April Goals

How I Did in March

Book Everything Cruise Related: Check!  The only thing not booked is the hotel but we're waiting til closer to do that.  We want to make sure we get a good price.  All of our excursions are booked and paid for, along with our flights.  We are: Scuba diving in Grand Cayman, seeing the Mayan ruins of Tulum in Mexico, and doing a Tranopy Tour in Jamaica.

Cook Something New:  Win!!  I recently read Mastering Your Metabolism by Jillian Michaels and it kind of freaked me out.  So, starting April 1st me and him will be strictly following that "diet" for at least one month, just to see how we feel.  Anyway, the point is I've started using her cookbook now and made the Almond Crusted Chicken.  This is the first meal I've actually been proud of!  It turned out great!  Also, for our monthly friends dinner our theme was Mexican, so I made Sopaipillas. 

Read Library Books:  Check!  and then some.  I've been reading a lot lately.  That is the one advantage to having a super boring job and working overnights.

Goodwill: Half done.  I did add more stuff to my boxes but I haven't taken them yet.  Hopefully I'll remember to do it on my next day off ... we'll see.

April Goals

+ Cook 5 new Recipes from the Mastering Your Metabolism Cookbook: Josh and I are going to be eating based on Jillian Michaels book and Cookbook.  Basically if it didn't have a mother or didn't grow from the ground, we wont be eating it.  Josh has agreed to do this with me for two weeks but I plan to do it strictly for a month but then do it about 80/20 for good.  I hope for this to be the start of a lifestyle change.

+  Get My Bike Out 3 Times Per Week:  I bought a bike when we were living at the old place but there's not many places to bike in the middle of nowhere.  So, now that we live in a neighborhood with plenty of biking areas (I would know, I grew up here), I really want to put that bike to use.  Plus, I hate running and doing cardio at the gym, so this is perfect. 

+ Set a Workout Goal Each Week: There are a lot of new things I want to do with my workouts but trying to pile it all on at once is a good way to fail.  So, I want to try one new thing per week and add it to my workout. 

+ Get Back into Blogging: I really haven't felt like blogging lately, and I didn't have much to blog about but with Spring here and warmer weather is (hopefully) right around the corner I'll be doing more.  Also, I really need to catch up on book reviews.  I have also been revamping some old post which I'll republish.  I have also been working on revamping my travel pages. 

March Goals

How I did in February

Lets just call February an epic fail.  The only thing I got done from my goals for the month was finishing the spare bedroom.  It needs finishing touches such as pictures but everything has a place and I can finally put it to use.   I got a lot done over the month but none from my list of goals.  I also know that I've been epically failing at blogging, but to tell the truth, I'm just not feeling it right now.  I don't even read as much as I used to because I feel like I'm reading the same thing over and over.

March Goals

Book Everything Cruise Related: We've booked our flight, the cruise, and one excursion.  I want to have all of our excursions booked and paid for by the end of the month.  The only thing I don't plan to book until we get closer is the Hotel.  We decided to fly down a day early and have a day to explore Miami. 

Cook Something New:  We started a monthly friends dinner where the host makes the main meal and the others bring desserts and appetizers.  I was the host for February but I made a familiar dish.  I would like to try to make a dessert that I've never made before or a themed appetizer for the next one.  Heather says she might do a Mexican Theme.

Read Library Books:  I recently checked out 7 books from the library and I hope to read all of them by the end of the month.  The way I've been going, that will be no problem.

Goodwill:  I have two boxes of stuff that needs to go to Goodwill and I keep forgetting to take it.  I want to add a few more items this month and then finally get those boxes out of my house.

February Goals

How I Did In January:

Begin Organizing the Second Bedroom: This definitely happened, and I got more done than I had originally planned.  All there is left is to find a home for a few odds and ends and to get pictures hung!  I am definitely happy with my progress here.

Complete Level 1 of German: Epic fail!!  I only did a few lessons and then got sidetracked and never got back to it :(

Get Back to the Gym: Win!!  I have definitely gotten back into a gym routine that works with my crazy work schedule!  I have missed a few days here and there because of snow and because of lazy people calling out of work, but other than that, it has been going great and I feel much better.

Pay off my David's Bridal Credit Card:  The next payment that I make on this will be from my first paycheck in February, so I am going to consider this a win since I got most of it paid off this month, thank God!!

February Goals: 

Complete Level 1 of German:  I am going to roll this over from last month.  I really want to make an effort to get through the whole thing in a year. 

Complete my Online Course: I am signed up to take Intro to Sustainability online through Coursera.  I want to complete this course because I am thinking of going back to school for a degree in Environmental Biology.  

Cook One New Meal:  I am not much of a cook but if I am going to get back into shape I really need to start making healthier meals.  Schwan's Pizzas and Chicken Fries really aren't the best way to get healthy.  I really should set this goal a little higher but I'm trying to be realistic.  With my work schedule and Josh's we don't eat dinner together very much, so one meal is a fine goal for now.

