Foreign Money Magnets

In an attempt to keep my mind occupied, I decided to take a dip into the crafting pool. I don't know if I would consider myself to be a crafting wizard, or even moderately gifted, so I started with something very easy that pretty much no one can mess up. I saw an idea on Pinterest to turn coins from foreign countries into magnets. I didn't think I had that many coins left, but I actually did, even though the majority of them are 1 cent euro pieces. Therefore, earlier today I ventured out to Hobby Lobby and bought the necessary supplies.

Obviously, I didn't buy Yoda at Hobby Lobby, but he was my handy dandy helper. And by helper, I mean he tried to eat everything. Like I said earlier, this project was fairly simple. How hard can it be with a coin, magnet, and some glue? All I did was take the magnet, put a little dab of glue on it, then stuck a coin to it and centered the coin as best as the glue would allow. The end result I got wasn't too shabby, after about five or so hours of drying time.

The picture may not have turned out the best, but you get the idea. I also didn't accomplish my original goal of getting my mind off things, either. Oh well, I like them.

Out with the Old, In with the New

Since my stars are aligning for change this wonderful month of December, I decided that I may as well go full out. I guess the change actually started in November when I decided to leave my job at Target. I thoroughly enjoyed everyone I worked with (most everyone), but was expected to do about ten different people's job in any given shift. I don't really mind being the go to person. I'm reliable so it's almost expected everywhere I work that I will multitask until my ligaments fall off. The problem with this is that A. $8.25 an hour to do a manager's job is unacceptable and B. I was getting reprimanded for not doing my job. Let's be clear here. If you want me to do my job, how about you allow me to do it instead of making sure I do everyone else's also?!

Then a few weeks later, the next change was when Mark and I decided to go our separate ways, even though all the signs are pointing to him coming back begging me to take him back. I long for this day, because who doesn't like saying "I told you so". Bittersweet, it will be. 

Yesterday, I decided another change I should make is to get a new phone. I had had my HTC Rezound since November of 2011. Therefore, I was eligible for an upgrade. I actually had been since July. Yet again, all the stars seemed aligned to make this change. I thought I wouldn't have money to get one, but they were on sale at Target. Then Mark said he wanted to pay all the bills (guilt perhaps?) and so that opened up a nice Christmas/birthday present for me! I had decided on the Galaxy S4 a few months ago and so far, I can definitely say that I am satisfied, even if it took three hours for me to do the upgrade. It might be slightly bigger than my old phone, but it's much lighter. Another strange anomaly to me is that I took my phone off the charger this morning at 5 AM and it still isn't even down to half battery. 

Another big change in the works is possibly heading back to Nebraska. I feel like it's nearing time to raise the white flag on Indiana and start anew. I'm just having if I want to finish my lease out, which is up in October, wait until the tennis season is over in May, or just pack now and call it a day. Perhaps it's just the birthday/Christmas blues.

21 Days of No Soda

I used to drink a lot of soda. I'm talking at least 32oz a day. I was constantly tired, had terrible acne, and just felt blah. Well, in mid to late November, I decided to stop drinking soda for at least 21 days. I knew if I just kept track in my mind that nothing would come of it. Therefore, I created a calendar so that I could check off each day that no soda was consumed. It was just like a calendar but started with the first no soda day and ended on December 13. Originally, my reward when I reached said goal was going to be a new pair of tennis shoes, since my current ones are approximately a half size too small. I even had some in mind. 



Problem is, I also hit my first weight loss goal in the process and my reward for that was new tennis shoes. Therefore, before I hit my goal of no soda, I already has these gems in hand. Revert back to me mentioning my current ones are too small. Well, to my luck, the new shoes are too big! I returned them today. Since I already got these, though, I needed a new reward. With the help of some of my friends, I chose to get a pair of black heels (and also a second pair as a Christmas present to myself). 

When I first started this 21 day challenge, I was extremely tempted to get a soda. I would avoid going certain places because I didn't want to cave. By about day seven-ish, I was mostly okay with no drinking it but had my occasions where I really wanted to walk across the parking lot and get a large Dr. Pepper from McDonalds (it's seriously that close). By about the tenth day, it really was no challenge choosing tea or lemonade or just grabbing a water. They say it takes 21 days to break a habit. Well, I can, for the most part, say that I no longer want soda at all. It's become a habit to order something different if I go through the drive thru. I've even been making infused waters to keep in my fridge and carry around a water bottle throughout the day. Since I stopped drinking soda, I am not as tired as much. I used to nap probably four days a week but now only do if I didn't get much sleep the night before, or it's my day off and I woke up way too early for a normal human. I still have my acne (it's never going away) but it's mostly down to just the scarring. I've even started experimenting with using foundation and will eventually try contouring. I know, odd. But most importantly, I just FEEL better. I have more energy. My skin feels better. I have the urge to do things other than sit and watch TV. In reality, the 21 days really went by as fast as the wink of an eye.

