Resolutions

I am a big fan of making lists and resolutions and trying to think of ways to be better. I don't always follow my little to do lists, but they are fun anyway. I figure even if I don't follow through with ALL of these resolutions for the year 2012, at least I can look back and see if I made progress, right?

1. Make more time to see/talk to my friends

This is a big one, which is why it deserves the number one spot! I like my friends, and hate it when too much time goes by that I don't see them.

2. Cut down on meat and dairy

Pretty self explanatory I think? I need to read/watch more things about nutrition, vegetarianism, vegan-ism, etc!

3. Really learn to crochet and/or knit

I started learning how to crochet from my friend Jamie last year, but then...well...kinda fell off the wagon. Mostly I want to actually DO some of the crafty things that I've been posting on my Pinterest boards!

4. Meditate

5. Read (a lot) more!

6. Start taking steps in figuring out what I want to do with my life

Okay, this one sounds a bit overwhelming/ambiguous. But it's a topic that makes me uncomfortable to say the least - I need to start focusing. Even if it's just letting myself think about it and openly talk about it.

7. Quit drinking so much booze

Ugh. I'll be 26 this year. Maybe I can grow up a bit. Hangovers = the worst.

8. Take more pictures

Specifically, take more pictures with Amanda. She's not much of a picturey type person, so it will require extra forcing on my part.

9. Blog regularly

10. Create and drink lots of healthy smoothies

I just made this one recently and I loved it! Made me feel so good and energized and full after I drank it. I want morrrrrrrre!

11. Run at least one 5K

I had planned on doing this last summer, but then, once again, I fell off the wagon. Haha no more wagon falling in 2012?

Alright, alright 11 is enough ;)

I'll try to keep you posted throughout the year on my progress (hopefully not lack there of). And then next January I'm excited to see where I am!

Happy New Year!

(Ok I'm 9 days late on that, but I still mean it!)

2011 was quite a year, quite a year indeed! This time last year I was living/working for my cousins in Cincinnati. An important relationship ended this time last year. But then we had a snow storm at the beginning of February - leading to cuddle fest 2011, haha. In March I took my East coast road trip and tried couch surfing for the first time, which was glorious. Helped plan/execute a surprise birthday party for my mom at the beginning of April, and then later that month I met Amanda. I also quit smoking for 11 days. Whoop!

The summer of 2011 was actually pretty awesome, despite the fact that I got depressed about not having a job at times. I went to the beach quite a bit, played some ultimate frisbee, fell in love, drank lots of beer, went on adventures, saw lots of concerts, and overall had a really lovely summer.

Fall/winter of 2011? Hmm well I got my current job, sometime in September. It's had it's ups and downs. Ups in that I have money coming in, and I'm on some kind of regular schedule for the first time in a while.I don't feel quite as useless as I did when I wasn't working ;) Of course the downs with this job are that I'm pretty indifferent to the work I'm doing, and well, it takes time away from my "social life". Haha. Oh well, I feel good knowing this is stable, but temporary.

Anyway, I guess the point is that lots of stuff happened in 2011! Where I was 365 days ago is nowhere near where I am today. It's pretty incredible, actually. Initially, I didn't want to make any "resolutions" for the year, but....now I'm changing my mind. I love lists. So a list will be made! An important list! FOR THE YEAR!

But not right now. Haha. Must work. Bye!

Happy post Christmas days

The elusive post-Christmas, pre-New Year days are upon us. Or "up on us".

I had a joyous Christmas, in case you were wondering. There were a few notable exceptions, which will possibly be discussed later. On the 22nd I drove down to my grandma & grandpa's house after work (with brother and mother). That was a 4 hour drive, so we got in pretty late. The 23rd was fun - eating, drinking, game playing, and being generally loud with extended family members. Christmas eve is fun b/c we do our "Dirty Santa" gift exchange after dinner. You know the deal - everyone gets a number, and there is stealing and drama and good times. The game itself usually outshines the gifts, and it takes so long because there are over 20 of us. I like Christmas eve because you get to see all these gifts being opened and have fun, and sometimes not have much control over what you end up with. I did get an awesome gift though! Right up my alley - 4 beers, bottle of red wine, bottle of white wine, bottle of Bailey's, and some coffee. And it all came in a cute re-usable bag! I stole this gift from my aunt. She wasn't too mad ;) My dad gave me the gift he got b/c it was food and drinks, which he can't bring back to Singapore. Haha lucky lucky Leah.

*side note: I'm so glad my brother isn't a jerk. He is awesome.

Long story short, Christmas eve was a fun time. I went to Church even! Mainly b/c I know my family likes when I do. This year's service was so weird. They played a movie from the 80s about a girl with tattoos and facial piercings who runs away from home. It made little to no sense. Also there was not enough singing of Christmas songs to meet my liking. Oh well, maybe next year.

