31 January 2018

small wins

One of my favorite things is coming home from a work trip and there's no cat barf anywhere. Small wins.

I was only gone for one night, but it felt like SO MUCH LONGER. It's only Wednesday? It feels like two Fridays have passed. I made a joke to my boss about, 'who plans a go-live during a full moon?' He laughed.
I knew I liked that guy.

Things to note:
1. I'm getting really good at packing light.
2. The folks at that particular hotel greeted me by name and handed me my hotel key and bag of preferred snacks when I checked in. No ID, no credit card, just hello thanks for being a gold member here are your snacks you know the drill bye.
3. The drive to Lake Charles is really very beautiful when there's no traffic. Tonight was one of those exquisite sunsets that makes you feel small but at peace. I don't think I'll be back to Lake Charles any time soon. Since we went live, our job is done, and it's on to the next one!
4. I'm so glad I planned all my outfits for the week because I don't have it in me tonight and tomorrow requires the perfect attire...

Tomorrow I meet some new customers and we start to plan an install down near the coast, so I'm hoping during the install I can get some beach time in.

29 January 2018

successish

How do you measure success? 

I honestly don't think much about it on a daily basis. As long as I can live indoors and buy wine for myself and low-carb cat food for Pumpkin, I'm happy.

I dropped $130 on a trash can today and didn't cringe. 
In the past, a purchase like that would have sent me agonizing for a long time and I would have needed to give myself ten reasons to justify the cost.

But I liked it, it worked for my space, and I bought it. Only then did I hesitate to think. 
Did I buy that too hastily? Because yes, it's a splurge, and kind of a silly investment. Then I thought, does that mean I'm a successful adult? That I can upgrade my $5 Walmart cracked plastic trash can with one that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional... without freaking out about it?

I don't know but after years of being so poor for so long, that trash can is going to be a cherished item, not only because of how pretty it is, but because of what it represents. Yes, the trash can is a thing now.

28 January 2018

Sunday whirl

Pumpkin has spent all weekend
1. sleeping in the heated cat bad (like usual), and
2. meowing at the cabinet in the guest bathroom (weird)
So I opened the cabinet door, and she meowed at the panel that accesses the plumbing for the tub.
When I opened that, she climbed into the cavity and disappeared.
Then I coaxed her to come out because that's creepy and weird. Also because I don't want her crapping under there or anything.

But then she meows at it again and again and it's SO ANNOYING. Is there a shiny demon living in there or something? Move on already, cat.

I saw The Greatest Showman yesterday with Andrea. I really liked it. I wanted to tap my feet and learn the songs so I could sing along. I would watch it again, and I'm probably going to buy the DVD. Then we had dinner at Zoe's kitchen, because they have both GF and vegan optoins, and we gossiped until they closed (and also I'm obsessed with their new cauliflower rice bowl).

I was super productive today. This next week is going to be crazy and busy and stressful and unpredictable so I tried to pre-plan all that I could.

I laid out my outfits for every day, packed a travel bag as much as I could, and meal-planned AND meal-prepped for the entire week.

Also I refinished the last few cabinets in the kitchen that I waited to do until the oven was installed and then I forgot about them. Checked that off the house to-do list. BAM.

26 January 2018

PANTS

I am struggling to find pants that look polished and professional.

I'm not sure what happened to sizing, because all the sizes I've always worn are too big now. My whole life I've worn a small/medium, and was between a 3 and 5 in jeans. It was pretty easy to find clothes in those sizes.

But now that I'm shopping in the adult section, I need to find an extra small to even come close to fitting. Don't even get me started on pants. I need to find a zero or double zero, and most stores don't carry below a 2.

It's been a very weird adjustment because I'm not an extra small person!

Why does the scale change so much when you move into adult styles? Maybe because most folks don't stay the same size they were when they were in high school?

I know, I know. My butt's too small. Cry me a river.
But just like curvier women should be able to find pants that fit, so should smaller women. Baggy pants make me feel frumpy and unkept. How can I be confident and look professional when I have to keep tugging my pants up every few minutes, or when I can feel the butt sagging?

