10-minute project: Hair Accessory Corral

Since most of my bigger projects last week required another run to the store or construction help from Al, I found myself completing smaller, easier projects on my own. I had very little "spare" time this week, so projects like this one are perfect for the 10-minutes while you're waiting for your bath to fill or your nails to dry. 

For the past few months, my hair accessories have looked like this:

Chaos. Not only is it a sight for sore eyes it was nearly impossible to find the smaller items  at the bottom of the mess. So, I took 10 minutes and did something about it.

I remembered that I had this tupperware I picked up at a thrift store a couple years ago. I'd used it for lunches a couple of times, but the compartments were too small for my needs and it was shoved into the back of the tupperware drawer. 

In a moment of clarity, I realized it would work perfectly for those stray hair accessories.

And now my drawer looks like this:

The bigger clips, rollers, and combs are on the bottom and the bobby pins, hair bands, etc... are compartmentalized on the top. It slid back into the drawer perfectly!

It was a quick, easy solution that will keep those items in one place and save me precious time in the morning. Have you used something in a creative way recently?

Project Week FAIL

I screwed up. 

I had grandiose plans for this week. I was going to snap pictures and write up the posts and  show you all the cool projects I completed around the house. 

Well, life got in the way.

I never took pictures. I never wrote the posts. 

Some of the projects aren't even finished. 

However...

With the holiday weekend coming up (and my 12-hour-days coming to an end) I should wrap up those projects and I will share them with you as soon as possible.

In the meantime, have a great rest of the week!

Project Week: Kick-off and File Cabinet Organization

This week is going to be very busy for me. I am ramping up my day time with events and meetings and I am at the gym in the evenings twice as much as I normally am. As such, I decided this would be a great week to feature some projects I've completed around the house recently. They are all projects that can be done in a few short hours and (for the most part) use materials you have already laying around. 

Today, I am going to kick it off with an organization project I did in my office. You remember when I re-finished my file cabinet last fall? Well, at the time, I just threw my work files inside it and figured I would get to them "later." 

Last week, later finally came and I sat down (while watching a boring finance training video) to complete the project.

1. I pulled everything out of the cabinet and started making piles (as well as tossing unnecessary docs) 

The beginning. Stacks and stacks and stacks...

2. I then made a list of each pile of documents and created bigger categories

My list: 

1. Administrative (ORANGE)

2. Business Resources & Networking (BLUE)

3. Finance (PURPLE)

4. Legal (GREEN)

5. Volunteer & Memberships (PINK)

3. Then I made my labels, color-coded for main category and sub-category written-out

4. I then added the labels to the folders, clearly separating the main sections for ease-of use

5. Time to fill the files! 

Voila! Easy-peasy. The whole project took about two hours and the most tedious part was creating the categories. Every time I thought I was done, I'd find a new doc that needed to be added in. Now that I completed this project for my work-related documents, I want to go back and revamp my personal files using the same method. it is so much easier than simple alphabetization. 

Side note: I partially used this for inspiration, adapting the method to work for my needs. 

This is a great project for a grey day or when you're sick because you can get comfortable on your floor and get it done in mere hours. Have you done any organization recently that has made your life easier?

Fashion Friday: Spring Outfits

It finally (finally) seems to be warming up outside. The days have been beautifully warm and the snow is almost completely melted. I love this transition time, where long sleeves, cardigans, and airy scarves are staples.  The weather has gotten me (and, more importantly, the dog) outside for some long walks and I've been reading on the deck in the evenings.

Today, I decided to put together a few fashion pieces I am eyeballing for the spring weather. Simple, versatile pieces that go with everything and will last many years. And some trendier pieces that scream fun! 

Tee / Shorts

Fedora / Wedges / Belt 

Top / Cardi / Skirt 
Necklace / Pumps

Top / Pants
Aviators / Crossbody / Sandals 

Maxidress / Scarf
Flats / Bracelet

I love the "sporty" and "trendy" looks - very me. Which ones are your favorite?

Three long, beautiful years! {Giveaway!}

I can hardly believe that three years ago, today, I started this lowly blog amidst my first year of law school and our first deployment just hoping I could find solace on these virtual pages.
And I did. 

