Budget is made- let's see if we can stick to it!

Now that I have a full time job and an idea of what I'll make a month, I've been able to start making a budget. It is still a work in progress, but I've started and I'll see if I can stick with it!

Sent off two more birthday cards!

Lots of birthdays and events going on in October! I gave my mom a greeting card earlier this month for her birthday, which was lovely. And then I sent one to my grandmother for her birthday as well! We sent her a present too, which she seemed to like. I have more cards to give and send before the end of the month!

Donated 3 more things!

I donated three pairs of shoes! I actually gave them to a recycling program that makes water filters out of old shoes. So that was a really cool thing to be able to participate in!

Another ebook- Ninth Doctor

I'm back to my routine of reading one real book, then one ebook. After finishing The Chaperone, I read the ebook for the Ninth Doctor. The story was okay, I really liked how they revealed the companion gradually so that the reader didn't base their opinion about her on her appearance. I would have loved to see a Ninth Doctor story featuring Rose Tyler though, because I'm afraid the author of the Tenth Doctor's story will pick a different companion. But it was a pretty good story, no complaints!

New food- pawpaw?

Okay, so I tried a new food. I was told that it was a pawpaw, although it didn't really look like the images that came up when I googled "pawpaw." The taste wasn't bad, but it was extremely mushy. I couldn't deal with the texture, so it's not for me!

Another book finished!

I read a book called The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. The book was partially about an actual person, silent film star Louise Brooks, but mostly about her chaperone Cora, who was a fictional character. The story was about Louise and Cora's trip to New York, and their journeys toward finding out who they are. It was a good story, but it really seemed to drag out. I would like the story better if it was just the trip to New York, with some references to before and after. But the book told Cora's entire life story, and focused on many different issues. I feel like the book would be better and more successful if it was more concise and focused, instead of trying to be so broad.

I almost forgot!

I sent a greeting card earlier this week! I sent a thank you note to my former coworkers, for the lovely gifts they sent me. I love sending cards!

Just two more books left in the Tudor Court series!

I finished The Queen's Fool by Phillipa Gregory, the fourth book in the Tudor Court series. This book was a little different than the others, because the main character wasn't a historical figure. The main character and her family were all fictional, but based on people and situations that actually happened. As usual the book centered a lot around the English court, this one taking place after the death of King Henry VIII. I wasn't sure I'd like a book featuring a psychic as the main character, but the book was similar enough to her others for me to enjoy.

Another movie!

At least this one is sort of new! Today I watched Star Trek Into Darkness. I'm not super into Star Trek, I've watched some of the original series and various other episodes, and I hadn't even seen the 2009 movie. But I did really enjoy this one! Benedict Cumberbatch was excellent, and Chris Pine was freaking gorgeous. It was a good movie on it's own, and I think the more you know about Star Trek, the more you'll understand about this movie. There were a lot of things that probably went over my head, but I still really liked it. Now I definitely want to watch the 2009 movie!

Another book down!

Today I finished the Wizard of Oz book. Yes, it's a children's story, but it's such a classic that I wanted to read it! I was really curious to see how it's different from the movie, and it is very different. I really liked the story, even though it was slow at parts. I can see why it's considered such a classic- it's so timeless and universally appealing. Normally I'd start an ebook next, but the next one doesn't come out until later in the month! So next up is another Phillipa Gregory, in the same series I've been reading.

Another (not so) New Movie!

Today I watched Big Fish, which I've been meaning to watch for ages. It was a cute movie, but I wanted to watch something fun today and this was definitely sad in parts. I cried at the end, and while I liked the movie, it wasn't really what I was wanting to watch today. I think if I'd been in the mood for this kind of movie, I would have loved it.

I donated some more things!

Last time I was at Soma, I noticed that they had a big box for donations. When we asked about it, they said that they accept donations of old bras to give to women's shelters. I have a ton of old bras that someone might be able to use, so last time I was at the mall I brought three in to give to them. They were so happy to receive the donation! If you have a Soma shop near you, check to see if they take old bras too! I'm sure you have some laying around!

Another ebook done!

I finished another Doctor Who ebook, this one was for the 8th Doctor. The story was decent, but this was the first time that I really noticed the writing style, and not in a good way. I don't really know much about the Eight Doctor, and between that and the writing, I didn't like this book so far. Next up is something very different, so maybe that'll be a nice change.

Almost halfway done with books!

I finished reading book #12! It was The Boleyn Inheritance by Phillipa Gregory. I had actually started reading another book, The Other Queen, before realizing that they were different parts of the same series. I think each book can be read on it's own, but I'd read the first two books in the series and wanted to continue in order. So I read the third book in the series, which I enjoyed quite a lot. It was narrated by three different women, alternating chapters. That made the book very interesting, and allowed for the reader to be almost all-seeing without an omnipresent narrator. Of course the books are historical fiction, and knowing what happens to Henry VIII's wives means that the ending of the book is no surprise. Even so, the book was very well written, and I really enjoyed it.

Another new movie!

I watched another new movie! This one was called In The Loop, and I watched it because the 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi was in it. I really enjoyed this movie, I found it to be very funny. I'm glad I watched it for Capaldi, because I don't think I would have found it otherwise!

Spaghetti Squash!

I tried another new food- spaghetti squash! It was okay, might be a nice fall veggie!

Donated 4 More Things!

Today I took a trip to Goodwill and donated four more things. I love getting rid of old stuff, especially knowing that someone out there will be able to use my stuff!

