Day 1 of the 30 Day Challenges

So, this morning, I awoke ready to begin my challenges, and thus my journey. I began by waking up early - number 23 on my list. And by waking up early, I mean early. Like 5AM early. I guess it isn't too much earlier than my normal 6AM, but it sure felt like it. One morning down, 29 to go! Then, I inspired myself (number 18) with a quote I had taped to my mirror last night - "Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given rather than exploring the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact, it's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration, it's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing." That quote has yet to fail to inspire me to get up off my butt and go do something. So I did. I went downstairs, I took care of the animals on my parents farm, and took a picture of my pretty dogs Sam and Jasmine. Sam is on the left, and Jasmine on the right! So cute!

Then I went and cleaned my parents basement - we've been remodeling - and I put some paint on the walls, thinking all the while. I was doing my number 4 - re-evaluating a belief. Today, it was my own personal definition of friendship. And as I look at it, I have more friends and people that are there for me than I ever imagined. Happy, happy, joy, joy! ;) Shortly after I finished my painting, I took a 30 minute walk on our treadmill for my good health (number 5). While I gasped for air when I finished, (I was speed walking, thank you. Stop your snickers dang it!) I read an article on some really odd things that people use Facebook for - The Oddest Things People Use Facebook For. It was really interesting! Wow people do some weird stuff...that was number 15, by the way. Read an article.

Next, I went back upstairs and created a couple of delectable Italian sandwiches for me and my Dad. And no, that's not today's recipe. That's for dinnertime. But anyway, yes. Sandwiches. Black forest ham, Genoa salami and pepperoni toasted on an onion bun with a tablespoon of Italian salad dressing. SO GOOD. And great for lunch. =D Anyway, after that I went upstairs, I put on real clothes and makeup, and made myself feel good about my appearance - Number 6 - self love. Then I spent the first part of my afternoon watching a couple episodes of my favorite show, Bones! Did I mention that I also did number 22 all day? It's already an ingrained habit! Maybe it's just that our house isn't quite nice enough to have an elevator in it quite yet - I took the stairs. Then number 28 - don't complain about something that bothers me? Done, and done. I totally didn't whine about trailed off text messages from a friend. But just so you know, PET PEEVE.

Then I took the time to go up the stairs (AGAIN! Dang we need an elevator...Kidding, kidding. I'm not quite that lazy yet.) and I watched a documentary, called Born to Rage: Inside the Warrior Gene. Pretty cool insight, I must say, but it still sets off the alarm bells about creating a communist society by determining their roles based on a persons genes. But that's just me. Then I finally decided what habit I want to break - talking like a man. I've been surrounded by so many more men than women for so long, that now I talk like them. Ugh. I think that maybe that's something I should work on. It's not very becoming. So now to start executing it - rubber band method, here I come!

Then I planned one year ahead. This time next year, I want to have a full time job/internship and an apartment in my college town along with summer classes and some money in the bank. It's time to start real life. Haha! I killed two birds with one stone on this...I combined challenges, with my planning one year ahead and practicing a random skill - my skill being planning. Heck yes! 3 challenges taken care of.

Then it was suddenly reading time. YAY!! I love reading. I'm reading Mastiff: The Legend of Beka Cooper by Tamora Pierce. Its got to be a favorite of mine, I kid you not. But seriously, this challenge thing is taking up a lot of time! It's like scheduling a whole new day! Gosh I'm glad I started this during the summer when I have more free time....holy crap.

