Taking Better Care of Myself

For quite some time now, I have been wanting to start an exercise routine, and to eat healthier. I just lack the motivation to actually start either.

On Monday, a friend of mine offered to give me a three-day pass to a local gym that he goes to. I figured I would take him up on the offer, and we decided to meet up on Tuesday afternoon.

It actually went really well. My friend gave me a tour of the facilities, then we played basketball for a little while, then went on to use the treadmills. We were there for an hour, and to be honest, I was surprised I was able to last that long.

I am trying to find the best gym for me, that doesn't cost too much, and is close by. There are several gyms that are in the area, but most of them are more than I can really pay. Only one is decent, but it is one of the ones that's furthest from me.

Although, the gym I went to with my friend offers a scholarship if anyone needs it, which reduces the cost quite a bit, and it is one of the closer ones to me.

So, hopefully I can figure something out soon. I really want to get in better shape, and I want to start as soon as possible.

Ready for a Relationship

I have decided that I am ready for a boyfriend.

For quite some time, I didn't want to have a boyfriend, as I wanted to mature as a person first.

And, I wanted to concentrate on school.

I'm still in school, but I have decided that I'm ready for a relationship now, and that I don't have to finish school before I can begin one. Although, I do plan to keep up with the schoolwork, of course!!

I am looking for a guy:
  who doesn't mind staying in sometimes (I'm not real big on going out),
  who's kind/caring,
  sensitive,
  funny,
  close in age to me (no more than three years difference either way),
  loves children and animals,
  loves to cook and/or bake,
  is patient,
  will love ALL of me/love me for me,
  who can be spontaneous,
  loves to travel,
  will always lift me up when I am feeling down,
  loves to read,
  loves to watch movies
 
He doesn't have to get me anything for my birthday, but he has to at least acknowledge it.

There may be other things I look for in a guy, but if he has these qualities, then I'll be very happy.

My parents had not forced me, or made me wait to start a relationship; this was all my decision. They never forced me to have a boyfriend, nor did the force me not to have one either. I think they wanted me to make my own decisions in terms of relationships.

Which I am very thankful for, as I don't think I would have been able to handle it if they forced me into a relationship.

Here's to hoping I find a good guy, who'll love me for me, and who'll love ALL of me.

Bucket List Accomplishments

Every so often, I would look for bucket list ideas on Pinterest, and other websites.

I have been doing so the last few days, and I have decided to post the ones I have already done. It's not much, but it's a start.

• Be a bridesmaid (I was a bridesmaid when I was thirteen, at my oldest brother's wedding)
• Go to California (I was able to go in 2004, as a high school graduation gift from my oldest brother)
• See/go across the Golden Gate Bridge
• Go tent camping
• Visit Washington, D.C. (I got to go on the eighth grade trip)
• Meet Rich Koz (who does Sevengoolie; I got to meet him when I was 12/13 years old, as I was friends with his daughter)
• Go horseback riding on a mountain (I got to do this in Montana, and in California)
• Try snow skiing (my junior high hosted a one day trip to Wisconsin when I was in eighth grade, which I got to go on)
• Try water skiing (I got to try in Michigan one time; I didn't do that well, but I was happy that I got to try)
• Ride in a limo (I got to do this both on the way to, and from the airport, when my family and I went to Montana several years ago)
• Go to a high school play/concert (I've gone to a few, although they were after I graduated from high school myself. I should have gone while I was still there, as the ones I went to after, were really good!)
• Make Top Ramen Salad (my sister made this several times before, and I loved it so much that I wanted to make it myself. I just made it the other day, for the second time.)

There may be a few more, but this is all I can think of at the moment. I hope to be able to cross off many, many more soon!!

I Am Now a Working Girl...Almost

I had a job interview at Cold Stone Creamery on Monday, and on Monday night,  I found out that I got a job there!!!

I have training tomorrow from 12 to 5 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11:30 pm. Then I guess I will officially be a part of the team there.

At the interview, there were five other applicants there as well. We had to sing one of their mini songs by ourselves, and then sing another one in a group. Afterwards, the guy who was head of the interview had interviewed us individually, asking us about school, transportation, and similar questions.

I wasn't really expecting to get hired, as none of the other places I have applied to in the past had responded to my applications.

But, I am super happy to be able to have this job.

This job is perfect for me, as it gives me the experience I need, and want, for the field I am getting a degree for (baking and pastry).

Plus, I love ice cream!!

Hopefully all goes well, and I do well at work.

AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe I'm going to be working!!!

30 Before 30

I have heard about people doing a 30 before 30 thing, where they do thirty things they really want to do, before they turn 30 years old.

Even though my 30th is not that far off, I have decided to make my own 30 before 30 list, and try to complete as much of it as possible.

