Happiness Project - Gretchen Rubin

Found this October's Real Simple and really liked it =) She encourages you to start your own "Happiness Project."

1. Don't start with profundities. Get to sleep at a decent hour and don't let yourself get too hungry.

2. Do let the sun go down on anger. Venting isn't always good.

3. Fake it till you feel it. Act happy even if you're not.

4. Realize that anything worth doing is worth doing badly.

5. Don't treat the blues with a "treat." The multiple glasses of wine or a cigarette won't really make it better.

6. Buy some happiness. Spend money to stay in closer contact with family and friends.

7. Don't insist on the best. Sometimes good enough is good enough.

8. Exercise to boost energy. It's the most dependable mood booster.

9. Stop nagging.

10. Take action. 40% of your happines level is within your control.

5 Risks Every Gutsy Girl Must Take

5 RISKS EVERY GUTSY GIRL MUST TAKE
1. Fall in love; really seize it. The guy probably WON'T BE THE ONE, but that's how you learn who you are.
2. Be yourself--especially in a relationship. We still live in a sexist world where women often twist themselves into what they think a man wants in order to have him. Put yourself BEFORE PLEASING A GUY and you're more likely to find the guy who is right.
3. Make a firm plan to move out of your comfort zone. Say that you will work this entry-level job for two years and then, NO MATTER WHAT, say that you will move on.
4. Try everything you find interesting, even if it's quirky or odd.
5. Dare to ask, what is my purpose here? You might not to able to answer it, but you'll learn a lot in the process.

Sumo found this in Cosmo and I liked it =)

Distance

"There's a point in your life when you know who stays forever, and who's just around for awhile. People change. But so do you, sometimes for the best & sometimes for the worse. Bad things happen to everyone. You're not in it alone. People lie, and some people just don't care how you feel. Your heart beats no matter how much pain you're in. Everything will be okay...eventually. There are always those people in your life that will make your day.... no matter the miles. I know all about distance, I've been dealing with it all my life. So don't tell me that it's easy. Because it's not. But it is worth it, I'd rather stay in touch with people I love, then to just drop it and forget about it. You don't forget about the ones you love. It doesn't work like that. Give it all you got, and live your life to the fullest. People would kill to be you, to have what you have... someone always has it worse off than you, but that doesn't mean your pain doesn't count."

- I'm not sure who wrote this, but it is a very accurate and beautifully put description of my life as it has been these past few years. If I had to say the hardest lesson that I've had to learn, it is that some people just don't care about me or other people's feelings in general. While I like to believe the best in everyone, lying is second nature to some. And to stop caring, for them, isn't difficult because in truth they never really cared to begin with about anyone besides themselves. I'd like to think it was as simple for me to just drop and forget about people. People who I shared rooms, lockers, bathrooms, tears, laughs, hugs, hours of discussion and dreams for the future with. But I don't forget people. And if you think you can, you are mistaken. Your past is who you are, it will come back full circle. Just wait.

Despite all of that, the nasty ex-boyfriend or the friends who treated me worse than the nasty ex-boyfriend, I have a handful of people who make my day, every day. I've been dealing with distance since I was young. My grandparents and immediate family have never lived in the same state as me. I've learned over the years how to handle distance. And besides the girls I work with, my three best friends all live 200 miles away and Ben over 1000. My relationships certainly wouldn't have survived these past two years, had I not known how to deal with the miles between. I've never said it was easy, but it's definitely been worth it.

Urban Dictionary on St. Louis

Just wanted this on here permanently. It's pretty funny.

Homet​own:​

Saint​ Louis​ : Saint​ Louis​,​ Misso​uri is the fat capit​al of the world​.​ It is a city where​ if you are walki​ng somew​here,​ you are autom​atica​lly assum​ed to be homel​ess,​ unles​s you make it clear​ to peopl​e that you are exerc​ising​ by weari​ng a joggi​ng suit,​ and in that case,​ you are just an idiot​ rathe​r than homel​ess.​

One might​ wonde​r what has led such a quiet​,​ littl​e city to becom​e a garga​ntuan​ eatin​g machi​ne.​ The answe​r is that there​ is absol​utely​ nothi​ng to do in Saint​ Louis​.​ Proba​bly the bigge​st attem​pt and bigge​st failu​re to do somet​hing creat​ive was build​ the Arch,​ and for prosp​ectiv​e touri​sts,​ the funne​st part about​ seein​g the Arch is the gruel​ing 10-​hour ride to the top on eleva​tors that move slowe​r than the elect​ric handi​cappe​d groce​ry carts​.​

Saint​ Louis​ is also known​ for its abund​ant suppl​y of fastf​ood,​ where​ on every​ block​,​ one can find at least​ a McDon​alds,​ Burge​r King,​ Taco Bell,​ Steak​ and Shake​,​ Jack in the Box, and a Harde​es.​ So, witho​ut anyth​ing to do excep​t eat, eat, and eat, the prosp​erous​ city of Saint​ Louis​ has turne​d into a monst​rous hunk of fat.

But aside​ from being​ the fatte​st city known​ to man, Saint​ Louis​ is also home to the bigge​st low-​lives​ one could​ ever dream​ of getti​ng to know.​ In Saint​ Louis​,​ a simpl​e nod or a wink at someo​ne could​ get you shot and kille​d on the spot.​ Why would​ someo​ne kill anoth​er for winki​ng at them?​ Hey, in Saint​ Louis​,​ anyth​ing is in possi​ble

Saint​ Louis​ is broke​n up into 4 major​ distr​icts.​ Whoev​er came up with the names​ is beyon​d me, but such creat​ivity​ will last throu​gh the ages.​ North​ Count​y,​ West Count​y,​ South​ Count​y,​ and East Saint​ Louis​ are the 4 distr​icts of Saint​ Louis​.​ There​ also is Downt​own Saint​ Louis​ and Saint​ Louis​ City,​ but those​ are hardl​y worth​ of menti​on since​ the only thing​ that manif​ests in those​ areas​ is crime​.​

-​North​ Count​y is inhab​ited by a bunch​ of lazy hoosi​ers and contr​ibute​s nothi​ng to socie​ty.​

-​West Count​y is a bunch​ of subur​ban white​ folks​ that sit aroun​d and think​ about​ how much bette​r they are than the rest of their​ world​ while​ makin​g sure to lock their​ doors​ and windo​ws in their​ BMWs at the sight​ of a black​ man.

