30 Day Challenge...Day 30!!

Day 30-What is something that will make you smile right now?

The SUN!


Not having to do ANYTHING tonight!


Being organized...I know...it's a little weird!


Nice people!


My bike and nice weather to ride it in!


Anything that is positive!



seriously this list could go on and on and on....

I am also smiling because I am now finished with my 30 DAY CHALLENGE! 

Whew...ok, back to the boring old blog posts...let's hope you all keep reading!!

Day 30 quote-a quote about accmplishment

Everybody starts at the top, and then has the problem of staying there. Lasting accomplishment, however, is still achieved through a long, slow climb and self-discipline.


-Helen Hayes

30 Day Challenge...Day 29.

Day 29-Talk about something that you have been thinking of doing recently.

Until recently, as in last year, I had not really dyed my hair....ever.  And so after a few highlights, some lowlights, and then one whole dye session that has my hair a nice warm aurburn tone, I am up for more change. 

I want to start off by going back to my natural color of dark brown.  Wait it gets better, don't stop reading yet!  After it is all brown, I want to dye streaks of teal, not to dark, not to light in the top half closer to my forehead.  I saw a girl who had her hair done this way and it was CUTE!  I was instantly thinking of what my mother would say, what my customers at my office would think, and of course what my lovely husband would think.  Hmmmm....who knows!

What do I think?  I think it is sooo cute...and maybe for the hell of it I will try it, the worst that could happen is that I hate it and dye it all back to brown which would be just fine too....thanks for continuing to read this if you made it this far...now I am just rambling...trying to come up with something witty...all I got is that some people may say I am becoming a Smurf...ha!

Maybe someday?  This picture doesn't even do that girl I saw justice...her hair was seriously cute!

Eh...it probably won't happen, but a girl can dream!? 

Jason and I are also thinking about putting in a fence around our backyard.  It is a goal of ours to get this done this spring or summer!   This one will for sure happen! :)


Day 29 quote-a quote from someone famous.

30 Day Challenge...Day 28.

Day 28-If you could live one day of your life over again...what day would that be?

I would LOVE to relive the day of my wedding.  It went by faster than I had ever imagined.  People had told me not to blink or I would miss it...and they were right!  Jason agrees with me on this one too!  We both said that we wanted to redo it so we could have that much fun again. 

Day 28 quote-a quote about your mood today.

“Happiness consists not in having much, but in being content with little.”

-Marguerite Gardiner

30 Day Challenge....Day 27.

Day 27-Talk about three things you want to give up.

1.  I want to give up trying not to make mistakes.  This is something I stuggle with.  It is always in the back of my mind and I am constantly rethinking my thoughts, steps, actions over and over.  I just don't ever want to upset or dissapoint.  I over-analayze everything I say, or am thinking about saying.  It gets me nowhere..so I'm going to work on stopping this habit.

2.  Give up doing the same thing over and over again.  I have found that if you don't mix things up in your life, you will be unsatisfied.  Jason and I are crazy busy.  To make you understand this better.  This week we will see each other on Friday night...and many weeks are like this.  This past weekend we booked a hotel in Minneapolis and went to Ikea, the Mall of America, and ate at some restaurants we had heard about but never been too.  It was refreshing, and needed.  Sometimes just a little getaway is all you need to break up the schedule. 

3.  Give up dwelling about the past and worrying about the future.  I don't dwell on the past nearly as much as I used to, but I think about the future a lot.  And sure it's good things that I am thinking about, but I have to remind myself that today is the only day that you are guaranteed.  Tomorrow...who knows?  I believe I have gotten better with living in the moment, but I know I can do more to make this more apparent in my life. 

Day 27 quote-a quote that describes you.
I take care of my flowers and my cats.  And I enjoy food. And that's living.
-Ursula Andress

30 Day Challenge...Day 26.

I'm back!  Whoa..this has been a crazy week and so was last week! I have been non-stop, or so it seems...

Today is a special day, as it is Jason, my husband's 29th birthday!  Happy birthday Jason! :-)

Day 26-A picture of you when you were young.



Day 26 quote-A quote that makes you think.

I saw this quote as someone's Facebook status, and it just really stuck with me today.

“We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It's one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it's another to think that yours is the only path.”

30 Day Challenge...Day 25.

Day 25-discuss something that is on your mind.

Well, here it goes.  Ahh Tuesday. 

Who does the finances in your home?  I do not.  And both of us are totally ok with this.  Jason does an outstanding job with the check book, savings, and loan payments. 


I have recently started paying on the dreaded college loans...and have been for a few months now.  Whatev.  It's life right...well not when you get a late notice on your Sallie Mae bill.  Jason and I were so puzzled when we saw this.  WTH?  He sends our payments in every single month way before they are due.  After a few phone calls, we found out that we have been sending the payments to the wrong address.  Figures.  So, moral of the story...if a company is to cheap to send an envelope or insert that says the address...make sure you are sending it to the correct place.  Otherwise, well, you get screwed out of $6.06 in a stupid late fee. 


We learned our lesson.  Sort of.
Ha!


