I cannot believe that 2013 is right around the corner! This time of year is always so exciting for me; I love the joy and merriment that comes with Christmas and New Years, as well as getting to celebrate my birthday! Even more so, I love that feeling of starting fresh, of wiping the slate clean and moving forward, full of opportunities and motivation ;)
In my journey to slow down and enjoy life, I decided to take my New Years' Resolutions and spread them out over the year in order to accomplish one goal per month. This worked very well for this last year; I was able to focus and accomplish much more this year than I thought I would!!!
-- Have an Organized Apartment/Spring Cleaning (updated here)
-- Update Photos/Scrapbook (updated here)
-- Make Memories (we made so many memories, including a trip to NC and to Williamsburg, and having friends from FL visit)
-- Spring Cleaning (in April here and here)
-- Update Apartment (Apartment-versary) (in June)
-- Clothing Control (updated here and here)
-- Holiday Prep (updated for Halloween here and Thanksgiving here)
-- Health Goals (affected by my appendix, but updated here and here)
-- Holiday Baking (listed here)
In addition, I had wanted to cook new recipes this year and read 100 books. I will be posting about the books I read this year in a few days, but I really enjoyed how much cooking I was able to do this year, especially this spring and summer!
Most of all, I think I learned a lot this year. I learned how to deal with being sick while Doug is also sick. I've learned to adapt and be flexible when things change or emergencies happen. I've learned to care more about the people in my life than the things (or the cleanliness/organization of those things). I've learned that it's okay to not have everything together; that I can take a break, regroup, and try again. I've learned how to make the most of my time and energy. Most of all, I hope I have learned how to take all these lessons and move forward to grow even more next year ;)
Showing posts with label 12 in 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 12 in 2012. Show all posts
Friday, December 28, 2012
Friday, August 31, 2012
Document: August
Ermahgerd, it's September!!! I really cannot believe it is already September, and that 2012 is 3/4 complete! August is also a "transitional" month for me (with school beginning), but this August was so busy! I had a class end, another two classes began, Doug and I redecorated our bedroom and our guest room, my parents visited, and I welcomed friends to Lynchburg for school beginning. Busy, busy, busy!!!
12 in 2012. August was supposed to be all about vacation and relaxing; ha! Since we had to relax so much in July, we worked hard in August to complete our bedroom and our guest room. I still want to update our linen closet and bathroom, but our house is definitely back in working order. I also took care of a lot of my September 2012 goal by cleaning out my dresser and closet and donating the clothes to charity.
Reading. While I have improved, I am still behind!!! I have read 56 (and a half) books so far this year, including 27 new books. I am working through the Percy Jackson series (2 1/2 to go), to be followed by the Heroes of Olympus series (2 to go), to prep for Mark of Athena (to be released on Oct 2!). Not to mention at least two book to read for school, and I still have three Women's Murder Club books to read (2 of them are new). Now that I have settled into my Fall Schedule, reading has become much easier (and necessary). Can I read another 44 books in the next four months? I guess we'll see...
Cooking. I was able to try a lot of new things this month, like Grilled London Broil (with plenty of leftover for fajitas) and Mini Beef Wellingtons. as I am writing this, my Southern-Style Mac and Cheese is baking, so I should be able to tell you how that turned out soon ;) September = apples and pumpkin, so I am hoping to try making some Mini Apple Pies, Pumpkin Cupcakes, and some different breads (Banana, Apple Cinnamon) and cupcakes. I have been making a lot of smoothies for school, but I would love to try using Oatmeal, Chia Seeds, and different fruits/flavors this month.
Health/Fitness. Making it to the gym has been inconsistent, to say the least. I have been able to stretch every morning and start using my new yoga and walking DVDs (as well as walking a bit to class). I injured my ankle this week, so I will have to take it easy/low-impact this week, but it is nice to be back on a schedule. I also pinned a couple detox ideas -- everything from a 30 min soak in the tub to a one week detox diet -- that I would like to look into more this month. I've never done a detox before, so I want to take it slow and make sure it is safe before starting.
For September, I am hoping to try the 30 for 30 challenge. I haven't chosen my wardrobe pieces yet, but I will be working on it this week. I've seen some people follow this for 30 days straight, while others have done 3 days a week for 10 weeks. I think I'm going to try to do 4 days a week for 8 weeks (I know that makes 32, but oh well), which is when cold weather will start to hit. Here's to September!!!
12 in 2012. August was supposed to be all about vacation and relaxing; ha! Since we had to relax so much in July, we worked hard in August to complete our bedroom and our guest room. I still want to update our linen closet and bathroom, but our house is definitely back in working order. I also took care of a lot of my September 2012 goal by cleaning out my dresser and closet and donating the clothes to charity.
Reading. While I have improved, I am still behind!!! I have read 56 (and a half) books so far this year, including 27 new books. I am working through the Percy Jackson series (2 1/2 to go), to be followed by the Heroes of Olympus series (2 to go), to prep for Mark of Athena (to be released on Oct 2!). Not to mention at least two book to read for school, and I still have three Women's Murder Club books to read (2 of them are new). Now that I have settled into my Fall Schedule, reading has become much easier (and necessary). Can I read another 44 books in the next four months? I guess we'll see...
Cooking. I was able to try a lot of new things this month, like Grilled London Broil (with plenty of leftover for fajitas) and Mini Beef Wellingtons. as I am writing this, my Southern-Style Mac and Cheese is baking, so I should be able to tell you how that turned out soon ;) September = apples and pumpkin, so I am hoping to try making some Mini Apple Pies, Pumpkin Cupcakes, and some different breads (Banana, Apple Cinnamon) and cupcakes. I have been making a lot of smoothies for school, but I would love to try using Oatmeal, Chia Seeds, and different fruits/flavors this month.
Health/Fitness. Making it to the gym has been inconsistent, to say the least. I have been able to stretch every morning and start using my new yoga and walking DVDs (as well as walking a bit to class). I injured my ankle this week, so I will have to take it easy/low-impact this week, but it is nice to be back on a schedule. I also pinned a couple detox ideas -- everything from a 30 min soak in the tub to a one week detox diet -- that I would like to look into more this month. I've never done a detox before, so I want to take it slow and make sure it is safe before starting.
For September, I am hoping to try the 30 for 30 challenge. I haven't chosen my wardrobe pieces yet, but I will be working on it this week. I've seen some people follow this for 30 days straight, while others have done 3 days a week for 10 weeks. I think I'm going to try to do 4 days a week for 8 weeks (I know that makes 32, but oh well), which is when cold weather will start to hit. Here's to September!!!
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Determination: August Update
Ermahgerd it's the middle of August! (Sorry, couldn't help myself.) Even though I have completed my summer classes (with three days to spare -- hallelujah!), two more classes begin in FOUR DAYS!!!
Anyways, our goals for August were simple: be prepared for school to begin. This mainly involved setting up a new Fall schedule and getting our house back in order after the purge of 2012. This has all been much easier said than done ;)
As far as our "Clean Sweep" goes, we have sorted everything! Much of what we had leftover in the boxes we were able to combine and re-box; our guest room is much emptier now. We still need to take care of a few things, like finding somewhere to dump our broken mini-fridge and extra (super old) printer and rearranging the furniture so Doug can work while we still have guests here. However, we finally have our paperwork sorted and filed neatly, all of our important paperwork is filed, and our new bedroom set-up is working great! De and Doug 1, Clutter 0.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the new schedule. I tried going to bed earlier to give me more down time in the mornings, but that has been impossible with Doug's schedule. (I just can't seem to sleep until he gets home.) I tried putting mindless things in the morning (like showering and eating breakfast), but that coincided with Doug's morning schedule. I tried writing myself a "To Do List" the night before. I didn't even notice it in the morning. On top of everything, I just am not a morning person. According to my husband, I make "wookie-ish" noises for at least the first 15 minutes I'm awake as a form of communication. You just can't make this stuff up.
Bottom line: I suck at mornings. I don't even realize that I should be doing things until I've been up for at least 45 minutes, normally over an hour.
So, I have four days to whip myself into schedule shape. Here is my plan of attack:
1. Waking Up. As long as I just wake up when I am scheduled to wake up, I will eventually learn to go to sleep earlier. I should begin assimilating to the mornings after 4-5 days, so just in time for school beginning.
2. Get Help. I have enlisted my "morning person" husband to help get me going in the morning; mainly, he just needs to remind me what I am supposed to be doing. I am also going to post my schedule next to my work area (i.e. on the wall by my side of the bed) and try to look at it a few times every day. I also want to do things at night to help me in the mornings, like a scavenger hunt. Why is my shampoo next to the bed? I need to shower right now! Why is my yoga mat in the bathroom? I should stretch! Seriously. I need that much help in the mornings.