-​South​ Count​y is a mixtu​re of North​ and West Count​y.​

-​East Saint​ Louis​ is where​ one can go for sexua​l desir​es at strip​ clubs​ and at the same time get mugge​d by a mean-​looki​ng man.

Saint​ Louis​ is a large​ city that the rest of the world​ could​ not care less about​.​ Most likel​y the only recog​nitio​n it recei​ves is from its sport​s teams​ such as The Cardi​nals,​ The Blues​,​ and The Rams.​ Other​ than that,​ there​ is reall​y nothi​ng speci​al about​ the place​ with the excep​tion of Ted Drewe​s,​ the best froze​n custa​rd one can ever get. In fact,​ if one shoul​d ever go to Saint​ Louis​,​ it shoul​d be for the sole reaso​n of tasti​ng the heave​nly delig​ht.​ Just don'​t eat too much,​ or you'​ll becom​e fat like the rest of us here in Saint​ Louis​.​

Examp​le:​ Jimmy​,​ "​Daddy​,​ can we go to Saint​ Louis​ somed​ay?​"​
Dad, "​Heck no, Jimmy​.​ Heck no.

Leo and Leah

Today in my Folklore and Feminist theory class I was introduced to a girl, Leo (pronounced Lay-o), who is from Ecuador. We were asked to state our heritage, where we came from etc. I was amazed, in this class of 38 girls, that so many had crazy backgrounds and actually knew about their ancestors and roots. Like me, there were also several girls (along with the instructor) who didn't know the answer to that question because we're from right here. We're American women from small towns. We know little pieces about our grandparents but we haven't carried traditions or cultures with us, or at least we don't really think we do. Anyway, back to Leo. She's fascinating. It's crazy but I could listen to her talk for hours, she has the neatest voice and just a rich history and life experience to share. I also was introduced to a classmate in my International Issues class, Leah, from New Zealand. She too had this beautiful voice and an incredible story. I know this semester is going to challenge me immensely, however I am very excited about the classes I am taking. Aside from the two I just mentioned, I am also taking my Magazine Editing course (which is what I want to do and I really think it's going to answer several of my uncertainties about my future as a journalist). I'm taking an intermediate writing class with Prof. Weinberg, who is not only a respected and established author but just a very nice and encouraging mentor. Our section focuses on the criminal justice system and we are partnering with UMKC and UMSL's law and criminology schools on a project entitled The Innocence Project. Basically I'll be assigned to a case to investigate the an individual who is convicted but potentially innocent and locked in one of Missouri's horrendous prisons. Finally I am taking my English capstone, in which I will basically write a 30 page paper on some topic that engages me from Willa Cather's writing. To most this probably sounds tormenting, I'm actually really excited about it. Cather was the editor for McClures, the magazine that several of the muckraking journalist wrote for. Supposedly Cather didn't like the type of work muckrakers produced, yet she edited tons of the work they published. Anyway I figure researching this and writing about it will be a perfect opportunity to tie my Journalism and English degrees. One other thing I did today was talk to an advisor about internships for next semester and summer and I found two I think would work out perfect. Now I just have to apply and get accepted!! If the one works out, I might be on my way to Birmingham, AL following graduation =) We'll see though. Ok this was random but I wanted to write about my crazy day.

Quarter Life Crisis

My friend Jen found this and I thought I would spread the comfort of it's message! I know my best girlfriends and myself are all experiencing what it describes on some level.

They call it the “quarter-life crisis.” It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn’t know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now. You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren’t exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don’t recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren’t really cold, catty, mean, or insincere, but that they are just as confused as you. You look at your job… and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because you suddenly realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn’t. One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past for dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward. You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can’t meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future, and making a life for yourself… and while winning the race would be great, right now you’d just like to be a contender. What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out. And really, this is an acknowledment that YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS…..

Long Time Gone

Well it's been over a month since my last blog but I wanted to put up some pics of how the apartment turned out and also some updates on my life.

First, I never thought a change of residence could change the way I live and my happiness but I have enjoyed life more this past month or so than I ever have. First, living on my own was on my 50 before 50 List. It sounds silly, but I'm very proud of the place. It's just things, but it's all mine. I couldn't have completed decorating and everything without the help of my parents and best friend. Anyway it's just funny how much I've come to love home. I especially love coming home, sitting on my comfy couch and watching Friends with a glass of wine after a long night at work (like I am right now).

My summer was perfect. Really. I actually got to spend much needed time with my family, enjoyed a countless number of Girls Nights, and had a wonderful week with Ben just recently. It's funny because I visited my advisor yesterday and got all checked out for graduation. It's just weird knowing life is going to change so much in less than a year. Ben will be back home and I'll be looking for job. Don't know the exact details but I just know it's about to change. Which makes me savor every day and I love it.

Ok well I'm off to bed, about to start a very busy but exciting 2nd to last semester of college!!! Well not if I go to grad school but anyway!

Here's the pics!

This is before couches, I need to take pics with the couches but I'm too lazy. They're cute though, same color as the curtains!