Dear 2020, You Bitch

Ah, 2020. A new decade full of possibilities. I think I can speak for most of us when I say we hoped that this year would be the one that inspired us to change our lives for the better. There's just something about entering into a new decade that makes anything seem possible. Or maybe that's my inner millennial talking. (We are a bunch of dreamers right?)

Like so many others, I started this year with goals and resolutions. I was going to start some of the projects I'd always thought about doing, but never did. I was going to go on vacations and take lots of professional looking photos for my travel blog. I was going to get fit and eat better because I don't want high cholesterol or blood pressure. I was going to finally start dating after years of flying solo. I was finally going to pay off my credit cards and really start saving money. And I was going to take the first steps towards buying my own place.

It started off well enough. In January, I joined a gym. I felt so official and motivated to work out. I had my vacation planned out and purchased that new camera I'd had my eye on for quite some time. I was working diligently on the travel blog and looking into healthier recipes to cook. 

It didn't take long for things to begin a downhill descent. 

I've never been the biggest professional basketball fan, but even I knew what a legend Kobe Bryant was. I remember watching some of the plane crash footage on a TV at the gym and thinking how sad it was for his family and for the world to lose him and his daughter. What a terrible way to end January.

Then everyone thought there would be a World War III. That is, if the murder hornets didn't get us first.

In probably mid-February while at the gym, I started hearing about the virus we now know as COVID-19 on the news. All I thought about at the time was how scary that was for China and for my co-worker's son who was living there. Then, when cases started rising in other countries like Italy and South Korea, I felt for them too. When we got our first case in the US, I still thought it would probably blow over soon.

Not six months earlier, my friend Courtney and I had gone to Washington, DC. We visited the Natural History Museum while in town and one specific exhibit we checked out was called Outbreak. It was about pandemics and widespread viruses. It was so easy to think that global pandemics were a thing of the past, even as one of the employees took us through an activity showing how easily a virus can spread.

Flash forward a few months and here we are, living this damn exhibit. 

Much like the rest of the world, my life has been affected by Coronavirus. My vacation was postponed a year, my gym closed, other upcoming events I was looking forward to have been cancelled and I've had to spend a lot of quality time alone with my thoughts (never good). Although, complaining about my misfortune seems really selfish and stupid because ultimately my life is still pretty good. 

I didn't lose my job or get my hours cut, I got to work from home for two months before being allowed back in the office. I haven't caught COVID, and neither has anyone close to me. 

BUT... the isolation has really gotten to me. I've been forced to think about a lot of things I was trying hard to push back and, honestly, I've found myself feeling depressed and anxious instead of motivated like I hoped to be at the beginning of the year. What's stressing me out? Besides the possibility of getting COVID and giving it to my grandparents?

Well, I'm in my 30's now and facing the social stigma of being a loser because I live with my parents. And whereas a part of me wants to say 'screw you haters, I'm not wasting my money on rent', another part can't help but feel like I'm not a proper adult. 

I've also managed to wrack up quite a bit of debt, and have virtually no savings. It always bugs me when older generations speak badly about millennials, but it bugs me more when I prove them right. 

I've had a lot of time to think about my life as a whole (relationships... or lack there of, my job, my writing) and it's tended to make me feel worse as opposed to better.

And, over the past month, I've done a lot of self reflecting. In the past, it has been easy for me to ignore protests about racial injustice. It has been easy to pretend that racism isn't really a big problem anymore. But lately I, and a lot of other people I'm sure, have almost been forced to face reality. I've had to ask myself a lot of uncomfortable questions.

I've never considered myself to be a racist, though most people would say that, and I'm not sure how much weight it holds anymore. I can say that I haven't been very anti racist. I tend to ignore things that make me sad and that don't directly impact me. I like to live in a nice little bubble where everything is fine and people don't treat each other differently because of skin color or sexual orientation. But that's just not realistic.

I've been doing a lot more reading and listening than ever before. I've been having conversations with people about race. I've been facing my own shortcomings. And though it has not been a fun process, it has been a necessary one. 

On the slightly brighter side of 2020, I have been somewhat productive during quarantine. I repainted my bedroom after years of thinking about it. Courtney and I started the YouTube channel we've been talking about for quite some time. I've been able to keep up with the travel blog and have worked a little bit on some of my stories (that I hope to turn into novels someday). I helped get ready for my brother's wedding and finished my to do list on time for once. I cleaned and decluttered. I completed two virtual race events, walking over 150 miles.