3. Bank on Adrenaline. I am a school junkie. Other parents pulled their kids out of the toy section at the store; mine pulled me away from the school section. I have a secret obsession with graph paper. I buy new notebooks and composition books even if I don't need them. I love planners, highlighters, and Crayola skinny markers (10 pack). I only use Bic pencils and PaperMate pens. I am "that kid" who raised their hand to answer every question, who found typos in the syllabus, who had already started on the homework or reading the week before class even began. And "that kid" will be ready to go on Monday morning.
4. Fill up my time. One of the problems with following my Fall schedule now is that I am not filling it. I am not attending a class yet, so I am not needing to get in dress clothes, pack a lunch, and get out the door to drive to class. I do not have homework that needs done. I do not have extra laundry to do. Once these things start up on Monday, I will be able to follow my schedule because I will be doing everything on my schedule.
While all this seems crazy, I really do think it will work! And if it doesn't, that just means I need to re-evaluate and rework my schedule once more.
P.S. I have already read FOUR books this month (all new)! I am working on a fifth book, and I need to finish at least one book for school by the end of the month. Plus, I will be going through the Percy Jackson series and the Heroes of Olympus series in preparation for Mark of Athena's release!
Anyways, our goals for August were simple: be prepared for school to begin. This mainly involved setting up a new Fall schedule and getting our house back in order after the purge of 2012. This has all been much easier said than done ;)
As far as our "Clean Sweep" goes, we have sorted everything! Much of what we had leftover in the boxes we were able to combine and re-box; our guest room is much emptier now. We still need to take care of a few things, like finding somewhere to dump our broken mini-fridge and extra (super old) printer and rearranging the furniture so Doug can work while we still have guests here. However, we finally have our paperwork sorted and filed neatly, all of our important paperwork is filed, and our new bedroom set-up is working great! De and Doug 1, Clutter 0.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the new schedule. I tried going to bed earlier to give me more down time in the mornings, but that has been impossible with Doug's schedule. (I just can't seem to sleep until he gets home.) I tried putting mindless things in the morning (like showering and eating breakfast), but that coincided with Doug's morning schedule. I tried writing myself a "To Do List" the night before. I didn't even notice it in the morning. On top of everything, I just am not a morning person. According to my husband, I make "wookie-ish" noises for at least the first 15 minutes I'm awake as a form of communication. You just can't make this stuff up.
Bottom line: I suck at mornings. I don't even realize that I should be doing things until I've been up for at least 45 minutes, normally over an hour.
So, I have four days to whip myself into schedule shape. Here is my plan of attack:
1. Waking Up. As long as I just wake up when I am scheduled to wake up, I will eventually learn to go to sleep earlier. I should begin assimilating to the mornings after 4-5 days, so just in time for school beginning.
2. Get Help. I have enlisted my "morning person" husband to help get me going in the morning; mainly, he just needs to remind me what I am supposed to be doing. I am also going to post my schedule next to my work area (i.e. on the wall by my side of the bed) and try to look at it a few times every day. I also want to do things at night to help me in the mornings, like a scavenger hunt. Why is my shampoo next to the bed? I need to shower right now! Why is my yoga mat in the bathroom? I should stretch! Seriously. I need that much help in the mornings.
3. Bank on Adrenaline. I am a school junkie. Other parents pulled their kids out of the toy section at the store; mine pulled me away from the school section. I have a secret obsession with graph paper. I buy new notebooks and composition books even if I don't need them. I love planners, highlighters, and Crayola skinny markers (10 pack). I only use Bic pencils and PaperMate pens. I am "that kid" who raised their hand to answer every question, who found typos in the syllabus, who had already started on the homework or reading the week before class even began. And "that kid" will be ready to go on Monday morning.
4. Fill up my time. One of the problems with following my Fall schedule now is that I am not filling it. I am not attending a class yet, so I am not needing to get in dress clothes, pack a lunch, and get out the door to drive to class. I do not have homework that needs done. I do not have extra laundry to do. Once these things start up on Monday, I will be able to follow my schedule because I will be doing everything on my schedule.
While all this seems crazy, I really do think it will work! And if it doesn't, that just means I need to re-evaluate and rework my schedule once more.
P.S. I have already read FOUR books this month (all new)! I am working on a fifth book, and I need to finish at least one book for school by the end of the month. Plus, I will be going through the Percy Jackson series and the Heroes of Olympus series in preparation for Mark of Athena's release!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Determination: July Update
This month, Doug and I have been able to celebrate our one year anniversary! While this has been really great, to me it has been a little weird. It just hasn't felt like a year at all. It feels like fifty years and like a week all at the same time. Everyone says that your first year of marriage is the hardest, but this year has been really easy for us (at least with our relationship)! Anyways, we have definitely accomplished being able to celebrate, and I could not be happier with where we are in life and in our marriage.
The same can not be said about our apartment.
While I absolutely love our apartment, and while I have worked very hard to make sure the kitchen is both beautiful and functional, while I have redecorated the living room and revamped our finances and filing system, while our bathroom is clean and organized...the bedrooms are abysmal.
Doug and I realized in the Spring that we have a lot of misused space in our bedroom and the guest room; that we have made things hard on ourselves due to the layout and organization of these two rooms. It makes no sense to have his clothes in one room and mine in another, but that's how it ended up when Doug came. It makes no sense to have Doug's office area in the middle of the guest room, unable to be used when guests arrive. We have piles of books in our room and empty shelves elsewhere. We have a TV and VCR sitting on our bedroom floor (and thus unable to be used). It is just a wreck.
So, that is something we desperately wanted to change. Doug has put in for some time off work; we are planning to Clean Sweep those two rooms so that we will finally have a place for everything and everything actually in its place!!!
While this is going to be a lot of work, I really think this will help us to enjoy our bedroom more, enjoy having company more, and enjoy our apartment overall more. This will help us to rid our apartment of a lot of unnecessary things; this also gives me a chance to purge my closet once more in time to replenish during the back-to-school sales ;)
The same can not be said about our apartment.
While I absolutely love our apartment, and while I have worked very hard to make sure the kitchen is both beautiful and functional, while I have redecorated the living room and revamped our finances and filing system, while our bathroom is clean and organized...the bedrooms are abysmal.
Doug and I realized in the Spring that we have a lot of misused space in our bedroom and the guest room; that we have made things hard on ourselves due to the layout and organization of these two rooms. It makes no sense to have his clothes in one room and mine in another, but that's how it ended up when Doug came. It makes no sense to have Doug's office area in the middle of the guest room, unable to be used when guests arrive. We have piles of books in our room and empty shelves elsewhere. We have a TV and VCR sitting on our bedroom floor (and thus unable to be used). It is just a wreck.
So, that is something we desperately wanted to change. Doug has put in for some time off work; we are planning to Clean Sweep those two rooms so that we will finally have a place for everything and everything actually in its place!!!
While this is going to be a lot of work, I really think this will help us to enjoy our bedroom more, enjoy having company more, and enjoy our apartment overall more. This will help us to rid our apartment of a lot of unnecessary things; this also gives me a chance to purge my closet once more in time to replenish during the back-to-school sales ;)
Friday, June 29, 2012
Document: June
May moved so slowly, but June just sped by!!!
I did a lot of schoolwork, some freezer cooking, updated our bedroom with new sheets and a comforter, spent some time in North Carolina, and had some fun dates ;) Plus, I had a chance to reevaluate my 12 in 2012 goals and change up a few to better suit my needs.
Reading. So far, I have read 48 books (a little under my goal for the year) and 22 new books (also a little under the goal). I am really excited to have more time in July and August to read, and I am super excited about a few new books coming out this Fall!!!
Cooking. I have done a bit of freezer cooking and tried a few new recipes for Doug and I! We have eaten a lot of fish, burgers, and fresh produce. I made some ice cream out of bananas (which I had done for awhile) and made a few smoothies. Doug made some great ribs recently, and he has been able to cook a lot more than normal. July will probably be full of snacks and desserts; I would love to try a poke cake and some sugar cookies.
Health/Fitness. I have started going to the gym more; I had to move my exercise time from morning to evening to make it fit well. Doug and I have been eating more fruit, veggies, and salads, which has definitely made a difference. Plus, we have been able to enjoy walking and being outside much more! July will bring a bit of a heat wave, but hopefully we can keep working towards a healthier lifestyle.
For July? ANNIVERSARY! Tomorrow we leave for the annual family fireworks, then our anniversary trip to Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens ;) Once we get back, we will be doing a bit of reorganizing; we acquired a new entertainment center and a bookcase that are not being used, so we are hoping to rearrange things so that our house is more efficient and useful. My mom and grandma are coming to visit in mid-July (yea!) and I will finish one of my classes in July. It should be a fun month!
I did a lot of schoolwork, some freezer cooking, updated our bedroom with new sheets and a comforter, spent some time in North Carolina, and had some fun dates ;) Plus, I had a chance to reevaluate my 12 in 2012 goals and change up a few to better suit my needs.
