12 for 12 Summer Update (June, July & August)

Let's just go ahead and say that with the school year comes a fresh start for everyone, including those of us that aren't going to school anymore. I'm going to couple June, July & August into one big 12 for 12 Summer Update because let's just say these past few months have been crazy, hectic, fun, frustrating, and the list goes on and on. I'm hoping this fresh start will get me back on the blogging track for sure.

Need a flashback to the 12 for 12 May Update?

Twelve for Twelve

1. Books.

My slight hiatus on the To Read List turned into me practically quitting reading completely. I know that I tried to read a few chapters of When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric Ludy but never finished it. Over the last week, I picked up Julia Duin's Quitting Church. That doesn't really constitute as much though. Going into the fall, we've got three months left and I've read six out of twenty four books completely read. That is ridiculous. I've got to start reading.

2. 5K.

I think the most I ran all summer was when I was playing volleyball with the youth group. I did a couple of Pinterest work out videos. They're actually pretty good. This running thing is going to have to change for this fall for sure. If I don't get the 5K goal down by December, I'm hoping to run the Color Run with my friends again in February. Hopefully, I'll get to run this time.

3. Quotes.

I have pinned and pinned more and more quotes. I have yet to fill up my quote notebook though.

4. Blog.

Can we just not even talk about this one?

5. Create.

Y'all. I've found the salsa, guacamole and queso recipes to satisfy me for a lifetime. No joke. I've made this so many times over the past few weeks that I may or may not have memorized the ingredients to the guacamole recipe. For a baby shower back in July though, I along with some friends also made these really cute little fruit pizza appetizers. We also tried to make Avalanche Rice Krispie Treats. Those didn't turn out that well though. Shoutout to my friend Matt who taught me to make iced coffee.

6. Learn.

Oh wow. What have I learned over these past few months? True vulnerable friendships are hard to find and shouldn't be let go easily. Goodbyes are and will always be hard to say. No matter how much time you think you have, you don't have it. Putting your whole heart into everything is completely worth it even if it becomes frustrating and painful. As long as you have people who truly love you, life will be good.

7. Minimize.

I went through everything. I gave some stuff away to friends and Goodwill got some. I've got a long way to go still, but by the end of this year I want less stuff in general.

8. Gratefulness.

I sent out two rounds of thank you notes. I'm hoping this really steps it up with this final stretch of the year.

9. Handmade.

I had a hiatus on handmade gifts because those don't work so well for things like weddings. Who wants a handmade blender? That just sounds awful. I started on some completely non-wedding related gifts but still haven't finished them.

10. Intentionality.

These last few months went by so incredibly fast. I was definitely intentional with several of my friendships, but I know in some of them that I should have and could have been a lot better.

11. No.

I've said yes and I've said no. I think saying no is becoming a bit easier.

12. Word.

There's a certain verse that has stood out for some time now that I can't get out of my head.


Here's to the last three months of the year and for this 12 for 12 challenge to really come into be! Bring it September!

12 for 12 May Update

You know that embarrassing moment when you sign on to your blog in August and realize you never wrote a 12 for 12 May Update, let alone blogged at all in the past few months? Yeah... that just happened. Good news is that I did write a May update, I just never published it. Let's play a little May catch up, shall we?


Need a flashback to the 12 for 12 April Update? (I kinda did...)

Twelve for Twelve

1. Books.

I took a slight hiatus on the To Read List. I turned to the Hunger Games series. I read it and really thoroughly enjoyed it. I wasn't sure that was going to happen. Thank you junior high girls! Unfortunately, that was it for the month as things got crazy after that.

2. 5K.

I went running once and decided that it wasn't worth it to listen to a sermon and do my running app at the same time. My running is on a hiatus until I have more time in my schedule and there's music on my iphone. Also, instead of having 2 gym memberships, I'm down to 1 but the membership is on hold so that may really mean zero.

3. Quotes.

I at least knew where my notebook was in April. I have a general idea of where I think my notebook could be here in May.

4. Blog.

Other than TWR posts, I don't think I posted much at all. It's been really hectic and I've been extremely exhausted these last couple of weeks so blogging hasn't been a priority whatsoever. 

5. Create.

I made Reese's Popcorn. It was better than I expected. I bought supplies to do some crafting and cooking experimentation. I have been way too tired to really try either.

6. Learn.

Can my learning for the month be that it's okay to rest?

7. Minimize.

I organized my Pinterest boards? Success? YES!

8. Gratefulness.

I'm beginning to think that if I make it through a small box of thank you cards for the entire year that I will be doing good on this one. I haven't sent out any. It's June. It's a shame.

9. Handmade.

I have homemade gift supplies bought. The making of those gifts will hopefully be in progress soon.

10. Intentionality.

It's been great investing in my relationship with Elley before she left for Kentucky and my relationship with my roommates especially. I feel like this month went by way too fast though.

11. No.

I've done better. It's been good.

12. Word.

Working to get back in the game on The Grand Sweep. Tons of catching up to still do!


This is a short and sweet update, but there's a ton of things going on right now and I don't have much time to really get everything done. Pray for clarity, fun, direction and relaxation for the next few weeks if you think about it.

This Is How I Feel Today:

Today's the Day to Vote!

Hey y'all!

