It’s Wednesday which means the week is almost over!! It’s been a tough one since I’ll be out of town next week. I’ve been trying to get stuff done now so I won’t have to worry about it next week!

Anyway, its day 3 of the Better Each Day Challenge and the challenge for today is to set realistic resolutions. Luckily we’re heading into March and so I’ve already set my resolutions for the year (read all of them here).

Reading more books was one of my resolutions and so far I think I’m doing pretty good though with all that’s going on this week, I’ve had a bit of a set back and sorta altered my goal of a book a week to a book every 2 weeks which for me is a bit more realistic.

In the last month I have purchased about 20 new books but since I donated about 20 books last weekend, I now have room for them!

There are photos of various spots that I keep (hide) my books. We also have a master library bookcase on the first level of our home which is not featured… (I ran out to time this morning and didn’t get to take a picture of it).

So back to today’s challenge, I think that most of my goals are pretty realistic and if I feel I’m having trouble meeting them, the great thing is that I make the rules in my life (for the most part) and reserve the right to edit, change or completely erase a resolution at any point in time!

Tomorrow’s challenge: Cure Aches with Chocolate… Hmmm that looks interesting, can’t wait to read it. In case I never mentioned, I try to only read the task title so I have time to think about what it might be and not actually know the challenge before hand, isn’t that cheating!?

If you have read the book or seen the movie Julie and Julia staring Amy Adams then you know that in 2002 Julie Powell decided to do 2 things that she felt would give her a sense of accomplishment and help her to finally complete something in her life. Thus she set out to cook her way through "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" in a year and to blog about it. Also check out her other blog.

If you’ve ever looked at "Mastering the Art of French Cooking” By Jula Child then you know that this is no easy task. The recipes are from 1949 so Julie really had a tall order to full but with dedication, a few tears and a whole lot of butter, a year after she started her project, she had completed it!

I’m sure you’re wondering where I’m going with all of this right? Well yesterday I posted an entry telling you all that I’m reading a book called 365 Tips To A Healthier, Happier you: Better Each Day and in doing so like Julia Powell I am going to somehow find a way to accomplish every single task in this book and blog about it to boot ! I’m on a self discover journey and for some reason I feel this book will help me along my journey so with Day 1’s task done, it’s on to Day 2.

Today the book says that I have to get more in touch with nature, find a space with a view or bring some plants to your home or office space. Here are some pictures of my desk space and as you can see I have 2 lives plants and a beautiful screen saver which sometimes I just sit and stare at!

The bamboo plant is my favorite because it seems to require little attention. I’ll admit I think I need to de-clutter some of the papers so I think I’ll tackle that task today.

Also this is a picture of a space in my office that I often go to think or clear my mind. It has a great view of a park right across the street from my which I also like to spend a lot of time in when the weathers nice and in the summer they hold a farmers market there on Thursdays.

So once I clean up some of the papers I think my desk will be more calming and a place of relaxation. I also think I might pick up a small rock/waterfall to create a calming water effect.

Day two DONE!!

From my past few posts you probably think I'm having some kind of mid-life crisis or something drastic but believe me that's not what's going on here. What I'm trying to do is figure out what my purpose is in life and what I need to do to make myself a better person. So I have been on a reading spree and all this reading has been doing me a lot of good. I feel like my path in life is slowly changing and I'm heading in the direction that God has always meant for me to be one.

So not only am I currently reading The Happiness Project but today I picked up a copy of 365 Tips for a Healthier, Happier You: Better Each Day by Jessica Cassity. 

With this book, each day I will do one thing that will help m efind answers to things in my life that I've been looking for.  So today is day one and the first task is to make a list of things that make me feel good and boost my mood. At first, this seemed too simple and child-like but then I actually stopped and thought about it and the truth is you have to really understand yourself enough to know the difference between what really makes you happy and what you think makes you happy or what provides a superficial happiness like money, parties or alcohol. So this task is really an important first step in the process of understanding your inner self and what really brings joy to your life. Of course we all know that family and friends bring us happiness so I'm not adding that to my list but instead I'm going to dig deep within myself to find the things that truly brings me happiness.

So here is my list:

1.) I've always been very creative and always will be! I love to use my talents to express myself so the #1 thing that brings me joy is being able to express my emotions though my art, my writing, painting and journaling.

2.) Using my creative talents through art is one way to express myself but another way I love to express it is through cooking. I find simple joy in creating a meal that my soul shines through.

3.) This may sound strange but I find simple happiness in being outside in nature. I find that walking helps to open my mind and frees some of the clutter in my mind.

