kapachino

Category: personal

  • 101 Goals in 1001 Days: Wrap-Up

    I started this project on April 22, 2009 and it ends today. I did not complete all of my goals, in fact some of them I intentionally did not complete, but I enjoyed the experience tremendously. Many things I wouldn’t have accomplished or experienced otherwise.

    All in all, I completed 65 out of 101 goals, which I think is pretty good. Several more goals are in process, many don’t really apply to my life right now, and some of them just aren’t a priority at this time.

    I don’t plan to make a new list right now. Goals really work for me though, so I’m thinking about what to do next. I might make a list for the first year of my 30’s, or maybe I’ll start monthly goals. Not sure, but I’m looking forward to figuring it out.

    Here’s my final list. Items in bold are completed, items in italics are still in process.

    FOOD

    1. Shop at a farmer’s market.
    2. Cook dinner once a week for a month. (4/4)
    3. Cook something with my Crockpot.
    4. Be a vegetarian for a month.
    5. Make David’s lunch three times a week for a month. (4/4)
    6. Compile a recipe book of go-to meals.

    FITNESS

    7. Do a bike race.
    8. Run another 5k.
    9. Join a yoga studio.
    10. Do a Wii Fit body test once a week for twelve weeks. (12/12)
    11. Buy a nice pedometer and wear it at work.
    12. Buy ankle weights and start wearing them at work twice a week.

    HEALTH & BEAUTY

    13. Spend an entire day at the spa.
    14. Buy three new pairs of heels. (3/3)
    15. Drink 64 oz. of water a day for a week.
    16. Find the perfect mascara.
    17. Get my teeth whitened.
    18. Transition to all-natural personal care products.
    19. Try microdermabrasion.

    FINANCIAL

    20. Pay off my credit card bill.
    21. Put at least $1000 in my IRA.
    22. Refinance the house.
    23. Transfer my old 401k.
    24. Implement a system for David and I to save our change.

    COMPUTER AND INTERNET

    25. Back up all of my computer files. 
    26. Learn CSS/HTML/PHP well enough to design and run my website independently.     Intentionally not completed.
    27. Sell something on eBay.
    28. Do a video blog post.
    29. Spend a week without internet, except email once a day.

    NURSING

    30. Become oncology certified.
    31. Take the charge nurse class.
    32. Take the preceptor class.
    33. Get promoted.
    34. Get ACLS certified.
    35. Thoroughly research nurse practitioner programs in the area and decide whether or not to enroll.

    CULTURE

    36. Watch all of the movies that have won Best Picture. (43/83 – List)
    37. Track down this classical piece by Mendelssohn that I used to own but lost, and only know the melody to.
    38. Read 5 Pulitzer Prize winning books that I haven’t read. (3/5) – Olive Kitteridge, Middlesex, Gilead
    39. Read 5 books of David’s recommendation. (3/5) – And the Sea Will Tell, Columbine, Losing Our Religion
    40. Participate in a blog reading challenge and post reviews for every book read.
    41. Attend a Messiah sing-a-long.
    42. Take another class from Leisure Learning Unlimited.
    43. Obtain or transcribe the clarinet sheet music for “Desperate For Love” by Over the Rhine.
    44. See another live musical. – Wonderland (also saw many others!)

    HOUSTON

    45. Eat Sunday brunch at Birraporetti’s again.
    46. Walk the Kemah boardwalk.
    47. Go to another Dynamo game.
    48. Go to a Texans game.
    49. Drive through River Oaks at Christmas.
    50. Go to Dickens on the Strand.
    51. Visit SeaWorld and do the penguin encounter.
    52. See the Beer Can House.
    53. Visit the Orange Show monument.

    TRAVEL

    54. Go camping again.
    55. Change passport to married name.
    56. Go saltwater fishing with David.
    57. Take David to Tabor’s homecoming.
    58. Stay in a bed & breakfast.
    59. Take David to visit my aunt and uncle in South Carolina.

