A New Year's Day

After the shortest work day since I've been back, the family got out and continued our New Year's Day tradition: Babe's Chicken for good food and black eyed peas. Because we were so close in Carrollton, we stopped by Vitruvian Park in Addison to see the lights, and it turned out to be the last night of them! We went nearly two weeks ago now, and I was so happy to have my camera with me this time.

Speaking of the last two weeks, I have not blogged. That will all change tomorrow, though, when I catch up on my day off. I've been working a lot of hours since I've been back, and I'm excited to have some time to get myself organized!! I think I have my goals for this year laid out, but I'm making these with the knowledge that life changes.

1. Read 12 new books, in varying categories.
2. Take a picture every day and upload it to Flickr.
3. Blog as much as possible.
4. Knit/crochet/etc. with a purpose.
5. Apply the things I learn.
6. Take better care of myself.

I'll expand on these at some point, but for now I need to apply #6 and go to bed!

- rl

New Year's Eve + 2014 Goal Wrap-Up

Mom explaining Monopoly Deal to those who had never played.

My first time playing Ticket to Ride! This is the board mainly cleared off, but it was pretty full! (365/365!!!)

Emily being...Emily.

Settlers of Catan. a game I've been wanting to play FOREVER. It did not disappoint.

Overall, New Year's Eve 2014 was a good one! We had a peaceful night with some friend just eating pizza and snacks, then playing the games pictured above. I really enjoyed the two new games I played, and I'll definitely be doing a little more research into the strategy behind Catan before I play again.

Now onto how my goals for the year did!

1: one self portrait (per week)
Success! 

week forty-nine | week fifty | week fifty-one | week fifty-two

2: compose photos (every day)
As far as I know. This is the epitome of this challenge for me: never taking pictures when I should, then not knowing if I really did complete the challenge or not!

338 | 339 | 340 | 342 | 343 | 344 | 345 | 346 | 347 | 349 | 350 | 351 | 352 | 353 | 354 | 356 | 357 | 358 | 359 | 361 | 362 | 363 | 364 | 365 - which is at the top of this post!

3: read the Bible (every day)
Nope. 

4: journal (daily)
Nope.

5: blog (daily)
Nope! This post is being written twenty-four days into January. Crazy, I know. Anyhow...

6: walk
Still no walking specifically for exercise, but that's fine by me.

7: bike
Nope.

8: 52 projects
Nope! I don't know how many projects I actually finished in 2014, but I blogged 26 of them. I know I finished more than that, but that number is pretty perfect to me because that's half of my goal!

9: 52 books
Once again, I forgot to do a wrap-up at the end of the month, but, thanks to goodreads, I know I figured it out and I read AT LEAST 50 books this year. I may have lost a few in there somehow, but it was at least 50!

10: experiment with photography
Nope. I've been too busy this month!

11: make six new meals for the family
Nope! Now that I'm home I want every meal to be made by my mom. I do have one dish I want to make for them before I leave, so hopefully I'll get to that.

12: learn to play the keyboard
Nope.

13: at least one photo book
Nope.

14: travel

FINALLY GOT TO FLY AGAIN. It had been way too long. I absolutely love flying, and love that every time I want to go home I'll just have to fly. (;

Overall, the year wasn't too bad. I definitely won't be setting such specific goals for 2015, however!

- rl

Previous 2014 Goals Posts:
Original List
January Update
February Update
March Update
April Update
May Update
June Update
July Update
August Update
September Update
October Update

November Update

Getting Caught Up

337/365

In my dorm, I have a full length mirror. Sure, it's great for looking at your outfit, but I am recently loving keeping a running list of things to do. From the time I got out of class to now when I'm writing this (three hours) I have gotten a lot done, including catching up on five days of blogging (SO BEHIND. I KNOW.), general room cleaning, and thinking I should prepare all these shopping bags for being made into plarn. Also, catching up on my Watch Later list on YouTube. It's my favorite way to have something playing while I get dressed, etc. I love Booktubers, but can't watch them all for an hour each night.

ANYWAY it feels so great to have two classes done! Or, almost done. I thought my speech class was done after I did my final speech, but it turns out we have a take home test this week. Whatevs. I will survive. Only two weeks until I go home, though!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- rl

(p.s. this is part of my 14 goals for 2014. You can view all my goals here.)

2014 Goals Update: November

333/365

Only month left in 2014! As most goal setters, I am so ready for next year. Ally and I bought Passion Planners for each other, and I'm so excited for it to arrive so I can organize my year. Already thinking about all the changes I'll make in blogging next year!

This morning Ally, Marika, Leslie, & I trekked to Chick-fil-A for breakfast, then to Ohio & Michigan to see Mockingjay: Part One! I found $7 tickets online and now Ally wants to go every weekend. Um, we'll see about that. It was great, though! The movie as well as the reclining leather seats. Oh, yes.