Reading. So far, I have read 48 books (a little under my goal for the year) and 22 new books (also a little under the goal). I am really excited to have more time in July and August to read, and I am super excited about a few new books coming out this Fall!!!
Cooking. I have done a bit of freezer cooking and tried a few new recipes for Doug and I! We have eaten a lot of fish, burgers, and fresh produce. I made some ice cream out of bananas (which I had done for awhile) and made a few smoothies. Doug made some great ribs recently, and he has been able to cook a lot more than normal. July will probably be full of snacks and desserts; I would love to try a poke cake and some sugar cookies.
Health/Fitness. I have started going to the gym more; I had to move my exercise time from morning to evening to make it fit well. Doug and I have been eating more fruit, veggies, and salads, which has definitely made a difference. Plus, we have been able to enjoy walking and being outside much more! July will bring a bit of a heat wave, but hopefully we can keep working towards a healthier lifestyle.
For July? ANNIVERSARY! Tomorrow we leave for the annual family fireworks, then our anniversary trip to Colonial Williamsburg and Busch Gardens ;) Once we get back, we will be doing a bit of reorganizing; we acquired a new entertainment center and a bookcase that are not being used, so we are hoping to rearrange things so that our house is more efficient and useful. My mom and grandma are coming to visit in mid-July (yea!) and I will finish one of my classes in July. It should be a fun month!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Determination: June Update, 12 in 2012 Update
This update is a little late, but I think I have been able to think through the rest of this year! This mid-year review has been really good for me to review my previous goals for the rest of the year and tweak them as necessary.
July -- Anniversary! New year, new organizing ;)
August -- Vacation time! Relaxing in the last days of summer before Fall classes begin
September -- Clothing Control
October -- Preparing for the Holidays! Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas plans ;)
November -- Curves-iversary! New health goals for the next year
December -- Lots of baking and holiday travelling...plus making goals for the next year!!!
Changes/Explanations:
1. Organizing this Summer: Doug and I are planning to do a mini-Clean Sweep on our apartment to reduce clutter and reorganize a bit. We collected a lot of extra furniture and other things over the last year (especially with Doug's parents moving) that we need to sort through and store more effectively.
2. Vacation Time: We are taking an anniversary trip in July, but we are planning on scheduling more "date time" and relaxation time in August before our last year of school!!!
3. Clothing Control: This is the same goal, but I have a better idea about what I want to do! I have heard of a new challenge called 30 from 30 where you build 30 outfits from 30 pieces of clothing; I really want to get rid of some unnecessary clothes and buy clothes I will actually need/use/wear. This may mean I need to do a bit more laundry, but it will give me the closet and dresser space I need.
4. Preparing for the Holidays: I removed the school/job plans (since I know I will be taking some time off from school), so I decided to spend some time planning a bit earlier this year! I am really excited to have my Kitchen Aid mixer for baking this year ;)
July -- Anniversary! New year, new organizing ;)
August -- Vacation time! Relaxing in the last days of summer before Fall classes begin
September -- Clothing Control
October -- Preparing for the Holidays! Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas plans ;)
November -- Curves-iversary! New health goals for the next year
December -- Lots of baking and holiday travelling...plus making goals for the next year!!!
Changes/Explanations:
1. Organizing this Summer: Doug and I are planning to do a mini-Clean Sweep on our apartment to reduce clutter and reorganize a bit. We collected a lot of extra furniture and other things over the last year (especially with Doug's parents moving) that we need to sort through and store more effectively.
2. Vacation Time: We are taking an anniversary trip in July, but we are planning on scheduling more "date time" and relaxation time in August before our last year of school!!!
3. Clothing Control: This is the same goal, but I have a better idea about what I want to do! I have heard of a new challenge called 30 from 30 where you build 30 outfits from 30 pieces of clothing; I really want to get rid of some unnecessary clothes and buy clothes I will actually need/use/wear. This may mean I need to do a bit more laundry, but it will give me the closet and dresser space I need.
4. Preparing for the Holidays: I removed the school/job plans (since I know I will be taking some time off from school), so I decided to spend some time planning a bit earlier this year! I am really excited to have my Kitchen Aid mixer for baking this year ;)
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Document: May
Oh My May! While May didn't fly by as quickly as a few of the other months this year, It is still hard to believe that June is beginning!
May was pretty full -- Finals, graduation guests, another set of classes beginning, friends moving, weddings, and last-minute family visits! No wonder Doug and I didn't get much of a chance to redo the guest room (though it is less cluttered and much more visitor friendly), buy all those odds and ends (although we have upgraded a few things), or even think about rearranging our room! All in all, it was a great month with dozens of chances to enjoy our friends and family -- we definitely decelerated!
1. Apartment-versary 12 in 2012. So, we didn't get that much done in the apartment, but I think just realizing and celebrating that I have lived here for a year was worth it to see how far the last year has brought both of us. I also was able to thank those who have helped us get settled and have all that we do in this apartment! We have been so blessed here! The only regret I have is not getting to know our neighbors very well; hopefully we can rectify that in our next year here!
2. Reading. Summer = lots of reading!!! Thanks to that little bit of extra free time, I have been able to read so much this month! I read 12 books this month (5 new books) and am halfway through the 13th (6th new)! That puts me at 42 books for the year (18 new) with a month to go before the midway mark of the year. While I am definitely reading as much as I'd like to be, I need to read some new books!!!
3. Cooking. For the first few weeks of May, cooking became throwing frozen food into the microwave or oven just to get through Finals and prep for guests being here; now that things have slowed a bit, we have been able to enjoy our (indoor) grill and all the fresh produce available. The biggest new thing I tried this month is salmon! We will definitely be using our grill a lot more in June, and I still have a stack of smoothie recipes waiting...
4. Health/Fitness. While we may be eating a bit healthier, the gym has been eluding me! I think I have finally worked out the kinks in our summer schedule so that I can make the gym a fixture in my life again ;) Plus I still have some winter weight to conquer!
For June? Our 12 in 2012 schedule says that June is "Mid-Year Review." That means that I will be sitting down a reevaluating the rest of the 12 in 2012 goals, possibly specifying or replacing some. That means Doug and I will discuss what the rest of the year looks like for us and on what we want to spend time. It means looking back at the previous goals and filling in any gaps.
I encourage all of you do think back to your resolutions from January; have you accomplished them? Are you in the process of achieving your goals? Do you know where you are headed? Take time this summer to revisit and revise your goals for this year. 2012 is about halfway over; how can we make it the best year yet?!?
May was pretty full -- Finals, graduation guests, another set of classes beginning, friends moving, weddings, and last-minute family visits! No wonder Doug and I didn't get much of a chance to redo the guest room (though it is less cluttered and much more visitor friendly), buy all those odds and ends (although we have upgraded a few things), or even think about rearranging our room! All in all, it was a great month with dozens of chances to enjoy our friends and family -- we definitely decelerated!
1. Apartment-versary 12 in 2012. So, we didn't get that much done in the apartment, but I think just realizing and celebrating that I have lived here for a year was worth it to see how far the last year has brought both of us. I also was able to thank those who have helped us get settled and have all that we do in this apartment! We have been so blessed here! The only regret I have is not getting to know our neighbors very well; hopefully we can rectify that in our next year here!
2. Reading. Summer = lots of reading!!! Thanks to that little bit of extra free time, I have been able to read so much this month! I read 12 books this month (5 new books) and am halfway through the 13th (6th new)! That puts me at 42 books for the year (18 new) with a month to go before the midway mark of the year. While I am definitely reading as much as I'd like to be, I need to read some new books!!!
3. Cooking. For the first few weeks of May, cooking became throwing frozen food into the microwave or oven just to get through Finals and prep for guests being here; now that things have slowed a bit, we have been able to enjoy our (indoor) grill and all the fresh produce available. The biggest new thing I tried this month is salmon! We will definitely be using our grill a lot more in June, and I still have a stack of smoothie recipes waiting...
4. Health/Fitness. While we may be eating a bit healthier, the gym has been eluding me! I think I have finally worked out the kinks in our summer schedule so that I can make the gym a fixture in my life again ;) Plus I still have some winter weight to conquer!
For June? Our 12 in 2012 schedule says that June is "Mid-Year Review." That means that I will be sitting down a reevaluating the rest of the 12 in 2012 goals, possibly specifying or replacing some. That means Doug and I will discuss what the rest of the year looks like for us and on what we want to spend time. It means looking back at the previous goals and filling in any gaps.
I encourage all of you do think back to your resolutions from January; have you accomplished them? Are you in the process of achieving your goals? Do you know where you are headed? Take time this summer to revisit and revise your goals for this year. 2012 is about halfway over; how can we make it the best year yet?!?
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Determination: May Update
So far this May I have accomplished...nothing.
Well, not actually nothing, but none of my apartment-versary tasks! Though, it is crazy to remember back to a year ago in my apartment (of which I have no pictures because...well, because I didn't think about taking pictures then).