ALSO!!! My cousin's baby/my ex baby roommate Jack is SO FRIGGIN CUTE!!!! He is 2 now. And I love him so much. He even remembers me and loves me back. *insert heart swelling here. When he first got to my grandparent's house he ran past everyone else and said "Leeeeeah!" while giving me a big hug. Moments like this almost make me want to have kids. Jack's mama gave us matching hats for Christmas so we took a few pictures together. Ahhhh the joys of only being around kids when they're being cute.

Okay, I really should work now. Jeez quit distracting me. I'll be back with part 2 of Leah's Christmas Vacation. More boring stories for you to read!

Everyday I'm hustlin

Hi, it's me again. Even though you can't see it, I'm wearing a headset. So don't be confused thinking that I am a secretary or a football coach or Madonna or something. Just regular Leah. With a headset.

So since I spend 40 hours of my week at work I've started keeping certain things at my desk. I'm slowly getting into a routine where I take certain things every day. And you know what? I love this! Mainly b/c the things that I take are good for me/serve a purpose. Let's have a break down shall we?

Keepin my heart from burning all day!

Apple Cider Vinegar (Unfiltered). This stuff is awesome and I need to get better at taking it everyday. It is good for your skin & hair, and even for stomach problems.

Vitamin B12 - keeping me full of Bees.  Since I don't eat much meat anymore.

Bitches be drinking 8 glasses of H2O by 5pm every friggin day!

This picture is misleading perhaps. I also take my birth control everyday. Not to prevent babies, but to make me not miserable for a week of the month ;)

chello

10 a.m. Friday morning. Maybe one of my favorite times of the week. Office holiday party today, then Christmas movie double feature at the music box theater :) This week has had a consistent stream of anxiety so I am more than happy the weekend is coming. Back when I made my first serious attempt at quitting smoking in April, I went to the doc and got an Rx for Zyban (haaaaaated it btw). Anyway, had a doc appointment the other day, they gave me some papers with records etc. Without looking over them much I set the pile in my kitchen. Apparently my mom read something that discussed the smoking cessation treatment and last night she confronted me about it. It's still so awkward to think about. Also still up in the air. We are dealing with it the best way we know how, by avoiding it. Ugh.

Today I am wearing a new skirt and boots! Kind of un-Leah like things but I love em so far. High waist grey skirt with high black boots. The boots have a little wedge which I normally think is ugly, but these don't offend my sense of style yet. Haha. My skirt looks kinda like this one (maybe a lil shorter?):

CHRISTMAS IS COMING! Jeez, sorry for yelling, but I thought you should really know. I have finished so much of my shopping already! Got stuff for my dad, mom, and brother. Bought my family gift exchange present, and my secret santa gift for the other side of the family. Unfortunately I'm still waiting for a few things to come in the mail, but they still have about a week to get here. Leaving for grandparent's house on Thursday night after work.

Silhouette how-to

I'm pretty nervous about my gift idea for ThePanda. I got the inspiration from Pinterest (obviously), but I'm not super crafty and I am really sparse on free time. Anyway, this bird picture is the thing that got me thinking. The person who did this first made a collage using random pictures from magazines, used a stencil she liked and painted around it.

My plan is a little different: I bought a small-ish picture from Goodwill, and am going to create my own stencil of some penguins (ThePanda likes penguins), and paint around them. It shouldn't be too difficult - that is once I actually get started. My first step was working out an idea, 2nd step was buying the picture, now I just have to figure out how to draw some penguins, buy paint, and giterdone! I'll post a picture of the finished product of course :)

Okay, back to work for me! Happy friday.

Small, dramatic photo shoot

Sleepy day fo sho

Ohmygoodness I am so tired today! Last night was lots of fun, but I am paying for it now, and I'm not sure that I like it. (Haha?) Made some vodka cream pasta sauce last night for the first time. I really wanted to take step by step pictures, but I was just too hungry. I couldn't focus on anything but getting ready to eat! This is a pic from the site I got the recipe from, mine didn't turn out this pretty, but it was tasty. We didn't have a blender so it was chunkier than anticipated. That's okay b/c Leah likes chunky. Also I used tiny tube noodles. Because.....that's what we had on hand. Perfect. If you want to make this, here's the link to the recipe: Vodka Sauce!


Today is a very very low workload day at work and I'm struggling to stay awake. Drinking my afternoon coffee so I'm bright eyed and bushy tailed for hanging out with B-Pain tonight. She's coming all the way out to the burbs to see me. And I haven't been home in so many days! Maybe since last week sometime? Who knows. I was in Indy on Saturday night so now all my days are mixed up. I can't wait to get home and open all the boxes of things that I've been ordering online during the past couple weeks! Ahhhhh!!! My mom sent me a picture message of a pile of like 10 boxes in our kitchen that are for me. And that was yesterday, so more of them might come today. It will be like Christmas morning!!!! Except the presents aren't for me. But that's okay. I also like being Santa Leah.

Oy, I wish I had more interesting things to say. Writing this has helped me wake up a bit. I seriously fell asleep for a second when I was playing Sudoku earlier.

The Virginia Tech situation is really upsetting. I hope they find the shooter soon :\