tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44028021383164290542024-02-21T14:22:49.248-08:00365 Days-100 BooksAnd other Resolutions for the new decade.Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-34465432924937785132024-02-21T14:21:00.000-08:002024-02-21T14:21:55.652-08:00Top 3 in 2023<p> 2023 wasn't just the year I <strike>finally</strike> read 100 books in 365 days, it was also the first year I really embraced not finishing books that I wasn't loving. Some of these I quit within a few pages, some closer to 100. I felt so empowered! Why waste time with a book that I didn't like or that didn't come to me at the right time?! Life is too short and my holds list is too long for that. Obviously borrowing books from the library instead of spending money on a book helps make the DNF (did not finish) decision that much easier, but I really encourage you to quit books that are making it harder for you to want to read. </p><p>Of the 112 books that I did finish, it was so hard to pick my favorites. There were several series that I fell in love with and individual novels that I couldn't put down. If I looked at my list again, it might change, but for today, here are my 3 favorite books from 2023.</p><p><b>Nora Goes off Script by Annabel Monaghan</b><b>:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXp_SYkeELJuMB-Ufi1Aoe-J2Tz8M5CMT6HKcZCTYAItF2dwUbx8lSwDflj8jtpInjmmJwzvTZnbW_WQR4TmQE6ETILHPoHP7QfoahyphenhyphenqhWO5wPu0L2ygdyYvDk5gJtUTej5-VuU1sBHkOYYqw8S0RwWOGXW5L4gsZPv903Wz_WQ9IkRbnPsfCF6UPecpE/s279/Nora.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="181" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXp_SYkeELJuMB-Ufi1Aoe-J2Tz8M5CMT6HKcZCTYAItF2dwUbx8lSwDflj8jtpInjmmJwzvTZnbW_WQR4TmQE6ETILHPoHP7QfoahyphenhyphenqhWO5wPu0L2ygdyYvDk5gJtUTej5-VuU1sBHkOYYqw8S0RwWOGXW5L4gsZPv903Wz_WQ9IkRbnPsfCF6UPecpE/s1600/Nora.jpeg" width="181" /></a></div><p>I loved this book so much! It was a book club pick and the fourth book I read in 2023. You know when you read a book and you want to crawl into it and live it? That was this book for me. I also did not predict how any of the conflict would be worked out, which was so refreshing. I think I might have even cried, something that I don't do often while reading anymore. </p><p><b>The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown:</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76lMzCTmnSBTMAHEZY5o-8_GW45-1qRMW0ypOsKjtkEBq6kAOqJmeDpoMN-SPs_Aeo53aC86CqY2IWqFYn6aB9ZJxAcj5aKTMSMk9-OsHpYgPCzaj6LXO3mYaNH4r9N5BLCel5L7xgOhDPDQ_MRXnN53GDqfLzyzFCxH_H0m48PisdJyTdoGJldFHCvc/s298/boys.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="298" data-original-width="169" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76lMzCTmnSBTMAHEZY5o-8_GW45-1qRMW0ypOsKjtkEBq6kAOqJmeDpoMN-SPs_Aeo53aC86CqY2IWqFYn6aB9ZJxAcj5aKTMSMk9-OsHpYgPCzaj6LXO3mYaNH4r9N5BLCel5L7xgOhDPDQ_MRXnN53GDqfLzyzFCxH_H0m48PisdJyTdoGJldFHCvc/s1600/boys.jpeg" width="169" /></a></div>This was another book club selection, this time for July. How did it take me so long to read this?! I realize that I don't even have to recommend this book, because it's on so many people's radar, but it's so good I had to include it anyway. I really like nonfiction once I start a good one, but I almost never pick it over fiction. This story reads like fiction. It is fast paced and ok, maybe I do get emotional more often that I thought because this book had me tearing up by the epilogue. The history is local to me, but I really didn't know any of the details. The story is so amazing and the author knocks it out of the park, so well researched.<p></p><p><b>Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt:</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYpP97A89-U6xx7pF81z4sJZRWb0O955No5CmvrJ1QlSlDyK2WdapFuIZQ6IjZhm_ssEwk9PosPBuGg4fJAaAQfOdBTYVLRuNKeFWJo_Pyrg2HkhT9qC3tJ2I6QwbwuJC6mmkP7HLIW_CJgCOsWkowGQ-VxfvEwzVRyrFoNfWyYBReZpxwmTA4ulvGyA/s276/remarkably.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="183" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrYpP97A89-U6xx7pF81z4sJZRWb0O955No5CmvrJ1QlSlDyK2WdapFuIZQ6IjZhm_ssEwk9PosPBuGg4fJAaAQfOdBTYVLRuNKeFWJo_Pyrg2HkhT9qC3tJ2I6QwbwuJC6mmkP7HLIW_CJgCOsWkowGQ-VxfvEwzVRyrFoNfWyYBReZpxwmTA4ulvGyA/s1600/remarkably.jpeg" width="183" /></a></div><p>Talk about heart warming. This novel takes place in a fictional area near where I went to college, so it was easy to visualize. I loved the characters, I loved the story, and I loved the quirky points of views. I just really really loved this sweet story and can't recommend it enough. </p><p>Ok now I want to write out all of my honorable mention book recommendations from 2023. There are just so many amazing books out there!</p>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-91349867285383581042024-02-05T16:37:00.000-08:002024-02-05T17:01:14.930-08:00100 books in 2023It took me 14 years, but I finally completed my 2010 goal of reading 100 books in 365 days. <div><br /></div><div>When I began this blog, it was as a way to stay accountable with my resolutions and goals for each year. Some of those goals I kept and others I only made progress on. The big goal 14 years ago was to read 100 books in 365 days. I've always enjoyed reading and this was a way to challenge myself to read more. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, 2010 ended with me reading <strike>only</strike> 73 books. Every year that has past I've thought back to those 73 books thinking, "that's the most books I'll ever read in a year. There is no way I'll ever read more." It was easy to think that as years past where I finished 20 - 30 books. And you know what? I was ok with that. I was enjoying having my reading goal be 1-2 books a month without any pressure.</div><div><br /></div><div>I should mention at this point that in 2022 life changed a lot for me. We adopted our sweet daughter, Zinnia in May and I left my job to stay home with her. 2023 started and I set my goals like I do each year. Using a goal planner that I especially enjoy. I set my 2023 goal at a manageable 30 books. </div><div><br /></div><div>Turns out it's actually kind of hard to hold a baby while she naps and flip the pages of a book at the same time, so I began using the Kindle app on my phone to read books whenever she fell asleep on me. This was a game changer. Instead of scrolling social media, I started plowing through books. </div><div><br /></div><div>As with most years, I started off strongest in the winter months and as the weather improved and Zinnia started taking fewer naps, I read a bit less. But those first few months put me far enough ahead!</div><div><br /></div><div>In the end I read 112 books and listened to 4 audiobooks! </div><div><br /></div><div>These are screenshots from the The StoryGraph app. It tracks your books and show you what you've read in graphs. It also has a great content warning section that I've started checking out before starting a book.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlAn6X9PtRFFan8kKBzotuaaIkxxK9m2wSvXHX31IDifea71lxYm9OmdOd7NsQj0f6M5jDS6L-9IMIYE9qUTUXeWutqDz_9ylKB4gjI4jZFoveRv114gVfk77CX1dO282eLdEQoj11YDmTev0f0YED30qbSrPuTr7DnK7mlmAKje1rFdfzOIz3yOaLgY/s1082/Screenshot_20231231-212749.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlAn6X9PtRFFan8kKBzotuaaIkxxK9m2wSvXHX31IDifea71lxYm9OmdOd7NsQj0f6M5jDS6L-9IMIYE9qUTUXeWutqDz_9ylKB4gjI4jZFoveRv114gVfk77CX1dO282eLdEQoj11YDmTev0f0YED30qbSrPuTr7DnK7mlmAKje1rFdfzOIz3yOaLgY/s320/Screenshot_20231231-212749.png" width="319" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVupgZ-OhSDYxXgZzvY7xJVf4NjFa6q2PguMoy4NB5UrT3qn2FDt5NCf5V2IRFqRhhS7xiG21wF-KP-wVOHRf79oQmGZa6-FEMSoRrf4Zx3BtnEICYtE5jJ8g09q-t-CDiE2yb6sSckw8xzRFzZiSy7zgFDEddnlyp97RX95VwEcFOwQ8vyHAmfKbtBl8/s1429/Screenshot_20231231-212711~2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1429" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVupgZ-OhSDYxXgZzvY7xJVf4NjFa6q2PguMoy4NB5UrT3qn2FDt5NCf5V2IRFqRhhS7xiG21wF-KP-wVOHRf79oQmGZa6-FEMSoRrf4Zx3BtnEICYtE5jJ8g09q-t-CDiE2yb6sSckw8xzRFzZiSy7zgFDEddnlyp97RX95VwEcFOwQ8vyHAmfKbtBl8/s320/Screenshot_20231231-212711~2.png" width="242" /></a></div>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-34130538431530890622017-05-06T09:54:00.005-07:002017-05-06T09:55:38.821-07:00Pain in the BackThe past two weeks I've been trying to get over a back injury. Well, more like a back tweak. I haven't been able to do much more than just get myself ready in the morning. Thankful I have a loving husband that made sure our house was in order and who plugged in my heating pad for me. Needless to say I am now super far behind on my garden! All those plants from the nursery, all those seedlings I grew, and all those dahlia tubers I divided are still waiting to be put into the ground! It's totally stressing me out, but the good news is that nature is behind this year as well. I am comforted by this quote:<br />
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"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished"</div>
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So, I'm not going to hurry and risk hurting myself. I'm going to try to let some stuff go and just slow down. All of the things that are supposed to get done will get done eventually. It's not about my time, it's about God's timing and right now I'm apparently supposed to slow down.<br />
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How about a few little book reviews! <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm not sure if this is fair, but I'm going to review the sequel even though I never reviewed the first book.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #a64d79; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After You- Jojo Moyes</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was painful getting through the second book. The cliches, the awkward story, and the forced relationships. I mean there was no part of me that believed these characters. Lou was the root of all her problems. Any connection I felt with her in the first book was nowhere to be found in the second. Basically, don't waste your time with this forced sequel.</span><br /><span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Today Will Be Different - Maria Semple</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.399999618530273px;"><i>After you</i> is the sequel to... wait for it... <i>Before you</i>. They both take place in England and are about a woman named Lou. I don't really want to go into too much detail here because it would be spoiler alert city, but there were some controversial themes in the first book.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I enjoyed parts of it well enough that I picked up the second book to see where they would go with the story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">Lately I have been giving myself some grace about finishing books that I'm not enjoying, but there have been a few sequels lately that I've just pushed through and </span><i style="font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">Today Will Be Different</i><span style="font-size: 15.399999618530273px;"> is another one of those. Although it isn't technically a sequel, it takes place in the same world as Semple's other novel, <i>Where'd You Go Bernadette?</i> There is a moment where one of the </span></span><span style="font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">characters recalls meeting Bernadette, and all of the readers rejoiced! Mostly because <i>Where'd You Go Bernadette?</i> had characters who were funny and enduring. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15.399999618530273px;">I felt like through most of <i>Today Will Be Different</i>, Semple was trying to capture some of the magic from her other novel. The main characters share many of the same traits but they fall flat in this second attempt. They are neurotic and amusing, but never enduring. It was almost like the main character, Eleanor, knew how intolerable she was and just couldn't help herself. If you spend most of a book cringing instead of rooting for the main character, you have another book worth skipping.</span></span></div>
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-38707879190117447472017-04-09T08:52:00.001-07:002017-04-09T08:52:52.128-07:00Grow Grow Grow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Prepare yourself for a lot of photos of dirt and small plants! In an effort to keep my gardening costs down a little bit this year, I decided I would give growing seeds another shot. This is something I've tried in the past with mixed results. But this year, I am all in. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRId6Co-gQV4qc0adfRlT5xkAKyDYhyphenhyphenK1LX0RlHh1R2qdqDfFn_bYarxsxucfZCkFLGjMWKxxl9Xmcljd7YR8xuCp4_jdqdIiIW800jP2nuDE8v2A23sM1HxBLT7xXaVIbjRh0yaq4Q5k/s1600/IMG_4100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRId6Co-gQV4qc0adfRlT5xkAKyDYhyphenhyphenK1LX0RlHh1R2qdqDfFn_bYarxsxucfZCkFLGjMWKxxl9Xmcljd7YR8xuCp4_jdqdIiIW800jP2nuDE8v2A23sM1HxBLT7xXaVIbjRh0yaq4Q5k/s320/IMG_4100.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I chose a mix of flowers and veggies seeds, got a little seed starting kit, and some soil.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alyssum, Zinnia, Columbine, Lupine, Sweet Pea, Poppy, Zucchini, Tomato, Beans</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I covered them with the plastic lid and placed them in my guest room with the curtain open. The plastic lid was key. It created a little greenhouse effect.... the good kind.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In just a few days there were little seedlings sprouting from almost every spot!<br />I had no luck with the Columbine. Maybe they were dud seeds?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys were magical to watch burst out of the soil.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their first day outside!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had so much fun with the first batch, I decided to start another batch with the leftover seeds and some found objects! It worked too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now I just need to figure out where I want these guys to go! They are ready for the ground.</td></tr>
