5 on Friday & MORE (insert photo overload)!

TGIF, friends! I am so happy that I made it to Friday...I never thought the week would end! I am also excited for a weekend of just lounging around and taking it easy and hope that every one of you precious individuals do the exact same thing :) Today I am excited to participate in a few link-ups and let you in on a few things I have been up to this week!

ONE
Yesterday I went to my first Charlotte blogger meet-up where I got to hangout with 15 amazing gals who are all part of The Charlotte Social! April, over at A. Liz Adventures did a wonderful job getting this event put together and it couldn't have been more of a success! The event was held at the most precious bead shop called On A String Bead Shop located in an old building in the Myers Park area. Y'all, as soon as I walked in I had to pull out my phone to snap photos...this place was a girls dream come true! From the chandeliers to the walls of jewelry and tables of beads I was in heaven! I literally said about five times that you honestly couldn't be in a bad mood while in the shop! It was just TOO CUTE! And on top of everything, they had some really yummy finger food that I just couldn't resist.

TWO

After walking around, taking photos, making small talk and munching on some sweet treats, it was time to pick out some beads to make two gold wire bracelets! I was beyond excited because this was also my first time making jewelry! I don't know how I have gone all these years without making some sort of jewelry but I will say, this was a great first time experience that I will be doing again in the future! Next item on my list of things to make will be a necklace :) 

Photo Credit goes to April for this photo!

THREE

The best part of the night however was just getting to see familiar faces and getting to finally meet new girls/bloggers! I am a huge people-person and love getting to know others. Put me in a room with a bunch of girls who all have similar interest and love to blog, and well, that makes for one content and happy Melissa! Ha! Below are some photos of me and a few of the girls I got to spend my Thursday night with! (Bre from Basically Bre (LOVE her new brown hair and always cute style!), Zelle over at A Southern Style (SO happy I finally got to meet this beautiful girl and can't wait for our dinner date soon!) and the one and only April from A. Liz Adventures!

FOUR

Surprises! I got two this week! Earlier this week I was going through my closet trying to organize my fall clothes and found in the very back one of my favorite blouses ever! It has sea shells on it (love that print on clothing) and ruffles; two of my favorite things! And yesterday when I got to work one of my coworkers had put on my desk a bag filled with lot's of spa goodies! Am I being spoiled or what?!

FIVE

Lately I have been hearing "southern sayings" left and right. Whether it has been through reading a blog, an exert from a book, or just from conversations with others, my ears have been ringing with "Hey y'all's", "Lord have mercy" and "Bless her hearts". And being that I was born and raised in the South, I AM LOVING IT! It puts a smile on my face when I hear these sweet sayings. Call me weird, but there is something about them that just pull on my heart strings...and I'm fine with that! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and I can't wait to catch up with y'all on Monday!

Dave Ramsey: An FPU Experience

Happy Hump Day! Today I wanted to change things up a little bit and talk about something that has honestly changed my life for the better and has given me a new perspective on things...and that would be Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University class that I took a few months ago. First off, let me tell you a little about who Dave Ramsey is! Dave is an American financial author, radio host, television personality, and motivational speaker. His shows and writing strongly focus on helping individuals get out of debt.

I first learned of who this man was while reading Nancy Ray's blog post here on becoming debt free. I have never personally been in debt, but know of  individuals who have been, and it's just something I never want to face. After reading Nancy's blog post, I got to thinking that you can never be too prepared when it comes to the future and money. My family was always fine financially, and had just enough to make ends meet. But when it came to having extra money to give back to the church or enough money to make those home repairs or take the vacation that was very much needed, they just didn't "have what it took" to make those things happen. It's a shame when I think about it now, because my parents so deserved those things that would have been nice. 

I think part of my parent's financial struggle has been the fact that they took in my grandparents and uncle (dad's brother) to live with them way back when. This however has been a blessing in disguise and I wouldn't have traded my time living at home for anything else because I had my WHOLE family with me 24/7! I LOVED having my grandparents living with me! I loved having my uncle downstairs to help me with math when I was in middle and high school. But now as I am older, I look at all the sacrifices my parents made for our family and for us to be financially stable, and I just want a future in which I can give back, not only to them, but in more ways then I can think of.

Okay, so now that you have some background information, let me tell you about FPU! Financial Peace University is a plan for our money. "It's teaches God's way of handling money. Through video teaching, class discussions and interactive small group activities, FPU presents biblical, practical steps to get from where you are to where you've dreamed you could be. This plan will show you how to get rid of debt, manage your money, spend and save wisely, and much more". (I gathered all this information from Dave Ramsey's website.)

