2014: A List of Goals (UPDATE)

My first post of the new year was a list of several goals for 2014.
I shared what I had written in a notebook, and I’ll share that same photo again.

We are 1/3 done with the year, so I think it’s a good idea to look back and see how well I’ve done so far.

1. Ahh…the books! I’m currently on book 9 of 40 this year. According to my Goodreads account, that means I’m 5 books behind schedule (but I’m 20% done, so that’s cool!). Yes, I had a month-long set back, but I am not too worried. I think the goal can still be achieved. As for the book club, it might not be the typical kind, but my friend Katie and I have created a little two-person book club. We’ve met twice and will eventually be meeting for our third book this weekend. So, yeah, I might be a little behind, but it’s a consistency in my life.

2. Well, I definitely looked into and completely immersed myself in Project Life. You can read all PL-related posts by clicking here. I look forward to printing my pictures each month, spreading everything out and playing! My love for Project Life has spanned into a love for all things paper craft. I love embellishments like Thickers, stickers, page tabs, ribbon, washi tape, various colors of pens and inks, stamps, etc. I’m also super thankful that I did this, because I love having something physical to look back on and reminisce.
The addition of the Project Life journal has only added to the love.

3. Organization…kinda? Maybe? Sort of? My nail polish rack is not hanging on the wall, but it’s filled with my polishes. The ones I like to use regularly are on the “lazy Susan” Brad made for me a couple of years ago. I keep a lot of polish in a bag I carry back and forth to Brad’s. That keeps me from being super-organized, but at least I know where they all are.
My room is a lot cleaner, but I still don’t have bookshelves or a clear desk to put things away. There are three tall stacks of books on my floor, threatening to fall over at a moment’s notice. I did do a lot of tossing and clearing, so that helps me from floor clutter. I am doing decently with putting clothes away as soon as they are clean and dry. Inhabiting two spaces makes this hard, since I tend to live out of a bag. I don’t have to, but I choose to.
When I have my own place, whenever that may be, I look forward to having tons of organization.
As for all the new paper/craft things I’ve acquired, I utilize the organizer Brad got me a couple of Christmases ago, and I have a big Hello Kitty bag that holds my PL binder, pocket pages, and a plastic container with my journaling cards.

4. I’m trying. I let late night inspiration slip through the cracks, and that’s silly. Even if it means grabbing my phone and recording something there, I need to do it more. There are also so many times I have an idea for something, anything, to write. Blog posts. Short stories. Little articles. Whatever. And I don’t do it.
I let my laziness get the best of me. Still, when I sit down and actually start to write, it pours out.
I need to remind myself of this when I’m feeling lazy.

5. This needs improvement. Technology, specifically my iPhone, proves to be a LARGE distraction in my life. It is always on me, meaning I play stupid games, check IG, and pretty much do everything else but what I should be doing.
Whether it’s entertaining friends or watching a favorite TV show, the iPhone often has my full attention.
Sometimes, and this is embarrassing to admit, I feel like I haven’t seen someone who I spent a whole day/weekend with in forever, simply because of this device. It is a wonderful thing. Truly useful, it’s a great camera, and it’s important to have a phone on you (if I didn’t always have it on me, I wouldn’t have saved myself from being locked out of the car with it running because I wouldn’t have been able to call my dad to get the pin) for any emergencies.
I love taking and sharing pictures, but the other things I do on my phone (I play 6 different life-consuming games) should be reserved for waiting room boredom, moments of insomnia, or me time.
Recently, I saw (and bawled, it’s so beautiful) this video and it’s SO IMPORTANT.
Please watch. It’s something I need to keep in mind every time I want to pick up a phone when the people I love are around. Except for taking pictures. They don’t need to be posted to Instagram right away.
How do you get candids or fun shots of your friends if you’re not even looking at them? EXACTLY.