I also just want to throw out their that although I love the fact that it is still light out until 7pm now...I will never ever like the Spring forward time change.  Things like that take me a long time to adjust to! : )


Arizona and Hawaii don't participate in DST...I want to be there. Now. Either place will suffice.


Also, another tidbit of advice I came across recently.  If you are in an elevator and push your number, then hold down the 'close doors' symbol...it won't stop for anyone!  It will just go right to your floor!  Tried it this past weekend, and it works!  Ok, no more random facts for today! 

Day 25 quote-Good humor is the health of the soul, sadness is its poison.

  -Lord Chesterfield

30 Day Challenge....Day 24.

Day 24-tell about a few things you have learned since last year.

1.  You choose your own happinesses...


2.  Patience is everything. 


3.  Somewhere someone will not be agreeing with you, but being different is what makes you unique.


4.  Hobbies are good for the soul!


5.  Asking for something is the first step.


6.  Surrounding yourself with positive people makes your life less stressful.


7.  Having less money and being happy is better than having money and working like a dog.  Especially when you have to work on a Sunday.


Wow...last year was definitley a learning year for me! : ) 

Day 24 quote- If the shoe fits-buy them in every color!

30 Day Challenge...Day 23.

Day 23-what is something you are looking forward to?

Let's see if you can guess...

SPRING!



Day 23-a quote from a Disney movie.

Finding Nemo! :-)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In addition:  What are you giving up for lent? 

I am planning on giving up using the internet on the weekends.  I find myself randomly surfing the net when I could be doing so many other things with my days off!  So...here we go!

30 Day Challenge...Day 22.

Day 22-what is a phobia you have.

Most recently, within the last year, I have become more aware of germs.  Where they are, what they are doing, what nasty virus is lingering on the next surface I have to utilize....the list goes on and on! 


I credit my part of my phobia to my brother-in-law Adam.  Adam is stundying Pre-Med at Waldorf college and routinely tells us of some of the test he does on surfaces in some of his classes.  If I remember correctly, he tested the top of a hand sanitizer pump....and it was home to an outrageously large amount of germs. 


Eww.


I also credit a very vicious cold I came down with after getting back from New York City.  Now don't get me wrong, I LOVED NYC, but I am really blaming the subway system (the bars, handles, and handrails) for my disturbingly awful cold that has seriously made me compare all other colds since then to it. 
It. Was. Awful.  


So, what do I do to protect myself from those nasty little germs that can reak havoc on someones body?  Wash my hands a lot.
Avoid directly touching handles, doors, and faucets. 
Use some hand sanitizer, not a crap ton.
And that's about it...


Don't worry, I'm not someone that is absolutely obsessed with cleaning and sanitizing stuff...just more aware as I like to say. 

Day 22-a quote that reminds you of someone.

Why worry when you can pray?
My mother has this quote in her kitchen...I think of it often when my mind won't stop turning and I need some guidance.  It has helped me in more ways than I can name. 

30 Day Challenge...Day 21.

Day 21-Talk about where you went to high school.

Ahhh...high school.  I graduated from Nashua-Plainfield High School in 2006...yep haven't even had our 5 year reunion yet!  I enjoyed cheering for the Huskies and made lots of memories.  School came pretty easy for me.  I have always loved to learn...everything except math/algebra/statistics!  ha! 

I'll never forget camping out at Boat Park and burning all of our school notebooks on the last day!  I will also never forget when my brother, Kevin, took a goat to the school and let it run the halls!! He was lucky to have graduated after that little prank!  <--- Hmm...both of those things don't really exemplify our school as good as it really was.  Trust me....we learned stuff too!!

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would end up back here in Nashua.  But here I am!  I also never thought I would be coaching cheerleading either!  But here I am again...and next year, I am going to be head coach!  Yikes!  Yep, the current head coach is resigning after this year...she was my coach my senior year and has put in some great years.  It will be very hard to fill her shoes...but I am up for the challenge.  Here's to new beginnings!

I am actually really excited to have my future children (sorry none anytime soon!) attend school at N-P.  I grew up in a community where everyone knew each other...and have found that sometimes that is a good thing, other times not so much...but for the most part...it's all good! : )  Life is good!

Day 21 quote-a quote you would want inscribed on your wedding ring.

Forever, For Always, No Matter What.

30 Day Challenge....Day 20.

Day 20-a picture of you and someone you haven't talked to in a while.

Meet Samantha.

We always have fun when we are together.

Sam....I*Miss*You!

Day 20 quote-a quote you would write on your wall.

I have actually looked into getting this wall decal...it sums up life. 



30 Day Challenge....Day 19.

Day 19-a picture of your best friend.

I always worry that his eyes will stay that way...

ha!

Day 19 quote-a quote from a headstrong female.

Is Oprah "headstrong?"  For this she is...



30 day challenge...Day 18.

Day 18-discuss your greatest fear and your greatest dream.

Greatest fear-I believe I have already discussed this one a few days back...not being happy, but as to not bore you with more of that mumbo jumbo, I came up with something else.  Settling for less.  Not feeling worthy enough to pursue, deserve, or ask for more or something else in my life.  Some call it "throwing in the towel" when they are done, but ultimately, you are settling for less. 

