De-clutter the clutter.

Ok so I had to go grocery shopping today, and Wal-Mart is usually my grocery store of choice. Today, I told myself I would look for a hamper to put in our bathroom to catch the dirty clothes. We usually just throw it on the floor but I want to be more sophisticated. I chose a hamper. Then I decided I would like to de-clutter the space underneath our bathroom sink. This disaster area annoys me every morning. I decided that today's the day I'm going to fix it. So I grab two slide-out bins. I also remember that I have yet to get a full-length mirror for our room to help me get ready in the morning. I usually dress myself and trust that everything looks good before leaving. Now I can let my vanity get the best of me by checking myself out before I walk out the door. Next, I had to grab a few groceries and finally I'm out the door...determined to de-clutter my house. Starting with the bathroom. Sorry to those of you who were expecting pictures. There were none taken. Pictures of my bathroom cabinet just don't seem appropriate. Use your imagination. Anyway, an hour later, I now have a de-cluttered and re-organized bathroom cabinet. I also managed to get rid of some things that had been stuffed away in the corner. I feel so much better already! I also had my lovely, manly husband hang the full-length mirror. In anticipation for spring weather (please come soon!), I grabbed a few storage bags to store sweaters and long-sleeves. I can store them in our closet until it's time to take them out next year. Usually they just kind of hang around in the closet at the back. I'm in the mood to spring clean my house right this minute, but I have work in about 30 minutes so it won't happen today. But I did get our bathroom fixed up. As soon as this cold, nasty weather is gone for good, I'm spring cleaning!

Rae

Idle Time Failure

I'm sure I'm not the only one who's ever had this happen. You finally get a day off from school or work and you plan out your entire day. To-do lists, shopping lists, etc. Then you wake up that morning and you don't do any of it. You spend the entire day watching tv or reading. That was me on MLK day. I planned on reading and taking notes for school and grocery shopping and doing all kinds of productive things. And I failed. I'm admitting to the fact that I enjoy lazy days, but too many of them are unhealthy. Today, I WILL be productive! I get a second chance today to try and make up for what I failed to do on Monday. I didn't plan on waking up until around 9, but I couldn't sleep past 8. So I'll be getting my day started early and hopefully I'll get everything done on my to-do list!

On another note.
I love to read. So I thought about investing in a "Nook" by Barnes and Noble or a "Kindle" by Amazon. Well. You have to buy the device. I figured that part. But what I didn't know is that you have to buy every book you want to put on there. So I come out cheaper buying actual books. I'm sure it's a lot easier packing just a kindle than several books for a trip. And you get to keep all of your previously-bought books all together on one device. So anytime you want to read it, you have it right there. But I don't see the value in one of these guys yet. I'm sure eventually I'll snag one of the aforementioned reading devices, but for now I'm content with paper books. What are your thoughts about wireless reading devices? Do you have one? I also know that with iPods, iPhones, and iPads, you have an iBooks option that you can do. So if I already own that device I can just add books on there. That may be a better idea for the moment.  Just a thought.

Anyway, I'm going to start my productive day!

Have a FANTASTIC weekend!!
Rae

Here are the links to the previously mentioned reading devices:

The past week...

has been action-packed. To say the least. School started on Monday, and we immediately got thrown back into our clinic rotations on Tuesday. Last semester, I drove 2 hours one way to Sugar Land every Tuesday and Thursday. This semester, I drive 25 minutes to Beaumont :). I'm definitely enjoying the extra sleep I get.  My clinic site is a fast-paced Ear, Nose, and Throat clinic with 5 physicians. So far we haven't been ridiculously busy, but I know it will come soon. We get to see a lot of different cases, including hearing aids (which I haven't seen since last summer). I honestly wasn't too excited about this place at first, but I'm glad I'm here and I know I'll learn a lot. Moving on.
I previously posted that I was doing the Bible in One Year Chronological plan. So far, so good :) I've been keeping up with my readings and I'm learning a lot. I just finished the book of Job and for some reason, I've never read it before now. I don't know why. It's such a good book. Well, all the books in the bible are good. But you know what I mean. I finished Job last night and I'm back in Genesis tonight. I'm really excited about reading my bible in a year and I'm proud of myself for pushing through the desire to go to bed so I can stay up and read. God's definitely speaking to me through it.
My husband's a Jets fan. Needless to say, I am hiding away in our bedroom while my husband is watching the Jets/Patriots playoff game. I'm watching it as well, but I like to actually watch the game and not feel guilty when a Jets player makes a mistake. They're winning right now 14-3 which I'm shocked about, but glad nonetheless. I really hope they win. For the sake of my husband's sanity. Please.