6. My Project Life probably has more iPhone photos than DSLR photos, though I am proud to admit that I have used the camera much more lately. My father used my phone when we were traveling to VA, for instance, so I had to rely on the DSLR and the photos I took were breathtaking on their own without iPhone filters or anything. It’s a cumbersome thing to carry around, but I think it will help with staying off the phone as well.

And that’s how I’ve done so far, from January to April. I am pretty pleased that each goal was at least breached or is a continual project to be worked on. The goals I made aren’t outlandish, but they are still difficult at times for me.
This is satisfying. Everything is reasonable and within reach, I just have to let it happen.

A New Endeavor: Project Life

Something that is on my list for 2014 is scrapbooking. In my 26 years, I have never considered scrapbooking. And, if I’m being honest, I still don’t really know if I understand scrapbooking. It’s a fancier photo album? A glorified journal with photos? I don’t know. But I intend to find out.

Not that I don’t have my moments, but I wouldn’t classify myself as crafty.
I express myself in some “artistic” ways, I guess, by writing or taking pictures of my life or even painting my nails.
It wasn’t until the last year or so that I got into scouting through craft stores and thinking of what I could do on my own to save a few bucks and make something from the heart.

Because of this lack of innate craftiness, I’m really excited to explore scrapbooking in the form of Project Life.
If you follow A Beautiful Mess, then you’ve surely heard of this.
Basically, with a few ingredients from the Project Life collection and my own photos and decorative choices, I can create a journal/photo album hybrid that will put my photos and memories to use. I love blogging and taking pictures, but I think it will be really nice to have something physical to flip through when I want to take a walk down memory lane. A lot of photos in my phone or on my computer go ignored. A lot of memories fall by the wayside because I document it (or not) on the blog. And it’s a total pain to go back through the pages. Not that I don’t do it, and I love it when I see something I forgot about, but it’s not as easy as picking up a book and flipping through it.

Lucky for me (though it is sad), a craft store nearby is closing, which means mega sales on basically everything I need (I just had to get the Sunshine Edition core kit, created by Elsie and Emma!). In fact, if it weren’t for this, I probably wouldn’t have considered doing it. It’s not like I have the funds to throw around, especially since trying a hobby for the first time doesn’t mean it will actually last. This is the perfect way to dip my toes in and, if I love it, later investments will be worth it. I may not have a ton of money, but I have plenty of time.
What a better way to use it then to record it?

2014: A List of Goals

When the new year approaches, it’s impossible not to think of what can be done differently to make it better than the last. In my case, 2013 was a rather rough year. I am glad that I took a leap of faith and left a tough part of my life behind. My spirit feels a lot lighter since I left and, though I struggle a bit more with a smaller job, I have time to sort my mind out and figure out what I’d like to be doing with this little space on Earth I call my life.

Last year, I made a list and posted it to the blog. I can say that I didn’t do a single thing on it.
I’m embarrassed, natch, but I think it’s also enlightening. I’m glad I posted it, and it’s okay that I didn’t do anything because life is impossible to plan. If you had asked me this time last year that I’d no longer be working at my full-time job, I wouldn’t have believed you. If you had told me I’d have a different job, I wouldn’t have believed you.
You could’ve told me that I’d have a shaggy pixie-esque cut and I wouldn’t believe you.
Because I change as the days do.

I love that my first goal here is the same as last time. I’ve had a pretty good invitation, but life is so busy and I also want to read modern fiction, new books, young adult reads, some memoirs. Even if I don’t get to be a part of a monthly book club, I just want to find a space to talk about a book with people who have strong opinions about it. I feel alone in reading because, unless it’s a popular series, not many people read the books I do.
It would be so great to change that, and I suppose that’s why it’s first on my list. Again.

Of course, this isn’t it.
There’s so much more I want to do than what’s above.
Little things like wearing more lipstick and jewelry, donating more clothes, using my Bento box for healthy lunches, etc.
But for now, here we go…

Weekend

In keeping with my simple goals (I’m doing okay so far), I used my Canon a bit more than usual this weekend. I decided to play with my
50 mm lens, even though it’s a bit restricting. It made the challenge that much more challenging. These are some of the photos, and they represent some pieces of the weekend.

