Just Another Day In Paradise :)

Do you believe in miracles? I do! I know, especially as grown ups we don't get to see as many of them. But I have a good one for you!

A few posts ago I mentioned "taking a year off" because I probably would not get into physical therapy school where I needed to. Well...

IT HAPPENED!

I GOT IN!


I found out Friday and am still working on overcoming the shock.

I applied two weeks after the deadline, only applied because my fiance wanted me to, and never in my wildest dreams expected to get in to this particular school. Most physical therapy schools accept about 30 students per class, but this school only accepts 18!


I am SO blessed and continue to be amazed by what the Lord is doing in our lives. Every baby step we take in planning our future together seems to continue to be affirmed in His perfect plan and timing. And so far His plan has been so much more than I could ever have imagined for myself!

Not only was I accepted, but because we will be married when I start school, I also am able to get in state tuition, which will still be a lot of loans, but will be much less in the long run :)

We spent this past weekend apartment hunting, it was just another addition to my excitement about our CRAZY life!

116 days :)

Two finals left and I will be finished, SO close!

Six Simple Steps... Yeah Right!

Tomorrow: A final and a quiz and a five hour drive
Saturday: Apartment hunting (for our first HOME!)
Sunday: Engagement picture shoot (weather permitting!)

And the excitement continues!

Today was a great day! One of my mom's friends is downsizing and sold (practically gave) these two beautiful pieces of furniture plus a couple of lamps and some wall decor to us.

I am SO thankful and completely excited because these are the first pieces of furniture we have purchased for our new home!


This buffet is one of our new-to-us pieces and I am so excited to have a nice central piece to decorate around, rather than just Ikea-ing everything (not that I have any grudge against Ikea!). She also generously included this table with the buffet to help us get started :)


I am so excited because ideas are finally starting to flow. Due to our small budget, we are getting more and more resourceful. And on top of all of that, this weekend we get to find a space for all of our plans to live. :)

We are going to use his current bed and dresser, I am going to try and redo his bedside tables, and my parents are lending/giving us a dresser, sleeper sofa and coffee table. With this buffet and computer desk, we are pretty close to set in the furniture essentials area for our small apartment. I of course hope to "pick up" some end tables and such, but for now, I am not in need of anything but...

A round kitchen table and some sturdy chairs are what I will spend my January through March scouring Craigslist and garage sales for! I fell in love with this table redo that I saw on Kendra's blog.

She took this sturdy yet out of date table:


And refinished it into this gem:


I figure I will give this making over furniture a try, if I fail, I will take it to a professional and we will be no worse off, but if I succeed, that is further budget stretching success :)

Now the big question is (aside from where this table and chairs will come from) whether or not I try and re-stain the table top. Gabrielle has a beautiful table make-over on her blog, which gives me hope! I would LOVE to be able to make something beautiful like she did! Here is her amazing transformation:
She took this:

And transformed it into this:


Wouldn't it be beautiful to re-stain a table top to match the buffet and desk? And then do a white bottom with white chairs? I am getting SO excited!

So...
Step 1 - finish this semester
Step 2 - research re-staining and re-finishing furniture
Step 3 - find table
Step 4 - find chairs
Step 5 - convince myself I CAN do it :)
Step 6 - GET TO IT!

If anyone has any advice on refinishing furniture, apartment hunting, used furniture buying, decorating, wedding planning, newlywed living, budget stretching, or anything else in between, I am all ears and wanting to learn! :)

Anyways, back to studying Sport Psychology and Nutrition! Due to some distractions, I am thinking this might be a 3.0 semester rather than a 4 :P

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Current Craving: Avocado :)

1. Makes almost anything taste better
2. Can be added to most dishes
3. Delicious raw and/or Guacamole is EASY to make
4. Major immune system booster!
5. Is AMAZING for you!

"Avocados provide nearly 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid. They also act as a "nutrient booster" by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients, such as alpha and beta-carotene and lutein, in foods that are eaten with the fruit." more info here

Aside from Sweet Potatoes, I am convinced that Avocado is the second best super food, chocked full of everything we need, just saying :)

Just a quick reminder not to forget about this amazing fruit (yes, fruit) as you are enjoying this wonderfully cold soup weather!

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire...

... Jack Frost Nipping at my Nose :)

I get to spend my weekend in Nashville with my lovely sisters and am enjoying every minute of it!


I have missed blogging so much lately!
There are so many things going on right now though.
Between concluding my last semester, applying and interviewing at physical therapy schools, and wedding planning, there is not much space for anything else!

Due to the possibility of me starting physical therapy school in May, we have set our wedding date for April 8, 2011. Which has put us into hyper drive with wedding planning, but it has been great and I am sure will be well worth it! It was either April of 2011 or June of 2014, so we decided to go with sooner rather than later!

Two more weeks left in the semester and then real life starts!

Hubby-to-be will be starting a new job in Columbia in the beginning of January, which has thrown my hopes of starting physical therapy school this spring or fall for a loop, but has not crushed them. I am holding onto a thread of hope that I will get into South Carolina or Medical College of Georgia. South Carolina I applied to two weeks after their application deadline and MCG I was already wait-listed for applying there after all of the spots were filled also. :/

I know we have to go though, it will be a great career step for him and they will pay for him to get his master's too, so he really could not turn the opportunity down.

I have become more comfortable with the realization that I will probably be taking a year off now, and although it took me a little while to adjust to, that now idea thrills me because I would love to have a year to make a home and learn to be a wife. I would love to try re-doing furniture like so many bloggy women do, quilting, and decoratively crafting in general.

I am so excited about everything going on right now! It is very overwhelming at times but I just keep telling myself that the Lord will never put us into situations we can't handle, and that He has given me an amazing support system through all of this perfectly lovely insanity!

Have a happy weekend!

21 more days until Christmas and 125 more days until we are married :)