-- The day I moved in (a Tuesday), I brought a floor lamp from my dorm room, and my husband brought his couch over. Oh, and I brought my laptop (since I was paper-writing for Finals week).
-- The first week I lived in my apartment, we had electricity set up, internet set-up, and our mattress and frame delivered. Other that that, our apartment remained empty: no groceries, no microwave, not even sheets for the bed!!!
-- When I moved out of my dorm room, the guys helping me (my hubby and his roommates) piled everything in the middle of the living room! It took me 2-3 days to sort through everything...and finally buy some groceries.
-- I spent the first two weeks travelling home and back to bring furniture and supplies (like sheets for the bed).
-- I lived here alone for 6 weeks until my wedding
I look at our apartment now, which has been rearranged and fully lived in for a year. Doug lives here with me (and I can barely remember him not living here). We are mostly organized, clean, and sorted. We have more than we need and way more than we started out with, thanks to the generosity of our family and friends, especially my parents (who bought our bed and guest bed, gave us furniture, bought us kitchen supplies, and financed me living here for 2 months) and my grandparents (who gave us a kitchen table and chairs, a buffet/TV stand, and lots of other supplies).
Even though I often feel like there is a lot to accomplish in this apartment, it has been so refreshing for me to think back and see how far we have come in this place and how much this tiny home means to me.
Well, not actually nothing, but none of my apartment-versary tasks! Though, it is crazy to remember back to a year ago in my apartment (of which I have no pictures because...well, because I didn't think about taking pictures then).
-- The day I moved in (a Tuesday), I brought a floor lamp from my dorm room, and my husband brought his couch over. Oh, and I brought my laptop (since I was paper-writing for Finals week).
-- The first week I lived in my apartment, we had electricity set up, internet set-up, and our mattress and frame delivered. Other that that, our apartment remained empty: no groceries, no microwave, not even sheets for the bed!!!
-- When I moved out of my dorm room, the guys helping me (my hubby and his roommates) piled everything in the middle of the living room! It took me 2-3 days to sort through everything...and finally buy some groceries.
-- I spent the first two weeks travelling home and back to bring furniture and supplies (like sheets for the bed).
-- I lived here alone for 6 weeks until my wedding
I look at our apartment now, which has been rearranged and fully lived in for a year. Doug lives here with me (and I can barely remember him not living here). We are mostly organized, clean, and sorted. We have more than we need and way more than we started out with, thanks to the generosity of our family and friends, especially my parents (who bought our bed and guest bed, gave us furniture, bought us kitchen supplies, and financed me living here for 2 months) and my grandparents (who gave us a kitchen table and chairs, a buffet/TV stand, and lots of other supplies).
Even though I often feel like there is a lot to accomplish in this apartment, it has been so refreshing for me to think back and see how far we have come in this place and how much this tiny home means to me.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Document: April
Is it really the end of April?
We had Doug's mom and step-dad visit (with some furniture) before their move to Florida, we traveled to PA to see my family for Easter, we conquered midterms, we accomplished a lot of cleaning and rearranging (and some other things), and we are ready for Finals over the next two weeks!
1. Spring Cleaning (12 in 2012). Our house is much cleaner, we have implemented a regular cleaning schedule, our kitchen is *finally* starting to function normally (which has been a challenge since we got the washer/dryer), our closets have been sorted and restocked, and our living room is much more efficient!
2. Reading. April was a slow month for reading, but I have officially read 30 books this year (13 new)!!! I recently ordered The Necromancer (#4 Alchemyst series), so I am working through that series again. I also ordered my final two Austen Series books (Northpointe Chalet and Possibilites), completing my set! That will be my next series to go through. once we get into the swing of summer, I should be ready to jump back into LOTR ;)
3. Cooking. I did my first Freezer Cooking (with more to come) and tried making lobster for the first time ever! I am planning on trying to make Eggplant Parmesan this month, as well as making some "main dish" sized salads. Other things to try over summer: Oatmeal Smoothies and Royal Icing (with Sugar Cookies).
4. Health/Fitness. We have had a few nice days that I was able to get outside, but I am definitely planning to add walking/jogging to my exercise routine within the next month! I also am trying to fit a Zumba class into my schedule; the class schedule should change in May, which may provide me with a better time slot! I always tend to lose weight during the summer (from playing outside); this summer I want to make sure I am becoming more fit, not just thinner.
And what about May? May is our Apartment-versary!!! In honor of this milestone, I want to finish all the little things to finalize this apartment being our home:
1. Redoing our Guest Room (to host more guests)
2. Finish "outfitting" our apartment (buying all the little things we need but have lived without)
and possibly...
3. Rearranging our bedroom!
We had Doug's mom and step-dad visit (with some furniture) before their move to Florida, we traveled to PA to see my family for Easter, we conquered midterms, we accomplished a lot of cleaning and rearranging (and some other things), and we are ready for Finals over the next two weeks!
1. Spring Cleaning (12 in 2012). Our house is much cleaner, we have implemented a regular cleaning schedule, our kitchen is *finally* starting to function normally (which has been a challenge since we got the washer/dryer), our closets have been sorted and restocked, and our living room is much more efficient!
2. Reading. April was a slow month for reading, but I have officially read 30 books this year (13 new)!!! I recently ordered The Necromancer (#4 Alchemyst series), so I am working through that series again. I also ordered my final two Austen Series books (Northpointe Chalet and Possibilites), completing my set! That will be my next series to go through. once we get into the swing of summer, I should be ready to jump back into LOTR ;)
3. Cooking. I did my first Freezer Cooking (with more to come) and tried making lobster for the first time ever! I am planning on trying to make Eggplant Parmesan this month, as well as making some "main dish" sized salads. Other things to try over summer: Oatmeal Smoothies and Royal Icing (with Sugar Cookies).
4. Health/Fitness. We have had a few nice days that I was able to get outside, but I am definitely planning to add walking/jogging to my exercise routine within the next month! I also am trying to fit a Zumba class into my schedule; the class schedule should change in May, which may provide me with a better time slot! I always tend to lose weight during the summer (from playing outside); this summer I want to make sure I am becoming more fit, not just thinner.
And what about May? May is our Apartment-versary!!! In honor of this milestone, I want to finish all the little things to finalize this apartment being our home:
1. Redoing our Guest Room (to host more guests)
2. Finish "outfitting" our apartment (buying all the little things we need but have lived without)
and possibly...
3. Rearranging our bedroom!
Friday, April 20, 2012
Determination: Living Room Curtains
Today I will share the story of the Living Room Curtains.
Shortly after Doug and I were married, I ordered curtains (off our registry, using gift cards) for our living room. They were nothing fancy: brown tab-top panels and a simple bar. No curtain clips, no tie-backs, just three hooks to hold the bar in place. Even though we did not have an electric drill (to put the screws in), we had friends who did. Doug and I both thought there would be no problems.
August 2011: Curtains/Bar arrive; we are super busy with our extra reception, my mother-in-law's wedding, and classes beginning. No worries.
September 2011: Didn't have time to borrow drill; we should have time in October, right?
October 2011: Baby Beth (our niece) is born and we throw an epic Halloween party.
November 2011: Midterms and Thanksgiving
December 2011: Starting to get a little frustrated about the curtains, but Final and Christmas travelling consume our time. My parents buy Doug a Cordless Drill and Bit Set for Christmas. These curtains should be up in no time!!!
January 2012: We mark the locations for the holes; finish holiday visits, my birthday celebration, classes begin, and Doug's grandfather passes away.
February 2012: Plan an afternoon of curtain hanging (with help from our friend Jon). Drill the holes -- hit the brick on the outside of our building. The anchors and screws are too long.
March 2012: Midterms and my grandfather passes; we get new anchors, screws, and washers from my uncle Reed to fix the length problems.
Early April 2012: Doug tries using the new screws; the 2nd and 3rd sets of holes are too big, and the anchors are spinning in them.
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| My window looks so sad and empty |
Today (April 20, 2012): Doug (with help from my dad) cuts the anchors to fit, uses washers to fix the length, and officially get our curtains hung!!! Yea!!!
It took 9 months, but we finally have curtains!!!
 |
| Pretty Curtains! |
 |
| Leafy curtain ends (sorry it is fuzzy!) |
 |
| They look so great! |
They really add some texture and depth to our living room, and it added an instant homey feeling!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Determination: "New" Living Room
Yesterday, I rearranged our Living Room!!! Now there is much more space for guests, the seating is more comfortable for talking or watching TV, and there is less room for clutter!!!
Like I said earlier in April, I might not show the before pictures (since our house was a bit messy), but I have one "before" to show you...
 |
| Before |
As you can see, the edge of the couch was blocked off and our chair near the door became a catch-all for mail, bags, and tons of other things!!! So we moved the couch out and put our chair, game cabinet, and Wii shelf along that wall...
 |
| With my hubby trying to "hide" from the picture |
...and replaced the chair with our love seat...
 |
| He couldn't hide that time ;) |
...and moved the couch along the opposite wall!
