the one to seal off january.

Well it's the last day of January.

&& usually I do goals on the first day of the month.

But tomorrow is a pretty special day & I don't want to waste it by putting up my goals.

January Goals.

I was soooo close.

1. Finish my Christmas book, Martyrs.

Hate to say it, but I did not finish, so semi-check.

2. Try more vegetables.

I did do this a little, but all I have is a picture of hummus.

3. Play up my normal uniform (solid tee, scarf, jeans, converses)

I did this mostly with jewelry...

& some new kicks.

4. Make a to-do list each week.

This was a huge improvement to my organization.

Doing it again for February in hopes to make it a habit!

5. Use 1 Corinthians as my daily devotions source.

Super great! Very informational & abstract.

6. Enjoy turning 20!

I did indeed do this, but my mom has all of the pictures of actual people!

7. Take my first children's shoot.

8. Take at least 2 fitness classes a week.

Loved, loved, loved this. Up-ing this number up for February!

9. Make a new header for my blog.

10. Go to bed earlier.

11. Call my brother & sister more.

So check to all except the book.

:) I am a little proud, not gonna lie!

January was so good...

I hoping for an even better February (if anything at least better weather!)

February Goals.

• Try a different local coffee shop.
• Celebrate my sister's 23rd birthday!
• Change background on laptop.
• Do well on first exams.
• Show more love in different ways.
• 4 fitness classes a week!
• Keep making weekly to-do lists.
• Make Sam's Vday gifts without buying ANYTHING. (Using only what I already have.)
• Eat a meal with someone I love but have lost some contact with.
• Lead a bible study lesson with Sarah.

Enjoy your last day of January!!

the one on a sunny sunday.

Um, hello world.

Did you go outside today?

If you didn't you missed out on an absolutely gorgeous day.

& you should be slightly jealous.

This Sunday:

I went to church & received an awesome message.

Then to Cafe Carolina with Rita to eat great food with great bstudy leader.

Then back on campus to get work done.

But before drowning myself in Physics & Cognitive Psych...

I dug up two of my best friends from my closet.

Threw on shorts.

Grabbed my Peanut Butter Cup Cupcake

from a new shop in Raleigh called, Gigi's.

& enjoyed my afternoon of homework in the sun.

Good, North Carolina weather...

one of the reasons why I love Sundays!

P.S. I finalized my February Goals.. Get pumped!

the one from grey's.

Do you know who these people are?

Yes, Grey's Anatomy.

I watched the first three season when they were on, but kind of stop for some reason.

I wanted to get back into it, so I started from Season 1 a couple of weeks ago on Netflicks.

Oh. My. Word.

I am obsessed.

Not only is it motivating because I wanted to go in the Health field,

but it is so suspenseful, wonderful,

& perfect for the medical-loving, hopeless romantic inside of me.

Ultimately, my favorite show is F.R.I.E.N.D.S, in which my early on readers would know that.

I am also a fan of Parenthood, Modern Family, Glee, & American Idol.

So to get some more feedback from you guys, I'd thought I would ask a question...

what show(s) do you follow?

the one from the splenda lunch box.

This past week has been really busy. Going back & forth between my room & classes multiple times seemed too tiring. So I started packing either my breakfast or lunch...

The first day I made an Eggo & peanut butter sandwich, and I put it in a plastic bag to take to class. When I got to class, the person beside me said Did you just put peanut butter in a plastic bag? Well of course I didn't, craze, but it really did look it like it. My sandwich was squished and the peanut butter oozed from the sides and smeared all around the bag.

I decided I needed to invest in a sandwich container &/or a lunch box to keep my sandwiches intact. Like I said yesterday, Tuesdays are my hardest days of the week, so I didn't have time to run to the nearest Walmart or Target.

So what are you gonna do? Improv.

I used a Splenda box to put my sandwich, banana & almonds in.

