It’s Friday!

1. J and I went to the mountains last weekend to visit some friends that moved from Austin, TX. Look how cute those pups are!

2. Peonies at the farmer’s market — my favorite. They are all gone here in Raleigh, but I forgot that Boone is always a few weeks behind seasonally.

3. My fella turned 28 last Saturday, and this may be my new favorite picture of him.

4. I struggle with worry a lot, so this reminder in my Jesus Calling devotional was especially helpful this week.

5. A storm came through last night and left within a half hour. My dad is a layman meterologist and sent me a text that it was coming, but I didn’t believe him because it practically cloudless all day. Silly me, he’s (almost) always right when it comes to the weather.

Follow me on Instagram at @thatginnagirl to see more pics from my week. :)

Hope you have a wonderful weekend! 

PS – Linking up with Lauren today!

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Greensboro, NC | 1985 – 2004

My family has a long history with Greensboro. My grandparents grew up here, and both of my parents have lived there all of their life. That’s the house I grew up in and came home to throughout college. My room was the top left. I have so many fond memories in Greensboro and love going back to visit.

Boone, NC | 2004 – 2008

I went to school at Appalachian State, and absolutely loved living in Boone. Every time I visit, I well up with nostalgia. The mountains, the weather, the culture — it is unlike any other place in the world.

Silver Spring, MD | 2008 – 2010

After graduation, I got a job and moved to Silver Spring, Maryland. It was a very transitional period in my life: my parents sold our house the weekend before I moved, I just started dating J, and only knew one person in the city. Looking back, I am amazed at how brave I was trying something new and jumping two feet first into the unknown. I learned so much during that season living there. I also adore the area. There is so much to offer! My favorite spots were U Street, Eastern Market and day trips to Annapolis.

Raleigh, NC | 2010 – present

Growing up in North Carolina, I never cared much for this area (affectionally called the Triangle — Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill). So when J got a job here and I decided to move from DC, I admit I had kind of a bad attitude about living here. It seemed a little too flat, too hot, too cookie-cutter for my taste, especially compared to the beautiful rich history in DC and the beautiful landscape in Boone.

That was, of course, a very narrow-minded approach. As I began to explore the area more, I started to really like it. Now, I love it here. It’s home. I love the variety of different cities so close to one another. I love all of the farming communities in the countryside. I love the restaurants. I love the (lack-of) traffic, especially after my DC commuting experience. I love being two hours from the beach and the mountains. But most importantly, I love living so close to both my family and J’s family. Who knows if this will be our forever city, but I certainly won’t complain if it is.

Now it’s your turn — where are you from and where do you live now? I’d love to hear! :)

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Remember that old post I wrote a few months ago about how we’re going to save 20% for a down payment no matter which way the mainstream real estate market pressures us?

We’re kind of changing our minds.

I know. I said I wouldn’t let the market pressure us… but by golly, it has.

Here’s the thing: there are murmurs that things are a’changin in the housing market. According to a lot of things I’ve read and close friends and family members I respect working in the mortgage loan industry, now is the time to buy. Especially in this area. And I know, every year has been the Year to Buy since 2008, but rates are going up. Housing rates. Interest rates. And possibly private mortgage insurance minimums.

Of course, there is no guarantee that will happen, and this is all speculation. But what if it does? 

Let’s see how that may influence our home-buying process. Here are two examples for a home value at $200,000 with an excellent credit score. (This isn’t necessarily the amount we would buy, but it’s just an even number for this example.)

Scenario 1: Buy this year and put 15% down at 4% interest rate on a 30-year loan

House Value: $200,000
15% Down Payment: $30,000
Loan Amount: $170,000
Interest Rate: 4%

Monthly Payments:
-Mortgage $811.61
-Taxes & Insurance: $216.67
-PMI: $80
Total monthly payment: $1,108.27

Scenario 2: Buy next year and put down 20% at 5.5% interest rate on a 30-year loan

House Value: $200,000
20% Down Payment: $40,000
Loan Amount: $160,000
Interest Rate: $5.5%

Monthly Payments:
-Mortgage: $908.46
-Taxes & Insurance: $216.67
-PMI: $0
Total monthly payment: $1,125.13

It’s that pesky old private mortgage insurance! If it weren’t for that I wouldn’t feel bad about putting less than 20% down. But be that as it may, Scenario 1 will still save us a little each month, and allow us to be in a house a year sooner. After two to five years we can request to take off the mortgage insurance. It may cost a few hundred dollars, but it would reduce our monthly payments to $1,028.27, which is about a $100 difference a month from Scenario 2, all because of the interest rate difference.

