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!