Some cute fox nail art I did for my sister. We were inspired by these.
Wine and my current book in bed on Friday night (I’m exciting!).
Cali getting super comfortable on Brad’s bedroom floor.
Wearing the headband Maria crocheted for me on a Sunday shopping trip with Brad.
A cute new planner for next year. I plan (haha) on keeping my posts organized in it!

And that’s some of what happened this weekend! It’s fun taking photos with my camera, even if it’s little simple things around the house.
That’s part of the challenge and fun anyway.

It’s Thanksgiving week! Yay! Here’s to a great start!

A Few Goals

As a fan and follower of A Beautiful Mess, I have been inspired to try many different things.
One that’s really resonating right now is a list of  4 Simple Goals to accomplish in a short amount of time.
Nothing crazy or completely unreasonable. Just a few things I’d like to do before the new year begins.

Which will be here before we know it.

So here goes…

1. Learn to crochet. And be patient with it. It’s not going to happen the first time I go at it (or the 15th, as has been proven thus far). But practice makes perfect, so don’t give up! I also don’t want to expect to go from a simple dish cloth to an infinity scarf in an instance. Baby steps. I’ll be happy just to have a simple square of crocheted fabric as proof that I accomplished this goal.

2. Break out the Rebel at least once a week. I love my camera, I love the crisp photos it produces, it wasn’t cheap by my standards…and yet I let the poor baby sit in a camera bag 99% of the time. I’ll admit I’ve allowed myself to get discouraged by my photographs. And I become uninspired because I don’t leave the area much. But the best way to challenge yourself with photography is to search for the little wonderful things in life. I am thankful I have an iPhone that takes some excellent photos (I wouldn’t have half the photos I do without it), but this piece of equipment, and the few lenses I have, need to be utilized.

3. Clean out my car. I’m too embarrassed to show you what the inside looks like. Basically, it looks like a bookworm who eats things wrapped in aluminum foil lives back there. It is a total mess and I’ve let it get too far. The funny thing is, I don’t think it will take that long to clean out. But I just can’t get myself to do it. So I really must.

4. Stay active. Whether I utilize my dance DVDs, continue taking long walks with my sister (which is a little tricky now that it is pitch black by the time I get home from work), or going to the gym (though I don’t see that happening), I would like to workout at least 3 times a week.
Sure, it would be great to lose weight or get toned. But I also want to do this for my mind. Winter is such a rough time, with long nights and short days, cold weather and storms that keep you indoors, and the post-holiday blues (or pre-holiday shopping stress). Exercise helps boost those endorphins and release any tension. It’s a great relief for my mind and body, so I want to keep that up.

And there are my 4 goals for the next couple of months! Let’s see how I do…

Summer 2012: A List of Goals

(Photo taken at Macky’s on my vacation last year…memories…sigh…)

Summer hasn’t officially (seasonally, calender-wise whatever) started, but I’m pretty sure it’s all anyone can think about. Vacations, the beach, swimming and sun bathing, cookouts, getaways…the options really expand this time of year. I decided to make a list of things I’d like to accomplish/do/achieve/whatever over the next few months, and they range from smart behavior to maximizing fun.
I figured I’d share it on the blog.