1: one self portrait (per week)
Success! 
week forty-four | week forty-five | week forty-six | week forty-seven | week forty-eight

2: compose photos (every day)
Nope. I know I missed one day for sure, made up for it, and probably missed another. Whatevs. 360 of 365 days would be fine with me.
305 | 307 | 308 | 312 | 313 | 315 | 317 | 318 | 319 | 322 | 323 | 325 | 326 | 328 | 329 | 331 | 332 - which is at the top of this post | 334

3: read the Bible (every day)
Nope. I binge read it while working on my Old Testament paper...

4: journal (daily)
Nope. Definitely not even a priority even more.

5: blog (daily)
Nope! These last few days are being posted early-December. I'm still writing the posts, obviously, but it's a bit less authentic when it's not the actual day.

6: walk
A little bit! I can't think of any time I did a ton of walking, but it's the city so you definitely do more walking than when at home.

7: bike
Nope.

8: 52 projects
Heh. It's Christmas project time. Not even sure I finished any projects this month. I do have a few projects I've finished this year that I haven't blogged about and there's no guarantee they will ever be blogged. Shrug.

9: 52 books
I finished another book this month! For the first time, I forgot to do a monthly reading post, but I only finished one book, so I can just toss it in with next month's post.

10: experiment with photography
Oops. That didn't really happen this month. Boo! I'm so bummed to realize this.

11: make six new meals for the family
A little difficult 900 miles away...

12: learn to play the keyboard
Nope.

13: at least one photo book
Not yet!

14: travel
Once again, it's just about exploring the city.

- rl

Previous 2014 Goals Posts:
Original List
January Update
February Update
March Update
April Update
May Update
June Update
July Update
August Update
September Update
October Update

2014 Goals Update: October

304/365

HOW IS OCTOBER OVER?? It was a big month. A lot has happened. And what does it all end with? Snow flurries + sleet all day. I walked a little on Michigan Avenue a few times today on the way to and from the hospital (where a dear friend is still at while being tested for her health) and the wind! I know it's not called the Windy City because of the gusts, but it applies in that sense as well!! I think I heard that it got to 50mph? Absolutely crazy. And this is only the start...

Anyway, I've got sleep to catch up on, so here's how I did on my goals this month!

1: one self portrait (per week)
Success! 
week forty | week forty-one | week forty-two | week forty-three

2: compose photos (every day)
Success! At least I'm going to consider it one. It will be very interesting when I compile all these pictures together at the end of the year...
276 | 277 | 278 | 280 | 282 | 283 | 284 | 285 | 286 | 289 | 290 | 291 | 294 | 299 | 300 | 303 | 304 - which is at the top of this post

3: read the Bible (every day)
"Not for quiet time purposes. I'm only human..." Same as last month!

4: journal (daily)
"Nope. And it doesn't bother me. I probably should do one of those "day in the life" or something, though..." Also the same as last month!

5: blog (daily)
Yup! I've mentioned this ritual to multiple people this month and they're always impressed, so that's kind of cool. I'm definitely glad I've stuck with this.

6: walk
Oh yes. Definitely not as much as some, but definitely more than I ever have before.

7: bike
Nope. I should probably attempt this at the gym...

8: 52 projects
Yes! I made progress! I definitely won't hit the 52 mark, but I'm so fine with that. I blogged a lot of these this month.
project 23 | project 24 | project 25 | project 26

9: 52 books
Well, I finished one book this month! I just need to get into a better routine - discipline! ugh!
what I read this month

10: experiment with photography
Always experimenting, but I got out of my comfort zone in particular while Jenna and Emily were here last weekend.
one

11: make six new meals for the family
A little difficult 900 miles away...

12: learn to play the keyboard
Nope.

13: at least one photo book
Not yet!

14: travel
Once again, it's just about exploring the city.

- rl

Previous 2014 Goals Posts:
Original List
January Update
February Update
March Update
April Update
May Update
June Update
July Update
August Update
September Update

2014 Goals Update: September

273/365

This is how I spent about an hour of my day between class and work: knitting on a hat for a classmate while listening to Judges in preparation to start my second Old Testament paper. September absolutely flew by. I cannot believe we're already into our sixth week of school. (It's pretty fantastic here). Today I'm feeling very blessed.

Now onto the goals...I cannot wait for 2015's goals. (;

1: one self portrait (per week)
Success! 
week thirty-six | week thirty-seven | week thirty-eight | week thirty-nine

2: compose photos (every day)
"Success, I think. I still haven't gotten all the pictures compiled into one folder on my computer yet, and it's getting a little hazy. I think so, though." Seriously just the same as last month. I think some, like WIP Wednesdays, were only pictures of my projects, but whatever.
244 | 245 | 247 | 248 | 255 | 256 | 258 | 263 | 264 | 265 | 266 | 268 | 269 | 270 | 

3: read the Bible (every day)
Not for quiet time purposes. I'm only human...