[WHILE I'm on a rant, this is 2018. WHY do we still have pants in sizes like 00 and 16 when they should be like men's pants and have waist/inseam measurements? Instead we have misses and juniors and petites and women's and plus sizes and they're ALL different everywhere.]

Honestly, though, rants aside, this is a moderately serious issue. I can't keep struggling to find pants that make me look polished my entire career.

So I started hunting. I've been trying on pants in literally every store I see.

The losers:
Express, WHBM, Loft, Old Navy, NY&C, Francesca's, Target, Chico's, etc. It was discouraging, but I kept telling myself that least I'm ruling out the stores that don't work for me.

Styles:
I narrowed it down a bit, sticking towards skinny, straight leg, and sometimes the slimmer boot styles.
Flared styles are goofy-looking. It's hard to feel powerful if my pant legs start flopping around my ankles while I'm at a brisk walk.
Oddly, all the "ankle" styles fit like full-length pants but if I shop in petites, the fit goes wonky. And so it goes.

Ultimately, the adult section in every store so far has also yielded nothing.

Overall, I had the best luck in the Junior's section of department stores, which has sucky variety, but usually there's a pair of basic black dress pants.

The following pairs of pants fit my (smallish) butt and legs. Plus they stay that way after a full day of driving, standing, walking, whatever. They also don't stretch out by the end of the day. Which is awesome.

Junior's section:

hollywould. I found these at JCPenney. The Ankle Skinny and Perfect Bootlet.
Candie's Audrey Skinny. Found at Kohl's.

The following is from an GROWN UP STORE, YAY! Except I had to order online because they don't carry the smaller sizes in stores:

Maurice's. The Bi-Stretch Skinny Ankle Pant.
Fun fact: I accidentally bought a pair of these in purple, because they looked black on my computer screen and I didn't pay attention to the aubergine color description. Then I opened the package at night and they looked black to me, so I put them on the next morning and didn't notice that they are actually BARNEY PURPLE until I got into the car. Yeah, I happened to wear a green shirt that day. Whatever, it worked.

I also have a pair of Erika Taylor pull-on pants with a faux fly that I LOVE from stitch fix. The tag says they're designed exclusively for stitch fix, but at one time Nordstrom carried them.

The hunt continues.

what I thought of the third love bra.

Third Love. I heard the hype, I took the quiz. I ordered a try-on bra. I was moderately impressed. In the end, I sent it back.

I also have to hand it to them, they got the sizing right. Mostly.

I'm clearly wearing the wrong size bra (and I know I am because I know how to use a measuring tape), but it's SO hard to find. And my current bras are getting me by until my boobs quit fluctuating every few weeks.

But the bra they sent fit like butter. It was exceptional. The accordion strap design is perfection. The band is exquisite. It was weightless.

Except. My right boob is a little fuller. Just enough to give me that quad-boob effect in the bra they sent. I would have sent it back to exchange for a different size...
But. The deal-breaker was, the type of material they use in the cups doesn't adequately protect against 'cold-induced bumpiness'.

I'm sorry but no.

So back the bra went. But the next time I go bra shopping, I'll be sure to ask for my correct size, because it does make a difference.

25 January 2018

yoga intentions

My hips hurt so bad last week that I signed up for an extra yoga class this week: Yoga for Your Hips. Yes, this particular studio has a Yoga for Your Hips class. Which I think is absolutely brilliant.

So after a particularly stressful day where my hips didn't happen to hurt but I did happen to feel particularly down in the dumps, I grabbed my yoga mat and gratefully headed to class.

I learned a lot and it was SO GREAT for clearing my head and boosting my mood.

The teacher was lovely, and there was one other student in the class. A regular. She was very friendly (later I found out she was Canadian and that made sense). We all chatted for a bit and they both included me in the conversation, even though it was obvious they knew each other well and could have easily gone off on a less inclusive tangent. It's exactly the vibe I was hoping for with this place. I'm grateful they included me because it really helped boost my mood.

