Wrapping up the 25 before 25

Well folks. I'm 25. I've been around for a whole quarter of a century. Thank you again for all your texts, tweets and comments yesterday. I definitely feel loved. 

Now it's time to wrap up my 25 before 25 project. I have to say, even though I didn't quite meet every single goal, I feel really good about what I did do. I'm not sure if I'm going to do a 26 before 26 or maybe a 101 in 1001? either way I am going to focus on a DC bucket list (coming soon) since I'm leaving soon.

1. find a job that makes me happy 
Well, this one I'm counting as a yes. I have found a new job in law school, and while I'm not quite there yet, I'm beyond excited about getting started in August. 

2. clear out my closets 
I would have liked to do a little bit better here, but you know what, I did a lot. Plus with a cross country move coming up, I'm sure I'll be doing quite a bit more. 

3. learn how to sew 
Absolutely yes. I had no idea how to sew a year ago, and I just made myself a maxi skirt sans pattern. 

4. read 25 books {17 of 25}
Nope. I definitely didn't make this one. Reading definitely needs to be more of a priority in my life, but you know what? I don't know that I would have even read 17 books for fun if I didn't have this goal. So I'm happy with what I did accomplish. 

5. take time for projects 
I feel good about this one too. I made some place mats  a lamp, decorated my room, a few things on the sewing machine. Win. 

6. work to make new friends
When I wrote this I really meant in real life friends, but that quickly evolved into blog friends. I have really developed some (hopefully) life long friendships through this blog, and I feel like I know so many of you people. 

7. show up for the ones I have
I would say I achieved this goal too. I have tried to fight my homebody tendencies, and go out even if the weather wasn't perfect or I was just feeling lazy. 

8. do a spending freeze for a month {February-March 2013}
This one was pretty tough but I did it, and I'm so glad that I did. I would suggest this to everyone, because it really helps you see just where the heck your money goes.

9. practice meditation/yoga
From April until about August of 2012 I was a yoga addict. Since I started studying for the LSAT, not so much. But yoga has a special place in my heart, and I think it will be a really helpful tool for my sanity once I start school in the fall.

10. do something unexpected 
I NEVER in a million years expected to go work on a campaign, let alone the Presidential Campaign. Moving to Ohio 5 days after the LSAT was one of the craziest/best decisions I've ever made, and I'm thrilled that I did it. 

11. go to new york
Okay, this one is a 100% fail. I didn't go. This summer. Lets make it happen people.

12. fill my walls with art that i love
I'd love to add some more, but yes.

13. save money {I had a goal. Hit it in March!}
I have a new goal, and it's going to be tight but fingers crossed I make it.

14. focus on fitness
I wish I would have done better, but yes.

15. get enough sleep
This year has definitely been a roller coaster in the sleeping department. I've never experienced the kind of sleeping problems I did, as when I took the LSAT. But I've gotten it back under control and am hoping to keep it up as I transition to life as a student once again.

16. take the LSAT 
Not only did I take it, but I'm thrilled with my dominating skills.

17. host a themed dinner party
I had a cinco de mayo party last may, so I'm counting that.

18. volunteer {did lots of political volunteer work}
 I did a ton of political volunteer work. Not exactly what I meant when I wrote out this goal, but again I'm counting it.

19. treat myself, because I'm worth it 
I decided to splurge and got a massage the week before the LSAT. It definitely helped my sanity. So glad I did it.

20. upgrade the camera
A very last minute yes. My parents are amazing and gave me a completely amazing/extremely intimidating Rebel T3i yesterday!

21. make / do 25 things found on pinterest and blog about it. {1, 2 + 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21} Obviously I came pretty close, and if I include the avocado egg thing floating around pinterest, that I made for dinner on Tuesday I'm at 22. So probably... I ended up there. I'm counting this as a win. 

22. practice making fun cocktails 
This was one of my favorite parts of the year. Read about some of the adventures here

23. do a 5k
Nope. But Kat and I went on a 6K walk around NOLA when I was there. So that counts, right?

24. take a cooking class
Nope.

