New Year, New Me!

photo credit: Burcu Avsar

 
 

So In know I haven't posted since November but honestly it's just that life really got in the way. A lot has happened (lost my job--REALLY long story, found a new job--YAY!, holidays, and just trying to figure out what the heck I'm going to do with my life) so needless to say all of my goals have kind of been pushed to the side. But one thing I've decided is that I really want to dedicate 2011 to me ~ in a totally healthy and good way NOT a shallow "the world revolves around me" way just so you know :).

 

I've come up with a list of a few "resolutions" and really tried to make them resonable attainable goals for the next few months. One the problems I have always had is that I try to set myself really BIG goals that end up stressing me out and then I give up and never reach them. SO with out further ado (drum roll please) I present to you LeAnn's 2011 New Year Resolutions (cue applause)!!!

 

1. Update my blog at least once a week. I really want to dedicate myself to this I started it out in July around my birthday and was all set to make it amazing and then all of a sudden I just kind of avoided it like the plague, but now I'm ready to refocus and get started again.
2. Work out 2x a week and slowly start to add more days. I'm trying to figure out a program I can stick to -- I recently canceled the gym membership because I just hadn't been going but I would like to start up again in the spring. So right now I'm just trying to figure out stuff I can do at home.
3. Try new healthy foods and recipes. One of the best things about getting a new job (besides getting out of a pretty drama filled existence) is that I get home much earlier and can actually pitch in and try out new recipes.
4. Lose 15 pounds. Clearly this is not my ultimate goal but this is just a nice fairly small achievable number that I know I can reach because I've done it before. Too often I try to set the goal in the 20s but it just seems so daunting and stressful so I finally got smart about and gave myself a less stressful goal.
5. Find a support group. I've realized that I am one of those people who just can't do it on my own. BUT, at the same time I don't really like relying on family and friends because it just feels like too much pressure and that if I don't succeed I'm letting them down (yes I realize that I'm really just disappointing myself but still). I don't know what support group I'm going to join I've been thinking about OA or Weight Watchers (I've tried Weight Watchers in the past and found it a little stressful) but I just know that I have to find something.

I feel really good about the goals and have really put a lot of thought into them and am excited to get going. I obviously will keep you all posted (it is one of the goals) and am also planning a review on an AMAZING book that I finally finished. I hope you all have a very happy and blessed new year and feel free to leave comments telling your new years resolutions and goals :)



Two for One Special

OK so I was just too lazy to post about yesterday's workout (and obviously too lazy to post or even workout for the past week) so I'm going to combine a post with yesterdays and todays workout -- hence the 2 for 1 special.


SATURDAYI broke out the Walk Away the Pounds: 30 Minute Walk dvd and worked myself up a good sweat. My hips and thighs weren't too happy with me either. I know I've said it before but I do really like the whole Walk Away the Pounds series. They don't sound very exciting or even as though they would work but they definitely make you work up a sweat. They are awesome low impact workouts and if you love walking you should definitely go and pick them up. I think that the very beginning dvd is only a 15 minute walk but you end up walking a mile (you increase your walking speed as the workout goes along). They are SUPER easy too -- theres no dance steps or random series of movements it's all basically walking. You walk in place, side steps, knee lifts, kicks, and kick backs and that's it! So, if you are looking for a new simple workout for at home I would definitely reccomend these. I bought my DVD's at Target but I know you can buy direct from Leslie Sansone's website too (I will post some links at the end of the post).
PLAYLIST (I have done these videos quite a few times so I listen to music while doing the workouts -- if it's your first time I suggest not wearing earbuds or having anyother noises going on while completing the workout)
"Cooler Than Me" by Mike Posner
"Please Don't Go" by Mike Posner
"Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus (I know, I know)
"Misery Business" by Paramore
"Paint it Black" by The Rolling Stones
"Naturally" by Selena Gomez and The Scene
"It's Not My Time" by 3 Doors Down
"Womanizer" by Britney Spears