The teacher knew I was a beginner, so she gave me some extra instruction on a few of the poses where I struggled. Definitely some areas where I could work on my flexibility.
I do know that flexibility is one of my weakest areas and it's one of the goals I set for myself when I committed to this yoga practice. I'm happy to have some basis to measure my progression.

There were a few poses that I've never seen before and I thought they were awesome.
One was a (small) rolled up blanket placed between your navel and hip bones while you lay belly-down on the floor. Fantastic for when you need a little digestive movement. Will definitely use when I need it.
Then there was one laying on your back with your legs butterflied, except there were strategically placed blocks placed under your shoulders and head. It seems awkward, but it was absolutely wonderful. Genius use of simple props.

But the best part was the mindfulness. My head was swimming in a million directions when I walked in, but I left feeling at grounded and at peace.
Again, I love setting an intent at the beginning, and gradually focusing on that intent and clearing out the head mess by coming back to that intention several times during the practice. Kind of like a guided meditation. I'm so happy this is working for me like I hoped it would.

Side note: I like to blog with background noise; something that won't catch my attention but isn't mindless dribble. I turned on Beauty and the Beast, the new one with Emma Watson. I've seen Beauty and the Beast a million times and I've seen this version, but I keep getting distracted to watch. I do love a nice musical, and Beauty and the Beast is like, top 3. After Moulin Rouge and Sound of Music. I have to say, this newer version is well done.
(I have not seen that new circus musical that's in theaters, but I've heard it's good and might try to see it this weekend)

24 January 2018

beauty and allergies?

Let's talk for a moment about how I became obsessed with the Simple face wipes. And how, a year ago, I casually noticed that my skin felt better using those than when I used my regular cleanser and water. I tucked that vital information into into the back of my mind and went blindly forward with my acne crusade.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I was getting my makeup done for Frank's wedding. The makeup artist kept commenting on how the bumps on my face didn't look like acne and they looked more like an allergic reaction. I brushed her comments off because I was rushed and wanted her to finish my makeup so I could get moving.

Then when she was doing my mom's makeup, she kept insisting that I was allergic to something, probably my shampoo. We were hurried and running late and it wasn't until recently that my mom brought up the makeup artist's comments and persistence.

I started to think about it. She's a makeup artist. She sees all kinds of skin conditions every day. She might actually know what she's talking about.
(unlike the hurried dermatologists who are more concerned with prescribing medications) Plus, I have developed issues on my scalp that have gotten worse and she mentioned shampoo specifically.

So I figured, what the heck. My skin's not getting any better.

I had no idea what to try, so I made a few calculated changes:
-Since my skin behaves better when I use the Simple wipes, I purchased a Simple cleanser and stopped using Cetaphil.
-I decided the best place to start looking for a natural shampoo would be Whole Foods. I randomly picked up two shampoo/conditioners in a travel size to try.

I used the shampoo for a couple days and immediately my scalp began to clear up. Like, HUGE difference.
Then I traveled and forgot it at home and had to use hotel shampoo. Immediately and painfully, my scalp broke out.
Then I came back home and began using the new shampoo again, and my scalp cleared up within 2 days. The new shampoo definitely made a difference.

So I started checking the labels on allll my old shampoo bottles and comparing them to the new shampoo. The main difference between them? The new shampoo didn't contain sodium lauryl sulfate.

Then I checked the Cetaphil cleanser. It also contained sodium lauryl sulfate. I stood in the shower shocked. I thought it was supposed to be a super gentle cleanser for sensitive skin. It might actually be causing the issues?? What??

I even googled it and in the images I saw pictures of people with rashes on their face exactly like what I struggled with during the Great Mysterious Face Rash of 2015. DUDE.

So now I'm living a sls-free existence and so far I've noticed a huge difference on my scalp.
We'll see if it makes a difference on my face, as that still tends to fluctuate with hormones.

23 January 2018

bright eyes

I have to stay up late tonight. But... I'm tired and my head hurts. This is the second horrible headache in the last 3 days. Not sure why they're suddenly appearing after having none for so long. Not pleased about that.

