52 lists -- week 21 -- list your favorite songs

it's been a while since i did a list (sorry!) but i've been busy. and so has moorea seal; she's been lagging a little behind, and i've taken that to mean that i can i lag behind too. my apologies. 

but week 21's prompt is an interesting one, mainly because we've already made a list about music. in week 8 i wrote about my favorite albums. i talked about how i chose my favorite albums based on the ones that meant something to me, the ones that were poignant to a certain time in my life. but i also mentioned how difficult it can be to find a whole album of awesome songs. so this list is similar and different to week 8's list. it's similar in that the songs mean something to me, they were somehow significant in my life, but it's different in that the songs are from a plethora of albums, some of which are complete duds except for the song i chose. or the songs were chosen because of how happy and awesome they make me feel. for example, soak up the sun by sheryl crow -- it reminds me of driving to track practice in high school, the windows were down, the music was turned up, and my friends and i were dancing as we drove, making the cars next to us uncomfortable. or call on me by eric prydz, which reminds me of my second year of college living in england. or even part of your world from the little mermaid, a song i listened to on repeat for eight years as a child.

but the one thing that all of these songs have in common is that they make me happy; they remind me of happy days gone by and of happy ones to come. and they make me want to dance. and dancing too, makes me happy.

what song(s) do you love?

52 lists -- week 20 -- list your summer goals

my biggest goal this summer is to plan the bodanzalez boda. which is no small task. we're still trying to figure out the wheres & hows of it all, but we have lots of ideas. it's just making those ideas into reality that we need to work on.

ps. for those who didn't already know, the wedding will be in tucson, april/may/june 2014. check back on my blog for updates on planning and for the unveiling of our wedding website.

another big goal of mine this summer is to finally relaunch my blog. when i first started talking about it earlier this year, i only had baby ideas of what i wanted to do and how to do it. but as the year has progressed, i've done a lot of research, learned new things, and come to some conclusions. so now it's just a matter of finding the time to sit down and make changes.



what are your summer goals?

52 lists -- week 19 -- list the things you want to be known for

ever since we're small humans, we're asked what we want to be when we grow up. but what we want our legacy to be? never. and i think that's almost a more important question because it's easy to say i want to be a teacher, but that's just a job. instead, we should be thinking about who we want to be as humans. because what we're known for is a much better explanation of who we are. 

above all, i want to be known for my kindness and my open heart. i want people to think back on me and say "she always had something nice to say" or "she was such an optimist". unfortunately, sometimes it's really hard to be nice or optimistic. but it's something that i strive for. because really, if you can't be positive or say something nice, what's the point? life is hard enough, so a little kindness can go a long way. and i just want to be one more person who helps someone else feel a little better with a kind word or a positive outlook.

what do you want to be known for?

52 lists -- week 18 -- list the ways you're energized

as we get older it seems harder and harder to get going each day. and it gets easier and easier to take a copious number of naps. not that i ever had a problem doing that when i was younger. but now we actually have things to get done, responsibilities and what not. (boring.) so having a few activities that help rejuvenate and reenergize you are increasingly important.

for me, a nap is still the best option, because there is still nothing better than reseting your body to zero, and starting the day over again. but i have two other options that i really enjoy too -- a faceful of kitten belly and huge skeleton crushing bear hugs. a faceful of kitten belly is something akin to smelling a newborn baby; kitten bellies smell awesome, are super soft & fluffy, and just make your cares melt away. even though my kittenz can sometimes be tiny demons, they really do help me readjust my thinking, let go of my stress, and reenergize me. as for the bear hugs, there are no words that can explain how amazing a bone crushing bear hug can make me feel -- it's like all of my problems and stress are squeezed out of me, leaving me reenergized and ready to face the world again. and sometimes that's just what the doctor ordered.


how do you energize?

52 lists -- week 17 -- list the people you admire

growing up, we’re told that everyone is special, different, and unique. and it’s my opinion that there has never been a more true statement. so if that’s true, why don’t we admire everyone? shouldn’t everyone have something for others to admire? i think so. sure there are bad apples, but for the most part, everyone has something awesome to offer the world. it can be something small -- a funny joke, a smile, or a kind word -- or it can be larger -- a lifesaving invention, a delicious meal, or an amazing book -- but there is always something to admire in others. and frankly, i think the world would be a better place if we learned to look for the things to admire in one another, rather than focusing on the bad.

who do you admire?

52 lists -- week 16 -- list your favorite books

i went into a barnes and noble the other day and i was totally overwhelmed by it. i normally go to the library, so seeing all of those fresh, new books displayed so nicely was a shock to my system. it reminded me of how much i like to read. and how many books are on my to-read list. every time i turn around there is a new book for me to read, a new recommendation; it seems never ending. but that’s ok. because i read a lot, especially now that i’m “reading” audiobooks. 

this was a difficult list for me. i consulted my goodreads read list, but i know that that list only scratches the surface. just like my to-read list only has a handful of books on it compared to the number of books that exist, and that i want to read, my read list only encompasses those books i’ve read in the past couple of years. so i’m sure i am forgetting some. but there are definitely some authors i love -- john steinbeck, ray bradbury, haruki murakami, robert heinlein, kathy reichs -- and i read as many of their books as i can get my hands on. 

ps. if you aren’t on goodreads, i highly recommend it. especially if you read a lot, and are tired of writing down book titles and recommendations on tiny pieces of paper and then losing them. it’s such a handy website and app.

to check out some of the books i'm reading now, check out my 2013 reading challenge.

what are some books or authors you recommend? 