4.) Lastly, I find simple solace and happiness in being alone. This allows me time to discover things about myself for example by having quite time to read or think it's a happiness that no one else can provide.

My list my seem short but happiness can be simple, the problem is that our world likes to complicate everything so we always think we need more of this of more of that or that we'll be happy with money, tons of friends and a big beautiful home but these are all superficial and happiness by instant gratification. It’s all surface. I'm happy with my list because it reflects me at a truer, deeper level.

Stay tuned for day 2 tomorrow!

Hey all, if your keeping up with my blogs then you know that this year I'm on a self discovery journey in an effort to find out more about myself and what my purpose in life is for... So how's it going so far?? Well here's what I learned thus far on this journey!:

1.) Don't blame your issues/problems/doubts on others... Only you make the decision to do or not do something. Don't let others influence what you do,what you like to do and how often you do it...

I found this out because at the end of last year I stopped blogging as much as I had been and it's funny because I love to write, & I love to blog. I was so consumed with my blog for most of last year and then something happened, someone did something that I allowed to influence my efforts of blogging and so I put my writing and my passion on the a back burner because I was angry at this person. My readers would ask if I was still updating and of course I would every once in a while but I was letting this one person affect something that I loved so much. I was giving that person power over my passion! It’s been about 3 months and in that time I kept blaming that person for my lack of blogging. Then 2 days ago I realized that I was blaming another person for something I had the power to do or not do. It was like a light bulb went off...I thought "Why am I blaming others for my actions, stop blaming andstart acting on it!" So Lesson learned!!

2.) Start loving others the way you want to be loved!

This is a big one! On my mission to find myself, I have been following my New Years Resolution of reading a book a week or a book every 2 weeks. I finished my first 3 books and am now on my 4th, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. This book is teaching me about loving others and so far I have noticed that my attitude is changing towards others, towards, my husband, my family, those who I typically don't get along with and so on. This is a valuable lesson as it helps you to better understand yourself by the way you act/treat/interact with others.

3.) Live your passions. This one I'm just starting to work with so give me sometime and I'll update what I've learned about this and what I've done about it.

So far this self-discovery project is going fairly well, I'm discovering things about myself, about my past and about the person I am now.

This is for my lil sister who so adamantly reads my blog! Keep on reading girl!! 

Top 10 Tuesdays!

It's  Top Ten Tuesday (also Valentine"s Day)  which means that today I’m going to tell you my all time top ten things  that I'm currently in love with! Are you ready??

#10: I absolutely love this article by Lauren Conrad! It’s cute and has great pictures to make the reader feel like they are with her for the ride!

#9: Since I have been on my soul searching journey for the last few weeks, I love this Karma Cleanse. It’s so true!

#8: In honor of Valentine’s Day, I love this pink cake so it rings in at number 8 on the list!

#7: Motivation is what I’m all about these days and when I saw this video, it just had to go on my list!

#6: On myself discovery journey, I have begun reading this book! It’s totally worth taking a look at!

#5: This site has some of the best photos! They seem to calm me and give me inner inspiration!

#4: Jane Austen was a great writer of her times and I’ve love her books so here’s a quote by her that landed a spot on the list.

#3: I wish I could get this phone case! It’s pretty high on my wish list!

#2: to me meditation is so calming so I’m always looking for quite, secret spots to sneak off to and relax!

#1: Take the road less traveled, don’t be another clone! Be fearless, be you!

Happy Valenties Day! 

It's been entirely waayy too long but here we go...

At the end of 2011 I went through some personal difficulties, nothing financial or in nothing in my relationship, in fact thoes things are just fine. What I'm talking about were are just things within myself. I was struggling with finding who I was and more importantly what the purpose of my life was meant to be. I was angry and resentful and felt that God had given up on me. I did not understand why He would do such a thing when I thought I was addressing a lot of issues that had been eating away at me, I was infat doing what He wanted, but still my life was in shambles so to speak. In reality, my assessment of what I thought I was doing to correct these issues was so off the chart that I can’t even being to explain my rational for thinking that I was in some way rectifying the them.

So as 2011 came to an end and nothing seemed to change. I figured that what I needed more than anything was to take a good, long, hard look at myself, who I really was, not who I thought I was or had been for all these year (that assessment turned out to be totally wrong). No, I needed to find the person under all the layers, what I needed to do was dig deeper and get to the real root of the issues that have been plaguing me for what I thought was only a few years but in my recent discoveries, I have found that some if not many of the issues I have stem from waayyy back.