Another dental procedure tomorrow. I'd rather spend all morning accidentally poking my eye with a mascara wand, but I keep reminding myself I'm a big girl. I can do this. Mantras.

So. Staying up late and being tired in the morning will help the sedative take hold, so my dentist says. That being said, the sedative doesn't work as well as I would like. It's ok. I can endure a few hours of torture and then I can go about my day and go shopping for the Galentine's day party while sipping a mocha frappe from McDonald's.

Anyway, I've got all night for the headache drugs to take hold.

I've also got two magazines to read, a whole bunch of The IT Crowd to watch on Netflix, and a disgusting shower to clean. (Guess which one won't get done.)


22 January 2018

affirmations

Trying this new thing. Well, it's not super new. I've been trying it for a while.


Affirmations. Mental mantras. Whatever you want to call it. You find a positive idea, an uplifting thought, and you repeat it. Mentally, out loud, whatever.


I'm working on my physical health, but my mental health is a priority as well. You know, embracing this whole idea of being present and finding peace in everyday life is great and all, but you have to make the choices that make all that happen.


I tried this affirmation thing because, what could it hurt?

Plus I'm a really big believer in the "thoughts become truth" and "mind over matter" idea. I completely believe that if you keep doubting yourself, it becomes truth. But if you keep building yourself up, it eventually becomes second nature and you rise up to your unconscious expectations.

The thing is, it's actually helping.

Yeah, I feel like a complete dorkus saying things like, "I am a good person" and "I am a shiny ray of sunlight" out loud in the car or in child's pose in my bed.

I sometimes feel like a crazy person talking to myself. Even moreso when the cat tries to climb underneath my child's pose. Crazy cat lady talking to herself, telling herself how great she is. Awesome.

But things have gotten progressively heavier in some areas of life lately, and repeating these positive words during moments of turmoil prevents irrational emotional spirals. Which is ultimately a good thing.


I have started picking a new affirmation each week, and writing it in my new pretty planner that I use every day, so I see it every day. Sometimes the idea is related to something I'm directly struggling with that week, and sometimes I just like the way it sounds.


That's another reason why I'm loving yoga. At the beginning of each class, the teacher tells us to set an intention for our practice. And we keep coming back to that intention throughout the flow and movement of the class.
So for at least an hour each week, according to my intentions, I am strong, I am flexible, and I am at peace.
And I am purposely moving my body, which has become stiff from traveling and standing in cold labs with hard floors.

What's not to love about that?

19 January 2018

even closer

Whoa.

I was watching Easy A tonight when this song came on in the background. So I googled it and had a nice listen.

Songs typically evoke very strong memories for me.

Can we recognize that history repeats itself? I had completely forgotten about that blog post almost exactly seven years ago.

And you know what? I am SO MUCH STRONGER now than I was then.
Like, hell yeah. 
I'm still amazing, btw.

feeling better

I'm finally getting to the point where I can chew on my crowned teeth without pain. Good thing, because I'm scheduled to go back for another one next week.

This week was hard. Emotionally, professionally, physically. I was hurting when I got home tonight. No, really. My hips were screaming because I'm old and standing around teaching med techs how to use their new instrument apparently is the worst for that. Then driving for 3 hours only makes it worse?

So I drew a hot bath, dumped half a bag of epsom salts in it, and filled it as high as it would fill, with the hottest water that would come out of the tap. And I sat there for a long, long while.

I had stopped by the store on the way home to pick up wine and chips, prepared for some of that self-destructive "therapy" I'm historically prone to.

Instead of diving in with abandon, I checked myself.

I literally took a deep breath, paused for a few seconds, and grabbed the salad I had packed for my trip that didn't get to eat. And gave my body a little nourishment. I'm still enjoying a reasonable glass of wine and a piece of dark chocolate, but I feel so much better about myself.

My heart, brain, and hips feel a little better, too.

17 January 2018

bedroom, rearranged

I re-arranged my bedroom.