Let’s pretend interest rates just rise to 5% next year. If we lower Scenario 2 from 5.5% to 5% putting down 20%, the monthly payments would be $1,075.58, which is better than our Scenario 1 example, but will still be $47  higher than when the PMI is taken off.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the prices of houses may be going up. The $200,000 house on the market today could be worth $230,000 next year. So even though we are saving up 20% for a house, it may not get us as much as it could this year and we may need to wait longer to get exactly what we want with the right percentage. The hypothetical $40,000 we save for our $200k house today may only get us 15% in the location and style we want next year.

Also! The rules about PMI may be changing. Banks could start to require 25% or 30% down before the PMI is waived, which would defeat the purpose of saving 20% altogether if they happen the switch the rules on us when we were still saving.

Is this making any sense?

The point is — we want to be very smart about this big, scary decision. I don’t think that this is the year to buy for everyone, but it could be the year for us. We don’t want to be scared by the market changes and rush into a foolish decision. But at the same time, we don’t want to be so close-minded that we end up losing a good deal.

Right now we are on track to have between 15-20% saved in the next few months (depending on the price of the house), and not including our emergency fund, which we wouldn’t include in our deposit. Patience is our biggest asset in finding the perfect house for us, which is why we want to start the process sooner than when we originally planned to give us plenty of time to look for the right place. Ideally we would have 20% and avoid PMI, but we have come to terms that if it’s lower than 20%, the house is less than we can afford, makes financial sense in the long run, and meets all of our criteria, then that will be the best option for us.

So, all of this to say: We are starting the house-hunting process next month. (Eeee!) As in, get approved by the bank and start searching for real estate agents. Our apartment lease is up in October and ideally we would have a house by then, but we know that this process may take months and months to find the perfect home and want to start looking sooner than later.

What do you think about the market? Is it the right time to buy?
Would you wait until you had 20%, no matter what? Or do you think it’s worth getting a house before rates increase?
What would you do in our situation? :)

PS – Please keep in mind these are ALL speculations and hear-says on the market. I’m not a financial planner or real-estate expert. :)

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The Time I Change My Mind About Saving 20% for a HouseMy Pretty Pennies -

1. Hot, ready-to-eat food.
The most popular meal to bring new parents is a casserole or a pot of soup. And there’s a reason — it’s easy to transport, easy to heat up, and can usually last a few days without going bad. But since most new parents are bombarded with casseroles, I like to bring meals that are a little different and aren’t a one-pot dish.

My favorites are:

• - Chicken salad with pitas, fruit salad, and baked chips
• - Asian lettuce wraps with a side of fried rice and cucumber salad
• - Pesto turkey burgers (with sides of lettuce, tomato and sauteed onions), with sides of potato salad and a green salad
• - Order them pizza and bring over a large green salad. (Sometimes you just get tired of home-cooked meals, you know?)

2. Containers that you don’t want back.
The last thing a new mom needs is to figure out which casserole dish goes to who. So bring new parents containers that you don’t want back. I have a stash of containers in my laundry room for this occasion: empty whipped cream containers, deli-meat containers, and an assortment of clean jars from spaghetti or salsa. Or you could use heavy paper plates or gallon-size freezer bags so clean up will be very easy.

3. Newborn diapers.
Unless the parents are going the cloth-diaper route, a pack of diapers is always appreciated, especially since newborns go through sometimes 5 or more diapers in a day.

4. A gift for the mom and/or the older sibling.
The newborn most likely doesn’t need any gifts. Or rather, the diapers are the gift for the baby. A small gift for the mom is nice, especially since she’s probably sleep-deprived and may not have showered for a few days. Some gifts include a candle, a bottle of wine, a book, or a giftcard to get pampered like a massage or pedicure. Or you can gift her with service by washing her dishes, helping with a load of laundry, cleaning her house. If the new baby has an older sibling, consider bringing a little toy for them, as they may be feeling a little neglected or left out with all of the attention on their younger brother or sister.

5. A note that says:

• - Congratulations!
• - I don’t need the containers back, they are yours to keep or recycle.
• - Please don’t send me a thank you note — I’d rather you spend that extra time with your baby!