So, here is what's on my '30 Before 30' bucket list:

1. Get a job
2. Get my driver's license
3. Visit the Bean in person
4. Redecorate my bedroom
5. Go on a trip by myself
6. Do things out of my comfort zone, to bring me out of my shell/shyness
7. Learn to sew
8. Take at least one Zumba class
9. Get my ears pierced at least once more
10. Get a massage
11. Buy a DSLR camera and accessories
12. Do a photo shoot with me in front of the camera
13. Visit Lincoln Park Zoo
14. Go paintballing
15. Buy a full-size violin, and relearn how to play it
16. Take a cooking class
17. Volunteer at an animal shelter
18. Learn Italian
19. Go ice skating
20. Take a self defense class
21. Go bowling
22. Visit the Farmer's Market
23. Go to a Blackhawks game
24. Buy a pair of white shoes and doodle on them
25. Spend a day at Great America
26. Visit the Botanical Gardens
27. Go mini golfing
28. Spend a day at Navy Pier
29. Visit a pumpkin patch
30. Paint something on canvas

Hopefully I can get most of these checked off before my birthday, but I'm not going to rush into getting all of these done, as my birthday is coming up soon. I can't wait to get started on this!!

"You Should Be a Model"

When I was in elementary school, people have told me that I should be a model, because I was tall, even back then.

Although I was flattered that they thought I should be a model, I just was not interested in being one.

For one, I was really shy (and still am), and felt awkward being in front of a group of people. I also felt awkward about posing for photos.

And, it entailed a lot of things that I wouldn't have wanted to be a part of.

Lately, though, I've been thinking of doing a photo shoot in town someday. This is something I would like to do, as part of one of my goals of doing one thing a month to get me out of my comfort zone/shyness/shell.

Plus, I love photography, and would love to get more experience in the field.

I'm not planning on becoming a full-time model; I just want to experience being part of a photo shoot. I don't mind being in front of the camera (as long as I'm not doing anything that'll make me look foolish or embarrassing!), so hopefully I can have this experience this sometime soon.

Summer Goals

This post from a fellow blogger reminded me of the goals I set for myself a while ago, but never really started.

I have been on summer break for just over a month now, and I haven't done too much in regards to summer goals. I have a hard time motivating myself, so I am hoping to have friends, family, and others help me start, and stay on track, with what I want to do.

The goals I have decided to make for this summer are:

• 30 minute bike ride or walk 2-3 days a week
• Swimming once a week, or every other week
• Practice cake/cupcake decorating skills once a week
• Read at least one book a week
• Apply for jobs until I get hired
• Make, eat at least one healthy meal a day
• Go to Farmer's Market each week
• Learn to sew
• Spend ten minutes a day cleaning bedroom up
• Do one thing a month that brings me out of my shyness/comfort zone/shell

These are all the goals I have so far, for this summer. I'm sure I will thing of more as the summer goes on, though, and will add them to my list.

So far, I've only done the bike ride/walking goal. Not good :(

I lack the motivation to really do much, when I'm not volunteering (I volunteer three days a week, for 2 hours each day), so I will most likely enlist a friend or two, to help me out with some of these goals, to keep me on track.

I really hope I can get going in the next week or two, as I am really to do more, and take on more responsibility. I really need it!!

On the Hunt for a Job

I am finally bringing myself to apply for jobs in the area. I have applied to a pet store a few weeks ago, but was told I didn't get the job (which I wasn't happy about, as I love animals, and would loved to have gotten the job).

Today, I applied to a restaurant that's a block from where I live, so it would be perfect in terms of traveling to and from work.

Tomorrow, there is a job fair going on at the local Jewel, that my dad told me about. So, I will hopefully be going to that, and applying there as well.

Hopefully, I can get a job soon, and become more independent. I haven't had a job in quite a while, and would love to be working again.

I am definitely going to apply to other places as well, until I get hired, but I just wish I had a job already.

I am a shy person, so interviews, and being around people I don't know, is very scary for me.

Here's to hoping I get a job soon. VERY soon!!

California Dreamin'

I forget what movie it was, but I was recently watching a movie, where one of the songs had the words "California Dreamin' " in it, and it reminded me of my trip there in 2004.

It was a graduation gift from my oldest brother, and I am very thankful for that experience. I had never been to the west coast before, and never seen a body of water that big.

Yes, I know it's just water, but it was still pretty cool.

I got to visit San Francisco, see the Golden Gate Bridge, see Alcatraz from a boat tour, go kayaking in a lake, see the third Harry Potter movie, visit a few towns, and many other really cool things.

My favorite part of the trip, apart from being in California and visiting my brother and sister-in-law, was going horseback riding the last full day of my visit.

I LOVE horses, and when my brother asked what I wanted to do, the only thing I could think of was horseback riding.

We went on a 2-hour trail ride up a local mountain. It was really beautiful, and I truly enjoyed it.

Now, I am wanting to go back, and visit the state, as I had really enjoyed being there.

Hopefully I'll be able to do that sometime. I love to travel, and would love to be able to go to many more places in my life.

My Passion for Photography

One of the things I am very passionate about is photography, and I plan on getting a degree in photography one of these days.

I have a page on Facebook (Diane Genge Photography), which I've had for a while now, as well as an Instagram account (https://instagram.com/dgengephotography/).

While out to lunch with a friend today, she asked me about the photos on my personal Facebook account, asking whether it's just a hobby, or if I want to do it professionally.

The answer: Both!

It is something that I truly enjoy doing, and would love to be able learn more about it, and to take better photos as well.

Yes, I know some of my photos aren't that great. But, it happens. That's how you learn. And that's what I love about photography. That there's always room to make mistakes, and to learn from them and do better next time.

And that I can be as creative as I want to be, without a lot of pressure.

So, hopefully within the next few years, I can start pursuing a degree and a job in photography. Or at least, get more experience in the field.