August: Happiness Project Update

This month of the happiness project, my primary focus was to spend more time with friends.  It was the perfect month to try this because at the start of the month my days were pretty full with socializing with friends anyway.


  

This was me exploring Buzz Bakery in my
neighborhood with two college friends

There were good and bad things about this month's project.  The good was I was able to maximum my time with friends.  I learned that I need to listen more, and talk less. Too many times I get distracted by technology or my surroundings and I find myself drifting the focus away from the person I am with. After this month, I realized one the biggest changes I need to work on to become happier is focusing less on whats around me and what else is going on and more time focusing on the friend I am with. 

  NYC Trip with some of my college roommates 

turned out to be a weekend of
laughter, healing, sharing, and loving. 

The bad part of the month was a small hiccup I ran into with one of my close friends.  During a vulnerable moment on Saturday evening,  I let my guard down and told a close friend about my horrible relationship with B.  Only a very few people know about him and the horrible struggle I have had after our emotionally destructive relationship.  Unfortunately, my friend was not as understanding as I had hoped and did not take the story well.    I have always feared this would be people's reaction.  This fear is one reason I keep this secret buried deep inside. It would be a lie to say that his reaction didn't affect me.  I was crushed to see how he took the story and how quickly he threw anger back at me. The hardest part is knowing I can't take back what I said, I can't take back my past, and I can only hope that eventually this friend will understand me and the experience I went through.  


This month's Happiness Project forced me to think a lot about the friendships I currently have, how friendships are built, and how to keep a friendship. 


I realized at the end of this month that friendships are built upon a lot of things.  Trust, understanding, loving, honesty, and communication.  


I also learned a lot about myself as a friend to others.  I know now what I need to work on personally over the next few months (and years) on becoming a better friend to those who are special to me in my life.


Over the last three years I have learned a lot about forgiveness and accepting. I realized this month I am truly blessed with amazing friends, however, a part of me is still hurt by what happened with the one friend and I can only hope that I can change who I am, in becoming a better person, to show them the real me. 

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

My semi-wordless wednesday is inspired by Fall and my semi-empty closet. During Hurricane Irene, I took the opportunity to clean out my entire room and re-assess what I own and what I should own. I realized a few things. The biggest thing was that my closet is in bit of a makeover. I also realized, that for a while I have been buying clothing in the size that I convince myself I am, instead of the size I really am. 

With that said, I am doing something completely out of my element and going shopping this weekend. I figured with the Labor Day Sales and a very limited budget I need to make the most of it. Here are some of my fall inspirations:

Ten on Tuesday

1. What is your favorite brand of shoes?
I love Nine West Heels, mostly because I don’t wear heels ever and if I do, they seem to be most comfortable.  I actually hate to admit this because I am female and probably the only one of my kind, but I am not a huge shoe person.  I go for comfort rather than style and end up wearing flats or semi-flats to work always. 

2. How old were you when you learned to tie your shoes?
I don’t really remember the first time I learned to tie my shoe.  I must have been around 4 or 5…when do kids learn?

3. How do you feel about freckles?
I think freckles are adorable! I have some on my shoulders and a few on my face but they only come out if I get a lot of sun and really are pretty scarce.  My dad has some freckles and I love them. 

4. I can count to ten in ___ languages.
Two languages.  English and Spanish.  I think I can start them in German but I don’t even know what I am saying. 

5. What is your favorite store-bought ice cream flavor?
I used to love Death by Chocolate ice cream as a child.  The name is kind of literal for me since I am lactose in tolerant.  

6. Were you in ballet or gymnastics as a little girl?
I was actually in both.  I took dance for 14 years, 5 of those years were dedicated to ballet and I took gymnastics for a few years but was never very good. 

7. Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?
I loved Bert and Ernie! I used to love watching that show and am glad its still around for kids today. 

8. What’s your bedtime?
Sadly, my bedtime is usually around midnight each night.  I know that is horrible since I get up around 6:30 feeling like I hadn’t slept at all.  I come from a family of people who don’t sleep well so I feel like its genetic.  I wish I could go to be earlier. 

9. Do you have any jewelry that you wear every single day?
I usually always have to have some sort of necklace on.  I am not huge on rings or bracelets but necklaces are a must.  

