12 in 2012: Month in Review

It is the end of January, so I want to check in and see how I am doing on my 12 in 2012 goals.

{To see the full descriptions of each goal, visit the original post.}

1. Speak up.

This isn't as measurable as I want it to be. I have done a better job of focusing on myself when I need to and not over-committing to things - but I don't have examples. I need to figure out a way to track this better...

2. Spend less.

I have spent less than $30 and it was all on the thrift store. I am buying things that I can wear for professional dress and one of my wishlist items. So far, I am on track.

3. Spread the Love.

I think February (fitting enough) is going to be my month to "spread the love." I have some cute ideas and hope to give a smile to all my friends and family!

4. Snap it.

This one is going VERY well! So far, I have added 30 out of 31 photos this month. I hope to have more photos of actual events, people and places, but if that's not what I'm doing than it can't be documented, can it?

5. Spice it Up.

I have been packing lunches and spending less at the cafe and eating out. I have not yet set aside some new recipes to try, but I will. Maybe I will save that for when I get settled into Colorado with Al. 

6. Sweat.

Yeah right. I have not been doing well with this one. 
My BFF and I bought Groupons for a boxing gym down the road. We will make our appointment soon!

7. Stamp It.

Obviously, this can't happen until I graduate.

8. See the Sights.

I haven't had much time for this, but I did discover a new restaurant:
Mango Thai - Inexpensive Thai restaurant near campus

9. Style it.

Yes! This is going well. I have posted almost daily and I have been trying new things!

10. Save space.

My projects:
1. Christmas Card Book
2. Greeting Card Box
I have a couple more ideas up my sleeve for the months before I move.

11. Slow down.

I have been doing this more. Not feeling guilty when I sleep for an extra hour; making time for a drink or dinner with friends; putting the books away to make sure I stay healthy; and making time to blog.

12. Sleep more.

My sleep schedule is really screwed up, but I have been going to bed earlier at night, hoping I can get up in the mornings and be productive right away. It's a process for a night owl like myself.

Marriage: From the Mouths of Babes

Yesterday was my (and Al's, of course) one-year anniversary. It came and went without much notice - because it's hard to celebrate with 1400 miles between you. We did get into a little spat about something completely irrelevant, so we are calling a do-over tonight. Ultimately, it doesn't really matter if you bicker or make goo-goo eyes at one another on your anniversary, but it is best to be in the same room when you do.

I can say this, I am a lucky girl. Even one year (which has competely flown by) later, I am so elated to call him my husband. I am grateful to be in a happy, secure and safe relationship with someone who would quite literally do anything to insure my happiness. And I, his. Plus, I still think he's cute.

The night we were engaged

Engagement Photos (and Al being silly...)

Our Wedding

Wedding night drinks

On a related note, I ran across this today and just had to share. 

(original source)

Happy Monday!

The Living Proof

Today, I get to do something that has been on my bucket list for a long, long time: help build a house with Habitat for Humanity. Even better, I get to do it with my mother!
It seems fitting, therefore, to pick a song about living through the hard times, using God to guide you, and making it through.


The Living Proof by Mary J. Blige

Blige wrote this song for the movie, The Help.

{I haven't seen the movie yet because I want to read the book first. Both will happen in due time.}

She should have been nominated for an Oscar for this song, but was not. This is especially appalling since only two songs are up for the award this year. 

In my opinion, this is one of the best songs I have heard in a long time. And from one of the queens of soul. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Happy Thursday!

Q & A

I was tagged by Kaylee to participate in a Q&A Tag.

