My first week of international minimalism month wasn't unsuccessful but I don't think I'd call it a success exactly. I ate tacos almost every day.. it was awesome because I LOVE tacos and they are technically an international dish, but they also came from food chains and places that I paid (too much) to eat at rather than eating clean from home. I also had margaritas at two separate happy hours. One was actually on a date with a great guy so I didn't mind. The other was with some lady friends and I definitely shouldn't have spent the extra cash, but they were on special. Sigh. My self control is so terrible.
I cooked ratatouille one night and tried a sip or two of a new beer.. couldn't tell you what it was, but I didn't hate it! Baby steps!
In other news, I got my splint taken off and my wrist is looking very perky after only a week and a half of healing. I can still play the ukulele! Joy joy joy.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
thoughts on my mind
It is so incredibly hard to distance myself from "the world." There are many negative things constantly floating around me each day.. Issues I've been drowning in include being too connected, too digitally available, too many choices, corporate propaganda directed to me 24/7, temptation to see people the way society and media would have me see them instead of as unique souls wandering just like me.
I want so desperately to be IN the world but not OF it.
Meditating tonight.
I want so desperately to be IN the world but not OF it.
Meditating tonight.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Day 1 - Not a Fan of Beer
I'd say yesterday was a successful first day of International Minimalist Month!
At work, I actually worked for the most part. I resisted the 2 o'clock temptation of grabbing fast food on my way home from the office and instead stuck to my groceries at home. I spent a big chunk of my down time doing research for my European excursion in the summer and made myself spend a little time outside in the boiling Texas heat.
Hopefully our beer tasting society will give me an appreciation for this beverage that is so popular worldwide.
Prost, Skål, and Cheers!
At work, I actually worked for the most part. I resisted the 2 o'clock temptation of grabbing fast food on my way home from the office and instead stuck to my groceries at home. I spent a big chunk of my down time doing research for my European excursion in the summer and made myself spend a little time outside in the boiling Texas heat.
My favorite accomplishment was establishing a "Drink Around the World" beer tasting society with 27 girls (of legal age) from my sorority. We will be hosting beer tasting nights a couple times each month at various houses to learn characteristics of beer from different regions of the world, how to tell lagers from ales, and what our personal preferences are! Beer is not just a man's game, and we're committed to getting our "brewducation" before the fall is over. I'm also printing up little passports for everybody to record what they've sampled and how they liked it. Everybody is really excited to kick off our tastings in late August! Thank you to my wonderful Mom for giving me the inspiration through her "Eat Around the World" dinner club!
To kick start my research I mosied over to HEB, an awesome local grocery store, and used their "Build Your Own 6-Pack" feature to create my own beer sampler. Despite being 21 for a quarter of a year, this was my first beer purchase. Once home, I eeny-meeny-miney-moed my bottles and chose Blue Moon Belgian Pale Ale for my first drink. As a beer newbie, my conclusion is "It tastes like beer." I finished about 1/10 of the bottle and poured the rest down the sink. C'est la vie!
Hopefully our beer tasting society will give me an appreciation for this beverage that is so popular worldwide.
Prost, Skål, and Cheers!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
International Minimalist Month
Wow!
It feels like it's been a long time since I've thought about this blog at all. The non-virtual world has been wild and too exciting to set aside.
This month I'd like to try something different. I'm going to participate in my very own "Minimalist Month" in order to save money, reduce waste, and better appreciate the things I already have. I'd like to spend five weeks focusing on cutting back in every aspect of my life. This inspiration comes from a Danish state of mind and my desperation to save money for my post-grad travels.
Hopefully I'll be cutting back on food (intake as well as cost), clothing (purchases and stretching my wardrobe), wasted time (Facebook, tumblr, lazy lounge time) and gaining a greater knowledge on what I really NEED versus what I WANT.
I'll also be entertaining myself by cooking or sampling a few European dishes. On the menu are rød grød med fløde (Denmark), Nutella Crepes (France), a 6-beer tour of HEB's best German beers, and kynuté ovocné knedlíky (Czech fruit dumplings), among other dishes.
On a side note, I turned my A/C completely off while I was gone home for a few days.. my house is a sauna.
Ah, Texas.