A few highlights of the three years: 
I've written over 700 posts, had over 36,000 pageviews and 2200 comments!
My most viewed post: Organizing Heaven
Blogger URL with highest referrals: Ash and Matt (Thank you!!)
Top 3 commenters: JG, Michelle, and Jen (Double thank you!)
My favorite post (of this year): This one

This blog has been my light during the darkest days and my friend when I felt alone. It has helped me build a network of lifelong friends and brought me into the military family better than anything else I have known! It has connected me with people around the world and led me to business advancement. Mostly, though, these pages allowed me to be myself, explore my opinions, and develop myself each and every day. 

I am eternally grateful.

In celebration of THREE glorious years of blog-hood, I am hosting a giveaway!

A Julep gift set! Contains:
"Simone" polish (lavendar) & "Debra" polish (cement)
Rock Star hand creme
1 bonus manicure/pedicure item (hand-picked by me!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Enter using the Rafflecopter above. The giveaway ends at midnight March 31, 2013. The winner will be announced on April 1.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Thank you for reading, commenting, and being my friend. You are appreciated!

Army Wives: Episode 1 and 2

I originally intended on doing my review after the premier, but it was really a two-parter, so I waited until after Sunday's episode to comment. They sure jumped right in with the high-emotions, didn't they? I am pretty sure I was teary for the entire first episode, which made doing my nails awfully tricky. 

I will break it down a little bit, so if you would like to avoid any spoilers, click away now!

Episode 1:
The focus was entirely on the passing of Claudia Joy Holden. That meant we only saw the characters we know and love - including Pamela and Roxy who returned for the funeral. I have to give major respect to Brian McNamara (who plays General Holden) for his superb acting. He plays the grieving widower very well and was the most convincing crier in my opinion. 

The other part I enjoyed was the discussion of the ceremony. CJ didn't want a traditional funeral, but rather to be cremated and celebrate her life with only those close to her. I have always thought that was precisely the type of ceremony I would want, so I really enjoyed that less-traditional view. The episode ends with the four (Roxy, Pamela, Roland, and Denise) discussion "tomorrow's" ceremony. 

Episode 2: 
We pick up where we left off and spend most of the episode focused on CJ's ceremony and how Emmalin and General Holden cope with their grief. Claudia Joy's self-written eulogy is beautiful and poignant. More tears ensue from the cast and viewers. Once again, we say good-bye to Pamela and Emmalin heads back to college (though after much debate.) 

We get to see a bit of Gloria (whom I really like) when Roxy stops by the Hump Bar. This also creates the perfect opportunity to introduce many of the new characters. I like that they used the Hump as the scene for bringing the characters together, in keeping with the spirit of the original group. That is, however, where my "likes" stop.

Ashanti is an awful actress, as I already suspected. She plays Latasha Montclair and lives in Roxy's old post housing. She simply isn't believable and I find her hard-edge attitude disingenuous. When Gloria is showing her roots and that she has some toughness, she is genuine and believable. Ashanti is not. So far I am not impressed by her or her character.

We also meet the young girl (Holly Truman, played by Elle McLemore), recently married and spending her time baking to avoid any real interaction with the world. She is 19 and has never left her hometown (where she is well-known for her pies.) She is cute, blonde, and wears funny glasses. And while I found her acting to be above-average, I simply don't like the character design here. It's not crazy to have a young wife who is new to the Army and still learning her way (Roxy was that way to a large extent) but I can't stand that she's so...helpless. And meek. We will see if she shows her color as the storyline develops and there is enough good in her for me to hang on for more. 

The other new character we meet (along with her family) is the prior service wife of a current soldier (Maggie Halls, played by Torrey Devito) and their blended family. She rides a motorcycle and is not afraid to spout off about her frustrations. (They even film a fairly provocative shower scene, granted with her husband, that is out-of-character for the show. I suspect it is to set her apart as an edgier character, but we will see.)

These ladies are brought together at the Hump when a man hits on little ol' Holly and she turns him down. They other ladies come to her rescue when he doesn't take no for an answer and all of them (including Roxy and Gloria) end up in the hospital with bumps and scrapes. At the end, Roxy leaves and we're left with Denise, Jackie and Gloria (Roland is planning a temporary move to take on a job and will be gone much of the season, though presumably will return) and the new lot of ladies. 

I just don't know...I was moved by much of the story surrounding CJ's passing, but even some of that felt forced. And I just wasn't overly impressed by any of the new blood (or their stories) to know where this is all going. I fully believe that if you want to revamp an entire shows with an all-new cast, you have to make those characters engaging from second-one and I don't know that they did that here. 