6. A sweet treat for midnight feedings (or really any time).
Include a dessert or sweet treat that the new parents can munch on any time of the day. Something bite-size and easy to eat, like brownies, mini cupcakes, or macaroons. Which brings me to my giveaway… :)

Sucré New Orleans sent me a box of macaroons to try, and is giving away one reader a box. I think they would make a lovely gift for a friend who just had a baby. Or you could give it to a friend who is about to get married, just having a bad day, a belated Mother’s Day gift, or just keep them for yourself and enjoy. (My favorites were pistachio and strawberry.:)

One winner will receive an 8-piece Signature Macaron Collection from Sucré New Orleans. Enter below to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner: Laci Wong! Thanks to everyone who participated.

New moms, pipe in! What was one thing you loved when you had a baby?

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What to Bring New Parents who Just Had a Baby + A GIVEAWAY!My Pretty Pennies -

I love this month. I love its long, warm sunny days, and the beginning of a beautiful season. This month we are celebrating family birthdays, taking two weekend trips, and have lots of plans for finding cheap (or free!) fun in our area. I’ll have a recap of May up soon… on to my goals this month!

June Goals
 - Celebrate J’s birthday!
- Find the perfect summer wedge
- Continue to keep plants alive on my patio
- Figure out a good workout schedule
- Continue to save, save, save
- Don’t spend any money on unnecessary projects or decorations
- Make three new recipes
- Go to one local restaurant
- Do one local event

What are your goals this month?
Feel free to link them here:

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On to the book review…

What was the book about?
Bittersweet is a book showing the little bit of bitterness and sweetness in every season of your life. Life and death. Crucifixion and resurrection. Shauna Niequist shares snippets of her life during a seemingly dark period for her family and the sweetness and bitterness she walked through.

Did you enjoy the book? Why? Why not?
This book grew on me. It was hard for me to get into at first — it seemed choppy and all over the place, almost as if each chapter were a blog post and could live on its own without the chapter before. She would talk about people as if I knew them, which made me wonder whether this was a sequel from her first book (which, in case you’re also wondering, it is not).

But after a few chapters, I got used to her style and started to enjoy it. Halfway through the book, I really liked it. By the end of the book, I loved it. I didn’t want the book to end. I imagined the two of us sitting on a back porch sipping coffee listening to her share her stories and wisdom.

She shared in an honest and raw and funny and inspiring way. Literally every page had a quote I wanted to underline or advice I wanted to apply to my life. But not in a stuffy, self-help kind of way, but in a this-is-a-girl-I-would-be-friends-with kind of way.

I also fell in love with her writing. What I thought was initially labeled as fragmented and choppy, turned into full-on admiration and jealousy. I would read a sentence and then think — Yes, exactly. How come I’ve never been able to articulate that emotion or feeling or experience in that way before? 

Her experiences during a dark period resonated with me. I found myself recalling those times and think of the sweetness and the ways I grew during those seasons. I also loved the way she glorified very good things in life: community (her “home team” chapter was so good!), food (also why I bought her new book Bread and Wine), and faith.

She ended her book with a great challenge: Tell your story. The last quote listed below basically sums up her challenge, and it has really made an impact on the way I view my life, and my story to tell.

Would you recommend this book?
Yes, I would. She talks from a Christian perspective, but it is absolutely not limited to Christian readers. Anyone, (well any woman), would most likely relate to each of her experiences. I loved it so much I subscribed to her blog, picked up her first book and bought her third one, just released (for the record, Bread and Wine is my favorite of the three).

What’s your favorite quote from the book?
This was hard. I think every chapter had a line or two that could have been favorite quotes, but here are the ones I particularly loved:

“Good friends are like breakfast. You think you’re too busy to eat breakfast, but then you find yourself exhausted and cranky halfway through the day, and discover that your attempt to save time totally backfired.”

On friendships: “The closer you get, the closer you get.”

“Sometimes we have to leave home in order to find out what we left there, and why it matters so much.”

“Grace isn’t about having a second chance; grace is having so many chances that you could use them through all eternity and never end up empty.”

“Walk closely with people you love and with other people who believe that God is very good and life is a grand adventure. Don’t spend time with people who make you feel like you are less than you are. Don’t get stuck in the past and don’t try to fast forward into a future you haven’t yet earned.”

“When you compare yourself to another person, you always lose, and at the same time they other person always loses, too. Each of us has been created by the hands of a holy God, and our stories and the twists and turns of our lives, the things that are hard for us, and the things that come naturally, we are unique to us as our own fingerprints…. One way to ensure a miserable life is to constantly measure your own life by the lives of the people around you.”

“(A) full life is not the same as a full calendar.”

“Everyone I know gets their heart broken sometime, by something. The question is not, will my life be easy or will my heart break? But rather, when my heart breaks, will I choose to grow?”