For now, auf wiedersehen or farvel!
It feels like it's been a long time since I've thought about this blog at all. The non-virtual world has been wild and too exciting to set aside.
This month I'd like to try something different. I'm going to participate in my very own "Minimalist Month" in order to save money, reduce waste, and better appreciate the things I already have. I'd like to spend five weeks focusing on cutting back in every aspect of my life. This inspiration comes from a Danish state of mind and my desperation to save money for my post-grad travels.
Hopefully I'll be cutting back on food (intake as well as cost), clothing (purchases and stretching my wardrobe), wasted time (Facebook, tumblr, lazy lounge time) and gaining a greater knowledge on what I really NEED versus what I WANT.
I'll also be entertaining myself by cooking or sampling a few European dishes. On the menu are rød grød med fløde (Denmark), Nutella Crepes (France), a 6-beer tour of HEB's best German beers, and kynuté ovocné knedlíky (Czech fruit dumplings), among other dishes.
On a side note, I turned my A/C completely off while I was gone home for a few days.. my house is a sauna.
Ah, Texas.
For now, auf wiedersehen or farvel!
Friday, May 24, 2013
a thought
It's really easy for me to get caught up in my anxiety right now. It seems like all my friends are accepting huge internships, getting killer job offers in exciting places, and spending semesters abroad. Sometimes I feel like my college degree is worthless and I made the wrong choice three years ago; to study what I love instead of what will get me a job.
I have to keep reminding myself that I am on a separate path into less familiar territory, but that doesn't mean I'm going nowhere. If I were in their shoes, pursuing jobs where I'd have to wear dress suits and shower everyday, I would feel very dissatisfied and contained. My goals and passions are different from my business, engineering, or medically-minded friends, and that takes me down a road less traveled.
I will be fine. I will be fine. I will be fine.
And so will you!
I have to keep reminding myself that I am on a separate path into less familiar territory, but that doesn't mean I'm going nowhere. If I were in their shoes, pursuing jobs where I'd have to wear dress suits and shower everyday, I would feel very dissatisfied and contained. My goals and passions are different from my business, engineering, or medically-minded friends, and that takes me down a road less traveled.
I will be fine. I will be fine. I will be fine.
And so will you!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Greek Frustrations
So I am a member of a Panhellenic sorority at my university. We've got about 180 members currently active, a great reputation on campus, and a number of dedicated girls who love our chapter and each other.
This, to me, is what defines a "great" sorority: girls willing to put time into service, diversity and acceptance among members, sisters who care about each other beyond Monday night meetings, a home that encourages and supports the growth of honest, passionate, self-respecting young women, and, upon graduation, the overwhelming feeling that your membership shaped you for the better. I can honestly say that since pledging, I have found all of these things and more in my own membership.
As rush is quickly approaching, these are the things I want to desperately to communicate to potential new members, and I wish each of my sisters felt the same. Unfortunately, I get the vibe that communicating these awesome qualities comes second to a handful of girls. They forget about these enriching aspects and instead focus on the superficial for an entire week of rush:
"Guys love to hang out with us, we've all got expensive MATCHING jewelry, we're better than other sororities on campus because XYZ, we all wear specific MATCHING shoes, and we've all got MATCHING reasons why you should join."
It is heart breaking. Sometimes it is so bad that I leave recruitment meetings furious with our leaders for allowing this to happen. They (we) are oblivious to something so obviously missing from the recruitment process.
BEING GENUINE.
If a potential new member cares so much about my wedge heels being peeptoe instead of closed, I don't want her. If a girl judges my entire sorority based on whether or not we've all got $80 Kendra Scott earrings, I don't want her. If some superficial story about a crush party is enough to completely win over a girl, I don't want her.
I am all for having each member look her best during the recruitment process, and while very cult-ish, I understand that matching outfits can be important, but matching designer earrings? Wedges that MUST be wooden heeled instead of cork? Come ON. I want PNMs to know that regardless of what they're wearing or how much their necklace cost, we care about what is on the inside. I want them to know that I have tattoos and wobbly bits and I love cats too much, and I'm still loved by my sisters. I want them to know that when I have a panic attack about school, my sorority roommates sit in the tv room looking like hobos, eating pizza rolls, stressing out with me. And I want every current member know it is alright to share these things with PNMs. If it scares them away that we legitimately are there for each other, great! Their home is somewhere else.