SUNDAYI went back to the gym today (now if we can just keep that momentum we will be AOKAY!). I walked the track which is clearly one of my favorite things to do. I walked 1 1/2 miles and feel REALLY good. I really do like the gym, which is something that I never thought I'd say. I really don't know why I talk myself out of going because when I'm there I really do enjoy it. I want to get back to doing the eliptical but the last time I did 10 minutes I felt like I was gonna keel over so I'm going slow and am going to work my way back to it.
PLAYLIST"Past My Shade" by B.o.B feat. Lupe Fiasco (one of my faves)
"Magic" by B.o.B. feat. Rivers Cuomo
"Seduction" by Eminem
"Cinderella Man" by Eminem (another fave)
"So Bad" by Eminem
"Not Afraid" by Eminem
"Rock & Roll" by Eric Hutchinson

LINKS
You can find Targets selection of Leslie Sansone DVD's here
Leslie Sansone's webpage can be found here

Realizations and a Helpful Tip from Yours Truly

First things first: HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY TO MY NEPHEW!!!

OK now on to business. So, I have totally lacked on the blogging and to be honest I haven't even logged in for 2 weeks! I know, I know, I'm putting my nose in the corner right now, shame on me!

Anyway I've really started listening to my body lately when I eat certain things or go with out certain foods. It's amazing what you can learn when you just stop and listen to what your body is trying to tell you (I'm sure many of you have already learned this but I'm still learning so bear with me).

Somethings my body has told me:

1. I CANNOT indulge on junkfood like I once could! Last week we had a Halloween carnival and party at work with the kiddos. In the afternoon another teacher and myself watched a movie with our kids and gave them Orange Soda floats and cookies (I know, I know totally not healthy but it was a holiday and it rarely happens), so naturally we ate the same. That night I went out to dinner with my mom and had chicken fried steak and eggs which just so happens to be one of my favorite meals (or used too...). That night I did not feel well and ended up being sick. That was one major lesson learned and the next day I watched what I ate and felt much better (go figure).
2. My body craves water! Yesterday I had First Aid and CPR training early in the morning so naturally loaded up on caffeine but left the water bottle at home. BAD IDEA. For the rest of the morning my stomach cramped and I felt slightly naseuous and couldn't figure out why. When I got home I thought about everything I had ate or drank throughout the day to try to figure out why I wasn't feeling well and it dawned on me that I hadn't drank any water. So I drank a nice big glass of water and waited for 15 minutes and felt miles better. I really should have known better considering that throughout the week I mainly drink water with only coffee in the morning and a clear soda either at night or in the afternoon.
3. When I'm stressed I just need a good book! OK so I know that this has NOTHING to do with diet or exercise, but it was just a really stressful week at work. I got in a major argument with another teacher and had to put my foot down on somethings and had to deal with the backlash from that (although I was majorly relieved to find out that my boss sided with me and commended me on how I handled the situation). But when things were over and I was still feeling stressed and nothing was calming me down I picked up the book I was reading and just let myself get lost in the pages and I felt much much calmer when I was done.

OK so those are just a few things I've learned over the week and I actually like learning from my body and I know that it will help me in the future.

One Helpful Tip!!
Alright before I go I just wanted to give a tip that helps me when making my workout playlists for the week. As anyone with an iPod or any other musical device knows it can be daunting going through songs to add for workouts. So what I do is rate all of the songs that I know will keep me motivated while working out, that way all I have to do when creating my playlists is sort by rating then add. For me my playlists consist of anything with an amazing beat (think rock songs and rap music). This may be a tip that everyone has been using for centuries, but I figure that there may be a few out there who are still lost in the musical abyss, so there ya go!

Keep ya chin up and see ya later :)

Run Like a Girl

So I made it to the gym today (YAY)! I walked for 30 minutes around the track which averaged out to a mile and a half. As I was walking I obviously couldn't help but notice all of the runners on the track. I have always admired runners because they just look so cool, calm, and collected and well athletic. I however have always despised running and unless I was being chased by an angry hungry bear (or being forced to by evil gym teachers) I never did it. But now as I travel along the fitness highway I think I want to make running a goal. I have tried jogging before but then I caught a glimpse of myself schlumping along and went back to walking. The point is that even though I know it isn't supposed to matter what I look like when I'm exercising -- it does matter to me. SO eventually I will run, most likely not a marathon but I will be able to run a mile and not care what everyone thinks of me.

