New Year, New Goals. Why not? It's important to have goals in life...
1 - Take the steps to grow spiritually: read the Bible, pray daily, attend church weekly
2 - Yoga 3 times per week
3 - Join a CSA or buy regularly from a Farmer's Market
4 - Send out Christmas cards
5 - Get 8 hours of sleep per night (when possible)
Continuing goals from 2010...
1 - Learn how to snowboard - my wonderful hubby bought me snowboarding lessons for Christmas, so this goal will have a check marked at the end of next year!
2 - Develop a budget and stick to it - since attending Financial Peace University, the hubs and I have talked about putting those learned skills into action beginning with the 1st of the new year.
3 - Clean and organize my office. Maybe I'll get to this goal before my office needs to turn into a nursery...
I'm feeling very optimistic about the New Year! Here's to 2011!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
A Facebook Christmas Story
This is super cool! I wonder if this is how the news would've been shared in today's social networking world. It's very interesting to think about this holiday season!
Yeah Toast!!
This is hilarious!! I bet you'll hear this song anytime you make toast or see someone make toast. Love it!!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Year in Review
Well, ladies and gents, 2010 is coming to a close. Where did this year go? I feel like it flew by! With the last week of 2010 approaching, I thought I'd take a look back at the goals I set at the beginning of the year and see how I did!
1 - Make a real budget and stick to it. Well, I'm slacking there. My hubby and I took a class called Financial Peace University in the fall and learned a lot! As of January 1, we have a budget and a plan. If we stick to the plan, all of our debt (excluding our mortgage...) will be paid off in 3 years! Yiippeee!! Although, I didn't meet the specific goal stated, I feel I did meet a goal of being more financially aware.
2 - Read the Bible in it's entirety. Another one I slacked on... I did find some amazing resources for reading the Bible and I even started! But did not read the entire Bible. Guess I'll add that to my 2011 Goal list!
3 - Make at least one new recipe per month. I started off doing this well!! And then it tapered off... however, all is not lost! I have taken huge steps in my diet/nutrition! Mid year I decided to become a weekday vegetarian. What does that mean? It means that I allow myself to eat meat on the weekends only. I started the life-change as a way to reduce my carbon footprint and as a way to take a stand against how animals are treated in farms. I ended up cutting meat out (except for fish) almost entirely. Letmetellya, I don't miss it. Not. one. bite. I still eat meat occasionally, but only a couple times per month. I feel amazing! I recommend everyone become a weekday vegetarian.
4 - Try snowboarding. Nope. But the year isn't over yet! I have tentative plans to go on 12/26. Let's see if I chicken out!
5 - Be more patient by remembering that people are doing the best they can with what they have. I don't really know how to measure this one... I feel that, as a whole, I've really tried my best. I've had moments of doing really really well, and then moments of failing miserably. But, alas, I am a sinner and it's bound to happen that I'll fall short. I'll keep trying and remember that it's a process. I can't reverse the years of cynicism and negativity in a year's time.
6 - Eat more fruits and veggies. See #3.
7 - Take dance classes twice a week. Fail. But not entirely!! I found a new passion: yoga!!! Up until the last 3 weeks, I had been taking yoga 4-5 times per week. My body has never felt in better shape and I have never felt so much clarity. Go yoga!
8 - Audition for the dance scholarship in August. Nope, see above.
9 - Finish my office/creative space. Um, well, no... it's a work in progress...
10 - Stop complaining about things beyond my control. Instead of complaining about things within my control; change them/make those things better. Another one I don't know how to measure... we'll call this one an ongoing transformation.
Guess I'll start working on my 2011 goals! Happy Holidays everyone! Hope this holiday season brings you plenty of cheer and thanksgiving!
1 - Make a real budget and stick to it. Well, I'm slacking there. My hubby and I took a class called Financial Peace University in the fall and learned a lot! As of January 1, we have a budget and a plan. If we stick to the plan, all of our debt (excluding our mortgage...) will be paid off in 3 years! Yiippeee!! Although, I didn't meet the specific goal stated, I feel I did meet a goal of being more financially aware.
2 - Read the Bible in it's entirety. Another one I slacked on... I did find some amazing resources for reading the Bible and I even started! But did not read the entire Bible. Guess I'll add that to my 2011 Goal list!
3 - Make at least one new recipe per month. I started off doing this well!! And then it tapered off... however, all is not lost! I have taken huge steps in my diet/nutrition! Mid year I decided to become a weekday vegetarian. What does that mean? It means that I allow myself to eat meat on the weekends only. I started the life-change as a way to reduce my carbon footprint and as a way to take a stand against how animals are treated in farms. I ended up cutting meat out (except for fish) almost entirely. Letmetellya, I don't miss it. Not. one. bite. I still eat meat occasionally, but only a couple times per month. I feel amazing! I recommend everyone become a weekday vegetarian.
4 - Try snowboarding. Nope. But the year isn't over yet! I have tentative plans to go on 12/26. Let's see if I chicken out!