I list all of that because I know it's easy to lose the good among the bad sometimes. I try to remember the Lauren Alaina song Getting Good: "Once I learn to grow right where I'm planted, maybe that's when life starts getting good." It's easy to imagine that if you just had one more thing - a bigger house, love, money - that everything would be better. But sometimes you just have to learn to appreciate where you are now. To appreciate the things you do have instead of focusing on what you don't (really talking to myself here).

So thank you, 2020, you bitch, for being a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad year (even in Australia)... and yet somehow bringing about good changes, both for the world and for me. It's definitely one for the books. And it's only half over.

May Favorites

1. A Hot Glue Gun Mess by Mr. Kate- As you may know, I've been watching a lot of Mr. Kate's YouTube channel recently and I love it. When I found out Mr. Kate also wrote a book with personal stories and DIY projects, I had to buy it. It's odd, funny, gross and most definitely entertaining. If you love DIYs and don't mind hearing a few stories about feminine hygiene and plastic surgery, check this book out. You probably won't regret it.

2. Yellow Box Flip Flops- I can remember being a pre-teen and being irked by the idea of wearing shoes that fit in between my toes. Little did I know these would soon become my preferred footwear. I own A LOT of flip flops but my Yellow Box are some of my favorites. They are comfy and stylish and come in various colors and patterns. I think I'm up to 5 pairs now but I can't help but browse through them every time I go to Belk.

3. Benchcraft Zeb Queen Sleeper Sofa- I know, I know. We're tired of hearing about your couch! I just can't help but be proud of it.

4. Burt's Bees Lip Balm- I've used quite a few different chapsticks  lip balms over the years and Burt's Bees is probably my favorite. It keeps my lips moist and is made with all natural ingredients, which is a plus. It's normally the only lip product I use. Some people will do anything for beeswax (inside joke).

5. Cookie Jar Gift- This year for Mother's Day, I wanted to think of a clever gift for my mom & two grandmothers. The idea of making a gift basket entered my mind but then I saw this idea online. I bought cookie jars at Walmart and filled them with candy, lotion, nail polish and even quinoa. Each was personalized and they all loved their gifts. This could also work for birthdays and Christmas.

April Favorites

1. Midnight Show paint- I decided a month or so back that I was ready to re-paint my living room. I wasn't sure exactly what color I wanted so I started browsing Pinterest (like I do). I found this color by Behr and I loved the way it looked in pictures so I ventured out to Home Depot and found the paint swab. Soon after, I purchased a few gallons and my parents graciously painted while I was out of town last week. I love the color!

2. Pink Nail Polish- Since spring has sprung (sort of) in Georgia, I wanted a brighter nail color. The one pictured above is the closest pink I could find online to the color of my nails. I only hope I can keep from breaking a nail before Easter.

3. Cure For the Common Breakup- I recently started reading the Black Dog Bay series by Beth Kendrick. Cure For the Common Breakup is the first book in this series. I actually read the second book first (I didn't realize it was a series) but it wasn't a big deal. Each book can be read as a standalone though they do overlap somewhat. I've found myself hoping for books about other characters in this little town. If you like chick lit, you should check out this series.

4. On a Roll Work Bag- I've wanted a small rolling carry-on bag for a while now, so a few months ago I decided to take the plunge and purchase one. I got this one from a Vera Bradley outlet store and I love it. It was perfect for my trip to Canada. Definitely worth the investment if you love to travel.

5. Mid-Rise Rockstar Jeggings- I've had these jeggings from Old Navy for a while now but I love them. They fit really well and look good with an assortment of tops and shoes (which can't be said for all jeggings I have). And they are good quality even though I got a really good price on them.

March Favorites

1. Create 365 Planner- I absolutely love my planner. It has really helped me keep track of events, appointments, my workout schedule and more. I love this planner because it was relatively inexpensive (I got it on sale at Michael's) but it is still very cute and colorful. It has a place for notes, to-do lists and weekly goals. It fits my needs very well and has inspired me to keep better track of my life.

2. Jergens Hydrating Coconut Lotion- I recently started using Jergens lotion on my legs after I shave to help prevent burning and bumps. I love the hydrating coconut, one because it smells really good and two because it helps keep my legs smooth and moisturized. I also use it on my hands and arms to help with the dryness and cracking that always comes with winter weather. I tried using coconut oil on my legs for a while but it just made them too greasy for my liking so this is a great alternative.