10. Who is the bug killer in your household?
Actually, I would say I am.  My roommates probably would try and kill them too, but I usually would rather see them dead, the disappear somewhere and me not know where they are.

A rocky relationship

Today started great. Its a beautiful day, almost fall like weather. I threw on a scarf, headed to the garage to update my inspection, and then my good day turned bad.



The moment the inspection guy walked in the door I knew it was not good news. It was almost like that feeling when you are waiting in the hospital to get news from the doctor. The way he enters the room and the expression on his face can tell you a lot.

I stepped up to the counter and noticed a big FAIL on the sheet. The man behind the counter literally gasped and smiled saying, " oh this isn't good."

$1,000 later and one heart racing, teary-eyed phone call to my dad later, i left the shop and my car behind. We are not talking... I will decide later if I want to pick her up.

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. :)

Monday Mornings

Figured I better start this week out right!

Got up early to do a morning workout. 

First one in about 8 months.

Hopefully I can keep up the momentum!

I need to get in shape for upcoming events.

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

27 years later....

I got a text first thing this morning from my mother that brought me to tears.  It read:

27 years ago I cried tears of joy because I was given a beautiful daughter.  You have given me much happiness. Happy Birthday.  

Its hard to believe 26 years of my life have already passed by.  As I celebrate my 27th birthday today, I have begun to reflect back on alot in my life and am ready to make certain changes to start new adventures.  Over the last month I have been contemplating on starting over.  Starting fresh, moving out of DC and getting a new job somewhere else.  I made the decision that this will be my last year in DC (unless a series of strange events occur and change my life in a new way). Somewhere deep inside of me I have a good feeling about my 27th year.  I feel as though alot of good will come my way and alot of personal changes will occur. 

Starting tomorrow I am giving up chocolate and soda.  I am going to try and give them up for atleast a month to get my health back in order.  Along side of that is working out.  Tomorrow at 6 a.m. I will hit the gym and try to get my weight under control.  2012 has so many celebrations and reunions to look forward to.  I want to make sure that I am happy with myself before sharing the happiness with others. 

I look forward to closing my 26th year and starting a new one today. Another year to figure out what I want in life, and possibly find someone to share this life with.  I am so grateful for the friends in my life, and the memories I have made over the years. I am excited for this birthday because I see it as a way to recharge my batteries and gear up for the next exciting chapter.  I am ok with being closer to 30 than 20.  I am just happy to be alive and be excited to live.  And that is what I am going to do with this next year.  Live as much as I can!

Ten on Tuesday

1.       Do you listen to the radio in your car?  If so, what type of station do you like?

·         I do, I live in the DC metro area, so Hot 99.5 is my favorite! I love Kane in the morning, can remember when Teapot Tim was on in the old days, but love the entertainment they provide in the a.m.

2.       What is the best concert you have ever attended?

·         Maroon 5! I just saw them for the 5^th time in concert last week and still love them!

3. What is the most embarrassing concert you have ever attended?

·         I actually am not embarrassed of this, but it is funny to think about now.  I used to be in looove with Ricky Martin (before I knew he batted for the other team) and dragged my mom to the concert back in the nineties.  Although I don’t regret it and will tell anyone about it, it’s a little funny to think about now.

4. If you could have the singing voice of anyone in the world, who would it be?

·         Christina Agularia.  I think she has an amazing voice.  Strong, sexy, and soothing.

5. You’re auditioning for American Idol.  What song do you sing?

·         Unbreak My Heart by Toni Braxton

6. If your previous weekend had its own soundtrack, what would be a few of the songs?

·         Black Horse and Cherry Tree – KT Tunstall

·         Lean on me – Bill Withers

·         Send me on my way – Rusted Root

·         Sunday Morning – Maroon 5

7. Most annoying television show theme song ever:

·         Brady Bunch!

8. Are you and your significant other music-compatible?

·         No significant other L

9. A song that brings me back to middle school:

·         Spice Girls (anything Spice Girls)

10. A song that brings me back to high school:

·         Usher – My Way

11. A guilty pleasure song (or three):

·         Backstreet Boys  -- I want it that way