Goodbye Coupons

Dear Everycouponserviceever,

For so long I wished I could quit you. Now I have. Goodbye Groupon, Living Social, Crowd Cut, Daily Deals, etc. You have allowed me to think I was getting a deal, when really it always took me until the last week before expiration to use the deal. This in turn, stressed me out about the procrastination of it all. Sometimes, I even forgot about the deal altogether. In an effort to lose some of the clutter in my inbox and my life, I bid you adieu.

Relieved,
Jennifer

Brotips [On dealing with people]

Hello friends! I'm glad you are my friends. Do you have people in your life who you could stand to shake? Ones who create all of this negative energy around you and consequently drain you? Ones who you feel obligated to be around, even though they drive you absolutely insane? Think about this:

Life is too short to spend time with people who you do not enjoy spending time with. Granted, life is also too short to hold grudges. I know many people (I'm not excused*) who spend time with people out of obligation. It's just something we do. Hopefully your weekend is full of people you luuurve!

*This is not aimed at anyone really, especially anyone reading this blog. I just saw these and liked them.

Eloquence of Days Past

Do you ever wish you lived in a different era? 

Sometimes I wish for a time when things were not as technologically-driven, material-obsessed, or Kesha- or LMFAO-centric. Oftentimes, I wish written and spoken word were carefully eloquent. I wish that musicians didn't title their songs with shortened versions of pronouns or numbers. I wish we didn't have such foul, abbreviated mouths. (Myself included!)

I saw a Summit Brewing Co. billboard the other day that read, "Is eloquence, like, totally lost or whatever?" 

It may be. When I was at my Grandma's 90th birthday party in Iowa, several guests introduced themselves and shared memories. Two lines that stood out to me were: "We were great bosom buddies" and "I was just tickled."

Translate that to today's terms and it would sound more like:
"She's my BFF" and "It was schmawesome."

Maybe I should start speaking with more thought. I'll chew on it.

Okaythankyouverymuchgoodbye.

Happy Blogiversary to Me!

The days are long, but the years are short. 

It has officially been a year since I started this blog and as you might have guessed, it’s completely hard for me to believe. 365 days and 96 blog posts later, and here we are. Just like a birthday, holiday, or any other annual event, I like to look back and understand what has become and imagine what can still be.

What has become: 

• I have taken time to think and thank Thanksgiving-style. You know, where you go around the table and say one thing you’re thankful for? I have done that much more frequently because of this blog. 
• I’ve created an archive of memories from the past year. I can look back on photos, thoughts and ramblings from any given time, provided I wasn’t slacking in posting. 
• I’ve cultivated happiness. Looking back on my very first post on this blog, this was exactly my aim. 
• I’ve gotten through Mondays by focusing on the positives and dreading the Mondayness of it all a little less. (I ought to get back to this) 

What I still imagine: 

• More small victories, whatever they may be. 
• More crafting and siphoning of creativity. 
• Better writing with more thought, new vocabulary, and higher articulation. 

And here are some of my favorite posts from the past year: 
My first post (Just a newbie!)
"The better part of one's life consists of his friendships" (I love people)
Do the write thing (I love hand-written notes)
Things fall apart (So better things can fall together)
I am so thankful (Thanksgiving-style, like I mentioned)
Resolve to do something better (2012 Resolutions)
The Heart of the Matter (Heart Health)
Letter to my 30-year-old self (See ya in five years!)

Happy blogiversary (what a gross word) to meee!

The Heart of the Matter

Happy February! I love the beginning of every month and every year because it feels so fresh. This month is many things: Black History Month, Heart Health Month, the month of Valentine's and mushy gushy things, and this year, it's a leap year! 29 days to recognize some really great things. 

I've known a handful of people who have had heart attacks. Some have thankfully survived them, and some have not. My dad's best friend, who in turn, was one of my favorite people in the world, passed away in 1996 due to complications from a heart attack. It was the first funeral I remember and one of the saddest, if you could even put them on a scale. And more recently, as in within the past couple of weeks, someone close to me had a heart attack and will undergo surgery next week. 

