Saturday, December 31, 2016

My 2017 Goals

Every year, I make New Year's resolutions, and every year, I never keep them (except for one: to cut down or stop drinking soday; I have had probably 2 sodas in the last 10 years).

I have decided to make 'goals' for 2017, instead of resolutions, in the hopes of actually achieving them, and to inspire me to work at them.

Without further ado, here are my 2017 goals:

  • Get my driver's license
  • Pass my classes (C or better)
  • Get a job that I will love (preferably in a bakery)
  • Eat twice as much healthy food and half as much unhealthy food than I do now
  • Learn how to sew
  • Try out a regular running routine
  • Take up yoga and practice regularly
  • Take self defense classes
  • Practice cake decorating skills once a week
  • Write in a journal regularly again
  • Contact my friends on a regular basis, just to see how they are doing (email, text, call, etc.)
  • Go to bed by midnight each night
  • Wake up by 9 am each morning
  • Learn to love myself more
  • Become more outgoing by doing things out of my comfort zone
  • Save up for a DSLR camera
  • Start and maintain an essential oils routine
  • Take 30 minute walks 4 to 5 days a week, if possible
  • Take better care of, and keep better track of, my possessions
  • Get bedroom cleaned up, and keep it clean
  • Get into a relationship with someone who will love me for me, who will support me
  • Bullet journal better
  • Learn how to cook better
  • Learn how to cook/bake new recipes, cook/bake at least least 2 times a week
  • Learn Spanish again, and become fluent in it (both in speaking it, and reading it)
  • Learn Italian, and become fluent in in (both in speaking it, and reading it)
  • Save up for, and buy, a full-size violin
  • Take more photographs, and learn how to take better photographs
  • Read at least two books a month

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

A Letter to My Younger Self

I have seen and heard about people writing letters to their past and future selves, and I wanted to do this as well.

I will start with the letter to my younger/past self.

 
Dear Younger Me,
 
First off, don't hate wearing glasses. They are NOT that bad!!! Wearing glasses does not hurt, and they are pretty stylish too! Also, pretending to forget bringing your glasses to school in second grade was not the wisest move.

Now, about homework. It woulde have been wiser to get it done asap, instead of putting it off, or not doing it at all. Asking for, and getting help, is not a bad thing, either. I know you were/are capable of doing well in school; you just underestimated your capabilities and strengths. You are a smart, capable, beautiful person, and I wish you had known that back then.

In relation to homework and school, it wouldn't have hurt to join a club or two, to make school more enjoyable (and likeable!!). School doesn't have to be a bad thing, if you just put in the effort to do your work, participate in class, and just do your part. Clubs can help you come out of your shell, find yourself, and do better in school.

Clubs and after-school activities are also a great way to make friends, because they share a common interest with you.

Next, about journaling/writing. It's great that you journaled in elementary school, but I wish you had kept it up through junior high and high school. And beyond. It would help with figuring out everything that was going through your mind, and everything that was going on in life. Writing things out helps you understand things better.

You don't have to keep everything bottled inside, and have it explode from you later. That is not healthy. Talking about it, even writing about it, helps make sense of things, and you will feel so much better afterwards.

Another thing I would like to tell you is to please believe in yourself. You can do anything you put your mind to, if you just believe you can. Being afraid to do something doesn't mean you can't do it. That just means it is worth doing. Especially if it is something you love, something you have a passion for.

You do not have to doubt your self-worth, or your beauty. You are an amazing woman, and I wish you could see that. Don't ever let anyone dictate what your self-worth is, nor your beauty. You have every right to feel confident about being yourself, to love yourself, to just be.

No one should make you feel inferior, like you don't belong here, like you aren't worthy of a life worthy of living.

People who make you feel bad about yourself, are crying out for help, and they need to be listened to. They feel like if they make someone feel worse than they do, they aren't as bad off as others. Their actions reflect who they are, how they are feeling, not of who you are.