The rules are: 

Post the rules a link who tagged you

Post eleven facts about you

Answer the tag questions

Create eleven new questions

Tag whomever you want

Eleven Facts

1. I am the oldest of 5 siblings. My baby brother (the only boy) is 23-years-younger than me.

2. As a little girl I wanted to be a dancer or a Target employee.

3. When I was 12, I decided I wanted to be a lawyer.

4. Growing up, I had more posters of Corvettes and baseball players on my wall than I did boy bands

5. A bag of Swedish Fish and a glass of raspberry tea is my favorite treat.

6. But, after a long day, only a piece of chocolate and glass of wine will do.

7. I think every woman should own a string of pearls, know how to change a tire and throw a good party.

8. I cannot wait to start my career. Even more, I cannot wait to be a mother. I hope to find the perfect balance of both.

9. I have a bamboo branch that I've kept alive for over a year - that is the longest any plant has been alive in my possession.

10. It is impossible for me to start my morning without a cup (or two) of coffee.

11. Even then, I dread mornings. In general, I am a night owl and even adulthood cannot change that.

My Answers

1. What is your favorite food?     

Spaghetti, or anything Italian, really.

2. If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?      

Pay off all my student loans, buy a Mercedes and a house and save/invest the rest.

3. What is your favorite accessory?

A fab pair of shoes and my smart phone.

4. If you had a "day off," what would you do?

Go to my husband and just be with him.

5. Where would you love to travel? 

Greece, Thailand, Germany, Czech, Japan...and the list goes on...

6. If I came to visit you, where would you take me?

To see your family here in MN. Where else would you want to go? Ha ha.

7. What is your favorite book? 

It has been an awfully long time since I read for fun. I really liked "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

8. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I don't care so much where I live, so long as my husband and family are there.

9. Have you been to a ballet? Would you like to?

I have never been to a ballet. I don't know that I care one way or the other.

10. Do you (did you) play a musical instrument?

I played sliding trombone in 4th grade. I can play "Joy to the World" on the piano.

11. What is your current favorite song? 

"A Woman Like You" by Lee Brice

My Questions

1. If you won the lottery tomorrow, how would you spend it?
2. What is your favorite vacation spot? Your dream vacation spot?
3. How do prefer to spend a Saturday night? 
4. How do you prefer to spend a Sunday morning?
5. What is your favorite childhood memory?
6. What is one thing on your bucket list?
7. What is one food you cannot live without?


You can only choose one for the rest of your life...
8. Coffee or Soda?
9. Books or Blogs?
10. Winter or Summer?
11. Orange or Black?

Tag, you're it

Our Little Fam
Mrs. Y - Miles Behind Me

Daphne

When the lovely Mrs. S. reached out to me to say a few words about her friend, I knew I had to.

Daphne was born on January 7 at 2:20 in the afternoon. She was born with Trisomy 18. 
Trisomy 18 is a condition where a child is born with an extra chromosome pair (3, instead of 2) - and most babies never make it out of the womb. For the few that do, the fatal disease takes the child within hours of birth. In fact, almost no babies live past the first few days of their life. 


Which is why Daphne is such a miracle. She has lived over two weeks so far and the doctors say she could possibly leave the hospital soon. The doctor's are working hard to keep Daphne alive, but even they attribute this to something greater than themselves. Daphne is a miracle - her parents miracle - and they are looking forward to taking her home this week. Her life will still be short, but it will be full of so much love!



The minor inconveniences I endure on a daily basis: campus cafe is out of coffee; my car won't start; I forgot my favorite highlighter... are so insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Sometimes I have to stop and swallow a reality pill and realize how much the little things matter.


Little things...like getting to hold your daughter who wasn't supposed to live past the womb.
Little things...like watching your tiny child defy the odds.
Little things...like having a strong family to get you through the truly trying times.
Little things...like learning how resilient you really are.
Little things...like God's purpose for our lives, which is always different than we would imagine.

<a href="http://simplysteele.blogspot.com/2012/01/enormous-miracles-in-tiny-bodies.html"><img src="http://i368.photobucket.com/albums/oo128/chambanachik/381854_10150500685078124_585278123_8905741_1791237492_n.jpg" /></a>
You can visit Mrs. S.'s page by clicking the above button. Please also take the button for your blog as a symbol that you are supporting this family with prayer and unity. If you are interested in more information, and ways you can help this family and others, check out the Trisomy 18 Foundation.