Right around the same time that I had found out about Dave Ramsey, the church that I was attending at the time had posted on their website about offering the FPU class! Was that a sign that I should sign up? I had no idea. I talked to Will about taking the class and he was in agreement that it would be very worthy of my time and money. So I signed up for the nine week class that met on Tuesdays for about an hour each week and was ready to see all that I was going learn and be challenged by.

Now if I went into detail on everything I learned from the class, this post would turn into a short story, so I am not going to do that to you! :) I will share The Baby Steps and information on the chapters though and leave the rest up to you to discover!

Dave Ramsey has created a list of seven baby steps that he feels will help guide you towards getting out of debt and reaching financial peace one step at a time. There is no time frame for how quickly you must complete the baby steps, but he does recommend very strongly that you complete the baby steps IN ORDER. Below is the list of baby steps. At the time that I completed the class, I was at baby step number four but since I recently made the move to Charlotte, I am back at number three but strongly moving forward! And keep in mind, you don't have to be married, have kids or in debt to do the baby steps! ANYONE and EVERYONE benefit at working through these steps as I personally feel it's never to early to prepare for your future! You can read more about each baby step here in more detail.

Seven Baby Steps

1.Take $1,000 and start an Emergency Fund

2. Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball

3. Put 3-6 months of expenses into savings

4. Invest 15% of your household income into Roth IRAs and pretax retirement

5. College funding for children/future children

6. Pay off your home early

7. Build wealth and give!

Every week, our class would meet and go over one chapter from the video and book and then do a discussion. Some of the chapters were really easy to understand, while others were more difficult for me to understand. I think the breakdown of each chapter was done really well and I have already revisited some of the topics from the book with Will.

 Chapters and Topics

1. Super Saving- Common Sense for Your Dollars and Cents

2. Relating with Money- Nerds and Free Spirits Unite!

3. Cash Flow Planning- The Nuts and Bolts of Budgeting

4. Dumping Debt- Breaking the Chains of Debt

5. Buyer Beware- The Power of Marketing on your Buying Decisions (This chapter was extremely helpful when preparing my move from Raleigh to Charlotte with Will and looking for a place for us to rent!)

6. The Role of Insurance- Protecting your Health, Family and Finances

7.Retirement and College Planning- Mastering the Alphabet Soup of Investing

8. Real Estate and Mortgages- Keeping the American Dream From Becoming a Nightmare

9. The Great Misunderstanding- Unleashing the Power of Generous Giving

I hope that this post wasn't a bore to you all! Preparing for the future is so important to me as I am a big planner and really think that Dave Ramsey is a wise, wise man with a whole bunch of knowledge! Visit his website to learn more and see if a church or organization near you is offering the FPU class! I couldn't give it more of a positive review :)  

Lift. Tone. Burn

Whew! Just the thought of those three words can make me tired--but in a love to hate kind of way! I have already been to a handful of Pure Barre classes and thought this would be a good time for me to talk about my experience thus far! For those of you who haven't heard of Pure Barre before, it is a 55 minute full-body workout in which you utilize a ballet barre to perform small isometric movements that "lifts your seat, tones your thighs, abs, and arms, and burns fat in record-breaking time".

I'm not going to lie, I was nervous my first class! I did some research online beforehand, reading reviews and trying to figure out what to expect from the class. It wasn't until I walked into the studio for that first time, grabbing a stretchy tube, two small hand weights, and a little ball and found a spot on the floor that I really learned why so many people say Pure Barre is more then just a workout...that it's a lifestyle. 

Generally you are asked to arrive 10-15 minutes early to make sure you have time to sign in, gather the things you will need for the class, and to find a good seat. Class starts when the teacher enters the room, turns up the music (which is in my opinion great--a slur of remixes of popular music, and always upbeat) and says "Hey everyone, it's that time again"!

Once the class starts, you don't stop for 55 minutes. There is no "break". You push yourself from start to finish. Exercises generally begin from standing positions, down to the floor, over to the barre and back, incorporating the tube, weights, and ball. Small and quick movements really make you feel "the burn" in a hurts so good kind of way. Every class, I try my best to put all of my concentration onto the instructor and towards my breathing and tucking. And y'all, it is NO joke when they say you will shake! I didn't think it would happen but boy was I wrong.

I remember my first class, the instructor came over to correct my posture while at the barre and I apologized to her because my legs were shaking so much and I felt my body was out of control. She laughed a little and said "You are doing a fantastic job! If your legs are shaking it means you're changing your body". That simple statement will stick with me forever. It was at that moment that I reminded myself that I wasn't taking Pure Barre for an easy workout. This class wasn't meant to be easy. Those small moves that you do, result in HUGE changes that you mentally and physically will experience.

On Pure Barre's website, they state it best that "when your body shakes, it means your muscles are reaching the point of fatigue, which is a good thing. Your goal is to have the muscle group you are targeting during a specific section of class to shake every time. After the shake, you will stretch, to elongate the muscles while they are warm and malleable. This leads to long, lean muscles"! 