Playlist of the Day:  **All purchased on iTunes**

Move Along by All American Rejects
Gives You Hell by All American Rejects
L.O.V.E. by Ashlee Simpson
Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) by Beyonce
Love Drunk by Boys Like Girls
Womanizer by Britney Spears
Undo It by Carrie Underwood
Lifesong by Casting Crowns

Don't Call It A Comeback!

Ok so I know that the lame catch phrase titles to Blogs are probably uber annoying but I just can't think of anything else!

ANYWAY... did it I got back to working out. I didn't go to the gym because it was looking all doom and gloom outside and I really didn't want to get stuck in a downpour on my way home. So I did the teacher thing and gave myself two choices: (1) Go home and complete a workout video OR (2) don't work out at all and not see any difference in my weight and other factors of life. Well Option #2 just didn't sound pleasant so I completed a workout video. The video I chose was Leslie Sansone: Walk Away the Pounds: 30 Minute Walk, and man oh man was it a workout. I forgot just how much I love her videos! I think I may have to start doing one once or twice a week just to give myself a challenge. Believe me they are kind of challenging, not Tae Bo (another fave of mine) challenging but a still a bit of a challenge.

Because I have done these videos quite a few times I turned the volume down really low and turned on my iPod, because, well let's face it you can only listen to those cheesey "we're all winners" speeches sooo many times before you just want to give yourself a root canal! My playlist will follow, I came to the conclusion that I like the playlists so I will be keeping them.

Workout Playlist
London Bridge by Fergie
Just Dance by Lady Gaga and Colby O'Donis
Eenie Meenie by Sean Kingston and Justin Beiber
Carrie Out by Timbaland and Justin Timberlake
Hey, Soul Sister by Train
Don't Trust Me by 3OH!3
Dirty Little Secret by All American Rejects
Move Along by All American Rejects

As always I get my songs from iTunes. My top three recommendations would be: London Bridge, Carrie Out, and Don't Trust Me, although if you are offended by language I would most definitely pass on Don't Trust Me. OH! I really like Move Along so I guess I have a top 4.

Down But Not Out

So obviously I have not been updating anything lately because well I've just finally gotten over a bout of Strep throat and am finally starting to feel back to normal (really yucky cough not withstanding).

Over the course of this past week I have not worked out but I have been working on eating better. I'm eating lots more fruits (veggies are still REALLY hard fore me to enjoy) but unfortunately all of the festively packaged Halloween candy has proved hard to resist. But I am trying! I've also decided that I'm just going to have start using my "Teacher Voice" on myself when it comes to working out. By the end of the work day my inner 4-year old whines so much that I end up caving and not going to the gym. Which is just unacceptable behavior (something that is a major no-no in my preschool classroom).

I've also decided that I need to stop juding my worth based on how much I weigh and what size my clothes are. I stop myself from doing things that I really want to do because "I'm just not ready yet," and I have to stop that. So I've decided that I'm going to start pursing my passions no matter what and just maybe that will help me become a happier healthier me. Two things that I really want to start doing is taking more picture (I love photography and actually used to dream about becoming a photographer) and supporting a cause that's important to me. I haven't quite decided how I'm going to go about doing these things, but obviously once I figure it out it will be my next blog post.

What can I say I'm just ill like that!

Well it appears that I have strep throat or at least a very strep like bacteria (whatever that means) which means no work and a whole lot of couch time for a couple of days. I can't help but feel like I've jinxed myself  because just last week at work I said (and quote) "Man, I would LOOVE a couple of days off...I haven't had a day off in forever!" So, naturally God decided that this would be an excellent time to teach me the lesson "Be careful what you wish for" and give me a horribly sore throat -- it literally feels like someone is scraping their fingernails down the inside of my throat (lovely picture huh?) So after spending a miserable day at work yesterday I called in today and made myself a doctors appointment.

Needless to say that I probably won't be getting much exercise in either these next two day, but I will try to amp myself up to get back in the routine once I'm up and moving again. I also discovered that the scale at the doctors office and the one at the gym have about a 5 pound difference (the gym says I weigh less). I don't have a scale at home -- I could easily see myself becoming OBSESSED with what the numbers are everyday, so I can't really compare....so I've decided for the time being to make myself feel better I'm going to agree with the one at the gym (and plus I'm there more than I'm at the doctors).