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I have a few places in mind for my little farm, but I'm a little undecided. The weather lately has been so weird! Usually I'd be digging up my winter garden (daffodils, bluebells, etc.) but everything is a month late! It feels wrong to dig up flowers that are still blooming or haven't started blooming yet. If I don't get some of these seedlings and my dahlias in the ground soon I won't have blooms this summer when I want them! We are probably past the last freeze, but I'm going to wait one more week before I really get planting. Maybe I'll start another batch of seedlings this week to keep me busy!Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-53305585811843644152017-01-09T20:49:00.003-08:002017-01-09T20:49:59.311-08:002016 in Review.2017. 2017. 2017. 2017. Sorry... I'm trying to get used to typing it. I feel like I just got used to 2016 and now it's history. And WOW! What a history 2016 made. For so many people all I heard was how hard/miserable/sad 2016 was. I'll admit that I'm inclined to see 2016 through the lens of those people. There were some hard moments. Some times when I was sick/tired/miserable but I have to admit that there were some other moments that were just out of this world. So those are the moments I'll hold on to when I look back at 2016. So here is a little year in review. Pretty much just the highlights.<br />
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When your husband tells you the weather report and tells you to pack your bags for your birthday, you get pretty excited!<div>
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When you end up at the Happiest Place on Earth... <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You pretty much can't smile any bigger.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Did I mention that it was my 30th birthday?! It was basically the best day ever. Somehow the park wasn't too overcrowded and we had such a blast! I felt like a princess and people were even calling me princess! </div>
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<br />When we got home I was able to celebrate with friends and family as well. It was a great party, but the highlight was absolutely when everyone sang me happy birthday. I don't think that it was recorded, but to me it sounded like the most harmonious version ever sang by a bunch of people who can't carry a tune!<br />
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I reorganized my living room into a dream reading room!<br />
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I planted these...<br />
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And they turned into these!<br />
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We spent time in Yakima with my oldest brother, Marcus and his wife, Tamara! We tasted delicious food, drank delicious wine, and played Trivial Pursuit!<br />
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I had probably my best crop of tomatoes ever and...<br />
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Holy smokes! Raspberries! Which made delicious jam!<br />
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No Hawaii for 2016, instead we spent a week in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Caught some sun, saw one of the wonders of the world, and watched one of my besties, Nicole get hitched.<br />
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At least once a year I like to go out camping with my family. This year it was at our family friends' property. I got my fix of s'mores, ladder golf, and spike ball.<br />
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In September we got the chance to go back down to Southern California for my college roommate, Jenna's wedding. Seriously, 2016 can not possibly be that bad. We went to Disneyland twice. TWICE! I mean no joke, multiple days in 2016 were spent in Disneyland. I have nothing to complain about ever. (Also, best husband ever, right?!)<br />
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Our traveling wasn't done for the year though... In October we hopped on a plane (well... many planes)<br />
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for Uganda and Malawi. Pictured here is Peter. The little boy my parents sponsor. He was so sweet and adorable!<br />
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I've been working at Children of the Nations (COTN) now for a little over a year. Traveling this time to Africa was so different from our trip in 2013. Not only was it planned so much better, but I felt so much more invested in the stories of these children and students.<br />
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Each time I've been in Africa (twice now) I'm amazed at how close I feel to God there. In a place that has seen so much pain and suffering the way that the people worship and the stories they tell, it's so obvious that God is moving there.<br />
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In the last two months of the year, Brian got the flu and I got something pretty close to the flu, so everything was kind of a blur. We enjoyed as much of the season and family as we possibly could though!<br />
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So yeah, maybe everyone should do a quick look back on 2016. Try not to pay attention to politics or things that happened outside of what you can control. Life is pretty amazing in those little moment and a year shouldn't just be judged by the headlines.<br />
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-25261597953401666032017-01-04T21:55:00.000-08:002017-01-09T21:01:07.872-08:00The Year of...<div>
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">According to the Chinese calendar, I was born in the year of the lion. I'm not really sure what that means, but it sure does sound ferocious. So I guess I like that. I could look up what 2017 is supposed to be... but I'd rather just give it a fun name! </span><br />
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<span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">2017 the year of the daffodil. </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3OHLtCtu4RouvkKUaBzAFhXRlkjqtP9lg-e09PeK8hF5Kxd-uFP0IbSHW2IeccA4rzPIIsepVSyVj0eOLQ_R7vnD1mrc5ne3Znmrbkyf792CdZnrEqlareIFscXsQPzk5tlPljgnzbw/s1600/IMG_3840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3OHLtCtu4RouvkKUaBzAFhXRlkjqtP9lg-e09PeK8hF5Kxd-uFP0IbSHW2IeccA4rzPIIsepVSyVj0eOLQ_R7vnD1mrc5ne3Znmrbkyf792CdZnrEqlareIFscXsQPzk5tlPljgnzbw/s320/IMG_3840.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The daffodils I bought in 2016 bloomed in 2017!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Doesn't sound ferocious does it? That's OK though, daffodils may not be ferocious, but they sure are determined. Their bulbs get planted in the fall. They spend the entire freezing cold, wet, and miserable winter in the ground. The whole time they are just waiting for the right time. The right time to make their way above ground and bloom. They are determined to make it through whatever is happening around them and in the end they bloom with a bright hopeful flower. Daffodils are one of the first signs of spring, and to me that means they are flower of hope for the future. So yeah... not ferocious... but I'd take determined any day.</span><br /><span style="color: purple; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">2017 Resolutions</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">#2: After spending much of the last month of 2016 with a terrible cold, I'm needing all the extra vitamin c I can get! So far I'm knocking this one out of the park. Every day of 2017 I've had an orange. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">#3: I miss running. My knee is still holding me back from it, but I can still get moving and history has taught me that the best way to get motivated to get moving is to sign up for a race! I've already had a few friends volunteer to join me too! I may be walking, but it's something!</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">#4: Now that I'm working a schedule that is pretty much 9-5 (and not at a restaurant), I really need to plan my meals our ahead of time.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">#5: Why do I need to check my phone every ten minutes? The answer is that I don't. So, baby steps with this one, but I deleted the Facebook app from my phone a few days ago. So far it's been pretty freeing! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#1: Read at least one book a month.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#2: Eat more oranges.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#3: Walk or run a race.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#4: Meal plan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#5: Be on my phone less.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#1:I was pretty horrified when I was trying to remember back to how many books I had read in 2016. Seven. I haven't kept a list any where so it could have been a few more, but probably not even ten. The past couple of years I've been slowly slacking on reading but this is such a low for me. I'm really hoping that I not only reach my goal of 12, but that I surpass it.</span><br />
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-70468154835270390202017-01-02T17:39:00.004-08:002017-01-09T21:01:33.372-08:00Looking at Resolutions.<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">There must be something about January.... Something about this month that makes me want a fresh start. Something that makes me want to get moving, get creative, and get stuff done. I've noticed that as I get further into the year I get a little worn down and my energy and awareness for these things starts to lag. A few things that this obviously manifests itself in are my blogging and my reading. So as with every January for the past 6 years I'm going to give it another go. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">With blogging, with reading, and with the resolutions that started it all. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Looking back on the past couple of years worth of new year's resolutions, I mostly see success. Where I maybe didn't reach my goal, I still made an effort and something about me was improved by challenging myself. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Let's take a quick look back.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">2010:</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#1 is: Be Fearless....No matter what, don't be afraid to do anything that makes me happy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#2 is: Travel more</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#3 is: Read 100 books</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#4 is: Drink more water</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">2011:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#1: Give more</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#2: Read with meaning</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#3: Take more photos and learn more about photography</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#4: Run a half-marathon</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#5: Eat clean</span></div>
