21 Before 21 Update

I promised I'd periodically give updates on how my "bucket list" is progressing...

After completing a month without sweets, I'm proud to say that my sweet tooth has indeed diminished! I hardly feel the need for dessert and I don't really snack all that much. So, to everyone with a sweet tooth as bad as mine- go for a month off and see where you end up! 

Feeding off these healthier eating habits, I have been trying to live a healthier lifestyle and working out regularly. My goal is to run the Indianapolis Mini Marathon this coming May- something that I've wanted to do for the past few years but have always chickened out on. I have a short race lined up for Thanksgiving that will hopefully propel my training into the cold winter. 

Last update, I mentioned that I was working on accessorizing... and I think I've reached my goal! I've come to accept that I will never be a "jewelry girl", but I have definitely progressed. Instead of jewelry, belts, etc. being after-thoughts, they are defining thoughts in my outfit process. When I pick out what I plan to wear, I mentally go through my jewelry and what pieces I can wear. I recently bought a monogrammed ring that I have yet to wear- but plan to very soon! My mom bought me a lovely statement necklace for my birthday that I wish I could wear every day but it just would be too repetitive. While I may not have the most extensive jewelry selection, I'm slowly building my choices and really embracing the freshness that I new piece can bring to an "old" outfit... another goal crossed off! 

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This weekend I will be crossing off my #16- get into a cause! I will be participating in an 18 hour dance marathon at Purdue that benefits Riley. Yes, there will be dancing, but there will be games, theme contests, Riley stories, and so much more. Thousands of students come to the PUDM to have a great weekend and benefit an even better hospital! Our goal is to raise $1 Million, and I believe that it is possible. This Sunday we'll find out the total, which will be so exciting!

possibly even more exciting? going to sleep after 18 hours on my feet! 

Another goal that I might be reaching in the near future is to take a class for fun! I have 13 credit hours that I am required to take next semester, so it's a great time to take a class that I find to be purely entertainment. One of my best friends is going to take a ballet class. I was thinking a foreign language (francaise?) but I've been looking at all kinds of classes that I never would have imagined would even be offered! 

All-in-all, I have been keeping these goals in the front of my mind so that I can achieve them all on time! Because I've been loving reading so much, I'm thinking about adding a #20.5 (so it'll still be a total of 21 things) that is to read 100 books! A huge goal, yes. But it's one that I am always doing and will give me the motivation to read read read! 

When I think of the 21 things that I plan to get done, it can seem overwhelming... a lot of my goals take time and energy, and planning. But, that's the beauty of having such a long time limit. A little under two years at this point, but I have so much to do that I can't take a break. I am constantly working towards at least one goal, but I don't get overwhelmed because of the long time limit. For a planning perfectionist like myself, this is working swimmingly! 

how are your goals going?

Walk the Talk

I've always been a fan of Ted Talks and their ability to get me thinking.

But, there was something about this idea that really made an impression on me. I'm sure you've heard it: sitting is the new smoking. I run for exercise, and this phrase has been thrown around the running community the past few months. Then, I opened this month's Vogue to find an article on the exact same subject. I'd put this thought on the backburner- I run, so that erases the damage from sitting, right? 

Wrong.

The more I read, the more I understood how bad sitting is for the body. Sitting disengages the core muscles. It leads to bad posture and lack of circulation. This all began to make sense as I thought about how refreshed I feel after my walk between classes or to and from campus. I spend more time than I like to admit at my desk in my dorm- it has everything within arms reach and is my place to get stuff done. But I would notice that sitting caused my legs and back to become numb, which I ever thought of as a huge deal until I realized how important the spine and those nerves in my back are to my health! Yeah, I had a bit of a wake-up call to say the least.   standing for 6 straight hours when I worked was tiring, but not unmanageable. So I began to think of how this could be applied to my daily life at school and look for ways that standing could be incorporated into my days. 

I walk to and from campus and class, so that gets a good 2+ miles in my day just getting around. But then I go and sit in classes for 50 minutes- not that bad since I get at least 10 minutes of walking between each sitting stint. The fresh air and little bit of exercise does wonders for a burnt-out brain. But then comes the hours of studying. So I went on a hunt for good place to study. Purdue is ahead of this standing craze, because there are numerous standing-level tables in the basement of my building! Woo! Of course, there are stools. Just push them aside. 

In my experiments with this new idea, I've been trying to study at the stand-up tables as much as possible. I get some weird looks from students, but that's beside the point. I've found that standing keeps me alert and focused for longer. I'm not as reliant on that steady stream of coffee like before. Also, if I feel like I need to take a study break, my immediate thought is to walk around and get some blood flowing... instead of staying put and watching YouTube (okay maybe I just turn my laptop around and walk while I watch a video or two). My legs have been more tired, but this standing hasn't hindered my regular exercise or routine. In fact, running on tired legs has made them stronger! I'm not sure how long this standing thing will last, but it's been a fun couple of days experimenting.

Talk the Walk; Walk the Talk

Top 5 iPhone Apps

With every iOS update comes a time to re-evaluate the apps on my phone.

It's a simple process- I go back through and think about the apps that I use on a daily basis and keep those. Any others, I delete. I don't worry about deleting them because Apple has made it so incredibly easy to hop on the App Store and re-download it in a pinch. And looking at a crowded home screen gives me anxiety, so delete-spree it is! 

