks Amanda, Kelly, Melissa, John & Elisa, and Shelley!)  I had to work half a day, but I got all dolled up and hung out with my co-workers and giggle-partners in crime, Kristy and Amanda!

 

Me and Kristy

Amanda and Me

Then, after I left I went and had a pedicure and then got a 30 minute back massage! Man oh man it was absolute bliss.

After I lazily drove home I hung out a bit reading and enjoying the sun streaming in through the windows. Derrick had finals so I waiting until he got home for the rest of the details for the night.

He got home and we hung out-him telling me I needed to get ready for dinner and he surprised me and took us to Carrabas! So delicious. So delectable. Derrick had planned for a group of friends to come as well but only Tonya was able to make it. That's alright though because (as always) she was LOADS of fun and us 3 enjoyed some fabulous food, drinks, and friendship!

Me and Der

My birthday Tiramisu-complete with a tiny candle! OH GOOD GOD-DELICIOUS!

Me and Tonya-great friend for showing up! =]

My birthday cards all displayed in front of our t.v.-love them.

So this was on Monday and that weekend, to celebrate both my birthday and Mother's Day, we went to Chattanooga to have lunch with my family!  We went to O'Charleys and had a bunch of food & fun-I'm so glad my family and I get along so well, LOL.

From Left: Jen, Mom, Me, Brad, and Aunt Phyllis (the sun was in Mom & Brad's eyes!)

DotDot (my grandmother) bought our lunch and then we went to Bath & Body Works where she loaded me down with smelly-good lotions, perfumes, and body washes! SCORE!

I also was given a TON of books! I usually ask for a load of books for Christmas but I did the same this year for my birthday and I got tons!  I can't wait to start on them all!
 
All in all-24 ain't half bad. I think I wouldn't mind stickin' around for another 24 more.

Love and laugher,

J

A Change in the Winds

It's weird-my routine is finally getting back to normal this week with work and home life...and it's bizarre!  I guess I have a hard time remembering what free time was like before school and my GA hours, haha!  I'm working my normal hours (almost...more to come on that later) and it feels so strange.

For a while it felt like this:

(source)

Now I hope to feel like this:

(source)

Here are my plans for my down time:

• I'm getting back in to my workout routine of going after work to either Zumba or the treadmill.
• I'm working normal(-ish) hours at work again.
• I'm looking forward to taking Tucker on more walks around the neighborhood since it's staying lighter much later.
• I'm reading tons more in my spare time.
• I can FINALLY catch up on cleaning the apartment so it looks not only habitable but also tidy.
• I'm starting to eat healthier again because I now have time to make a salad or fruit n' veggies.
• I'm sleeeeeeeeeeeping. (Something  I've missed terribly.)
• I'm making plans to see friends/husband/family without worrying what's due on my syllabis of if that'll cut it for hours worked in a week.

I'm so ready for this and yet it's so strange to feel it.  Don't get me wrong-I love being busy and being just slightly overwhelmed.  But now that I've got a huge load off my shoulders I feel a little silly with all of this time! Oh well...Cheers to "down time".

XoX

Ruh-Roh Shaggy!

You know the saying "Be careful what you wish for or you just might get it"?

Yeah...wish granted and NOT in a good way.  I'm trying to find the benefits because after all it was what I really wanted but...I don't know how to feel about it.

I really stepped in it this time, LOL.

Details to come soon!

May goals

Well well...April came and went and kicked my ass!  I'm hoping for a more relaxing and lazy May.

*Health
1) Work out more! After going to the MD I should be good to start fully working out again soon i.e. running, Zumba, swimming. I am very excited about this prospect because I've felt like such a sloth these past 2 months!
2) Chug chug chug that water-I've been getting back on track with the h20 but if I'm working out full force again I need to chug!
3) Walk Tucker at least 3 days a week-he'll love this!

*Home
1) Hang pictures in the hallway-I've got most of the frames and pictures selected I just need to narrow down & see if I need to change sizes for anything.
2) Pick out new fabric for bedroom curtains and make them-I think I've got my sites on a pattern at Hancock's Fabric but I'll have to see how much it is per yard!
3) Get new area rug for living room.  I'm thinking something like this.
4) Search around for mirrors in white frames-this will be an interesting task. Note I said search, so if I come up with nothing at least this won't be a fail, haha!  I like this idea but preferably with more elegant shapes, if  I can find them.

(source)

*Fun
1) Celebrate MY birthday!
2) Celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary <3

3) Celebrate Danielle and Ben's wedding
4) Read 4 books (I know-intense right?!)-here's what I hope to read:
     -The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
     -Life, the Universe, and Everything by Douglas Adams
     -So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish by Douglas Adams
     -Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.
5) Re-organize my iPod-a long and daunting task, LOL.