5 - Be more patient by remembering that people are doing the best they can with what they have. I don't really know how to measure this one... I feel that, as a whole, I've really tried my best. I've had moments of doing really really well, and then moments of failing miserably. But, alas, I am a sinner and it's bound to happen that I'll fall short. I'll keep trying and remember that it's a process. I can't reverse the years of cynicism and negativity in a year's time.
6 - Eat more fruits and veggies. See #3.
7 - Take dance classes twice a week. Fail. But not entirely!! I found a new passion: yoga!!! Up until the last 3 weeks, I had been taking yoga 4-5 times per week. My body has never felt in better shape and I have never felt so much clarity. Go yoga!
8 - Audition for the dance scholarship in August. Nope, see above.
9 - Finish my office/creative space. Um, well, no... it's a work in progress...
10 - Stop complaining about things beyond my control. Instead of complaining about things within my control; change them/make those things better. Another one I don't know how to measure... we'll call this one an ongoing transformation.
Guess I'll start working on my 2011 goals! Happy Holidays everyone! Hope this holiday season brings you plenty of cheer and thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Bullying, etc.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what sort of world I am living in. Not the world that I live in in my head. The world I physically reside in. The last elections made me incredibly sad. And disappointed. I'm saddened and disappointed with human beings. Finger-pointing, name-calling, judgment, discrimination, intolerance, lying have become an unfortunate norm. Bullying is at an all-time high. Many would call it an epidemic. Children (CHILDREN) are committing suicide because of bullying. How did things get this far?
Look at the last elections. It's no longer acceptable to have a positive campaign ad. A politician must be hiding something if they aren't making negative campaign ads. Close elections are being called voter fraud. How can we expect children to treat each other with respect when adults, who are supposed to be role models, resort to finger-pointing and name-calling every opportunity they get? They bully each other, bully the public, in order to get something they want.
And then parents cry about bullying... I'm not blaming parents all together. I understand that some kids are mean. However, I am willing to say that 95% of bullying children come from a household where respecting one another is not the norm. Children aren't taught to respect each other. They aren't taught to love each other. It's a parents job to teach love and respect. It is NOT the school's job, it is NOT your church's job, it is NOT daycare's job to teach these things. Parents, it's YOUR job to teach YOUR children love and respect.
Read this article if you don't agree with me. I commend the writer of that blog for taking a stand against those parents.
It's time for a change people. And that change starts with you and me. I challenge you this week to stay away from name calling (yes, even while driving). Try loving each other. Respecting one another. Maybe we'll start a new epidemic.
Look at the last elections. It's no longer acceptable to have a positive campaign ad. A politician must be hiding something if they aren't making negative campaign ads. Close elections are being called voter fraud. How can we expect children to treat each other with respect when adults, who are supposed to be role models, resort to finger-pointing and name-calling every opportunity they get? They bully each other, bully the public, in order to get something they want.
And then parents cry about bullying... I'm not blaming parents all together. I understand that some kids are mean. However, I am willing to say that 95% of bullying children come from a household where respecting one another is not the norm. Children aren't taught to respect each other. They aren't taught to love each other. It's a parents job to teach love and respect. It is NOT the school's job, it is NOT your church's job, it is NOT daycare's job to teach these things. Parents, it's YOUR job to teach YOUR children love and respect.
Read this article if you don't agree with me. I commend the writer of that blog for taking a stand against those parents.
It's time for a change people. And that change starts with you and me. I challenge you this week to stay away from name calling (yes, even while driving). Try loving each other. Respecting one another. Maybe we'll start a new epidemic.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Halloween
Time for a rant... it's been awhile, but I think it's time. So here we go. Don't judge me, Monkey.
I used to love Halloween. I loved picking a costume, going trick o' treating, eating too much sugar until my tummy hurt. Then, after high school I loved Halloween for being able to wear the skimpiest outfit I can find and say "why yes, I AM a sexy corpse. How did you guess?" Everything Halloween turned into an opportunity to wear practically nothing and get away with it. Sexy ninja? Why yes! Sexy lunch lady? Cha-ching! Britney Spears? Bingo!
And then something happened. Halloween finally got old. No, scratch that. Not Halloween. Skimpy costumes got old. Maybe I gained some self-respect. Maybe it was modesty. Or maybe I finally realized that the best costumes are NOT the skimpiest ones. In fact, the best costumes are usually the least skimpy. They're the most creative. The ones where I go "aw man! I wish I had thought of that!!"
My hubs and I were watching a band play at a bar on Friday night. Of course, all of the middle-aged ladies were there in their skimpy costumes acting like girls in their late teens and early 20's. Now, I know that age is just a number (or whatever), but at what point do you look in the mirror and say "wow, I am really trying way too hard to relive the glory days. Stretch marks and cellulite just do not look good as a naughty dentist." How do you let your friends go out of the house like that? "Oh yes Sally! I think you look great! But I have had a least 2 jello shots, so my judgment may be skewed."
C'mon ladies!! Have some self respect! Time to act your age. Show some creativity. Instead of going with sexy Freddy Krueger, maybe opt for something more creative. As a very wise person said (one of my hubby's super funny cousins) "Halloween is about being horrified, not whorified." Ladies, make this your mantra.