Walking the Walk

So went back to the gym today for the first time in like three weeks. I even got brave and stepped on the scale!!! To my slight happiness I realized that I only gained back three pounds of what I lost.

My workout consisted of the basics of walking and eliptical. I did a ten minute walk just to warm up. Then I got on the eliptical and did frontwards and backwards intervals for ten minutes. And finished with another ten minute walk. My goal is to get back in the habit of doing 20 minutes of eliptical and only 10 minutes of walking....I know I'll get there again I just have to work back into it.

I've been debating with myself on whether or not I should post my workout playlists (I change them every day) so I think I'll post my one from today. If anyone finds it annoying let me know and I'll nix that idea...and if anyone has some good music suggestions please let me know!


Sunday playlist:
The Ballad of You and I -- Melee
God Save the Foolish Kings -- House of Heroes
Paint it Black -- The Rolling Stones
Buttons -- The Pussy Cat Dolls (feat. Snoop Dogg)
Check Yes Juliet -- We the Kings
Starstrukk -- 3OH!3 (feat. Katy Perry)
Mysterious Ways -- U2

Once again if you think the playlists are annoying please let me know and I'll more than likely scrap the idea (I can't even decide if I think it's annoying). I get all of my songs off of iTunes and The Ballad of You and I and God Save the Foolish Kings were two of there free weekly downloads.

Excuses, Excuses

I'm too tired...I'm too stressed...I don't want to...It's raining, it's pouring, the old man is snoring!...err...ummm..the dog ate my gym membership!

EEK! I ran out of excuses! I guess that means that I have no other choice than to suck it up and get back to the workout routine (Sigh). Although in some ways I do like working out, I get in a zone and everyone else just kind of disappears, which when you work in child care you need sometimes.

I've also decided that I'm going to embrace my inner picky eater (those who know me know that I have some very specific food rules) and change my eating habits. Gone are the days when I shovel the garbage they feed us at work into my mouth and here are the days that I eat food that I actually know the ingredients of! VIVA LA HEALTHY EATING!!!

I'll try to be much better about posting I promise (finger only slightly crossed) and maybe will even start including some of my fave things that keep me up and motivated...hmmm...decisions, decisions.

Boo Sick Computers and Laziness!

So it has clearly been awhile since I posted and I clearly did not stick with my original plan of posting every other day but that's because I lack motivation and all but gave up this week -- and my computer decided that it hated me (thanks to mom for letting me borrow her laptop until mine is healthy and functioning again).

My biggest challenge in this whole getting to a healthier weight thing is clearly going to be the work week. I just don't want to do anything once I've clocked out and gotten in my car except for go home and lounge in a big comfy chair. Which is obviously not very productive to reach my goal. So I'm going to have to brainstorm ways to work in my workout while I am at work. I do get an hour for lunch so maybe instead of sitting in the staff lounge listening to the latest gossip I can head on down to the gym and walk or I could head out to the great outdoors and walk....hmmm decisions, decisions. All I know is that I let myself down MAJORLY this week because I did zip in the working out department and gained back 2 pounds of the 4 I had originally lost (BOOOOO!!!)

Also, I have decided that I need peanut butter and chocolate like a zombie needs brains. I mean I don't understand how some people have the will power to just cut out chocolate and anything else deliciously yummy and be totally happy with the decision. I tried that and I swear the peanut butter M&Ms were stalking me -- every where I went there they were! So (I use the word "so" a lot don't I!) I think maybe I need to sacrfice something else in order to allow my craving for chocolate and peanut butter...but what that something else is I haven't quite decided.

OK enough griping and back to work! Wish me luck!!

News Flash: Buffets Are NOT Your Friend!

I Repeat: BUFFETS ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND!!!

So today went out with a friend that I haven't seen in months and we had a really good time. First was lunch and we decided we really wanted Chinese food because who doesn't like Chinese food?? The only real Chinese restaurant we have in town is a buffet -- which did not turn out so well for me. I did OK but when I totaled everything up on my food diary it totaled over 700 calories!! And that my friends is A LOT of calories for just lunch!!