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<span style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">2012:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#1: Run a FULL MARATHON</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#2: Make chores a priority</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#3: Save Money</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#4: Eat out less often</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit;">2013:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">#1:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> Run for fun. Don't get injured. Run another half-marathon.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#2: Read for fun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#3: Show more love. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#4: Plan a trip somewhere I've never been.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">2014</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#1: Read 30 books.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">#2: Stretch.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">#3: Sign up for a race.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">#4: Blog at least once a week.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">It's probably hard out in blogland because you didn't know me before 2010, but I can tell you that working on these resolutions made me a more healthy, thoughtful, and adventurous person. When I began blogging I was </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">probably drinking around five Diet Dr. Peppers a day (minimum), I wasn't exercising, and I ate microwaved dinners regularly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">No I didn't succeed at them all. I didn't end up reading 100 books in 2010, but I did read 73 books and that's pretty much incredible if I do say so myself. I did run a half-marathon in 2011! I actually ran two, then ran another in 2012! I've traveled to many new countries (and continents) and I've greatly improved my eating and water drinking habits (No more diet soda and I don't even own a microwave any more).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Looking back at these resolutions makes me excited about what the future will bring. Maybe in a few years I'll look back on this blog post and be amazed at how far I've come. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Daisies on the last day of 2016</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">The last few days of 2016 I spent cleaning my house and getting my fridge full of food. I love waking up in the new year to a clean house and a healthy meal. It's like the ultimate reset. All the dirt is gone and I'm ready to start fresh. I couldn't pass up these daisies at the grocery store. Not quite ready to bloom in 2016, but watch out 2017!</span></div>
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-17004193802902596972015-01-27T09:35:00.001-08:002015-01-27T09:35:50.170-08:00January.January is a month that I usually can't stand. I've even been known to say it's my least favorite month. So much so that if I can, I try to get away to someplace warm.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvibn_M-4D3xgOOyYP55Dkv_Tgroa3YEafXb60XDQmH6yG1M5uWkhzFIHk0F6V46O_Nhi_Kw57i4DfgD_lNibrrH8pyeLmqGsI5rJ_V2fTHt-KW1rpQNlrRGrxq5wrpb7QxQNZrw0W-4/s640/blogger-image--35910042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvibn_M-4D3xgOOyYP55Dkv_Tgroa3YEafXb60XDQmH6yG1M5uWkhzFIHk0F6V46O_Nhi_Kw57i4DfgD_lNibrrH8pyeLmqGsI5rJ_V2fTHt-KW1rpQNlrRGrxq5wrpb7QxQNZrw0W-4/s640/blogger-image--35910042.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This photo is of my family in Maui for the NFC championship last year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCgyZtT5xT0G8Eo76x3tTg4FYL7umcUcvD1oAw4feb9_g9uiwTyXauoIx8Ag8zPtydFYC7Alw-NypPrfzkgLgPSrLIlz9hiN_UQvBpTzJ3RxNptMn2BGjYeBuegmDovsFyupcVcIdmuM/s640/blogger-image--185028972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCgyZtT5xT0G8Eo76x3tTg4FYL7umcUcvD1oAw4feb9_g9uiwTyXauoIx8Ag8zPtydFYC7Alw-NypPrfzkgLgPSrLIlz9hiN_UQvBpTzJ3RxNptMn2BGjYeBuegmDovsFyupcVcIdmuM/s640/blogger-image--185028972.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was how we spent this year.... Much colder, but equally as happy with a Seahawk win!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The end of 2014 was such a whirlwind between getting married, going on our honeymoon, fixing up the house, and the holidays. I'll be honest, it was exhausting. Wonderfully so, but still exhausting. It felt like I couldn't catch up. So this year, the lack of events and dreary winter weather are actually a welcome relief. I feel like I've finally been able to catch my breath and settle into my new life. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today is the 27th of January and I have not read a book this month. This is probably the first January that has happened since I graduated from college. Part of the problem is that I haven't been inspired by some of the books I've been picking up. So I've decided to pick up a book that I read a few years ago that was one of my favorite, <i>The Alchemist</i>. I believe that when a book comes to you at the right time it can capture and inspire you. If a book comes to you at the wrong time in your life then you probably think the book wasn't any good. I know a lot of people ( my husband included) who didn't enjoy reading <i>The Alchemist</i>. Maybe it didn't come to them at the right time in their lives, or wasn't their preferred genre, but I want to see if I still love it as much as I did the first time I opened its pages. I'm thinking about spending the next few days speed reading so I can finish before the 31st..... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This month I've gotten the chance to do one of my favorite things.... Bake! Banana bread, pumpkin cookies, and pecan chocolate chip cookies!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Pecans are delicious. Chocolate chip cookies are delicious. Put them together and happiness and joy collide. This recipe is from my Grandma Pryde. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>Chocolate Chip Cookies with Pecans</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2 cups shortening</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1 1/2 cups white sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1 1/2 cups brown sugar</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2 teaspoons vanilla</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1 teaspoon water</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">4 eggs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">5 cups flour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2 teaspoons baking soda</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2 teaspoons salt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">12 ounces chocolate chips</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">1 cup chopped pecans</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YAnSmECRKxRPnZFe1qXRtu993Od2a8yO6MwDKUDnQUoXQL6c8Lbv9cPa4d6JmSXewbfkKhPv50xrydjf4dOGnPr_A0o1BPF1NorX2zNBIoOfQGGqxCBVhysHEIkZNH7vn-dqpbquzPc/s640/blogger-image--1193323085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YAnSmECRKxRPnZFe1qXRtu993Od2a8yO6MwDKUDnQUoXQL6c8Lbv9cPa4d6JmSXewbfkKhPv50xrydjf4dOGnPr_A0o1BPF1NorX2zNBIoOfQGGqxCBVhysHEIkZNH7vn-dqpbquzPc/s640/blogger-image--1193323085.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Preheat oven to 375 degrees</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In a large mixing bowl cream together shortening and sugars. Mix in vanilla, water and eggs. In a separate bowl sift together dry ingredients. Slowly mix dry ingredients with eggs mixture. Stir in chocolate chips, then add the pecans. On a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper ( this is my preference for almost every cookie I bake, it makes cleanup way easier) scoop spoonfuls of dough. Bake for 8-10 minutes.</div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These cookies are super easy and oh so yummy! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRWhT_Nvf0Y7KaecCn0KcTazv9VAc23EdNfk8s4xxKifWy9AXppZspTm5S0cOsVpE9eFrNQUWnXSBKlBuvPTwpV9VVhwH4XKCdVZFkeNJChCrKDiUlFG3R_CjwW0PiyprltpNa6mJ8Ds/s640/blogger-image-1979851847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRWhT_Nvf0Y7KaecCn0KcTazv9VAc23EdNfk8s4xxKifWy9AXppZspTm5S0cOsVpE9eFrNQUWnXSBKlBuvPTwpV9VVhwH4XKCdVZFkeNJChCrKDiUlFG3R_CjwW0PiyprltpNa6mJ8Ds/s640/blogger-image-1979851847.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-73405896469909248282015-01-13T08:36:00.001-08:002017-01-08T07:42:07.403-08:00Oatmeal Inspiration.<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm back to my whipped oatmeal days this morning. It was yummy, warm, and satisfying. It also reminded me of when I was just starting this blog. </span><br />
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Lately I have been thinking a lot about how much I miss writing here. There was a time when I was writing everyday and was inspired to try new things and read more books. 2014 was the biggest year of my life (Seahawks won the Super Bowl, went to Hawaii twice, got engaged, bought a house, got married, went on my honeymoon) and I only blogged about it through March. I like to look back and see the pictures and read about what was going on in my mind at any given point, to see who I was and what I was feeling. I wish I had that for this past year.<br />
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I also like to share my goals and resolutions. <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">When I was actively writing about them, I was actively pursuing them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Challenging my mind to create coherent sentences within meaningful paragraphs will be another benefit of blogging again. Where I work it's more important to have a good smile than it is to sound intelligent so having an outlet like this is important. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I'm not sure if I'll start taking photos of everything I eat again or if I'll resolve to read a certain number of books, but I think for now I'll stick to thinking about being my best possible self and sharing it with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So for now I'll leave you with a photo of my yummy breakfast....</span></div>
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-84392045562888871222014-03-07T22:14:00.002-08:002014-03-07T22:14:41.192-08:00So This Is Love...Once upon a time...<br />
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That's how all the best love stories begin, so of course that is how I will begin my story today.<br />
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Once upon a time there was a girl who worked at a coffee shop. One day several years ago a boy walked into the coffee shop to use the free wifi and drink some espresso. After several visits to the coffee shop the girl and the boy struck up some casual conversation. She learned that he worked for the local newspaper and that they had a mutual love for travel. She soon found that she was looking forward to his visits to the coffee shop. One day the two shared stories about some upcoming trips they each had. Hers to the Baltic sea for a family vacation, his to Europe for a whirlwind two month adventure.<br />
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What the girl didn't know was that the boy had quit his job in her small town and when he returned from his adventure, he moved two towns away.<br />
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More than a year went by, life moved along.<br />
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Until Wednesday December 14, 2011 in that very same coffee shop the girl happened to be working an unusual night shift closing up.<br />
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At about half-past-five the boy walked back into the coffee shop. (He was passing time before he was to meet at a friend's house for a fried chicken dinner.) The girl greeted him and after he had ordered a bottle of grape soda they began remembering each other. They chatted for a bit before the boy took a seat near the window.<br />
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When closing time grew near, the boy returned to the cash register to buy a few more grape sodas for the road. The girl remarked, "Those things will turn you purple." Then the boy asked her if she wanted to get dinner sometime, she replied yes and the boy wrote down his number on a yellow sticky-note.<br />
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The next day the girl called him from the back of the coffee shop and they made plans for dinner at Bahn Thai on Friday night.<br />
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The boy and the girl have been happily together ever since, traveling the world together.<br />
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On March 1, 2014 the girl walked into the coffee shop where she once worked to meet her sister-in-law for coffee before getting a pedicure. When she opened the door she saw her sister-in-law at the end of the counter taking her photo. When the girl looked to her left she saw the boy dressed to the nines. He walked up to the girl, took her hands and told her how much better his life had been since he had walked into the coffee shop that day in December. He told her how much he loved her and got down on his knee and asked her to be his wife.<br />
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That's the short version of our love story.<br />
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Now what you've all been waiting for.... photos of the proposal AND the ring!<br />
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-19361605615023562872014-03-07T20:18:00.008-08:002014-03-07T20:19:17.729-08:00Ten down.I just finished my tenth book of the year. That is more than half of the amount of books I read in all of 2013. This makes me happy. I feel like I have found a happy place for reading. After forcing myself to read like a madwoman in 2010 I haven't really been in the reading zone since. I still managed to read more than a lot of people would in the past three years, but I wasn't getting the same joy from reading.<br />
<br />
Maybe that had something to do with not reaching my goal of 100 books during the first year of my blog.<br />
<br />
Maybe I am just now getting over that.<br />
<br />
I have a favorite quote from a Nike ad about running that starts off:<br />
