Eliminating 12 food in 12 months

As part of this month's Happiness Project, I decided to give up a food/beverage each month this year.  The challenge is just to give it up for 30 days, however, if I want to eliminate it for more than 30 days I am able to do so.  


My calendar is as follows:


January - Bread and Soda


February - Pasta 
(As well as bread and soda -- promised my mom so I have to be strict) 


March - Candy


April - Juice


May - Dairy Products


June - Potato Chips


July - Fried Foods


August - Cake/Cookies (will be a challenge - its my birthday month)


September - Chocolate


October - Ice Cream/Frozen Desserts


November - Bread (again)


December - Soda (again)

Photo Challenge

I found this amazing 10 photos to take each month on Pinterest. 

It seems like a great challenge since I have been wanting to use my camera more often.  

I apologize that is is hard to read, you can click on the
original link to get them to be a little larger. 

When was the last time you took your camera out and used it? 

12 Resolutions for 2012

I figured in spirit of 2012 I would make 12 resolutions to follow throughout the year:

1. Let go of fears and start doing things that force me to break out of my shell


2. Remember that mistakes are ok, don't sweat the small stuff, enjoy the moment instead of trying to make sure everything is perfect


3. Remember my roots of religion.  Get back in touch with my faith and religious beliefs


4.  Forgive those who have hurt me in the past and move on


5.  Get to a place where I feel comfortable in my own skin


6.  Find a new hobby and learn how to enjoy it


7. Finish projects I have started and not completed


8. Read 12 books


9. Lose ATLEAST 4 dress sizes by Dec 31, 2012


10. Go from happy to happier


11. Run 3 miles (outside or on the treadmill) without dying


12. Learn how to let go of being in control (once in a while)

What are your resolutions? 

Have you set them yet? 

Don't limit yourself to set them by midnight, feel free to set resolutions throughout the year for yourself to stick by for life not just in 2012. 

Get ready for tonight folks...let the countdown begin..

10....

9....

8...

7....

Studying

I can't believe that it has been 5 years since I graduated college.  As I look at friends who have completed or are going through grad school I can't even image the reading, tests, and papers they have to do. However, a part of me still craves knowledge.  

One of my personal goals is to start my own wedding and event planning business within the next three years.  In order to do so, I have been trying to increase my collection of wedding and event planning books in the house.  One of the books that I started to read was starting a home based wedding planning business.  Although I am a little rusty on studying habits, I am trying to force myself to get a little bit of reading in each week.  

101 in 1001 Days

For those of you who haven't ever visited any of my pages above, I am working on a few personal projects.  From weightloss, to personal growth and personal happiness, I am trying to become the best version of ME that I can possibly be.  

Right now I am currently trying to work on some of my
101 things to do in 1001 Days. 

The story behind this challenge is pretty simple. I was inspired by a blogger from Roots and Rings to challenge myself to do 101 things in 1001 days.  

Its no secret, I am a girl that loves lists, goals, and more importantly self challenges.  

For September I am hoping to complete the following:

8. Buy one quality pair of comfortable heels. <-- Shopping this weekend
13. Wash the car by hand, 4 times.  <-- Do this at least once in September
19. Make a cheesecake from scratch <-- Attempting this for a housewarming party
28.  Finish my brother/sister-in-laws wedding gift from 2010
43. No cokes for one month. <-- Over, one week strong already
44. No chocolate for 4 weeks <-- Over, one week strong already
59. Learn to Knit <-- Class starts on September 11
69. Watch a sunrise
71. Clean out and organize my car
88. Share a meal with a sibling individually
95. Try eating a new meat

I encourage you to make yourself a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days! 

DETOX

Last week I decided to challenge myself on something, and boy has it been a challenge.  As part of my 101 things to do in 1001 days I wanted to see if I could go one month without chocolate.  As of August 24, my challenge began.  Not only did I give up chocolate for a month, but soda too.  


Of course this weekend, I did whatever any sane person would do after giving up chocolate, I made brownies for my roommates.  Talk about torture!! I literally had to leave the house the brownies smelled so good. I am hoping a month of giving up chocolate and soda will help me to cut them out of my life all together.  Not only are they a cause to my weight gain, but being allergic to Aspartame does not make eating these things very enjoyable. 