I used to love Halloween. I loved picking a costume, going trick o' treating, eating too much sugar until my tummy hurt. Then, after high school I loved Halloween for being able to wear the skimpiest outfit I can find and say "why yes, I AM a sexy corpse. How did you guess?" Everything Halloween turned into an opportunity to wear practically nothing and get away with it. Sexy ninja? Why yes! Sexy lunch lady? Cha-ching! Britney Spears? Bingo!
And then something happened. Halloween finally got old. No, scratch that. Not Halloween. Skimpy costumes got old. Maybe I gained some self-respect. Maybe it was modesty. Or maybe I finally realized that the best costumes are NOT the skimpiest ones. In fact, the best costumes are usually the least skimpy. They're the most creative. The ones where I go "aw man! I wish I had thought of that!!"
My hubs and I were watching a band play at a bar on Friday night. Of course, all of the middle-aged ladies were there in their skimpy costumes acting like girls in their late teens and early 20's. Now, I know that age is just a number (or whatever), but at what point do you look in the mirror and say "wow, I am really trying way too hard to relive the glory days. Stretch marks and cellulite just do not look good as a naughty dentist." How do you let your friends go out of the house like that? "Oh yes Sally! I think you look great! But I have had a least 2 jello shots, so my judgment may be skewed."
C'mon ladies!! Have some self respect! Time to act your age. Show some creativity. Instead of going with sexy Freddy Krueger, maybe opt for something more creative. As a very wise person said (one of my hubby's super funny cousins) "Halloween is about being horrified, not whorified." Ladies, make this your mantra.
2nd verse, same as the first
I'm going to rename my last 30 Days of Excellence... it will now be known as 30 Days of Failure. Holy cow I dropped the ball on that one! I'll try it again this month and hopefully get better results. Strangely enough, at church on Saturday, the pastor challenged everyone to read the Bible this month. We're reading the book of James. So, I think I'll start there! Hopefully this month will be much more successful!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
I'm a slacker...
Well I'm slightly behind on my goal for this month... I just started reading the Bible on Monday. Better late than never, eh? I'll just need to extend into next month, no biggie! (I knew you were worried. Right?)
To be quite honest, last week was a mess. It was a cluster of a mess, actually. I scrambled and scrambled to get some crafts put together for a craft show last week. And ended up with less than stellar results. I do, however, have some amazingly cute candle holders made! (I'll post pics at a later date)
During the cluster that was last week, I decided that I was going to need a plan if I was going to pull off my goal. I've tried starting at the very beginning of the Bible before and didn't make it very far. I mean, let's face it, most of us know the story of creation, so it's not super interesting to read for the one millionth time. Luckily, the church I attend (Eaglebrook Church) has a ton of resources for those interested in reading the Bible! I'm sure you could also Google a plan, if you're interested.
I've opted for the 31 day plan found on Eaglebrook's website. This plan is an overview of salvation and faith and Jesus. I'm reading from a study Bible, so there's a ton of added information in the margins. I'm already learning a ton!! Maybe it's because I'm older, maybe it's because the Bible translation is so easy to read, but I am hooked. These stories are interesting and there is so much to learn from, even in the most basic of Biblical stories. I spend about 30 - 45 minutes diving into a chapter, reading all of the margin notes, just digesting it all. I also spent time reading about the authors of the books. I think it's important to know who wrote the book, what they believed, what they did for a living, etc. It really gives you insight on the writings.
For those of you embarking on this journey with me, I'm praying for you! I hope you find this time with God as interesting and healing and growing as I am!
To be quite honest, last week was a mess. It was a cluster of a mess, actually. I scrambled and scrambled to get some crafts put together for a craft show last week. And ended up with less than stellar results. I do, however, have some amazingly cute candle holders made! (I'll post pics at a later date)
During the cluster that was last week, I decided that I was going to need a plan if I was going to pull off my goal. I've tried starting at the very beginning of the Bible before and didn't make it very far. I mean, let's face it, most of us know the story of creation, so it's not super interesting to read for the one millionth time. Luckily, the church I attend (Eaglebrook Church) has a ton of resources for those interested in reading the Bible! I'm sure you could also Google a plan, if you're interested.
I've opted for the 31 day plan found on Eaglebrook's website. This plan is an overview of salvation and faith and Jesus. I'm reading from a study Bible, so there's a ton of added information in the margins. I'm already learning a ton!! Maybe it's because I'm older, maybe it's because the Bible translation is so easy to read, but I am hooked. These stories are interesting and there is so much to learn from, even in the most basic of Biblical stories. I spend about 30 - 45 minutes diving into a chapter, reading all of the margin notes, just digesting it all. I also spent time reading about the authors of the books. I think it's important to know who wrote the book, what they believed, what they did for a living, etc. It really gives you insight on the writings.
For those of you embarking on this journey with me, I'm praying for you! I hope you find this time with God as interesting and healing and growing as I am!