1. This one should be a given, but sunscreen is a MUST. I’ve never cared about getting a tan anyways, and I certainly don’t think it’s worth all the risks. Being cautious for myself, Brad, everyone in the sun is something I really want to be smart about. I also need to religiously use Cutter spray. I’ve already had quite a few bug bites, and each one is a doozy. I don’t want that happening anymore!
2. I want to keep a healthy diet, focusing on lots of yummy summer fruits and vegetables. I’m going to pig out on occasion, that’s just my style, but on those hot and sweaty days, usually you just want to munch on a yummy fruit salad.
3. Exercising is something I want to start up again. I’ve missed the gym, but warm weather means getting exercise in other ways too! Swimming, hiking, running around like crazy, maybe even purchasing and riding a bike around town…
4. I want to focus on and enjoy everyday. I am (and always will be) waiting for the weekend, but I still have evenings for happy hours, swimming on super-hot days, dinners on the deck. I want to make the best of what I have instead of constantly wishing my days away.
5. I want to complete at least one roll of Holga film, as well as Diana Mini, Action Sampler, and the Fisheye. I’d also like to use my Fuji Instax cameras a lot more. It’s been so long since I picked up those cameras, but those pictures usually make the best memories. I want to stop relying on my iPhone. It’s spectacularly easy, but I miss my camera babies.
6. I’d like to find and perfect the defining 2012 summer cocktail. I’m leaning towards a Pimm’s Cup, but I’m also down to make a mean sangria.
7. I want a lot of porch and deck days/evenings/nights with my family and friends.
8. I’ve always wanted to have a picnic in the park.
9. It is necessary that I make some trips to see out-of-town friends.
10. I’d love to look into some new towns or cities I haven’t been to and take a random daytrip to explore the area.

And of course, I think it goes without saying, I look forward to lots of great summer music and a ton of reading material.

Here’s hoping summer 2012 is great no matter what!!!

The Ongoing Hair Dilemma

I have a hard time sticking with one hairdo for a long period of time. Throughout college, I maintained short hair, changing it up from a simple, layered bob to an edgy half-pixie/half-angled thing, and then eventually cutting the rest off. As it is, I’m a very low-maintenance person. Shorter hair has always suited that. Less drying/styling time, less effort. The epitome of ease came with my pixie. I loved how quick and simple it was, how it literally took seconds to do. Unfortunately, I wasn’t secure enough with myself in it.

There aren’t many pictures of me with this cut, mostly because I didn’t feel comfortable or proud of myself with it (Strange, because I met my love with this ‘do, and it was one of the things he liked about me). Which is unfortunate, because looking back it wasn’t all that bad.. The only unfortunate fact about this “low-maintenance” cut is that it would require monthly trims…something I couldn’t afford at the time.
I probably still couldn’t…

The process of growing out such short hair has been torture. I still feel like it’s in a constant awkward growing out phase, which is hardly true anymore. There were many times in the last year I’ve wanted to hack at the mane. But I’ve kept it going, and now it’s at the longest it’s been in half a decade. Unfortunately, with all the length comes longer drying times, more bad-hair-days, more ponytails, split ends from all the heat and styling damage. As the “low maintenance” girl I am (OKAY FINE…LAZY), I find it hard to come up with interesting things to do with my hair on short notice. So I usually look like a cavewoman or a 15 year old about to wash her face before bed. Not cool.

However, I’ve decided to stick it out. Maybe it won’t be for long. Maybe summer will come and I will freak out. But, after watching several YouTube hair tutorials this past weekend, I did my first successful attempt at milkmaid braids. This is a style I’ve been wanting to pull off for quite some time, thanks to it’s appearance on some of my favorite blogs (like here and here) and it’s general cuteness.

Not the greatest picture, but you get the gist.

This is the video that helped me finally achieve this little hair goal of mine. Check out all of the Strawberry Koi Vintage videos…there are a lot of great tips (lots of retro styles, a particular favorite of mine). I even trimmed my bangs with a little nudge from her confidence in doing her own hair (I trimmed them after this picture, though). Unfortunately, I don’t have the thickest hair, but succeeding in this style has given me a little boost. I wasn’t doing it correctly for my length, my first mistake. I can do lots of fun things with the locks if I teach myself and have some patience. If I exhaust all the options, maybe then I’ll chop my hair off again. But the hair deserves a fair shot at some fun. And it feels good to learn something and to carry it out, even if it’s just a little hairstyle.

Inspirado

I love photography. Or pictures. Picture taking. Memories on film and in JPG. Sharing them with people. Getting inspiration.

