Several days ago we sold our couches and end tables to a coworker of mine. I’m all about bartering services/things, so we worked out a deal where she pays half the agreed price, and her husband details my car. It saves her money, it cleans my car, and it makes my apartment less cluttered with over-sized couches. That’s 4 items we won’t be hauling to Texas! Kathryn F. moved out of her apartment, and until we all moved in June, she’s letting us use her couch. This helps her move less things around town for the time being, and helps us have a couch. It’s a win-win situation.

Another bartering service I’ve done is portraits. For several months I’ve drawn portraits for a friend, and in return she’ll cut/dye my hair at a discounted, if not free, price. I hope to find more people wanting portraits or drawings done. It’s a good way to make a few extra dollars or trade services.   Speaking of which, I’ll really miss having my hair done when I move.     You see, it’s not that hard. Cause and Effect.

Hair=Portait.   Easy stuff!!!

If anyone wants portraits, just message me! I like the practice, I like the money, and it’s fun!

Do any of y’all barter services?  No, not thoooose kind of services.  Get your minds out of the gutter!!

As you all know, Rob , my neighbor, Kathryn, and I are moving to Austin, TX this summer.  June 1st, to be exact!  We are all very excited about the move and have begun the process of ridding our apartments of excess things.  I hope to have a yard sale in the upcoming months with my friends’ willingness to let me use their ginormous yard. : )  Our plan is to keep what’s necessary and get rid of what’s not.  Of course, keeping the large amount of kitchen appliances is very necessary, as well as keeping the 6 pizza pans we have.  These things come in use at the most random times.

In other news, I think I’ve crossed off a goal for this year; picking my major for a Bachelor’s degree.  Drum roll please……(trill)………….Interior Design!  I’m always leaning toward some sort of art degree, but I’m  not too keen on Graphic Design for myself, so why not this?  It combines money making with an art aspect, so this may be as good as it gets.   On the down side, it will require 5 years of school.  On the upside, there’s no time like the present, and the sooner this happens, the sooner I get the degree.  I would finish when I’m 27 or 28, but I’d hate to be starting at that age, like so many.   I’m not getting any younger!   Think of it as being the frilly side of Architecture.

The rest of my resolutions have been going pretty well.  I’m still bathing the dogs, keeping the apartment nicer,  and started exercising again.  After work today I plan to take all my clothes out of the closet to see what I want/don’t want.  Fun stuff.

Clean dogs:

cleeeean

Today I’ve quit my job and named my flying squirrel. On to the fun part…

Rob and I found a baby flying squirrel on the ground on Monday! We finally named him Cornbread, and he loves puppy milk. Here’s a picture:

Isn't he cute?

He’s the new addition to the Sayers’ household. Say hello, everybody.

Rob found a bag of Spinach Tamales last night at the local Corner Market.   They were pretty tasty, but I know that I could make them even better.  I think I’ll experiment with two different spinach recipes to divide among the large batch of tamales that will inevitably be made.   Mom made some awesome tamales using only cheese and sliced green peppers.  Nomnomnom!  I’ll do a follow-up post on this.  It may be awhile though.

I’ve been lifting weights with Bonita the past week.  Today makes the second week, I believe.  That’s going well and I hope to keep it up.  Rob wanted me to start training for a 5k to do with him this Spring, and I’d started to, but now my knees are hurting too much to keep going until it heals.  I’d gotten up to jogging a mile though, woohoo! Maybe I can start back out doing a mile.  Maybe.  Maybe not.

I see more and more people referring to resolutions as goals. I supposed it sounds less intimidating; it may help! So here are my goals for 2010:

• Lose 14/15 pounds.  I never met that goal last year, but it doesn’t mean I can’t try again!
• Keep the apartment a little bit cleaner and smelling nicer
• Give the dogs a weekly Sunday bath
• Move to Austin on little expense
• Convince my boss to give me decorating lessons, although this will benefit her in no way
• Figure out a major for a bach. degree
• Do as many drawings/portraits as possible!
• Fly to Germany by myself or with Rob, to see Tammy and the many sites.

I don’t think this list seems too bad.  I lost 10 pounds last year, so I was halfway to my goal weight.  This year I plan to run a 5k with Rob.  Not sure when, but I’ve started training for it, having run a 1 mile distance so far.  I drew maybe 7 portraits last year, so that’s a good start.   We’ll just have to see.

I would just like to state that Christmas is next week, and my early shopping has paid off! So many of my customers at work are complaining about their own procrastination; most haven’t begun their shopping. I started mine in October, did my cards in November, and finished up last week. Most of my gifts are wrapped, I just need to ship mom’s today.

Rob and I are driving to Arkansas to see his parents and relatives. Work closes early, at 3:00 pm, on Christmas Eve. Soon after, we’re driving to Jackson to do Jewsmas with Nikki at 6pm. Christmas with the siblings is at 9:00 pm, then we’re sleeping at Kristin’s house. Christmas morning, Rob and I are leaving eeearrrrly to drive to Fayetteville, Arkansas. We return Sunday. That should be nice!

Jewsmas at Nikki’s is always fun. It’s just a friend’s Christmas we’ve all been doing for a few years with a mix of nice gifts and happies. We always have the help of her cat’s with the wrapping paper, and we all just have fun. I think this is my third Jewsmas with her. Maybe fourth?

I’m at Javawerks right now with Alicia, drinking an Italian Cream Soda, helping her answer questions for a paper. I kind of miss coming here to work on my schoolwork. Maybe that’s because I have no more schoolwork at all. Aw.

Christmas is just around the corner, and I’ve begun my shopping! Although I don’t have that much money to spend, I want to get everyone nice gifts. I’m already anticipating the decorations! I don’t know where we’ll be going to celebrate this year. I need to call Rob’s dad to find out if he and Shelley are coming here, us going there, or what. I like planning!

I’ve been doing more portraits and drawings lately. It’s been fun..I’m hoping more people will want portraits.

Yesterday was Kat’s 25th Birthday. She’s a quarter of a century old now! Wow! Haha. She’ll always be older than me, and that’s what counts.
Rob and I drove to Jackson for her birthday, ate Manicotti, birthday cake, icecream, and rolled out the door and back into the car. I have plenty of pictures up on my flickr, so check it out!

Fall technically began a few weeks ago, but it didn’t start feeling like it until two days ago. Rob and I just walked two miles along the Long Leaf Trace with cups of coffee to keep warm. Yay. I really want to go out and buy some new fall/winter clothes. I just may do that.
April and Thomas made the best apple cider last night…with spiced rum. I’ve been drinking plenty of hot tea and russian tea lately. If I don’t keep warm, I’ll freeze! True story.

I swear, every time I turn around I have another mosquito bite either on my legs or arms. Am I just sweet? Maybe. Most likely not, though, so go away!
Tonight Rob and I got some new-to-us mirrors from April and Thomas, thanks guys! They should make a nice addition to our apartment. I’m pretty sure mirrors are supposed to add to the depth of a small apartment. so we’ll see? I’m going to paint maybe little flowers all around the frame. I hope it looks nice, I’ve got a tube of black acrylic paint in my tackle box.

My in-laws are expected to be in town this weekend. I’m pretty excited! I have no idea what we’re all going to do, but it shall be fun, nonetheless. The apartment got cleaned today on my day off. I work 8-5:30 Thursday and Friday. I love it, but I hate it.