3. Plastic Dot Stacking Baskets from the Dollar Tree- As I've mentioned, I'm on a mission to re-organize. I went to the Dollar Tree looking for the right storage to clean up underneath my kitchen sink. I settled on the Plastic Dot Stacking Baskets because I thought they were cute and they would allow me to easily see what all products I have. I will post a blog soon showing the results of my cabinet's makeover.

4. Journee Collection Tiffany Women's Slouch Boots in Taupe- Around Christmas shopping time, I went on a search for black boots as mine were falling apart. What I found were these marvelous (not black) boots at Kohl's. They were a little more expensive than a lot of the boots I own but I absolutely love them. They look great with jeans or leggings and are perfect for fall/winter.

5. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie- My book recommendation this month is a romantic comedy (chick lit). I won't say this is the best book in the genre I've ever read, but it was funny and cute and I enjoyed reading it. I will say, I don't know how any one person could eat the same dish every night of their life like the main character of this novel did. I mean, I have favorite foods but damn. If you're looking for a quick, happy read, check this one out.

12 Months to a Healthier Life

I may have mentioned this briefly in another post but I have taken on a challenge this year to get healthier one month at a time. I found this particular challenge on Pinterest last month and decided to give it a go.

You can find the original article on The Beachbody Blog here.

In January, the goal was to focus on the positive. So I tried not to stress about parts of myself I don't like as much and things I want to change. It's hard sometimes not to think about the negative, but what you're really doing is discouraging yourself from changing those things. So think positive, people!

My February goal is to keep a food diary. As luck would have it, I had already started keeping a food diary in January. I use MyFitnessPal. So far so good except I do not understand the calorie adjustment thing. I tried linking MFP with my Striiv watch but it never showed any calories burned, so I'm not convinced the step counter really does anything in this app. Otherwise, I like it. I am able to keep up with my calories eaten per day and how many calories I've burned exercising. They also offer articles with healthy recipes and tips.

So if you're looking for a challenge for 2017 but a total lifestyle change seems overwhelming, try this one! I am simultaneously dreading and looking forward to challenging myself in future months (No added sugar and junk food? Eek!).

More updates to come!

February Favorites

I've decided to start a new blogging segment where I talk about my favorite things (clothes, beauty products, books, etc.) and give recommendations on the products I have discovered. So what am I loving this month? Read on!

1. Milk Shake Incredible Milk- I've been using this leave-in conditioner for a while now and I love it. It smells so good and it helps protect my hair from heat while conditioning and preventing frizz. I bought mine from a salon, but you can also find it on Amazon.

2. Plastic Storage Bins- I was inspired to clean out my refrigerator recently and decided to organize it using various sizes of plastic bins. The results have been amazing (I'll post the before and after in a future blog). I bought mine from Amazon and they weren't that expensive.

3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Coloring Book- I got the recently released Buffy coloring book for my birthday, the latest in my adult coloring book collection, and I love it. It includes a lot of the classic Buffy moments and some of the show's best quotes. I haven't started coloring in it yet, but I plan to start soon.

4. Wrapped Arrow Ring- My favorite accessory lately has been my wrapped arrow ring from Charming Charlie. I wear it almost every day. It's simple but pretty and it doesn't get in the way of completing my daily tasks.

5. Green Nail Polish- This month I had my nails done in a dark green color (similar to the shade above). I wasn't sure if I would like it at first but I really do. It's the perfect fall/winter color.

6. Maroon Pocket Dress (MTS)- This dress is a recent addition to my wardrobe. It fits well and has pockets! It goes great with leggings and boots. I bought mine at JR Crider's, but I couldn't find it on their website. I did find a similar dress on themogan.com for $27.

7. The Night Bird- I recently finished this Brian Freeman novel. It's a thriller about hypnosis, memory loss and deception. I read the entire book in two days. It hooked me from the beginning and kept me intrigued throughout. I definitely recommend this if you're looking for a good mystery read.

Dear Madam, Can you Change a Tire?

Women can do a lot of things. Anything we put our minds to.

But I realized last Monday that there are several important things I do not know how to do. And it's true that I didn't think of all of this just now (I already knew I didn't know how to change a tire) but being stranded on the side of the road will really get you contemplating.

I have had exactly two flat tires in my nearly 12 years of driving. The first happened about two miles from my house so it wasn't difficult to find someone to drive over and help me out.