Greeting Card Box: Part Two

This is the follow-up post on the Greeting Card Box I made earlier in the month.

Today, I took some time away from my studies to make the calendar portion of the box.

 I blurred out the last names to protect my friends' privacy.

I cut designer scrapbook paper to fit on the front of each month divider. Then on the left I listed the birthdays in that month and the anniversaries, etc...on the right.

For now, the box is complete - versatile, usable and organized - everything I love!

SOPA and a Song

I'm so glad that Goodnight Moon brought the Song-Link-Up back.

Have you heard Trent Tomlinson before? He had the song "One Wing in the Fire" quite a few years ago. Anyway, I love his voice. It's masculine and gritty, but still really elegant. 

He has a new song that I just love. There is no video for it yet, so here is a link to his fan site where you can listen to the entire song (in the sidebar.) You can buy the song on iTunes.


--oo------oo------oo------oo------oo--


I have to say that I was really impressed by all the people who spoke out against SOPA/PIPA yesterday. It sounds like most politicians are reeling from the outcry and considering taking the whole thing off the table. I read this interesting article today. The author does a great job of discussing both (1) the failures of the politicians and (2) the fear of the internet having such a profound influence on the law. 


On the latter point, I beg to differ. I think yesterday showed the solidarity of the public to make law, using the internet as a resource. Isn't that what our country is all about? Isn't it a government run by the people? The problem is, we've elected a handful of imbeciles that either don't remember what they stand for, or never took a stance in the first place. Our government is falling apart. That is a fact. Yesterday, the people realized that if real change is going to happen in our country, it's going to start with us. The people. 

Decisiveness

I am an incredibly decisive person. My process is simple: I am faced with a decision; I quickly weigh the options and outcomes; I make a choice and I execute. My thought is that you can't plan for all the contingencies of life. In fact, you can "plan" for very few of them.

found here

So, I make the best decision I can, within the controllable parameters and I implement my decision with the idea that I will likely have to adjust my plan or alter my course as things change. As I work towards the end-goal, I am acutely aware of alternatives and the things that could go wrong, as well as the ways to soften the blow. That doesn't stop me from moving ahead on execution.

found here

Which is why my husband drives me crazy.

He is very meticulous when making decisions. He is very thorough and wants to adequately assess the entire situation, from every angle, before he springs into action. Once he does, he will execute flawlessly (for the most part) but it is a long process to get there.

Don't get me wrong, I see the value in making a thoroughly informed decision. He is only being responsible for our lives and our future. He is doing what works for him. But it drives me absolutely batty - especially when I think a decision has been made and I start making moves towards implementation only to have the plan change (usually more than once.)

found here

I guess I should have known when he visited 15 different diamond stores before buying my engagement ring, that he would be that way. He wants to be fully informed, especially if it involves spending money. I should be grateful our styles differ so much - it makes me slow down and take stock of more factors and it puts a fire under his ass to arrive at a decision sooner - and we make good decisions.

Sometimes, though, I just wish he would "roger and execute." :o)

What do you do when your decision-making style differs drastically from your spouse?

Music Monday: AltRock Version

{I might have missed the memo (or it could be that she's a super-busy mother of four) but I haven't seen the What's Your Song? Music Link-Up over on Goodnight Moon since well before the holidays.}

As I head off to the coffee shop to do all the homework I've been putting off this weekend, I wanted to share a few songs that have been on my iTunes queue recently.

Enjoy!

Sunday

My bestie and her boyfriend are in Green Bay today for the Packers game. She is there for "work," lucky brat! Since they are gone for the day, I am dog-sitting for them. Their puppy is only a few months old so he can't be alone for more than a few hours yet. So, I packed up my homework and hunkered down at their house with this little guy:

Not a bad day, if you ask me!

Currently...