"You are in a relationship with running. A love/hate relationship."<br />
<br />
Maybe reading is kind of like running for me.<br />
<br />
Maybe most of the things I create goals for I have a love/hate relationship with.<br />
<br />
When I think of the list I think that must be true; running, reading, blogging, gardening, cleaning, and budgeting.<br />
<br />
Some of them have more of a hate/love relationship.<br />
<br />
The end of the quote says this:<br />
"A balance between joy and pain, work and play."<br />
<br />
So I guess for me, reading like anything does take a little bit of work to get to the joy part. You can't argue that it is easier to watch the movie in 2 hours than take a week to read the book. I also believe that you can't argue that reading the book is much more fulfilling.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So here is the list of books I've read so far in 2014 and as short of a review as I can possibly give!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Little Bee- Chris Cleave</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">A lot was made of this book's beach scene. I think that the hype around that particular part of the book kinda ruined the entire thing for me. The whole time I was reading just to get to that part. I figured I would be shocked or devastated, but instead it was kind of a let down. Turns out I have seen too many R rated movies to be shocked. Don't get me wrong here, I enjoyed parts of this book, including the change in narration and Little Bee's voice, but it wasn't enough for me to get over the fact that I didn't like rest of the characters. The people who I was supposed to relate to (the british) I found to be awful and unredeemable. During the main conflict on the beach I just wanted to yell at them for being so stupid and selfish. When I went to Africa last Summer I carried with me a sense of how dangerous that continent could be, and I found it difficult to understand how the characters in this book could be so ignorant that they would get themselves into these situations. I understand how you could enjoy this book, Cleave is a talented writer, but I can't recommend a book that made me so frustrated. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Blue Like Jazz- Donald Miller</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Billed as "Nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality." I enjoyed this book mostly because of Miller's writing style. Brian and I read this together and he found a quote by Charles Bukowski that describes it best,</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An <em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">intellectual says</em> a simple thing in a <em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">hard</em> way. An artist <em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">says</em>a <em style="font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">hard</em> thing in a simple way.' </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think that Miller is an artist and his medium is definitely Christian books. I liked a lot of the ideas in this book and found the story to be very relatable.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The History of Love- Nicole Krauss</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I read this book because I stumbled upon and fell in love with this quote, </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">“Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I really liked this book once I got used to reading the vastly different tones of the two narrators. I like Krauss' writing style a lot and found her to be funny and witty. If you've read any of my book reviews in the past, you know how much I like books about books... especially when you can feel how much the author loves books (e</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">xamples: The Thirteenth Tale, The Book Thief, The Shadow of the Wind). This was a good read!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Icy Sparks- Gwynn Hyman Rubio</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes you pick a book up from your vacation condo and find a real gem. This wasn't necessarily one of those times. I didn't hate reading this book, I just found it to be very odd and unsettling. Also, the ending was too unclear. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Suite française- Irène Némirovsky</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've had another book by </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">Némirovsky on my shelf for a couple of years. I borrowed this book from my future-sister-in-law and loved it! Sometimes when you read books about WWII while you're on a beach in Hawaii it is difficult to really get into the story, not so with the novel.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Labor Day- Joyce Maynard</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes I read books just because I want to see the movie. It was a quick read best enjoyed on a beach.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Year of Fog- Michelle Richmond</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is another book that is difficult to say very much about without giving too much away. I knew from reading the back cover that I might have a hard time reading it. Overall, it was compelling and I felt like I had to know how it ended as soon as possible. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">Alana: The First Adventure- Tamora Pierce</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">This is a young adult book is a reread from when I was actually a young adult... well probably more like pre-teen. It had big font and was easy to read. I remember LOVING these books the first time around. Strong female character who goes against gender roles to become a knight? That's what every 12 year old girl wants right? I remember there was more of a love story, but maybe that comes in the later books. I still enjoyed this and it's a book I'd give to my future daughter to read.</span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">South of Broad- Pat Conroy </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is one of those epic multi-part books. I enjoyed a lot of this book, but not all of it. It had a few too many twists and turns for me. It was also very graphic. I prefer books that don't have to try so hard to shock you.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Kisses From Katie- Katie Davis</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a book I never would have picked up before going to Africa. Her story is very interesting. Imagine just graduating from high school and deciding to move to Africa to adopt a houseful of African girls. Her stories were heartwarming and very honest. I enjoyed this book.</span></span><br />
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<br />Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-28668842046011738262014-01-15T22:49:00.002-08:002014-01-15T22:49:42.845-08:00Posted.Are you on Facebook? Have you opened any links lately that have detailed how as a society we need to unplug, to limit our screen time. In the past two days I've read two articles that have sparked some thought bubbles. (I must admit that I've usually found these articles by scrolling through my news feed and reading them on my three-inch iPhone screen.)<br />
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The first article is about the need to appreciate the people who are in our lives that are actually in the room. Your phone is not the most important thing sitting next to you, your significant other is. About a week ago Brian and I went out to lunch at our favorite Pho restaurant. At the table next to us was a family of four, all of whom were glued to their phones. Not talking to each other or enjoying each other's company.<br />
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I think that I am pretty good about this one. I usually keep my phone put away during meal time, but there are other times when I'm a little too dependent on checking my Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest. I also used to read A LOT MORE, but some of my reading time has gone to screen time. So in the interest of one of my resolutions for 2014 I would like to limit my screen time. The best way to get me reading more and scrolling less is to try not to use my phone at night before I go to bed. This will probably help me sleep better and have fewer weird dreams about people I have only seen on Facebook within the past ten years.<br />
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Check this article out if you want to feel guilty about neglecting your significant other:<br />
<a href="http://jarridwilson.com/why-im-getting-a-divorce-in-2014/">http://jarridwilson.com/why-im-getting-a-divorce-in-2014/</a><br />
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My favorite thought from the second article I read was the idea that some moments are sacred. Why interrupt a beautiful moment cuddling with your nephew so that other people can know how stinkin' cute your nephew is?! I love photos and capturing moments, but there are some moments that you really just need to feel and appreciate. What I liked about this article was that it went to the root of why we post these things for other people to see and how much better it actually serves ourselves to savor the moment than it does to exploit the moment. This is something that is a challenge to me because I do want everyone to know how wonderful my boyfriend is or how cute my nephews are. It is also difficult not to see everything posted on Facebook as sort of selfish calls of attention. We all love attention but I think a little censorship on private moments is a good thing.<br />
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Here is the link for the second article:<br />
http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/tech/5-questions-ask-posting-social-media<br />
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All this being said I'll probably still use my phone too much and post too much to my Facebook and Instagram. It wouldn't be something I had to type on my blog if I didn't need something to stay accountable to!<br />
<br />Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-53059563197311793482014-01-07T22:11:00.000-08:002014-01-07T22:11:08.490-08:002014 Resolutions.Last year was pretty awesome.... 2014 has a lot of living up to do! I already have some amazing things planned, but lets get down to the nitty gritty. It's resolution time!<br />
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Here are the resolutions I've had since creating this blog:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">2013:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#1:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> Run for fun. Don't get injured. Run another half-marathon.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#2: Read for fun.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#3: Show more love. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#4: Plan a trip somewhere I've never been.</span></span></div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">2012:</span></span><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#1: Run a FULL MARATHON</span></div>
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#2: Make chores a priority</div>
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#3: Save Money</div>
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#4: Eat out less often</div>
</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">2</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">011:</span><br /><div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#1: Give more</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#2: Read with meaning</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#3: Take more photos and learn more about photography</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#4: Run a half-marathon</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#5: Eat clean</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">2010:</span></span><br /><div style="line-height: 21px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#1 is: Be Fearless....No matter what, don't be afraid to do anything that makes me happy.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">#2 is: Travel more<br />#3 is: Read 100 books<br />#4 is: Drink more water</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">Life Resolutions:</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Travel the world, drink more water, be more fearless, give more love the little things.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of these resolutions I've checked off with success, while others seemed to fade as the year went on. Most of them have caused me to lead a healthier and happier life. Take 2010's Drink more water. I made that resolution because I had a serious problem with diet soda. Like 7ish a day. No joke. While I still on occasion drink a soda, I now drink primarily water. I actually don't remember the last time I drank a soda! While being fearless is something I will always struggle with, my resolution to run a half-marathon was a success and I found a love for running!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So here we go for 2014! The list of things that will determine my goals for not only my coming year, but also set in motion things that will affect me for the rest of my life. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">#1: Read 30 books.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes that is an arbitrary number. Its challenging enough because it is as many books as I've read in the past two years combined, but also completely attainable if I set my mind to it. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">#2: Stretch.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is such an important resolution for me. Even through training for 3 half-marathons I've never been a dedicated stretcher. I know there are many views on how important stretching is or isn't, all I know is that my muscles need it and feel better when I do it. It could possibly be the only way I get back to achieving my exercise goals. So yoga here I come. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">#3 Sign up for a race.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Any distance. I just need to get back into racing again! I love the challenge and need to get a jumpstart! I also believe this resolution will set me up for an even bigger 2015 running resolution. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">#4: Blog at least once a week. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't roll your eyes! I can do this! I just need to make it a habit. Also, If I'm reading more it will be easy to at least put a book update in! </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: pre;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="white-space: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">So there you have it, 2014's resolutions. All completely doable! Watch out 2014 I'm coming for you!</span></span></div>
Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-12098786279499155642014-01-07T21:38:00.002-08:002014-01-07T21:38:28.646-08:00That was a good year.<br />
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A little more than four years ago I started this blog with a pretty simple idea in mind, to read 100 books in 365 days. From that idea came the desire to set resolutions (goals) to challenge myself to become a better person. Within the past few years I've reached many of those goals and have continued to set new ones along the way. All with the idea that there are always things to learn, habits to break, and new places to see. Although I haven't kept blogging as regularly as I may have hoped, I still enjoy looking back on the things I've accomplished through this online journal. </div>
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With the new year upon us it is time to look back on the year 2013. It was certainly a year of adventure! It was filled with travel, new family members, and a continued journey in discovering myself. </div>
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At the beginning of 2013 I set these resolutions:</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#1:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> Run for fun. Don't get injured. Run another half-marathon.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#2: Read for fun.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#3: Show more love. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#4: Plan a trip somewhere I've never been.</span></span></div>
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If I only remember one thing from 2013 it will be the incredible trip I took to Malawi, Africa. The journey didn't begin when I stepped onto the plane on August 11, it began when I decided to sponsor a little boy named Mphatso. Although I had never dreamed of traveling to Africa, I couldn't deny this wonderful opportunity to challenge myself in ways I'd never imagined. Taking myself completely out of my comfort zone I began asking people to help me get to Africa. At the time this was so very difficult for me, but I was so humbled by the outpouring of generosity from family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers. </div>
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That brings me to my third resolution, to show more love. I guess I can't really judge for myself if other people felt more of my love this year or now.... but I can say that I have never felt so much love. </div>
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Seriously my heart is bursting with it!</div>
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While in Malawi we had several task, my priority was to take photos that would then be used to tell the stories of the children we were interviewing in Children of the Nation's programs. Although snapping photos was important I really believe just being there to hold a child's hand, play soccer with them and give them a hug (aka: showing more love) was the real reason we were there.</div>
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Traveling to Malawi certainly checks off resolution number four from my list, but I was also blessed to do some more traveling during 2013.</div>
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Kauai in January.</div>
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California in May.</div>
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Paris in August.</div>
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Resolutions #1 and #2 were not as fulfilled as my other two. I still struggle with knee pain when I run. I think I've discovered part of the problem is my weak core. I need to strengthen my hips and abs to better support all the tendons going to my knees and ankles. As they say, everything is connected! My days of half-marathoning are not over!! If it is important enough for me, I will find a way to come back from this injury!</div>
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As for the reading resolution... Maybe I was a little too lenient with myself. I feel pretty disappointed with my showing for the year. Maybe I'm still a little burned out, but I would like to make reading more of a priority for the future!</div>
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Some other things that filled my time and challenged me this year....</div>
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My garden was the best it has ever been! Consistent watering and lots of love really paid off this year! Seriously, look at that tomato!</div>
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I also began a little business for myself. On top of my full time job I've also become a stylist for Stella & Dot. This has definitely challenged me to get out of my comfort zone!</div>
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So there ya have it folks! 2013 in a little nutshell. So many more amazing things happened! I can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for me!</div>
Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-49938163295408350442013-09-23T13:46:00.002-07:002013-09-23T13:46:47.045-07:00Zikomo Kwambiri.Zikomo Kwambiri.<br />
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"Thank you very much," in Chichewa.<br />
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That's what I would like to say right now.<br />
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Thank you to all the people who helped me get to Malawi. I never would have made it without those of you who bought a raffle ticket, sat with me at my garage sale, bought jewelry from my fundraiser, donated money, and prayed for my safe travel.<br />
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Thank you to the people of Malawi who showed us how true the nickname, "The Warm Heart of Africa," really is.<br />
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Thank you to British Airways & South African Air for not delaying any of your flights.<br />
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Thank you to Brian for being such a wonderful traveling partner.<br />
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If the experience of raising money and traveling to Africa has taught me one things, it's to be grateful and thankful always.<br />
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When I returned home from Africa there was definitely some culture shock. Working in an American restaurant will do that to you after you've just spent any amount of time in a country where the vast majority of people live on less than $1.25 a day. I found myself becoming a little jaded about our culture.<br />
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Thoughts like, "Oh, you'd like your fourth refill of ice water brought to you right this minute? Isn't it nice that you don't have to walk two miles in the African heat to hand-pump water from a well, water that isn't even clean, water that will probably make you and your children sick? Isn't that nice?!"<br />
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Yeah, I had a lot of thoughts like that during my first couple of days of being back to my regular life. I like to call then my: run-on-sentence-rants. I was feeling almost ashamed of my own culture, which was making me feel like my time in Africa was a distant memory.<br />
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After reading a book called, "Unearthed," and talking a bit with Brian I was able to reason with myself a bit. I was able to really figure out what it was that was bothering me so very much. It wasn't that we have so much here, although it does seem unfair, it isn't even that we expect the finest things. What bothers me so much is how ungrateful we have become. I don't honestly believe that just because there are parts of the world where people only eat rice and beans that we should only eat rice and beans. I like nice things just like everyone else. The problem is that we don't appreciate how good we have it, we just want more of it.<br />
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I realize that it is not fair of me to be the judge of our culture... especially since I am a product of it. So, as always, I found clarity in a book I'm reading. The book is called, "The Postmistress," and it is wonderful. I'm not sure why it has taken me so long to read, except that I needed to read this specific page today. The story is complex, but one of the characters is a female WWII correspondent who has just returned to New York after spending time in Europe. She wants to quit, she's had enough and has become sufficiently jaded by her experience. She feels like the people in America are too far removed from the war and will never really understand. These few lines directly relate to my experience:<br />
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"People can't imagine what they haven't seen," he answered. "That's why they need you."<br />
"You signed up to see what they haven't," he observed. "You can't blame people for it."<br />
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So today I challenge you to think about some thing in your life that you you are thankful for, something that maybe you take for granted. Maybe even something so small as clean water.<br />
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Africa taught me many things, but the biggest lesson I learned was to be thankful. Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-3767496718642212482013-04-29T21:40:00.002-07:002013-04-29T21:40:55.445-07:00Love on.Last year I was a real slacker when it comes to reading. It is only April 29th and I've already read as many books this year as I did in all of last year. I feel like I've finally found a really good reading pace. I'm not forcing myself to read, but I'm also not feeling like I should be reading more. Two or three books a month feels perfect. The books I've read so far in 2013 have ranged from autobiographical to creepy thrillers. I will say that I haven't read a book so far this year that I've really loved. I've read some that have kept me entertained and some that I've struggled to finish, but nothing I'm raving about. So, as always, feel free to pass on any book recommendations you think I might enjoy.<br />
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If you've read my blog in the past you know a few things about me:<br />
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1. I'm not very good about regular blogging.<br />
2. I like to read.<br />
3. I like to make lists.<br />
4. Most of those lists are resolutions.<br />
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I gave myself some REALLY easy resolutions this year.<br />
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Run for fun. Read for fun. Show more love. Plan a trip somewhere I've never been before.<br />
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Well... the list of places I've never been is pretty long, but I have something exciting to tell you! I'm going to Africa! More specifically I'm going to Malawi. It is located in the Southeast of Africa, right next to Mozambique and Zambia. It is a beautiful country with warmhearted people. It is also an incredibly poor country. With an economy based mostly on agriculture, about 65% of the population lives under the poverty line.<br />