52 lists -- week 15 -- list your favorite quotes

i'm a sucker for cheesy quotes. those quotes that make you feel good about yourself, or make you want to go out and change the world. i mean, who wouldn't love those quotes? but i also love those quotes that you stumble upon when reading a good book. or those quotes that speak right to your soul or your heart; that make you think again about your life. or those quotes that make you smile and laugh. or those quotes that make you cry and break your heart and make you want to help others. so this list of quotes a little bit of everything, except for the cheesy quotes. as much as i love them, i don't need to repeat them here, because everyone knows them already, and it's a little embarrassing!

there's a quote i want to add to this list:
"oh my god! my pubescent nemesis!" -- john kennedy toole, a confederacy of dunces
(backstory: i listened to the audiobook of this book in preparation for our trip to new orleans and the reader gave ignatius reilly the best voice. so every time i read this quote i hear it in that accent and it's just the funniest thing.)

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one of my quotes came from this ted talk by shane koyczan. i wanted to include it here because i first heard this poem being read in this amazing video, and then through ted talks, and it is so moving and amazing i think everyone should listen to it and learn from it. if you have ~12 minutes, please check it out.

what are your favorite quotes?

52 lists -- week 14 -- list your childhood and current dream jobs

remember when you were a kid and every time you met a new adult they would ask: "what do you want to be when you grow up?" i know. it was the worst. and it only got worse over time, because once you got into high school and college that question had a lot more stress and pressure behind it. the idea that as a child, or even as a young adult, you would have any concept what you want to do for the rest of your life is crazy because most adults still don't know what they want "to do when they grow up".

but, for me, it's still an interesting question to ask because i think it's kind of cool to see a person's trajectory -- where you wanted to start from, where you've been, and where you think you're going or where you want to go.

my childhood dream job was to be a vet. i wanted to be a vet from when i was super tiny until high school. and then i changed my mind to forensic scientist or crime scene investigator because i thought CSI was the bomb diggity (a term i freely used in high school). but after a particularly grueling senior biology class i realized that as much as i loved learning about all sorts of crazy and interesting science things, i loved history more. and i changed my dream job a final time, to teaching. and i've never looked back.

i have gotten so much more out of teaching than i ever thought possible. i've met some amazing and talented people, adults and children, that inspire and awe me on a daily basis. and i've learned so much -- which may be why i like teaching so much. to teach, you must first learn, and in my opinion, educating yourself is the most important thing you can do in life. so while life may take me to new cities and give me new opportunities, i think education is it for me -- whether i'm in front of a classroom or behind the scenes, being in the field of education is what i want to be doing. (but if i could be a paid food critic or travel writer too, that'd be swell!)


what do you want to do when you grow up?

52 lists -- week 13 -- list the things you want to make

this was a really hard list for me because there are tons of things that i want to do, but make? that implies that you have the creativity to think of cool things to create and the time to make them. what if i'm not creative enough to come up with things to make? i mean i love doing fun new crafty type projects, like my digital project life projects, but there is such cool stuff already being created that many of my small ideas seem meaningless in the grand scheme of creative things. everyday i'm in awe of the awesome things that people come up with. but being creative is not necessarily "making", nor do the things you make have to be creative. they just have to fit your needs; they should be something that will make your life better or more enjoyable. so my list this week is a small one. but this topic will be in my mind over the next couple of weeks because there will always be something else that needs to be made.


what do you want to make?

52 lists -- week 12 -- list the things that feel like home

for the first 22 years of my life i lived in one place: virginia. most of that time i lived in northern virginia, but my time there was split between two houses. so for a long time, the idea of "home" for me was more about the physical house rather than the home within the house. and since graduating college i've done my fair share of moving around; most of which has happened in the last two years. so, again, the idea of "home" is a little bit hard for me articulate. that being said, there are definitely things in my life that are a part of my happy place -- thinking about them, experiencing them, or being near or in them make me breathe deeply and give me a sense of calm. they feel like how life should always be: peaceful, relaxing, and happy. i love that i've found things that represent home for me, even though i currently live so far away from the place i grew up. i still have these little pieces of home with me wherever i go, so that no matter where i am or who i'm with i can experience my "home".

what makes you think of home?

52 lists -- week 11 -- list your essentials

is it weird that the first thing i wrote down on this list is sunshine? (the next two things i wrote down: sunscreen and sunglasses. obviously.)

sunshine has been on my mind a lot lately. namely because there is so much of it here. 

i haven't always lived in a place where sunshine was a given, so living in arizona is strange. because in arizona it's weird when there isn't any sun. but i'm getting used to it and i'm loving it. (my skin is less in love with it -- i use a disgusting amount of sunscreen.)  

what's essential to you?