This started out going somewhere, but it's trailed off into a rant. I don't want people to think my sorority is superficial. They're not at all, I just get frustrated with the things we focus on during recruitment. Sigh. Wednesdays.
This, to me, is what defines a "great" sorority: girls willing to put time into service, diversity and acceptance among members, sisters who care about each other beyond Monday night meetings, a home that encourages and supports the growth of honest, passionate, self-respecting young women, and, upon graduation, the overwhelming feeling that your membership shaped you for the better. I can honestly say that since pledging, I have found all of these things and more in my own membership.
As rush is quickly approaching, these are the things I want to desperately to communicate to potential new members, and I wish each of my sisters felt the same. Unfortunately, I get the vibe that communicating these awesome qualities comes second to a handful of girls. They forget about these enriching aspects and instead focus on the superficial for an entire week of rush:
"Guys love to hang out with us, we've all got expensive MATCHING jewelry, we're better than other sororities on campus because XYZ, we all wear specific MATCHING shoes, and we've all got MATCHING reasons why you should join."
It is heart breaking. Sometimes it is so bad that I leave recruitment meetings furious with our leaders for allowing this to happen. They (we) are oblivious to something so obviously missing from the recruitment process.
BEING GENUINE.
If a potential new member cares so much about my wedge heels being peeptoe instead of closed, I don't want her. If a girl judges my entire sorority based on whether or not we've all got $80 Kendra Scott earrings, I don't want her. If some superficial story about a crush party is enough to completely win over a girl, I don't want her.
I am all for having each member look her best during the recruitment process, and while very cult-ish, I understand that matching outfits can be important, but matching designer earrings? Wedges that MUST be wooden heeled instead of cork? Come ON. I want PNMs to know that regardless of what they're wearing or how much their necklace cost, we care about what is on the inside. I want them to know that I have tattoos and wobbly bits and I love cats too much, and I'm still loved by my sisters. I want them to know that when I have a panic attack about school, my sorority roommates sit in the tv room looking like hobos, eating pizza rolls, stressing out with me. And I want every current member know it is alright to share these things with PNMs. If it scares them away that we legitimately are there for each other, great! Their home is somewhere else.
This started out going somewhere, but it's trailed off into a rant. I don't want people to think my sorority is superficial. They're not at all, I just get frustrated with the things we focus on during recruitment. Sigh. Wednesdays.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Collections
Tonight I could go out and blow off steam and have a lot of fun, but I am staying in to start part of my "Make Life More Bearable" plan. I'm going to establish THREE things I collect, and get rid of everything else I carry in multiples.
My 3 Established Collections:
-Clothes. duh. I'm obsessed.
-Coffee Mugs. I have a bit of a problem.
-Paper products. Journals, stationary, and binders are my downfall.
My goal tonight is to clean up the collections I've set, and get rid of all my other junk.
Big goal of the night: eliminate craft supplies. I don't know if it's being in a sorority or just being in the Pinterest community but my craft supply is heinous. It has a giant cupboard that is still overflowing. So I'm cleaning up that, digging through my closet storage, and making a list of more tidy storage solutions to implement.
Heeeere we go!!!
My 3 Established Collections:
-Clothes. duh. I'm obsessed.
-Coffee Mugs. I have a bit of a problem.
-Paper products. Journals, stationary, and binders are my downfall.
My goal tonight is to clean up the collections I've set, and get rid of all my other junk.
Big goal of the night: eliminate craft supplies. I don't know if it's being in a sorority or just being in the Pinterest community but my craft supply is heinous. It has a giant cupboard that is still overflowing. So I'm cleaning up that, digging through my closet storage, and making a list of more tidy storage solutions to implement.
Heeeere we go!!!
Saturday Night
I've been going through what feels like a lot lately.
School began, organizations started having meetings again, my new job is in full force, and I've been dealing with a very messy and dizzying break-up. In all of this mess that is Spring 2013, I have decided to make some changes to get my life back in order. A few of them have come from little clues I've read in The Message in the last few days.