Then again, that's what Army life is all about. Constant change, leaving the ones you love, and starting over at square one. It's always awkward at first and no one fits in right away. We all come from different walks of life and bring new experiences to the table. And you don't have to like everyone to like this life. So maybe the writers know what they're doing. We'll just have to wait and see how they develop (and whether Brooke Shields - who we haven't met yet - totally kills any positive feelings I have.)

Until then...

I'm a sucker for "free," but shouldn't be.

Each week, I spend a few hours (3-4) browsing my favorite blogs and websites. As part of that practice, I am inundated with giveaways of all sorts of products. Clothing, food, jewelry, household goods, gift cards, trips, and a whole lot more. I love free crap (who doesn't?) And while it is tempting to take the time to enter every single one, I recently realized there are quite a few reasons why I shouldn't. I'm sharing those with you:

1. Time is Money
Spending a few hours per week reading blogs is justified by networking and building friendships. Spending another few hours on my own blog has even more benefits, but spending another hour or two entering giveaways (which usually requires links to here and there, 'liking' blogs on FB, and 'pinning' the giveaway) doesn't have a very high payoff. Sure, it does if I win, but that's going to happen rarely, if at all. Which ultimately means that I spent a few hours of my time each week doing something that has little benefit to me or my business - and I didn't even get a pair of shoes or juicy celeb gossip out of the deal!

2. Clutter is Bad
Winning items from giveaways is great, until it comes to cleaning and organizing and you realize you have three crock pots. Now, unless you're a caterer, you probably don't need 3 crock pots. Nor do you need 300 nail polishes or 15 bubble necklaces. You can't possibly use them all and storing them takes up space and collects dust!
Of course, in order to develop a real clutter problem from winning giveaway swag, you'd have to enter all of them all the time (and win most.) The point remains, if you wouldn't pay for the item to take up space in your house, why should you let it linger for free?

3. Too many distractions
These giveaways also create clutter on my computer. Adding new blogs to my reader or 'liking' one on Facebook just creates more blogs I'm sifting through later. And I can't tell you how often I go through my pins to clear out closed giveaways and other "junk" as a result of entering various contests. All this does is distract me from more valuable internet time (see #1!)

4.  The Vicious cycle
Finally, if I'm wasting all this time and taking up room in my house and computer, I am probably "spending" more than the item is worth anyway. It simply creates a cycle of time and effort that may or not have the benefit of a cool new item in my mailbox.

At the end of the day, I will continue to enter giveaways. And host them and provide you links on my Facebook page to my favorites each week. Afterall, there are certain items that are totally worth the effort and you just might have a chance to win something you legitimately need. Just make sure you don't get too lured in by the idea of free stuff that  you defeat the purpose of "free" to begin with! 

Saturday Share: Supergirls!

Last Friday (March 8th) was International Women's Day. And last month the Department of Defense released a memo authorizing women in combat roles. Finally, when Forbes released its most recent Top 400 List, women comprised over 11% (with three new additions from last year and 5 of the women are self-made billionaires!)

I wanted to devote today's list of links to those women, all over the world, taking control of their lives and their communities by starting businesses, helping others, and not taking no for an answer. 

Here are 30 female entrepreneurs to keep your eye on in 2013, via Jane Dough. Some of these business ideas are creative and unique and love that they all have different backgrounds and passions!

And 13 other women to watch, via the Levo League

A spotlight on my favorite woman icon, Sandra Day O'Connor. Thank you, Everygirl, for recognizing her awesome-ness!

Did you know there are 17 countries with women heads-of-government? And that the two highest test scores ever recorded on an IQ test were achieved by women? Amazing. Here are 10 interesting facts about women.

Finally, we all love her planners, but here is an interview with mom and entrepreneur (mompreneur?) Erin Condren on life as a business owner and mother of twins!

Happy Saturday and women-power to y'all!

Fashion Friday: Fitness Wear

Yesterday I shared with you my feelings on personal fitness and established a few goals for myself in upcoming months. As inspiration for myself (and possibly for you guys as well) I pulled together some of my favorite items for workout gear and clothing. How can you not work out in these super-cute duds?