I've pondered moving things around before, but Chris was not a fan because his side of the bed was strategically placed in case he had to kill someone or something.

Well, I figure now that he's moved out, I can move shit around. What's the worse that could happen? I'd hate it and move it back. No big deal.

I've never posted a picture of the bedroom before. I took a ton of pictures before Harvey for insurance purposes, but they're on my old laptop and I'm not about to spend 20 minutes booting it up. I found this super old picture from when we first moved in that was on a flash drive.



Basically, the bed was on the far wall, which separated the big space into awkward "bed" and "not-bed" zones.

So, I moved the bed against a different wall, towards the middle of the room. I figured it would make the room feel more like one cohesive space, instead of separate zones.

Here's what it looks like now. (yeah there are shoes on the floor and I don't make my bed. get over it.)




(Pumpkin doesn't leave this thing. I checked, she's alive.)

I was right. The space does feel more cohesive.
I really like the new layout. I created a "dressing" area and I moved the ironing board into the room because it's way more convenient. Ugly... but convenient.

The real question: is there room for a dramatic fainting couch?

16 January 2018

snow day


As usual when there are icy conditions, the roads and therefore the city was shut down. Suffice to say, I did not set foot outside today. I peered through the windows, but... nah. The cat did not leave her heated bed once. Not to pee, not to eat, not to pass go or collect $200. I should go check and make sure she's alive.

I had a really productive office day, and I'm pleased that I haven't worn a bra in over 24 hours, but this completely screws up my busy week. Adapt, adapt. And then adapt some more.

In addition to taking care of some office tasks, and speaking of bras, I resisted the urge to online shop. Mostly. I DID order a bra from Third Love, which I keep hearing about. They suggested an interesting size, so I paid 3 bucks shipping for a "try-on" and we'll see how it fits.

I've also decided that THIS is the year that I find pants. I'm on a mission.

Hoping the wintry weather eases up and I can enjoy human interaction tomorrow.

13 January 2018

mini goals update

Today was the first day of this "Blissful Beginners" yoga series that I signed up for. The owner of the studio taught the class, and she was really good. I liked her style. Good class and good vibes. Supporting a passionate small business owner while benefiting personally? I'm down for that.

I signed up for 10 classes. They have to be used within 6 months and I figure that's enough to see if it's something I'll do long-term. Then I can re-evaluate.

So, mini goal #2 has evolved.

Stitch meh.

I recently got another stitch fix. I have to say, I was immediately disappointed when I opened the box.

Mostly because in my note to the stylist, I said I needed pants, badly. And that's all I said. I was really looking forward to getting a few pairs of pants and maybe 1 blouse. Instead, I only got 1 pair of pants, and 4 blouses.
And of course the pants didn't fit right.

The blouses were really cute, despite the fact that they are not pants.
Here's what I kept:


Cute white polka dot blouse. It's not see-through like most white blouses. It is a thicker fabric and has kind of a texture. The polka dots are raised, there's a subtle ruffle around the neck, and the buttons are tiny gold squares. This is my favorite because it's feminine but still professional and it fits really well.


Fun patterned blouse. It buttons up, and hits my hips at the right spot. A little too casual for work, but perfect to throw on with skinny jeans when I want to look effortlessly cute on the weekend.



This last one is really much cuter than it photographs. It's a maroon color. I like the pleats and the tulip sleeve is longer. It's really cute tucked in on one side, as pinterest taught me how to do.


I loved the pattern on this fabric but the cut of the blouse was boxy and unflattering so I returned it. Bummer.

The three blouses I kept were $50- $60 each, so my total was around $170. Feeling a little disenchanted, mostly because at this point I would be completely happy to have spent $170 on pants and THESE ARE NOT PANTS.

12 January 2018

What a week

I got to meet my boss yesterday.

He texted me in the afternoon asking if I could be in Austin the following morning to validate some methods on a couple instruments. Heck yeah! I basically got paid to go see Suzy in the middle of the week. Always down for that. I love the spontaneity of this job.

