Change is Good...

People can change for the better. Time changes for the better. And I hope this year changes me for the better.

I'm thinking that change is so good that even my guidelines, lists, and goals for this project should be allowed to change. Okay, well maybe I just want a little flexiblity to make things better.

The first thing I will be changing is some of the books on my Variety Book Challenge. I know, big deal, so what, they are just books!  But to me it is important, because books are a big part of who I am. I'm a book nerd, buying them helps me relieve stress, and it is just an outlet that I have always enjoyed. So I read some the reviews I had put on the list and the readers just ripped them apart. Really, I shouldn't be surprised because they were novels by the Kardashian Sisters and Tyra Banks, haha. So instead of wasting time trying to push myself through horrible books, I put better ones in there place. So excited about this Book Challenge, I've already finished 3 since the year started! Only 108 or so to go, oooh dear!!

Little bit of happiness: I spent the day cleaning off and on, while my dog just lazed about like she normally does. She has found this spot in my bed where she sinks in... I walked into my room and she is sunken so far in the covers that all that it sticking up is her nose. I let out a little laugh, she opened her eyes and looked at me like I was annoying her and went right back to sleep. Once again, simple things.

Daily quote: All great changes are preceded by chaos. 

 

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Month by Month

The first "area of life" that I have selected for January is Energy. Every month I will have a new area, with new goals, and tasks. I am going to focus on the things that I hold the most important to me. I have made a list of the other ideas, but still none of it is finalized.

Family

Friends

Work

Money

Home

Relax

Volunteer

Play

Technology

Creativity

Nature (definitely not sure about that one)

I got most of these ideas from the Happiness Project by Gretchen Ruben and the parts of life that she chose. The last month of the year is the Book Camp Project which is a challenge where you do all of your goals at the same time. This year is going to hold some great things!

Little bit of happiness: Even though K-State didn't win today, it was a lot of fun watching the game and giving doubters a hard time! This was my onery-ness at school, #3 is probability, of course:

Daily quote: Work hard. Have fun. No drama. 

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Clean Up, Clean Up...

Life is much less stressful when you don't have a dirty house to come home to. But I'm not going to lie, I hate cleaning and I tend to procrastinate when there is something I don't want to do. Therefore cleaning by far gets put on the backburner until I need to spend an entire day cleaning. Gross. So one of my ideas to help get my house cleaner and less stressful on me was to create a rotating cleaning schedule. It covers two weeks and there is also monthly tasks to get done. I am going to make a nice, laminated chart to put on my refrigerator and keep track every day. Hopefully doing one little task weekday will help me out and it starts next Monday!

Monday: Floors
Tuesday: Dust

Wednesday: Towels and Trash

Thursday: Kitchen

Friday: Couches

Monday: Dog

Tuesday: Glass

Wednesday: Bedding and Trash

Thursday: Bathroom

Friday: Catch-up Day

Monthly: Car, fridge, comforter, base boards, windows, yard

I also signed up to recieve weekly e-mails from Home Storage Solution 101. They have a 52 week home organization and cleaning challenge. Each week they send a task and many helpful hints. I'm thinking this will be great for me! I am starting this next week so I will have 2 weeks in one, but they are both in the kitchen so it won't be that bad.

I also need to get started on cleaning out closets and getting rid of the clutter! I'm looking forward to a little less baggage, but I know it is going to take A LOT of work! Here goes nothing.

Little bit of happiness: One of my students came in this morning so extremely excited to have me try his deer sausage. It was very uplifting to see how much joy that little guy had, and so early in the morning! Great reminder about the little things bringing you so much happiness. And yes, the deer sausage was AMAZING!!

Daily quote: If you're always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you're in? Enjoy the ride. 

 

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

three.six.five Bucket List

Instead of doing a whole life Bucket List, or things you want to do "before you kick the bucket," I'm going to be doing a list for the year. These are big and little things that I want to accomplish throughout the year. I have 52 things on my list, with the idea that maybe I can average one goal per week. We shall see... In no particular order:

1. 365 days of pictures
2. finish knit blanket
3. 1,000 piece puzzle
4. Mexico scrapbook
5. pay credit cards
6. lose at least 30 pounds
7. foster care license
8. how-to-class
9. make a cake
10. send in a postcard to Post Secret
11. handwrite a letter
12. learn a whole song on the piano
13. see a sunset and sunrise in 24 hours
14. do something out of character
15. go to a concert
16. donate
17. build something
18. comedian
19. finish ESL endorsement
20. start Masters
21. join a book club
22. play in Women's League
23. 2 mile run
24. 5 houses of worship
25. learn to crochet
26. volunteer time
27. recycle
28. dog park
29. publish something
30. cook a whole new meal
31. write a poem
32. turn trash into treasure
33. bonfire
34. build a sand castle
35. go on a picnic
36. fly a kite
37. vote
38. photobooth
39. sidewalk chalk
40. drive-in movie
41. musical
42. Twitter
43. classroom newsletter
44. recipe book
45. museum
46. plant something
47. influence change
48. work conference
49. Variety Book Challenge
50. martial arts class
51. Disney marathon
52. pamper self

Little bit of happiness: I'm not going to lie, I have a lot of blonde moments. Apparently everyone else got them memo about the new t-shirts coming in with Spearville spelled wrong, with 3 L's. I've been wearing that thing, and would have kept wearing it if they would have not dropped off new t-shirts. Wonder if anyone noticed?