“The big story really is actually being told through our little stories, and by sharing our lives, not just our sermons, we’re telling God’s story in as reverent and divine ways as it has ever been told. God’s story was told in Hebrew and Greek, and I believe that it’s also being told in whispers and paintings and blogs and around dinner tables all over the world…. And let’s stop acting as if religious professionals are the only ones who have a right and a responsibility to tell God’s story. If you are a person of faith, it is your responsibility to tell God’s story, in every way you can, every form, every medium, and every moment. Tell the stories of love and redemption and forgiveness every time you experience them. Tell the stories of reconciliation and surprise and new life everywhere you find them.”

Amen! Such good stuff.

Would I recommend this book?
Yes, yes, yes. For those who may be turned off by a little religion, I promise there’s very little religion in the book, and stories and practices anyone can appreciate.

Have you read the book? What did you like, or didn’t like about it?
If you wrote a blog post about it, please link here:

June’s Book: This month we are reading the Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale. I’ll be reviewing this Monday July 1st! Other reviews:

January: Bossypants
February: What Alice Forgot
March: Happier at Home
April: MWF Seeking BFF

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Bittersweet Review | No Commitment Blogger Book Club #5My Pretty Pennies -

Hello there strangers! I had a lot of things to share with you this week, but those unfinished posts are all sitting in my drafts folder. Maybe I’ll publish all 15 of them next week? Although experience tells me I need to space those out for when I have similar busy weeks in the future.

This is the first weekend of the summer, in my opinion, and I am thrilled to be in town. I was gone every single weekend in May, and it’s going to feel like a different kind of vacation being home. We have dinner plans with friends tonight, tomorrow night and Sunday (yay!) and I can’t wait to go to my church after being a way for a whole month.

I vacuumed my fridge this week (thanks to the idea from my sister Carrie). J was out for the evening so I blasted the Les Miserables soundtrack and cleaned the entire kitchen, top to bottom. Who cares if there’s a pile of laundry waiting for me in my closet when the silverware drawer is clean?

I have been watching a lot of Arrested Development this week. We have about two or three left to watch, and now I’m regretting the marathon we had Monday after being in the car for eight hours. I thought the first few were a little off, but I think that was partly my high expectations and partly forgetting the brilliance of piecing multiple stories across multiple episodes. I laugh out loud more than usual (usually, meaning very rarely), so I recommend it if you’re an AD fan. (If you’ve never watched the show before, I’d start with Season 1.)

There is fruit growing on my baby tomato plant!!! This should have been my first piece of news. I have been carefully obsessively monitoring the plant since I got it, and the neighbors probably heard a squeal of excitement when I discovered small, round green tomatoes on the vine. Gardening is fun.

Speaking of fruit, wouldn’t you believe it but our six pounds of strawberries are already gone. They have been happily placed in pies, strawberry jam, smoothies, dipped in chocolate, and devoured by the handful. I may have to head back to the farm this weekend to see if there are any more ripe ones for the picking.

Have a wonderful weekend! I promise to have more to say next week. :)

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Friday ThoughtsMy Pretty Pennies -

This is my fifth summer working in the big-girl world, and I always get a little jealous when my teacher or student friends get a three-month hiatus from work. So I like to put together summer bucket lists to give me little summer joys to experience and look forward to do on the evenings and weekends.

When I think about this summer, it’s hard not to compare it with last year. Last year we had one of J’s friends living with us for three months (more on that here and here and here), and this summer it will just be J and me, in a different apartment and with a little addition to our family. We don’t have any major trips planned, except for a week-long trip in September, but have lots of little weekend getaways and in-town events we want to attend.

What are the things on your summer bucket list?

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But the more I read God’s word, the more I realize we are all given the same commands and the same mission. The people serving in full time ministry were not given special instructions, we are all called to serve the poor, care for orphans, and love our neighbors. Just because I have a normal 8 to 5 job doesn’t mean my role in the Body of Christ is any less valuable than those who work full time in ministry. There are plenty of orphans and neighbors in Raleigh that need some love.

We also see a great opportunity to be used in a mighty way through our finances. One of my favorite things about getting out of debt and financial secure is the ability to give. Oh my gosh I love it. Oftentimes being wealthy gets a bad rep. It sounds kind of selfish, doesn’t it? And of course it can be, but I don’t think it has to be.

Ya’ll, we have some big dreams for our money. Some simple, some practical, some crazy. Some are a little selfish, like going on trips, saving for retirement, blessing our family, etc. But most of our dreams are to bless those around us and those who do work in full-time ministry. We want to use our money for good.