So what do I love about PB?

1. I love the class size. I think every time I have gone, there have been no more than 20 others in the class with me. I love this because it allows for more attention from the instructor and for the fact that you can't go "overlooked". Because the classes are smaller, the instructor is able to focus on each individual's form and walk around the room and answer any questions or concerns that one might have during class.

2. I love that the Pure Barre studio I go to is in walking distance from my condo. 

3. I love that all classes are at the same level. That all the positions and movements done in the class are basic-- meaning that ANYONE can take and enjoy the class.

4. I love that they provide you with the workout equipment that you will need, that's always a bonus.

5. I love that you sweat but aren't leaving class feeling like you have been beaten up. I like to feel like I have just worked out, but not to the point that I can't catch my breath or move!

6. I like the fact that because of Pure Barre, I have improved my diet. I eat healthier and WANT to eat better so that I not only feel good about myself, but because it's important for my health overall. 

7. I honestly feel that I am more flexible! And it doesn't  hurt to say that my arms are starting to get some definition that I have always wanted! Now if only I could get my abs looking the way I want! 

What are the downfalls to PB?

1. It is expensive. There is no way around it. As a new client, you can get the special which is 30 days of unlimited classes for $100. After that, a single class costs $23 and one month unlimited is $225. Because of the costs, I don't know if I can go every month. But I also don't want to stop going after this month is over. What I think I will have to do for now is go every other month. That way I am not in debt, but still get to enjoy the classes every other month. For the months that I am not going, I plan on doing workout videos, taking longs walks with Miller, and using the few pieces of workout equipment that is at the clubhouse in our complex.

2. To see results and really get a lot out of the class, you need to go at least 3-4 times a week. Now for me, this isn't an issue, nor a downfall. But for some people, 3-4 times a week can be a stretch.

3. Like most gyms or fitness center, there are multiple locations you can visit. However, from my understanding, you can't go to any location that you want for Pure Barre. For example, there is a studio in Greensboro that I would have LOVED to have gone to when I was visiting family two weekends ago, but I couldn't go because the pricing was a little different. So yes, this is a down fall because you may be limited to the locations that you go to.

Overall, I love Pure Barre and am going to try to fit in as many classes as I can before October is up and gone! I recommend everyone trying Pure Barre if money isn't an issue and you truly want to do something that you WILL see results from!

Weekend Shenanigans

Happy Monday, loves! I hope everyone had a great weekend. I was so excited for this weekend because it's what I would call Will and I's "date weekend" :) On Friday, my dad and uncle drove up from Greensboro to deliver my new phone (you are the best dad!!) so Will and I thought it was only fair to treat them to dinner at the Cajun Queen! Will had told my dad about how yummy Cajun Queen was so everyone was excited for a night of good food and great company.

 

After dinner, I said my goodbyes to my family and Will and I headed back to the condo where we enjoyed a relaxing night watching a couple of episodes of Homeland Season 2. Let me just say that we are OBSESSED! Homeland is by far one of my favorite television shows and what makes it even better is the fact that a lot of it is filmed in Charlotte!

Saturday I took Miller to an early morning appointment at PetSmart. Miller doesn't like going to the Doctor, but because he was such a big boy, I let him pick out a new toy to take home! 

After Miller's appointment, I went back home and got Will and we headed to breakfast at Toast. One of Will's coworkers recommended this place and it was SO good! Breakfast is defiantly my favorite meal of the day so I am always up for trying out new places. On the contrary, Flying Biscuit will always be my go-to place for breakfast and brunch; the grits, biscuits with apple butter and french toast....m'mm...I have no words. BUT Toast did a great job with the cornbread which was pretty amazing, and the stuffed raspberry french toast hit the spot!

 

After breakfast, we decided to "explore" Charlotte some. First we stopped by a local craft fair going on in South End and then we drove Uptown and checked out the new Ronmare-Bearden Park, Three Wells Fargo Center and The Mint Museum. We decided that we were not in the mood to look at art so we left The Mint Museum, headed to Target, picked up some snack food and parked ourselves back at the Condo for more Homeland and chilling on the couch before heading to go see Gravity.

 

You are never to old to hopscotch!

 

Gravity in 3D was so good! The movie itself seemed short but the graphics, sound, George Clooney and Sandra Bullock were all amazing! I was shocked at how REAL space looked. There were times when I literally felt like I was there. Alfonso Cuaron did one heck of a job directing this film and I would give it a solid 9 out of 10. If you haven't seen Gravity yet, I highly recommend it. You can view the trailer here.

Sunday Will and I went to Forest Hill church, had lunch at Crisp and then enjoyed a little bit more time together before Will had to head into work. The sermon Pastor David Chadwick talked about today really spoke to my heart and was just another example of how I feel that Forest Hill is the church that God is calling Will and I to be members of. I can't wait to see what he has in store for us now and in the coming years at this amazing place!