After lunch we were going to see a movie but we ended up talking so much that by the time we left the restaurant we only had 9 minutes until the movie started and our theater was about 15 minutes away, so instead we decided to go check out the botanical garden. This turned out to be an excellent idea because it was like going on a hike only with paved trails and GORGEOUS flowers to look at. We spent an hour and a half walking and taking pictures which helped redeemed lunch time!

I feel pretty proud of myself I know it's only been two days but I didn't make any excuses as to why I couldn't exercise today (I also did the strength training cards from Self which were BRUTAL). The long weekend ends tomorrow which means it's back to work, which means that I'm going to have to keep myself motivated to do my workout tomorrw (I tend to give up on exercise after working all day). But like the little engine said "I think I can! I think I can!"

Link Time!!

Lauritzen Gardens (the botanical gardens are beautiful and I definitely reccomend them!)

The Most Important Post Of All (Kind Of)

Basically this post is just to say to ignore all other posts that I have posted before (although I may still reference the list from time to time). I have finally gotten honest with myself and realized that I want to use this blog as an outlet to better myself: emotionally, physically, and mentally. I have a lot to learn in life still and this is my first step in learning those things.

Yesterday I started to cut ties with someone who I've technically known since kindergarten and became really good friends with in high school. Life obviously got in the way and we just became too very different people. It was becoming emotionally draining to try to be their friend and so I decided that it was time for me to move on and cut strings so that I can be a happier person in the long run. Who knows, maybe one day we will reconnect and become friends again. I've also realized that I have become too dependent on my circle of friends to make me happy. I judge my happiness on how often I see my friends and whether or not I'm in a relationship (which I haven't ever really been in a REAL relationship) and that is honestly just kind of silly. So, I've decided that I need to learn how to be my own bestfriend and to learn how to really love myself before I try to include anyone elses happiness in my own.

Physically, I'm a big girl -- really big. I have been saying I'm going to lose weight FOREVER! But honestly I kind of have skinny girl syndrome (I think I'm a skinny but am really not) and just convince myself that I look good and then give up trying. I've recently subscribed to Self because I'm a sucker for magazines and plus I love to read their articles, yet I've never put them into action. In September they started running a lose 8 pounds program that includes lots of fun prizes you can win if you achieve your goal! I figured it was worth a shot and would be an excellent way to start losing weight, so I signed up. I also used their calculators and found that my "Happy Weight" is 125 which means I have A LOT of work to do, but it will all be worth it in the end. I've also started reading Secrets of a Former Fat Girl and I looove it! It's a self help book not written by some quack (Dr. Phil I'm looking at you!) but written by someone who has actually been there. It's loaded with lots of secrets and tips to help you on your way to become a "former fat girl" -- although I am breaking secret #2 by telling everyone that I'm on weight loss mission -- OH WELL.

Mentally, well is anyone ever OK mentally HAHA. Anyway I really want to reconnect with God. When I was in High School and all through college I had this amazing relationship with Him and I was soo happy. But, then I graduated college and real live happened. My first job right out of school was horrible and I was having anxiety attacks and lots of other issues, and thats when I first started to drift away. I left that job and found one I'm reasonably happy at (all work places have there issues) but I was still drifting. I then thought maybe my church was the issue and went on a hunt for one that would cater to my needs but I missed my church. So I've been working on getting back to God and it's been slow going but I feel myself inching closer everyday :)!

Well, this may be the longest post in the history of posting but I feel renewed and will try my best to post everyday -- well -- maybe everyother day. Links for the Self challenge and the book I referenced will be posted below:

Self Challenge (I chose the at home option but will probably incorporate some gym time in there too)

Secrets of a Former Fat Girl (you can also find this at Barnes and Noble -- that's where I found mine)

"People can lose their lives in libraries. They ought to be warned." ~ Saul Bellow

I FINALLY FINISHED IT!!

The Adventures of Augie March has been read and put in the pile to be taken to the Half-Price Bookstore! It took me one month to finish that book..which is, quite frankly, not good. I can normally read a book in a week or less and if I anticipate a book taking longer I normally just throw in the towel and move on because I know I'm not going to like it.