I spent over an hour yesterday trying to put together a vlog of the milspouse quiz. My video ended up at 15 minutes and I couldn't make it shorter for the life of me. I cut out every except answering the questions and I even pre-prepared my answers so I would be quicker. YouTube won't take my video because it's too big for a free account to upload. Blogger won't upload the video directly because it's simply too big. The point: I will have to find a new topic to vlog - Stay tuned and in the meantime...

Current Book:

Law books. Two books I have to read for class (that are more noteworthy):
War, Peace and God by Gary Simpson

Everything Conceivable by Liza Mundy

Current Playlist:

The top songs:

Our - Taylor Swift

Set Fire to the Rain - Adele

Without You - Breaking Benjamin

Current Color:

White - We finally go some snowfall yesterday!

Current Food:

Coffee and Peanut Butter Toast

Current Show(s):

Project Runway All Stars

Whitney

Waiting for Walking Dead to start again in February

Current Needs:

A hot shower and a big lunch!

Current Triumph:

Finishing my last semester with a GPA boost

Current Banes of My Existence:

That I still have one semester left... :)

Current Celeb Crush:

Channing Tatum

Current #1 Blessing:

Al, obviously

Current Indulgence:

Swedish Fish

Current Outfit:

Button down top and sequined sweater with jeans

Current Excitement:

Heading to the coffee shop for a BIG turtle mocha

Current Mood:

Content.

Current Quote or Verse:

Just do it. -Nike

{ha ha}

Current App:

Phone app? Words with Friends

Current Product:

My gorillapod - Although it's proving harder to get used than I thought

Christmas Keeps on Giving

During the holidays, I entered one of Chambanachik's awesome Christmas giveaways. The one I really, really wanted to win was the clutch and earrings from Ines at The Few, The Proud, The Wife. Well, lucky me, I won!!

Isn't it adorable?!?

Thank you Erika for hosting such a wonderful giveaway series.

Thank you Ines for the clutch and earrings - you are truly talented!

Greeting Card Box: My version

In an effort to get more organized (one of my 12 goals) I have been looking at ways of taking all those piles of things, folders, papers, etc...and making them more accessible and usable. One of those things was the box of greeting cards that I have. Earlier this week, I posted the pin that inspired the project and here I am going to show you my version.

I started with a pretty box I bought at Wal-mart:

And a stack of these:

I cut the folder in half (so it was just card stock sheets with tabs on top) and sized them down to fit snugly in the box. Then I labeled the folders with various categories of cards (from Thank-You to General Occasion). I labeled another stack of them with each month of the year. I separated the two section with a piece of cardboard (cut from the side of a box).

I started filling it with all the cards I have in boxes.

I am probably going to add some categories (for Baby, Romance, Blank, etc...) and I am still working on compiling all the dates to write on each month's folder.

As the month arrives, I will look at all the important dates, prep the cards and buy any that I don't have. It will make mailing the cards easier. Plus, it serves as a go-to if an event comes up that I forget about (which happens all the time!)

I plan on doing some more organization projects in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for those posts as well. {It looks like January is shaping up to be organization month for this girl!}

On Hold

I got my second negative pregnancy test a couple weeks ago.

The good part was that Al was here to share the experience with me.

The bad part should be quite obvious.

I didn't expect it to be easy, necessarily. I didn't think I would get pregnant immediately.

But I did think that when we got lucky enough to be together during two ovulation cycles that maybe it could happen.

We had a small window. If I were able to conceive between October and February, we would be fine on the timeline. I would be working, studying for the "big test" and it would feasible. If I get pregnant any time after February, well, not so much. The test results come in October, right along with those hefty loan payments and if I'm not employed, we only have about 3 months of buffer before we're really screwed. Adding a baby to the mix is just too risky.