    HOME

    60. Paint the entire front half of the house.
    61. Set up a writing desk in the front room.
    62. Sell/give away/donate all the books I don’t need or want.
    63. Plant something.
    64. Get the carpet replaced.
    65. Have the locks changed so they all open with a single key.
    66. Get all the electrical outlets working again.
    67. Set up a fully-functional and decorated dining room.
    68. Obtain a vacuum cleaner.
    69. Refinish my old desk chair.
    70. Get the drywall in the bathroom ceiling replaced if needed. – Turns out the drywall wasn’t affected by the leak in our attic! Hurrah, one less project to spend time and money on.
    71. Buy 5 original/handmade art/craft pieces from local creators to display in our home. (0/5)

    RELATIONSHIPS

    72. Write David a list of 100 things I love about him.
    73. Babysit my new nephew.
    74. Get pregnant.
    75. Send 10 ‘just because’ cards. (7/10) – Lauren P., Jennifer W., Lauren A., Stephany R., Tabaitha K., Erin S., Grandma
    76. Hand write a letter to my Australian pen pal.
    77. Host a game night.
    78. Give David 5 random love cards. (1/5)
    79. Send out timely Christmas cards.
    80. Attend my 10-year high school reunion.

    GIVE BACK

    81. Donate blood once a quarter. (9/9)
    82. Register to be a bone marrow donor.
    83. Start using reusable shopping bags.
    84. Send Mary, the child we sponsor in Uganda, a picture of us.
    85. Make an achievable plan of steps to take to have a more environmentally friendly life.

    BE CREATIVE

    86. Finish a cross-stitch project. – See it in Meredith’s nursery.
    87. Complete NaBloPoMo.
    88. Make and send birthday cards to everyone on my birthday list for three months.
    89. Make an inspiration board.
    90. Have a custom stamp made.
    91. Take a sewing class.

    SPIRITUAL

    92. Memorize Philippians 3.
    93. Complete the Biblica New Testament challenge.
    94. Fast for 24 hours and evaluate.
    95. Be a regular at a women’s Bible study.
    96. Complete a Beth Moore Bible study with homework (on my own with downloaded sessions or live). – The Beloved Disciple

    ET CETERA

    97. Buy another leash and walk the dogs simultaneously.
    98. Get new windshield wipers for my truck.
    99. Become a true fan of the Texans by following every game and discussing with David.
    100. Complete a New York Times crossword puzzle without help.
    101. Compile a list of favorite quotes.

  • Inexpensive, Natural Beauty Products

    Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/.

    ***

    I’m not super into makeup and beauty products, but I’m also not uncaring of my appearance and skin health either. Actually, over the past year I began the process of transitioning all my personal care products to natural versions, and I’m not talking high-end stuff. I’m on a budget, and I want to do this the healthy way AND the cheap way. I’ve tried a lot of things, and this is what I’ve come up with.

    >Facial care: I’ve started using the natural oil cleansing method, mixing extra virgin olive oil and castor oil, then wiping off with a warm towel. I can get away without using any  moisturizer, but I find that if I do that the fine lines on my face are much more visible. Burt’s Bees Radiance Night Creme takes care of that (or, honestly, whatever lotion I have lying around – my skin isn’t sensitive).

    >Body: Alba Botanica lotion is wonderful. Smells good, goes on clean, all natural, and lasts a really long time. Oh, and this isn’t all-natural, but I refuse to part with my anti-perspirant and am dedicated to Dove deodorant.

    >Makeup: I haven’t yet tried a cheaper version of mineral foundation (my favorite kind), but I hear good things about L’Oreal True Match Naturale, so that’s what I’ll go with next. I’ve tried all-natural mascaras, but they just don’t work as well and mascara is really important to me. My current go-to version is Covergirl Lash Blast Mega Volume. With a couple of coats my lashes look awesome, and it applies so easily. And…that’s all the makeup I wear on a regular basis.

    >Teeth: Tom’s of Maine toothpaste works well and tastes fresh.

    >Hair: I tried the no shampoo thing, but I guess I didn’t try hard enough because my hair felt gross (even though I knew it was clean). So for awhile I’ve been using Nature’s Gate shampoo and conditioner every other day or so. I only need a little bit each time, so they last.

    ***

    Really, that’s about it. I try to keep things as low-maintenance as possible and I find that I’m much happier.  What’s your beauty philosophy?

  • Good Things: December

    Oops, meant to post this the other day! I still don’t have my blogging act together, but I’m working on it!