Monday, October 4, 2010
new month, new goal
Question: Where did September go? I'm serious. I think I may have misplaced it... Any ideas? Anyone? Bueller? Wow, this fall season is going incredibly fast! And I for one am not happy about it. Everyone knows what comes after fall. Snow. Lots and lots and lots of snow. (you were thinking Winter, weren't you!? I win!). Besides, I'm really enjoying this fall season. The weather is perfect, the leaves are turning beautiful colors, what's not to love about fall?! Ugh... darn winter. Although, just like without sadness, we wouldn't know joy; without winter, I wouldn't know the joys of spring, summer, and fall. (It's okay to punch me now).
Alas, it is a new month. A new 30 days. A new goal. But first, a recap of last month's goal! September began with 30 days of manicure excellence. The goal was to keep my hands well manicured for 30 days. And I am extremely proud to say that I did it! Yay! Break out the champagne! It was easier than I thought it would be! The key was to paint my nails during the time I was watching TV, since I was sitting still doing absolutely nothing to begin with. Each week I started with a fresh coat of paint on my nails. I think I'll continue through the next 30 days!
The next 30 days I am committing to a less superficial, more serious 30 days of excellence: 30 Days of Spiritual Growth. For the next 30 days, my goal is to spend 30 minutes a day with my Bible, spending time with God, studying His Word, praying for guidance and growth.
I've been attending church since I was very little and am very proud to call myself a Christian. However, I am slightly ashamed of the fact that I have not read the Bible in it's entirety. A recent study by The Pew Forum indicates that Atheists and Agnostics know more about religion than Christians know about their own religion. While I find the study interesting, I also find it very disheartening. As I'm growing up, I'm slowly seeing the importance of really knowing everything about a group that you participate in or affiliate with. How is it that Christians know less about the religion they study and practice than those who don't believe/practice said religion? How can it be that I've been attending church since I was very small, yet I haven't read the Bible in it's entirety?
At the end of the next 30 days, I hope to have grown spiritually and have gained a deeper understanding of Christianity's roots, beliefs, and future. Please pray for me as I enter into this journey, it appears it will be quite intense!
Alas, it is a new month. A new 30 days. A new goal. But first, a recap of last month's goal! September began with 30 days of manicure excellence. The goal was to keep my hands well manicured for 30 days. And I am extremely proud to say that I did it! Yay! Break out the champagne! It was easier than I thought it would be! The key was to paint my nails during the time I was watching TV, since I was sitting still doing absolutely nothing to begin with. Each week I started with a fresh coat of paint on my nails. I think I'll continue through the next 30 days!
The next 30 days I am committing to a less superficial, more serious 30 days of excellence: 30 Days of Spiritual Growth. For the next 30 days, my goal is to spend 30 minutes a day with my Bible, spending time with God, studying His Word, praying for guidance and growth.
I've been attending church since I was very little and am very proud to call myself a Christian. However, I am slightly ashamed of the fact that I have not read the Bible in it's entirety. A recent study by The Pew Forum indicates that Atheists and Agnostics know more about religion than Christians know about their own religion. While I find the study interesting, I also find it very disheartening. As I'm growing up, I'm slowly seeing the importance of really knowing everything about a group that you participate in or affiliate with. How is it that Christians know less about the religion they study and practice than those who don't believe/practice said religion? How can it be that I've been attending church since I was very small, yet I haven't read the Bible in it's entirety?
At the end of the next 30 days, I hope to have grown spiritually and have gained a deeper understanding of Christianity's roots, beliefs, and future. Please pray for me as I enter into this journey, it appears it will be quite intense!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
checking in
Officially on day 12 of the 1st 30 days of excellence challenge and I am going strong! My nails have stayed painted for 12 days now. 7 of those days have been with colored polish. I think that could possibly be a Jenni-record! My secret? You really want to know?
Chip Skip from o.p.i! It really works! I was quite skeptical when applying the wonder-serum, however, as "they" say "the proof is in the pudding" (whatever that phrase means anyway...). I didn't have 1 chip over the last 7 days. My nails are just now starting to show a little wear and tear at the tips, which is nothing compared to how things used to be!
Although, I have a confession. I didn't wash dishes for the last 7 days. Thankfully, my hubby agreed to wash the dishes if I dried the dishes. Fair enough for me! I have a feeling the manicure wouldn't have lasted as long if I had to stick my beautiful nails in some dish water. Note to self: invest in a dishwasher...
Although, I have a confession. I didn't wash dishes for the last 7 days. Thankfully, my hubby agreed to wash the dishes if I dried the dishes. Fair enough for me! I have a feeling the manicure wouldn't have lasted as long if I had to stick my beautiful nails in some dish water. Note to self: invest in a dishwasher...
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
and the adventure begins...
Welcome to September! I'm way excited for fall to be here. I love the fall clothing, fall colors, fall foods. I. Love. Fall!