We want to bring a child into a financially stable situation. We want to afford the necessities of life, and a few extras. We want to know (as much as one can) that the bills are getting paid and food is on the table. I know there is no "perfect time." I know that babies are expensive no matter when you have them. I also know what it's like to grow up in a house where decisions were made every day between buying bread and paying the phone bill. While my mom did a stellar job of providing what we needed, I just don't want that life for my child.

Even while I type this out, and see it in black and white...

Even though I know that waiting for a better time is the responsible thing to do...

It breaks my heart.

It's like un-ringing a bell. I was ready. I am ready.

I want to be a mother. I really want to make Al a father.

That is going to be one great kid (and a total pain in the ass, God help us!)

I am ready. And now I have to wait.

Greeting Card Box

I started a project today...

(originally found here)

Source: soisawthistutorial.blogspot.com via Mel on Pinterest

I'll post pictures later this week when it's all complete.

Another Step

I bought my last set of law school books...ever.

Which means five classes stand between me and that black cap and robe:

1. The Law and Justice of War

2. Income Tax

3. The Law and Public Education

4. Real Estate Transactions

5. Assisted Reproductive Technology

5(a). My long paper

I have to start filling out my bar application, which includes a pretty extensive background check and about a million personal references. It is going to be quite busy between now and May.

In four short months it will all be over.

Now if only I could speed up the clock...

12 in 2012: Part 3 {Implementation}

{It is awfully ironic when you are in the middle of a series on productivity and life gets in the way of completing the series. While I could make excuses and tell you all the reasons why I didn't get this up until today, I'd rather skip all that nonsense and jump right in!}

The final step in my 12 in 2012 plan is to implement a plan to execute my goals. I have a few ideas on how I can incorporate these new goals into my daily life:

I will set aside at least 20 minutes for myself each day - to do whatever needs to get done from the list.

I will set aside an additional 20 minutes each day for blogging.

I will layout my clothes the night before and plan out a lunch and breakfast before I go to bed.

I will review my goals each Sunday and make mini-lists of accomplishments for the week. Some of these things will be regular daily tasks and others will be goal-oriented tasks.

I will not get down on myself when life gets in the way. After all, part of my 12 in 2012 plan is to not worry so much about how and when, but that I am focusing on bettering myself through these outlined goals.

I will be flexible and change my plan as I need to.

I will seek help from family, friends and bloggers to encourage, push and inspire me to keep going!

Finally, I will reward myself for accomplishing my goals with a treat. It can be anything ranging from a delicious dessert to a new pair of shoes!

I have already started tracking my goals and moving towards accomplishing some of them. Thank you for going on this journey with me - I look forward to checking in.

12 in 2012: Part 2 {The Plan}

Yesterday, I launched my 12 in 2012 plan and discussed the types of goals I planned on making for the new year. I also outlined my 2012 calendar and all the major events going on in the my life.

Today, I am going to unveil the goals themselves. 12 of them. Tomorrow, I will discuss my plan for implementing these goals and getting the ball rolling!

1. Speak up.

I will be more deliberate with my words. I will say "no" when I need to and ask for help when I need it. I want my words to count for more, so I want to be more selective about what I say and to whom.

2. Spend less.

I will not be doing any shopping during my remaining time in Minnesota. Check out my fashion blog for the specifics of this goal and my fashion budget tracker.

3. Spread the Love.

I want to send little love notes to my friends and family for an entire month. Each week, I will send out a special note, card, photo, etc... to my closest people so I can put a smile on their faces.

4. Snap it.

I will take more photos of people, things, events that happen in my life. I will take a years-worth of photos to document all the great things 2012 will hold. It doesn't have to be one picture everyday, but by the end of the year, I will have 365 photos in my album on Facebook. Now that I have my new gorillapod, this should be a breeze!

5. Spice it Up.

I will try at least 10 new recipes this year. I want to work on making meals full of flavor to appeal to Al's palette. I also want to try making delicious, portable lunches that I can bring with to school and save money on eating out.