The second happened today. On a highway. At 7:00 a.m. 30 minutes from my house.

As I sat there, looking at directions on how to use a carjack, I wondered/hoped someone would take pity on me and stop. After they didn't and I spent a bit second guessing myself and my ability to handle this crisis on my own, I called a co-worker to come and help me. He kindly obliged (and even took me to a gas station to put air in my spare tire after we discovered it was flat :/ ) and I really appreciated the help. 

But it left me wondering if I could have done it on my own. Now, in this instance, that probably would have been a no since I couldn't walk to a gas station and pump up that tire, but in a general sense... Could I change my own tire if there was no one to help? If no one stopped?

This also lead me to think about other things I don't currently know how to do. Like sewing a button on a shirt, running a lawn mower, repairing a leaky sink... I depend on other people to do certain things for me but what if the day comes when I am the only one around? Or I am the adult who is supposed to fix the problem?

I'm making it a goal to learn these skills (and others). If I do make a 30 under 30 list, I know what will be number 1.

Below is a Buzzfeed article I found on things every woman should know how to do. It's entertaining if nothing else:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/catesevilla/46-things-every-grown-woman-should-know#.ovlxpQWmP

Me Time

Last Thursday I took the day off from work. I had time I needed to use and thought, why not? I also didn't tell anyone I took off work as I was determined to have a little 'me time'. 

I didn't want to waste the day by laying around watching Netflix all day, so I got my butt up at 8:00 a.m. and set out for our local park.

I haven't run a mile in quite some time so I wasn't sure I could even still do it. But I was determined to try. Our park has a track that runs around it. In total it is 1 1/10 miles. I started slow, walking a full lap around, snapping a few photos.

I ran the entire next lap (yay!) and then walked one more lap before heading back home to shower.

After showering, my grandmother and I went to get our nails done and then went to lunch at Applebees. I love their lunch combos. I had a club sandwich and French onion soup ($8). After lunch we went to Walmart to pick up a few things and then headed home.

Still wanting to be productive, I washed dishes and clothes and picked up a little around the basement. I even managed a blog entry! By the time all of this was done, it was time to start cooking dinner. I'd been craving pasta salad all day, so I started with an Italian dressing based recipe.

I cooked a pound of pasta (this lasted for three days FYI) and then added red and green peppers, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning and Italian dressing. It's very simple and very delicious. 

For the main dish, I decided to cook something a bit healthier. I made a lemon chicken and asparagus stir fry. I also made white rice to go on the side. I know white rice isn't the healthiest, but I like it. :)

You can find the recipe here: 

http://www.skinnytaste.com/2014/03/chicken-and-asparagus-lemon-stir-fry.html

After dinner, I decided to do something I hadn't done in quite a while. I took a bubble bath. It seemed like a great way to end my day. I had mixed up some sangria earlier in the day (sangria I bought from Sam's mixed with blackberries) so I poured a glass and lit a candle and relaxed in my (admittedly too small) tub. 

I made the water a little too hot so it didn't last as long as it could have but it was still nice. I read a few chapters of my book and sipped my sangria. 

Note to self: when I get my own house, I will get a bigger tub. Preferably one with jets. :)

All in all, I'd say it was a great day. 

Cleaning Out My Closet

I'm sorry, mama. I never meant to hurt you...

Just kidding. This is about an actual closet.

Since I've been buying so many new clothes and shoes lately, I thought it would be a good idea to re-organize my closet. 

As you can see from the before picture below, my closet is really just racks hanging on the wall. Since I'm in the basement, a closet for clothes was never built. This is one of many reasons I should keep my closet tidy at all times. Whoever walks into my bedroom can see it.

As you may notice, I have a tendency to throw hangers on the floor when I take clothes off of them. Bad habit.

My first step to a better closet was to pull everything down. I put it all on my bed in piles. Shirts with shirts, jackets with jackets, dresses with dresses, etc. (Side note- I do not hang pants in my closet. I keep them in drawers.) I then went through all of the piles and picked out which clothes I really wanted to keep.The rest went into the Goodwill pile. A good rule of thumb is if you haven't worn it in the last year, you probably aren't going to. 

