Weekly Goals

At the beginning of each week, I compile multiple lists of things I should do.  I usually organize them by topic: Academic, Personal, and RA.  This week, I have some major Personal Goals that I want to accomplish that tie in with my overall big goals.  Some of these I should have done last week, but will be completed this week.

To Do:

• Finish updating my resume/schedule that Internship interview!
• Write up/turn in Abstract for Art Symposium in April
• Open a savings account

It is important for me to not overwhelm myself with too many big goals, especially since I have a lot of smaller things that I need to take care of (laundry, house chores, homework, RA tasks, work, etc).  

I feel really energized this week, so I think I can get a lot accomplished.  Going to Iowa was really helpful (more on that later).  I already have a lot done today, which is a great feeling.  Also, I have a lot to look forward to this week: Today I am going with Matt (my boyfriend) to find a birthday present for myself, tomorrow is my birthday, and this weekend some of my favorite St. Louis friends are coming to celebrate my birthday.  I feel like I haven't seen them in so long.  I can't wait to see them!  Yes, all of the things I am looking forward to has to do with my my birthday.  Nothing is more motivating than a birthday :)

This is my motivation!

Things I Love Thursday

This week has been really great for me.  I feel like there are so many exciting things coming up!  I am facing a lot of opportunities, and I am taking most of them!  They are all too good to pass up!  I know this is pretty vague, but I will explain more when the opportunities become realities!

Other things I Love:

• Heart shaped anything!  I bought a pair of heart decorated tumblers and heart shaped cupcake tins to go along with my blossoming heart kitchen collection (measuring cups and spoons).  I also bought some Valentine's Day stickers that are absolutely adorable.  I also want a pair of heart shaped glasses.  Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays because I absolutely go crazy for pink and red heart shaped stuff.  

Lolita Glasses

The stickers and my heart shaped post-its.  I'm a freak, I know!

• Making mood boards.  I am OBSESSED with making mood and vision boards.  I have one on my big cork board and have made a few online ones!
• Feeling genuinely happy.  I haven't felt this happy and optimistic in a while.  It feels good that I am so happy and that it won't be ending anytime soon.  A lot of good things are coming my way.
• Being in Love with Life!  This definitely ties in with being genuinely happy.  I just love everything.

Honorable Mentions:

Glitter glitter everywhere! * Apartment hunting and feeling like an Adult * Voluminous Hair * Thai food Double Date * Not feeling as sore this week with p90x * Going to Northern Iowa in the morning! * A wonderful handmade card from my friend Sarah that has my favorite quotes and images (and "Things I Love Thursday" written on it!)* Looking like a gypsy fortune teller while wearing my new headband I knitted * My birthday is in less than a week!

What I Wore...

What I wore to learn about DeKooning copy cats and the end of Abstract-Expressionism in the late 1950s.

Purple Head Band - made myself
Grey Sweater - Old Navy
Black Shirt - Target
Jeans - Calvin Klein
Boots - DSW

This picture below kills me!  I look ridiculous, but I like it!

I'm fixing the back of my headband...I look sassy!

Guess who finally bought AA batteries???

Today it was 28 Degrees F outside, and thought "Oh! Its actually kind of warm..."  I feel rather demented when I thought that this morning.  I'm ready for spring and summer!  I want to wear shorts and colorful shirts and gladiator sandals!

Reevaluating Goals; Acknowledging Accomplishments

I'm fixing things that don't work.

So it begins...More and more seems to pile onto my plate over the last few days.  I worked a ton this weekend, tried to do homework, attempted to update the resume, and keep my room tidy.  Unfortunately, my health matters have already taken a back seat.  I am already slipping into bad habits of health eating and just being listless.  I made the mistake of weighing myself early in the game; whenever I see results, I think "oh wow, if this already happened, I guess I can eat a little bit more/exercise less/etc" which is a terrible habit.  For now, I resolve not to weigh or measure myself until the first phase is over.  Also, I need to start saying "No" more.  I like being social, which gets in the way of being productive (and usually becomes counterproductive, especially when going out means going for a meal).

My morning routine bit is an upward battle on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  So far, I have not missed any class which is an accomplishment since I am an avid class skipper.  But, my productivity in the morning on those days are non existent.  However, Tuesdays and Thursdays, I get a ton done!  I get up early, respond to any pressing email, tidy up the room, exercise, and tie up any loose ends before I head to class.  I generally feel more energetic and enthusiastic about my day when I am productive early, and the productivity continues on.