Completely Finish the Second Bedroom: After making so much progress last month, I think I'll be able to have the whole thing (minus picture hanging) done by the end of this month.

2015 Reading Challenge

As one of my goals for the year, I wrote that I wanted to complete the Pinterest book challenge.  I found this list on Pinterest about 2 weeks before new years and I knew I wanted to try to complete it.  I really want to branch out and read different kinds of books this year rather than sticking to the same thing.  There are several challenges that I want to participate in this year, but this one takes priority.  I can't wait to see where this takes me!  If you are taking this challenge, please let me know!  I'd love to see what you're reading!

January Goals

One of my goals for the year was to set monthly goals.  This month is really about getting back into the swing of things after the holidays and getting our house organized. 

Begin Organizing the Second Bedroom: We've been in our house for 6 months and the second bedroom is still completely chaotic and useless.  This month I want to start getting rid of things we don't need and finding places for the things we want to keep.  I don't expect to get it all done this month but I need to start somewhere.  I really want to start using that room.

Complete Level 1 of German:  I got Rosetta Stone German for Christmas and I really can't wait to get started with it.  I tried starting it at work right after Christmas but it's so loud there that I had a lot of trouble with the spoken parts. So, I want to try to spend 30 or so minutes a day with it and finish the first level.

Get Back to the Gym: With the craziness of being down a person for 3 months at work (when you only have 8 employees, one person is a big deal) and the holidays, I have gotten out of the habit of going to the gym and I'm starting to feel the effects of that!  I have a cruise in September and would like to be in decent shape at that time. 

Pay off my David's Bridal Credit Card:  Talk about a pain in the ass!  The interest on this card is insane and I don't want to see it ever again!  So, I should be able to dump extra money from Job #2 on the stupid thing and have it payed off by either the last week in January or the first week in February.

Goals: 2015

Last year I attempted a 52 in 52 challenge.  I didn't get much done because I was a little too ambitious and a lot of what I had on there was just not realistic.  This year I decided since I will be 26 this year, that I would set 26 goals.  I was much more realistic this year and hope to complete each of these task by December 31st.

1.  Visit a New Country

2. Get One Student Loan and One Credit Card Paid Off

3.  Unplug for a Week

4.  Read 50 Books

5. Go to a Drive-In Movie

6. Visit a Wolf Sanctuary

7.  Go to Rick's Cafe in Jamaica

8.  Try a Pint of Butterbeer

9. Learn How to Play Chess

10.  Get a Violin and Re-Learn How to Play

11. Visit Jamaica 

12.  Start a Gratitude Journal

13.  Watch Two New Documentary's Per Month

14.  Read for 20 Minutes Per Day

15.  Do a 30 Day Ab Challenge

16.  Do a 30 Day Yoga Challenge 

17.  Do a Cleanse

18.  Do a 30 Day Meditation Challenge

19.  Create Monthly Goals

20.  Read 5 Rory Gilmore Books

21. Take a Free Online Class
22.  Learn German with My Rosetta Stone
23. Read all the Books on the Pinterest List
24. Go Camping with Josh at Harpers Ferry
25.  Go Back to School
26. Pay off My Car (1 year early)

The Nerd in Me

*This is not a sponsored post!

The nerd in me is so insanely happy right now!!   I am that person that has (for the most part) always loved to learn.   I am taking a year long break now before I go back to school to finish my bachelors but I've really been missing school!  I would be a professional student if that were an option.  So, when Mar from T.O. and Fro wrote a post on this amazing website, I knew I had to check it out!

Coursera offers FREE online courses through Universities!  You have to option of getting a verified certificate if you pay for the course (usually about $50.00) or if you're like me and you just want to learn, you can take the course for free!

I am currently signed up for seven classes! All of which start at different times.  I am taking:
*Archaeology's Dirty Little Secrets (February 24)

* Introduction to International Criminal Law (March 1)
* International Human Rights Law: Prospects and Challenges (March 31)

* Introduction to Forensic Science (May)
*Paradoxes of War (June 1)
* The American Disease: Drugs and Drug Control in the USA (July 14)
* Social Psychology (July 14)
*Human Trafficking (August)

A few courses on my "watch list" to take at a later time (so as to not overwhelm myself or because they are not yet available) are:
*The Emergence of the Modern Middle East
* Human Evolution: Past and Future
*Resilience in Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster, and War: Global Perspectives
* Marine Megafauna: An Introduction to Marine Science and Conservation
*Globalization and You
 

As you can see, they offer a wide variety of courses from Universities all over the world!

I am so excited to get started!  I also plan to review each course as I finish it.  This is also great because it is on my 52 in 52 list to complete a free online course in a subject that interests me!

To learn a bit more read Mar's Post or check out Coursera's website!

52 in 52

It's the new year and lots of people are talking about their new years resolutions.  Well, I gave up on those years ago.  I never follow through.  However, what I will do is make a list of goals to accomplish this year.  I know a lot can happen in a year so some of these may become impossible and that's Ok, but I at least want to give it a try!