Now, when we come out of the bedrooms or bathroom, we have a nice and open Living Room to enjoy!!!
This provides more space in front of the TV for playing Wii Games, exercising/stretching (my yoga mat fits perfectly now), playing board games on the floor (with nice sofas to lean against), or having an air mattress for extra guests. Now when guests are over, we can actually face each other easily to talk, or we can get comfortable for a movie (and no one has to sit right next to the screen). This also "opened up" more wall space to hang a few photos or paintings or put up a shelf.
The only thing left to do in the Living Room is to shift our TV to the left so that I can put a "Mail Basket" next to the door. We can still fit shoes and a small purse (or two!) between the love seat and the door, but the rest of our Living Room clutter has no where to go! Extra games are piled in the "nook" between the love seat and the chair, and we can place a medium-sized trash can in that area as well. (There was no place for even a small trash can before moving furniture.) Lighting is also much better because our table lamp and floor lamp are both located in corners now, so the light is reflected across the entire room.
I just LOVE my new Living Room -- and, I didn't even spend $0.01 to make it better!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Determination: April Update
Happy Friday the 13th!!!
I know I say this a lot, but I really cannot believe that it is April 13. Here's why:
-- April is 43.3% over (Yes, I am a nerd. Thanks!),
-- I have been living in this apartment (and on my own) for over 11 months (May 10, 2011)
-- I have been married for over 9 months (July 2, 2011),
-- It has been Spring for almost a month (March 20, 2012),
-- This semester will be over in less than a month (May 11, 2012), and
-- Summer officially begins in a little over two months (June 20, 2012)!!!
All of this together totally blows my mind. I just keep thinking "It's can't be the middle of April YET." I blame our two trips to the frigid North (PA) for my disbelief, but the calendar does not lie.
Here are some things I have accomplished so far:
1. Reading. Goal: 100 books per year (=33 books by the end of April). I am currently reading The Hobbit as magic book #30, but somehow I doubt I will make it through the LOTR Trilogy by the end of April to reach my 33 book goal; still, I am reading quite a few books for my Evangelism class, so I might surpass all expectations. So far only 13/30 (43.3% -- crazy coincidence? I think not!) have been new books, but I am excited to get my hands on some new books this summer and Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus Series #3) this Fall.
Note: I know that reading the Hunger Games Trilogy again might seem like cheating since I read it in January, but as a newlywed full-time student working for a scholarship, I can't buy new books as fast as I read them. So, yeah, I'm going to end up repeating books I have already read. That is the whole purpose behind the "50 new books" goal -- to make sure I am reading new material.
2. Cooking. Goal: Try more new recipes (especially Crock-Pot and MYOTO -- Make Your Own Take Out). I say accomplished! I have only posted 8 new recipes, but it is because 1) I found those online and 2) I like to make up my own as I go. Case in point: Easter Dinner. I liked the idea of Stuffed Pork Tenderloin so I made stuffing, butterflied the pork, added my own seasonings, and looked up an adequate temp and time for cooking. Result: Yummy Easter Dinner. FTW.
3. Health/Weight. Yea Spring and Summer! Every year, I lose 10-15 between April and July. I don't know if it is the abundance of fresh produce, being outside more, or just being happier due to the warm weather and sunshine, but Spring and Summer lightens me up! One thing I have been really excited about is getting back to the park near our house (for walking/jogging) and to try out a trail that I haven't been on before that is near our house. Hopefully I can drag Doug with me next week; every time I have wanted to go we have been traveling or it has been too cold/rainy. Praying for sunny skies next Tuesday!!!
4. 12 in 2012. Goal: Accomplish one "resolution" per month. This has been both good and also rough. since January, we have switched churches, lost two grandparents, made 3 unscheduled trips, fought winter sickness at the same time, and had a few unplanned guests all during the normal chaos of work, school, and daily life. We have still accomplished quite a bit each month. As far as April goes, the house has undergone a "quick clean," but I still have a bit of a kitchen makeover to complete, Spring Closet Cleaning to finish up, and Doug and I have to find some time to rearrange the Living Room! My parents and sister-in-law are coming in to visit in less than a week, so I'm hoping to get the Living Room and Kitchen finalized before their visit. Then, I'll have a week to sort through my clothes -- and hopefully an excuse to buy new clothes!
The biggest thing I am learning is to be flexible. Most of what Doug and I have accomplished this year (or even since we got married) has not been what has been planned, but what has been necessary, what has been beneficial, and what has been enjoyable. We can't hold so tightly to a plan or a schedule but rather enjoy what we have been given and use is wisely.
I know I say this a lot, but I really cannot believe that it is April 13. Here's why:
-- April is 43.3% over (Yes, I am a nerd. Thanks!),
-- I have been living in this apartment (and on my own) for over 11 months (May 10, 2011)
-- I have been married for over 9 months (July 2, 2011),
-- It has been Spring for almost a month (March 20, 2012),
-- This semester will be over in less than a month (May 11, 2012), and
-- Summer officially begins in a little over two months (June 20, 2012)!!!
All of this together totally blows my mind. I just keep thinking "It's can't be the middle of April YET." I blame our two trips to the frigid North (PA) for my disbelief, but the calendar does not lie.
Here are some things I have accomplished so far:
1. Reading. Goal: 100 books per year (=33 books by the end of April). I am currently reading The Hobbit as magic book #30, but somehow I doubt I will make it through the LOTR Trilogy by the end of April to reach my 33 book goal; still, I am reading quite a few books for my Evangelism class, so I might surpass all expectations. So far only 13/30 (43.3% -- crazy coincidence? I think not!) have been new books, but I am excited to get my hands on some new books this summer and Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus Series #3) this Fall.
Note: I know that reading the Hunger Games Trilogy again might seem like cheating since I read it in January, but as a newlywed full-time student working for a scholarship, I can't buy new books as fast as I read them. So, yeah, I'm going to end up repeating books I have already read. That is the whole purpose behind the "50 new books" goal -- to make sure I am reading new material.
2. Cooking. Goal: Try more new recipes (especially Crock-Pot and MYOTO -- Make Your Own Take Out). I say accomplished! I have only posted 8 new recipes, but it is because 1) I found those online and 2) I like to make up my own as I go. Case in point: Easter Dinner. I liked the idea of Stuffed Pork Tenderloin so I made stuffing, butterflied the pork, added my own seasonings, and looked up an adequate temp and time for cooking. Result: Yummy Easter Dinner. FTW.
3. Health/Weight. Yea Spring and Summer! Every year, I lose 10-15 between April and July. I don't know if it is the abundance of fresh produce, being outside more, or just being happier due to the warm weather and sunshine, but Spring and Summer lightens me up! One thing I have been really excited about is getting back to the park near our house (for walking/jogging) and to try out a trail that I haven't been on before that is near our house. Hopefully I can drag Doug with me next week; every time I have wanted to go we have been traveling or it has been too cold/rainy. Praying for sunny skies next Tuesday!!!
4. 12 in 2012. Goal: Accomplish one "resolution" per month. This has been both good and also rough. since January, we have switched churches, lost two grandparents, made 3 unscheduled trips, fought winter sickness at the same time, and had a few unplanned guests all during the normal chaos of work, school, and daily life. We have still accomplished quite a bit each month. As far as April goes, the house has undergone a "quick clean," but I still have a bit of a kitchen makeover to complete, Spring Closet Cleaning to finish up, and Doug and I have to find some time to rearrange the Living Room! My parents and sister-in-law are coming in to visit in less than a week, so I'm hoping to get the Living Room and Kitchen finalized before their visit. Then, I'll have a week to sort through my clothes -- and hopefully an excuse to buy new clothes!
The biggest thing I am learning is to be flexible. Most of what Doug and I have accomplished this year (or even since we got married) has not been what has been planned, but what has been necessary, what has been beneficial, and what has been enjoyable. We can't hold so tightly to a plan or a schedule but rather enjoy what we have been given and use is wisely.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Document: March
March came in like a lion....and left like a whirlwind!!!
I honestly have to keep looking at the calendar; it's actually April! March was SO crazy that I'm glad I had a "simple" goal from my 12 in 2012 list.
I was behind going into March because of our being sick and Doug's birthday (plus visits from Kevin and from Kim, both of which were great) left me a bit behind going into the last weeks of classes! I had 10 days to complete a 15 page paper, an 18 page paper, and two exams -- no piece of cake! Doug and I both knocked ourselves out to get school done, so we spent Spring Break trying to get some of that sleep back and trying to clean up our house (that had scarcely been touched during those two weeks).
We jumped right into classes, and we had another family emergency due to the death of my grandfather. (I DO promise I will do a post about this soon, once things have settled a bit.) We scampered up to Pennsylvania for 5 days and came back to Virginia in catch up mode again. Thanks to a lot of understanding and patience from our professors (and some hard work from us), we have finally been able to catch up!!! Doug and I even got to go to the movies with some of my family (to see Hunger Games).