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While going somewhere new is exciting, this is not a vacation. As some of you may know, my amazing boyfriend Brian works for an organization called <a href="https://cotni.org/">Children of the Nations</a>. They work within Uganda, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic to raise children who will transform nations. They do this through partnerships with villages as well as children's homes. These are children who without COTN wouldn't have a chance to survive. COTN gives these children a roof over their heads, food to eat, clean water to drink, as well as an education. These are things that we take for granted everyday.<br />
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This trip will check off two really big resolutions. I can't wait to experience a completely different culture at the same time I'm also showing love to children who don't receive enough of it.<br />
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This trip will challenge me in a number of ways. Traveling to new places always takes you out of your comfort zone, but I've never been this far out of my zone!!! I will also have to receive several vaccinations, I'm not even sure how many yet. The hardest part will be raising the money necessary to go on a trip like this. Fundraising is something I haven't had to do since my days slinging cookies in a Brownie's uniform. The more people I talk to about the process the more relaxed I get. A mission trip like this is not for everyone, but most people would like to support the cause in some way. That could be by donating supplies, sponsoring a child or donating money. The most important thing is that people hear about the amazing work COTN is doing.<br />
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While I'm excited to meet all of the children, I'm most excited to get the opportunity to meet this little guy!<br />
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Mphatso is the little boy I sponsor. He lives in the village of Mgwayi. He and I share a birthday.... which is a pretty big deal because I don't share my birthday with just anyone.<br />
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If you'd like to hear more about my trip or about ways that you can contribute to Children of the Nations email me at ehmichelson@yahoo.com<br />
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<br />Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-50165969661131702672013-02-10T16:52:00.000-08:002013-02-10T16:52:35.856-08:00A Fresh Start.I'm pretty big on new year's resolutions. January 1st is a fresh start for most and I partake accordingly with resolutions and optimism for the new year. January 1st is an arbitrary date and your fresh start could begin any day at any moment.... The beginning of the year just so happens to be a popular date.<br />
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At the beginning of the calendar year I'm like everyone else and set goals for the coming year, it's not until my birthday that I feel like I get my fresh start . As you may know, I'm a little superstitious.... so every year I do a little preparing for the 11th of February. Basically I get super OCD. It might be because it is a touch closer to Spring or maybe because I don't have Christmas clogging my time, but I get kinda crazy with the cleaning. Most years that means my floors are clean, the laundry is all folded and my sink is clear of dishes. This year I seemed to take it a couple of steps further, I cleaned out every inch of my house. I went through my closet, bookshelves, jewelry box, under the bed, all my drawers and every basket! Enough to pack my car with donations for Goodwill. I can't even tell you how good that feels! Everything in my house has a place and there is no clutter to be found. I completed tasks I've had on my to-do list since I moved into this house. That box of CD's that I haven't touched for years?! All imported on to my computer! I feel like a load has been lifted off of my shoulders!<br />
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When I wake up tomorrow it will be to a clutterless home! I can't think of a better birthday present.Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-88642663019170659722013-02-04T11:03:00.001-08:002013-02-04T11:03:20.948-08:00Missed it by That Much....It is day four of February.... four days into my first week of my new budget system. Always enjoying a bit of a challenge, I was actually pretty excited about my first grocery shopping trip. I felt as though I was set up for success. I had created a meal plan for the week and had created a shopping list that I remembered to bring to the store! As I walked the aisles I kept a mental tally of an approximate amount I was spending. When I reached the checkout stand I was pretty excited, I knew it would be close.... but I felt pretty confident I was under my $50 budget. As each item was scanned I watched the monitor, making sure my club card discounts were being applied. Then when the final item was scanned and the total came up.... I couldn't help but sigh a little. I missed my budget mark by 87 cents. Pretty disappointing, but I wont beat myself up too much after all I am still learning.<br />
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So, where did I spend my money?<br />
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<b>Produce:</b><br />
Apple (2)<br />
Green bell pepper<br />
Yellow bell pepper<br />
Romaine lettuce<br />
Onion<br />
Sweet potato<br />
Banana (4)<br />
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<b>Meat:</b><br />
Pork chops<br />
Ground turkey<br />
Lunch meat<br />
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<b>Dairy:</b><br />
Eggs (6)<br />
Butter<br />
Milk<br />
Sour cream<br />
Yogurt<br />
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<b>Frozen:</b><br />
Peas<br />
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<b>Grocery:</b><br />
Soy sauce<br />
Tortillas<br />
Baguette<br />
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At this point in my shopping I was feeling pretty please with myself. I had managed to stay on the perimeter of the store (which most nutritionists will tell you is the healthiest place to shop) and I hadn't purchased any "off list items." I figured I had spent about $42 so far. So when I passed a wine display that had a decent bottle of Two Vines Merlot on sale for $7.50 I knew it was close. Whelp, that bottle of wine put my over with it's added tax.... something I hadn't really taken into consideration.<br />
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Here are a few lessons from my first week of budgeting:<br />
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1. If you shop every week you won't need to buy so much! I hadn't been to the grocery store in almost two weeks so I really needed lots of stuff.... including things I don't buy ever trip like butter (which is kind of expensive).<br />
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2. Remember to count the tax.<br />
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3. Meal plans are the only way to stay on budget.<br />
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4. You still need to get some of the things that you enjoy... so save some $$$ for wine.<br />
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My week isn't up yet so I can't say whether or not I stuck completely to my budget, but so far so good.<br />
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You'll notice that the .87 went over in to my second column. The second column is my budget for other expenses throughout the week, other necessities that are not food related. This is also an overflow area for groceries. Soooo technically I'm still on budget for the week.<br />
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Book update:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #c27ba0;">5. The Five Love Languages- Gary Chapman</span><br />
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I can't stop telling people about this book. I had learned a little bit about love languages while in a Communication class back in college, but like most things I learned in school I remembered the theory but not the details. So I bought it on my NOOK. Such a mistake! This is book to share and reread and maybe even take notes on.<br />
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<i>The Five Love Languages </i>is based on the theory that everyone has different ways of showing love and how they feel love. If they are not getting love in the way they need to, then their "love tank" is on empty. The book is filled with examples of couples who have been together for years who's marriages and relationships are suffering because they aren't showing love to their significant other in the way that their significant other receives love. That might not make total sense so obviously read the book or head on over to the<a href="http://www.5lovelanguages.com/"> book's website</a> that has a lot more information.<br />
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Here are the languages:<br />
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Physical touch.<br />
Quality time.<br />
Acts of service.<br />
Words of affirmation.<br />
Receiving gifts.<br />
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Maybe just by reading the list you can say to yourself, "Obviously mine would be acts of service, I love it when my wife makes me dinner."<br />
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I don't think anyone would be surprised to know that my love language is receiving gifts. Before I read the book I might have been able to tell you that, but after I read it I don't feel like that is such a shallow way of feeling loved. It doesn't mean I need to get big boxes of presents all the time to feel loved (although I don't mind! :-)). It can be anything from a love note to bringing me my favorite soda. I've also come to realize that this is how I show my love for people.<br />
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This book is a great way to get your mind thinking about how you can better love the people in your life and how you can be better loved.<br />
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Love=Happiness<br />
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<br />Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-17709900926088867822013-02-01T16:17:00.000-08:002013-02-01T16:18:08.376-08:0038 years. All You Need is LoveLately I have been feeling extremely blessed. It seems like all the pieces of my life are falling into place at the same time. I can't help but believe that God decided that right now was the time to answer all my prayers.<br />
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Yesterday Brian and I took my parents out to a nice dinner as a thank you for bringing us on an amazing tropical vacation to Kauai, Hawaii. It was nice to treat them for a change, they do so much for me. After dinner I got to thinking.... What if I was still me, but had grown up in a different situation with different parents? What if I had been raised in a family that couldn't afford braces? What if I didn't have a Mom who told me I was beautiful and wanted to spend time with me? What if my Dad wasn't kindhearted and the best man I know? It's obvious I wouldn't be the same woman I am today. I also know that I would not be anywhere near as happy as I am right now.<br />
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Today, February 1st, 2013 is my parent's 38th wedding anniversary. We live in an culture where divorces are as common as births and I have been blessed to have been raised by two people who have set a wonderful example of what a marriage should be.<br />
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So today I'm feelings lucky, blessed, and proud to be a part of such an amazing family.<br />
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All because two people fell in love.<!--3--><br />
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<!--3-->Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-61830443202956857772013-01-31T10:40:00.002-08:002013-01-31T10:40:30.344-08:00Kauai 2013While I like to make resolutions at the beginning of every year, I also keep two other resolution lists. The first is a list of life resolutions. These are things that I want to accomplish all the time. This list includes things that have been year-long resolutions before, like traveling more and drinking more water. The other list is sort of a mini-bucket list. It is a list of activities that I'd like to do in life that are achievable. Things that I checked off from this list in 2012 included, canning peaches and Ride the Duck in Seattle.<br />
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To update my life list I need to write a little something about my recent trip to Kauai, Hawaii. Kauai in January is a great place to be.... especially if you come from a region that is cold and grey during the month of January. <a href="http://travelingstarvingwriter.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-few-things-i-learned-in-hawaii.html">Brian also wrote a great blog post about his experience in Kauai with my family.</a><br />
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My favorite part of visiting somewhere tropical has to be.... just laying in the sun with a good book!!<br />