For more details, or if it’s easier to read in text:

1. Buy a house cheaper than we can afford so we are in a position to give generously and not be stuck in ridiculously high payments.
2. Save for and buy new used cars in cash so we don’t have to finance ever again.
3. Go on an international trip before we start a family.
4. Increase the amount we save for retirement, and don’t touch it until we retire.
5. Give away at least 15% of our income to our church, missionaries, and local organizations. Give more if we are able!
6. Have a savings account to use for random acts of kindness or spontaneous needs that friends or family have.
7. Move to a house with a live-in basement, or create a space in our home, to provide families or couples or students free or cheap housing whenever they need it.
8. Continue to support our missionary friends, and take a trip to visit each around the world.
9. Start one or be actively involved with a local ministry that fights injustice.
10. Adopt a child (if God calls us to), and/or help other families afford adoption.
11. Have a gift drawer or closet full of treasures to bless friends and family with.
12. Grow a garden full of flowers and plants to fill my home and give to friends.
13. Have a kitchen full of fresh healthy food to feed anyone that stops by.
14. Save and afford to go on one missions trip a year (or every other year) as a family to teach my kids about other cultures and experiences.
15. Save and pay for our children’s undergraduate college education.
16. Pay off our house early.
17. Save and pay for our children’s weddings.
18. Bless our grandchildren with trips and gifts and memories.

Oh my word, just looking at this list fires me up. I want to be able to give generously, live fully, and invest into relationships. Of course we don’t need to be rich to do any of those things (except for maybe the trips), but it’s about choosing people and experiences over stuff. God’s kingdom over my kingdom.

At the end of my life, I don’t want to have wasted this time. I want to look at all of the resources I have — money, talents, gifts, relationships — and be satisfied with the way I used them. It reminds me of the parable Jesus tells about the servant who managed the bag of gold wisely:

“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” – Matthew 25:23

If I want to bless others in a big way in the future, I have to cultivate that attitude and start blessing others with the little I have today. I need to live simply. Save and stay out of debt. Be diligent and work hard at my job. Give more than what is comfortable. And invite people into the mess of my life today.

What are your big money dreams?

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There are a lot of negative things I can say about our generation, but one thing I am proud of is the growing number of organizations and businesses that help fight social injustice. One of my favorites is Radiant Cosmetics, who helps fight human trafficking, one lipstick at a time. Today I have a special treat of sharing a Q&A with Radiant’s founder Nicole Marrett. Enjoy!

How did you first learn about human trafficking?
I first learned about human trafficking while I was overseas. I participated in a year long missions trip called The World Race, and was introduced to trafficking from reading the blogs of those who had gone on The World Race prior to me. Then while overseas I began hearing stories of those who had suffered from being trafficked. I spent a month working in the Red Light District in southern Thailand with trafficked and prostituted women and came face to face with trafficking.

How does Radiant Cosmetics help fight against human trafficking?
First, we donate 20% of profits directly to our partner organization, Redeemed. They’re a local anti-trafficking organization doing incredible work to help trafficked women. Second, we donate our time, I also work closely with Redeemed and believe in investing my time. Money we donate helps fund their outreach, aftercare and advocacy efforts. Additionally, we’re passionate about educating others and raising awareness about trafficking, so every event we do we are always telling people about how they can get involved and become educated on the issue. Last but not least, our products are made in the USA with fair labor to not support any labor traffic.

What is a way ordinary people (like you and me) can do to help fight human trafficking?
Take a step! First, educate yourself, if you have no idea what human trafficking is I encourage you to start here. Second, find an organization you can get behind, you can volunteer with or donate to. Last, look at how you shop. There are so many social businesses out there that are doing amazing things to help change the world. By replacing some items you normally by with items from a social business you can help make a difference.

What is your favorite lipstick shade?
So tough! I think Peony is my favorite, it’s the perfect shade of soft pink that can take me from day to night without being too bold.

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Thanks so much to Nicole for sharing a little bit about how she is helping fight human trafficking! I love her challenge to shop and buy from companies that have a social mission behind them–there are so many out there! I’m still searching for the perfect shade of lipstick (on my 30 before 30 list), so I’ll have to check out a few of these colors. :)

PS – Fun fact, I’ve had a few friends go on the World Race, one that Nicole knows. :) If you’re interested in traveling and making a difference in the world, check out their mission and vision. It’s a great organization.

PPS – I can’t blog without saying something about the devastation in Oklahoma… my thoughts and prayers go out to all who have been affected.

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Q&A with Radiant CosmeticsMy Pretty Pennies -