When I look at stuff like this, I get mixed feelings. I’m so excited to take great photos and share my moments and memories and things I think are beautiful. And at the same time, I think…”Who are you kidding? You’re not that good.” But you know what? I’m getting really sick of thinking that way. I’m getting really sick of holding myself back. I’m not perfect. And you can’t always win and have the best pictures all the time. Some win, some lose. But if you work hard enough, and are passionate enough, I think anything can happen.

I just gotta get some of that confidence.

{All pictures are from various Tumblrs}

Dive right in.

I’ve been wanting to dye my hair for a while now. I just never do it. (It’s hard for me to make changes, even if I want to so bad and it’s such a simple and fixable thing.) I mean, I did in April, but it proved to be pretty much ineffective. I didn’t lose hope though. I bought another dye and it sat in my bathroom until last night…I’m still getting used to it. And it’s different depending on what kind of lighting is going on. But it’s one of those “Lasts 28 shampoos” dyes (although everything sticks on my hair a bit longer), and I think it’s worth it to try, so that I know what it’s like and I’m not always wondering.

 

A big thanks to my sister, who did the job for me. You’re the best, always!

Life Improvement

Last week was very rough. I was having a lot of anxiety over life and mortality and faith and other things that will just make me sound like a stoner. It was not fun. But this week, I’ve been doing so much better. I’m getting over things a lot quicker. I’m working on it though. Still have my fearful moments. But you learn from those. And in this case, I feel so blessed and thankful that I have been chosen for some reason to be on this earth and live this life and breathe this air and taste delicious foods and wear pretty clothes and hug people and kiss and fall in love and share moments and smell yummy scents and learn and teach and grow and change and experience LIFE.

A while back, I read this and I’ve been wanting to gather a list of things I need/want to do to make this life an even better experience for me. I guess my fear gave me the final kick in the ass that I needed to do it. So…here goes…

• Stop cursing, at least as much as I do
• Take a vitamin everyday
• Drink more milk, even if it’s just a couple glasses a week
• Exercise more, even if it’s just once a week
• Take responsibility for/be responsible in all of my actions
• Stop eating fast food as frequently, or, when I do, order one or two things only (Yeah, I usually get at least 3 things)
• Listen to music everytime I drive (it’s sometimes the only time I get to at home)
• Start planning little day trips or weekend getaways.
• See more of the states and, eventually, the world
• Focus on the people and things I love as opposed to the people and things I hate/make me angry
• Start going to bed earlier, even if it’s just by a half hour
• Take more “me time” that involves less of the computer and more reading/writing
• Utilize all of my creativity through fashion, photography, and writing, all things that I feel passionate about but don’t give as much attention physically as I do mentally
• Keep in touch with friends I don’t get to see at least once a week
• Expel the bad people from my life once and for all
• Put my guard up a little more. I wear my heart on my sleeve and I usually get used/manipulated for this.
• Stand up for myself.
• Contribute to people who sincerely need it, whether it be by donations or through volunteering
• Stop and smile as often as possible
• Cry when I feel like crying, laugh when I feel like laughing
• Never let anyone change me but me
• Try something new as often as possible (food, music, makeup, activities, etc.)
• Enjoy every moment as much as possible and cherish everything I have because I am so very very lucky
• Cherish being young and being able to be a little selfish

I could probably go on forever. But this is good for now.

Lazy Sunday

It is a gray, rainy day. I’ve mentioned many times how much I love those. Sometimes, I wish I had someone to spend it with. I miss college so much lately, but especially when I’d like to be lounging with my friends in one of our rooms, watching crappy movies, snacking, and typically nursing hangovers.

I had a good weekend. Maria came home Friday, and, after much debate, we decided to head up to Wilkes-Barre to look around at some of the stores, get a late dinner at Panera Bread, and read magazines (and craft books, in her case) at Barnes and Noble. No matter what, we always have a good time, laughing tons and basically acting ridiculous. 