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I've been to Hawaii several time and for some unknown reason have NEVER tried shaved ice before. I was only living half a life before!!! That stuff is amazing! If you are saying to yourself right now that it looks like a snow cone.... Well stop right there! The only similarity is that it is indeed made of ice and flavored with syrup (OK, same ingredients....) but the TEXTURE! It is something heavenly. As well as addictive.<br />
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The view from our condo. Heaven on Earth.<br />
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It was great to spend 12 days with some of my favorite people... including my cute little nephew! Soon I will have two cute little nephews so it was wonderful to get some quality time with my #1.</div>
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Football season also came to an end while we were in Hawaii.... If the Seahawks aren't in the Superbowl... then football season is over. Don't argue with me... and don't tell me you are a 49ers fan.<br />
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Two well fought games.... one terrible heartbreak!<br />
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If you know my family at all... then you know we are crazy Seahawks fans.... So of course we all packed our jerseys and other superstitious lucky items.<br />
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Brian, Joe, and I also had the chance to go ziplining!!!! <a href="http://365days-100books.blogspot.com/2012/01/youre-gonna-get-wet-youre-gonna-get.html">Last year, Carly and I had a great time</a> so Joe wanted to try it out. This time we tried out the longer course with different ziplines. The longest was 1800 feet long and 350 feet in the air. I still can't believe I did it without much fear!<br />
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When you are traveling with a 2 1/2 year old and there is a train anywhere within a 20 mile radius... you will be riding said train.<br />
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One of the last nights of our trip we went to a luau. The first time I went to a luau I was 15 years old and the luau itself was not very traditional. Not knowing any different we still had a good time but never really felt the need to have the luau experience on any other trips to Hawaii. Since this was Brian's first time on the islands, since he learned to walk, we decided to try one of the local luaus. We ended up at the Smith's Tropical Paradise. While this was also not quite the traditional experience I imagined, it was still a great time.... and I might have had a little better of a time since I was over 21 this go around.<br />
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I love Kauai and while January is the best time to go to a tropical location.... January is the WORST time to come back home!!!<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;"><b>Book Updates: </b></span><br />
Here is what I enjoyed while in paradise.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">1. Dreamers of the Day-Mary Doria Russell</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">I'm attempting to make a dent in my bookshelves. It has been hard to do since lately I haven't been in the mood to read much and have been doing some of my reading on my NOOK. So there are literally hundreds of books that are staring at me from my bookshelves. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">When I travel I like to read... pre-NOOK I would usually pack AT LEAST 4 books for even the shortest of journeys. You just never know what could happen. And I always lugged those books, read or not, back home with me to sit on my shelf either as a trophy or as a reminder. So the NOOK has been great, I can pack a couple more pairs of shoes instead of a couple of books while keeping under the airline's weight restriction. The biggest problem I have though is the 20-40 minutes of total time when you are taking off and landing that they ask you to turn off these devises. It is always at the best moment in a book when you have to shut it off and focus your attention on the fact that you are now hurtling towards the ground in a man-made cylinder. So, I choose to bring at least one paperback to avoid this fear-filled time. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">One of my favorite genres is historical fiction. I love it when I can learn some details about the past while also being caught up in an intriguing story. <i>Dreamers of the Day</i> is a very interesting tale. I'm not sure exactly how to give a synopsis without giving away too many details. I will say it is the story of Agnus, an old maid (age 39) in the 1920's who is left without family after the influenza outbreak. The story tells of her time in Egypt during the Cairo Peace Conference. There she encounters people who we definitely would recognize from our history books such as, Lawrence of Arabia and Winston Churchill.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">This was a fun novel that painted a very vivid picture of what that time in history was like. There were parts towards the end of the novel that I felt were a bit rambling (who am I to talk) but besides that I enjoyed this book very much.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">2. Where We Belong-Emily Giffin</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">Emily Giffin is one of my favorite authors. I'm not sure why... all of her books seem to include some sort of adultery, betrayal or lie. But they are all great reads. They are compelling stories that make you glad you've lived your life the way you have. While sometimes predictable, <i>Where We Belong</i> is a page turner and an easy read.... two of my current favorite qualities in a novel.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">3. Hopeless-Colleen Hoover</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">This book was NOT at all what I was expecting. Even while I was still half-way through I thought that I knew where this book was going.... then BOOM flipped upside down. I began the book thinking this was yet another young adult romance novel.... reminiscent of <i>Twilight</i>. But, it definitely makes a turn. This book was unsettling and at times I found it to be hard to read. The content is very adult and even as an adult I found it to be difficult to get through. Hopeless deals with the issue of sexual abuse. While I think this was a well written novel and handled the issue well, it is not something I would choose to read again.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79;">4. The Next Always- Nora Roberts</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;">Oh, Nora. You did it again. You sucked me into a predictable trilogy.... and I love you for it. The <i>Next Always</i> is predictable and cute. I already know how the next two books will end and I'm still going to read them.... and enjoy every minute of it! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-69001591880299988722013-01-28T14:29:00.001-08:002013-01-28T14:29:57.951-08:00The Envelope.I just did a little simple math. I added up how many books I've read since January 1, 2010.<br />
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135.<br />
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That seems like a pretty big number to me. Until I realize I wanted to read 100 books in just one of those years. Anyways, that little bit of math leads me into a subject I wanted to talk about....<br />
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Budgeting.<br />
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I really believe that is one of the ugliest words in the English language. It is simply a word that can not be made to sound sexy... even with a British accent. The act of budgeting is even more off-putting, it is restrictive, judgmental, and really depressing. What it comes down to is that budgeting is no fun. In a perfect world it just wouldn't need to happen. Alas, I live in an imperfect world. So budgeting is a necessary reality. My problem is that I'm not very good at it. Right now my method goes a little something like this:<br />
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I don't spend more money than I make, I pay all my credit cards off every month, I pay all my bills, and I don't ALWAYS buy everything that I see and want to buy (despite what it may seem like).<br />
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I would say that isn't the worst ever budgeting plan..... I'm not in debt and some months there is money left over that I do save. But! I'm reckless with my cash. If I want to go out to eat or grab a coffee, I do. I don't consider in that moment what a good idea it would be to save the $22 instead of eating it..... What if I didn't spend that $22 dollars once every month? Maybe that could be a plane ticket at the end of the year. Anyways, it would be nice if I was working hard now for the future rather than just the present.<br />
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I've tried budgets before and always fail, usually on the first day. It is easy to think something will work when you are sitting at your desk looking at a bunch of numbers then when you are walking down the aisles of your local grocery store.<br />
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Today on PINTEREST I found a PIN with a budget plan that seemed completely doable for me. She calls it her <a href="http://www.funcheaporfree.com/2012/08/video-of-how-i-keep-track-of-my-budget.html" target="_blank">"Easy Envelope Budget Technique."</a><br />
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Watch the video, it explains everything really well.<br />
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The video also opened my eyes to something else... This woman only spends $400 dollars a month on groceries for her family of four. She says that the national average spent on groceries per month is $400. I can't believe my eyes or my ears!! In all the FAILED attempts at budgeting I've FAILED to meet my grocery budget of $300 dollars for JUST ME! No joke. I'm kind of embarrassed to be honest. To make myself feel a little bit better I will say that Brian does help eat some of the food I buy.... but wow! If that didn't make me think twice about my un-budgeting ways, I don't know what will.<br />
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I'm going to let you read her post about how it all works and attempt to make the Envelope Technique work for me. While I don't know that I could live off of ONLY 100 dollars in groceries (including toiletries etc) a month.... I can definitely try to cut back a lot.<br />
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$100 a month isn't doable at this point so I googled it and found a neat little page from the <a href="http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/usdafoodcost-home.htm">USDA.</a> If I am reading this correctly then I was definitely on a liberal plan and as a single 19-50 year old women I was pretty normal. I'm not sure I could manage thrifty.... but I would like to aim for the low-cost model... around $200 a month in groceries. This might seem really high, but it is SO easy for me to go into the grocery store and drop $35 dollars on just a few items.... and sometimes $100 when I'm making a bigger trip that includes quality produce and meat.<br />
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So, starting Friday February 1, 2013 My monthly budget for groceries will be $200 and my budget for other things like eating out, haircuts, manicures, gifts, and other essentials will be $150. Monthly bills and gas are already set aside (that reminds me to turn down my heat).<br />
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The bottom line here is I need to be more conscious of where my money is going and maybe make some hard decisions every now and then.<br />
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Words of encouragement are always welcome :)<br />
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<br />Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-76334856294803226022013-01-22T16:21:00.001-08:002013-01-22T16:21:33.119-08:00Adios 2012! Hola 2013!<br />
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With every new year I can't help but look back on the previous year and do a little inventory. In recent years I've rated them by how well I completed my resolutions, reached goals, and of course by how many books I read. In this past year I learned something very valuable.... things can change so much from the beginning to the end of a year. Your priorities, friends, family, and interests to name a few. Keeping that in mind, I can't really use my old rating system to judge 2012. </div>
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Here were my resolutions....</div>
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#1: Run a FULL MARATHON</div>
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#2: Make chores a priority</div>
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#3: Save Money</div>
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#4: Eat out less often</div>