Today marks Day 1 of a 30 day journey of well-manicured hands. I decided to begin this journey with a week of clear polish. Mainly because I ordered some super cute OPI nail polishes a little late in the game and they won't arrive until later this week. However, even with clear polish, my hands look 100 times better! I already feel thismuchmore put together. And have I mentioned how pretty my fingers look?!
As I said earlier, I ordered some new OPI products that I am excited to try out. One that I'm specifically excited about is OPI's Chip Skip. I'm hoping it will hold the polish on my nails longer than the usual 2 days post-polish. Plus I ordered 2 cute fall colors to sport throughout the month, a new top-coat, and Drip Dry which is supposed to speed up the drying/setting time of the polish! Holler!
Today marks Day 1 of a 30 day journey of well-manicured hands. I decided to begin this journey with a week of clear polish. Mainly because I ordered some super cute OPI nail polishes a little late in the game and they won't arrive until later this week. However, even with clear polish, my hands look 100 times better! I already feel thismuchmore put together. And have I mentioned how pretty my fingers look?!
As I said earlier, I ordered some new OPI products that I am excited to try out. One that I'm specifically excited about is OPI's Chip Skip. I'm hoping it will hold the polish on my nails longer than the usual 2 days post-polish. Plus I ordered 2 cute fall colors to sport throughout the month, a new top-coat, and Drip Dry which is supposed to speed up the drying/setting time of the polish! Holler!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
30 days of well-manicured hands
i rarely take the time to give myself a manicure. my toes, however, are almost always painted. beginning September 1st, i am going to practice 30 days of well-manicured hands. for the next 30 days, my fingernails will be gorgeously painted. no chips. no cracks. no super long nails. just beautifully manicured hands with beautifully polished fingernails. thanks to my friend Heather's blog, i've been inspired to keep my hands looking polished and beautiful. check out her blog Stylishmint. i think you'll be inspired too!!
30 Days of Excellence
i recently read an article (unfortunately i can't remember where) that was rather inspiring. it talked about ways to be happier and healthier. one of the suggestions is to practice 30 days of excellence. the idea is that you pick something to stick to for 30 days (i.e. no TV; eating at home instead of restaurants) and then feel better about yourself when you've reached the 30 days to find that you can stick to something life-changing and positive for 30 days. sounds easy, huh?
well, i guess we'll see. i'm going to start this fun exercise on September 1st. each month i will have a new goal and will track that goal throughout the month. you should do the same. besides, what fun is it if i go at this project alone?
here's to a happier and healthier you and me, 30 days at a time. cheers!
well, i guess we'll see. i'm going to start this fun exercise on September 1st. each month i will have a new goal and will track that goal throughout the month. you should do the same. besides, what fun is it if i go at this project alone?
here's to a happier and healthier you and me, 30 days at a time. cheers!
Monday, August 2, 2010
how i spent my weekend
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| with Captain Jack Sparrow! see!! i'm a pirate, he's a pirate. it's meant to be. |
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| The Bounty from the Pirates of the Caribbean Movie |
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| the whole fleet |
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| the hubs & i |
Monday, July 26, 2010
my new addiction
it's no secret that i tend to jump on the bandwagon a little late. okay, more than a little late. i jump on when everyone else is jumping off. i'm just that cool. seriously. however, this time, i think i jumped on at a great time! i have a new (healthy) obsession. and it's yoga.
yes, i know. i'm aware that i'm a little late on the yoga bandwagon. i'm not the first person, nor the last, to sing it's yogi praises. if you haven't taken a yoga class or completed a yoga video, you are missing. out. big time.
i've recently started taking yoga on my lunch breaks at my local gym. it's an amazing break in my day. first, it gets my daily workout in midday, which i adore! and it gets me out of the office for an hour, which i adore even more! but lets talk about the physical reward for a moment, shall we? i've never experienced an exercise that tones so quickly! 3 classes into my yoga practice and i feel stronger and more flexible and leaner than ever before. and i definitely notice a difference in the mirror! hello lean arms! goodbye extra-wavey-back-of-the-arms-thing.
not only do i feel even more in shape, but my mind has never been so clear. maybe it's the hour of meditation and dedication, maybe it's the speech of unity and loving one another at the end, maybe i'm just a hippie... since i've been practicing yoga, i feel more in-tune with my own body, my own emotions, and everyone i encounter. i find i have a little more patience after each yoga practice. i find i have a little more tolerance after each yoga practice. and a lot more respect. respect for my mind, body, and others. it's a total cleansing experience. slowly, it's creeping into other aspects of my life. and i am embracing it whole-heartedly!
happy yoga-ing! Namaste.
yes, i know. i'm aware that i'm a little late on the yoga bandwagon. i'm not the first person, nor the last, to sing it's yogi praises. if you haven't taken a yoga class or completed a yoga video, you are missing. out. big time.
i've recently started taking yoga on my lunch breaks at my local gym. it's an amazing break in my day. first, it gets my daily workout in midday, which i adore! and it gets me out of the office for an hour, which i adore even more! but lets talk about the physical reward for a moment, shall we? i've never experienced an exercise that tones so quickly! 3 classes into my yoga practice and i feel stronger and more flexible and leaner than ever before. and i definitely notice a difference in the mirror! hello lean arms! goodbye extra-wavey-back-of-the-arms-thing.