Well I'm off to study a bit before I have to head to work in an hour. We have a floorset tonight so we'll go in after the mall closes and change around the store. I love floorsets. Plus, we ordered a cookie cake. With all of the different colors. I'm a happy girl.

Have a great week!!
Rae

A new challenge...

I've never read the bible cover to cover. I've read pieces of it, but I've never completed the entire bible. So, this year I'm challenging myself to do it. In chronological order. I was going to buy the bible seen above, but I printed a schedule from this website instead. You can choose how you want to read it (beginning to end, chronological, etc). Today's January 3, so I'm a couple of days behind but I'm hoping I can catch up tonight. In addition to completing my goal of reading it in one year, I would like to make this a yearly commitment. But for now, I'll take it one day at a time.

Peace,
Rae

Bring it on, 2011.

Happy New Year! I'm so excited about the new year. It marks a new beginning and a new season. It's a chance to start over or to redeem ourselves of things we failed to do or change last year.  I'm taking on this opportunity to take a look at myself (on the inside) and change what I don't like. For example, I sometimes say things in the moment, and then I realize what I said and feel awful about it. One thing I need to work on is staying calm in situations where I feel pressured or angry. I let it get the best of me and I explode with whatever rude comment I have ready to say. So I will be working on that. Thinking before I speak. The bible says we should be slow to anger and quick to forgive. If you are around me, I give you permission to hold me accountable.

I purchased "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. I haven't seen the movies yet, but I will when I finish reading the book, or should I say books. There are 7 books combined into one huge book. It looks overwhelming but when I think of the 7 different books, I feel better about tackling it. This evening, I finished the first book, "The Magician's Nephew." I loved it! I love the way he relates it to Creation, Eve's temptation, and the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. I will either start on the second book, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" tonight or tomorrow. This one is a movie. I don't know if the movie incorporates the first book. I'll have to wait and see.  I do know that I enjoy the way C.S. Lewis writes.

Saturday, we had my parents and Sam's sisters over for New Year's day lunch. Overall, I was pleased with how it turned out. The food was delicious, and my sister-in-law's fiance fried a turkey and it was amazing. Oh man. I thawed out a cheesecake that had been in my freezer for around two years (I kept forgetting it was there). I wasn't sure if it would even be good, but my aunt (I got it from her daughter's school fundraiser) said that she was told it would be fine as long as it stayed frozen the whole time. It did. But it smelled and tasted like a freezer. So after a bite or two, I threw it out. On the positive side, I freed up space in my freezer though.

Sam and I went with a few friends last night to watch "Little Fockers." Cute movie. I'm pretty sure they left it open for a 4th movie. I'm not sure what they're going to call it.  Something with the word "Focker" in it, I assume. Moving on.

Tomorrow is January 3, which means I only have one more week left of my winter break before school starts again. I'm excited about this semester. I'm not sure why I'm in such anticipation, but I feel that it will be a great semester. I have 6 amazing classmates who are like brothers and sisters to me. And I have 3 awesome professors (advisors, mentors, etc) that pour their hearts into what they love to do. I know God has me here for a reason. And I'm super excited about that.

Sam and I are about to go to some friends' house for game night. I love game nights. Even though they sometimes get heated. It's all in good fun though.

Have a great night!
Rae