Winter Florals

9:19 AM

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So it seems to be that time of year again. The time of year when I feel the need to jump on the bandwagon and make some resolutions for the next year. I had some really good ones last year but I forget to take in the fact that I want to achieve way too much for myself. That sounds horrible but it is true. This year I will continue to drag myself through work and school yet again, but this is the last year of it. One year from now I will have my BA finally and I will no longer be a Oakland University Grizzly bear. It is kind of sad, because as much as I hate the stress, I really love school.

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I decided  that I am not going to completely give anything up because I find that cutting myself off only makes me think of what I cannot have even more. So I am basing all of my goals off a reward system and substitution methods. I have a lot of faith in this, so I really hope that it works! That being said, here it goes:

1) Eat less fast-food. I wanted to give it up, but according to friends, Subway counts and I think I would die without Mc Donalds salads and Tim Hortins coffee on the way to school. The salad I eat when I visit Kyle at work, and I snag a coffee on the way to school twice a week. I still want to want to eat pizza too, but no more $5 ones from Little Caesar. If I want pizza, I am going to wait and get really good pizza like from Nikki's in Greektown in Detroit.

2) Eat less dairy. I have found that less dairy makes my stomach hurt less. The store by my apartment sells three brands of soy milk in three flavors, as well as rice and coconut milk. I actually like veggie and rice cheese, I like sorbet so I can skip ice cream (I love it, but I get sick after eating it). I still need to find a good replacement for yogurt. I know too much soy is bad as well, so I am going to try the coconut milk next week. I did not omit dairy completely because I do eat over at my parents house and at others occasionally and it would be hard on them to just cater meals around my unusual eating habits.

3) Learn more about coffee. I like to call myself a coffee enthusiast, but really I just like to drink a ton of it. I want to get a grinder soon because I mostly make coffee at home, maybe I can review coffee on the blog next year, eh? EH?

4)Volunteer. I got this one from my friend Dan. I have a pretty crazy schedule, but I was thinking of at least once per season, four times this year. I also usually partake in the Breast Cancer walk every fall, so I would also like to add one more walk or even a run this year. 
5)Lose the rest. Two years ago I lost over 20 pounds and I have gone back and forth trying to lose the last bit. I also would like to tone up, and get back into yoga.

6) Pay off another card. I want to pay off another credit card and more this year. I had a lot of credit card debt four years ago and I still have a bit but I have cut it in half. I have three cards left to pay off and then I have to work on student loans, ick.

7) Sleep. Typically I stay up until 12am, then get up at 5:30 am. Sometimes I am so exhausted I miss the alarm and do not wake up until past 7am, which is when I am supposed to leave. Then on weekends I stay up until 2am and sleep until 11am. BAD. I need to be in bed by 10:30pm and up at 5:30. 

8) Read more books. I want to read 12 books this year. That is a really sad number but considering how many books and stories I read for school, it is all I can do for the moment. 

9) Watch more movies. There are so many good movies out there that I want to see but have not, so I want to watch 24 movies that I have never seen and I have a list of them that I created (and keep adding to) that I want to see. 

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I plan on keeping a list of books and movies that I do read and watch on excel and I hope to keep you lovelies updated on the progress. I already know that I will have to figure out what to do about friends, I think I might try hanging out earlier on Saturdays instead of Saturday night so I won't sleep in on Sunday's and waste the day. However, Kyle and I might still be looking at houses on Saturdays for a bit, but I have no idea what is going on with that. I want to put "buy a house" on my list but it seems the issues we are currently facing are not even in our control at the moment. I hope to have a more coherent update on the housing issue soon.
I decided to include Kyle in today's outfit photo because he wanted to wear all his new stuff the other day when we took these (he wears a uniform at work so he gets excited about clothes sometimes). Isn't he spiffy?

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Me
Dress-Kmart
Belt & Cardi-F21
Hat-Handmade from artfair
Boots-Sears
Leggings-Target
Scarf-Gift
Bracelets-Gift

Kyle
Shirt & Hoodie-Target
Pants-Levis
Shoes-Kohls
Hat-OU

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26 Musings

  1. Relay for Life is a great way to volunteer and get involved! I'm biased but you are more than welcome to join me and my team in June for it! :)

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  2. Ah, I love that you are putting a list of Resolutions together for the New Year. I don't even bother anymore because I am HORRIBLE at keeping them (or even coming up with them!).

    I love the movie idea, though; I may need to swipe that for my own!! :P

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  3. I love your look, Sara! So pretty. I love your resolutions. I too am not much good at them, but I always try to make a similar list.

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  4. I so love the tam! & Kyle's winter hat too. Your list is inspiring. Stay healthy stay strong!