 

Don't forget that today is the day to vote for Together We Rise in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good competition this Wednesday to get a free Toyota Tundra. Currently we have a non-air conditioned van that enjoys breaking down. We’ll be delivering the 500 bikes we have to foster kids around the nation either way, but a new Toyota Tundra would be delightful. 

 

Want to partner with us and post a Facebook Status about this? Yes! Great! Here's one you can use or you can make your own: “This year Together We Rise will giveaway over 500 bikes to foster kids. Can you help us deliver them? Vote here: http://bit.ly/Jp4sTZ ”

Your involvement today to help get Together We Rise a Tundra would be greatly appreciated!

Can TWR Use Your FB Status For A Day?

Howdy friends,

As y’all found out last time I posted to my blog, I’m a Social Media Intern for Together We Rise (TWR) this summer. We’re in the Toyota 100 Cars for Good competition this Wednesday to get a free Toyota Tundra. Currently we have a non-air conditioned van that enjoys breaking down. We’ll be delivering the 500 bikes we have to foster kids around the nation either way, but a new Toyota Tundra would be delightful.

I would love for my readers to combine their compassion, willingness to help others and their Facebook influence to join with me for the cause of getting TWR a Toyota Tundra.

This leads me to ask the question: Would you please allow TWR to use your Facebook status on Wednesday which is our voting day to help us win?

The Facebook status is: “This year Together We Rise will giveaway over 500 bikes to foster kids. Can you help us deliver them? Vote here: http://bit.ly/Jp4sTZ ” (You can also make your own!)

Your involvement on Wednesday's Toyota Competition on the behalf of TWR would be greatly appreciated!




Also, the video on my last post has been fixed...

What A Summer It Will Be!

I'm pretty sure that the reason I don't blog is that I'd rather explore. I'd rather explore Pinterest and read blogs rather than sit still, type and pour out what's going on in my life. There's been some pretty great changes going on in my life recently like getting 2 JOBS! Get excited!

First off, I'm going to be the Summer Youth Intern at A&M UMC. In addition to that, I'll be a Social Media Intern for Together We Rise! I'm super excited about both opportunities! It's going to be a great summer!


Here's the video that Elley and I posted to Facebook announcing that I was going to be the Summer Youth Intern. That's a friend of mine who thought he was going to be pranking someone that he didn't want to mess with. Prank was on him! Thanks for the video help friend! :)

12 for 12 April Update

Need a flashback to the 12 for 12 March Update?

Twelve for Twelve

1. Books.

I love seeing the books being scratched off of this To Read List here. The first week or so of April I ploughed through The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Down, Book 2 by Neta Jackson, Scared by Tom Davis and Confronting the Controversy - Adam Hamilton. I'm still about half way through Forgotten God by Francis Chan and still only 6 chapters through So Long Insecurity (which I may have slightly misplaced). Thanks to the Junior High Girls, I also added in the Hunger Games trilogy. Here it goes!

2. 5K.

I skipped the Blue Bell 5K. All that non-training was useful at least. I ended up doing work outreach projects with the college students and some of the youth at my church. It was worth it. I put my 24 Hour Gym membership on hold. I may end up having 2 gym memberships which is a far cry from 2 that I started my semester with. I have gotten to work out some thanks to Pinterest! (The difficulty level of some of those pins is not a lie in case you were unsure.)

3. Quotes.

I have not written any quotes down in the month of April. I am still aware of where my notebook is though! That's definitely a plus. I did organize my Pinterest boards of pins. That's something, yeah?

4. Blog.

April was definitely slightly higher. I need to find a consistent way to blog. Also, I tend to write a ton of blog posts in my head. Remember that time I blogged about the 10 Best Things About My Week? No? What about that post on My Failed Pinterest Moment? No? Yeah... there's more where that came from that never made it online... Maybe May will be the month where blog posts translate out of my head onto here.

5. Create.
I'm not sure if I designed grad invites during April or March. Either way, they were designed! I'm feeling rather uncreative although I do know that I experimented with some Pinterest recipes like mozzarella, spinach and feta quesadillas, making my own avocado pesto sauce and trying my hand at recreating Kerbey Lane's Queso. Can you say yummy?

6. Learn.

I've been reading a ton about animals and psychology lately for some reason as well as learning firsthand about jewelry making and different metals. It's been fantastic. I'm kind of ready for a tangible skill to be learned though. Any ideas?

7. Minimize.

I started to go through my college room. That didn't get too far.

8. Gratefulness.

Yet again nada. Here's to hoping May may have some real thank you notes.

9. Handmade.

I'm not sure if I had any gifts that I made. I did come up with grad gift ideas and decided that I wasn't going to bother with homemade gifts for weddings. Seriously. How in the world would I make a homemade blender? That just sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

10. Intentionality.

I think this month was about seeking out and trying to invest in a few key relationships. I'm happy with the outcomes. I had to take the initiative to set a friendship straight and work out some past kinks that haven't been able to. It's now better than ever. It's been a great month. I loved finally getting to see the Johnson's especially.

11. No.

I said the hugest 'No' that I have ever had to initiate. That is all.

12. Word.

God's timing is perfect, true and right. Although it was difficult, I'm glad he not only led me to but forced the book of Jonah on me thanks to Jr. High Breakthru 2012. I really need to step up my game on this whole Grand Sweep of the Bible though.