Only rainbows after rain

Self portraits make me happy

Hello all. It's been a while since I've blogged so I thought I should do so. Currently I'm sitting on my front porch watching the rain fall. I think that rain storms in Charleston have to be the best. I mean, can you imagine anything better than watch rain fall on a palm tree? Ok, maybe seeing sun on a palm tree is better but today I'm digging the rain. I was even inspired to pull my camera out and take some pictures, just for the fun of it. I haven't done that in a very long while. Too long. My camera is withering away y'all.

Goin' to the chapel...

...and my SISTER'S GETTIN MA-A-A-A-A-ARRIED! Wahooooooo! You guys, guess what?! My sister got engaged last weekend!! Can you believe it? I'm pretty sure that just yesterday she was the scrawny little brat who used to beat up on me (yeah yeah, I know...I'm older) and now she's getting married! I am over the moon excited. Her fiancé is the BEST. I love him. I am so excited that he will permanently be a part of my family. He totally caught all of us off guard and planned the cutest, sweetest surprise for her!

Homemade blended coffee

I'm really excited about today's post! You see, y'all, I love Starbucks. I mean, I really love Starbucks. I've probably spent thousands of dollars. On coffee. I get a soy, coffee frappuccino light every time. It's my jam. Low in calories and really refreshing in this hot South Carolina weather. But here's the deal, I spend a lot of money there. Because, you see, Starbucks also has food that I like. Namely my order is a veggie breakfast sandwich. A delectable combination of some kind of roll or biscuit, eggs, cheese, and veggies. Tasty! My total comes in around $8. And I work 5 days a week. That's $40 a week for coffee and breakfast! Yikes. 

So I haven't been going a lot since I bought my computer. 

It's sad. And altogether not pretty. I need coffee.

So I'll be bold, and I'll be strong.

I'm not going to lie, you guys. I've been struggling. A lot. I can't put my finger on it, but I've just had this intangible sadness and I can't figure out where it is coming from. Today for instance. Today was bad. I'll spare you the details, but today was bad in a way that all I could do was sit in front of Jimmy Johns on my lunch and call my mom and cry. And I promise you, it was not pretty. 

But then I got these texts:

"I WANT TO HOLD HIM FOREVER"

"HE IS SO FLUFFY ON TOP OF MY BODY"

Monthly Missions

Every month during the year of 30, I am developing a new Monthly Mission. Some will only be carried out for a month, some for the remainder of the year. These missions will be things that I am working on, whether it's from the Year of 30 or just in general.

I just saw a fin...

...as in a dol(phin)?!?!? Mom, don't freak out, but I saw a dolphin today. And it was about 8 feet away from me. So...holy cow! Of course, I completely panicked and pulled all of my body parts out of the water and on to the surfboard. It "poofed" beside me, then went on to play with Nate. They were catching the same waves. I got to see how big it was when it jumped over a wave. It was definitely playing and having fun, but I was still a little nervous! Ok, ok, fine. I was freaking out!

Going Green

So for about the last 2 years or so, I've been making a move towards living a more green life. I quit smoking, I became a vegetarian, I started crafting and making my own gifts. I have really enjoyed these things so far, but lately I've been feeling like I need to do something more. I have started researching homemade household cleaning products and personal hygiene products. Aha! Jackpot! With all my new recipes, I've been cooking up some cool things!

Age is just a number

That's what they say, right? Well, this year I turned 30 and age felt like a heck of a lot more than a number. It felt huge. And scary. And just plain awful. My brain started heading to a dark place. I started thinking about how I didn't have a husband yet. Or a baby. And how there were all these things in my life that I'd wanted to do for so long and hadn't. I started to get sad and a little depressed. So finally, FINALLY, I decided to start living. And I mean really living. Not just pretending. And here's the crazy thing...it worked! I might not have a husband. Or a baby. But I can honestly tell you that I am happier now than I have been in years. 

Monthly Missions

Every month during the year of 30, I am developing a new Monthly Mission. Some will only be carried out for a month, some for the remainder of the year. These missions will be things that I am working on, whether it's from the Year of 30 or just in general.

August:
August is a big one. Probably the biggest. Starting on August first, through the remainder of The Year of 30 (June 23, 2013), I am committing to no shopping. *gasp* I can hear you all saying, "Wait, what???" Well here's the thing. I don't necessarily mean no shopping. What I mean, is that for the next 10 months I will not purchase a single new item of clothing, accessory, or pair of shoes, unless it is an extraordinary circumstance. This means that Target is off limits. Goodwill and secondhand stores are not. Only previously owned items will enter my closet. You might be asking, "But Nicole! Why?! You love shopping!" Well, exactly. Currently, my closet looks like a tornado happened in it. And it's all clean clothes. I won't want for anything that I don't already have. You guys, this is going to be tough. Really tough. But I think I can do it. Hell, I know I can. But I'm telling all of you because I need you to hold me accountable!! It's good for the Earth to recycle used clothes, just as much as it is for my wallet. Whew. Tough one. Shoulda bought those new fall Toms before I committed to this, huh? ;)

I know that I want my missions to generally have a positive impact on my general well-being and the Earth. So far, my proposed timeline is as such.

September: No eating out at restaurants for 1 month
October: No Starbucks for the rest of the Year of 30 (shouldn't be too hard with my blended coffee recipe!
November: Replace all the cleaning supplies in my home with organically home-made products
December: Craft or hand-make all Christmas presents
January: Drink only water for 1 month
February: Begin my first garden, with my own compost for fertilizer
March: Spring Cleaning
April: Go to Chicago to visit family
May: Go vegan for a month
June: finish all unfinished items from the Year of 30 list!

DIY and Crafting Love

Links to my DIY and crafting tutorials!

Homemade Blended Coffee

Year of 30

Coleo's Year of 30

Go to Paris

Finally get in shape

Run a 10k with my mom

Travel to the Caribbean

Get a RENT tattoo

Be more green (this is a work in progress)

Go to genius training

Start a blog

Puddleography

Run a half marathon

Move to Charleston

Get dreadlocks

Take dance lessons

Be a blonde

Learn how to surf

Go out on a shrimp boat for a day

Go paddle boarding

Get an Eiffel Tower tattoo

Buy a new computer

Perform 1 selfless act of kindness every day for a month

Start a compost pile

Start sewing my own clothes

Pay off some old debts

Become financially stable

The year of 30 is a philosophy. A personal challenge to live this year and every one from here on out to the fullest. It's kinda like a bucket list for the things I want to do and have done this year. I'd love for you to follow along! What are you doing to live every year to the fullest? Tell me in your comments!

Peace and love,

Coleo

About Me

“Then they set out along the blacktop in the gunmetal light, shuffling through the ash, each the other's world entire.”
― Cormac McCarthy, The Road

nicole is:

a dreamer

a friend

a daughter and sister

a dog mom

a hippie

a beach bum

a crafter

a photographer

a giver

a surfer

a lover of all things pink

a dancer 

a listener of music

a reader

a talker and a listener

a nerd

a lover, not a fighter

who is fiercely loyal,

and loves to love.