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. 

{Day 9}

something you’re proud of in the past few days

hmm... this is a tough one. I'm feeling a little under the weather today, so productivity is low. 

I've been working hard on my law school applications over the last week or so.

I've done an inordinate amount of laundry today. 

I knocked out all of my office christmas presents! Woohoo. 

I've been working on some exciting things for the blog... which y'all will find out about soon enough. 

I guess I need to be a little more productive over the coming days... hmm.

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!

{May Goals: Recap}

Remember when I did my May Goals post? Well, it's officially June folks. So let me do a quick recap of how I did.

1. Read a book a week (or 5 a month)-- Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, Fifty Shades Freed, The Happiness Project, The House on Oyster Creek, 
2. Start studying for the LSAT again-- sort of, bough a groupon for an online course, but haven't used it yet
3. Relax more-- Vacation, Check
4. Do yoga for at least 20 minutes 5 times a week.
5. Enjoy my friends more
6. Make new friends-blog friends count right?
7. lose 7 pounds-- not so much. p
8. Get back in the gym--Although slightly deterred by the vacation, I'm doing better!
9. Stick to an eating plan- Stupid vacation
10. Get serious about job hunting-- Hopefully we'll have some news soon.
11. Set up 2 random coffee dates-- fail
12. Stick to a strict budget-- ehh... not really
13. Visit the Doctor-it's a very long story, but no. I have an appointment on Monday though :)
14. Drink more water- nope
15. Plan a trip to Atlanta-nope
16. Plan a different trip for August- not yet
17. Keep my room cleaner-sorta?
18. Re-organize my makeup situation-- currently its a hot mess
19. Get rid of 10 pieces of clothing/shoes-- I don't have room.
20. Oh Walk 10K a day-- Yep!
21. Finish 1 DIY project. just one. 
22. Execute a fabulous birthday party-- It was great, read here
23. Re-design the blog-- I can't believe I failed on this one. I haven't had a ton of time to really look for a new design/designer I love, so recommendations are always appreciated. 
24. Start taking pictures on my camera, not the old iPhone. 
25. Drink less caffeine--fail.
26. Get new running shoes.
27. Pick a new computer-- See #12.
28. Wash my face EVERY MORNING and EVERY NIGHT- not perfect, but much better
29. Whiten my teeth.
30. DON'T buy any new products unless I'm ABSOLUTELY out- Woohoo, Can't believe I actually did it!
31. Treat myself to a mani-pedi-- because lets be honest, I deserve it. Especially if I achieve even half of these goals. 

Well... That's a lot of red. I did okay, but I could have done a lot better. I am liking this though, reflecting on personal growth each month. It's definitely keeping me accountable. I'm giving myself a mini-pass this month, because it was a really busy one, and I was gone for over a third of it, so... those 10 days don't count right? 

I want some time to think about my June Goals, so I'll try to get a post up about that sometime over the weekend.

I'm so glad it's finally Friday! woohoo! I have a semi-busy weekend planned with Nat's games (if it doesn't rain), costume parties and Blogger Blitz!!! So excited!!!

Hope y'all have a great one!

{May Goals}

Since I've been reading blogs I love watching the evolution of the author. Be it someone just getting into fashion or makeup, someone trying to eat healthier, lose weight, or exercise more, or even a new mommy to be I love watching all of you set goals and achieve them. There's just something so inspiring about it all. With that said I am going to start a new monthly goal series (and a yearly goal, be on the look out for a 25 before 25 soon). Since there are 31 days in May I would like to set 31 goals. Hopefully I succeed at all of them, but even just a few would be great.

1. Read a book a week (or 5 a month)-- I'm going on vacation so between plane time and beach time hopefully I can get this one done.
2. Start studying for the LSAT again-- Ugh. I just need to do it. October will be here before you know it.
3. Relax more-- Puerto Rico here I come!
4. Do yoga for at least 20 minutes 5 times a week.
5. Enjoy my friends more
6. Make new friends
7. lose 7 pounds-- This will put me at a big milestone for me (and I've been gaining and losing the same 4 pounds for almost 4 months now, time to step it up)
8. Get back in the gym-- I've been moderately exercising with yoga and walking but if I'm going to be serious about those 7 lbs I've got to get back on the elliptical.
9. Stick to an eating plan- too often I sabotage myself. I need to pick a diet and stick to it. no fudging the rules.
10. Get serious about job hunting-- Time to have the talk with the big boss.
11. Set up 2 random coffee dates-- be it networking or a real date. 2 people I don't know at all.
12. Stick to a strict budget-- between recent car disasters (thank you stupid rats) and stolen laptops, and too much shopping I've gotten in a serious hole.
13. Visit the Doctor-- I've been putting of this appointment for far too long.
14. Drink more water
15. Plan a trip to Atlanta
16. Plan a different trip for August
17. Keep my room cleaner
18. Re-organize my makeup situation-- currently its a hot mess
19. Get rid of 10 pieces of clothing/shoes-- I don't have room.
20. Oh Walk 10K a day-- it's a competition at work during the month of May. I have to walk 10,000 steps every day. whew. I hope I can do it. Yet another motivation for #8.
21. Finish 1 DIY project. just one. 
22. Execute a fabulous birthday party this Saturday. Happy Cinco de Mayo people.
23. Re-design the blog-- I think it's time I actually invest in this thing and get a new layout, maybe a button or two. Have any of you worked with a good designer? I need suggestions.
24. Start taking pictures on my camera, not the old iPhone. 
25. Drink less caffeine-- See #14.
26. Get new running shoes.
27. Pick a new computer-- See #12.
28. Wash my face EVERY MORNING and EVERY NIGHT.
29. Whiten my teeth.
30. DON'T buy any new products unless I'm ABSOLUTELY out. 
31. Treat myself to a mani-pedi-- because lets be honest, I deserve it. Especially if I achieve even half of these goals. 

Well... what do you think? Do you have any goals for the month of May? I'll check back in at the beginning of June and let you know how I did!