So, here is my actual home screen post-cleanse. Yes, I only have one screen and I don't plan to get many more than that. The bottom row of apps houses my most commonly used apps, since they're easiest for my thumb to reach while cradling my phone in my hand. Anything involving typing or two hands I put in folders. It's really a very complex, thought out process. But it works and so I will accept that I might be crazy. Putting apps like Facebook and Twitter aside, I've narrowed my favorites down to a top 4 most frequented apps:

Flipboard gives you news you want in a simple, attractive format. I love that it allows me to bypass the humongous papers with lots of information that I don't want or need. The app compiles the types of news stories that I've chosen and it puts them in a magazine or flip-book format in which I can quickly read the articles, get what I need, and get done. If I want more information, I must only search a little harder. I find it extremely beneficial since I'm at college in what they call the "bubble". After only a couple of weeks at school I felt alienated from the current world, so I went on the hunt for a news app that would work to keep me updated without me having to search Google every morning for the headlines. Flipboard does a perfect job.

Pandora. It's been on my favorites list since the first day of having a smart phone. iOS7 tries to compete with the app with their iTunes Radio, but they don't quite get it. There are aspects of the Radio that I do like more than their Pandora counterparts, but Pandora is still winning out. I already have my stations and they know what I like. I also use Pandora on my computer and I have yet to update iTunes on my computer so it's still the universal music player for me. Spotify, on the other hand, has seen its final days on my phone.

Oyster is a tech startup that I am loving! I'm already reading the books and loving that I can pull up any book I want at any time. With the mornings being chillier, I've been taking the bus into campus and I love to get my seat and read a chapter or two. I can imagine that this app is going to get a lot of use from me, and at $9.95 a month I'd recommend it to anyone!

I use the Nike + Running app for... well, running. There's not much explanation needed other than the fact that it's changed so much in the last year and has become my #1 choice in running apps. I used to have 3 others but they were all deleted in this app. When it comes to workout gear, I'm a Nike girl all the way so I've been loving the challenges and developments they've made to the app.

Banking. So this isn't on my home page, but it is 100% necessary and used daily. I track my spending and saving here as well as budget for nights out, etc. I use the ELFCU app, just because that's the credit union I use. Most banks and unions have apps now and they're fantastic for checking your account on the go or cashing checks without waiting in line at the bank. 

Each person has their own group of apps that they love or use on a daily basis, and it's 100% dependent on your schedule and place in life. I'm not one of those people who is glued to my phone, but I like to have the technology right at my fingertips and it's extremely convenient to have everything organized and easy to find. If you're planning to "cleanse" your phone or home screen, one magnificent video I've run across shows you how to hide your apps- perfect for that Stocks app that you've never opened or the apps that you just don't want everyone getting into. They're still 100% accessible through your Spotlight Search, but don't have an actual icon. Perfect, right?

What are your favorite apps?

Top 5: March 13

It's that time again! A new month means looking back at what all has happened in my life the last month. Good and bad, March is one month closer to warmer weather so I can't complain. This month I got into a few new habits, as well as rekindling my love for a few new ones! Here it goes, my favorites for the month of March:

1. Lilly Pulitzer

I've been a Lilly fan for a while, but this month has taken my interest to a new level. I love reading the brand blog and looking at new arrivals- either I don't look close enough on a daily basis, or new stuff is added almost daily! I also began reading a biography on the one and only Lilly P., and have gained so much love and respect for the woman that is known so well in American culture! She was such an inspiration in the 20th century, and also seems very humble and kind. I'd absolutely love to meet her.

2. Country Music

As I've stated many times before, I've become a huge fan of country music! I love Rascal Flatts, Florida Georgia Line, you name it, I probably like it! On a completely different note, the new OneRepublic album is great too!

3. MacBook

This month, my parents bought me my MacBook- more affectionately called my baby- which could be one of the most convenient presents for the whole family! My stuff stays out of their way and they stay out of mine. perfection. One thing that I haven't quite gotten used to is the function of apps on the computer... I guess I don't have the need for them at this point. I am looking for some apps (preferably free for now) that may be useful! Send them my way!

4. Running

I've been a regular runner for the past couple of years. I run for enjoyment and exercise, but I haven't been running lately because it's been such a cold winter! I have outdoor running clothes, but I just hate being cold. Anyways, being on vacation has given me the opportunity to run in shorts and t-shirts on the beach, barefoot. Can't beat that, and it'll be way too cold when i get home if it's anywhere between 70 degrees! I've ruined myself. But, hopefully I'll get in shape to run a few half marathons this summer!

5. Soda Water

Yes, a bit random, but my dad went shopping and there must have been a great deal on Perrier, because he came home with 10 cases of it! I'm not the person to demand "fancy" water, but it's been enjoyable while we've had it! It reminds me of being in Europe- since water is more expensive than beer and so you might as well get the fancy kind- and it just puts a spin on the ever important staying hydrated. 

So, there we are. These are the top 5 new additions to my life since the beginning of the month. I've had a great month of school, which ended with two weeks of vacation! No room for complaints, and the best part of the year is quickly approaching! 

What will you remember from March?