Joss and Main

In my quest to find affordable yet quality furniture for my new apartment I stumbled upon this website. It is a member's only site and you can join through my by clicking here. It is great seeing all the beautiful furniture that is available.

2011 Milestone

Today on my travels back to Tuscaloosa I found myself approaching a certain milestone. My lovely car has been in my possession since about halfway through my freshman year of college, and today January 2, 2011 about sixty miles outside of Tuscaloosa, my car hit the 100,000 mile mark. Silly isn't it? But I have put a lot of miles on my little car.. and it has a lot of memories under those tires. So, as minuscule as it may seem, this meant a lot to me, and I took a picture for all of you to see!

My return to Tuscaloosa was bittersweet. I had a wonderful time with my family this Christmas break and one week just didn't seem long enough. However, I am here with clothes washed and halfway unpacked, ready to start back to the daily routine. Spring 2011 excites me, as well as scares me, as I traverse into my second semester of graduate school and the 'real world'. It will be tough but rewarding, and oh, how time will fly. 

I am still working on getting my room put back together after having to move rooms and pictures are sure to come when I am finished putting my pictures back up and such. I plan on completely deep cleaning my apartment this week after work. We will see how that goes. ;) But for now, a preview of beauty... a Christmas present given to me by my sister Donna is now a wonderful new decoration in my apartment.

Isn't it beautiful? Decorating makes me want my own home more and more... But I know that with time I will be able to buy a home, and so much more. For this year I am working on focusing more on God's plan for my life, rather than making my own plans. Because I know, He has my best interests at heart! 

Brr!

For the past three weeks it has been a nightly struggle to live in my apartment. I say nightly, because I am only home to sleep. HA! But seriously, I live in the back bedroom of my apartment and conveniently enough the heat has yet to be able to make it back to my room.

Thankfully I work at a maintenance shop and discussed the problems with the guys on the management team. Only after a short conversation, I had an answer my apartment maintenance man couldn't seem to think of. The duct leading to my room has collapsed, therefore keeping air flow from coming into my room. Now, the sweet maintenance man lives two floors above me and has tired time and again little 'handy-man' fixes for my room, all to no avail. I explained to him what my managers had said and he agreed that it sounded like the right problem. However, as in all mass built apartment complexes, there is no way to get in between the floors to the ducts.

The wonderful guys at work borrowed a thermometer from the AC shop so that I could record the temperature in my room for physical evidence. My room consistently stays at least 5 degrees colder than the thermostat setting and this morning at 7:45 I woke up to a frigid 64 degree room temperature. This is after the sun came up, mind you... and that heats up the room.

I have since adapted my simple pajamas of a t shirt and shorts to sweatpants, a long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, and socks. Some mornings, like today, I still wake up cold... However I can't smoke my other roommates out of the house by continually turning up the heat for warmth that only goes into their rooms.

My roommate Emily graduated yesterday, and I am to move into her room as soon as possible. My apartment said they cannot fix my room, so my only option is to move. I am just thankful all I have to do is move across the hall... Thankfully my college minister at church and a few other people are going to help me with the move, I only have a few big things, other than that... I don't have much stuff. :)

Warm and fuzzy news of late? My study buddy and friend Anne Kimball got me a WoodWick candle... I have never had one, only seen them at friends houses... and I am so happy to have it! It has a literal name as the candle bears a wooden wick, when you burn this candle, it crackles like a fire. I absolutely love it!!

It's Official!

It is official! I have had my first classes at UA and I received my official job offer in the mail today! Monday I go in at 8am to start work! I am very excited. It is going to take a little time to get back in the swing of college math as opposed to high school math teaching. So, as of right now... my classes are somewhat scary, but I don't think they will be too hard.

Tonight I went with Casey to the BCM for 'Ice Cream and Church and Church'. It was a time for us to each ice cream and meet local churches and their college ministry staff. While in Tuscaloosa, my sister Beverly went to Ridgecrest Baptist and I have chosen to visit there this Sunday to see how I like it. I have been a few times when I was younger and I am excited to go back. The college ministry staff was very fun and exciting and I am ready for Sunday to be here. I really want to get involved and be plugged in to a church.

Have I told you about Casey? I am not sure... so.. here goes. I keep talking about her so I figure I should introduce her. Casey is a girl that I met in high school through a leadership program CYYLP, otherwise known as Coffee County Youth Leadership. Well, she went to Samford for undergrad and now is at UA for grad school. It was so great to bump into a friend that I already knew and loved and get to be back in touch with her. :)

Now... for a few pictures.... I hope you like them!

I finally got some stuff up on my walls... so this is what my room in my apartment looks like!

Of course... if you know me.. you know my life is consumed with BLUE and GREEN. I absolutely love it! And for my bed... I went with a more plain spread and sheets so that the would stay in 'style' longer and I could get years of use from them! 

My desk and dresser area are cluttered... but I am working on that. :) 

Bathroom! :) 

The first page of my official job offer and acceptance letter! I am so thankful to be employed by UA!

Student ID!! I couldn't wipe the smile off my face on the way to my first class. It is a dream come true to be a student at UA. Life is grand and this campus is mesmerizing to me....

ROLL TIDE!!