As you know, I usually try to show budget-friendly pieces on my blog, but when it comes to workout gear, a splurge is often necessary. In the case of shoes, not buying high quality can actually lead to injury. And in my case, if I don't have a high-quality, supportive sports bra, I am going to be miserable during a workout.

Some of these pieces are still wallet-savvy, but some are definite splurges. Think of it this way: if you spend an extra $20-30 on something you're going to wear a few times per week, you're still getting a low cost-per-wear for the item than an everyday article of clothing.

Clothing:

Longsleeve Wicking Top
This is a more spendy item, but these tops are really unbeatable. I like long sleeves most of the time, unless I'm doing yoga. They feel light and not restrictive.

Longsleeve Workout Top
Thumb holes. Need I say more? Perfect for outdoor running in chillier temps. I am always yanking on my sleeves when I run and this will prevent them from riding up!

                             

Compression Capris and Colorblock Cropped Yoga Pants
Most of the workouts I do require lots of flexibility. I don't like pant legs that restrict movement. I will put on long pants if I'm running outdoors when it's colder, but 90% of the time, I'm wearing cropped leggings. These are my two faves from Old Navy!

Shoes: 

Puma "Takala" Sneaks
These are my favorite for coaching and for yoga because they have a lot of give. They allow me to point my toes and fully stretch, but they still provide some support. This is one of those pieces that cost a little more, but are totally worth it. I have owned mine for over 6 years (though, I should replace them soon!)

New Balance WT510
For running and more rigorous workouts, I stick to New Balance. I think running shoes are a personal preference, but I like something with grip so I can go from gravel to trail to treadmill. I also like dark shoes that can handle some dirt and grime.

Misc.:

Incredible VS Sports Bra
As a well-endowed lady, I need mucho support during workouts. Especially during high-intensity boxing or spin classes. This is one area I usually splurge on the expensive options simply because they last longer and make for a more comfortable workout.

Aeropostale Canvas Tote
I currently carry a canvas tote I thrifted for $2, but if I were in the market for brand-new, it would be this. Love the bright color and the fact that it will fit everything, but not take up too much room in my car/locker.

Other gear I carry:

• Yoga mat and yoga towel (I got mine cheap from Target); weight gloves; boxing gear - depending on which class or workout I plan to do. (Most of those things live in my trunk anyway, for easy access.)
• Key lock for gym lockers 
• Small toiletry bag with dry shampoo, deoderant, and makeup essentials
• Arm band that holds my phone/iPod, keys and chapstick (things I want on my person when I'm on the treadmill or in class)
• Protein bar for post-workout snack and water-bottle
• Rubber flip flops (I hate icky gym floors while I'm changing!)

Rarely do I do the whole shower/get ready at the gym since A) I am so close to home and B) I plan my workouts around my schedule. When I used to go straight from the gym to work, I carried a full shower bag, makeup case and hair necessities. I am grateful to have more flexibility, because carrying all that stuff is seriously inconvenient. 

What workout gear do you consider necessary? What is in your gym bag?

Feed Reader. The switch to Bloglovin'.

Yesterday, Google announced that Reader will be going the way of Elvis, John Denver, and Princess Di - leaving the world too soon. (Ok, that was a little melo-dramatic.) It always bugs me when something I like (and use constantly) makes a major change, causing my plans for the day to be turned upside-down. It's almost noon and most of my morning was spent setting up Bloglovin' and exporting my Google Reader (over 200 blogs!) into my new feed. Ultimately, it's totally up to Google to make this decision, but it still rains on my parade.

Anyway, I have switched to Bloglovin (like many other bloggers) and if you wish to continue to receive updates from my blog, you must follow my blog with Bloglovin.

You can also follow on my Facebook page, which is updated with my posts, though not always immediately. Finally, those of you with Google accounts, can still follow through GFC and view posts in your Blogger reader (I believe; someone correct me if I'm wrong.) 

I will say that the few hours I spent on Bloglovin' organizing, purging, and refreshing the reader was great. I like the interface and how it is set up. I like that I can get my blog stats in an easy way, but don't have to follow my own blog for updates. If you're a blogger and would like to make the switch, but don't like Bloglovin', here are some other options. My only complaint so far is that it will only let me connect my Facebook through my personal page, rather than the blog page - so for now that will remain unlinked. 

Hop over and check it out and have a great Thursday!