Wow, that was a lot for me to take in but I knew I had to.  So as the first few weeks of 2012 came and went.  I started to search for ways to get a deeper understanding of who I was. Around that time, I was so lost that the only option I had was to erase the person who I believed I was and completely rediscover who and what this person was all about, the real me! I know this all sounds weird but before I really knew what was happening, I was on a self proclaimed journey of rediscovery and rescue!  In order to save myself, I had to first find myself, my true self. I begin to call this My Self Discover/Recovery Project.

And thus begin the first few weeks of my digging. I like to look at this process as somewhat of a paleontologist dig. I locate a site (me) set up my gear (books, notepad, highlighters, etc…) and then I set out to dig until I have unearthed what I came here for, what I hoped to find (who I am and what I’m here to do).

I really didn’t know how to do this at first but some voice inside me was telling me to turn to my New Year’s Resolutions, and what I found was a resolution to read more. Before I new it, I was in chapter 3 of The 7 Wonders that Will Change Your Life. I happened upon this book when shopping one evening; the book just spoke to me so I tossed it in my cart. I read it in about 3 days and was ready to start my next book.

I could not believe how much of this book just seemed to relate to my life, my troubles and struggles. This was in fact the perfect book to begin My Self Discover/Recovery Project. It was jam packed with methods and ways to reevaluate life, ideals on how to look at people differently, to learn to love your enemy, to show compassion and love for all. Sounds cheesy but its really not! It all makes perfect sense or at least it did to me!

I soaked up all this and in a few short days I begin to notice small aspects of my thought process beginining to change. Don’t get me wrong the process takes time, lots of it and I’m so looking forward to seeing where it leads me and I’m inviting you all along for the ride! It’s going to be bumpy at times, exciting at others and downright sad on other days but for me to fully understand I need to complete this dig and find what’s buried.  

I’m now on my 3rd book in the process and can feel and see changes within the way I react to people, to the way I address situations and think.

So far I have read:

Jan. 27- 31:   The 7 Wonders That Will Change Your Life - by Glenn Beck

Jan. 31 - Feb. 04: A Simple Act of Gratitude - Jonh Kralik

Feb. 04 - 00 : 12 Steps To A Compassionate Life - Karen Armtrong

Wow, its been quite some time since I last posted and to be honest, I really have no excuse except that I have been trying to use all my free time to sleep! So far, 2012 isn't nearly as "on-the-go" as 2011 was and it's really all my fault! I keep getting invited to events and buying tickets and then I just don't go! Wasn't one of my NY Resolutions to keep my promises and do what I say I'm going to do? Well, if not, then I'm adding that to my list! Your my witnesses!

So what exactly have I been up to these last few weeks? Well with this being my last and final few months of school, my course load is getting more intense, not to mention, I do volunteer work and with that I have a big case coming up which I really need to prepare for... uggh... I have to write a report and present it in court!! Oh and I've been going on a few job interviews, learning some new recipes and slowly but surely, trying to do some "spring" cleaning and declutter my home! So all that and school have really been sucking up my time so like I said, any free time I do find myself with, I'm trying to sleep!!

A quick mention that some of you may or may not alrady know, I have another blog called Live, Love, Laugh, which I try to update regularly but like this blog, it's not gotten that much attention lately but rest assure my dears, I'll do something over there tomorrow as I just finsihed writing a big term paper and have a day or so of down time on my assignments... Maybe!!! I highly recomment you check it out when you get some time and I'll try my best to post more often (here and there)! 

Okay, before I go, I just have to share this video with you all because last Friday, my hubby was in San Fransisco so I found myself going to get some take-out at this local place that does live music with local artists and this song was playing when I got there. Needless to say, I haven't been able to get it out of my head! Enjoy and don't forget to check out my other blog too!

So 2012 is shaping out to be a good year so far! I woke up on my first day of the year, went to walk my dog and what did I find in the street but $10.00! Not bad!

Found money is always good money!

I started some of my New Years Resolutions and feel like I'm doing good! First I worked out about 2 days at home and 2 days at the gym, I weighted myself this morning and am down 1 pound which doesn't seem like much but honey let me tell you, one thing I learned on Weight Watchers is that every pound and ounce counts so don't take it for granted!

Second, I have gotten back on track with my eating habits and am tracking and logging into my Weight Watchers account online as an added effort to lose this 5 pounds I put on over the holidays. They taught us that tracking is the best way to know what you've eaten and what you are doing wrong... so true.. My goal is to go to a weigh-in in about a week.