I read up on hangers and discovered that these thin velvet hangers are really good for space saving. They also grip your clothes so they do not fall off like they do with wire hangers. No clothes pins necessary! I ordered the hangers pictured below from Amazon ($24 for 50 hangers) and I also ordered the suit hangers as well ($25 for 50). I ended up ordering a total of 150 hangers to accommodate all of my clothes. (Yeah I know...) I also purchased a pack of finger clips from Amazon for my skirts. ($7.48 for 20). All of these items ship free with Amazon Prime. 

I hung everything back up starting at the back right with my big winter coats. Next I put dresses. This was necessary for me because my shoe rack is too tall for them to hang anywhere else. Next came long-sleeved shirts, then short sleeved, then sleeveless. Lastly, I put my cardigans on the very end. On the right side of the closet I hung my jackets and a few ugly Christmas sweaters. When it gets colder weather, I plan to unpack the rest of my non-ugly sweaters and switch them out with my sleeveless shirts.

I decided to organize each section by color as well. This makes it much easier to find things when I'm hurriedly looking for a specific article of clothing.

I have all of my bags a purses stacked in the top of my closet, along with various hats I've acquired (for parties mostly). The bigger Thirty-One totes hold all of my purses, while my grey and white polka dot bin holds my wallets. 

I think the velvet hangers really clean up the look of the closet and make it seem a bit more spacious than the plastic hangers. I'm glad I made the investment.

Not only does it look better, but re-organizing your closet once a year can really aid in getting rid of clothes you don't wear. Though it doesn't look like it, I actually got rid of a whole trash-bag of clothes this go around. 

Lord help me if I ever get my dream walk-in closet. ;)

Confessions of a Possible Shopaholic

I used to be pretty thrifty. I was careful with my money and never bought anything that cost more than $30. I would have died at the thought of buying a bathing suit that cost over $100. 

So what's happened to me lately? Because that is exactly what I did. I seem to be having less and less problems spending more and more money on clothes and shoes these days. And maybe that's not necessarily a bad thing. I haven't dug myself into the horrible, inescapable depths of debt. Yet...

Maybe it's getting older and having more money to spend. And the fact that I don't currently have a house payment or kids. Or maybe I'm developing a love for fashion that I didn't used to have.

I've been buying a lot of things lately that don't fit my "style". My friend Hillary and I went shopping this weekend and we both purchased things we'd never seen each other wear. And we've been friends for 15 years (saying that makes me feel old...). I told her now was as good a time as any to re-invent our style. Or at least add to it.

I have a very eclectic taste in music. And maybe I've developed the same taste as far as fashion goes. Just this past weekend I purchased this vest from Guess ($60):

I saw it in the store and passed it by, thinking it was not something I would ever wear. But as we perused the aisles, I kept thinking about it. So eventually I went back for it. I tried it on not expecting to like it that much. But I loved it. 

Another recent purchase I made was my Lauren Conrad scalloped shorts ($33 at Kohl's). I bought them in black and in the pattern below:

It's been a bit of a struggle to figure out what top to wear with these but I love them.

In the past two weeks I've also purchased Lauren Conrad coated jeggings ($12 on clearance at Kohl's).

And this LC floral peasant blouse ($29.99 at Kohl's).

I also purchased a new pair of Yellow Box flip flops from Belk ($24.99) and a pair of rolled up jeans from Gap ($19.99).

So yeah...I feel like I've become a shopaholic. Although, to be honest, this is not a very recent development. My 20-odd Thirty-One and Vera Bradley bags purchased over the past three years can attest to that. But I've spent quite a bit in the last two weeks and sadly now have a hundred more dollars worth of things in my cart. 

So this is the part where I confess that I may have a buying problem. But I also have an evolving style so who can really put a handle on that? Aren't these items so cute?

I should just get them right?

City Fashion in a Small Town

I bought faux leather leggings today.

This may not seem like a big deal, but it kind of is for me.

I'm from a relatively small Georgia town. Not small as in we have one traffic light or anything but we're definitely no city. I never really venture to Atlanta, the closest big city, that often. I don't have a hopping nightlife or a job where dressing up is required everyday.

Therefore, I am conflicted. I have a Pinterest board dedicated to all things fashion (and a separate board for shoes!) and I've pinned so many cute outfits but...

I've never been what I consider "fashionable". I don't feel like I can suddenly take up wearing trendy clothes even if I want to sometimes. I've looked at a few fashion blogs, browsed Pinterest and various store's websites but I'm still not convinced I can pull it off. I know it sounds crazy, but I feel like certain outfits are geared more towards big city girls. Although, looking around me, I do know people personally who dress fabulously so I know it's all in my head.