Also, being that painfully shy is not doing you any good. It doesn't hurt to speak up/out when you want/need to say something. Being shy isn't a bad thing, but being severly shy like this keeps you from reaching your potential, from doing the things you want and need to, and from people getting to know you. It doesn't hurt to get out of your comfort zone every once in a while.

People are going to be judgmental about anyone who is different, no matter what you do or who you are, so don't be afraid to be yourself. Being yourself is the best thing you can do for yourself. Conforming to who and what others think you should be is not the key to being your true self, to being happy.

Do not change to make others happy. If you want to change, change for yourself, not because others say you should. If you change who you are, because someone wants you to be something other than who and what you are, than you will be very unhappy.

Do what makes YOU happy, what makes you, you. You are beautiful the way you are, no matter what other people may think. What others think about you is a reflection of them, not of you.

Love,
Present Me


Monday, December 26, 2016

Christmas 2016

(Disclaimer: I am not trying to brag in any way, shape, or form about what I got for Christmas, or what I did. I just wanted to share, for those who are interested.)

I hope everyone who celebrates Christmas, had a wonderful day yesterday!! For those who celebrate Hannukah, I hope you had a wonderful start to Hannukah, as well!!

I had a good Christmas. On Saturday, my dad, 2 brothers, and I opened presents, and had our traditional pizza for dinner from Giordano's (probably my favorite Christmas tradition!).

I got the first season of Bonanza on DVD (it's one of my favorite shows), an Obi-Wan Kenobi lightsaber that lights up, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children book, Hollow City book, It's Christmas to Me by Pentatonix CD, Night Visions by Imagine Dragons CD, a Hagrid Funko Pop figure, a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man Funko Pop figure, slippers, a bed sheet set and pillowcase set, and the Harry Potter Character Vault book.

On Sunday, my dad and I went to the 9 am mass, and then I took a nap, as I didn't sleep much the previous night (I am a major night owl, so I am always up pretty late most nights).

Then, my sister and her family came over for a few hours. We had some appetizers, and the cookies that I made for the holidays (sugar cookies, shortbread, and cream cheese chocolate chip cookies).

We then opened presents. My niece and nephew absolutely loved their presents.

From my sister and her family, I got a hair dryer (yes, I did ask for a hair dryer), a Wilton cake leveler, a Wilton fondant smoother, and a Wilton cake stand.

I am going to school for my baking degree, so I was super excited to get the baking tools!!

I am looking forward to using, reading. listening to, and just enjoying the presents I got, and I loved getting to see family over the holidays.

For New Year's I am staying at home with my dad and brothers, and we will be watching New Year celebrations on TV, and eating appetizers. I can't believe it's almost 2017 already. The days just seem to fly by this year.

I will be taking a food prep essentials class next semester, one of the four remaining required classes I have to take for my degree.

I hope everyone has an amazing New Year!!

Thursday, December 15, 2016

My Life Bucket List: Miscellaneous

Buy a full-size violin and start playing regularly again
Post at least one video on YouTube
Buy a DSLR camera
Get my driver's license
Write at least one book
Grow my hair really long
Ride on a cable car
Jump out of a plane
Ride on a motorcycle
Ride in a hot air balloon
Take a helicopter ride
Go zip-lining
Have a professional photo shoot
Create my own Adventure Book (from the movie Up)
Build something at Build-a-Bear
Drive down Route 66
Dye my hair rose gold
Dye my hair purple
Dye my hair orange/red
Make homemade pickles
Learn how to use hand, power tools
Create pocket letters and send them to 'pals'
Get a caricature done of myself
Make a mini movie
Donate unwanted clothes, shoes, books, etc.
Write a song
Learn how to surf

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

My Life Bucket List: Learning

Learn how to play the ukelele
Learn to play the piano
Learn to skateboard
Learn how to do fishtail braids
Learn how to French braid
Learn how to bake bread
Learn how to do calligraphy
Learn to sew
Learn how to change a car tire
Learn to apply my own makeup
Learn to grill
Lean sign language
Learn to cook better
Learn Italian
Learn French
Finish my baking and pastry degree
Get my photography degree
Get my special education and/or teacher's aide degree/certificate
Re-learn Spanish
Learn to tie a tie
Learn to whistle with two fingers
Be able to do the splits
Learn how to do cartwheels

Sunday, December 11, 2016

My Winter 2016-2017 Bucket List

Here is my winter bucket list.