not only do i feel even more in shape, but my mind has never been so clear. maybe it's the hour of meditation and dedication, maybe it's the speech of unity and loving one another at the end, maybe i'm just a hippie... since i've been practicing yoga, i feel more in-tune with my own body, my own emotions, and everyone i encounter. i find i have a little more patience after each yoga practice. i find i have a little more tolerance after each yoga practice. and a lot more respect. respect for my mind, body, and others. it's a total cleansing experience. slowly, it's creeping into other aspects of my life. and i am embracing it whole-heartedly!
happy yoga-ing! Namaste.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
you know you're getting older when...
i'm feeling listy again. so here's another for ya. feel free to add some in the comments!
top ten things that make me feel old
top ten things that make me feel old
- wearing earplugs to a concert/show.
- going to a show and standing in the back because i want to hear the music and not be pushed around by the testosterone-fueled adolescents.
- feeling excited about my veggies and herbs growing. "its exciting watching them grow!"
- going to bed at 10pm... on a friday.
- being irritated by loud bass coming out of the young punk's car next to me
- saying things like "young punk"
- saying things like "kids these days have no respect or sense of responsibility!"
- seeing on facebook that all my old high school lady-friends are now preggers. at the same time.
- seeing those preggers friends on facebook and thinking "good for them!" instead of "she's way too young for a baby!"
- hearing my coworker, who is the same age as my younger sister, using acronyms that i have no idea what they mean. in every other sentence. fml.
INSANE hip hop choreography
i'm addicted to SYTYCD (so you think you can dance). it's one of my favorite shows out there. and this hip hop piece is the reason i watch the show. alex is a trained ballet dancer, NOT a hip hop dancer. twitch is a hip hop dancer. a very very very talented hip hop dancer. watch what ensues below. it's incredible!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Top Ten Things that Make Me Happy
today feels like a list day. i'm not sure quite why that is... but here we go!
top ten things that make me happy
top ten things that make me happy
- cold adult beverages on a hot summer day. 'nuff said.
- puppies. who doesn't love puppies? if you don't love puppies, you have no soul. just sayin'!
- pina coladas on the beach. preferably at the Sandbar on Anna Maria Island, FL.
- hippie music. ok, most music in general. but hippie music makes me happiest! i think i was a rasta in another life.
- jeans that fit just right. ladies, you know what i'm talking about. your "go to" jeans. the ones that your butt always looks perfect in and yet you still feel totally comfortable.
- my goofball friends and fam. let's face it: life just isn't worth living without a group of goofy people to hang around with.
- nicknames. yes, nicknames.
- dancing. dance class, breaking out into random dance in random places, etc.
- el Capitan! ooohh, la la la la la la la, el Capitan! as a real life person, he wasn't much fun, but he sure made a good ass bottle of rum (thank you Opm for that wonderful song)
- MY HUBBY! (hope you had your barf bag ready. if you're going to spew, spew into this.)
Monday, June 21, 2010
food choices
in my quest to eat less meat, i find myself getting lots of questions about why i'm eating less meat. i take that back. not questions. strange looks and people saying "why?" in total astonishment and disbelief, as if i just said that the sky is orange, not blue. "why??" they say, as if eating less meat is a sin against humanity; as if eating less meat makes me completely insane in some way. why is eating less meat so crazy? i mean, consider the fact that as a culture, we're eating twice as much meat as we did in the 1950's. any chance that has anything to do with the obesity rate? or the rate of heart disease? other diseases? i digress... my main reason for eating less meat is simple: i want to feel better. i want to be healthier. but i do have a second reason. i'm taking a stand against how these poor animals are treated before they are led to slaughter, all for a juicy burger or ham sandwich. do you know that most of the animals are forced to live in dirty, unsanitary, quite frankly dangerous conditions? stacked shoulder to shoulder in conditions you would vomit if you saw? i mean, i understand that there's no "nice" way to kill something. but shouldn't these animals be treated with dignity and respect?
i recently was sent an article (thank you hubby!) that really sheds some light on this topic. it's from USA Today and is titled What's the godly way to treat animals? Check out the article here. i encourage you to not just read it, but really digest what is written. it's not an article about not eating meat. not even close. however, it does make you stop and think "how are the animals i'm eating being treated?".
now that you've been informed, are you going to do anything about it? make any changes to your diet? make any changes to your shopping selections (i.e. free range, hormone free)? become more educated on the treatment of these animals? something simple is better than nothing. good luck :)
i recently was sent an article (thank you hubby!) that really sheds some light on this topic. it's from USA Today and is titled What's the godly way to treat animals? Check out the article here. i encourage you to not just read it, but really digest what is written. it's not an article about not eating meat. not even close. however, it does make you stop and think "how are the animals i'm eating being treated?".
now that you've been informed, are you going to do anything about it? make any changes to your diet? make any changes to your shopping selections (i.e. free range, hormone free)? become more educated on the treatment of these animals? something simple is better than nothing. good luck :)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
hooray for weekends!