I decided today that I would Google small town fashion versus big city fashion just to see what came up. Here are a few of the small town results:

Plaid! 

Camo!

Though I am Southern and somewhat small town, I do not wear plaid or camo much at all. I think I have one plaid shirt maybe. Also, I don't own cowboy boots. I have often thought of investing in a pair just to wear to country music concerts but I still haven't. 

When I googled big city fashion:

Now I'm going to be honest. I've never seen Sex and the City. I'm not a huge SJP fan. And maybe I would be if I ever watched the show. But so far I haven't. Therefore, I can't appreciate fashion references from this show.

The one thing I'm in love with, fashion-wise, these days is faux leather leggings. I really like the edgy look, leather jacket, dark heels. But edgy scares me a bit. For several years I've wanted a faux leather jacket, but I've never found one just right. If I could ever pull off any look, I would want it to be this one.

In my fashion blog search I found this post on faux leather pants:

http://www.thebudgetfashionista.com/archive/how-to-wear-leather-pants/

It is from two years ago so I realize I may now be behind on the leather pants craze (oh well). But the jist of the article is that anyone can pull off faux leather if they do it the right way. I let this article convince me once and for all that I needed to buy those leggings that have been sitting on my wish list for months. I haven't gotten them yet obviously, but I'll update once I do. I think I have the right shoes. It's only a matter of the perfect top.

Another fashion blog I've discovered is http://www.hellofashionblog.com/. She's rocking some cute outfits. I especially loved this dress:




It's a bit expensive for me, but if I was going to splurge on a dress, it would probably be this one. 


So what exactly is my style? That's a difficult question to answer. I do most of my shopping at Kohl's, Old Navy and Target. Here's a look at some recent outfits of mine:

Everyday Look

When I'm not at work, you can usually find me in an outfit similar to this. Capris or shorts (or pants when it's cold) and a plain top. I've gotten most of my capri pants from Kohl's. I really like the way they fit. These are Apt. 9. I have a shirt like the one above in almost every color. It came from Old Navy. I like the way these shirts fit and they almost never have to be ironed, which is a plus. They cost around $10 usually. Sometimes $5 if they're on sale.

Night Out Look

I say this is my night out look. I've worn it once. But actually, it's the only night out I've had where there was cause to dress differently than normal.

The shirt and shoes both came from Kohl's. The jeggings came from Walmart. I was pleasantly surprised. They're not too thin (you can't see through them) and they fit really well.

Here's a closer look at the shoes since you can't really see them in the above picture:

Candies Fiji Boots, $39.99

I love the shoes. They do hurt my feet after a while (I'm flat footed) so I wear them when I plan to do a lot of sitting.

Church/Wedding Look

I bought this dress from Kohl's around Easter this year. It's Lauren Conrad (I've bought a lot of her clothes lately). Cost around $50. I've only worn this dress once so far, but I would definitely pull it out for a wedding. Not sure it does much for my pasty pale legs though. Oh well.

The shoes came from Rack Room and are quite possibly my favorite pair of dress shoes. I've developed an affinity for wedges. They feel better than heels to me. And these were only around $25.

I've also really come to love blazers. All during the winter season I wore blazers to work. 

I got this Lauren Conrad charcoal blazer from Kohl's on clearance for $28. It fits amazing. I can lift my arms without it pulling insanely tight in my armpits. 

And just to show that I do have colors other than black and gray in my wardrobe:

Just kidding! But seriously tho. Aren't these the best pjs ever?


So I suppose the point of this blog is...am I on the right track here? Is buying faux leather leggings a terrible idea? Can I be stylish, even if it's only in my own mind?

Also, what are other good fashion blogs I should check out?

Write or Wrong

Someone asked me today if I was a writer. I told him I wasn’t, which is true for the most part. Perhaps a more accurate answer would have been, I’d like to be. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve wanted to be a writer. I used to write stories and fanfiction all the time.

I remember writing a story in seventh grade called ‘The Terrible Truth About Six Flags’. It focused on a group of friends who went to the amusement park and hid so that they could stay after closing. They somehow managed to stay in the park and work some of the rides, but began disappearing one by one as the night wore on. 

Round about the same time I discovered fanfiction. More specifically BTVS fanfiction. I would spend hours writing about Spike and Buffy and the Scooby Gang. I would even write stories in class and let my friends read them for entertainment. Not so much now.