25. Blog every day for a month 
 See December 2012. 

26. commit to continuing these goals once 25 comes and goes

25 before 25: Update

Well folks. It's the last day of February. Where is 2013 going? What's more scary is my 25th birthday is quickly approaching. There are a lot of new ladies here since I last talked about my 25 before 25 project, and in order to keep myself accountable for these last two months I want to quickly check in and update y'all on my progress. My last update was on New Years Day (here are some older updates from August and June). 

1. find a job that makes me happy. {I have decided to make law school my new job. Hope it makes me happy}

2. clear out my closets {definitely would like to do more, but I've been making a conscious effort to reduce the closet clutter}

3. learn how to sew {100% done. I've made pants, scarves, place-mats, skirts. Yay! Huge win here!}

4. read 25 books {16 of 25-- got some work to do}

5. take time for projects {I'm going to count all of my sewing projects. so yes!}

6. work to make new friends {absolutely. I've made a few new friends in the last 10 months that will be around for the long haul, not to mention my hundreds of new blog friends}

7. show up for the ones I have {I could be doing better, but trying}

8. do a spending freeze for a month {working on a modified version- I gave up buying lunch for lent, and have curtailed the shopping since February 3}

9. practice meditation/yoga {not so much}

10. do something unexpected {Dropped everything to go work on a Presidential Campaign}

11. go to New York {not yet, but lets get something on the books!}

12. fill my walls with art that I love {not yet}

13. save money {working towards a goal before law school. Hoping that I'll make it}

14. focus on fitness {not as much as I would like}

15. get enough sleep {definitely succeeding}

16. take the LSAT {10/6 DONE}

17. host a themed dinner party {Not yet}

18. volunteer {Definitely did some political volunteer work, but I want to do more}

19. treat myself, because I'm worth it {treated myself to a post LSAT massage}

20. upgrade the camera {Not yet...}

21. make 25 things found on pinterest and blog about it. {{1, 2 + 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 getting close! }

22. practice making fun cocktails {here}

23. do a 5k {Hahah. this one will most likely not happen. Maybe I'll go on a 5k walk around the city during cherry blossoms}

24. take a cooking class {Any bloggers out there want to do one with me?}

25. Blog every day for a month {December 2012. yep}

26. commit to continuing these goals once 25 comes and goes

So that's where I am. Some of these goals aren't a simple activity I can cross off, but more lifestyle changes. I also know that some of my priorities have changed since I put this list together, so if I don't make it, I don't make it. That's okay.

Well Hey There 2013

Happy New Year Ladies!  Hope you all had a fab night last night! I wanted to get started bright and early this morning with a check in on the 25 before 25 and add a few resolutions to the list!


1. find a job that makes me happy. {womp womp. Big fail}
2. clear out my closets {got started this weekend, hope to attack it some more today}
3. learn how to sew {got a sewing machine for Christmas}
4. read 25 books {12 of 25-- got some work to do}
5. take time for projects {sort of???}
6. work to make new friends {Blog friends count right?}
7. show up for the ones I have {Blog friends count right?}
8. do a spending freeze for a month {nope}
9. practice meditation/yoga {not so much}
10. do something unexpected {Dropped everything to go work on a Presidential Campaign}
11. go to New York {not yet, but lets get something on the books!}
12. fill my walls with art that i love {no}
13. save money {sorta}
14. focus on fitness {not succeeding... but hopefully that will change in 2013!}
15. get enough sleep {definitely succeeding}
16. take the LSAT {10/6 DONE}
17. host a themed dinner party {Not yet}
18. volunteer {Definitely did some political volunteer work, but I want to do more in 2013}
19. treat myself, because I'm worth it {treated myself to a post LSAT massage}
20. upgrade the camera {Not yet...}
21. make 25 things found on pinterest and blog about it. {1, 2 + 3, 4, }
22. practice making fun cocktails {here}
23. do a 5k {bahah. I'm not running outside. It's cold}
24. take a cooking class {If you hear of a good groupon or something, let me know!}
25. Blog every day for a month {December 2012. yep}
26. commit to continuing these goals once 25 comes and goes

Well... that's definitely progress since my last check in... but I still have a long way to go and less than four months to do it! Ahh! Now I want to add a few resolutions too: keep my car clean. spend more time enjoying dc. dedicate myself to the blog. Go back to yoga. de-clutter. read more. 

25 before 25 Update

Remember when I decided to do a 25 before 25 project? I talked about it here and made a page here. Well, it's approximately 4 months later, and in an effort to stay accountable/ keep y'all posted, I want to update you on my progress.