    1 – Meredith not being fussy at daycare & an easy night with her

    2 – David being really helpful and encouraging when I was having such a bad day

    3 – Breaking Dawn with Lauren

    4 – My friend Carmen’s mad hatter wedding shower in Austin

    5 – A very smooth morning at work

    6 – My nephew Cameron pointing me out by name

    7 – Quality time with David

    8 – Staying home with Meredith, doing ALL the laundry, making her smile and almost laugh even though she’s sick

    9 – A patient requesting me to be her nurse

    10 – Putting up the Christmas tree and other decorations

    11 – Meredith putting first ornament on the tree, Lucas hugging her over and over, Messiah singalong with Mom

    12 – Figuring out how to give Meredith her medicine

    13 – Treating myself to Starbucks on the way home & the drive through girls singing; making Meredith laugh

    14 – Getting off work early for jury duty and not being needed

    15 – Family Christmas party at assisted living with grandparents

    16 – Finally getting a big refund from our wedding photographer and using it to order Christmas gifts

    17 – Katelin’s wedding (a girl from my old church that we watched grow up)

    18 – Sitting on the couch alone with David for 20 minutes at the end of the day

    19 – David winning $612 in the lottery

    20 – Successfully getting Meredith to sleep early again

    21 – Playing with my nephew Lucas

    22 – Pizza at my in-law’s house

    23 – Extra affection from David

    24 – Shopping with Dad, dressing up Meredith, Christmas Eve dinner with family, wrapping gifts with David and opening the necklace he got me

    25 – Christmas!

    26 – Megan’s visit (one of my best friends who lives out of town now)

    27 – Having an hour to sit on the couch and relax with hot chocolate before bed

    28 – Seeing old church friends

    29 – David’s recording of “All aboard the Mermaid Express!” (a new little game we play with her)

    30 – Meredith only falling asleep when I lay down next to her (a bit annoying but also sooo sweet)

    31 – Deciding last minute to travel to Dallas for Carmen’s NYE party that we’ve been to every year we’ve been a couple

    Happy January!

  • This Year, New Year

    This year we had a baby and our lives changed forever.

    First family picture (she's so small!)

    There’s nothing else that stands out like that, and the rest of the year is kind of a blur, but going back over my archives I was reminded of some other things that happened this year:

    >I started a book blog, which I have sorely neglected, but I’m glad I have it and I plan to revive it in the coming year.

    >My best friend Becca, her husband Micah, and their children came to visit.

    >We took a trip to South Carolina to visit my aunt & uncle.

    >Our dog Oliver went to live with  my parents and our dog Eddie dealt with some severe anxiety issues.

    >The church that  I have attended since high school and that David grew up in closed down due to some really sad circumstances, and we are still dealing with the after effects.

    >My brother David got married to Maggie (yay!)

    >David’s grandparents moved to town from Pennsylvania.

    >A lovely Christmas happened:

    Before Christmas Eve service with Gigi
    With Aunt Maggie on Christmas morning
    Christmas nap with Uncle Barry
    Christmas dress
    Santa baby (Christmas evening)

    It was a good year.

    ***

    I usually love the start of a new year. I always make resolutions because that kind of thing works for me. This year I’m not doing that, only because I’m still so far behind and exhausted from life in general that I’m not prepared. There are some things mulling around in my head that I want to do (revive the book blog, mini scrapbook each season, blog makeover, overhaul our budget, more time with David, cook several times a week, exercise, etc.) but I need to step back and get some perspective first.

    My 101 goals in 1001 days is also coming to a close this month, and there are some items that I could complete without too much effort beforehand, but I don’t think I will. I just need to rest right now and get my bearings. Sometimes it’s so nice just to cut yourself a break.

    More soon, I hope!

  • treading water

    Y’all, I’m just barely making it through each day doing what needs to get done. David has been working late every day and a full day on Saturdays to earn us some extra cash for the holidays (what a guy) so I’ve been holding down the fort keeping the house running and Meredith and myself alive and somewhat well. She’s getting over a double ear infection and I broke out in fever and chills last night, but somehow it didn’t turn out to be much after a good night’s sleep and I’m back at it.

    My days consist of working, driving, getting ready for the next day, playing with and bathing Meredith, sometimes bathing myself, eating every now and then, and crashing in to bed before 9. I have barely any time for anything extraneous, but I read on the train to and from work and I sneak in Internet time from my phone when I can.

    I’m writing from my own computer right now, though, because Meredith actually went to sleep in her crib around 7:30 p.m. This is a big step for us since we’ve exclusively bedshared, and it means I will have some time to myself in the evenings! Of course, I’m totally going to bring her to bed with me when I’m ready to sleep. I’m needy like that.

    There are more things to say, but this is all I have time for.