So, as people who are young and able to change the course of their future pretty easily, I think it's time to change. (Yes we can!) I received a nifty calendar from SparkPeople (thanks to Ash for that website recommendation) of 29 days to improving your heart health. I've always known cardio exercise was important and I've gotten my fill through running. But now, I'm placing a greater emphasis on it. No longer do I run only to lose weight, but to strengthen my heart. After all, "The heart is a muscle. So treat it like one." 

With this, I vow to make some changes in my life: 
1. Cook meals on the stove, not the microwave. I tend to eat Lean Cuisines because they are fast and easy, but chock-full of sodium and micro-waves. 
2. Decrease my intake of red meat, eggs, fried foods and foods with high cholesterol. Be mindful of cholesterol in general. 
3. Exercise. I'm running for a plethora of reasons and now I have more motivation to get to the trail, track or treadmill. 
4. Sleep. I am in dire need of a bedtime. 
5. Be mindful of actions. Mostly because I couldn't end the list at four. Oh I know, decrease the alcohol intake. There. 

A heart attack is just that. An attack. An ambush. No one expects that they will have one; it most certainly comes as a surprise. And what do you do when you know you may eventually be under attack? You prepare. You draw your armor out. You round up your defenses and fight your hardest. 

So be healthy for your heart, yourself, your family and your friends. They all want you alive and well for as long as humanly possible. We're given one body that's meant to last decades - take care of it. And again, happy February. <3

Resolve to do something better.

Happy 2012! The New Year seems to always go hand-in-hand with resolutions and new beginnings. I like Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project idea of always having resolutions. Ever since I read her book for book club last summer, I have had a Resolutions Chart. This chart is something I kept up every day at first, then my dedication waned and waxed and waned. It's hard to keep resolutions every day, but it's sure worth a try.

I had daily, weekly, monthly, and annual resolutions. The daily ones included drinking 8 glasses of water a day and taking my contacts out by 10pm. The weekly and monthly resolutions included hanging out with each group of people I like to hang out with (yes, I had a spreadsheet for hanging out with friends), exercising five times per week, spending time with JUST the boyfran and not in a big group, reading a book every month, scrapbooking, etc.

This year will be more of the same, with a few minor adjustments. My broad resolutions go a little something like this:

Easier said than done. I will be one of those people who is always drinking water.

You know, this is the toughest battle for me. There's just so much to do in awake life. But no sleep makes for a very tired and probably less productive awake life.

Hahahaha. No, but really.

I had a goal of running 300 miles this year but made it just short of 200. This year I will stick to my goals and be healthy for the sake of being healthy. Oh, and my stinky sister convinced me to sign up for the Minneapolis Half Marathon in June 2012, so there's that.

I want to put intention in my thoughts, words, and actions. 

There is always, always room for improvement and growth and education. I am continuously learning at work, in my social groups, and even on this little blog. It's amazing what having a passion for something can do to how much you know about it.

My life is so full of things and thoughts and tasks and events. I need to break it down and breathe.

In 2011, I achieved my goal of donating money or time every month. This year I plan to do more of the same, with a little more focus on the volunteering portion of it.

Driving up North makes me wonder why I don't do more exploring in my own state. I'm always dreaming of globe trotting, but I want to state trot as well! 

This has been surprisingly easy for me in 2011. If you know my past, you know that this was not always the case. For some reason, I rarely find time to be discontent. Maybe that reason is you. Maybe that reason is me. Maybe that reason is my quest for happiness.

All in all, this is what I want to do: Be great every day. 

Happy New Year everyone, make it a good one!

Slothopatomus

My name is Jennifer, and I have been a slothopotamus. Seriously, if a sloth and a hippo had a child, that would be me. It's sort of mean, but I need a little bit of encouragement to get myself the H to the gym.

So, in an effort to get off the couch (actually, the computer chair), I am going to do something new with my work out plan by scheduling classes and gym times and runs on my calendar, as if they were dinner dates with friends or appointments I couldn't miss. Last week I looked up yoga classes ahead of time (at all the places I have vouchers/groupons/existing memberships), found times that worked, and "penciled" them in. 

It at least worked for last Sunday; I had scheduled a yoga class at Core Power and by golly, I went! (For the first time in three months...) But even on Tuesday, I am still le sore. Last night I had thirty-thousand-four-hundred-and-nine cavities filled, so to make the numbness wear off faster, I walked on the treadmill for over an hour. It helps when Modern Family is in front of me too.