My creativity has been active as well.  I have been making things on the side when I have free time or need a break from craziness.  This weekend, during my crazy work schedule, I knitted myself a headband/earwarmer.  Some of my shifts were from 4am-8am, so I needed something that did not take a lot of brain power AND keep me awake.  I took THIS pattern and made my own! Voila!

I feel like a flapper when I wear it!

I've been getting my internship squared away.  I've filled out the necessary paper work, I just need to rework that resume and do an interview!  I'm really excited about the future.  Also, my future roommate and I looked at apartments yesterday!  When we walked into the leasing office, we were helped right away and got a quick tour.  I forget that I'm an adult now, and that I am taken more seriously.  It just kinda surprised me that we got helped so quickly and enthusiastically.  Day by day, I feel more like a grown-up.

Things I Love Thursday!

Things I Love Thursday is something that I have adopted from Gala Darling.  I have read her blog for the past couple of years, and its very inspiring.  Basically, Things I Love Thursday (or TiLT) is way to express gratitude for the great things that have happened over the last week, day, or any other span of time.  I also do this to keep in perspective all of the good things that happen in my life, even when life gets difficult.  Why focus on the negative when there are so many beautiful things to love!

Anyhow, I used to post my TiLT on my Facebook status every week (sometimes not even on Thursday), but now I am moving it here!

This week, I Love:

Reaching goals!  This week, I set off to live a healthier life.  I started p90x and started watching carefully what I eat. My morning routine evolution is coming along nicely; I've been working hard at waking up early and not rushing around in a panic trying to get to class on time.  Also, I started taking the steps to setting up an internship for the summer!  Today I met with my internship advisor, and we are working to get everything set up!  I am really excited for this new experience!  Next week, I will be working towards getting ready for (eep!) Graduate School!  I can't believe I am going to be a big kid!

Spending time with friends!  Over the last week, I got to hang out with a lot of people I don't normally see.  Also, my friend Nick came down to visit me and I showed him a good time!  We visited all of my favorite places, and explored some new places, too!

Planning my birthday!  My birthday is coming up, and my favorite people are coming to town to help me celebrate!  I am excited that this will be the last time I will be celebrating a birthday in this town, and that my friends will be here to enjoy it too!

Other things I Love:
Watching old movies before bed * not sleeping through my 8:35 class * Stila Lip Stain * Playing with puppies with friends * Apartment hunting for the last portion of my college career * Giving myself time to be creative * Spending time and laughing with my boyfriend * KNOWING that 2011 is going to be the best year yet!

This Video:

What I wore...

What I wore to make copies at the library, attend class, go to meetings, and later meet my boyfriend for smoothies.

Hat: Gift
H&M shirt and pull over
Skirt and tights: Kohl's
Shoes: DSW boots

Missouri has been very wintery, but has warmed up a bit in the last couple of days.  Today, I over estimated how warm it was and thought my thick knitted tights would keep me warm all day with my skirt.  Yes, I was THAT GIRL that walked across campus wearing a skirt with tights  in 30 degree weather (not to be out done, another girl chose to wear footless tights as leggings, which she used as pants tucked into Ugg boots...and wore a hoodie...).

  

Luckily, I only had one class, so my time outside was very minimal.  I also went out with my black and white coat and a thick knitted scarf I made myself a couple of winters ago.  I stayed warm enough, and looked cute doing it.  I feel like it is very difficult to look stylish when the weather is miserable.  I tend to fall into a slump of wearing only jeans, t-shirts, hoodies, and a jacket on top of it.

No duckface!

My good camera ran out of batteries, so I resorted to using my poor quality webcamera.

Today was a fairly productive day, which I am very proud off.  I woke up at 9, and only pushed the snooze button twice.  I caught up with my morning email (I get a lot of it, you know), ate some tasty breakfast, and got set up for day 2 of p90x.  My abs are SO SORE from yesterday.  And day 2 is Plyo, which is a lot of jumping and running around, which is miserable to begin with, but the addition of sore abs made the experience more hellish.  Luckily, the first week is the hardest, which means the experience will get better and better.  

The rest of my day consisted of Resident Assistant task-y things as well as a ton of reading for all of my classes.  This will probably be the schedule of the rest of my day. 

Workin on my Fitness

Today was the first day of my new lifestyle routine.  This routine consists of p90x, changing the way I eat, and making wiser food choices.

P90X is a workout that I have done before.  Last semester I did the p90x Lean routine, and I saw great results, but my free time dwindled exponentially around midterms, so my priorities changed.  My activity levels went down to a minimum, and stress eating increased.  I knew I wanted to start again this semester, and I wanted to do the p90x Classic routine instead (with a slight modification: Replace YogaX with CardioX or Core).