So, after my reading time, then I went to Walmart, and took a new route there - number 14. And I talked to a stranger while I was there. She was having a bad day - today was inspection day at her job, and she was just sure she did poorly - number 2. And as I left, I did number 30 - a selfless act. What did I do, you ask? When I was on my way into Walmart, there was a man standing on the corner asking for prayers for his now homeless family. He had everything he owned in a duffel bag, and his wife and kids sat underneath a tree nearby. He didn't ask for money, just for a smile and a prayer. So while in the store, I thought. And when I left, I tapped his wife on the shoulder, and took her back into the store with me, and told her to pick out $20 worth of whatever it was that she thought she needed for her family. Bread, peanut butter, canned vegetables, canned tuna, plastic silverware, two notebooks and pencils for her daughters and a bag of plastic water bottles. And the look on her face was more than worth it. I have a little bit of money - not much, but a little, and I had enough to spare the money. Yes, it means not eating out so much this week, or going so many places, but the look on her face and her husbands face when they thanked me, and the look on the faces of their children when they saw their new notebooks was priceless. Thank you, selfless act. =D

Now, onto trying one new recipe every day. Today, I made BBQ glazed smoked sausage with tater tots and Hawaiian sweet rolls. It was just Ekrich smoked sausage, peeled of it's shell and sliced into 1/2 inch pieces. The sauce was 1/3 cup KC Masterpiece sauce, 2 tbsp Sweet Baby Rays, 1/3 cup grape jelly and 3 tbsp water. Heat, bring to a boil, add your sausage, stir to coat, simmer for 8-10 minutes. =D Mild and sweet. And tasty.

My thing that I did that frightens me for the day? I picked up big seashells out of our basement. Shut up - I hate seashells, and I'm super afraid that there's going to be a spider living inside one of the big huge cone shaped ones. Always.

Last but not least - I've started writing my book, after a long period of meditation on the subject. Numbers 29, and 9. =D

Overall, I feel like it's been a productive day, really. 

30 Challenges in 30 Days

 It's been said that it takes 30 days to create a new habit. And when I was looking through the internet one day, I found this list of challenges, and what can I say - I was inspired. This is going to be hard, but I want to create some new habits for myself, and some of these can be great ones.

1. Write a I-Like-This-About-You note/text/email each day for someone.
2. Talk to one stranger each day.
3. Take one picture each day.
4. Re-evaluate one long-held belief each day.
5. Take a 30 minute walk each day.
6. Take a moment each day to practice self compassion and self-love.
7. Try a new recipe each day.
8. Refrain from alcohol and other drugs for 30 days in a row!
9. Write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days.
10. Learn how to draw a human face in 30 days.
11. Watch a documentary each day.
12. Read a chapter each day.
13. Study a topic you’d like to master each day.
14. Walk/Drive/Run a new route to work/school each day.
15. Read a new article every day.
16. Media-fast for 30 days.
17. Pick one bad habit you already have and ditch it for 30 days.
18. Inspire yourself each day.
19. Take a cold shower each day.
20. Think of an accomplishment you’d like to achieve for each year of the next 30 years, a year each day.
21. Practice a random skill everyday.
22. Take the stairs every chance you get.
23. Wake up early each day.
24. Keep a journal.
25. Don’t lie for 30 days.
26. Combine challenges.
27. Doing something that scares you every day.
28. Don’t complain for an entire day.
29. Meditate each day.
30. Practice (at least) one completely selfless act each day.

It's going to be hard - but I really want to try. 

Dorm Room Arrangement

When you live in a small place, the way you arrange your furniture is super important. It can make your space bigger if you do it right, or you can constantly feel like a hoarder because there's stuff everywhere. I've totally been in both places. But this year, I feel more prepared. I have a single room, and I've found Autodesk Homestyler. A free home decorating software that helps me figure out what I want to do with my room, and how to use my space to my advantage. Check it out - it's pretty cool.
http://www.homestyler.com/designer

It let me do this with the dimensions of my room and the sizes of all my furniture and all the things that I knew I was going to have and need. It's super helpful! And once you have a room plan, you can totally create a decorating plan in a snap. The furniture is the hard part. After that, you can make it as homey as you like.

Check that out! Pretty cool, huh? Try it out! Most colleges have their room dimensions and their furniture dimensions listed somewhere on their website just for stuff like this, and us overly planning people. You can do it! =D