52 lists -- week 10 -- list the ways you can cleanse for spring

spring cleaning. something i simultaneously dread and enjoy.

i hate spring cleaning because, inevitably, you end up with a bigger mess than when you started. plus, it takes time; sometimes a lot of time. but it can be awesome too -- you have the opportunity to finally get rid of the clutter in your life. you can organize yourself, donate items to goodwill, clean up, dust, etc., all while being nostalgic about the things you're going through. and at the end of it all, you feel better. your house is clean, your stuff is organized, and you can begin to build the mess again.

but this list is beyond just cleaning -- it's about cleansing. and something about the word "cleansing" makes me go beyond the simple "clean. organize. purge." it makes me think about my whole life; what can i do in my everyday to help cleanse myself? taking care of your body and mind is one thing that will help with the cleansing process. if your mind is clear and your body is healthy it really does make all other aspects of your life better and easier. that's why my list is a mix of things i can do for myself (massage, more water and juice, exercise) as well as a list of actual physical cleaning to do. here's hoping that all of these combined efforts will make my life clean (and stress free).

what will you do this spring to help cleanse yourself?

52 lists -- week 9 -- list the places you want to go

one of my most favorite things in the world is to travel. i love to learn about new cultures and people; to try new foods and hear new languages; to learn the history of a place and to watch the people; to see the stunning architecture; to listen to new kinds of music and see beautiful artwork. i love it.

so this list was easy for me. mainly because i want to go everywhere. and see everything.

that being said, maybe i should have been more reflective, or looked to where i want to go to in the future, but after spending a week traveling this is where my mind is at. 

what i enjoy about this project is that these lists don't have to be static. meaning, at the end of week 9 i don't have to put my "places i want to go" list on a shelf and forget about it. in fact, since i've been doing this 52 lists project i've noticed that once the idea, or the list prompt, is in your head it's much easier to think about it again and again. as a result, my lists are growing and expanding beyond my initial thoughts, becoming more reflective and interesting. it'll be interesting to see how, or if, some of the lists from the beginning of the year are answered differently at the end of the year.

a tiny heads up: i found another list project, 30 days of lists, so i'll be working on that this month as well. look for the lists with my project life pages.

52 lists -- week 8 -- list your favorite albums

music is one of those things that can help any mood, any bad day, any problem. it has the power to conjure up memories long forgotten and it can bring together people of all backgrounds. it's actually quite amazing the power music has on our lives.

when i saw this prompt i immediately thought of those albums that i grew up with, that were meaningful for me as i figured out who i was and what i liked. then i went through my itunes library to fill in the rest of the list. as i did so though, i realized that music is not made the way it used to be -- in the past, you listened to a whole album. and that album was solid gold from the first second to the last. but now, artists are so concerned about having a hit, that they focus their energy on two or three songs and the rest of the album is less than stellar. it sucks. take some pride in your work -- you don't just need hits, people will buy your whole album if it's worth it. as a result, my list is filled with older albums that you can listen to the whole way through. most of these albums are older and have some significant meaning to me, but the music is top notch.

52 lists -- week 7 -- things that make you feel healthy: mind, body & soul

 i found this list to be much easier than the first 5 of 2013 -- it is less reflective and more instinctual. that being said, it's super easy to say why you feel healthy when you're talking about your body; if you're eating well and taking care of yourself, normally, you feel good. but having a healthy mind (and soul) is just as important, and sometimes, it's harder to figure out how to make that happen. for me, i think the things that make my mind and soul feel healthy are the things that make me the happiest -- singing along to a blaring radio with the windows down, dancing with my kittenz, learning new things, and just sitting in the sunshine letting the heat and warmth soak into my bones. it can be hard to convince yourself to be healthy all the time, to eat well and exercise, but the things that make my mind and soul happy are things i would do every minute of every day if i could.

2013 -- week 7 -- best valentine's day present ever + week 6 of #52lists2013

when i was a freshman in college i decided to turn a doodle of mine into a tattoo. it was a simple six petal rainbow flower. as i got older, i realized that it was too symmetrical and i wanted something more. so i tattooed a bunch of five petal flowers up my side. it took me two tries to get it just the way i wanted it. but it's time to add to it again. 

this time i'm thinking of adding a skull to the vines of flowers. i've done a lot of research and looked at a lot of different ideas with the main inspiration being a sugar skull from day of the dead. the above sketch is what i came up with. what do you think? tattoo worthy?

 

52 lists -- weeks 1 through 5 -- a chance to reflect

over the past couple of months i've been trying to read more blogs -- i figure the more blogs and websites i check out, the more ideas i'll have for my own blog. i'm still working on that part, but in the meantime i found a cool new project to work on this year: 52 lists.

i'm pretty into making lists. but normally my lists are about the seventeen million things that i have to do. when i found moorea seal's blog and her new project, 52 lists, i thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect about my life a little. 

however, being reflective is hard. really hard. as a result, these lists are pretty sparse, but i'm hoping that the more lists i complete, the easier it will be to reflect about where i've been and to see where i'm headed. who knows, maybe i'll even be able to pull my life together with the help of these lists.