So, here we are in April! I am so excited for Springtime (= warmer, sunnier, and makes me happier!), but I think March turned out pretty well, all things considered.
1. Making Memories (12 in 2012). Doug and I were able to make some memories! I got caught up on Scrapbooking, we were able to play games together and spend time with friends, and my whole (Finnigan side) family was able to get together and share together.
2. Reading. I am 1/4 of the way through the year, and I have completed 1/4 of my goal!!! I have read 27 books this year (though 2 were repeats), 12 of which were new books. All in all, I am pretty pleased with myself.
3. Cooking. Doug and I officially switched to a once-a-week shopping schedule. This has been much healthier for us (we can buy fresh fruits and veggies every week), and it has helped keep our grocery budget in check! With so much busyness/chaos, I have only really been able to try one new recipe this month (Buffalo Chicken), but it is a keeper! I am cooking for my parents Easter weekend, so hopefully I can kind something fun and different to do ;)
4. Health/Weight. Doug and I have been eating much healthier (for the most part), but my motto has become "slow and steady!" Since joining Curves, I have missed one full week per month due to holidays, family emergency, and sickness. Hopefully April (month 5) can be my first full month!!! I am also hoping to get outdoors more (now that it is nicer out) and begin walking/jogging to boost my exercise (and make sure Doug gets some too!). As far as numbers go, I have lost a few inches, but my weight is about the same (some days it is up, some days it is down). Doug keeps reminding me that I am building muscle, but I would like to see the number on the scale drop a bit more consistently (especially as I get to work out more consistently!!!)
For April, I am focused on Spring Cleaning!!! My mother-in-law visiting this week should help with motivation, but Springtime always makes me a little restless. So, here are our plans for Spring Cleaning:
1. Overall cleaning (sweeping, vacuuming, mopping, dusting, scrubbing, etc)
2. Keep the kitchen (esp. pantry) clean and functional (shopping more = cooking more = cleaning more)
3. Sort through my closet/dresser to get rid of old clothes and pack up my winter clothes.
4. Rearrange our Living Room!
And hopefully...
5. Restock cleaning supplies and health supplies.
6. Clean out and rearrange Linen Closet
I may not show you all of the "before" shots, but I will try to document all the "afters." Are you planning on doing some Spring Cleaning? Have you already cleaned out your space?
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Determination: March Update
I cannot believe March is more than half over! This month has just been CRAZY! After pushing through the last two weeks of classes, this last week of Spring Break seemed more like a long nap than a week off ;)
Doug and I were just spent, so we used this time off from school to sleep in, watch more TV, watch some movies, and read more! As many of you know, I often find myself reading a few books at a time (normally two or three; a record six at once), so this is no surprise to you. Overall, we were just able to spend more time together this week -- we may not remember everything, but it was a great opportunity to build our relationship even more ;)
We also were able to plan some vacation time for the year over Break. This was one of our many "Making Memories" goals; we are so thrilled to be able to attend the weddings of many of our friends and family, as well as spend time with both sides of our family and have a few days to celebrate our one year anniversary!
I am still hoping to get some pictures of our nearly completed Scrapbook up for you; we will still need 20-30 more pages just to catch up! I am already excited to begin my Spring cleaning next month, hopefully lightening up our apartment for Spring and Summer, cleaning out our closets, and getting some windows open! Even more so, I am excited to eat fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and visit the Farmer's Market!!!
Doug and I were just spent, so we used this time off from school to sleep in, watch more TV, watch some movies, and read more! As many of you know, I often find myself reading a few books at a time (normally two or three; a record six at once), so this is no surprise to you. Overall, we were just able to spend more time together this week -- we may not remember everything, but it was a great opportunity to build our relationship even more ;)
We also were able to plan some vacation time for the year over Break. This was one of our many "Making Memories" goals; we are so thrilled to be able to attend the weddings of many of our friends and family, as well as spend time with both sides of our family and have a few days to celebrate our one year anniversary!
I am still hoping to get some pictures of our nearly completed Scrapbook up for you; we will still need 20-30 more pages just to catch up! I am already excited to begin my Spring cleaning next month, hopefully lightening up our apartment for Spring and Summer, cleaning out our closets, and getting some windows open! Even more so, I am excited to eat fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, and visit the Farmer's Market!!!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Document: February (12 in 2012)
February is finally over!
I don't know what it is about February that just makes me feel antsy and behind. Even though I was very diverted this month, I feel this way every February. Maybe it's because January is full of newness and excitement (and my birthday!), and February seems drab in comparison. Maybe it's because this month is shorter than the rest; I don't know what that has to do with it, but it's true. Maybe it's because February is when the new year kicks into high gear. Maybe it's because it's the last "real" month of winter. It's most likely because so many things are crammed into such a short month!!! In my old job as a Resident Assistant, October and February were the busiest months of the year -- February especially because we were on double duty by having to prep for the following school year.
Anyways, I am just glad March is here! March = Spring Break, sunny days, thunderstorms, the beginning of Spring!!! Everything just seems more alive and awake ;) Even though I am super excited about March, February did have some good moments, and I was able to accomplish some things on which I had planned.
1. 12 in 2012: Update Photos and Scrapbook. I added more pages to my Scrapbook, I chose pictures/mementos for each additional page, and I bought some extra paper for my Scrapbook. I only finished one new page, however. Doug and I also successfully filled up the last three disposable cameras from our August Reception! Now, just to get those printed...
2. Reading. I only read 6 books this month (3 being new books), but I have read 20 books so far this year (9 new books), so I am pretty pleased to be a few books ahead of schedule. I am hoping to begin reading the Maze Runner series soon (3 more new books!) and then do the Hobbit/LOTR series again; Spring Break should also help boost my reading time. I also have 3-4 books to read on evangelism for my next class, which should be really interesting, thought-provoking, and (I hope) inspiring.
3. Recipes. I did try two new recipes I posted (One Pot Mac n Cheese and Oven Roasted Veggies), but I also made Banana Ice Cream (Ice Cream made out of frozen bananas), I cooked Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon for the first time (for Valentine's Day), and...well then Doug and I fought sickness, had company, celebrated Doug's birthday, and there wasn't much time for real cooking. I am so looking forward to fresh fruits and veggies being on sale soon to inspire some new dishes!
4. Health/Weight. This has been up and down -- literally! I can't seem to make it to the gym without missing at least one week per month! I lost time over Christmas (Dec), when Doug's Grandfather passed away (Jan), and for sickness (Feb). Here's to hoping March is a full month! Besides this, I joined Map My Run, which is an online tool to help map and measure a walk, jog, or run. After my (several) knee, ankle, and foot injuries over the last 8-9 years, I have been wanting to begin walking and eventually running again. I would love to get up to a 5K (roughly 3 miles); now that the weather is warmer, I can take advantage of living so close to a nice park and running path!
My 12 in 2012 goal for March was to make memories, mostly as an excuse for a fabulous Spring Break trip. I think I am going to work on taking more pictures (I was so caught up on Doug's birthday that we have zero pictures!) and hopefully finishing dealing with the photos we have! Doug and I are also planning on mapping out some of his vacation time for holidays and vacation, which will bring lots of memories too! Finally, I want to work on keeping track of our memories better -- and what better way than through this blog! I am working on updating our blog, as well as hoping to post much more: reviews on books/movies, more recipes, some devotional material, etc. This will take some time and effort to update, but I think it will be worth the effort in the end!
Are you glad February is through? Are you still sticking to your resolutions for the year? What are you planning to do once Spring "officially" hits?
I don't know what it is about February that just makes me feel antsy and behind. Even though I was very diverted this month, I feel this way every February. Maybe it's because January is full of newness and excitement (and my birthday!), and February seems drab in comparison. Maybe it's because this month is shorter than the rest; I don't know what that has to do with it, but it's true. Maybe it's because February is when the new year kicks into high gear. Maybe it's because it's the last "real" month of winter. It's most likely because so many things are crammed into such a short month!!! In my old job as a Resident Assistant, October and February were the busiest months of the year -- February especially because we were on double duty by having to prep for the following school year.
Anyways, I am just glad March is here! March = Spring Break, sunny days, thunderstorms, the beginning of Spring!!! Everything just seems more alive and awake ;) Even though I am super excited about March, February did have some good moments, and I was able to accomplish some things on which I had planned.
1. 12 in 2012: Update Photos and Scrapbook. I added more pages to my Scrapbook, I chose pictures/mementos for each additional page, and I bought some extra paper for my Scrapbook. I only finished one new page, however. Doug and I also successfully filled up the last three disposable cameras from our August Reception! Now, just to get those printed...