Today I'm heading back to the gym. I need to tell you guys so I can feel at least a little bit accountable to keep going. No more slothopotamus! I have found a hefty (haha) correlation between weight gain and unhappiness. (And yes, in this case, it's correlation AND causation). I refuse to gain weight during the holiday season.  Who is with me? 

Whole Living Challenge: Ditch the To Do

This might seem easier than it actually is. I have a habit of stuffing my entire weekend full until it's about to explode. This weekend, however, the boyfran will be hunting from Friday-Sunday and since we see each other most of the weekend, every weekend, my weekend is a little more free this time around. (Can I say "weekend" a little more?) (Weekend, weekend, weekend).

So try this. But also you should maybe hang out with me. Kthxbye.

Like Pulling Teeth

I made a horrible, no good, very bad mistake. I neglected going to the dentist for a professional cleaning for more than a year. Yesterday, I paid for it.

After an hour of vandalizing my teeth, my dentist found three small cavities. And this is where I blame my genes and my failure to go to the dentist. I brush at least twice, floss, and use mouthwash daily. Even when I'm camping. Even in other circumstances where it would be easy to skip. And yet, I have cavities. Kind of injust considering what other people consume and how they don't actually take care of their teeth!

But then I got to thinking...instead of blaming my genes, myself, my whatever, I would take it as an opportunity for betterment. This means:

1. Rinse after coffee.

2. Brush after lunch.

3. Visit the dreadful dentist twice a year.

I actually don't think I need to cut back on consumption of anything (for my teeth's sake) (I could always eat fewer french fries or whatever), but instead, up the ante on the cleaning. So that is what I'll do. I'm fortunate to be able to go to the dentist, when some people can't afford it and can't get there. So I'm done crying over the fact that I have cavities. Instead, I'm rejoicing over the fact that I will have a cleaner mouf. (On a side note: it was pretty cool that the dentist used her super special dentist camera to take a picture of my cavities and show them to me on a monitor. Technology!)

Are there any daily routines you could improve?

10 Thoughts on Whole Living

Whole Living (the magazine) seems to know me personally. The articles focus on healthy food, healthy practices, outdoor adventures, design, fashion, dogs, beauty, and oddly enough, whole living. Here are September's 10 Thoughts on Whole Living:


1. You won't know how fast you can go until you try.
2. Changing the way you eat may be the most transformative action you can take.
3. When you fully inhabit the moment, inspiration is likely to join you there.
4. Nature can only work its healing magic if you immerse yourself in it.
5. Blaming never fixes what you think it will.
6. Don't confuse what you think with who you are.
7. Flowers, herbs, oil: beauty begins with the simplest elements.
8. The first step to good health care is making yourself heard.
9. Financial ease comes from understand what your money is doing for you-as well as to you.
10. When you're overloaded, fight the urge to work harder. Instead, slow down and reflect on what matters most. 


I don't have a response to each of these since they don't all resonate with me right now; but numbers 2, 3, 6 and 10 are shouting at me. Candy gives me headaches (yet I still eat it), inspiration comes when I'm immersed in something, I do confuse it, annnnd I'm always overloaded, almost every day.


Thoughts?

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

This is a motto that I seriously need to incorporate into my lifestyle. I have a strong overbuying tendency - I never want to be caught off-guard without something I need. As soon as I feel the mascara tube getting lighter, I buy a new one. As my perfume wanes, it’s time to stock up. Can’t find any socks because the sock monster ate exactly ½ of each pair? Buy new ones!

The problem with this way of living is:

• I overspend.
• I end up with expired items or things I never get to using because I have too much of it.
• I create more waste that will eventually be stuck in a landfill.
• I overspend.

Something that further troubles me is the creation of deals through sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, Crowd Cut, Daily Deals, etc. I am not really “saving” anything, but who can turn down a deal? I am going to make a commitment to reduce waste and as Gretchen Rubin puts it, “spend out.” So here is my list of stuff to use up before I can procure any more of it. Perhaps by making it public, I can feel a little ridiculous for having all of these certificates in queue, and motivate myself to spend them.

