30 Days

I'm not the type of person who journals.  This blog is the closest thing I come to that.  But I found a concept online that sounds intriguing.  It's called 30 days of lists.  It was actually a book that you could purchase in this etsy store, but I like the idea itself.  

The idea is simple.  You can capture part of your life for one month simply by making lists.  Lists of things you have to do, want to do, errands to run, and things to pick up at the store.  It can have random thoughts and ideas, without putting time and effort into putting them out into coherent statements.  

I've decided to try this for October.  I have a mini composition notebook that will be perfect.  Every day I will write something in it, and I will work to achieve what I have written.  Some days will have simple things to do after work, while my weekends will contain much more.  If I don't achieve something, it will make its way onto the next day.  If there is a reason why something wasn't done, I'll try to write why... Although I feel like the reason will often be because I'm too optimistic about how little time something will take, and how much I can get done in a certain time period.

My goal is to make a list everyday for the rest of the year.  I've decided that if I am successful, then I will treat myself to this, for my lists of 2012.  

I like the idea of not only have a goal, but capturing my life in a simple way, with a complete overview, rather than specific focus.  It's something to capture me, and who I am, so I can look back at my life. 

Vacation

This past weekend I got a free trip to New Orleans.  A family I babysit for paid for my ticket to come down with the for a wedding.  I had to babysit during the rehearsal and the reception, but also had plenty of time to explore the city on my own.

I got down there on Friday, and after a day of travel I ended up crashing early with the girls.  Saturday morning I got up and walked around the city a bit, did some shopping, then headed back to get ready for the wedding.  I had to meet up with the family at 12:30, and the wedding was at 3.  The ceremony was at St. Louis' Cathedral, which was absolutely gorgeous.  Pcitures were done outside in Jackson Square, and the weather couldn't have been better.  There was then a second line through the French Quarter.  From what I under, this is traditional for NOLA weddings.   It's basically a parade, led by a brass band and then the bride and groom, followed by the rest of the wedding party and guests.  It was a lot of fun!  Afterwards I went back with the girls and hung out until about midnight.

OKcupid has a new function called locals, where it uses your gps location through the app on your phone, and finds other active users in the local vicinity.  Through this, I ended up meeting James, who was from New Jersey, and in the city for work.  We met up, walked up and down Bourbon St., had beignets at Cafe du Monde at 3 am, and hung out and talked until after 4 in the morning.  We had a couple of drinks, and experienced the "to-go" cup.  In NOLA, there aren't laws preventing you from drinking outside.  You can walk into a bar, buy a drink, and then go back outside and enjoy it while wandering around. It was nice to have a friend to hang out with, so I wasn't wondering around at night by myself.

NOLA "to-go" cup

I went to the aquarium and the zoo on Sunday.  It was a lot of fun!  I wondering around and did a ton of walking.  I came home, napped and then went out for dinner.  I had an amazing meal, with authentic NOLA spices.  It was sooo good!  I grabbed a beer and walked around a little bit, and then went back to the hotel to pack and crash.  Monday was spent doing some more shopping, and hanging out until my heading to the airport.

Blackened chicken with jambalaya and a homemade cream sauce

The culture and food in NOLA was amazing.  There are musicians everywhere playing on the streets.  Shops with local art, jewelry and antiques are on every corner.  The food is delish!  Two things that are must haves in the city are pralines and beignets.  Beignets were my favorite, a mix between fried dough and doughnuts. I definitely wasn't following weight watchers while I was there.  While I had a lot of fruit and water, and did quite a bit of walking, I wasn't going to deprive myself of the flavors that NOLA has to offer. It was worth it, but its not easy getting back on track when you get back home.

Smoking Time Jazz Club and beignets from Cafe du Monde

Surprisingly, I had a pretty good time by myself.  There weren't any times when I felt self-conscious or uncomfortable being on my own.  When I had meals I sat and read my book, and I had no issues wandering around and doing my own thing.  In some aspects, I actually liked being on my own better than being with other people.  I got to do my own thing, at my own pace, with nobody's unwanted interference.  It was all about me, and what I wanted to do.

Living at home

I moved home after graduation, and it was a disaster. My sister still lived at home, and her, my mom and I would clash constantly. I made it about a year, and then I moved off on my own.

DIY projects

I am the queen of unfinished projects.  Whatever it may be, I get all amped up, work on it for awhile, usually get about halfway through, and then put it aside.  That's the point when a month goes by before I pick it up again.  Most of my projects are knitting projects, but there are others involved too.  My bff got a scarf for her birthday in 2009, but I didn't finish it until her birthday in 2010. 

I have recently discovered pinterest.  I had signed up a few months ago to view some things, but didn't actually use it.  To be perfectly honest, I didn't even really know what it was, or how to use it.  But in the last 3 days I have become addicted!  I use it for everything.  

The concept is pretty easy once you figure it out.  Each user has a page in which they have different boards, each board being for a different category or subject.  Basically whatever they want them to be.  Then each board has 'pins.'  The pins are basically links to different webpages.  Its like a visually and categorically designed way to view your bookmarks.  But the you can share them with everyone.  You can 'repin' something from another user, and others can do the same for things you pin.  You can follow boards, and others can follow yours.  Anything you see is up for grabs. 

I have a bunch of different boards.  I have recipes I want to try, recommendations I've already made, and desserts.  I have craft ideas, DIY projects, and fun/inspirational quotes.  My favorites are the recipes I want to try, and the DIY projects.