2. Reading. I only read 6 books this month (3 being new books), but I have read 20 books so far this year (9 new books), so I am pretty pleased to be a few books ahead of schedule. I am hoping to begin reading the Maze Runner series soon (3 more new books!) and then do the Hobbit/LOTR series again; Spring Break should also help boost my reading time. I also have 3-4 books to read on evangelism for my next class, which should be really interesting, thought-provoking, and (I hope) inspiring.
3. Recipes. I did try two new recipes I posted (One Pot Mac n Cheese and Oven Roasted Veggies), but I also made Banana Ice Cream (Ice Cream made out of frozen bananas), I cooked Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon for the first time (for Valentine's Day), and...well then Doug and I fought sickness, had company, celebrated Doug's birthday, and there wasn't much time for real cooking. I am so looking forward to fresh fruits and veggies being on sale soon to inspire some new dishes!
4. Health/Weight. This has been up and down -- literally! I can't seem to make it to the gym without missing at least one week per month! I lost time over Christmas (Dec), when Doug's Grandfather passed away (Jan), and for sickness (Feb). Here's to hoping March is a full month! Besides this, I joined Map My Run, which is an online tool to help map and measure a walk, jog, or run. After my (several) knee, ankle, and foot injuries over the last 8-9 years, I have been wanting to begin walking and eventually running again. I would love to get up to a 5K (roughly 3 miles); now that the weather is warmer, I can take advantage of living so close to a nice park and running path!
My 12 in 2012 goal for March was to make memories, mostly as an excuse for a fabulous Spring Break trip. I think I am going to work on taking more pictures (I was so caught up on Doug's birthday that we have zero pictures!) and hopefully finishing dealing with the photos we have! Doug and I are also planning on mapping out some of his vacation time for holidays and vacation, which will bring lots of memories too! Finally, I want to work on keeping track of our memories better -- and what better way than through this blog! I am working on updating our blog, as well as hoping to post much more: reviews on books/movies, more recipes, some devotional material, etc. This will take some time and effort to update, but I think it will be worth the effort in the end!
Are you glad February is through? Are you still sticking to your resolutions for the year? What are you planning to do once Spring "officially" hits?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Determination: February Update
My 12 in 2012 goal for February was to get our Scrapbook up-to-date and get our pictures organized. We were blessed to get many picture frames for our house, which are all filled (minus one for which I am still trying to find a picture) and placed/hung in our apartment. On top of this, I was able to fill our scrapbook with pages depicting our Freshman year of college (when we met) through our wedding and a bit of our honeymoon... when I ran out of pages. So I did pretty well, right?
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| The opening page of our Scrapbook |
Well, I have 7 months worth of pictures to add to the scrapbook (including pictures of our apartment, our honeymoon, extra reception, my mother-in-law's wedding, the birth of our niece, and holidays) AND four paintings left to hang. That was my mountain to climb for February. Well, as I mentioned in my previous post, I had a hard time diving into February. Unfortunately, I did not use that free time wisely and instead felt sad because I had run out of things to do. Now, I have papers, projects, Valentine's Day (which is over, but still took time and effort), and Doug's birthday to keep me occupied; add babysitting my niece, tutoring sessions, and house guests, and you are left with zero time!
Well, fortunately I found a little time to buy extra pages and some additional paper to start working on the Scrapbook. I still need to get a few disposable cameras developed, but I am ready to start working! As far as hanging paintings goes, I have to wait for Doug to have some time to help me place and hang the pictures. Hopefully I will have some Scrapbook pages and hanged paintings to show you in a few weeks!
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| Blank pages added |
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| Lots of color and patterns to make it special; plus, I'm a big fan of polka-dots! |
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Document: January (12 in 2012)
Is it the end of January already? Oh my!
Normally, I don't speed through January. The last five Januarys I had my birthday quickly followed by (or during) RA mid-year training, followed by a few days of welcoming students who were in for intensives or who had transferred mid-year before classes began. Week 1 of classes is no big deal; everyone is happy to be back at school and full of stories from Break; February is looming and seems forever away. But this year, no way!
As far as decelerating goes, January was my first crash-and-burn month. There were a few things out of my control that led to this (getting stranded at a friend's house in Richmond due to inclement weather, Doug's grandfather passing away), but overall I fell into the one trap I was trying to avoid -- Resolution Overcompensation. I purposefully spend time trying to figure out everything I wanted to do this year and splitting those things up into the 12 months of the year. Did that stop me from trying to get too much done? No! The 444 Plan was delayed due to the aforementioned circumstances, which pushed them into the first week of classes, leaving me stressed out by my own arbitrary deadlines. I'm not going to "fail" or "get fired" from housekeeping; everyone has incidents and emergencies that take extra time and energy to handle.
Anyways, I am back on track now! (Especially since my husband sat me down last week to tell me to chill out and stop killing myself over reorganizing closets -- have I mentioned how amazing he is?) Our living room is redecorated and usable. We have an extra end table (also functioning as our game cabinet) and an area for me to keep my school work and textbooks organized. I am still waiting to get my curtains put up, but that is a minor addition.
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| Textbooks ready to use, remotes handy, and some extra lighting available. |
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| Perfect space to hold our games and have and end table. |
Our bedroom is much cleaner and more organized, including a finance center and mail center. Our kitchen is clean and organized. We finally got our Baker's Rack set up and everything placed where we wanted.
I have read 14 books so far this year (including 6 new books). I have tried 5 new recipes, and I have made up 2 of my own recipes -- Alfredo Spinach Lasagna Rolls and Apple, Onion, and Cheddar Grilled Cheese.
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| The Baker's Rack fit perfectly next to our pantry. |
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| We finally have a usable table now that it is not against a wall. |
I have read 14 books so far this year (including 6 new books). I have tried 5 new recipes, and I have made up 2 of my own recipes -- Alfredo Spinach Lasagna Rolls and Apple, Onion, and Cheddar Grilled Cheese.
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| Grilled Apple, Onion, and Cheddar Sandwiches -- perfect blend of sweet and savory! |
I also have more materials to begin on my February Resolution to get our Scrapbook up to date and our pictures organized. I am starting to lose weight and inches at the gym (whoo-hoo!) and have started using their electronic personal trainer. I should be attending my first Zumba class this week.
I think the biggest difference is that I have made a much bigger effort to stay connected with my friends; Doug and I have had so much happen in the last 6 (almost 7) months of our marriage that has kept us too busy or traveling non-stop to spend a lot of quality time with our friends. In the week, I have been able to set up weekly lunch dates with one friend, catch up over the phone with another, and catch up with 3 other friends. We are having some of our closest married friends over for dinner tonight. We made plans for friends to come in and visit with us. It's just too easy to get stuck in the details of life and drop the things that really matter, but when you focus on what matters, those details just seem to fall into place.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Determination: January Update
For my 12 in 2012 resolutions, I am working towards an organized apartment. As the 444 plan nears completion, Doug and I sat down to write out what else we need to accomplish to get our apartment in working order. For us, the easiest way to do this is by handling one room at a time. Not only does it seem easier than tackling the "whole apartment," it is encouraging to finish one place completely and use that space as motivation to work on the rest, kind of like the snowball method of paying off debt.
To finish out the 444 plan, we need to work on the bedroom first. Since I lived in our apartment before we got married, most of my things are in our bedroom, including the fact that I am taking up the entire closet right now. Once clothes are sorted (and hopefully many given to charity), there should be a lot more room in our closet for Doug's clothes. Doug has also been using the guest room dresser, so we are moving that into our room. This should take about 3 days to accomplish.
We need to work on the living room, too. We still have our Christmas decorations up (scandalous!), and our tree takes up a good amount of space in our living room. Once all the furniture is back where it belongs, we can move our game cabinet out to the living room, Doug can hang up our curtain rod and curtains, and I can set up my school books for this 8 weeks. Pretty simple stuff -- 1 day to do!
Next we are going to finish the kitchen. It is much more streamline and usable now, but we want to make sure that every storage space is being used its best capacity. We have a beautiful Baker's Rack (courtesy of my Gram and Pap Finnigan) that we have been using for storage in our pantry; however, the bottom shelf is completely empty, and we only use the closet edge of the shelves. By moving this out next to our pantry (and maybe adding some wicker "catch all" baskets), we can fully use this lovely rack. Our pantry also has a bar under the shelving where we are planning on hanging some closet organizers to store snacks and boxed items. I am also hoping to get a few nice containers to hold pasta and rice. Then we are going to be rearranging a few cabinets and drawers...anyways! You'll see when it's finished ;) This might take a whole week.
Finally, we tackle the guest bedroom. I have wanted to change the set up of that room since June, but we were either travelling, had visitors, or were too busy with school to move things around. Doug's desk takes up the middle of the room, which has made it difficult for us to have guest comfortably; by moving his computer to the far end of the room and relocating the guest quarters closer to the door, we should be able to maintain both more easily. This should take 2-3 days.