6. Sweat.

I will do something each day to make me sweat. It doesn't have to be work-out specific - sometimes just parking an extra block away or walking up and down the stairs a few extra times. I will log these daily tasks in my "Sweat Journal."

7. Stamp It.

I want to commemorate my time in law school with a tattoo. The tattoo will read: "Gerechtigkeit fur alles" = "Justice for All". I still haven't decided where I want the tattoo to go - either my foot, my shoulder, or my wrist - but it will small. The point is to signify my hard work and celebrate the end.

8. See the Sights.

I want to explore my lovely home state more. I don't want to spend oodles of money to do so, but even just visiting the places from my childhood or places I've never seen before. I will be moving away and want to soak up as much of the local culture as possible.

Then, when I get to Colorado, I want to get my feet on the ground right away and start seeing all the scenery and local fun. I will use the blog to talk about my quests as I set out to explore my local surroundings and my new home in Colorado.

9. Style it.

Since I am on a spending freeze, I will be more creative with what I wear based on what I already own. I don't want to pigeon-hole myself into a category, so I will draw inspiration from many sources and step out of my comfort zone as much as possible. I also want to find new, fun ways to style-up my business-attire. Follow my fashion blog, to see that journey. Find my fashion inspiration here.

I also have something else up my sleeve that I have talked about for an awfully long time. I still have to decide if it is worth the time and money and if it is, I will unveil it at that time. For a sneak peek, check this out.

10. Save space.

I will complete an organization overhaul. I have pinned a lot of great organization ideas that I can implement in my space in Minnesota so it will be easier to move and my new space in Colorado. Until we buy a home, we will be in an apartment again, so I love utilizing extreme organization in small spaces.

11. Slow down.

I will focus on myself and doing things that make me happy and healthy. This means taking time to do a mani/pedi or sitting down to watch a movie I enjoy. This means time with family and friends and putting the books away whenever I can.

12. Sleep more.

Let's face it, I need to sleep more. It will help me be healthier and more productive. I would love to get 7 or more hours of sleep per night, but that is going to be too specific when midterms, finals and the bar ramp up.

12 in 2012: Part 1 {Setting Realistic Goals}

I don't like making resolutions. So many people make grandiose, superficial and virtually unattainable resolutions that they are of course going to keep.

I can even admit that I have done this in the past myself.

In fact, I usually feel worse about the fact that I failed at the goal than the fact that goal was pointless or unrealistic in the first place.

This year, I am instead going to make 12 mini-goals that can be accomplished throughout the year. Ideally, I will pick one each month that I can achieve and check them off as I go. It would be counter-productive, however, to not allow for flexibility. Especially if I have a particularly productive month or a month where things are too crazy to get the extras done. I also want to make sure that I am setting goals that can be achieved regardless of where I live and what my life entails. Let's face it, 2012 is going to be a busy year.

Before I unveil the specific goals, I want to outline (mostly for my own sake) my calendar and major events coming up in 2012:

January:

1 Year Anniversary!

1-Week J-Term

Final Semester of Law School Begins

February:

Al moves to Ft. Carson

March:

2-year Blog-a-versary

Spring Break - Visit Colorado

April:

Trip to D.C. for National Moot Court

May:

My Birthday & Al's Birthday

End of {my last} semester - GRADUATION!

Move to Colorado Springs/Ft. Carson

June:

Start Bar Prep Course

July:

Take Bar Exam

October:

Bar Results Returned

Get a Job DEADLINE

There may or may not be house-buying, baby-making, and a deployment in the plan, but we can't really nail down when/how those things will happen. Like I said, 2012 is going to be a big year. I can hardly wait!

Stay tuned tomorrow for part 2...

Productive 2012

I hope y'all are enjoying the new year.

2012

Amazing.

It seems like such a big year. Big things are going to happen this year, I can feel it.

I found this article on the best tips for being productive in the year 2012, and I'm sharing it with you.

Give it a read and come back tomorrow for my 12 Goals of 2012.