Healthier living is going to be tasty!

Ok, I know it is cliche to say this, but I am commiting myself to a healthier lifestlye. I woke up today and realized that I am 25 and about to get married. This means I am free to eat what I choose and choose the lifestyle that I want. Well, I want to have a healthy lifestyle. This doesn't mean that I will never again eat chocolate or ice cream or pizza. I just want to have things in moderation, and I think that the moderation of some things (fruits, veggies, whole grains) can be greater than others. Plus, I really don't move enough. I spend far too much time sitting in front of the T.V. and computer.

So here are some goals:
physical activity at least 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week
eating by normal standards
improving how much time I spend on all areas of my health (physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and relational)

And I am encouraged in these endeavors! A while back I ordered a free cookie from www.kashi.com Well, I got it today, and that was one tasty cookie! It was a dark chocolate oatmeal cookie. The first thing I try to notice about food is the aroma. The aroma of this cookie was sumptuous! It had a nutty, well, oaty aroma that was warm and pleasent. I am a particular fan of the texture of oatmeal, so the texture of these cookies was terriffic! The taste was also light but sweet. It was a soft but lightly chewy cookie, and the ratio of oats to chocolate chips was right on! Best part: it is a great cookie, and it is healthy! I am a growing fan of Kashi's 7 Whole Grains Blend! I think I will continue to buy their products in the future.

Where to begin...

I have decided that today I am going to start packing my things in preparation for moving out of my parents' house. The thing is, I have no idea where to begin. I don't want to pack something that I might unknowingly need, but given that we will be moving our stuff in within the next week I need to do something. *sigh* I just need to start.

Wow! It is kind of a rush to realize that we only have 11 days until our wedding! I'm tracking down a few last minute decorations for the stage, and we will be meeting with our minister soon to hash out the ceremony details. Plus we need to sit down and make our CD's for the ceremony and the reception, but that's the fun part! I've also been getting in touch with all the people who need to know that I will soon be out of town for my honeymoon - I so can't wait! *sigh* Daydreaming is fun!

The Starter Home

Aaron and I have accepted the offer of a mother-in-law apartment! We officially have a place to live! It is in the lower portion of the house of some of my parents' friends at church. It is a nice place for a newlywed couple to start out in. It is somewhat small, but has a lot of storage space, brand new carpet and brand new appliances. We can also have our precious India with us, and we don't have to pay an ungodly deposit in order to have her. We did a lot of checking with other apartment possibilities, but this seemed to be the most financially sound for a couple starting out with basically no money. We are SOOOO excited to finally have our own place!

I can hardly contain myself with the realization that it is only two weeks until our wedding!!! Dad and I went to Gwinnett Place Mall tonight to have my wedding ring sized at out trusty jewlery repair place. We went to browse around in Sears while they sized it, and I found myself gliding dreamily through the housewares sections thinking of how much fun we are going to have putting together our first pad! Two weeks seems like almost no time at all after having been engaged for nearly four years, but when I got my ring back tonight and saw how perfect it fit and how pretty it is after being cleaned it feels like an eternity. I wish it was tomorrow! *Deep breath* Must temper my exhilaration...at least enough to where I can sleep tonight!

Being a Quarter of a Century Old

As of 11:06 PM tonight I will be 25 years old. These days a lot of people would be feeling like they are getting old, but honestly I don't feel much different. I mean I am feeling more like an adult - if that makes sense and doesn't sound too juvenile - since finishing school and getting so close to being married. I think it just has to do with the increase in responsibility, but I am not viewing this in a negative light. I mean it is intimidating at times, but I'm actually excited about it! I am looking forward to starting my life with Aaron, having our own place, and boldly stepping out together in the adventures of life. I think I will definitely be blogging a lot more. I kind of have a yen to chronical this adventure Aaron and I are embarking on. I've always heard interesting stories about people who journal the story of their lives, and it sounds like fun.

Hmm, maybe I do realize that I'm getting older. The older I get the more pensive I seem to get. "I wish that I knew what I know now when I was younger."

Exhausting Day!!

The motor on my driver's side window died the other day. Dad made a valient attempt at trying to fix it, but it was beyond him so we took my dear Rosie into Tom's (Our mechanic). Apparently there was a tractor trailer truck carrying chicken that exploded on the interstate this morning, which backed up traffic on the surface streets, including the street where Tom's is. Thus traffic was HORRIBLE as Dad was attempting to get me to work. I was half an hour late.

Work was different. I worked on the decals we had to put on the front windows of the store - two large bare trees, very frustrating - and box-up in the stockroom. Box-up was a very welcome process today as it kept me in the back and allowed me to avoid people. Typically I like working the sales floor, but today I just didn't feel like dealing with people.