Fitness Thoughts

I hate working out. I hate the way I feel during and after, but I've also always liked the way I look. It's not that I'm so spectacular looking and free of any problem areas (not at all!) but just that I'm comfortable in my own skin. Working out has been for maintaining health rather than physical appearance, which is probably why it was so easy to make excuses not to do it!

I used to work out all the time. When I was training for the Navy I would work out 4-5 days per week and I felt great. There was a point during that time that I almost liked it - liked that I could do those extra 10 push-ups and run more than a mile without wanting to die. I liked that I felt good and was physically more fit. And the results showed in my body.

Last week, when I posted the pictures of my eShakti dress, I noticed something. I no longer like the way I look. Specifically, areas that I'd always touted as my best features (toned legs and arms) are no longer prominent. After looking back at those pictures for a few days, I decided to do something about it. 

I pinned a few arm and leg workouts and I signed up for a spin class at the gym on post. I will continue to do yoga (as I have been for weeks now) and incorporate other exercise (like dog-walking and coaching.) This new routine should tighten up those spots and get me back to the body I'm used to.

Of course, sticking to a workout routine is hard. No, it's really hard. 

But I quit smoking this year and I managed to pass 4 licensing exams in the course of 9 months - so I should be able to do this too! Right?

Wordless Wednesday: Avocado Egg Salad aka. My New Favorite Lunch

 {recipe here}

Book Review: "Basic Black" by Cathie Black

In February, I read Basic Black: The Essential Guide for Getting Ahead at Work (and in Life) by Cathie Black. Cathie Black is the current president of Hearst Magazines (the publisher of Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Bazaar, etc...) Prior to her time at Hearst she held high-profile positions at New York Magazine and USA Today. The book acts primarily as a guideline for business, from both the perspective of a job-seeker and the executive. Cathie is authentic, witty, and interesting and doesn't hesitate to incorporate her personal experiences into her advice. Her advice is realistic and not self-serving and while she is often blunt in her delivery, she clearly comes from a place of mentorship and care. 

(Amazon)

On the downside, it takes a while to chew through this book. As with many non-fiction books, it contains more information than compelling imagery. She does manage to intersperse personal stories and descriptive language, but that can only do so much when discussing resumes, business decisions, and the like. I did find certain sections dry and menial, but was able to garner enough information to make it worth the read. 

Two sections in particular that I enjoyed/found helpful: 

Chapter Four (entitled "Fear") discusses overcoming ones fear and turning it into healthy, motivating stress. She also talks about using fear as a leader, in both good and bad ways, to motivate your staff. My favorite part of this chapter was the section on using "Fairy Dust" to turn a bad (or scary) situation into a good one - or at least a productive one. She talks about not taking anything personally (even when it is personal,) but rather using "fairy dust" in the form of humor or kindness to mollify the situation and move on.

Also in chapter four, she talks about how to handle criticism. Specifically, she presents a two-part analysis for deciding whether the criticism is honest - and therefore worth consideration - or whether it is simply negative commentary. I found this information to be extremely insightful. So often I (and I'm sure many others) get caught up in others' opinions and often that opinion comes from a place that has nothing to do with our own behaviors. Using Cathie Black's analysis, you can determine if that person is providing constructive criticism or not.

Overall, I found the book chock-full of great information, inspiring stories, and necessary tools for building a business or starting a career. Cathie Black is able to take an often-boring topic and provide an insightful and candid discussion of how to make your own path in business. 

{**I was not compensated for this review. I purchased and read the book on my own volition and decided to review it simply to pass along my experience to you!}

New Army Wives season starts tonight!

I have watched the show from the beginning and I've loved it. So long as I approached it from an entertainment standpoint and never expected "reality." Of course, it is drawn from reality and there are many relatable characters and realistic story-lines. And there is the Lifetime-network magic that gives the show a little "oophm" when needed.

The new season - number seven - starts tonight and I have mixed emotions. I have said (probably for the last three seasons) that the show could have had a finale and been wonderfully complete. Last season that was especially true. The standard characters (and my most beloved) are almost all gone. The show did a great job of using the story line (PCS, deployment, death) to remove the characters from the show, but since most of the actors are on to different projects and they've released a huge line-up of new characters, the show is going to look drastically different.