My Goals for 2014

1.  Visit 4 new countries
Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Grand Cayman
2. Visit 5 new states
Tennessee
3. Get married (5/24/14)
4. Ask 20 friends to suggest a book, read them all
 5.   Don't go on Facebook for a week
11/9-11/16
6.  Make a playlist of 26 songs (each starting with a different letter of the alphabet) and listen to them in alphabetic order on a road trip. 
Did this on my way to Tennessee
7.  Learn to identify 10 constellations
8.  Make a list of 101 quotes that inspire me
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7,
9.  Make a list of 50 places I would like to visit in my lifetime
10.  Take a picture for each letter of the alphabet
11.  Read my height in books
I'm not 100% sure about this but with the amount of books I've read this year, I'm sure I've surpassed my height (5'6)
12.   Learn a new word every day for a month
13.  Choose 10 countries and read a book by an author from each
14.   Visit Fallingwater Pennsylvania
15.  Quit using "Like" as a verbal filler
16.  Learn to count to 10 in 10 languages
Spanish, German,
17.  Take a free online class
18.  Learn to identify all the countries on a map
19.  Open a cookbook to a random page and make whatever comes up
20.  Make at least 10 recipes that I've pinned on Pinterest
1. Crock-pot Chicken (6/17)

21.  Cook 5 meals from 5 different countries
22.  Save $500 in an emergency fund
23.  Take a photo of the same place every month for a year
24.  Swim with sea turtles
25.  Watch 10 movies that came out before I was born
Say Anything (1/2), Pretty in Pink (1/2), Sixteen Candles (1/3) Funny Face (12/4)
26.  Donate my hair to locks of love (unfortunately wont happen)
27.  Go on one weekend getaway
Tennesee
28. Visit Antietam National Battlefield
29. Visit Princeton University
30.  Visit Belize City
31.  Get 1/2 of my digital photos printed
32.  Leave a 100% tip
33.  Donate at least $10 per month to a good cause
Beagle Freedom Project, 
34.  Begin a 401K savings (1/30/14)
35.  Complete a 90 day challenge - any challenge
36.  Attend a sporting event
University of TN Football (8/31/14)
37.  Go to 2 concerts
1. Jason Aldean in DC on 7/25

38.  Finally get tattoo #4
39.  Reach 250 followers on my blog
40.  Swim with Dolphins
11/11/14
41. Visit Heather in Knoxville for a weekend
8/30-9/2 (Knoxville and Nashville
42.  Get a massage (4/30/14)

43.  Take a photo every day for a month
44.  Build something at Build-a-Bear
45.  Watch all of the Harry Potter movies in a row
46.  Spend a day watching Disney movies
47.  Spend a day watching Chick-Flicks
48.  Go for a walk three times per week
49.  Live as a minimalist
50.  Visit Annapolis for the day
51.   Take Amy to the aquarium
52.  Take 5 day trips 
Longwood Gardens

New Year, New Blog ... Kind of

To be honest, I am not sad to see 2013 go.  It was definitely not my best year and 2014 looks to be much brighter for us.  So, on the (almost) last day of this year I am going to hit on a few things I want for this blog next year - this blog is one of the many things I hope to improve over the course of the new year!

For the first few days or maybe even the first two weeks, you will mainly be seeing book reviews on this blog.

Why?

Well, first, I am way behind on book reviews and really want to get caught up and second because I am reevaluating the content of my blog as well as my writing style.  

I had a friend read some of my posts and be honest about my writing style.  Apparently I write my blog like I write a paper.  Minimal contractions and very proper.  That is not at all how I speak and I want my blog to feel more like I am speaking to my readers.  So, I will be spending the month of January pre-writing some posts and making them sound more like me.

Also, I noticed that I tend to play it safe on my blog and I don't want to do that.  I want my readers to really get to know me.  That is why we blog in the first place, to meet people with both similar and different views from us.  Over the course of the next few months you may see posts about my decision not to have children, why the idea of marriage is hard for me, my fear of settling, and I may even through out some of my controversial political views if I really feel like starting some blogger debates ;)

Last, along with my travel recaps/reviews I want to write more about what travel means to me and some deeper thoughts about my experiences.  I feel like I have only scratched the surface of why I love to travel.  Traveling and reading are my two biggest passions and I want my blog to reflect that!

I am also making a few goals for this blog.  I hope to read 250 followers by the summer and 500 by the end of the year.  Once I hit 250 followers, I am going to start offering Ad spaces. I will be sponsoring more blogs this year and working harder to get my blog out there.

Also, I have so much exciting news to share over the next few weeks!  Including wedding plans, job opportunities, and other new opportunities for Josh and I!  I really really really a million times really, wish I could tell y'all about this amazing job opportunity but I can't say anything until all of my legal stuff goes through ect.  But I am super excited and there are future international opportunities! Gah, I wish I could say more but I can't and it's killing me!

Moving on ...

In general, I am excited to get more involved in the blogging community and in my own and I can not wait to see what 2014 has in store for Josh and I and for this little blog (like maybe a redesign?)!