I have to say, seeing the plate of brownies in the kitchen and staying strong by ignoring them has helped me feel a little more empowered by my decision.  Maybe next week I should line soda cans up in the hallway. :)

27 Personal Challenges

I have been 27 for almost a week and so many things have happened already.  Around 2 p.m. on my birthday an Earthquake shook the entire East Coast.  Abnormal for this region, I immediately thought we had been bombed. Living in DC can make you think crazy things and the earth rumbling below you can be a scary situation if you are not used to it. This morning, I woke up to calm winds and partly sunny skies, but that wasn't the case last night as Hurricane Irene ripped through our region.  Its been a crazy week of storms but it has allowed me to spend time catching up with friends and spending time alone.

When I was younger I used to love to rearrange and organize my room.  Any chance to become more organized thrilled me.  Yesterday during the storm, when we were advised to stay in, I jumped on the chance to clean out all of my closets and drawers.  I quickly assessed that I needed a small wardrobe update, and even though I don't have the money to, I have allowed myself to spend $200 on new clothes and shoes next week.  Not that it will go to far, but the holes in some of my clothes are starting to make me look homeless rather than professional. I will have to be strategic at the $200 I have to spend.

Being alone also allowed me to catch up on thoughts for my upcoming 27th year.  I am now even closer to 30 and want to make sure I start living my life before my life passes me by.  This year there are 27 things I want to improve, change or accomplish in my life.

1. Spend more time on the phone (or skype) with loved ones
2. Spend less money and more time with people
3. Gossip less
4. Pray more
5. Read more books
6. Read two autobiographies
7. Change two physical traits
8. Go to Church more often
9. Find a healthier way to eat
10. Drink less
11.  Go on a date
12. Forgive someone
13. Forgive myself
14.  Learn more about my grandparent's lives
15.  Spend more time with my family
16. Update my look
17. Finish uncompleted projects
18. Spend a weekend with each of my siblings
19. Volunteer
20. Participate in a walk/run challenge for charity
21. Try Yoga (or self meditation)
22. Blog atleast three times a week
23. Learn something new
24. Go somewhere I have never been
25. Take a class
26. Teach someone something
27. Find happiness in more things that I do

Week #7 Challenge

So, its noticeable that I have fallen off the band wagon with my blog lately.  I have also noticed that without my daily regime of writing in my blog I have started to become haunted by mixed emotions of my past.  With the blog I have been able to vent out certain thoughts and without it, I begin harping on things that have taken over my life in the past.

With that, I am getting back into the daily blogging.  I am a few weeks (months) behind on weekly challenges, but instead of seeing the negative in that, I am just pushing back the 52 week goal and picking up where I left off.

So with that, my challenge this week is to not eat between meals.

Week #7: No eating in between meals

Ten on Tuesday

Have you heard about Roots and Rings ? Its a blog I stumbled upon through another blog. She posts these Ten on Tuesdays which allows you to answer a set of questions about yourself. Here are this week's Ten on Tuesday about me:

1. How many blogs do you read every day and what are they? (I’m talking the ones you NEVER miss)

Alot! Its kind of scary when I open my Google Reader each day to scan through the blogs I subscribe too.  I actually have two different google accounts with two different sets of lists.  

2. How many “best friends” do you have? Do you have different “besties” for different areas of your life?

I have alot of best friends. Its hard to determine at times what makes one more of a best friend than another, however, I realized its not about what they do, or where they live, or how I know them.  Each friend is there for me for different areas of my life.  I have my without fail, will always be there friend that knows all of my deep dark secrets.  I have my friends to lean on, laugh with, and that I can stand to live with. I have the best friends that have been with me my entire life, and no matter how much time goes in between each conversation, we just pick it up where we left off.  I am 26 years old and have been in many different stages of my life already...there is a best friend in there for every area of my craziness, happiness, good times and bad. 
 

