Goals Update: November

I don't think I realized before this year, but by the time it hits October/November, I'm so ready for the year to be over.  At least when it comes to these goals.

1. Complete at least 2 items from my 101 IN 1,001 LIST each month - I did not do anything.  For some reason, November blew by in a complete blur.  I don't remember accomplishing much - probably because I spent the first half of the month freaking myself out about work.

2. GET IN SHAPE - Thank God for volleyball because otherwise, I would be solely relying on walking Samson.  Getting in shape is going to be my ONLY goal of 2014.  I'm going to do my best to get to the gym in the next 6 weeks to hit the ground running in January.

3. EAT BETTER -  Eh.  I eat what I eat.  Lots of veggies.  The holiday season is always tough because of all the goodies and the hearty food.



Can you tell I am losing interest in this?  :)  See you for the final follow up in December.

2013: The Year of Travel

2013 ended up being the Year of Travel.

I don't think I really thought about how much I would be traveling, but it ended up being at least once a month and only a couple times were for personal travel.  Almost all of this is for work.

Don't get me wrong.  I do enjoy traveling.  But when you take into consideration a day before the prepare and then a day after to get back into the groove, it ends up being a lot of time away.  No wonder I didn't feel like I accomplished much towards my goals this year.

For those of you who weren't following that closely, this is where I was this year:

February - San Diego
March - New Orleans
April - Baltimore
May - San Antonio
June - San Francisco, Palm Springs
July - NYC
August - Atlanta
September - Barcelona, Paris, NYC
October - Austin
November - Orlando
December - Nothing!!! :)

Did you see that last one?  No travel in December - mostly because the holidays really cut into half of the month.  And no one in my industry does things in December.

2014 is going to be starting off pretty similarly as I will be heading to Dallas, Vegas, and San Francisco in January and February.

Yay, Thanksgiving week!

I'm super excited that it's Thanksgiving week.

I am really looking forward to a short work week.  BUT I am also really looking forward to spending some time with my family.

Plus the cooking.  I'm looking forward to cooking.

I don't cook as much as I like for myself.  Because it's hard to cook for one person and honestly, I get lazy.  Why bother really cooking when its just me and I can throw some veggies in and be done.

So I am forcing Sprangers to come over for dinner tonight because I really wanted pork chops (well, I really wanted mushroom gravy).

Happy Monday!

Happy 3-0 Melissa!

Today is Friday (yay)!  And it's also Melissa's 30th birthday.

Even though I am having a seriously frustrating day, I am looking forward to seeing her and her family this evening for the Evanston Christmas festivities.

Project DIY - November

The November Project DIY box was Joan of Arc themed (I guess strong metal theme, I don't know).

Anyways, it came with two projects, a cuff bracelet and a necklace.

I really like getting this box because it gives me an evening activity once a month without having to go out and buy supplies.

And here are my finished projects.  This is the first time that I didn't exactly follow the directions as far as how to lay out the beads in the design.  Go me!

In total, it took me less than an hour to put together both of these.  And that includes some glue handling time.

Also, today I am wearing the spiked chain from October's box - its the gift that keeps on giving.

Oh, hey there blog!

I have officially sucked at blogging recently.  My last post was 10 days ago!!!

I'm sorry.

I will try to be better.  In the meantime, here is what I have been up to since then (in pictures because I'm lazy). :)

I finally made it to Girl & the Goat - even if it was only for drinks and appetizers.

Hanging out with this lady...

I had some (more) Jeni's Ice Cream. Black coffee and dark chocolate peppermint.... mmmmm

Samson and I have taken lots of walks.  He LOVES that its getting cooler out.  Me?  Not so much.

I spend four days in Orlando.  It was cold, cloudy and rainy.  I was not upset (since I was stuck inside), but this guy wasn't thrilled.

Samson was glad I was home - though he gets spoiled at Gigi's house.

A random dinner and drinks at Wilde's near my place.  It took about 20 takes to get one semi decent "we are pissed" photo.

One of the many outtakes...

I screenshot this photo from Instagram on my phone.  I think I may attempt one or two of these for Christmas.

With crazy storms a-brewing yesterday, Samson was my couch buddy for a few hours.

And, I am finally back in the office today and had a package!  I love when I forget I ordered things online and get a surprise package.  It's my Christmas notecards and gift tags from Brittany Fusion Paper!

Happy Friday

Sorry guys, I've been really busy and stressed this week - so light posting.

I've had an eventful week and head to Orlando next week for the final work trip for the rest of the year.  Woo hoo!!!

Hopefully I can post regularly again soon.

In the meantime, SPARKLY SHOES!!!

Happy Friday! :)

Johnny Cash day

I don't wear all black very often, but when I do... I feel super moody and alternative.  Even if I can barely exude alternative.

:)

Happy hump day!

*shirt - Express, skirt - Macys (old), shoes - Shoemint

Online dating observations

Given that this will now start my 13th month of online dating (oh my god).... I am starting to acquire my list of "oh for the love of god, don't put that in your profile/don't say that in a message" things men should not do!

How was that for the longest sentence ever?

Anyway, more often than not I find myself wincing when reading something from a guy.  Superficial?  Probably.  Entertaining blog fodder?  Oh yes!

So this new dating site asks the question, "story you should remind me to tell you on our date" and one guy actually wrote...

"The stories of the 'one-hit wonder' girls that I've gone out with."

Isn't that dating 101?  Don't talk about your exes too soon or other dates you've recently been on?

50 days until Christmas

Not that I'm excited or anything!!

Third times a charm... online dating

So - after trying Match and Eharmony, I swore that I was going to give up online dating.  It was not productive for me and more frustrating than anything else.

You can read my posts about it here.

Well, after reading a few blog posts about couples using How About We for dates, I was browsing the website and saw that they have a singles dating side.  So after creating an account, I decided to just pay for 6 months of service.

The premise is built more around getting out on dates and less about the endless emailing and texting and quizzes that these other groups do.

So I am giving it a 6 month try.  I'll keep updated (all 4 of you) on how it goes. :)