So yeah. My boss is a nice guy. Genuine and approachable. I like him. I told him I'd volunteer for any task in Austin (or anywhere), and I guess he's got a few projects in mind. Sweet, usefulness AND sister time!

I'm over my travel weariness and ready for another round of adventure. Got trips to Louisiana and Chicago coming up.

So far I'm completely digging the way this job works. The cycles of routine and excitement are working well for me. I'm certainly not bored or unchallenged, as I'd be in any other job right now.

Plus, now that I'm a Hilton Honors gold member, I get snacks when I check into the hotel. I'm all about free snacks.

08 January 2018

say what?

Hm. So today my boss scheduled a last-minute conference call to discuss a "reorganization." Otherwise known as: A bunch of people were laid off in our division today.

.....

.....

.....


That's not unsettling. At all.
Honestly my boss sounded shook. He didn't expect it.

It would not have surprised me if they laid me off. You ever hear of the phrase, "Last to hire, first to fire?" Because that's all that was going through my mind.

The move itself is not super surprising because the company has been trying to trim the fat for about 6 months now, and we just went public with an IPO. I figure we'll eventually be sold to some other company but I don't really care about the politics.

I just care about continuing to live indoors. My cat and I have become accustomed to a certain lifestyle.

Since it would be incredibly naive of me to not anticipate another round of layoffs at some point, it's time for ME to start trimming some fat. Spending less, saving more. Coming up with a contingency plan.

Oy. Hey, new year. I adapt!

07 January 2018

Honest Multi Surface

Can we talk for a second about cleaning and cleansers? I have to share something. (Not that this is one of my top 5 favorite topics of conversation, or anything.)

You know the two great loves in my life.
Bleach, for its ultimate germ-killing properties, and vinegar, for its ability to dissolve hard water deposits and freshen up funky fabrics. (Comet comes in third if I need an abrasive.)
That's the way things have been for many years and I'm happy with it.

However.

Recently I picked up a bottle of the Honest Multi-Surface Cleaner because I saw that it was recommended in an issue of Good Housekeeping. I don't really care what makes it 'Honest,' I was mostly intrigued that it won above all other cleaners tested.

I started by using it for cleaning the kitchen counters. For everyday use, not when I'm cleaning raw meat juices or anything. I'm still all about bleach for that.

My immediate favorite thing about it? The smell. I got the grapefruit one and OH MY. It smells so freaking good. It's all citrusy and incredibly pleasant.

I used it to clean up a small spill during a party, because not everyone loves the smell of bleach... or vinegar. Then Suzy mentioned how good it smelled. The bottom line? It smells good, y'all.

Then I started using it for tabletops and such. Once I used it to clean up an orange-smashing incident on the floor when Mississippi State wasn't having a good football game.
Then I wiped the bathroom counters with it.

Basically I used it as much as I could, to see what the fuss was about.

I became legitimately impressed when I used it to clean the bathtub. Abrasive cleaners are not recommended on a refinished tub, but they are my favorite thing for getting rid of that bathtub ring. So to further my personal experiment, I sprayed this cleaner on the tub and used a sponge to wipe it off.

I couldn't believe the grime that came off, so easily. Several layers of LUSH bath bombs came off immediately. With a simple sponge. No scrubbing. Whoa. Nice.

Basically it cleans well on everyday surfaces. I've never noticed a residue, and nothing has been damaged, even Chris's grandma's table that's probably older than all of us.

I'll buy it again for those reasons, but mostly because of that sexy tub action, and that delightful smell.
Heck, I'd even give it as a hostess gift because the packaging is really pretty.

Oh, I should mention that I have not tried to clean glass or mirrors with it yet. I don't know if it's recommended but I figure a product with a "multi-surface" claim should be able to clean glass and mirrors.

Double-oh. I should try it on the master bathroom shower. Because that's the biggest pain to clean. Stay tuned for that.

04 January 2018

household

I crossed a few things off the house to-do list recently.