I have come to love and think of this quote often... "Life's only limitations are the ones you accept."

Some may argue that my "greatest fear" is not something to really be afraid of.  Well, here are some of my other fears...snakes, spiders, strange noises in the night, horror movies, death, the list can go on and on.  The difference is that I can avoid these things...and I do.  And sure I can avoid settling for less, but sometimes, life throws curve balls, and giving in just seems easier.  So "settling for less" is definitely something that I would be afraid of...something I would fear.  Why?  Because I know that if I ever have to settle for less, I am in trouble.  I am letting my good and better judgement of my own character slide downward.  I would be certainly letting myself down, slipping away from who I am. 

Greatest dream-Contentment, being happy, and living life to the fullest.  Having all the joy in the world, wherever I may be, in the palm of my hand. 

Day 18 quote-Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, their supposed to help you discover who you are.
-Anonymous

30 Day Challenge....Day 17.

Day 17-10 pictures of things that make you smile and a picture of you smiling.

Day 17 quote-quote your favorite lyrics.

Not talkin' 'bout a year

No not three or four
I don't want that kind of forever
In my life anymore
Forever always seems
to be around when it begins
but forever never seems
to be around when it ends
So give me your forever
Please your forever
Not a day less will do From you
-Ben Harper "Forever"

Listen to it here.  <----This was our first dance song at our wedding...I love it.

30 Day Challenge....Day 16.

Day 16-Your celebrity crush.

Josh Hartnett...

but

he is

NOTHING

compared

to

this

other

guy I

know.

Nope...

NOT

EVEN

CLOSE!

Yep...you may or may not know him... :-)



Day16 quote-a quote from a tv show.

"The Bird is the word!" -Family Guy

30 Day Challenge....Day 15.

Day 15-a picture of something you don't want to forget.

Graduation from High School...look at Andy's cheesy smile!

NYC

Our Honeymoon to Mexico

Our Wedding!

Day 15 quote-a quote from a movie.



30 Day Challenge....Day 14.

Day 14-something you are insecure about.

I worry a lot.  I don't know why.  I can't think of a certain thing I am entirely completely insecure about though.  I can work through a lot of things on my own, and learn. 

I get insecure about work.  I freak if something small goes wrong, or if I make a mistake, I tend to dwell and dwell and dwell on how dumb I was for making that mistake.  I think I expect A LOT more of myself than I should sometimes...especially if I am unfamiliar with a situation. 

I used to think I had to make everyone happy, satisfied.  That never worked.  And I learned that I can beat myself up about it all I want, but their will always be someone out there that will not agree with me or not be happy with me or my decisions. 

I learned to stop thinking like this. 

I started thinking about how I felt about a situation...not how it would effect others.

And then,

I realized how much I had been missing.

And I haven't looked back. 

Day 14 quote-a quote from a favorite author.

"If you're holding out for universal popularity, I'm afraid you will be in this cabin for a very long time."
-J. K. Rowling

30 Day Challenge...Day 13.

Day 13-discuss your first out of state travel experience.

My first travel endeavour out of state would have to be when I went to the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY.  I was a freshman though, and I don't really remember what all happended and what I all did, so I am writing about my second travel experience....Mobile, Alabama.

I went to Mobile on a church mission trip with 1 other person that I knew from my church.  We boarded a charter bus filled with kids our age and younger/older who we didn't know from Northeast Iowa, and headed south!  I remember being so nervous to get on a bus where everyone knew each other, but us.  We started off and ended up halfway there and spent the night in a hotel.  I quickly made friends with the two girls sitting in front of us on the bus. 

When we arrived in Alabama, we met up with a huge group of other Catholic students who were on the same mission as we were.  We were split into groups and told what we would be doing for the rest of the time we were there.  I was a part of a group that was working on making a closet in the bathroom of a house that would be made available for low income families in the area. 

This trip literally changed me.  It was one of those things that makes you appreciate all you have and all you work for.  Not only did I get to help build something for someone else, but I also made some friends who I will never forget.  I got to see the ocean too, and that was amazing.  Nothing I could have ever imagined. 

I also got to see the ocean, the landscape, and the city of Mobile before hurricane Katrina hit the area the following fall.  It was hard to watch the things on TV knowing you had seen all of the area in such a much better time, and knowing it would probably never look the same. 

This trip was amazing; it made me step out of my comfort zone and let me experience life in a totally different area of the country.  I am so thankful I got to experience such a great trip.

Day 13 quote-a quote from a book.

"I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam-I-Am!"-From I Do Not Like Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.

See ya in a few!

I'm going down to State Wrestling for the next two days! Andy didn't make it to Wells Fargo this year, but he put up a good fight against some top ranked Seniors at his weight class. 

Catch up with my 30 day challenge on Friday! :)  Enjoy!

30 Day Challenge...Day 12.

Day 12-a picture of the place you were born.

Dubuque, IOWA

And if you are ever there...you should ride up the 4th street elevator!!

Day 12 quote-a quote about fashion/style.