I think I'm going to leave it at this.  If I get more done than yay-but I want to rest a bit, LOL. It's been a crazy past few months!

April Goal Results

Alright-April kicked my ass, but I still got a fair amount accomplished! Take a look:

*Fun

1) Start and Finish Breakfast at Tiffany's for the Boro Book Club (DONE! A quick read and a few of the members discussed it-success!)
2) Finish Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (DONE! A good book-I suggest it)
3) Travel to Oklahoma with Mom and Jen to visit grandparents (DONE! Check it out)
4) Go to RUSH Time Machine Tour in Nashville with Derrick (DONE! We had SUCH a good time!)

5) Buy shorts for summer (here's to hoping to being a size smaller!) (DONE-I only got 1 pair so far, and unfortunately in my same size, BUT they are totally cute and I hope to grab a few more pairs this Summer)

6) Mindy's baby shower for baby Sealya (DONE! SHE'LL BE HERE SOON!)

7) Pick back up on a photo-a-day project (DONE-I need to update them on Facebook. I didn't get every day but I got a lot more than I did in March, haha!)

8) Volunteer for Middle Tennessee's "The BIG Event" (DONE)

**Addition-Visit the Raley family in Kentucky**

**Addition-See Tonya in "Hairspray" the musical**

*School

1) Start and complete transcription of interviews (DONE! It was such an awesome experience and I gained a ton of insight into the whole research process!)

2) Do well on all Stats homework(s) turned in  & ask for help when needed (DONE! I should get my last grade within the next few days-wish me luck!)

3) Lecture on dramaturgy in Theory class (hopefully....) (DONE-it went so well)

4) Complete Methods research analysis project (DONE-got an awesome grade and may use this to start developing my thesis!)

5) Continue with Homework Sundays (with the Oklahoma Sunday as the only exception) (DONE)

6) Register for Fall 2011 classes (DONE-YAY!)

**Addition-got accepted for the 2011-2012 year for my GA position!**

*Health

1) WORK OUT (for real this month....) (FAIL-In part because I was busy but mostly due to my health. I had to go to an MD to check out why I'm having severe muscle aches & fatigue in my legs-so I didn't work out but maybe 3-4 times the whole month and I can't WAIT to start back in May!)

2) Drink more water-I think since I cut this out from my last month goals I really didn't drink a lot when I needed to and I can totally tell a difference (DONE-I kind of did this thing where for every cup of coffee (as in 8-10 oz.) I drank 1 bottle of water.  There were same days where I hardly drank anything but for the most part I stayed much more hydrated this month =D)

3) Continue to take my vitamins-I used to be all gung-ho about them but I sort of just forgot, LOL. Now I'm planning on reorganizing them and starting them back every day! (DRAW-I was taking them daily but my doctor and I both think that one of them, though we're not sure which, may be causing or contributing to my leg issues-so I stopped for about a week and 1/2.)

4) Stretches in the AM and PM-I always feel so much more relaxed when I do this! (DONE-I didn't do these every day but on most days and it felt really nice! It wasn't yoga or anything but enough to relax myself a bit before starting or ending the day)

5) Find an SPF lotion to start wearing to protect against those harmful sun rays! (DRAW-I did find an SPF sunblock, instead of a lotion, but I didn't wear it...I hope to get a lotion to wear daily and to use the SPF block on days I plan on being outside a lot)

*Budget

1) Bring lunch to work at least 2 times per week-this should DRASTICALLY cut down on fast food consumption and wasting money on crap food  I don't need. (DONE-though my fast food consumption still can be cut A LOT more.)
2) Save for potential trip to Pensacola to see Destiny in late May (which may or may not happen but just in case) (FAIL-We're planning a potential trip in June)

*Home

1) Select pictures and frames to hang in entry way (DRAW-I do know most of the pictures I want to hang and have selected most of the frames I want to use....)
2) Hang bathroom pics (This is like the 18405th time I've tried to make this a goal, LOL) (FAIL-Is anyone surprised, lol?)
3) Re-paint the bedroom-more to match our new comforter set (DONE-IT'S SO GORGEOUS! I'll be updating pics of the place soon!)
4) Select fabric(s) to make bedroom curtain (FAIL-maybe next month?)


And the tally is:

FAIL-4     DONE-18     DRAW-3     ADDITIONS-3


WOW! April was an intense month but a great one-so much was done! May will be much more laid back-maybe I can actually relax?!