I'm also reading a new book, which was also on my New Years Resolutions list: the book is a memoir called Confessions Of A Counterfeit Farm Girl and is so far pretty interesting and funny!

I'm thinking about starting a book club at my local Panera Bread but I currently have something else up my sleeve (it's a secret but will be revealed in due time) so that will have to wait a while.

Let's see, what else is new?? Oh my hubby got a new job or should I say promotion and I'm very proud and excited for him, he deserves it and works really hard! Speaking on hubby, he has decided to take up hunting and asked me to go along... Can you imagine me in a full body insolated hunting suit?? I don't think so! And what I told him was "I don't ask you to come to my fashion events so please don't ask me to go hunting with you."

I know the holiday season is over and all but I wanted to share some photos from a trip we took to the Capital in DC to see the Christmas Tree lighting that is held every year from Dec. 6th - Jan. 1st. We went Jan 1st...After the tree lighting we went to Ben's Chili Bowl for dinner and I sat in the Presidentasal seat where Barack Obama sat.. My hubby was embarresed to take a photo so he looked on as I got mine!!

Enjoy the pics!!

Annual Capital Christmas Tree Lighting.. In the background, you can see the Monument. I thought it was really pretty...

There were Christmas trees for every state.. I found my birth state below!

Everything's bigger in Texas!

Ben's Chili Bowl is a legacy in DC. Everyone from Bill Cosby to Barack Obama have eaten here...

What you can't see is that I had chili sauce all over my shirt!

So we’re 2 days in to the New Year and I still have not posted my New Years resolutions but don't think that I haven’t been thinking about them! I kind of wanted to figure everything out so that I can actually meet all the goals this year. I did pretty good on my 2011 goals/resolutions though. So here's what I have for now (I reserve the right to add any additional resolutions as I see fit). I decided to be not get that specific because I don't want to disappoint myself by failing.

2012 New Years Resolutions!

1.) Read more books

2.) Continue to grow in my relationship with God

3.) Stick to my commitments, meaning if I say I'm going to do something, then I need to follow through and not make excuses to get out of it (I do this all the time)!

4.) Try to work out on a fairly regular basis

5.) Keep up with my Weight Watchers goals and attend meetings each week or at least twice a month!

6.) Blog more often than I am now

7.) Walk across the Graduation stage with my Bachelors degree!

8.) Try to be more understanding of others and also be more kinder and loving

9.) Try to do one kind thing a week for a family, friend or stranger

10.) Do one new thing a month - this is a repeat from last year but I liked it and did a lot of new things last year!

11.) Write more hand written letters or cards

12.) Get creative and start making things!

So that's it for now but I'm pretty excited about these resolutions and can't wait to get started. I'm also going to be doing a photo blog for this month called 30 days, 30 photos. See details below:

Wow, I can hardly believe that it's almost 2012!! The year seems to have flown by but at the same time, I'm really looking forward to a new start, starting fresh and doing so much better! I can't wait to see what this New Year has in store for me! Typically I'd already have my New Year Resolutions posted by now but I've been terribly lazy on my time off and have not really been blogging nearly as much as I typically do. I may have to post them later tomorrow, which is still fine. 

So a few days ago (Thursday) we decided to go to New York just for a little day trip so I have some great pictures to share of Time Square, Rochafella Center and some other jems that I found in the city! It was really cold and some people were predicting snow but we lucked out and made it before that happened.

 Photo of Time Square

Look at the needle point on the top of the photo where the ball will drop in a few hours.

Stage Platform Where Ryan Seacrest will broadcast Live

We ate at one of your regular spots that we normally go to when were in New York (Bubba Gumps) which happens to be right across from Time Square so we got a great view of them setting up for the ball drop and the stage platform where Ryan Seacrest will broadcast live.

Rockafella Center has one of the largest Chritmas Trees in the City and is beautful at night. Though my poor husband was freezing his lil bum off, he forged ahard so I could get my pictures (thanks babe)!

Giant Christmas Lights! These babies were bigger than me!

These Giant Christmas tree bulbs were right outside Radio City Music Hall which is ledgedary in itself!

Giant Christmas Tree outside Rockafella Center! Look at all those people! This tree has been in so many movies!

Saw these Disnay characters on 49th Street!

Heading back to the car, nothin' but a sea of people! We had to puch our way through the think crowds!!

Time Square Billborads! I heart NYC!!

Legs of The infamous "Naked Cowboy" This guy has been around since I was 15!!

On the walk there we were told to talk 49th street because there were giant Christmas ortiments on display and were also nice to photograph.

Happy New Year Everyone!