To keep them safe from all the evil notebooks, textbooks, planners & laptops who have a mission to squish them until they are nothing put pancakes. :)

I'm wonderfully weird, I know.

Anyways. I need your advice.

I need to get a lunchbox that keeps stuff cold..

but doesn't take up a lot of room in my book bag.

Name brand or store suggestions?

the one for slightly less-than-amazing mornings.

How can you wake up to this & not have an amazing morning?

Well, it's easier than you thought. This morning wasn't my best.

I forgot my giant IKEA bag in my car (from the weekend) that had my makeup, straightener, jeans, gray vans.. pretty much everything I needed to be presentable this day. I set my alarm 15 minutes early this morning to go down & get it. First off, I woke up 5 minutes late. Making me ultimately 20 minutes behind what I originally set out to be. So I throw my little 2 second fit for oversleeping and then metamorphosis to an adult in order to actually start my day.

So I get my bag, head back towards the dorm.. and realized I completely forgot my keys to the building! Ughh. Flustered, I went to the 24-hour desk and asked if they could just let me in the building - I could get my roommate to let me in the suite. But no, I had to fill out a request for temporary keys... which took 5-10 minutes. & of course you know how I do, I look a hot mess in my snowflake pajamas & high school basketball sweatshirt.

Finally, I get up to my room. I get myself ready. Overcook my bowl of oatmeal & forget to change the K-cup in my Keruig coffee maker. So I have super dry oatmeal & hot day-old coffee to turn my day around.. great!

Well. Before I leave my room, I sent a little prayer out. Not to make the day better, but to not take this morning at face value. If I did, my day would be completely miserable. Tuesdays are my really tough days, I go hard from 8am-10pm. I prayed for strength to be optimistic about all that comes on this long day.

&&&& a song came onto my iPod on my way to class.

&&&& since it's itunes tuesday, you know I'm gonna share it with ya.

This song is beautiful, and help me become more optimistic about today, and tomorrow and the next hundred days! And John Mayer is just simply wonderful for the eyes & ears. :)

don't forget to pause music below.

Now to return to the world of Chemistry & Physics! Yahooo!

the one for bennifiber [aka jen].

Today is a very special day. One of my very, very best friends turns 20!!

Jen is one of those people who has never met a stranger. She is wholesomely loving (she gets it from her Savior, who she is obsessed with!), kind, loves to listen & give advice, enjoys coffee dates, is a phenomenal YoungLife leader & the best friend you could ever have.

she thinks Meredith is the guardian angel of the Wolfpack.

We met like four years ago at a YoungLife camp (Sharp Top Cove), where we were both campers. We were in the same cabin & fell madly in love. She was so cute and fun, & I remember wanting to be just like her. I joked around and called her "Bennifiber" instead of Jennifer.. (what the world?) But she is the one of the two who gave me my nickname, courtsimms. & it has stuck since I was a sophomore in highschool. (Thanks Jen!.. I use it for all my usernames!) Also, another trivial fact about me & Jen is that our YoungLife leaders.. are married. :) It's kind of funny.. to us anyways.

Western Wake Rookie YL Leaders (last year).

We remained distance friends throughout the rest of high school (we went to each other's rival high schools). But in the spring semester of my freshman year at NCSU, she transferred to Meredith. Like a mile away!! :)

jscsj 4 lyfe.

We fell back in love.. and became YoungLife leaders here in Raleigh.

new yl leader induction night - rolling skating through the 80's!

@ windy gap.

jscsj at a yl 5k.

jscsj a yl broomball tournament.

Jen is one of the most inspiring people I have ever had the pleasure to meet. She is a daily reminder of listening to God's will & embracing his grace. She is truly a blessing in my life & I cannot wait to shack up with her (with a few other cuties) for the next two years.

@ windy gap.. again.

YoungLife is a basis of our relationship making Jesus our foundation. With a rock solid foundation like that, you can never go wrong. I thank Jesus everyday for putting me in the paths of the right people. I am clearly thankful for this beautiful girl & so thankful for God putting her in my path.