Daily quote: Whoever is happy will make others happy too. - Anne Frank

 

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Secrets of Adulthood

Another idea from Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, the secrets of adulthood are little lessons that one learns while growing up. Some are serious, some are funny, and some are those obvious things that you don't bother to think twice about. This list was a lot of fun to put together, so here goes MY Secrets of Adulthoods...

Kids are more forgiving that adults will ever be.

You can't live beyond your means... without guilt.

It's okay to ask for help.

If you're tall, one of your purposes in life is to help short people get something off the top shelf.

Simple things make you the most happy.

No dishwasher, no deal.

Don't be with someone you wouldn't want a daughter/son like.

Trashy shows fill the void of normail life.

Creativity gives bursts of happiness.

See the world before you can't.

Keep the receipt for big items.

Nail polish is a simple "girly fix."

Don't change yourself for someone else.

You can't hide double-stuffed oreos from your kids... or yourself.

"Baby Therapy" is the best kind of therapy.

Just because you like it, doesn't mean someone else does (and that's okay).

Don't do anything you wouldn't want to see in a newspaper.

The only thing that comes in the mail religiously is bills.

You have to love yourself before you can love anyone else.

Say no for sanity.

You can never have too much toilet paper stocked up.

Need to feel free? Go braless.

You can't please everyone, so stop trying.

Just because they make it in your size, doesn't mean you should wear it.

Time heals.

What's worse than finishing a book series, is having to wait for the next book to come out.

Little bit of happiness: First day back from break with my kids, always an interesting time. They definitely say some of the darndest things. One of my girls told me, "It was just saying READ ME, so I had to!" Made me smile, because she was a reluctant reader at the beginning of the year.

Daily quote: You can't start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading the last one.

 

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

Intro to Twenty.Twelve.

So there will be a lot of introduction to my path this year in the next several posts, which include:

- Life Commandments
- Secrets to Adulthood
- three.six.five Bucket List

- Cleaning Schedule/Weekly Organization

- Monthly Areas of Life

- Books of Quotes, Lists, Reads, Photos

To start of with will be my "commandments" to guide the way for a more simplier life. Easy little tidbits to remember in the appropriate situations.

LIFE COMMANDMENTS:

1. Be true: just being myself no matter what anyone else thinks, don't change for anyone.

2. Lighten up: don't stress about the little things, what happens happens.

3. No regrets: don't put myself in any situation that I may think twice about later.

4. One Minute Rule: if something can get done in a minute, get it done now! Don't procrastinate.

5. Say no: even though I feel bad telling people no, at times I need to to keep my sanity.

6. Simplify: keep it simple, stupid. Make a decision, don't think about it until its stresses me out.

7. Declutter: get things organized, clean, and simple in all aspects of life: home, work, etc.

8. Let it go: put the past in the past and let it go, move on!

9. Comfortable in own skin: be confident in myself, especially in the body image area.

10. Rejoice: be thankful for the little things in life, and share happiness with others.

Little bit of happiness: While being gone over break, I missed my Spearville crew. It was great to see my teacher friends at work today and catch up about how their break went with their families. I am blessed to have them in my life almost everyday!

Daily quote: What will you do today that will make you proud in a year?

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra

In with the New...

First day of 2012!! Time to get this thing started...

Each month I will choose a different "area of life" to focus on. For January I will be starting off with....

ENERGY!!
Studies have show that if you have more energy, you will be a happier person. There are a lot of good habits that will make for a healthier life too.

I'm going to use a lot of the ideas from the book The Happiness Project and use them as guidelines.

My first set of guidelines for ENERGY will be:

1. Sleep smarter:

- go to bed at a reasonable hour

- no naps on weekdays

- wind down before bed

- no lights on, no phone... rid of distraction

2. Exercise better:

- walk on the treadmill while watching TV shows

- walk to dog everyday

- morning walk, afternoon walk, evening yoga

- use stairs or walk places more

3. Healthier intake:

- drink more water

- only one pop a day

- no caffiene after 5 on weekdays

- less sugar, more fresh fruits and veggies

4. Toss, restore, organize

- go through closet, guest closet, loft

- cleaning schedule

- empty shelf

- 10 minute tidy before bed

5. Prioritize

- one minute rule

- reply to e-mails right away

- do things now, not later

- don't get to close to the due date, get it done early

As you can see, some of these are rediculously simple tasks... that I just can't seem to get a hang of at the same time. So now I'm making a concious effort to do so. Basically, my problem is that it's just me and the dog at my house. Who is there to care if my stuff is on the couch, or if I leave the TV on all night... etc, etc.? In order to keep a more regimented schedule I will be tempting to complete the above tasks. And maybe in turn I will have more energy, let's hope!

Little bit of happiness: I have been with my family all of Christmas break. Sometimes we butt heads, but some of my favorite moments is just hearing my dad's laugh. Today he was so excited that him and my mom were on ESPN at the KU game... three times! It's great to see that the little things give him so much joy, I need to take notes from him! Love you dad.

Daily quote: "May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some find books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art (write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can) and somewhere in the I hope, next year, you surprise yourself." - Neil Gaiman

Cheers to Happiness,

Audra