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So, I definitely haven't posted here in a while.

Currently, I am working on a blog re-design with my pal Amy so right now I am holding all of my creative juices for that process. I plan to be back soon posting regularly and hopefully with a fresh, new blog design!

I have also been working late(r) than normal getting prepared for the craziness that is about to hit our financial aid office. By the way, if you attended college you should say a little prayer for your alma mater's financial aid office. Our job is a lot harder (and more manual) than people think!

My weekend is getting closer and I am really excited! What are your weekend plans?

MEMORY LANE

This past weekend I went to visit my parents and got to see my sister, brother-in-law, and niece. It really made for a great weekend! I love spending time with them, and I feel like I have seen them more in the past few weeks than I have the last 6 months. It was so awesome to see my little niece running around talking and playing. She can also work an iPad better than I ever could. I wonder what that says about me...

On my way home I got the itch to drive through my old neighborhoods and see how things have changed the past few years. Well, things certainly have changed. There are elementary schools where there used to be nothing, and Wal-Marts popping up everywhere. The neighborhoods look smaller to me somehow and living there felt like a distant memory.

It made me realize you can't stop time. The life I had living in those houses felt like a million years ago! How is that possible? It's nice to see where I've come from and in some ways it comforted me to be reminded how far I've come. It gave me hope that in the days, months, and years to come I will look back at this time and be grateful for what I learned. I may look back and think I took this time to myself for granted.

So, future self - told ya so. You got through it and you're still alive and kickin'. You go self!

COME BACK

I posted this photo on Instagram yesterday not to boast, but to hold myself accountable and inspire others. I have seen so many posts the past couple of months about starting the morning off right. I am still adjusting my morning routine, but this will definitely be a part of it. I think the scripture and devotional were perfect for me. It talked about laying down my worries and trusting God. So much of my time is spent worrying about the future.

Thinking this way can make me quickly lose sight of my purpose here on this earth. None of the worry pleases God or brings Him joy. If anything, it stifles my ability to bring joy to others, to encourage them, to accomplish what I need to each day. I am learning to focus again on the Lord and to really place my faith and trust in Him and not myself. Boy, is that hard. I would much rather do things on my own, but where does that lead me? I feel anxious, fearful, sad, lonely, and angry. I can't do everything myself. Sometimes I have to scream it to myself inside - Melissa, you can't do it all! Stop trying! 

I feel now that the Lord is speaking to my heart and reminding me that He loved me first. He knew me before I was conceived, and He knows my heart to this day. The truth is, I just have to learn again for myself. I know that Jesus has been instrumental in my life and He has led me through some amazingly beautiful, difficult, and painful times. I may not understand why things have turned out the way they have, but in the end, I will be okay. Worrying does no good.  

Onto a new day...

NEW BACKGROUND

Just a quick post!

Pick up this March desktop background at Sweet Tea Paperie! It feels so spring--like and I love the Hunter style rain boots!

Happy (fourth day of ) March!

MARCH

Have you noticed that our Birthstone Collection has developed quite the following? The January (sold out!) and February (just a few left) colors have been very popular, and your readers are going to love March's Birthstone color, Aretha. 

Introducing Aretha - Aquamarine for March, the newest addition to our gold-capped Birthstone Collection. She's a gorgeous multi-dimensional glitter top coat, perfect for March babies or a someone special with a March birthday.

Aretha is a tribute to a musical superstar—the soul queen, jazz diva, gospel godsend that is Aretha Franklin, born March 25. 

Available while supplies last!

Did you know that Maven subscribers get 20% plus free shipping every day, making Aretha only $11.20 instead of $14.00.The Julep Maven subscription program gives you exclusive access to the latest trendsetting new nail colors and beauty products that are just right for you each month. Take the Style Quiz to get started and get your Welcome Box for free (use code FREEBOX and pay $4.99 shipping).  

To see all of the new nail colors, click here! 

I will post all about my new Maven box next week! 

LIVING ALONE MEANS...

Living alone is not something I ever planned on. I honestly have never done it before until after my divorce. The closest I came to living alone was having my own dorm room in college. Even then I was surrounded by close to 20 other girls.

Now that I am living alone for the first time in my young adult life, I thought I'd embrace the experience. There are some perks to living alone and I think for the most part I enjoy it. It does get lonely and there are times I would like to walk into my living room and talk to a person face-to-face, but for now, phone calls and FaceTime will just have to do.

Here are some of my favorite things of living alone. Maybe you can relate...

1. Cooking for myself. I usually enjoy cooking and it's nice to cook what I want. It's also nice to eat dinner on the living room couch occasionally...

2. My own flexible cleaning schedule. I love to come home (and wake up) to a tidy apartment. I have my own little cleaning schedule, however I can change it up whenever I want to.

3. Some serious privacy. No longer do I share my space with another have to keep things "ladylike". I just like to let it hang out, ya know?

4. Lots of time to think...and practice my winning argument skills.

5. Decorating for myself is awesome. I can choose how I want to decorate. I don't care if it looks like actual estrogen took up residence in my apartment...

I still do this though....

SATURDAZE

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You know that moment at the end of a long week where you just throw your hands up and say, "It's the weekend. I'm done!" Well, now is that moment.

Saturday is also known as my Saturdaze. I am lazy, recouping, relaxing, and watching way too much Netflix. I feel a little guilty for being lazy, so to compensate I blow dry & curl my hair. Now, that's an accomplishment. Have you seen my hair? If not, I should show you guys a pic...Not right now though.

Here's to a lot of coffee. A lot of lounging. A lot of Netflix. A lot of nothing.