Jen. Oh happy day, my sweet, sweet friend.

I love you so incredibly much.

Welcome to adulthood, you rock!

the one for early mornings with peanut butter.

Eating remotely healthy in a dorm room setting can be difficult at times. Time is of the essence, especially in the morning. For example, my Tuesdays & Thursday.. I am going hard from 8 until 6:30pm. So early on, I need something that will hold me over until a late lunch!

So today I thought I'd share one of my go-to breakfasts for a busy day starting early.

One of them is an Peanut Butter, Banana & Whole Wheat Eggo sandwich.. (the Eggo's being my bread). A to-go cup of coffee & a ice-cold water filled CamelBak.

If not that, toast a whole wheat bagel thin & then spread some good ol' peanut butter (you will learn to find that I eat peanut butter at least once a day. As a spread or maybe even a spoonful for a snack.. I love it.) And then a handful of either blueberries or strawberries... along with the coffee & CamelBak.

Super easy. You can even can throw in a Ziploc bag & eat it in class - usually what I do.

A lot of people scream & run at the site of peanut butter because it has an insanely high point score on Weight Watchers. But regardless, it is completely yummy & good for you! It has the good fat, & has proven to lower cholesterol & lessen the risk of a heart disease. It also helps control hunger due to the feeling of fullness you get from eating it. It can also keep fight Adult-Onset Diabetes and help fight against Breast Cancer. This incredible jar of goodness is the way to go for holding me over from an early breakfast to a late lunch!

(kind of wilted.. it was my last handful so whatever. :) )

It works for me.. & for all my fellow college readers, & soon to be college readers here is a nice little tip that I found to be wonderful! Suddenly, I want a snack... going to go get my peanut butter fingers on!

the one for all the lazy people.

You know those chores/required activities that you just hate to do. It could be laundry, cooking, flossing, wrapping presents, sweeping, making your bed... well mine is washing dishes. I hate to wash dishes, especially at school. Mainly because I still live in a dorm, which means our dishes must be washed in the sink we brush our teeth in, and wash our hands & face in. I seriously cannot put into words how much I hate it. That is the one chore I would pay money for someone else to do.

Usually, I suck up my hatred and cringing for a couple minutes and do it. But ya know, there are those days where you are way lazy or just don't feel like doing it. However, sometime we don't get the choice to set it aside. Take me for example. It was a long day & I was about ready for bed but I noticed I didn't have a clean coffee cup to use for tomorrow.

"Oh no!" I exclaimed as I looked even further to see a handful of dishes to be washed. In my head I was saying (in a super whiny voice) No! No! No! I don't wanna do it. I'm tired, I hate doing it.. I would pay anyone to do this!

Luckily, I have a couple of suitemates who do not mind the chore.. they have other hatred chores in mind. So, because I am that lazy, I asked them if they would take a dollar each to do my dishes. They both exclaimed "YES" as if to say.. of course we will take your money, you lazy idiot! I don't care. I love them regardless.

(& no, i am not too lazy to take pictures of the process.

this is a testament to my animosity for this chore.)

I want to believe everyone has this kind of mindset. Probably not. Instead I sit here telling the world just how lazy I am. (TRUST ME, I am not like this with most things!) My dad would cringe himself if he saw this post.

But anyways, if you do, what is your chore/required activity that you have strong negative feelings for? (Ones that you would almost pay people to do for you!)

the one from jcrew.

I was reading one of the daily blogs I check, when I ran across a post about J.Crew's warehouse sale. If J. Crew & sale are in the same sentence.. I am definitely in! So I contacted the blogger & asked about the intriguing information of this super sale.

All in all, I went. With two of my suitemates.

We were a little overwhelmed.