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I can almost say for certain that I did not fulfill any of these resolutions to standard I set when I created them. I ONLY ran a HALF MARATHON. Chores were never a priority. I saved some money, but spent too much. I ate out just as much as ever.... if not more. So what does this mean? Are resolutions silly? Should I stop making them? Should I just aim lower next year? I don't think so. Things come up, priorities change, experiences happen and all the while you can't say no to things and experiences just because they interfere with a list you made on January 1st. Did I run a FULL MARATHON? Nope... But I did run another HALF-MARATHON.... not only did I complete it.... I kicked my previous Half-Marathon time in the ass. Which is something I'm very proud of. </div>
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I've realized that chores will never and should never be a priority. Don't get me wrong here.... I like a clean house and I will say that it is never gross... but if I have to choose between spending time with people I love or folding laundry, you better believe I'm not hanging out sorting socks. There will always been more laundry, more dishes, and more dusting. They should never be a priority.</div>
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I can say for certain that the year 2012 will go down in the record books as one of my very best years. I'm almost willing to say top five. So many changes. So much love.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6aa84f;"><b>The Year 2012 in Review:</b></span></div>
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The first two weeks were spent on the island of Kauai soaking up the sun and relaxing. I then came home to three snow days! Which meant I didn't work for the first 19 days of January. I can't really think of a better way to start a new year!</div>
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I started eating meat after being a semi-vegetarian/pescatarian for over 12 years.</div>
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One of the most positive adjustments I made was changing jobs. While I love the couple I worked for, it was definitely time for a change. I feel that I am appreciated at my new job.... and it doesn't hurt that I work less hours and make more money.</div>
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I ran a half-marathon in 2 hours and 11 minutes. Which is 11 minutes fast than my previous time... which is crazy!</div>
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2012 was the year of love. I found the man of my dreams and fell head-over-heals. He is an amazing man who makes me feel beautiful and loved every single day.</div>
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2012 was also the year of wine. My appreciation for the red variety has grown exponentially. </div>
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Last year was pretty great, I can't wait for what 2013 is going to throw my way. Although I never really complete them, I wouldn't feel right if I didn't have some sort of resolution list for the new year. I think I'll go a little abstract this time around...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#1:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"> Run for fun. Don't get injured. Run another half-marathon.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#2: Read for fun.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#3: Show more love. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">#4: Plan a trip somewhere I've never been.</span></div>
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Alright, I know those resolutions are not really anything new for me. But, I really feel like I get discouraged by my failed resolutions and these seem to fit better in my life than a resolution to lose 10 pounds. I feel like these are doable.... and just enough of a challenge to keep me on track. </div>
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So there you have it! </div>
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Adios 2012! Hola 2013!</div>
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Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-56364197789285331012012-11-08T13:57:00.001-08:002012-11-08T13:57:26.888-08:00Dear Diary. Do you keep a diary? I've never been very good at keeping up with daily entries, so I've never kept a diary for more than a week. For awhile there I came to think of this blog as sort of my diary and in a way it still is.... only to be honest I don't share all my deepest secrets with the internet. But even my blog has at times been difficult to keep up with. I just sometimes feel like I don't have anything to say. The other day I was staring at one of my bookshelves trying to decide what I wanted to read next (I'm trying not to buy any new books until I at least finish one book from my shelf). I noticed a little book in the corner there. It was a five year "One Line a Day" Journal. My cousin Katy had given it to me as a birthday present and I had never started using it, probably because I wanted to start on January first. But I was inspired so I've started all the way at the end of the year!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVpkUwAOlHGij-zMR00ar6Ywelz-3cgILv-1Ca7avLk4bqGAzflgZ8ibzAmfs7jypRyP_JznJbFozwTgKg7oJFNXxl4yGDAgt1iqZKBtA918f5mMygrE_he7uGe3fAvn6KT96GILI0HY/s1600/photo-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVpkUwAOlHGij-zMR00ar6Ywelz-3cgILv-1Ca7avLk4bqGAzflgZ8ibzAmfs7jypRyP_JznJbFozwTgKg7oJFNXxl4yGDAgt1iqZKBtA918f5mMygrE_he7uGe3fAvn6KT96GILI0HY/s320/photo-5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I think it will be very fun to see what I was thinking or doing on any particular day five years from now. Since it only gives you enough space for a sentence or two the commitment isn't a big one.<br />
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Since I know I haven't blogged everyday I can't go back to Nov. 8 2011 or 2010 and see what I was blogging at the time... but I can get close...<br />
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<a href="http://365days-100books.blogspot.com/2011/09/half-marathon-is-just-5k-race-with-10.html">Nov. 2011</a><br />
I didn't even blog a single time in November of 2011.... so this comes from September.<br />
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<a href="http://365days-100books.blogspot.com/2010/11/burned.html">Nov. 2010</a><br />
Really big surprise here.... I was talking about being burned out on reading...<br />
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When I look back I can see how much I've changed in some ways... and how little in other ways. I will forever be trying to read, blog, and run more!!<br />
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<br />Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-18023109481876422082012-11-07T11:27:00.001-08:002012-11-07T11:27:20.521-08:00Vote.Yesterday, November 6, 2012, was Election Day here in the USA. While many stood in lines for hours around the country I had already placed my vote days ago via absentee ballot. To be honest I felt done with this election months ago. I don't even have cable and I was sick of the political ads, roadside signs, as well as all the election talk. I feel like in the past few months our country has been slogged down by our differences. All the money that was spent on negative campaign ads is disgusting. Neither side is better than the other when it comes down to the hate that they spewed at each other. I feel like the day after a presidential election we have to start picking up the pieces. It doesn't matter if you voted blue or red. Now is the time to start working together. There should be no sore losers or sore winners. There is too much at stake to not come together to work it out. I don't really like to talk politics. Mostly because I get angry and feel really small, but if there is one thing I believe in it's this: if we work against each other no one wins. America isn't going to be in shambles four years from now if we can work through our differences. I really think most Americans feel this way. We are sick of politics. We are sick of both the Democrats and the Republicans. So anyways... that's enough of my incoherent ramblings...<div>
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Yesterday I had a thought. I was at work, frustrated and wanting to go home. I thought to myself, "Gosh, I want a glass of wine." Then I had another thought, "I used to let out my frustrations with a nice long run.... not a glass of wine." My knee injury has of course been an issue for me lately.... but I need to get back to NEEDING to run. I hope my thought doesn't lead you to thinking I might have a problem with consumption... while I enjoy a glass of wine from time to time I didn't think to myself, "I NEED a glass of wine."</div>
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So off I go right now... The sun is shining, my ipod is charged, and my running shoes are on!</div>
Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4402802138316429054.post-59418879378146960142012-11-01T09:59:00.000-07:002012-11-01T09:59:04.708-07:00November.Welcome to November. Wow, where has the year gone?! Time seems to be flying by at a ridiculously fast speed lately. I feel like I can't keep up! Wasn't I just celebrating the coming of Summer?! Now it's time to start thinking about turkey and Christmas present. This weekend is the start of the holiday bazaars in town and although I alway enjoy them, I just can't seem to wrap my mind around the fact that this year is only 60 days away from being complete.<br />
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I haven't been very good about my resolutions this year. To be honest I've failed spectacularly..... but I'm not letting that get to me. 2012 has been an amazing year, one of my best yet. I have no doubt that the last few months will be just as fantastic.<br />
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Since it is the first day of the month I think I will do something I haven't done in a while... set some goals for the month!<br />
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November Goals:<br />
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1. Cook dinner 3 times a week.<br />
2. Run 3 times a week. Any distance, just get out there!<br />
3. Try to have a majority of my Christmas shopping done by the end of the month.<br />
4. Try 3 new recipes.<br />
5. Make an effort to show my loved ones how special they are to me.<br />
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Ok... five goals for the month! Wahoo! I'm excited. Some of these goals are connected to my year-long resolutions and are meant to save me money, get active and lower my holiday stress level!<br />
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I guess the holidays sort of started last night with Halloween. We had a great time walking downtown as my nephew Buzz Lightyear (Callen) trick-or-treated. The rain almost held off for the first hour then the black clouds rolled in and let out buckets of sideways rain. That was when I was grateful my costume included an umbrella!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM5E6hu95VhY5Eo6BZNIWHO94P9vqtAIvieyMkKsiBzjrnW-GOAB0y4pwRei9XHdNtWAjtPBt_x7PdfaQzEIWNba7xtQlgTnOmfC9eJnRuW4YBoEEBHrG4FkE-S1z_R9MXbruu0wu0Nk/s1600/mary+poppins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM5E6hu95VhY5Eo6BZNIWHO94P9vqtAIvieyMkKsiBzjrnW-GOAB0y4pwRei9XHdNtWAjtPBt_x7PdfaQzEIWNba7xtQlgTnOmfC9eJnRuW4YBoEEBHrG4FkE-S1z_R9MXbruu0wu0Nk/s320/mary+poppins.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary Poppins.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLsSQydNx-2dDzS3cDkfI03sOKVFNbvJxTrBdfwalTM_YGJz6oq2zZNZZc_Ys-P0nUcRgbvDDDJQeaSMeOV3Oh__-QNRS6P5tJaTXGdGXSi8kYFar3z1HjS32CNnxw_EKDYB-X4oWiM8/s1600/Halloween+2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLsSQydNx-2dDzS3cDkfI03sOKVFNbvJxTrBdfwalTM_YGJz6oq2zZNZZc_Ys-P0nUcRgbvDDDJQeaSMeOV3Oh__-QNRS6P5tJaTXGdGXSi8kYFar3z1HjS32CNnxw_EKDYB-X4oWiM8/s320/Halloween+2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cowgirl (Josephine)<br />Buzz (Callen)<br />Witch (Madeline)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcHdI7GKT7XS-RIsvSjwsvigKQyctPs8ki_ABo0YVvVn7EAEtXT7ZMLcF8eAYr5CMS-mXMRvnEzZStN-ybSFhCO0xPKAhiK-rtt0iJpj8GIWRGZsfJEejlk2M_t8KdHmmW3cXeyFhUsU/s1600/IMG_1082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcHdI7GKT7XS-RIsvSjwsvigKQyctPs8ki_ABo0YVvVn7EAEtXT7ZMLcF8eAYr5CMS-mXMRvnEzZStN-ybSFhCO0xPKAhiK-rtt0iJpj8GIWRGZsfJEejlk2M_t8KdHmmW3cXeyFhUsU/s320/IMG_1082.JPG" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bert and Mary Poppins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMlRB3KIMXtmrSU6ZPLEVdlBUvUkUt5cHvPHiPD1-SFDfmYo2qeFRN6RHTgvopKlaOfYY5nvbuWb4oViohc_Ecbchi091a9kyS752Mv-6DS1fhsK22Xb9ypdbziO0jVB9jWwuDdBjxuk/s1600/IMG_1090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMlRB3KIMXtmrSU6ZPLEVdlBUvUkUt5cHvPHiPD1-SFDfmYo2qeFRN6RHTgvopKlaOfYY5nvbuWb4oViohc_Ecbchi091a9kyS752Mv-6DS1fhsK22Xb9ypdbziO0jVB9jWwuDdBjxuk/s320/IMG_1090.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute Family!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEDNte8msgKOXjLNwXa0lH0geoqKPXxjelryyAOhYA1yPhd0BTEXoISNNwhv2P-cmd4JiHlp7oIkne4mhChelOEFe9_VSu7bj4o_w-tB4c2e9bgCW2LD12fdcjJ6DOIFSDLalOr7Hciw/s1600/IMG_1091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhEDNte8msgKOXjLNwXa0lH0geoqKPXxjelryyAOhYA1yPhd0BTEXoISNNwhv2P-cmd4JiHlp7oIkne4mhChelOEFe9_VSu7bj4o_w-tB4c2e9bgCW2LD12fdcjJ6DOIFSDLalOr7Hciw/s320/IMG_1091.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Elisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16244359096423793701noreply@blogger.com0