{find a job that makes me happy} I almost got a new job a few months ago... but it didn't work out (which was actually for the best), now I've put job hunting on hold to prepare to go back to school. Ironically as soon as I made that decision, work got a lot better. Funny how these things work out.

{clear out my closets} Yah... haven't done a thing. Maybe when I switch out my summer clothes for my winter ones we'll tackle this one. 

{learn how to sew} Haven't done a thing.

{read 25 books} I was on track with this for a while... then the stupid LSAT threw me off course. I definitely need to try harder to find reading time during the week. I know the time is there... but blogging just seems so much more interesting.

{take time for projects} Not.So.Much.

{work to make new friends} I think I've been doing okay with this one. Blog friends count right?

{show up for the ones I have} I should be doing way better here. But I'm making an effort. 

{do a spending freeze for a month} Not yet. October perhaps?

{practice meditation/yoga} I was doing GREAT. Then my LSAT was conveniently scheduled during my favorite Tuesday night yoga. So. sad. I haven't found another time slot yet, but I only have 2 more Tuesdays of LSAT, so... I may just wait it out. 

{do something unexpected} ....

{go to New York} No plans. 

{fill my walls with art that I love} No movement here. But I have been cultivating plenty of ideas on pinterest... that counts right?


{save money} YES! Woohoo. Unfortunately a large chuck has flown out the door for various LSAT related expenses. 


{focus on fitness} ha. nope.


{get enough sleep} ha. ha. ha. definitely a nope. 


{take the LSAT} Started LSAT class 7/17, test is October 6

{host a themed dinner party}

{volunteer} something is in the works. 

{treat myself, because I'm worth it} YES! I had a massage last weekend. It was lovely.

{upgrade the camera} Not yet. the LSAT and applying to school sucked up my spare funds. 

{make 25 things found on pinterest and blog about it} 1, 2 + 3, 4, 

{practice making fun cocktails} I think I'm doing pretty good here. The Friday cocktail series is definitely helping me achieve this one. 

{do a 5k} no progress

{take a cooking class} still no progress

{Blog every day for a month} Not yet, but it's definitely not too far away. Maybe in November?

{commit to continuing these goals once 25 comes and goes} 

Moral of the story... I need to get going on quite a few of these things. Do you have any advice on getting motivated? Some days I feel like I just have too many balls in the air to do anything. ugh. 

If any of y'all have your own happiness projects or 25 before 25 (or any other numerical combination) plans, please let me know. I'd love to read them, and hopefully gain some inspiration.  

{25 before 25}

After Reading Gretchen Rubin's book, The Happiness Project, I've been inspired to do my own. Her whole story did not focus on her unhappiness, but how she actively worked to make herself (and her family) happier.  The book made me realize that I really am the only one who can make myself happy. And while I don't think I'm generally unhappy, I am always looking towards the future, what will make me happy then? What career? What city? a husband? kids? a puppy? But I don't want any of those things right now. I need to live more in the moment. Do things that make me happy today, just because I can. I really think even small steps towards happiness will make a huge difference in my life. Gretchen focused on a different aspect of her life each month, but I've decided to do mine in the form of a 25 before 25 project. As I write this I have approximately 10 months before I hit the big quarter century. These are some of the things that I hope to cross off the list before then.

1. find a job that makes me happy.
2. clear out my closets
3. learn how to sew
4. read 25 books
5. take time for projects
6. work to make new friends
7. show up for the ones I have
8. do a spending freeze for a month
9. practice meditation/yoga
10. do something unexpected
11. go to new york
12. fill my walls with art that i love
13. save money
14. focus on fitness
15. get enough sleep
16. take the LSAT
17. host a themed dinner party
18. volunteer
19. treat myself, because I'm worth it
20. upgrade the camera
21. make 25 things found on pinterest and blog about it.
22. practice making fun cocktails
23. do a 5k
24. take a cooking class
25. Blog every day for a month
26. commit to continuing these goals once 25 comes and goes


My deadline is April 24, 2013. Wish me luck. I've also created a new page here so you can keep track of my progress through out this next year.

Do you have any kind of happiness project? or a 25 before 25? 30 before 30? I'd love to hear about it!