3. What’s your daily make up routine?

I am not much of a girlie girl.  I try at times to be.  But you will find me in sweats and a t-shirt more than dresses and high heels.  Although I live in DC, I am still a small town girl at heart.  When I wake up in the morning I without fail need my moisturizer and eyeliner.  I also have to cover up this spot on my face that I am extremely self-conscious about.  Its a broken blood vessel that I have had on my face since 5th grade and its the one thing I notice first when I look in the mirror
 

  

4. What is your ideal girl’s night?  

A real girls night would involve a marathon of movies (or lifetime movies), wine, pizza or pasta...and yeah lets add some spa time in there too.   

5. Do you keep up with your nails/toenails or are they au natural?

I have to have my toenails painted.  Its the one thing that I can't go without.  I can't even remember the last time I have seen the nails go more than 4 hours without paint on them.  However, on the other hand I feel completely opposite of my nails.  I can't stand to have nailpolish on my hands and therefore they are always bare.  --- How odd and backwards does that make me?  Ok, calling up to schedule a pedicure immediately!
 

6. What’s your best roommate story (assuming you had a roommate at some point in your life)?

Where to start? I have gone through roommates in college and roommates after college...still currently living with 4 housemates in Northern Virginia.  I have to say one of the funniest stories was during college, junior year, my roommate and I somehow got locked INSIDE our room.  It took an hour or two, some pushing, shoving and I believe school saftey officers to help get us out.  Talk about a blonde moment for us brunette girls.   

7. What’s your “go to” outfit that you wear more than anything else?

 I would have to say its the outfit I am wearing today.  Its a long ruffled pink shirt from Ann Taylor loft, layered with a navy blue Ann Taylor loft cardigan with khaki dress pants.  I tend to always wear black to hide my curves (and by curves I mean my rolls), but this outfit is comfortable and I tend to wear it on my fat days.
 

8. Do you have a beauty secret?

Gosh, I wish I had beauty secrets.  People always compliment my amazing skin, however, if they really knew I wash my face maybe twice a month they would be shocked.  I guess I was just blessed with amazing skin (and I don't even take care of it). 
 

9. Did you read Seventeen magazine growing up?

Of course! I can remember many sleepovers where we took the quizzes and learned about beauty secrets, fashion, and sex tips. 
 

10. How did you learn to put on makeup?

I think from my friends.  I had watched my mom with makeup growing up, and then watched my friends start wearing it before I did, however, I am not one for heavy foundation or thick makeup.  
 

Week #5: Change Challenge

So far, I have been doing great about continuing my challenges even after the weeks have ended.  The only one I can't seem to keep up is reading before bed without TV.  TV in bed is like my crack.  I crave it and need it.  

Or at least I convince myself I do...either way, its crack that I like :)

But besides that one challenge, I am drinking more water, walking a few extra blocks to work, and flossing.

Week #5: Work out 3 days this week

Now, that I have gotten into going to the gym once a week, I want to bump that up to working out 3 days this week which will hopefully stick and increase as each week goes on.  I am going to be heading there tonight for sure to burn off the extra calories I consumed this weekend at my Easter lunch!

Week #4: Change Challenge

Week #4: This week I vow to change one major thing in my life: To drink more water

Years ago I began getting kidney stones, and let me tell you, they are NOT fun.  Every year to year and a half I am reminded of these crazy buggers that hide out in my kidney.  Recently, my doctor informed me that I need to start drinking 1 - 2 liters of water a day to help flush them out and prevent them from coming back as often.  Sadly, I will have problems with kidney stones my entire life, however, if drinking water helps to prolong the time in between each episode, I am in full support of acting on that.  This week, I vow to drink 1 liter of water a day.  WOW...I hope my bathroom stalls at work don't run out of toliet paper, I feel like I will be peeing every 5 minutes!

Week #2 Challenge

Well, the first challenge week is over, and I have to say I wasn't able to stay true to the challenge every night.  4 nights I was great at it, however, 3 of the nights I may have slipped up.  It is definitely something I want to try and implement in my life more (reading before bed) but I have a feeling, I will still fall asleep to the TV every so often.

Week #2 Challenge: Flossing Every Day

I realized tonight when I was getting ready for bed that despite the lecture from my dentist I haven't been flossing at all.  This week's challenge is to floss once a day.  Silly, I know, but this is something I hope to keep up after this week. 

365 Things I Am Grateful For: Day #1

How many times have you taken something for granted? 