Another of my early works/still a work in progress is called The Never Ending Mystery. Not the cleverest of titles, I know. If I ever did manage to finish it, that would probably need to be rectified. I wrote the entire thing in my bathtub. In one day. Maybe I should consider spending a little more quality time with that tub these days. 

TNEM has been through many a change. Originally it was a one shot story with a dire ending. From there it became the first in a mystery series about two girls who opened their own detective agency with $1,999. I actually wrote a prequel to TNEM called The First Big Case. I typed it sometime in my middle school days. All in caps. On Word Pad. You can imagine the spelling and grammar errors on that one. But I’ll give it to younger me, she knew how to finish something.

I saw a quote recently on Pinterest talking about rough drafts. It basically said, it’s called a rough draft for a reason, but we’ve all got to start somewhere. Goal #1 when writing should be to finish that first draft. That seems to be the most challenging part for me. What happened to all of my ambition? The stories I wrote as a kid may not have been the best, but at least they were complete.

I can’t help but think about Nick from New Girl right now. He wrote his entire story when no one thought he could. And yeah, it was crap, but he finished it. I think it’s about time I followed suit. 

Having read a ton of books in the last 15 years, I feel more pressure now to add in the details and descriptions that didn’t cross my mind when the first draft of TNEM was completed. And those things are important, but I think what is most important right now is figuring out the bulk of the plot and worrying about the details in draft two.

The next step in my new life mission to figure me out is to write a complete rough draft of TNEM, even if it sucks! And all short term goals must have a deadline. Mine will be April 30th at midnight. A little over two months to get this thing together. I know technically it's a list item that doesn't have to be completed until December but if I can finish the rough rough draft soon, maybe I can make it worth reading by the end of the year. Fingers crossed.

Even though I've wanted to be a writer for most of my life, I'm still not convinced I'm that good at it. But how will I ever know if I don't try? If I don't put my work out there? So that, my friends, is exactly what I plan to do.

Updates to come!

How Much is a Gym Membership?

Is it a common practice not to post how much memberships are on gym's website? Is this not the age of the internet when the web can tell us all things without us having to pick up a phone and actually talk to someone?

My brother has asked for a gym membership for graduation/Christmas so here is me researching how much our local gyms charge...only no information is to be found on their websites or their Facebook pages so what the heck? Do prices change so frequently that they can't be posted? Do they not want people to know how much they'll be charged in advance?

I guess I'll have to go archaic and pick up a phone. What if I don't remember how to dial?! *joke*

I've considered joining a gym a few times but always talk myself out of it. I wish the park n rec gym I go to for Zumba and Yoga had some sort of membership plan. It is a small gym with approximately three treadmills and four weight machines but at least four nights a week there are fitness classes in their large room and outside. Currently, all fitness classes are operated independently. Money goes straight to the instructor and I'm not sure if the instructor pays the park or the park let's them operate for free or what.

My suggestion would be for the park to pay the instructors a set amount per month and offer fitness passes for say $40 unlimited classes with drop in fees available for those who don't wish to make a monthly commitment.

Right now I pay $5 a class for every Zumba class I attend (approximately 6 per month) and $6 per class for Yoga (4 times per month). So that's $54 a month and no free gym access, small as the gym might be.

I could switch to Anytime Fitness or any number of other gyms (I think they offer fitness classes as well), but I've grown attached to my classes and don't want to leave them. I'm sure a lot of fitness gurus would agree that when you find an instructor you like, it's hard to leave them even when a better deal presents itself.

Speaking of fitness, I found a new workout plan to try! I should preface this by saying that I never stick to workout plans so chances are this will be a failure. But maybe not!

I've recently jumped aboard the Lauren Conrad train. I joined her mailing list and everything! Don't judge me. She/these other two girls has developed what is called Bikini Boot Camp. Since I'm going to Hawaii next year, I've been thinking about my bikini bod and how it leaves much to be desired. I thought I would give this one a try once January comes around. I'd start now but it would be even more of a failure with my busy schedule over the next few weeks.

She usually posts the new year's boot camp in May, but that will be too late for me (Hawaii in May!) so I'm going by 2014's plan.

http://laurenconrad.com/blog/2014/05/get-fit-my-2014-bikini-boot-camp-plan/

I'll update once the new year rolls around and let anyone who may actually be reading this (Are you out there? Anyone?.....) know how it goes and if I mange to stick with it for more than two days. Maybe I'll make it my New Year's resolution and then I'll have to do it. LOL.