{Side note: two of the new characters are pop singers: Asanthi & Jesse McCartney. I'm not sure about McCartney, but Asanthi is a singer/performer first and an actresses...probably fifth. Another new addition is Brooke Shields who is a great actress, but I simply can't stand her. I can't pinpoint why, but I never have. Perhaps these new additions is the biggest road block in my mindset for the new season.}

Frankly, it looks like a completely new show. Which could be wonderful, or totally awful.

I am going to watch with an open mind and report back with my thoughts next week. In the meantime, head over to the show's page and watch the preview. And tell me in the comments if you're a fan and what you think of the new season!

Saturday Share: Beat the Winter Blahs

There are many aspects of winter that I love. I am from Minnesota, after all. I love warm, winter days where you throw on boots and clomp around in the snow then come inside for hot cocoa and your favorite flick. I love having a white Christmas. I love love love hockey season!

Usually, though, once the holidays come and go, winter feels like such a burden. That period between NYE and Spring Break is such a drag and often brings feelings of lethargy or even sadness. You've heard the term cabin fever? Well, that's the type of antsy I feel when winter doesn't end quite as quickly as I'd like. 

This week, father winter was especially cruel. After a gorgeous, warm weekend (high 50's and sunny!) we were hit with a storm that dumped just enough sleet and snow to cause frozen roadways on Monday. The rest of the week was spent thawing out and hoping it never returns again.

If you're feeling as blah as I am about winter at this point, here are some great ways to get through the funk. Spring is just around the corner and these few tips should help you hang in there until then!

Healthy (food) Tips for Beating the Winter Blahs - Life Your Way
Other Mood-Boosting or Energy Yielding Foods - The Daily Muse

Use your indoor time to Boost your Creativity - via WiseBread
and to tackle a small project around the house. Here are some ideas from Our Fifth House.

Get organized! Complete a project around the house to reduce clutter. Check out my Pinterest board on Organization for some great ideas!

This is also a great time to organize your closet, pull out spring and summer clothes, get them washed and pressed, and pack away the winter layers you no longer need. Here is a resource to help with that. 

Have a great weekend and don't let winter get you too down! 

Two Ways: Shawl Collar Poplin Shirtdress from eShakti {and a discount code!}

I have a special treat for Fashion Friday this week. I was contacted by eShakti to try out one of their items. If you're not familiar, eShakti is an online shopping site that allows you to customize their items to your preference. If they show a dress with sleeves, you can remove them. You can change the length to hit more or less conservatively and you can even change the specific measurements if you, like me, are smaller on bottom than you are on top. 

I chose the Shawl Collar Poplin Dress in the gorgeous spring green. I have been searching for a great green dress that I can wear with a blazer, or throw on flats for a casual brunch. This dress is perfect! And I wanted to show you how it transitioned from daytime to weekend-wear.

Here are a few shots of the dress un-styled. 

{Pockets! Love them!}

Look 1: Office Wear

This would be most appropriate for a casual Friday or a work setting with a more casual dress code, but it still looks appropriate and pulled-together. I paired it with a striped cardigan on top to cover up the curviness of the dress and add a layer to the arms. I then threw on a pair of work-appropriate heels and my trench coat for a work ready look.

Look 2: Weekend Wear

 I'm sorry I am mean-mugging y'all in this photo. 
I couldn't get the dog to stop running in and out of my shots! :)

The weekend look is great for brunch or even a get-together. Once spring is here to stay, the sleeveless look would work. Until then, I would put a light cardigan or a jean jacket on top. 

For an extra-special treat, eShakti has offered a discount code to all my lovely readers. Simply head over to their site and choose your favorite item. Upon checkout enter code: MELSMNYHTS and you will receive 20% off your order! They have extremely reasonable prices to begin with and with the extra 20% off, you can score an amazingly tailored item at a great price! Do not forget to customize your pick before you complete check-out so you can have exactly what you want! The code is only available through 3/20, so head over and use it now!

Wordless Wednesday: Sneak Peek

Don't lose your mojo when facing a setback

I'm not perfect. I am smart and dedicated. I work hard and I have accomplished many great things. I treat people well and love my husband with everything I've got.

But I still fall short sometimes. We all fall short sometimes.

Recently, I failed one of my license exams. It was tough materials, with a lot of numbers and difficult computations. I regrouped and studied again and passed the second time around. Then, last week, I failed another one. This time, the material was law based and even though there were some difficult concepts, I thought I had it all down. 