Augie March (sorry the titles too long I'm shortening it) was just...too...Oh I'm not sure what to say! It was too wordy and I too scientific in some parts with descriptions of axial lines (whatever those are) and plasma and other science-y stuff that I don't honestly care about! For those of you unaware I HATE science! I had to take Biology three times before I passed it -- so for any book to contain a ton of scientific smarty pants paragraphs is just not gonna happen for me.
This is not to say that you may not enjoy the book yourself. There were some parts that I really enjoyed and had me wanting to read more especially the points when Augie defied family expectations to help friends in need, but for me those parts were just too far and in between. If you have forgotten Times review on The Adventures of Augie March you can read it HERE and then decide for yourself if you would like to read it.

The next book on the list is All the King's Men which is supposed to be really good (duh, obviously LeAnn, it is on the ALL TIME 100 Novels), but I'm being a little gun shy and taking a break from the list to read a book that I went to the book store and found all on my lonesome!

On another note I still have not enrolled for Belly Dancing classes because, well, to be honest I haven't worked up the courage to do it yet. I know, I know, the whole point of making a list was to be brave and try new things but, well, I'm just too chicken!


OH! FYI the title of the book I'm reading now (or preparing to read) is If I Stay. It sounds really interesting and really good so I'll keep ya posted on that too!

"I'm melting! melting! Oh, what a world! What a world!" ~ The Wicked Witch of the West

IT'S HOT!!!

It's about a million degrees here and at this point I don't care if it gets to be 40 below this winter I just want it to be cold sometime soon!

I have never quite understood why people always say that they would rather be hot than cold because if you think about it logically if you are cold you can put more clothes on...and if you're hot you can't take your clothes off because well no one wants to see that.

I LOOOVE summer. My birthday is in the summer, I get to wear flip-flops, take vacations, where cute summer clothes. But seriously it is soooo hot. And I work with four year olds who are bound to at some point in the day want a hug, hold my hand, or just generally invade my bubble. Add sweaty to that description and it makes for one very cranky preschool teacher and class of preschoolers. 

Alright enough whining because we all know that in approximately 4 months I'll be whining because it's too cold and that I would rather be sweating it out in 100 degree weather than trecking out in a parka (OK I don't wear a parka, but peacoat just doesn't sound dramatic now does it).  

"God loveth the clean." ~ Koran

So I really need to clean my rooms (yes I have two rooms, one of the benefits of still living at home with my parents and not having any younger siblings). The back room seriously looks like it could be on an episode of Clean House. I was goingt to post a before picture and then clean and post after pictures. But I am slowly losing ambition and I haven't even made my bed yet. As you can imagine cleaning my room has never been a major priority in my life and has been a topic of many battles growing up with my parents.

Anyway I should get back to cleaning. I will post pictures when it's all said and done, so Tidy People of the world prepare yourselves for a a shock when you see the before pictures (it really is that bad). This was a pretty short and pointless post wasn't it. OH WELL!

"No man in his senses will dance." ~ Cicero

So I changed my mind about the next goal I want to achieve (I had thought that I would learn a new language). I've decided that belly dancing may be a fun adventure and I found a studio where two months of lessons are $70 which isn't too shabby. They also offer private lessons and girls night out lessons so maybe I'll do one of those two options to test the waters first....yeah that's what I'll do. It should be fun and it will be a great workout I'm sure and I REALLY need to start working out again -- ugh!

Anywho, I have made it to chapter 12 (or is it 13??) in The Adventures of Augie March YAY!!! I'm really too lazy right now to give an analysis of what I've read so far because it's Saturday and I have accomplished nothing all day and to be quite honest just updating my blog is taking A LOT of effort. However, I do have to say that Augie is growing on me and I have teared up a few times while reading. It's actually a quite fascinating story and I'm becoming kind of attatched to Augie March and his adventures (I have a tendency to do that when I read). Hmmm...maybe I'll finish it this week..I would go read right now but I left my book in my car and I'm just too lazy to get off of my bed and go fetch it (clearly some form of exercise lessons are called for at the moment).