Until next time I have a random thought/problem.

iPhone Photos

I was just browsing through a few photos I have taken/screen shot on my iPhone and thought I'd share a few just for fun. And because it's Wednesday and I'm bored. :)

I was searching for ideas for a short story one day and needed a little inspiration. So I handed my mom a brown paper bag and told her to put 5 random things in it. This is what she came up with.

I saw this on BuzzFeed once and found it very hilarious. 

 Anyone remember Rockett's Adventure Maker? Well, it was like my favorite thing back in middle school. I used to make these cartoons all the time. I found this one folded in a box not too long ago and decided to share it on Facebook for all those who used to partake in this awesomeness with me.

 Last February, Dunkin Donuts had these heart shaped pastries of deliciousness. This particular one was filled with brownie batter. Kind of made my teeth hurt with its sweetness, but totally worth it.

Oh the fretful story of my flash drive. It stopped working and...and...took all of my documents into oblivion with it. I don't want to talk about it. 

Photo of my kitty attempting to help paint. Or maybe just nosing in my business like always.

The Art of Not Being a Loser + Money Saving Tip

Do you ever feel like a loser? Do you ever see an article about someone your age or younger doing something extraordinary and think to yourself, what am I doing with my life?

For instance, I saw two articles today that gave me pause. One talked about a 30 year old woman who was just elected to congress. Personally, I would never want to be elected to congress but I feel like that is a major achievement for someone so young. 

The other article I read was about a 27 year old man who is now a millionaire. He began planning ahead when he was a teenager by saving all money he made in high school, joining the military (free education and life skills), and investing. Once I read about him, I could understand and accept that his path would not have worked for me. But why haven’t I managed to forge my own path? I want to be a millionaire too dang it! Actually, I'm not sure I do.

I suspect that much like people who don't have money worry about getting it, people who do have money worry about losing it. If I ever won the lottery I would tell no one. People already ask to borrow my money and I don't even have that much.

Such a materialistic world we live in. I can claim no innocence though. I love things! Actually, my love of things is why I'm having a bit of trouble saving $$'s right now. 

Since most of you are like me and like to spend money so much more than make money, I want to share my current method of saving. Bear in mind this comes from a single gal in her mid-twenties who lives with her parents.

This past year I've been completing a 52 week money challenge. One of my co-workers introduced me to this last year. Basically, you put back $1-$52 each week for one year. Here's a chart:

Actually, this is a reverse chart. The original chart I found started at 1 and went to 52, but I thought it would be better to start high and end low as I usually have less money at the end of the year.

It’s actually easier than I thought to stick to it. Instead of putting money aside weekly, I have been transferring the amounts per month from my checking to my savings account. (It's all about the interest. I've already earned $0.06!!) I've put my money in for November, only $26. Only $10 left to go for December.

Sure, it’s only $1,378, but that’s $1,378 that has been put aside and not spent on (maybe) unnecessary  things like new clothes or Nook books (I have an addiction to buying cheap Nook books). Eventually I plan to move into my own house and get a new car. My savings this year might not get me that, but it’s an excellent start. Saving this way can also be a good way to ensure you get that vacation you want to take. Now you can afford to take off work and travel to the beach or mountains for a few days. Or help you pay for that Hawaii trip you've been dreaming of forever. (My exciting life adventure next year!)

I’m not sure what my saving plan for next year will be. Maybe I’ll do a repeat of the 52 week challenge. If any of you have tried any other methods of saving that worked out, let me know!

Or maybe I should start trying my luck with the lottery.

It’s like Eddie Popko once said, “Somebody’s gotta win it. Might as well be me.” 

So yeah, it's easy for me to feel like I'm a failure when I look at other people's successes. I'm constantly reminding myself not to compare me to other people, whether it's because they are more or less successful than I am. I try to remind myself how fortunate I am. Count my blessings instead of my shortcomings. It's easy to say that we shouldn't look at these people with a feeling of resentment and jealousy. We should feel a sense of admiration and determination to follow our own dreams. But sometimes following through can be the hardest part.

Actually, in my case, figuring out my dream is the hardest part. 

But I'm still young and have plenty of time to figure it out. I may still be envious of others from time to time, but will strive to remember that my time just hasn't come yet.

So perk up! We’re not losers just because we’re not well on our way to congress! What makes losers is giving up! 

That book pictured above was written by a kid, btw.