Hard Rock Headache

Back in high school, my boyfriend at the time went to Washington DC on a school trip. He brought me back a beanie baby from the Hard Rock Cafe. I didn't really think too much about it and it ended up getting tossed aside. The following year, I went on a choir trip to Dallas, TX. On that trip, we stopped at the Hard Rock again. I was debating buying another beanie baby and one of my friends said that I should buy it and make it a goal to get one from every Hard Rock that there is. 

Fast forward to 2010. While studying abroad in the fall of 2009, I increased my collection of beanie babies. Prior to studying abroad, I collected Cozumel, Mexico; Myrtle Beach, SC; London, England; and Maui, HI (which was a gift). While studying in Europe, I also got Rome, Italy; Munich, Germany; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Prague, Czech Republic. Then when I got back, I also added Indianapolis, IN and San Antonio, TX. Needless to say, I have quite a few places to go before I collect all of them, right? WRONG! Because they stopped making them! They were so cute, too. 


Ok, to be honest, they aren't that cute, but they are a great collectors item. I found out about them no longer making it last February when I was in Chicago, IL. I met a friend of mine there for dinner and he was running late so I hit the gift shop. I looked and looked but couldn't find this dang bear. Finally, I broke down and asked the guy running the shop. He looked at me like I had three heads and asked if I meant this...

Now was my turn to look at him like he had three heads. I almost settled for it but I decided that they looked way too creepy. And now, as I look on the Hard Rock webpage, I see no stuffed creatures of any kind. No offense, Hard Rock, but pins are way too easy to lose and drinking glasses break way too easily. Speaking of those, never wash a Hard Rock glass in the dishwasher. The logo comes off. Now I guess I will just have to figure out what I'm going to use as my checklist for hitting all of the Hard Rock Cafes across the world.

No Outlet

     Have you ever been driving down the road stuck in traffic? You keep getting more and more irritated at the fact that traffic isn't really moving. Did I mention that you aren't all too familiar with the area you are driving in? Of course, this next scenario usually only happens in that ^ moment. Since you are growing increasingly irritated, you decide to find an alternate route. You start by turning on a road that seems like it's going to lead to another major road, but incidentally ends up running into just another road that looks fairly similar. You decide which way to turn and eventually you end up driving through a residential area. Down most of these roads is a sign that says No Outlet. When you keep seeing this sign, you grow even more irritated because if you would have just stayed on the main road then this would never have happened. You have to start backtracking and going over your old path to figure out where to start over again so that you can get out of this irritating situation. Sadly, I feel that this is very similar to what happens everyday. 
     Now, I don't know about you, but I think that I lead a fairly boring life. My jobs (all four of them) don't really ask for much (okay so one is a little more work). For example, my M/W job requires that I'm friendly with customers. That's basically it. I spend the majority of my day on facebook or playing computer games. Sometimes I'll read a book or stumble. As you can tell, not too much exertion. My T/R/F job requires more physical labor, but I wouldn't consider it hard by any means. Another thing is that it's mostly the exact same schedule every week. Monday - job A. Tuesday - job B, tennis. Wednesday - job A. Thursday - job B, job A, tennis. Friday - job B, job A, tennis. Saturday - job A, date night. Sunday - clean house. For those of you keeping track, job C is an independent-do-when-you-have-time job and I'm currently on LOA from job D. In a nutshell, I have a fairly routine system down. Sometimes when you get so routine, you tend to bottle up stuff that may or may not be important at the time. Smaller, more minute and pointless things start to irritate you. The irritation grows increasingly stronger and eventually, you want to take a new path. Sometimes this will be in the way of a job change. May be other things such as breaking up with a significant other, being aggressive all the time, having a short fuse, etc. All of this usually stems because there is no outlet. 
     Like mentioned before, I play tennis at least three times a week. For the longest time, this has been my outlet. But just like roads close, sometimes the outlet also because so routine that it's no longer your outlet. Granted, this doesn't happen too often with tennis with me, but when it does, it's usually because I've just let too much other stuff bottle up with it. Why is tennis my outlet? Because I love it. Some people even call me obsessed. My tv is constantly on the Tennis Channel and I check scores multiple times daily.  Another reason it's my outlet is because it is physical exertion. The more that needs exerted, the harder I can wail on the ball (and boy does it feel good). A third reason that I call it my outlet is because that I can also do it by myself, if need be. Obviously, tennis is much better with two or more people. There comes a time when you just need to exert, and that's when you grab a bucket of balls and go hit some serves. Beside, practice is usually helpful. So why am I rambling about roads and tennis?
     The other day, Mark and I were having a conversation about whatever. He mentioned that the reason he's been a little more stressed is he doesn't have his outlet anymore. I asked what it was and he said that he used to go to the gym. I asked why he couldn't go anymore. He then proceeded to tell me that someone needed to go with him. And (I've seen him at the gym before) there isn't too much exertion going on. I then told him about my theory about the outlet needing to be something that YOU love, not because someone else wants you to do it. I think I know Mark pretty well. The gym is not a love of his. It's also something that you need to WANT to do, sometimes even by yourself. If someone needs to hold your hand, it's more than likely just adding to the stress that you are supposed to be getting rid of. 
     Therefore, everyone should find an outlet to release their frustrations. Without them, you grow even more irritated and just have to backtrack your steps until you can start over again. The whole time you're backtracking, you scold yourself for being so stupid as to let yourself get into this mess. Also in that process, you have to come face to face with how you did. I'm not saying that your outlet should be your way of expressing feelings and genuine concerns to others. I think it is, however, a great way of letting go of the small stuff that doesn't even matter, just like in the wink of an eye.