Buh-bye

"Things are beautiful if you love them." ~ Jean Anouilh

So I changed my hair! I know, I know, it wasn't on the list of things to do but it's still pretty exciting and it's quite drastic..so I figure I'll post the change here! I have been a brunette my whole life except for ages 0-6 when I was blond and I decided that I wanted to go back to my blond era so I did...kinda. Call it a quarter life crisis, call it boredom, call it whatever. But I am actually quite pleased with the turn out so without further ado here is the new do (HAHA I crack myself up).

You may all Ooh and Aww in amazement! Leave a comment telling me what you think!!!

"Read the best books first, or you may not have a chance to read them at all." ~ Henry David Thoreau

So....I never made it to chapter 10 in The Adventures of Augie March...hangs head in shame... I've tried I really have..I'm back at work now so I read while I put the kiddos to sleep and I attempt to read while in the break room, until center gossip gets in the way...but I've only made it to chapter 5. The problem you see is that this book is REALLY slow moving and REALLY long and I just kind of don't want to...whine...

OK whining aside here is super short analysis of the book so far ( I say short because well I haven't gotten that far). The story is about a boy named Augie, in case you didn't assume as much from the title, who lives in Depression era Chicago. Augie's "grandma" forces Augie and his brother into odd jobs to make money and while his brother thrives in postions Augie bounces from one to another. And as of right now that's all I got.

I have this great feeling that The Adventures of Augie March will end up having the same effect on me as A Tale of Two Citites did. I will hate it and fight it during the first half of the story but by the end I will be so wrapped up in the story of Augie that I will be sad when it's over and will more than likely be moved to tears...or at least I hope. I gotta tell ya friends I'm a little concenered..maybe I should of started at the end of the list..hmm...

Alright, all whining aside, I think that the next goal I want to accomplish is learning a foreign language...I just haven't decide which one yet. Any suggestions leave me a comment in the box below!!

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." ~ Sir Francis Bacon

So I've decided that the logical thing to do would be to start reading Times All Time 100 Novels. Since there are 100 of them to read I figure I can start on that goal and work on others at the same time. Although I haven't decided what else I want to accomplish yet....hmm...

Anywho, I picked up the first two novels on the list The Adventures of Augie March and All the King's Men. I have the week off from work (yay) so I should be able to fit in some serious reading time. I've read the first two chapters of Augie March and so far it seems like an interesting story. I should have gotten much farther but my darn magazines came in the mail and distracted me and then my mom asked if I wanted to go shopping....so needless to say the book got abandoned on the coffee table. But, no fears, I will open the book and attempt to make it to chapter 10 tomorrow so that I can give a much more indepth review/description of the book.

For now if you would like to read TIME's descriptions of the first two books follow the links!
The Adventures of Augie March

All the King's Men

"Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life, I find." ~ John F. Kennedy

So I've finally compiled my to do list. Some of them are kind of simple and others are going to require a great deal of courage on my part (I'm a bit of a chicken). My goal is to try each of the things I want to learn for two months before I decide if I want to continue or not. There are only 10 items on the list for right now but I may add more later.

Now, ladies and gentlemen, here is your Top Ten:

1. Learn to play the piano (this one is kind of cheating because I took lessons when I was younger, but I stopped when I was in the 7th grade).
2. Learn a foreign language (any suggestions let me know).
3. Learn how to ice skate.
4. Learn how to kickbox.
5. Learn how to belly dance.
6. Read TIME'S list of 100 Novels ( here is the ink to the list)
7. Complete a charity walk.
8. Learn how to ballroom dance.
9. Volunteer for an amazing cause.
10. Attenda Yankees game.

Once again, this is just a starter list. If you have any suggestions as to what I should do first, or any new ideas let me know in the comment box.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

Yesterday I came up with the genius idea to start a blog! But, I failed to come up with a topic to blog about. Whoops!

As I started brainstorming blog topics it dawned on me that this week I will turn 25 and a quarter of a century will have past me by (Yes, I know I'm slightly over dramatic, but I can't help it) and there are a lot of things that I have always wanted to learn how to do and just haven't. So, if you haven't caught on yet, that means that I have decided that I'm going to start crossing things off of my list and blog about them!

Stay tuned for my complete list (I guess you could call it my bucket list) of things to do :)!