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  5. This is such a coincidence because I started keeping a list of movies I've been watching on notepad haha! For books though, there's this site goodreads.com where you can find the book your reading in the search bar and makes a list for you! There's also reviews and you can write your own, etc, etc.

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  6. I think these are great goals. I also think the 12 books in the year is a great start. I set book reading goals for myself every year too (not really setting one this year. . just going to try to read a book a week). Love all the things youa re going to cut down on which is a healthy thing to do!! you both look great in these photos!

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  7. First off, you look adorable in this outfit! The beret is beyond cute and the scarf really ties it all together. Kyle is Mr. Chic too hehe ;)

    That's quite the list of resolutions, but none of them seem too extreme so hopefully they go well. I find it really fascinating how many people have mild lactose intolerance these days. I couldn't imagine living without dairy and I feel healthier when I have skim milk consistently in my diet. But to each her own. Also although I find ditching fastfood an admirable goal, it sounds like the way fastfood is incorporated into your current diet isn't too lethal lol. You're picking the healthy menu items and we all know what its like to be too busy to prepack lunches. Don't beat yourself up too much over it.

    I would to hear updates on your coffee taste testing (I'm becoming more of a java snob this year because one of my flatmates is obsessed and I can really tell the difference between crap coffee and quality. Maybe you could get a french press? They're pretty cheap, only take 1 extra step, and generally make better coffee.)

    And I too need to watch more/better films. I see every romcom, but not much quality cinema. That's changing this year because my Edinburgh friends are cinephiles, but I still have a lot of catching up to do

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  8. So love his and your hat.

    Oh, I hope you keep up with the lists OK. All the best to a new great year!

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  9. OH..I want to get out all my GUSTER now! Beautiful out fits. Both of you. Sounds like a great plan there.

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  10. Good goals for the new year. The only one I've got is to go full blown vegan. I was mostly vegan this year aside from eating Nutella & cheese (two things I love) but I'm gonna have to give then up. I guess that's both a good thing & bad thing.

    You both look super cute in your outfits. I love Kyle's hat & your dress! :D

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  11. If you're wanting to read more books, but your schedule makes it hard, I suggest sticking with young adult or even children's chapter books. I read them a lot when I need something quick or fun between longer, more difficult books. There's so much out there now that young adult is becoming a recognized genre. Check award lists and ask around. Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials series is incredible, and quite complex. I've just finished Hunger Games, one of my favorites in awhile. Other greats include The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Feed, Louise Rennison's series about brit teen Georgia Nicholson, and the graphic novels Persepolis and Maus. I can keep going, but I'll stop myself now.

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  12. neat dress :)
    those r some good goals, I should take after you in many of them :P but don't be tooo hard on yourself tho :P
    Hope u had wonderful xmas :)

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  13. you looks so adorable! I love how you always take pictures of your bf <3

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  14. Love the outfit! And your resolutions sound awesome. As a fellow coffee enthusiast, might I suggest a few websites?

    http://www.allegrocoffee.com - for some very basic, easily digestable info...I went through their training program at Whole Foods as an employee and was pretty happy with it

    http://www.slayerespresso.com - AMAZING espresso machine worth geeking out over, as well as great links to other coffee sites

    http://www.ratemyrosetta.com - latte art galore.

    Hope that helps with at least one resolution!

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  15. I admire your resolutions. They're all things I try to do myself and they'll be good for your health and well-being. I eat healthy, avoid dairy, and watch 3-4 movies a week. It'd be fun to compare notes with you about your experiences doing these things.

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  16. you look so gorgeous in these pictures. i'm loving the scarf casually tied around your neck. :)

    good luck with your resolutions, i'm loving the one about volunteering more.

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  17. Wow, love both your outfits. Hope you 2 are having a very fine week.

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  18. that a very good list i dont really have a list well to work out more and post more haha

    lovelovelove your outfit that tunic top is soo cute man

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  19. oo I really like this outfit! great colors and patterns.

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  20. You look so cute in that dress!

    Lovely blog!


    xoxo,

    colormenana.blogspot.com

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  21. You both look so great! I think this is a really great list and I wish you the best of luck with sticking to it.

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  22. these are fantastic and admirable resolutions! i am esp proud of you for paying off credit card debt! working at the bank has taught me so much about personal finances -- i am glad you are so on top of things! i have to start paying off school debt soon ... boo ...!

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  23. Almond milk. Tasty, tasty stuff.

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  24. You two look great. I like how you winterized the dress.
    I think my resolution for next year is to stick to my resolutions. :P

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  25. I feel ashamed - my NY resolution is to wear my vintage white ankle boots...!

    Lovely scarf, by the way.

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Talk nerdy to me.