1. Simplify
This is a motto my mom thrust on our family two years ago when we downsized into a temporary home with half the square footage of our previous one. We had to get rid of tons of "stuff;" clothes, old books and movies, general clutter, and housewares. I've realized now that when I look at my college room (which is relatively bare when compared to my house mates') I feel anxiety. I have one bookshelf that is exposed and I HATE looking at the contents. I have three un-hung flower pots from last semester gathering dust on said bookshelf and things I use often (checkbook, clipboard, journals, coffee mugs, candles) manage to pile up throughout my busy week. I can't handle it anymore. I need to get rid of all my miscellaneous STUFF!
2. Refresh
Each evening, I find I come home exhausted from all the constant movement of the day. My brain is tired, my heart is unhappy, and my belly doesn't like me. I want to take time out of my day to refresh by adding meditation and a daily workout into my life. It's a massive stress-reliever and brain-clearer for me.
3. Dedicate
Now is the time to commit myself to spending more time in the Word each day. I have not been cultivating a strong relationship with Christ this past semester and I just can't justify putting it off for any longer.
4. Cleanse
In addition to cleaning my space of clutter, I want to cut down the starch in my diet. I eat fresh fruit and veggies, lean meat, and a little dairy for most of the day, but I am easily swayed by mac and cheese or tacos when I'm heading home. No more! I am allowing myself to eat ONE serving of starchy carbs each day and THAT IS IT. This includes and is not limited to the following: cereal, whole grain breads, pasta, chips, pretzels, tortillas, and all things that are good.
So there it is. When I've successfully implemented these things into my daily life, I'm allowing myself to finally get a new tattoo I've been wanting for so long!
Writing things down, even in a digital format, always seems to help me focus and regroup. Pray for me if you get the chance, that I'll stay committed to these things, that I'll remember that life is not in my hands. Pray that I'll keep to heart that my momentary problems will prepare me to help others through the same later, and that He is working in me something much greater than I can imagine!
Have a great weekend!
School began, organizations started having meetings again, my new job is in full force, and I've been dealing with a very messy and dizzying break-up. In all of this mess that is Spring 2013, I have decided to make some changes to get my life back in order. A few of them have come from little clues I've read in The Message in the last few days.
1. Simplify
This is a motto my mom thrust on our family two years ago when we downsized into a temporary home with half the square footage of our previous one. We had to get rid of tons of "stuff;" clothes, old books and movies, general clutter, and housewares. I've realized now that when I look at my college room (which is relatively bare when compared to my house mates') I feel anxiety. I have one bookshelf that is exposed and I HATE looking at the contents. I have three un-hung flower pots from last semester gathering dust on said bookshelf and things I use often (checkbook, clipboard, journals, coffee mugs, candles) manage to pile up throughout my busy week. I can't handle it anymore. I need to get rid of all my miscellaneous STUFF!
2. Refresh
Each evening, I find I come home exhausted from all the constant movement of the day. My brain is tired, my heart is unhappy, and my belly doesn't like me. I want to take time out of my day to refresh by adding meditation and a daily workout into my life. It's a massive stress-reliever and brain-clearer for me.
3. Dedicate
Now is the time to commit myself to spending more time in the Word each day. I have not been cultivating a strong relationship with Christ this past semester and I just can't justify putting it off for any longer.
4. Cleanse
In addition to cleaning my space of clutter, I want to cut down the starch in my diet. I eat fresh fruit and veggies, lean meat, and a little dairy for most of the day, but I am easily swayed by mac and cheese or tacos when I'm heading home. No more! I am allowing myself to eat ONE serving of starchy carbs each day and THAT IS IT. This includes and is not limited to the following: cereal, whole grain breads, pasta, chips, pretzels, tortillas, and all things that are good.
So there it is. When I've successfully implemented these things into my daily life, I'm allowing myself to finally get a new tattoo I've been wanting for so long!
Writing things down, even in a digital format, always seems to help me focus and regroup. Pray for me if you get the chance, that I'll stay committed to these things, that I'll remember that life is not in my hands. Pray that I'll keep to heart that my momentary problems will prepare me to help others through the same later, and that He is working in me something much greater than I can imagine!
Have a great weekend!
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