I was floored and I spent the next couple hours beating myself up mentally over my mistakes.

On the first test, it was easy to forgive myself because the concepts were so foreign to me. I knew absolutely nothing about mutual funds and stock pricing and how to calculate yields. On the second test, however, I didn't have that excuse. The subjects were analytical, legal and business oriented. These are things I know. Things I went to school. Things I've already proven my knowledge of when I passed the bar exam.

After I had a few hours to get sad, then mad, embarrassed, and finally calm, I pulled out the test results. I realized that I actually knocked the law section out of the park. The topics that I did not excel at were the topics revisited from the first exam. It makes a lot more sense that the concepts I struggled with the first time would give me additional difficulty on the second exam.

Finally, I was able to regroup and decide a new course of action. I sat down and developed a study plan for the next month, biting off small sections of information each day and incorporating an array of learning techniques. I created a plan similar to the bar exam by giving time to each subject individually and readdressing them at the end of each week. 

I also used that time to touch base with my energy and my passion - to hang on to my mojo. I needed to remember why I started this business and what I love about my job. It was (and still is) important to learn from my mistakes when it comes to studying and the material itself but also learn how to control my stress level and change my attitude so I can head off a similar mistake in the future.

I'm not perfect. I'm not going to win every time and I'm certainly not going to be the best at everything. We all make mistakes, in our personal lives and our professional ones.

Here is the best part: making mistakes is actually a good thing. It is life's way of teaching us valuable lessons and setting us back on a track for success. That is, when we forgive ourselves for those mistakes, keep our mojo, and learn how to do better the next time!

More resources: 

Don't Lose Your Mojo - LifeHealth Pro

3 Steps to Turn Setback into Success - The Daily Muse

2013 Goals Review

In know February is a short month, but I am still shocked by how quickly it flew by! Now that March has begun it is time to look back at my goals and how I achieved them during February.

Expand Mind

1. Did I read at least 1 book? Yes. I read "Basic Black" by Cathie Black (review to come!)

2. Did I develop any skills? I have done a lot of shadowing new classes at the gym so I can be more versatile. I also became certified as an AFTB instructor so I can lead classes on post. (Details here.)

3. Did I teach/tutor at least 1 child? I did not tutor this month, but I took on another new class at the gym to coach.

Increase Wealth

1. Did I payoff any debt? Yes! We paid off our smallest debt this month!

2. Did I increase ER savings? No. This actually took a big hit this month. I had to pay quite a few registrations/fees for my licenses and a few expenses for my upcoming trip. We have a plan to counteract that now that we paid off some debt.

3. Did I increase additional savings? Yes. I increased the amount by about $30 this month.

Advance Career

1. Did I attend at least 1 event? Yes. I attended 2 different meetings/events.

2. Did I write at least 1 article? Not personally, but I participated in an interview with Kaye at Successful Military Wife. (Details here.) 

3. Did I make steps toward finding a mentor? I am currently working on an application for a mentor through the Young Professionals division of the chamber.

Enhance Home

1. Did we make progress on the guest bath/bedroom? We finished the guest bath and started clearing out the guest bedroom.

2. Did we make progress on clearing the Radon? No progress per se, but we did price out the process so when we're ready to move we can do so.

3. Did we make progress on the outdoor projects? Small steps. We drew up plans and priced all the materials. We have started a garden indoors that will be moved outside when the ground de-freezes. We are also researching the best ways to revive our grass.

Saturday Share: Coffee

It is no surprise that I like coffee. I like coffee a lot. 

So, inspired by my favorite drink addiction, here are some great links all centered around delicious java. Pour yourself a latte and enjoy these coffee-related links for your Saturday!

The Science Behind Coffee and How it Might Actually be Good for You - via Lifehacker

Mocha Cappuccino Cookies - Sweet Chick

Best Friends Mugs - via Beautiful Mess
**Note: From the many pins I've read on these, the only way to get them to truly be permanent is to use a food-grade, ceramic-based paint pen. You can get them at Michael's and supposedly they are the only permanent solution. However, I have not tested that myself.

"But first, coffee" tank from Skreened
{I seriously need this tank!}

This big database of coffee recipes, many of which can be made using a Keurig or Nespresso machine (or other in home brewers) - www.javaqueen.com

Happy Saturday!