Yesterday I woke up early to head to my hair appointment. The salon is 45 minutes away, but it’s worth it. I’ve loved Ashley since I first went to her back in 2008. She is worth the trek and the money. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my hair, but when I took it out of the ponytail, she gushed at the length. She’s only known me with hair no longer than chin-length, so she encouraged me to keep growing and gave me some shape and bangs ( I’ve missed bangs!). I was getting bored and insecure with my hair, but I forgot that I haven’t had a good haircut since I went to her last March. I’ve only gotten a trim since then and it was from an older woman and at a crappy place because I was desperate for a bang trim, which she didn’t actually give me anyway. Let that be a lesson…never stoop, just go for the goods.

I experience a new first in my life. SNOW TUBING. We listen to the radio at work all day long, and they’ve been advertising it like crazy so I randomly mentioned it to my friends. Next thing you know, we’re setting up a date on Facebook to go for it. I was super nervous, like when you go on a rollercoaster for the first time, but, like with the rollercoaster, I fell in love and kept going back for more. I will definitely try to go back and do it again before the winter season is over. But this time, I’ll make sure I don’t hurt my tailbone and I’ll load up on extra pairs of socks.

As for today, I’ll be lounging in my room, playing mellow music and looking at blogs and eventually going to Joe’s to watch Lost and finish up the 3rd season. I’ve given up on the prospect of us actually catching up in time for the new season (FEB 2nd!!!), but at least I’ve seen them all anyways. I just wanted a refresher. Man, I love that show.

Part of me is wishing I had my own place in a city somewhere. I’d love to bundle up and walk the streets, eventually stopping in some cafe to have a cup of coffee and read a book or something. One day.

From Me to Me

I can’t wait to start making some real dinero. The internet may ultimately be a waste of time, but through it I’m starting to realize what kind of life I want. What kind of goals I’d like to achieve. For one, it helped rekindle my love for writing. Blogging isn’t even close to a novel, but once I set up a decent desk space in my soon-to-be-clean room, I’m hoping it will be the perfect situation. And I’ll do it again when I move.

Another thing is, I’ve realized I don’t take enough pictures. Most of the blogs I love are reliant on the use of many pictures, whether it be because of the clothing they wear or the stories they tell. There are so many times in my life, when I take a deep breath and feel good and the world looks good and I wish wish wish that I had a camera on me to capture that moment. A cotton candy sky or the vast view of the valley from the other side.

Though I have a digital camera and it works just fine, I would love something with better quality. And unfortunately, I just don’t have money to spend on things other than food, gas, and necessities. But even more so, I am very much getting into the idea of a Holga camera (thanks to Rockstar Diaries, one of my favorite blogs). The price on Amazon seems pretty good, but I decided to look through Fred Flare and found this gem. Though it’s a bit more money, it’s also a bit more, well, me. Plus I still have some money on a gift certificate…so…we’ll see.

Perhaps someday soon, I’ll get one. I can’t wait to have pictures like that in frames around my own place.

Image from Fred Flare

Little Wish

It may seem like a simple dream, but man, I cannot wait to have a family someday. And for the little things, mostly. Obviously, to take care of and love my children. But also to invite their friends over for play dates. To cook dinner for my kids and the hubby. To lounge on the couch with everyone for movie nights.

I was inspired because I love when I visit a friend and their mom is so happy to see everyone. When they ask about your life and offer you drinks and snacks, no matter how old you are. And, this may seem strange, but I love how they almost constantly have the phone attached to their ear, sharing stories about their kids or their lives with their mothers or sisters or friends.

I really hope I am lucky enough to have that one day.

Image

Crossroads

Since I saw the classic film starring Miss Britney Spears herself, I’ve wanted to go on a road trip. Unfortunately, I don’t have the proper financial situation to plan on, and I highly doubt I’ll find a karaoke bar that pays the best performer of the night.

I am reminded of my need for an amazing, life-changing road trip because a good friend of mine is currently doing a Southern Tour with his band Pegasus Jetpack. And it just seems like so much fun. Maybe not a crazy, life-affirming experience. But good fun with good friends.

And he got to meet Piglet…lucky.