4: journal (daily)
Nope. And it doesn't bother me. I probably should do one of those "day in the life" or something, though...

5: blog (daily)
I think so. Some were definitely just written the next day, but it's the 30th day of the month and this will be the 30th post, so that works for me.

6: walk
All the time. All the walking. And I love it.

7: bike
Nope. I'd really like to take a ride along the lake shore before it gets too cold, though!

8: 52 projects
Yes! I made progress! Three have been blogged about, and two more will be posted this week. Pretty good, if I do say so myself. Not sure if I've mentioned it yet, but I knit or crochet, like, all the time. In chapel, in class, during Joe's Live on Monday nights...just whenever I can.
project 20 |  project 21 | project 22

9: 52 books
Nope! Didn't finish a single book this month. I'm getting a tad worried now that I won't hit my goal...except I will totally have to because I have never been so close!! 
what I read this month

10: experiment with photography
A teeny bit, I suppose. Will definitely try to squeeze in some more in October while I have two sets of visitors come in!
one | two

11: make six new meals for the family
Fail.

12: learn to play the keyboard
Fail.

13: at least one photo book
Fail.

14: travel
It's all about exploring the city now! See: photography. Those are the times I've really gotten out.

- rl

Previous 2014 Goals Posts:
Original List
January Update
February Update
March Update
April Update
May Update
June Update
July Update
August Update

2014 Goals Update: August

242/365

So technically this blog post is being written on August 31, but I'm going to make it look as though it was posted August 30. Fancy.

Anyway, yesterday, August 30, I had this view! It was a pretty great day. I woke up about five times, letting my many alarms continue to go off every 15 minutes to help me decide when I wanted to wake up, then finally got out of bed and showered. I went to watch our brother floor win their first intramural football game of the season, then went to lunch. After lunch I sat in the lounge on our floor and finished reading Genesis and figured out the best way to work on my first Old Testament paper, which is due in three weeks. One of my friends on the floor, Ally, made me promise to finish reading it before going out that evening. Don't tell her, but I'm glad I got it done. (;

Once that was completed, another girl from my floor and I went back to the fields and saw our brother floor win their second game, then went to dinner, where we learned some fun facts about the school. Then I joined (read: crashed) the chorale's outing to the jazz festival, which also happened to be my first time on the Chicago public transportation. Way easy. We stayed at the festival through the sunset, which was gorgeous by the way, took a selfie at the Bean, saw the fireworks from Navy Pier, then walked back home. Walking down Chicago I was getting concerned about whether or not my feet would make it. So weak!

I usually try to keep these monthly wrap-up posts all about the goals, but yesterday was a really great day and it had to be documented. Without further ado: how I've done on my goals this month:

1: one self portrait (per week)
Success! 
week thirty-one | week thirty-two | week thirty-three | week thirty-four | week thirty-five

2: compose photos (every day)
Success, I think. I still haven't gotten all the pictures compiled into one folder on my computer yet, and it's getting a little hazy. I think so, though.
213 | 214 | 217 | 219 | 220 | 221 | 222 | 223 | 227 | 230 | 231 | 232 | 234 | 235 | 237 | 240 | 242 - which is at the top of this post

3: read the Bible (every day)
Nope. The goal now is to have a quiet time every day. I'll definitely be reading the Bible every day, but for academic reasons, which is pretty cool. 

4: journal (daily)
Fail. I've given up for a while, I think. I've got this blog and it will just have to be good enough. Maybe I'll start typing a journal, though...? 

5: blog (daily)
Fail. This blog post is being published on August 31, will say August 30, but really was written August 30. Did you not read what all I did yesterday? I was pooped!! 

6: walk
I think I've walked, like, at least four miles over the last 36 hours. So. 

7: bike
Nope. Which is just fine by me. I'd love to bike along a long path one day here in the city, but that would take some research.

8: 52 projects
Fail! I did so much at the beginning of the year that I'll be fine if I only finish a few more projects this year.

9: 52 books
Success! The recreational reading has definitely already decreased, but I'm pretty close to my goal so it should finally happen this year!! I think I only have seven or so books to read before I hit 52! 
what I read this month

10: experiment with photography
I haven't done much experimenting this month, but I (obviously) want to do some cool stuff while in the city. I'm always a bit hesitant to bring my camera out in public, though, so it will probably take me a little while to get to that stage.

11: make six new meals for the family
Fail.

12: learn to play the keyboard
Fail.

13: at least one photo book
Fail.

14: travel
Does moving 900 miles away count? 

- rl

Previous 2014 Goals Posts:
Original List
January Update
February Update
March Update
April Update
May Update
June Update
July Update