Complacent Ramblings

There comes a time in everyone's life where they start to get an itch. Since everyone is different, all of their longings and desires are different, as well. If you ignore this itch, or rather try to avoid it, then you end up with something along the lines of complacency. For example, if you've read any of my previous blogs, then you know that I love to travel. Ever since I studied abroad, I have wanted to go on my next adventure. Funding has made this a great obstacle. However, there comes a time when someone needs to stop making an excuse why they can't do something and make it happen. It is, after all, your dream or longing. My last blog included a little bit about my grand adventure supreme. I have started planning it (or, rather, reading up on Europe and taking notes about things I possibly will have some interest in). The reason I started planning it is because I realized that I need to stop telling myself to wait. I have decided that for now I will just need to work the three jobs in order to make it happen.

There are, of course, other things that you can get complacent about. These things come in the form of jobs, relationships, friendships, and just life in general. I also frequently get complacent with jobs. I get comfortable with what I'm doing and where I'm at and forget to set new goals for myself in order to keep a bit of change and to not get bored. When I run out of challenges, I probably won't stay at that job for too much longer, unless I really like a lot of the people I work with. When it comes to relationships, I feel that a lot of people end up getting comfortable and not experiencing anything new. It's great to have a date night, but if that only consists of sitting in front of the tv watching the same show every week, you're probably heading for a brick wall. Go bowling. Visit a new restaurant. Go on a flipping walk! New experiences and change also allow for new conversation to come about, thus being able to learn more about each other and in the process, growing closer together.

Friendships get complacent when one of the two ends up trying to ignore the qualms of the other and just saying "that's just how they are". Eventually, it will progress from that into a down right annoyance and then become something that just makes you angry. We all know how the majority of these friendships end up. As with life in general, sometimes you just don't realize what you need that keeps you on a level playing field. Usually every person has that one thing that is their release. If you don't take part in that past time then you will become a slow ticking time bomb. Bombs are bad. With that being sad, don't get complacent. Don't get so comfortable that you end up making excuses as to why you cannot do something or why you cannot feel a certain way. You are your own worst critic and nobody should be worthy enough to make you feel worse. Lastly, I saw a quote one time that read "nobody is important enough to make you angry". How true is that?

The Grand Adventure Supreme

It has been my goal/dream for a very long time to backpack across Europe. I don't mean a couple weeks to a few locations. No. I want to see it all! I'm just having a hard time deciding if I really want to see it all in one swoop, or if I want to split it up into two or three different ones. I would go with the latter, but I know that by the time the second/third ones roll around, I will want to revisit the places I've already been. If I go with the first option, I may end up on vacation burnout.

I already know some places that I want to visit, such as Sweden, Croatia, Germany, etc. (and yes, those are very vague), but I want to plan a specific trip that allows for certain time in places to see all that I want to see. Some people say I'm crazy for planning such an extensive trip, but if I don't start planning it then the trip will never happen. So what would you do to plan your trip? Where would you go? What specific things would you do?