Before I actually started working out, I made sure to do few prep things that I chose to ignore the last time I tried the program.  I know it sounds a little silly, but I took before pictures (which I will not be posting because frankly, I am too ashamed with whats going on in them).  I recorded my starting weight and measured certain parts of my body (chest, waist, hips, arms, thighs).  I also sat down and wrote down the eating plan I will use during this time period.  I have chose to record everything I eat, and eat between 1500 to 1800 calories a day.  I will be eating things I have prepared myself; I will not be eating things that are processed or deep fried.  I have also limited my eating out habits (once a week, only on date nights), which will save my waist and my wallet (oh goodness, that sounded cheesy).  My DVDs came with a Excel Spreadsheet that recorded all of this information as well as has a calendar for how long each phase will last and when my final day is (April 17th).  

For me, the first two weeks are the hardest.  I usually feel really silly doing some of the work outs (wacky jacks?! pot stirrer?!  Even the names are silly!), but after a while I get used to them and feel less silly. Another hurdle is the soreness.  Its impossible to do anything when my soreness constantly reminds me that I have to be this sore for 90 days straight.  I need to keep myself motivated.  Sometimes its something small and ridiculous, like making fun of what Tony Horton says, or the style choices some of the women make (the girl in the Chest&Back video is wearing PAJAMA JEANS!) I'm not going to lie, I tend to yell at my television, too.  When I need to, I try to imagine what my end results will look like.  I think about how much better I feel when I am working out and eating better.  And now that I am recording my results, I can look back and see the improvements that I am making. 

One day down, 89 to go.  I can't wait to see my first results after 30 days!

What I Wore...

Today, my friend Nick is coming to visit for the day.  We will be getting lunch, exploring town, and having a great time!

Shirt: Charlotte Russe
Jeans: Calvin Klein
Boots: DSW
Necklace: gift from Phillipines
Sunglasses: Target

Hat and Scarf: H&M
Purse: Betsey Johnson
Coat: Kohl's
Duckface: made it myself

This is probably my favorite outfit to wear.  I love things that are purple and lacey.

Big Question: Why the outfit post?  Well, I have been documenting what I've worn for the past three years, but never really published it.  It helps me figure out what looks good on me, and how to style myself.  Because of this, my style has evolved and matured a lot over the last couple of years.  And its fun...I'm just a wee bit narcissistic.

New Beginnings...

I am embarking on a blog journey, which is inspired by my friend Celia's blog.

Ever since I could write, I have journaled in some form. Writing helps organize my thoughts and make plans.  So, I have taken to the web to write about the goals I have set for myself this year, the progress I will make, and the results (be it positive or negative).

The biggest goal for me is to become healthier.  As a college student that works in Residential Life, I have fallen into the funk of eating unhealthy in the dining facilites and spending money on Taco Bell.  My body has been feeling terrible.  The increase in eating grease laden food and the decrease in overall physical activity has caused me to gain 8 pounds over the last semester (after initially losing it and gaining it again).  I plan on losing 15 pounds over the semester by preparing my own food, not eating in the dining halls, only eating out once a week (during Date Night), and by starting p90x.  I attempted p90x last semester, and I benefited from it, but it fell to the wayside during midterms and finals.  I only got about halfway through Phase II.  This time, I will conquer p90x!

Another goal I have set for myself is to change my morning routine.  My mornings are wasted by repeatedly hitting the snooze button and then panicing when class starts in 10 minutes.  I want my mornings to be productive;  I want to spend time in the morning waking up calmly.  I want my routine to consist of writing (since I tend to have the best ideas in the morning) and reading for fun. I want to record my life. This means I need to be prepared for the day the night before.  Hopefully, this will curb procrastination, allow me to be fully alert for class, and decrease time wasting activities.  

My last goal is the biggest goal.  This semester, I need to: Find a place to live, figure out how to fund place to live, apply to graduate school, study and take the GRE, figure out how to pay for graduate school, and chose the graduate school I want to attend.  This is the scariest goal for me since there is a lot of uncertainty.  Do I want to live back home?  Do I want to go out of state?  How will this effect my relationships?  Where do I want to live after grad school?  What should I do about my boyfriend and me?  What will make me happiest in the long run?  I need to take things step by step.  I have narrowed down my choices to about seven schools.  I have a plan of action, but I still feel extremely lost.

Anyhow, those are the goals that I have set for myself.  I have a feeling that 2011 will be a fantastic year, and that I will be successful in whatever I embark on.