Aaron picked me up after work so we could go get our marriage license - YAY! We first went to the Gwinnett County Court House, but they would not accept the copy of Aaron's birth certificate because it didn't have the embossed certification seal. So we drove all the way to Decatur because they only require one form of I.D. so we just used our driver's licenses. Traffic was again a bear as we made our way back to Tom's to get my car and then back home. We were exhausted by the time we got home for dinner.

It wasn't a bad day, just full and at times frustrating. The upside is: We are now officially licensed to be married!

In other wedding news, Mom and I ordered tablecloths today. They are chocolate brown and hunter green. Very nice. We got a great deal on them.

Tomorrow I have to start calling apartment complexes to ask questions so Aaron and I can figure out where we will be living. *sigh* I'm tired.

Back to the drawing board...again

I didn't get the job in Rome...again.

I am getting really tired of this. What am I doing wrong that is making potential employers not be interested in me? I thought I had good credentials, good references, and a well-written resume. We have basically 21 days until our wedding. Somehow we are going to have to make ends meet. I am maintaining my two part time jobs at Bath and Body Works and The Hope Counseling Center until I find something full time. I just have to find someway for Aaron and I to be able to live on what I make.

God will make a way. I just have to believe that.

It felt like Fall today!

Today was probably the most pleasent day weather-wise that we have had in Georgia in a long time! It was overcast and very cool. I think the weather guy said it didn't even get up to 70 degrees. So given the wonderful nature of the day I spent as much time as I could outside. I made a special effort to park in parking spots that were a rather lengthy distance from the entrances of the stores that I went to. I also spent some time walking around in my front yard just noticing the lawn. Maybe it's the combination of the on-again-and-off-again moisture and dryness and the sudden dip in temperature, but we have a surprising number of mushrooms popping up in the yard. We have white shrooms, red ones, and one rather large gray one. I thought the red ones were kind of cute. It's been nice to kick back and enjoy the quiet simplicity of nature today.

Wedding Shower - When it rains it POURS!!

Aaron and I had our wedding shower at church today, and it was AMAZING! We were given so much! I can't even begin to say how grateful I am to all of the people who gave us gifts, gift cards, money, and wisdom. All of our new possessions have currently taken up residence in my room until something else comes along. That something else would be a place for Aaron and me to live. I try not to keep worrying about getting a job and finding a place to live and making ends meet, but it really seems to be my major fear about starting a fully independent adult life. I just don't want us to have to live with my family or his when we are married. My primary reason for this is that I feel like we should be independent. Plus there really isn't a whole lot of room in either house for another couple. Also, there is the *slight* awkwardness of trying to maintain a sex life when you are merely one room over from your parents. Maybe my wanting to be independent is a matter of pride, but I feel that by the age of 25 - and being married - I should be supporting myself. I mean, if we really had to start out living with my parents or his sister we would, but we would really prefer to have a place of our own. Somehow I know that Aaron and I will make it even if starting out is rough, but I am still afraid. I'm praying to God for some clear guidance in which way to go, peace about the decisions Aaron and I have to make, and strength to do what we need to.

I'm putting this request out into the blog-osphere. If anyone who is navigating a good marriage right now has sound advice for a soon-to-be newlywed couple, please feel free to share in a comment.

To Ink Or Not To Ink?

I have been thoroughly enthralled with L.A. Ink recently. I have thought in the past about getting a tattoo, but it's one of those things that I want to put significant thought and consideration into. First, I need to know more about tattooing. I found a great website called www.tattoofinder.com which has a section called tattoo-101 with lots of information about tattooing and suggestions of things to consider and actons to take to make the experience the best it can be. Second, I need to figure out what kind of design I might like and where I would like it. Placement is something big to consider, especially given my choice of profession. It must be in a place that is easily concealed. I'm thinking about getting a small tattoo on one of my hips - not really sure which one just yet. Third, I need to find a really good tatto parlor and artist. I would like to avoid picking up any sort of ickiness from needles, environment, or people.

I think my two major concerns about doing this would be the pain factor and the fact that over time tattoos can change in appearence (i.e. fading, stretching, sagging, etc.).

My dad asked me tonight, when he saw me watching the show, why a needle-phobic like me would be interested in watching a show where people are being tattooed. I realized that it is the creative nature of the art that draws me to it. I find the show somewhat of a creative outlet. It gives me ideas and inspires me to draw like I used to.

Maybe if I don't ever get a tattoo I could get into the art portion of it, like drawing designs or something as a hobby. I have an idea for a design right now that I would like to work on. I will post it when I'm done.

In the meantime, if anyone has advise or experience pertaining to tattooing please share!