Simplify Your Life - Week 3

So I'm a few days late in posting this, but last week's "simplify your life" tip didn't work out so well. I did great the first couple of days - but after that, I realized that checking my e-mail first thing in the morning was probably the most effective use of time. Eventually, I'm going to check my mail, and checking it while waiting on the shower, means that I'm not checking it later. So yeah, while I loved the idea behind it, it just wasn't good for me. I'm still using the "one hour" with no technology rule, so I'm 50% engaged in this process.

So week three is to start your day with exercise. Psht. Wouldn't that be nice?! I've been attempting to do just that for MONTHS! I'll give it one last try. At least this is the challenge the week BEFORE Thanksgiving, not during. LOL.

Blog Design

I'm working on updating my blog... and doing some new design features.  Eventually, I'd like to design my own background, header, etc. but while I'm getting to that point, there's going to be some "growing pains" so please be patient with me. 

I realize that the header is currently blank.  :o) 

<3
Christina

Simply Your Life - Week 2

Week one went fairly well. It was nice to just turn off the tv, put up my phone and laptop, and just chill for an hour each day. Mostly, I did homework, but I was giving myself the time to set aside to focus on something I wanted to do too, so I actually started and finished two books. It's amazing what you can get done in an hour. :o) I'm definitely KEEPING this part of the Simply Your Life challenge in my daily activity!

So... for week two... this is going to be a definite challenge. The "tip" is to avoid checking your e-mail first thing in the morning. I'll admit, it's going to be tough. I check my e-mail, on my phone, while I'm waiting for the shower to warm up in the morning. I don't know what I'll do now to pass the few minutes it takes. Read? Just relax? Who knows! But, I'm up for the challenge.

A personal challenge...

On Facebook today, a friend posted a link to this article... it's 16 tips to simplify your life (and increase your productivity) and of course, I'm intrigued.

Since I know that I'd NEVER accomplish all 16 steps at one time, I'm going to try them one at a time... adding a new step each Wednesday until maybe I've accomplished them all.

So for week 1... my personal daily challenge is this...

1. Turn off all technology for 60 minutes a day and focus on doing your most important work.

Wish me luck. :) I'll report back next Wednesday with the 2nd "tip" and let you know how the first week went.

The Great Vegas GTG 2011 - Intro & Thursday

When Marcus decided to join the Army, I decided to join an online message board of women who are military spouses and some even military members themselves. While friendships weren't instantly formed, we all bonded over the joys of being military wives, the stresses of being military wives, some marriages, a couple of divorces, children, dogs, etc.

At some point, in the beginning of this year, Southwest Airlines was having a flight special and a couple of girls got super cheap flights to Vegas. They extended the invitation to everyone, and "The Great Vegas GTG 2011" was born.

After months of planning, lots of Facebook status updates, and hours of research and communication, the trip went by WAY TOO FAST! Las Vegas 2011 Recap: Thursday, October 20th... I woke up at 4:00a to get dressed, grab my stuff, and head to the airport. Marilyn was volunteered by Marcus (I think) to take me to the airport because he didn't want to be up that early. Hah. My flight to Vegas left DFW at 6:58a, and landing in Vegas at 7:50a. It was a relatively non-eventful flight, which is always great when you are as scared of flying as I am. I get to Vegas, grab my luggage, and take a $25 cab fare to our hotel... theHotel at Mandalay Bay.  I had a wonderful breakfast at theCafe, explored the hotel (every single square inch), and hung out by the "beach" area reading a book until Krista sent me a text to tell me she was on her way.

Krista was the first person to arrive after me.  She called me when she got into the check-in line.  I recognized her immediately... it wasn't hard, she was the only blonde in line!  Hah.  As she checked in, the hotel told her that her room was ready, as was mine, so we headed up to the 24th floor to settle in for the next four days!  Krista was exactly as I pictured.  It's weird, because we really don't have that much in common... I wonder if we could be more polar opposites, but we clicked, and I had a wonderful time laughing and joking with her!  After we got our luggage upstairs, we headed to the Irish Pub in Mandalay Place.  At first, I thought the food was okay, but I think that was just because I was starving... it was not good.

After lunch, we just killed time until Tonya called to tell us she was there!  Oh my gosh.  Tonya is NOT at all what I expected, she's better.  Hah.  I haven't laughed that much and that hard in a really long time, but Tonya is a hoot.  She says what she means, and means what she says, and I completely respect her for that.  We got Tonya upstairs, settled in, and went to grab her some lunch.  Now that she's annouced it to the world, I can annouce it.  She's PREGNANT with her third baby!  :o)  And she's the cutest pregnant lady.  We literally just sat around, laughing, joking, in tears at points, relaxing and waiting around on everyone else.  :o)

The next group of people to arrive were Emily and Shannon.  They flew in around the same time, so they shared a shuttle to the hotel.  We met them at the elevator entrance while going to meet Ashley in the parking lot to bring all of our liquid beverages (and some clothes) into the room.

 

November Goals

As I sit here, ready to type out my list, I realize how hard I am on myself.  I'm my own worst critic (aren't we all?) and I feel like a failure if things don't go exactly as I've planned them.  I mean, really, how often does life go exactly as we plan it?  Virtually never.  Yet, each month, you'll find me back here posting another list of goals that I may or may not get to.  At least I'm working towards something, right?

"The tradegy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal.  The tradegy lies in having no goal to reach." ~ Benajamin Mays

For the month of November, I'm going to try something different... instead of breaking my goals down into distinguished lists, with categories, I'm just going to randomly write down the things I want to accomplish and complete this month.

• Enjoy Thanksgiving... no stress, no drama, just fun.


• Make a Christmas "gift" plan with Marcus, and knock out as much as we can during Black Friday shopping.


• Replace my windshield due to the massive crack, thanks to a rock from I-30.


• Buy new tires.


• Mark off five things from my 101 things to do in 1001 days list.


• Make at least a "B" on my ACCT 5311 test on November 21st.


• Enjoy spending time with my parents and friends for Marcus' 33rd birthday!


• Cut the fabric for Carie's "gift."


• Cut the fabric for the quilt.


• Close on our house!


• Pick out paint colors for at least the master bedroom.


• Do some kind of fitness related activity 10 times this month.


• STOP STRESSING!

October Goals Recap

I think the ONLY thing I managed to accomplish in October was going to Vegas... and having a blast!  I realize that I owe all of my blog readers (all 5 of you) a Vegas post, and I promise I'll get to that this week, hopefully.

Health:

• Do something healthy.  Ideally, I’d accomplish getting back into running, going to the gym, increasing water consumption, cooking at home, but hell, who am I kidding?!  I’ll be lucky to eat, period.

School:

• Try not to drown, and keep up!

Personal:

• Have a blast in Vegas, and leave all the darn stress behind when I get on the plane.


• Finish the blogging challenge… or give up on it.  One way or another, make a decision.


• Finish 5 things on the 101 things to do list.


• Cut out the fabric for Carie's "gift" and the square quilt.