• Dry cleaning certificates (yes, two)
• Certificate to Scusi restaurant
• Certificate for in-home dog training
• 5 sessions at Heat Yoga
• 23 sessions at Core Power Yoga (twenty-three! Gah!)
• Certificate to Spalon Montage
• Certificate to Jordan A Salon
• Certificate for DSW
• Certificate to Knockout Bodies
• Unused monthly sessions at Massage Envy
• Unused gym membership at Lifetime Fitness (in my defense, it’s too beautiful out to be cooped up in a gym)

So my version might not entail hundred-dolla bills.

I think that’s it. Some of them were gifts that I’ve had for over a year. Lucky for me, those gift certificates can’t expire. It’s my goal to spend out and use these things up so I’m not throwing money in a black hole. Then, I’ll try to ignore some of the emails I get and decide that I really do not need to spend $20 on $40 worth at a store I’ve never heard of and might not like.

Are you a certificate hoarder?

Mind Over Clutter

It’s difficult to let go of things. I’m not talking about a broken friendship or relationship or anything of that magnitude. Just things. I’ve been almost conscientious about keeping things that might have use or value one day. But as I’m growing and changing and starting new projects and chapters, it’s time create some space and let go of the old. Carrie-friend commented on my last post, “People add value to your life, things add clutter.”

Things I have issues getting rid of because I will use them one day or because they are sentimental or because I’m a hoarder:

• Grade school schoolwork (Do I really need a spelling test from 5^th grade?) (Yes?) (Pretty please?)
• Office supplies (Well I could use ten million pens at work or at home or…never)
• Plane ticket stubs (I swear I traveled there! See? But how many can I really scrapbook?)
• Clothes (I could wear that one day. I might need it. It was a gift. Rule of thumb: if I haven’t worn it in over a year…it’s time for charity!)
• Jewelry (Those stretchy bead bracelets I made in the 8^th grade?)
• Greeting cards (Yes, I have about half of my high school graduation cards. Yes, some of them only have a signature and no message.)
• Beanie Babies (Still waiting for the value to skyrocket as it did when I was 12…)

I can’t wait for my upcoming massive-cleaning-marathon where I will unfortunately have to let go of some of the aforementioned objects of my skewed affection. That was a mouthful. Anyway, with a clearer space, I hopefully will have a clearer mind and be able to focus on what brings me joy, not stress.

In my pitiful defense, I’m not the only one with this issue! Ashley-friend wrote about it here. And there’s an entire show about it. So there.

William Morris said, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." No, rusted paperclips, you are not useful nor beautiful.


What can’t you let go of? What helps you let go?

Hold the Phone.

Today I committed one of the biggest crimes. I talked on the phone, I set the phone down, I did some stuff, I left to pick my sister up from the car dealer in an area I was unfamiliar with, I reached for my phone to look for directions, and realized: I forgot my phone at home.

Since I was already too far into my drive, I forged ahead for what felt like forever. First of all, traffic in the morning was just that: traffic. So after feeling a little bit of panic for each slow mile I drove, I tapped into my memory to try and figure out where this place could be. Suprisingly, I got there to find my sister in the waiting room, ready to kill greet me. 

For the rest of the day, I lived without my phone.  No checking for texts from the boyf, no playing phone cribbage on break, no looking at my email even though I already checked it on the computer. What's worse is that I wanted to meet my friend at her new place, so I had to find her on gmail and get her phone number because, yeah right, like I remember a phone number that has an out-of-town area code. Then I had to write the number down (with a pen! on paper! OMGah) and borrow phones and the calls didn't go through and I didn't end up meeting her.

I couldn't even send illegal texts if I wanted to. And this frustrated me almost all day long. Even though I spent the majority of my day plugged into my computer for work, I still felt deprived. 

So is being plugged in all of the time a good thing or a bad thing or somewhere in the middle? I am constantly checking all of my seven-thousand social media sites and finding that not much has changed. Even more, when the internet tubes are tied up and not properly operating at the speed of light, I mildly freak out. Do you stay plugged in for most of the day? Do you ever find yourself checking your phone when you can barely lift your eyelids? Why?

Technology is only advancing and soon we're going to have chips in our brain that read our thoughts and post to Twitter. Just kidding. Kind of.

But honestly, how much is too much? Is there such a thing?