It definitely was a super sale. $5 tanks, $3 swimsuits, $15 dollar dresses, etc. Boxes and boxes and some more boxes completely filled the room. People poured into the tiny little shop. Very little organization. Isn't it amazing the comrade of a warehouse sale? Women coming together for an equal cause.. or should I say celebration? Celebration of a dang good deal! :)

It was completely crazy, but so much fun. Between the three of us, we came out with these cheap purchases...

One of my suitemates, Heather, is uber crafty. Remember she is the one what made this on a crafty whim. Well, once we got back on campus, she wanted to get back into stocking up her future etsy shop (ya'll need to get excited, she has some great stuff she is going to be putting on there. Again, I'll keep you updated). Anyways, she bought two plain vnecks from the J.Crew sale & wanted to get crafty on it. An hour later, this is the finished product:

Amazing, right? So awesome. The day was amazing. All my stuff cost in TOTAL was $35. Seriously, that's like stealing those clothes. For example, I am in LOVE with this dress from J.Crew Online:

Worth? $250.

I bought something super similar (same except not made of silk & mine is brown) at the warehouse... for $15. Again, straight up steal. Hope there are more J.Crew sales soon! I'll be sure to let you know! Happy Friday!

the one to start the tune-age.

I really like the blogs that have a specific topic or blog post every week... like "Wordless Wednesdays" and just show a picture of their kids, or dogs or whatever. So I thought I would engage in my own little weekly post. However, mine not wordless.. instead it's full of lyrics!! I here by pronounce the creation of iTunes Tuesday! I know, I know it's Thursday.. but I do not have my pictures uploaded? downloaded? I don't know... which ever direction.. but frankly, they are not on my laptop just yet for whatever reason. So I am starting it today. & will continue on Tuesdays.

The song could be one my favorite, one of my least favorite, an interesting one, one I just heard, a great workout song, sleep song, annoying, etc. You get the point. Maybe this will help increase the songs in your iTunes! :)

Today's tune came from inspiration after my work out class (called Spring Break-a-Sweat :) ). Every time I leave the gym, I listen to beach music. It's relaxing && so much fun! I don't know how to shag yet, but I will get there one day. :) But anyways.. one of my favorite beach music songs is Marc Broussard's cover of Marvin Gay's "If I Could Build My World Around You". I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song.

I always joke with Sam saying this is going to be our "first dance" song, so he has to take the shagging lessons WITH me! Ahh, Im such a hopeless romantic. Good thing I have a thing for blonde hair, blue eyed boys.

So here is a terrible, video of the song. (Sorry, it's all I could find).

If you wanna hear some goodness.. GOOGLE THIS SONG!

Happy Toe-Tapping Thursday! :)

the one on ice.

saturday night. college kids. january. cold weather. up for new adventure.

my suite usually has a plan. a plan to stay simple but really fun. first we start with a simple meal.. like noodles & co., or just simply the dining hall... followed by a crowded room (usually sarah's & mine) playing games like catch phrase, taboo, game of things, or mad gab. good wholesome fun. we love it.

but tonight we wanted something a little different. okay, let's try this again.. let's put all the pieces together.

college kids looking for something different.

good, clean fun.

it's january.

it's really cold outside.

i want another excuse to wear a scarf.

perhaps get a little active.

well.. it's kind of a hard equation but collectively that equals ice skating! we were stokedddd.

so we hung out around the suite until 9 o' clock rolled around...

then with our buy one get one admission.. we headed off to raleigh iceplex to dull some blades on the ice with our skillz. we did work on that ice & it was a blast.

sam even joined us! :)

(sorry a few of them are blurry,

my point&shoot was being a jerk)

& you have never guessed who fell the most.

my ever graceful, roomie, sarah.

erin met a friend while lacing up her shoes.

emil & her bf, dylan.

the group.

i am in love with the fact that this group is completely in love with each other. we know how to have a good time without getting into any trouble (other than noise complaints - which we have become notorious for). we smile & laugh a lot. we are all best friends.