Every once in a while, I sit back and realize how many wonderful things I am surrounded by in my life.  However, on a day to day basis I begin to put those items in the back of my mind, and I find myself getting caught up with the hardships, problems, and bumpy roads life sometimes puts in front of me.  Despite my "bad days" or "challenges in life" I am thankful for some many things that life has given to me. 

In the beginning of the year I told myself that 2011 would be the year that I got my life back.  It would be a year of self reflecting, self renewal, and self awareness...  

Earlier this week, I put myself on the 52 weeks of change challenge, however, today I have decided to add another challenge in my life;   

365 days of Things I am Grateful For 

Each day, I will make a post of something that I am thankful for on that day. 

Is it possible that I can be thankful for a new thing each day? Is it ungrateful that I think I won't be able to find 365 things? Or will I surpass this challenge and post for another full year as well? As I said, this is the year for self awareness and self reflecting...however, its also the year for happiness, and reminding myself of the wonderful things in my life.

Day #1 : I am grateful for my family

I was blessed with an enormous Italian family on one side and a loving and close Swedish family on the other.  My family means the world to me.  I talk to my parents a few times a week. I email with one of my cousins on a daily basis.  I was blessed with three strong, successful, intelligent brothers, and one gorgeous, brilliant, and talented sister.  My parents are my world and have gone through thick and thin for me.  They have taught me how to be the woman I am today.  I am lucky to have gotten to spend 26 wonderful years with my grandparents and they have taught me what self-less acts are...and how to love.  My aunts and uncles are a huge part of my life and have been like second parents to me.  We are closer than most families and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What are you grateful for?

Sleeping in the dark

I wanted to recap last night's realization.  

My room is dark. 

VERY DARK.  

I never noticed it before.  Mainly because I used to fall asleep with the TV on. On a normal night I bet I would have had trouble falling asleep to the silence.  The dark room filled with absolutely no sound.  However, last night I was beat.  I had done a full day and was so exhausted by the end.  

Run Down of my day 

(you should feel bad for me -- ;))

Woke up at 7:30 a.m.

Cleaned the kitchen

Threw a load of laundry in

Went to Party City, Dollar Tree (my favorite store), DSW, and Michaels.  

(Mind you, these stores are not located near each other 

so I basically drove all over Northern Virgina)

Tried to catch a food truck so that I could finally say I ate from a DC Food Truck 

(side note, I forgot my camera and the camera on my phone is broken so I have no images)

I went to a movie alone 

(I love doing this...especially when I need to clear my head)

Went to 7/11 and the gas station 

(Why is gas soooo expensive?)

Made some homemade bread (this takes 3 1/2 hours)

Made a home cooked meal

Folded the laundry from earlier

Cleaned my messy room

Made centerpieces for a bridal shower

(photos to come soon)

Caught up on emails

Visited with my roommate when she got home from work

Watched my TV shows

Ran to the bank and the grocery store

Layed in bed (without tv on) and only got through one chapter 

before I shut off the lights and went to bed.

Ok, you don't have to feel sorry for me.  It was actually a great day just to spend time with myself checking things off my to-do list.  I got so much done and felt so accomplished by the end of the day.  Sort of made me wish I worked from home or was a stay at home mom.

And at the end of the night it was great to fall asleep without the TV on.  I don't know if I could do it every night, but for this week I will.  6 more days of the challenge left!

52 Weeks of Change

Is change good or bad? Does change, change who you are, or does it just change the way we think, live and react?


Prince Phillip of England once said: "Change does not change tradition. It strengthens it. 
Change is a challenge and an opportunity; not a threat. "

As I look at my life, I wonder opportunities I could embrace with a little change.  What areas of my life could be improved with one minor adjustment? Would certain changes affect my life for the better or would it go unaffected.  


In a way to challenge myself, I am going to begin 52 weeks of change.  Each week I will test out a minor change in my life to see what affects it has on my life and my routine.  


Week #1 Change:  Reading before going to bed.  


Normally, in my life I fall asleep to the television.  Sometimes I even drift off before putting the sleep timer on.  This week I will challenge myself to read for 30 minutes before bed.  Will it affect my sleep pattern for the week? We will see. :)


Happy reading...more importantly, happy sleeping.