  • Make a snowman
  • Go ice-skating
  • Drink hot chocolate
  • Watch all versions of A Christmas Carol
  • Watch A Christmas Story
  • Make/give sweater to dad as Christmas present
  • Make cozy slippers for myself
  • Go to the local Winter Fest
  • Help put up Christmas decorations
  • Listen to Christmas music
  • Watch Elf
  • Watch Arthur Christmas
  • Have a snowball fight
  • Have a winter photo shoot
  • Bake holiday cookies
  • Make DIY Valentines
  • Host a game night
  • Make at least one cheesecake
  • Have at least one at-home spa day
  • Make beignets
  • Start and keep up an indoor exercise routine
  • Start an essential oils routine
  • Practice cake decorating skills
  • Put together a gingerbread house
  • Make at least one winter hat
  • Make snow ice cream
  • Make paper snowflakes
  • Go sledding
  • Make fondue
  • Watch A Charlie Brown Christmas
  • Watch Fred Claus
  • Watch Miracle on 34th Street
  • Watch The Polar Express
  • Watch The Santa Clause movies
  • Go on a shopping spree
  • Binge watch TV shows
  • Bake once a week
  • Make a French silk pie

Thursday, December 8, 2016

My Life Bucket List: Volunteer

Attend a Joni and Friends Retreat as an STM
Volunteer at an animal shelter
Be a Big Sister in Big Brother, Big Sister
Go on at least one mission trip
Volunteer at a Children's hospital
Volunteer at a homeless shelter
Volunteer at a soup kitchen
Volunteer at Special Olympics
Build a house with Habitat for Humanity

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

My Life Bucket List: Personal Growth

Become more outgoing, more confident
Learn to love myself
Get over my fear of heights
Get over my fear of death
Do one thing a month out of my comfort zone
Get over my fear of public speaking
Be able to handle my depression better, so I can get off of medication
Speak up for myself when needed
Learn not to underestimate what I can do
Create more (knit, crochet, draw, paint, etc.)
Try not to let what others think of me, get to me
Make a better future for myself
Journal every day, or as often as I can
Learn how to cook and eat healthier
Learn how to budget and spend, save, and invest wisely
Be able to properly protect myself from any form of danger
Learn how to budget my money, so I can feel good about the future
Learn to accept, love my flaws
Keep a regular journal/diary again

Sunday, December 4, 2016

My Life Bucket List: Birthday

Have a piƱata
Make pottery
Go ice skating
Have a tie dye party
Have a game night party
Have a spa day
Have a paint fight
Have a silly string fight
Go on a shopping spree
Have a glow in the dark bowling party
Build something at Build-a-Bear
Have a party at the local Escape Room
Go golfing
Go horseback riding
Get a bedroom makeover
Have a movie night
Have a surprise birthday party thrown for me
Make a homemade confetti cake
Masquerade party
Art party
Glow in the dark party
Photo booth
Sleepover/pajama party
Decade parties
Harry Potter party
Carnival party
Pool party
Winter Wonderland party
See Blue Man Group in person
Concerts of my favorite artists/music

Thursday, December 1, 2016

My Life Bucket List: Career/Work

Become a baker
Become a professional photogapher
Become a special education teacher or teacher aide
Become an author
Learn how to network right
Participate in company activities outside of the office, if offered
Make business cards
Open a bakery
Know my strengths and weaknesses
Know how, when to take risks
Manage my time wisely
Start my own photography business
Be confident in my work
Get at least one internship at a bakery, restaurant, or other food shop
Learn to speak up for myself, others, if something isn't right