Resolution Check - Feb 1/2

Status report:

• spend less time surfing Facebook - I've been hopping on Facebook a bit more than I'd like, but the good side is that the time I spend on Facebook per session is minimal. I'd like to hop on less, though.
• pay of a significant chunk of my student loans - I took on a roommate which is bringing in $700 each month for March, April and May, plus $400 for the remainder of February. This extra income is allowing me to pay off a credit card, a personal loan and a student loan by April! I've been kicking myself for paying full rent by myself for the last couple years! Roommates are my friends, haha! Plus, Elise is great!
• run 525 miles by Saturday, 31 December 2011: 429.8 miles to go! Today marks my victory of achieving a Nike+ goal I set to run 4 times per week between 14 January and 14 February! Check it out:

• earn B or better in all my PSU master's courses (2 this semester, 1 over the summer, and another 1-2 in the fall): still no grades to really see how I've been doing, but I'm feeling better about my difficult class and have actually enjoyed the lab work so far. I'm up to speed in my Java class, too.
• read the Bible (or at least several books; will be difficult with all the master's work): no status change: I haven't had time to do any reading for fun with all the master's homework. = ( This one isn't looking too good.
• catch up and keep up with my scrapbook for Heidi (I'm behind by about 12 months, heh): I've determined where I left off on photos of Heidi that I've printed. Next step: choose photos to print, order prints. In the meantime, I have some pages ready to be put together. Going to Miami this weekend, but maybe Sunday night I can relax and work on this a bit.

Hope you're reaching your goals this year, too!

Paws in the Park 2011

Yesterday I walked around Lake Eola for the Paws in the Park 2011, a Central Florida SPCA fundraiser for which I raised $155. Thank you to all who donated funds to help the local pets and shelters! Heidi and I had a blast at the walk, and Heidi had WAY too many Milk Bones as we passed by all of the vendor booths. Favorite item collected: a clip/1 cup scoop thing for Heidi's dog food bag to keep the food fresh; now I can use my 1 cup scoop for baking purposes again!

Heidi and I taking a photo mid-way through the walk around the lake. Isn't she cute in her cheerleader outfit?! Everyone LOVED it! Go Purdue!

Here is Heidi sitting pretty after the walk:

And my new favorite photo with my girl:

LH: 5 Traits of Low-Stress, Happy Workers

Stumbled on this LifeHacker article about the "5 Traits of Low-Stress, Happy Workers." Take a look:

http://lifehacker.com/5751875/five-traits-low+stress-happy-work-cultures-have-in-common

Books Read in 2010

I always enjoy reading through the list of books I read over the last year. In 2010 I read 20 books; that's four less than last year. (Meh. I started a master's program last fall and got a puppy.)

The following is a complete list of the books I read. The links take you to the book's website. Search the title/author in my blog to see my personal review of each book (some reviews have yet to be written... working on it).

• 
  
• Water for Elephants*, **
• Mockingjay by Susanne Collins*
• Catching Fire by Susanne Collins*
• The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson*
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson*
• The Hunger Games by Susanne Collins*, **
• Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*
• Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
• A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson*
• Team Rodent
• The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
• Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer*
• Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
• Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman**
• The Children of Men by PD James**
• I Am Legend by Richard Matheson*, **
• The Five Love Languages, Singles Edition by Gary Chapman*
• The Everything German Shepherd Dog Book by Joan Hustace Walker

* personal favorite
** East Orlando Twenty-Something Book Club book

Resolution Check - Jan

Checking in on how I'm doing with my 2011 New Year's Resolutions. Here is my status report:

• spend less time surfing Facebook - I'm doing surprisingly well with this resolution. It's not easy to go back and see how many posts or comments I made, so from now on in February I'll keep track on my own. I'm not missing Facebook at all.
• pay of a significant chunk of my student loans - I recently finished reading Dave Ramsey's "The Total Money Makeover," and I think it was just perfect timing. I'm not going to go into the details of my finances, but I will say that I know a lot more about where my money goes, where it's going and my plan for attacking student debt this year. I am in a sticky spot right now with super ridiculous rent (because I had to renew my lease but wasn't sure how long I'd still be in Orlando), but I'm still working things from many angles. After May it'll be a lot better when my rent is back to something more normal.
• run 525 miles by Saturday, 31 December 2011: January was pretty busy and I had a knee injury for a couple weeks, so it's no surprise I only ran 6 times in January. This month has an attitude when it comes to running; so far I've ran 3 times and it's only the 4th. I'm closer to my 525 miles by the end of the year; only 446.73 miles to go! I need to keep at 10 miles/week to hit my mark.
• earn B or better in all my PSU master's courses (2 this semester, 1-2 over the summer, and another 1-2 in the fall): this is probably my most challenging resolution. I am feeling more confident about IST 552 (my hard class), and I'm doing okay in IST 411 (my Java class). I am several lectures behind, but I am mostly up on assignments. No grades for either class yet.
• read the Bible (or at least several books; will be difficult with all the master's work): I haven't had time to do any reading for fun with all the master's homework. = ( This one isn't looking too good.
• catch up and keep up with my scrapbook for Heidi (I'm behind by about 12 months, heh): I haven't work on this resolution much. In January I sat down and cleaned up my iPhoto. I created and stocked folders for my favorite photos of just Heidi and of Heidi and Ashes. I need to see what photos I already have printed, scrapbook those, then chose my next batch.

Hope you're reaching your goals this year, too!

February is Dental Health Month

Yep, it's true! One of the things February spotlights is our teeth! I am happy to have a healthy habit of brushing 3+ times a day. I am also one of those weird (read: cool) people who use a tongue scraper. I can hardly stand having all those gunky papillae and taste buds hanging out on my muscular hydrostat! I really can't go without one anymore.

If you don't see a dentist semi-annually, click here to find one near you. Your dentist is an important figure in your overall health. Regular dental cleanings and examinations will keep you happy. No one wants to get rid of a rotten tooth "Cast Away"-style (start watching at 1 minute).

"It's important to take care of your mouth and teeth starting in childhood. If you don't, you could have problems with your teeth and gums - like cavities or even tooth loss.


Here's how to keep your mouth and teeth healthy:

Brush your teeth every day with a fluoride toothpaste  (check!)
Floss your teeth every day  (working on this one... I'm doing it at least once or twice a week lately)
Snack smart – limit sugary snacks (mmm, this is why I brush my teeth 3 and 4 times a day)
Don't smoke or chew tobacco (check!)
See your dentist regularly" (check!)

(from NIH: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research)

Not only is it Dental Health Month for humans, but pets, too! For more information on keeping your cat or dog's mouth happy, click here! I'm making this month a challenge to myself to brush Heidi's teeth 3+ times a week!

Here's to happy smiles!