That leaves three days to clean the bathroom (no reorganizing necessary), clean up the front closet (make sure everything is put away), and clean up the linen closet (stack towels nicely, make sure sheets are folded). We should begin February clean and organized!!! And this time, I will remember to shoot some before pictures ;)
Devise: Finishing the 444 Plan
Well, in 3 days my deadline for the 444 plan will be upon me. I think I have done a pretty good job of my plan so far!!!
1. Clothing. This is the one task that is not complete yet, mainly because my husband and I got behind on laundry due to our frequent travelling. We added in an extra trip to Richmond this last week to celebrate a friend's birthday, so we got even more behind! We have been able to get 4 out of 5 loads done in the last two days; now that I have clean clothes to put away, I can actually begin sorting! We are hoping to have dressers and closets full and set by Monday (which will be right on schedule).
2. Kitchen. Doug and I have done a major overhaul to our kitchen, especially in regards to furniture placement. We still have a little work to do (mainly reorganizing a few drawers, cleaning out the hutch cabinets, reorganizing the pantry, and setting up my Baker's Rack in the kitchen). I was so excited to get things moved I forgot to take before pictures!!! Here's what the after looked like...just use your imagination for the befores ;)
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| We moved the laundry units next to the counter to the corner for more space and easier access. |
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| By placing the dish drainer in the second sink, we could use up the corner space more practically. |
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| We moved the grill over to where our microwave had been and added a kitchen cart for more "counter" space. |
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| Other than "counter" space, we moved some pretty casserole dishes onto the cart for color and to free up cabinet space. |
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| Almost all of the boxes/gadgets are down! Now we have extra space for...something. |
We also moved our table (you can see a chair in a few pics) from the space under the window to the middle of the wall. We decided to have it stick out into the kitchen instead of being against the wall so that it would be more accessible. We cart we got (about $40 from Wal*mart) was easy to assemble, and the racks can be positioned at any height. That, plus a little rearranging, made such a huge transformation in our kitchen, especially making it easier for me to reach the supplies I needed to cook!
3. Menu/Grocery Planning. I have already shown you the menus I made running from January to May; I have finally finished the grocery lists as well! I am still planning on checking the ads each week to look for sales (example: this week meat is on sale, so I sent Doug to pick up a few things I was planning on buying next week), but what we need is clearly laid out. I have all the menus and grocery lists printed and placed in a binder, but I have not printed out the necessary recipes yet. Maybe when I do the Summer Menus, I'll have time to add in the printed recipes!
4. Paperwork Clutter/Finances. I had been planning on moving the mail/finance center to the kitchen (where we are currently storing our file box); however, this week I decided to keep all of that in our bedroom. I want to be able to keep the kitchen table clean, which just won't happen with mail and receipts piled around it. I have a free corner of space next to my dresser in our bedroom where our file box could fit, along with "the book" (my record of our finances). Most of our financial information is in electronic documents on my laptop, so I can easily move and work there. My dresser is also right next to our bedroom door, which makes a great place for dropping off mail. Doug grabs the mail when he gets home from work and (normally) heads straight to the bedroom to change, which makes it a good "drop spot." Unfortunately this realization must be put on hold until I get the clean laundry baskets (which are currently in that corner) emptied and put back where they belong ;) This too should be done by Monday.
Anyways! I hope that this encouraged you to do a little bit of work to keep you organized until Spring!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Determination: 12 in 2012, January
Determination (noun): perseverance, resolution, conviction
As mentioned here, I am spreading out my New Years' Resolutions over the entire year! I am going to be planning one resolution/goal for each month of the year (knowing that some flexibility will most likely be needed). Here is my list so far:
January: Have an Organized Apartment (thanks in great part to The 444 Plan.)
February: Update Photos/Scrapbooks
March: Learn to Make Memories (and begin making some!)
April: Spring Cleaning
May: Celebrate and Update Apartment for my Apartment-versary!
June: Mid-Year Review
July: Mine and Doug's Anniversary! Where are we now?
August: Vacation -- taking a break to enjoy life ;)
September: Clothing Control
October: School/Job Plans after Graduation
November: Curves-iversary! Health goals for another year
December: Holidays -- decorating, baking, parties, presents!
While a few of these a self-explanatory, many are a bit vague because they are things I don't know about now. Example: Maybe by October I will have some idea of my plans after graduation. While these are some "project goals" for the New Year, I do have a set of personal "2 degree" goals that are a part of my everyday life.
Reading. Every year I try to read more books. While I have not come up with a fool-proof way to track my progress, I do try to read as much as possible. Currently, there are 350+ books on my reading list (and it's still growing). I read roughly 2 books a week (1-2 during school and about 4 during breaks and summer), so I would love to read 100 books this year, half of which being books I have not read before (or honestly don't remember since I read them in Middle School). I am going to try to keep an updated Reading List here on my blog (list newest read to oldest) to track my progress! The new books I read will be marked (with a **); maybe I'll post some book summaries/reviews for those of you who are looking for more books to read!
Cooking. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to cook. Every year I try to cook new recipes and try new foods. For 2012, I am particularly interested in trying more slow-cooker meals since I have rarely used my slow-cooker this year. I am also going to try to make my own take-out a lot more this year since both Doug and I love Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc ;) I will also be listing new recipes I try on the side-bar with a link to the recipe if possible.
Health/Weight. Instead of waiting for 2012 to hit, I started going to Curves around Thanksgiving. After a month, my clothes feel looser, I have more energy during the week, and I can notice definition in my muscles. When I signed up for Curves I had a weight goal in mind already, what I call my "senior" weight. This is how much I weighed when I finished High School and started College. Right now, I have about 30 lbs to go to hit that weight, which is my one-year Curves goal. My overall goal is to get down to my "freshmen" weight which is what I weighed when I finished my first year of college (about 20-25 lbs more). While hitting those "magic numbers" are great for a lot of people, I also want to make sure I am healthy. Doug and I have been trying to eat healthier since we got married (mostly by adding more water and veggies and by cutting fast food and sodas). With my Curves foundation, I really want to start walking, jogging, and running in the Spring!
Anyways! I hope some of these goals and ideas inspire you to begin making changes for 2012, and I can't wait to see where the New Year takes us ;)
As mentioned here, I am spreading out my New Years' Resolutions over the entire year! I am going to be planning one resolution/goal for each month of the year (knowing that some flexibility will most likely be needed). Here is my list so far:
January: Have an Organized Apartment (thanks in great part to The 444 Plan.)
February: Update Photos/Scrapbooks
March: Learn to Make Memories (and begin making some!)
April: Spring Cleaning
May: Celebrate and Update Apartment for my Apartment-versary!
June: Mid-Year Review
July: Mine and Doug's Anniversary! Where are we now?
August: Vacation -- taking a break to enjoy life ;)
September: Clothing Control
October: School/Job Plans after Graduation
November: Curves-iversary! Health goals for another year
December: Holidays -- decorating, baking, parties, presents!
While a few of these a self-explanatory, many are a bit vague because they are things I don't know about now. Example: Maybe by October I will have some idea of my plans after graduation. While these are some "project goals" for the New Year, I do have a set of personal "2 degree" goals that are a part of my everyday life.
Reading. Every year I try to read more books. While I have not come up with a fool-proof way to track my progress, I do try to read as much as possible. Currently, there are 350+ books on my reading list (and it's still growing). I read roughly 2 books a week (1-2 during school and about 4 during breaks and summer), so I would love to read 100 books this year, half of which being books I have not read before (or honestly don't remember since I read them in Middle School). I am going to try to keep an updated Reading List here on my blog (list newest read to oldest) to track my progress! The new books I read will be marked (with a **); maybe I'll post some book summaries/reviews for those of you who are looking for more books to read!
Cooking. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to cook. Every year I try to cook new recipes and try new foods. For 2012, I am particularly interested in trying more slow-cooker meals since I have rarely used my slow-cooker this year. I am also going to try to make my own take-out a lot more this year since both Doug and I love Chinese, Japanese, Thai, etc ;) I will also be listing new recipes I try on the side-bar with a link to the recipe if possible.
Health/Weight. Instead of waiting for 2012 to hit, I started going to Curves around Thanksgiving. After a month, my clothes feel looser, I have more energy during the week, and I can notice definition in my muscles. When I signed up for Curves I had a weight goal in mind already, what I call my "senior" weight. This is how much I weighed when I finished High School and started College. Right now, I have about 30 lbs to go to hit that weight, which is my one-year Curves goal. My overall goal is to get down to my "freshmen" weight which is what I weighed when I finished my first year of college (about 20-25 lbs more). While hitting those "magic numbers" are great for a lot of people, I also want to make sure I am healthy. Doug and I have been trying to eat healthier since we got married (mostly by adding more water and veggies and by cutting fast food and sodas). With my Curves foundation, I really want to start walking, jogging, and running in the Spring!
Anyways! I hope some of these goals and ideas inspire you to begin making changes for 2012, and I can't wait to see where the New Year takes us ;)
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