Money is tight this year, so I think I'll be doing more of the homemade types of gifts.  I figure its the end of September now, so that gives me a few months to work on stuff.  I love Christmas shopping, because I love buying things for the people I love.  I have a hard time passing up a good deal.  My mom jokes that I can't walk into a store without buying something, and its kinda the truth.  So hopefully I can focus on the projects, rather than spending money.  It's the thought behind the gift that matters, not the gift itself. So hopefully this year I can actually work on these projects from start to finish, and be happy enough with the results to gift them.  'Tis the season!

Exercise and Weight Loss, take 2

One of my very first blog posts was about weight loss, and how I was going to get up off my ass, and join the gym.  Well, for once I am proud to say that I actually did something I said I was going to do.  I'm notorious for making a big deal of something, and then letting something insignificant become a perfect excuse for why I don't do it.  I'm great at excuses.

As of July 20, 2011, I had lost 15.6 lbs on weight watchers.  Eight weeks later, that number is an even 19.  I had a few of gains in the middle, where I fell of the plan, but I proceeded to pick myself up, and then I had a 3 lb loss.  That was everything I gained, and then some. But that's all part of the plan.  Weight watchers is a lifestyle, not a diet, and there will be ups and downs.  And I won't let the downs prevent me from moving forward.

I'm still bad about the gym.  I'll be good for a few days, and then I'll fall off.  Usually the good days are the beginning of the week, and I slack on my days off and the weekends.

I need to change this.  I started meeting with the trainer once a week to teach me what I need to know about strength training.  I don't want to hurt myself by doing something stupid.  And I like working with him.  It's adding something to my cardio, and I'm almost at the point where I think I could start doing stuff on my own.  Maybe...

But I need to get up and go. That's my biggest problem. I know that I can't get where I want to be if I don't.  I want to be fit, and I want to be healthy.  And going to the gym regularly will help me do that.  I'm still not happy with my body.  I'm down several sizes, and at the size that I want to stay at.  So now I need to focus on toning and strength training.  I can do this.

Online Dating and moving on

When I first broke up with Mike I decided to take the first step into the world of online dating.  I wasn't looking to jump into anything serious right away.  But I realized that I had to put myself out there in order to move on.  When we broke up for good the second time, I reactivated my account.  

And surprisingly, I find it exhilarating.  The last few weeks have given me the opportunity to look at all the things that were wrong with my relationship, why it ended, and what I really want in my life. I'm looking out there and seeing that there are so many guys that want the same things.  Guys with hopes and dreams and goals for their lives. 

Right now I'm using okcupid, which is a free option for online dating.  I found it to be the best option out there.  I've taken the initiative and sent some messages, and I've had some guys message me.  I haven't set up any dates yet, but I've had some conversations that were, to say the least, interesting.

I originally decided to give the free option a chance just to see what's out there.  I wasn't ready to look for something serious.  Then I got back together with my ex, and the second time it ended, I had a lot more closure, and was more confident.  I'm glad we got back together, because it allowed me the opportunity to really realize a few things.  And I have trully moved on.  Sure I have my moments, we were together for a year and shared a lot together, but for the most part, I'm glad that its over.  I think that when I do miss something, it's that I miss him, but I don't miss our relationship at all. 

I'm ready to try something new.  I've never really dated before... Mike and I were in a relationship within a week of meeting each other.  And I've always lacked a confidence when it comes to meeting guys, and putting myself out there for someone. But for once, It's all about me. I can be picky, and I can wait for a guy that makes me feel special.  I think that I'm pretty awesome, and I deserve nothing but the best.  I'm trying to be more confident, and to let everyone out there see who I really am.  I forgot for a little while, but I've found myself again, and I'm ready to share that with the world.

Growing Up

I have a feeling over the next few years I'm going to write quite a bit about growing up.  At the age of 24, a lot of things are going to be changing.  Weddings, houses, babies.  It's crazy.  While I don't see myself anywhere near old enough to encounter these things, I find my peers taking these steps.

In the last year, I've  attended 3 weddings, and was in 2 of them.  I know that I'm now at the age where all of this begins, and will attend many more weddings over the next couple of years.  Last week I stood up as Maid of Honor in my best friends wedding.  This weekend we toasted my sister and her husband on their 1st anniversary.

Seana and Bobby... married 8/27/2011

As a single woman in my mid-20's, it's tough watching all my friends pair off and take these steps.  Not to say I'm not extremely happy for them, because that's not the case at all.  But, at the moment, I only have one other single friend.  Everyone else has been with their significant other for years.

And then come the babies.  J, one of my closest friends, has 2 adorable kids. I love spending time with the 3 of them.  But at the same time, its tough for her to get away without them.  Same with my sister.  My niece is 7 months old, and pretty much the cutest thing on the planet (I may be slightly biased).  My sister is only 22, and already has a family and a fabulous life.  It's hard not to be jealous.  She never seems to have time to return a phone call, and I don't see her or the baby nearly often enough. I don't want to sound bitter, I know that she's busy, but I miss them both, and hate only seeing them a few times a month, especially because they only live 25 minutes away.

I mean, isn't she precious!

Here I am, at 24 years old, working a job that has nothing to do with my degree, struggling with a load of debt (to get said degree I don't use), and living at home with my parents.  In the last couple of months I've gone from being that person in a steady serious relationship, who lived on my own, so where I am today.  But when it comes down to it, I'm happy with where I am.  The decisions I made were difficult, but there were what was best for me. I'm not ready for the lives that my friends have. I'm just starting the adventure of being an adult.  I'm not quite ready to grow up yet.