ugh. sunday night again. why must you go so fast, weekend? don't you know i love you?!
what a productive weekend it was! friday i made this:
looks tasty, doesn't it? well, letmetellya, it's not only tasty. it's delicious! it's braided lemon bread. special thanks to Smitten Kitchen for this super yum recipe! it's fairly simple to make too! Smitten Kitchen is one of my fav recipe sites. if you've never checked it out before, now is the time. super yummy recipes with beautifully written directions (including pictures!!) that help challenged cooks/bakers like me make spectacular dishes!
as you know, the hubs and i are working on being flexitarians. we decided to put a twist on mac n' cheese tonight! we added roasted bell peppers, sauteed onions and mushrooms to white cheddar mac and cheese!
it was delicious! it was made with love. lots and lots of love. so much love, in fact, that i burned my thumb while roasting the veggies :( i think my thumb will survive. and i now have proof that i actually make food, not just eat it! see Mom! i cook!
the rest of the weekend was filled with adult beverages and delicious food. we celebrated noel and diane's wedding on saturday. congrats to the newlyweds! although it rained all day, it surely didn't stop anyone from celebrating. good party, friends!
and now it's almost time for bed... have a great week everyone!
what a productive weekend it was! friday i made this:
looks tasty, doesn't it? well, letmetellya, it's not only tasty. it's delicious! it's braided lemon bread. special thanks to Smitten Kitchen for this super yum recipe! it's fairly simple to make too! Smitten Kitchen is one of my fav recipe sites. if you've never checked it out before, now is the time. super yummy recipes with beautifully written directions (including pictures!!) that help challenged cooks/bakers like me make spectacular dishes!
as you know, the hubs and i are working on being flexitarians. we decided to put a twist on mac n' cheese tonight! we added roasted bell peppers, sauteed onions and mushrooms to white cheddar mac and cheese!
it was delicious! it was made with love. lots and lots of love. so much love, in fact, that i burned my thumb while roasting the veggies :( i think my thumb will survive. and i now have proof that i actually make food, not just eat it! see Mom! i cook!
the rest of the weekend was filled with adult beverages and delicious food. we celebrated noel and diane's wedding on saturday. congrats to the newlyweds! although it rained all day, it surely didn't stop anyone from celebrating. good party, friends!
and now it's almost time for bed... have a great week everyone!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
I'm so bad at this...
wow. did i really just let almost an entire 6 months go by since my last post? i suck at this blogging game. guess i've gotta try a little harder, eh?
well life has been busy, hence the no posts. brandon and i celebrated our first wedding anniversary in the very place we got married. it was perfect! beautiful weather, tons of fun, and lots of celebrating!
i've decided to make a huge change in my life. i'm going flexitarian! so long meat, hello fish and veggies! of course, i'll still have to indulge in animal flesh at family functions and sparingly when i'm pregnant. gotta make sure i'm getting enough nutrients at that time! so far it's been roughly 2 weeks since the change and i feel great! more energy, less sickly, i'm loving life! if you have any recipe ideas, please share! i need them! special thanks to melissa for getting me started on delish recipes and a super useful cookbook!
we made some new friends recently and i think they're pretty cool. so cool, in fact, that we've decided to all go to disney world in january! yay! i've never been and i really want to go, so i'm beyond excited! although, i made my savings plan the other day... that didn't excite me. some would say i'm more of a "spender" than a "saver." but i have a goal! and that should get me through it. hopefully.
and finally, i will leave you with the image of what surely is going to be my next puppy: a mini goldendoodle! he will be named animal because he looks like a muppet. maybe i can afford him sometime in the next 2 years ;)
well life has been busy, hence the no posts. brandon and i celebrated our first wedding anniversary in the very place we got married. it was perfect! beautiful weather, tons of fun, and lots of celebrating!
i've decided to make a huge change in my life. i'm going flexitarian! so long meat, hello fish and veggies! of course, i'll still have to indulge in animal flesh at family functions and sparingly when i'm pregnant. gotta make sure i'm getting enough nutrients at that time! so far it's been roughly 2 weeks since the change and i feel great! more energy, less sickly, i'm loving life! if you have any recipe ideas, please share! i need them! special thanks to melissa for getting me started on delish recipes and a super useful cookbook!
we made some new friends recently and i think they're pretty cool. so cool, in fact, that we've decided to all go to disney world in january! yay! i've never been and i really want to go, so i'm beyond excited! although, i made my savings plan the other day... that didn't excite me. some would say i'm more of a "spender" than a "saver." but i have a goal! and that should get me through it. hopefully.
and finally, i will leave you with the image of what surely is going to be my next puppy: a mini goldendoodle! he will be named animal because he looks like a muppet. maybe i can afford him sometime in the next 2 years ;)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
i'm famous!
so brandon and i are famous. it's true. our picture is in the Anna Maria Island Sun publication in the wedding pages! check check check check it out! see if you can find us. it's a fun game. like where's waldo.