The to-do list consists of mostly big projects, like new gutters and front door, but there are a few items that have been hanging out for a LONG time, like patching the holes in the wall in the master bathroom. (I'm talking about the ones that have been there for years, since we changed the light fixtures just after moving in. They have been there so long that I don't notice them anymore.)

Some of the projects are fairly new. One night last week, I came home to a fallen tree branch near the driveway. Fortunately, my cousin and her husband were in town for the wedding and staying with me, and he pulled it out of the tree for me. On our way back in to the house, he stepped on the rotted board on the deck (that's rotted because the gutters need to be fixed). Anyway his foot went completely through it! Thankfully, he wasn't hurt. That same morning, the kitchen sink started dripping. The joys of an old house.

Anyway it was immediately hectic with wedding stuff and the holidays, so those things stayed that way for a little while.

Then I felt strangely motivated and headed to the hardware store. I made friends with the lady there, and then headed home with some wood, nails, a crowbar, paint, and spackling compound. And I got stuff done.

Stuff I crossed off the list:

-Repaired the deck board. No more liabilities there.
-Sawed the tree branch down to smaller pieces so that the trash men will take it.
-Patched the holes in the master bathroom. The patches are not exactly pretty, but the holes are no longer there, yeah!
-Finished the last touchups on the guest bathroom tub that was refinished a few months ago.
-Started patching some small damage on the siding, since there's no way the whole project will happen any time soon.

The list is still long and growing, but it felt good today to take care of a few things. Also I felt super strong and kickass using a crowbar and TWO different kinds of power tools. Rawr.

mini goals

2018 mini goal #2:

I signed up for a free 'Blissful Beginners' yoga series at this local place I've been considering joining.

I've dabbled in yoga for years, but for all I know, I could be doing the poses all wrong.

I figured it's a good way to check out the vibes at this place and see if I'll be interested enough to pay for it.

02 January 2018

mini goals

2018 mini goal #1: Reading challenge.


-A book published in the last year
-A book that became a film
-A book with a one-word title
-A book you choose because of the cover
-A book set in a city you want to travel to
-A book recommended by someone else

I picked only 6 categories to keep it realistic and enjoyable.

01 January 2018

bye, 2017

2018.
Every year goes by so fast. I'm not even sure what to think about 2018 yet. Maybe reviewing 2017 will give me some direction. Last year I wanted to focus on my health, self-care, and simplification.

Of course the process is never finished, but I think I made great strides. I did not anticipate many of the curveballs this past year, but I did try to take a step back and choose how I reacted to those things.
Life's never going to be in a place where everything is perfect, and things can change so quickly, so I've really tried to focus on living in the moment. This year I have had to go with the flow a lot, and I found myself setting mini-goals instead of trying to commit to something larger.

As a result of these slow psychological changes, I feel more stable. More in control of myself, and more in touch with who I am, or at least who I want to be.

A few things to note:

The bullet journal is great. I love the idea, and I don't check it daily but it's nice to have everything in one place, like the last time I changed my toothbrush.

I do not feel guilty when I take those moments purely dedicated to self-care. They are important. I completely relish those manicures or hot baths, or whatever it is I need.

Since my exercise motivation tends to come and go, I didn't focus on anything this year. I exercised when I felt like it... which was more than I expected, seeing as how I let myself be coerced into a few 5ks.

Instead, I tried to focus on my diet, which initially meant eating more vegetables. The Whole 30, to my shock, helped me to start identifying unhealthy food habits. They're so hard to identify when they've developed over a lifetime, and even harder to break. As a result my diet has definitely shifted. Not sure if it's actually healthier for me, but I have felt good. I guess overall that's a good indicator.
Plus I'm pleased to say I've eaten WAYY more vegetables this past year than I ever have. Roasted brussels sprouts are incredible.

Simplification is an ongoing process as well, and it's a pleasure. Most of the process has included de-cluttering and replacing several crappy items with one higher-quality version. So many boxes full of stuff have made it out of here. Now that I have an idea of my wardrobe style, I'm considering trying a capsule wardrobe or some other simplified pattern of dressing.