5 on Friday

 

Is it really Friday? Whew! This week went by so fast for me! This weekend I am excited for time with the boyfriend, for family coming up tonight for dinner, and doing some hardcore cleaning and organizing around the condo. But one thing I love about my Friday's are getting to participate in 5 on Friday and H54F, so here's what I've got for you today.

ONE
Link-Ups. I already admitted that I love participating in 5 on Friday but what other link-ups are there? I know there is a Wedding Wednesday one but I'm not engaged yet...and I know a lot of bloggers (including myself) do WILW but that's just a topic I haven't seen a link-up for. I recently did a Google search to try and find some more to participate in but was not lucky...(insert sad face). Do you guys know of any or participate with any other link-ups that you enjoy doing? I would LOVE to know :)

TWO
Date nights. Oh how I long for these. Will has been in New Orleans for work since Wednesday and I miss him oh so much. He gets back today (YAY) and I can't wait. My dad and uncle are driving up from Greensboro to delivery me my new IPhone 5S and so, Will and I are going to take them to the Cajun Queen for dinner. Tomorrow Will and I are going to go with the flow regarding Saturday afternoon plans but I did pick up two tickets for us to go see Gravity (in 3D) earlier this week so that will be our  date night adventure for the weekend. I have heard a lot of good things about this movie and can't wait to review it with you guys next week!

THREE
Southern things and Weddings. Put the two together and you have Southern Weddings Magazine. Y'all even if you are not engaged, this magazine is still amazing to read. I actually purchased one just to have as a coffee table piece. So far my favorite has been Volume 5. Volume 6 comes out in mere weeks, and I can't wait to go to my local Barnes and Nobles to pick it up! And if the magazine wasn't enough, the website is just as good if not, in my opinion, better! The ladies behind SW do a great job at keeping the website up-to-date and all the content is so wonderfully written. I honestly can not wait for the day when I am engaged and get to utilize the ideas, recommendations, services and basically everything spoken about in SW!

FOUR

I was once so crafty and lately, I have been falling behind in that category. I don't know if it's a combination of my work schedule and my laziness but I really want to jump back on that bandwagon ASAP! I have been seeing some really neat crafts and DIY projects that I am dying to do!

I found the above picture on Pinterest and think it's a great craft that doesn't cost much and  has a vintage feel to it which is something I'm currently obsessing over. All it appears to be is a picture frame on the larger size, with colored paper placed where you would generally have a photo, utilized as a coffee table tray! Such a neat and easy thing to do!

I love the idea of using old perfume bottles as flower holder "vases". I have a ton of perfume bottles that are almost empty that would actually look really nice with a few baby's breath or peonies and placed in the corner of my nightstand or in our guest bathroom.

But I will say that I am very proud of one crafty thing I did not too long ago for Will and I! I'd like to introduce you to a SMASH book which can be found here or at a Michael's craft store.

Basically a SMASH book is a "book" in which you fill it with whatever your little heart desires. For me, I filled it with cards that Will has gotten me over the course of our relationship. To make it more then just a book of cards, I purchased stickers, bible verses and other little knickknacks to fill in empty spaces and to really make the book "pop" with personality and fun. I have already filled this book up and will be soon purchasing my 2nd one to start on!

FIVE

When I first started to blog, I didn't really know anyone. Yeah, I followed a bunch of blogs and commented back and forth with other bloggers, but I had never met any in real life. That was until recently...and boy have I been spoiled by all the sweet ladies I have been able to meet and call real life friends now! I truly believe that every blogger should make it a goal to physically MEET other bloggers. Yeah, it may seem sketchy to go meet a "complete stranger" for coffee or lunch, but it really is only as awkward as you make it to be! For instance, one of the first bloggers I met in real life was Bre over at Basically Bre. I had been following her for quite a while when she posted on Twitter she needed someone to pick her up from the airport. I was free and jobless at the time (this was literally within weeks of when I first moved to Charlotte) and thought it would be a nice thing to do SO I DID IT. Was it awkward? Sure it was...for the first few seconds and then it was completely fine! She was as sweet as can be and even treated me to lunch! It literally is the best feeling getting to meet a blogger in real life because you already have so much to talk about if you actually read their blogs regularly. You already  know so much about each other from the post you write/read. And I will admit, a lot of the bloggers I have recently met have become my closet friends! I talk to them (aka Alyssa, Caitlin, Emily and Mason) almost every day, whether that's through twitter, text message, snapchat, or blogging. And I LOVE IT! :)

I hope everyone has a great Friday (TGIF) and I can't wait to catch you all up on my weekend musings on Monday morning...xoxo