(clue: page 1, bottom left picture...)
(clue: page 1, bottom left picture...)
Sunday, January 10, 2010
beautiful dress!
i know, i know. i've already had the wedding of my dreams. however, how adorable is this dress???
i think i've found my dress for my vow renewal ceremony... which isn't even planned yet... or even in the cards for the next 5 or 10 years. but seriously. love. this. dress!
{image courtesy of jessica claire}
i think i've found my dress for my vow renewal ceremony... which isn't even planned yet... or even in the cards for the next 5 or 10 years. but seriously. love. this. dress!
{image courtesy of jessica claire}
2010 Goals Update
so far 2010 is going swimmingly! well, mostly. things are crazy busy at work, home life is fabulous; however, i have been fighting a wicked case of homesickness. boo on that! although, living a ridiculous number of miles away from your friends and family can make one feel sad from time to time. so i guess the feeling is normal?
on a lighter note, i am cruising though my goals! yay for me!
we tried a new dinner recipe this weekend: chicken stuffed with goat cheese (with herbs). it was pretty good. i've discovered i'm not a huge goat cheese fan, but it did taste yummy with the chicken! probably not a recipe i'll be jumping up and down to make again, but it was a new recipe!
i've been eating more fruits and veggies by eating a banana or apple in the morning and broccoli with hummus in the afternoon. woot.
took 2 dance classes this week: jazz and hip hop. loved the hip hop, but i'm feeling meh about the jazz dance class. the choreography wasn't really my style; it felt more like modern dance with jazz hands (jazz hands jazz hands jazz hands!) instead of jazz dance. so i'm thinking about jumping into ballet this week. it's always good to get back to the basics of dance.
i started the office clean-up! holy cleaning batman! but, i can now see the floor and my desk, so i call that progress! just need to find a few organizers, touch up the paint (possibly change the paint color...), add an area rug, and figure out how to decorate the blank wall. any ideas?? my sewing machine is the only thing on that wall.
i haven't yet started a budget, but i have started being extremely cautious of how we're spending money. i think that's a good start.
so there's the update! so far so good! let's hope i can continue this progress into next month.
on a lighter note, i am cruising though my goals! yay for me!
we tried a new dinner recipe this weekend: chicken stuffed with goat cheese (with herbs). it was pretty good. i've discovered i'm not a huge goat cheese fan, but it did taste yummy with the chicken! probably not a recipe i'll be jumping up and down to make again, but it was a new recipe!
i've been eating more fruits and veggies by eating a banana or apple in the morning and broccoli with hummus in the afternoon. woot.
took 2 dance classes this week: jazz and hip hop. loved the hip hop, but i'm feeling meh about the jazz dance class. the choreography wasn't really my style; it felt more like modern dance with jazz hands (jazz hands jazz hands jazz hands!) instead of jazz dance. so i'm thinking about jumping into ballet this week. it's always good to get back to the basics of dance.
i started the office clean-up! holy cleaning batman! but, i can now see the floor and my desk, so i call that progress! just need to find a few organizers, touch up the paint (possibly change the paint color...), add an area rug, and figure out how to decorate the blank wall. any ideas?? my sewing machine is the only thing on that wall.
i haven't yet started a budget, but i have started being extremely cautious of how we're spending money. i think that's a good start.
so there's the update! so far so good! let's hope i can continue this progress into next month.
Friday, January 1, 2010
new years goals 2010
i'm not one for making new years resolutions. i never stick to them and usually forget what the resolution was my mid-january! so instead of making a resolution, i'm going to make a list of goals and monitor my progress throughout the year. i'm hoping that by posting my goals, i'll be able to hold myself more accountable and actually remember the goals i made. so here we go!
for 2010, i will take better care of myself: mind, body, and soul.
Make a real budget and stick to it.
Read the Bible in it's entirety.
Make at least one new recipe per month.
Try snowboarding.
Be more patient by remembering that people are doing the best they can with what they have.
Eat more fruits and veggies.
Take dance classes twice a week.
Audition for the dance scholarship in August.
Finish my office/creative space.
Stop complaining about things beyond my control. Instead of complaining about things within my control; change them/make those things better.
i think that's it for now! it's a pretty solid list, i think. i'll be updating as i complete goals :) maybe make some new ones mid-year of i'm making good progress!
Happy New Year everyone!! Make the most of each day, you never know when your time is up :)
for 2010, i will take better care of myself: mind, body, and soul.
Make a real budget and stick to it.
Read the Bible in it's entirety.
Make at least one new recipe per month.
Try snowboarding.
Be more patient by remembering that people are doing the best they can with what they have.
Eat more fruits and veggies.
Take dance classes twice a week.
Audition for the dance scholarship in August.
Finish my office/creative space.
Stop complaining about things beyond my control. Instead of complaining about things within my control; change them/make those things better.
i think that's it for now! it's a pretty solid list, i think. i'll be updating as i complete goals :) maybe make some new ones mid-year of i'm making good progress!
Happy New Year everyone!! Make the most of each day, you never know when your time is up :)
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