And yet another book done!

After reading a regular book, it was time to read an ebook. This was the story for July, so now I'm all caught up! This ebook was about the Seventh Doctor, and it was excellent. The Doctor was well written, as was Ace the companion. Also there were Daleks, which is always exciting! Looking forward to the next ebook about Paul McGann's Doctor.

Another book down!

I've finished another book! Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This book has really withstood the test of time, and it's easy to see why. It's still very relevant, and still an excellent book. It's very interesting to see which of Huxley's predictions for the future have come true, and which ones seem totally absurd. This is definitely my kind of book, and I adored it.

Another new movie

I had some time to kill, so I went on Netflix and found a movie I hadn't seen. I'd been curious about the Zach and Miri movie for some time, so when I came across it I decided to watch. It was okay, super raunchy as expected and very predictable. It was funny at parts though, and I think anyone who enjoys that kind of humor will really enjoy the movie.

I got a job!

I'm so excited to finally announce that I've gotten a new job! It all happened so quickly- about two weeks ago, I found out that a large Louisville-based company was hiring a large number of people. I applied, and had a phone interview. The man who interviewed me actually said I'd be better suited for a different position that paid better and was closer to my house. I continued the process with that job, and got an on-site interview last week. My interview was a breeze, and the company made me an offer that day.

I start in September! I'm very excited, but I'll be sad to leave my current job. I had to wait to tell you guys until I told my current job. Another goal accomplished!

Another e-book finished!

As I've mentioned before, I'm alternating between ebooks and regular books. After finally finishing Anna and the French Kiss, I read the next Doctor Who ebook on my list. It was the 6th Doctor's story, and I liked it pretty well. The story jumped right into the action, which is great for a short story- no need to waste time with a lengthy backstory! The companion narrated this story, which was interesting, and the 6th Doctor was definitely written as the 6th Doctor. It was a nice little story, probably one of my favorites of these ebooks so far.

Finally done with another book...

The amount of time it takes me to finish a book has more to do with how much I like it than the actual difficulty.

It took almost a week for me to finish Anna and the French Kiss. It's an easy read, but I had a really difficult time getting into it. About halfway through I started to care about the characters, and just wanted to know how things would end up. The story is super cheesy- I guessed most of the major plot points very early on. There was really only one "plot twist" in my opinion, and it fizzled out by the end and became a nonissue.

I just felt like everything came together too neatly, and everyone lived happily ever after. In real life, people I know who have gone through similar situations of having a boy leave his girlfriend for them, have ended up with the boy leaving them for the next girl. I don't know. Maybe I'm just too old and cynical to read young adult fiction, and there were a few parts I enjoyed. But I was right in assuming that this was not my kind of book.

Another new to me movie!

And continuing on with the theme of 90's movies, I suppose! I watched The Truman Show, which I really enjoyed. Great social commentary, with a realistic feel- I mean, who knows where reality TV is going! As usual I think I'm the last person in the world to watch this movie, but if you haven't seen it, I totally recommend it.

Another ebook finished!

I'm trying to alternate between real books and the short ebooks, so when I finished The Other Boleyn Girl I started on my next Doctor Who ebook. This one was for the fifth Doctor, so I'm almost caught up! The ebook was called Tip of the Tongue, and I'll have to say was not my favorite of these 50th anniversary ebooks. It was set in World War II era America, and focused on two teenagers. The Doctor and his companion were barely in it, and it could have been any Doctor, if only the wardrobe description had been changed. It's fun to see how different authors go back and interpret these older Doctors in their stories, and when the Doctor is barely in the story, it seems a little pointless. Of course I'll continue to read the series, but not until I finish another real life book first!

A long overdue book update

I finally finished The Other Boleyn Girl. I have a very long history with this book, and I'm glad it's done!

I borrowed the book from my college roommate, in 2007 or so. I read part of it, but I was so busy with school that I set it aside. I would pick it up periodically, but always have to start over since it had been so long since I'd read any of it! A year or two later I finally got my own copy, but never did get around to finishing the book. It has been sitting half finished in my bookcase, on the shelf with all the other books I've been meaning to read. Now, as I attempt to read 25 books before my next birthday, I'm finally making my way through the stack. Six years after I first picked it up, I have finally finished The Other Boleyn Girl.

(And I think I still have my former roommate's copy. Sorry Hilary!)

Banana Peppers!

I tried another new food! I had banana peppers with my dinner yesterday, and I really enjoyed them! I'm finding all kinds of tasty new foods!

I finished another book!

I just finished the book The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman. It's definitely one of my new favorite books- very well written, but easy to read and such a great story. It's different and it's excellent, and you should all read it!

I went to the consignment shop!

I finally took a trip to sell some clothing today. They took 6 of my items, and I got a little over $25 for them! I didn't make it to my 25 items today, but it's a good start. I'll try again in the fall, and maybe donate some of my summer items in the meantime.

An actual, full-length book!

I read an actual book! I read From The Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury. It's been sitting on my to-read shelf for ages, and I finally decided to pick it up. Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors, and he tells an excellent story. The book is a little disjointed, because different parts were written at different times and then joined together later. Bradbury started the story in 1946 and finished it in 2000, which is kind of funny considering her wrote Fahrenheit 451 in a week. This book is about a very peculiar family, which is loosely based on Bradbury's family. It's a great Halloween story, and would probably be even better read again and again.

I'm glad I finally read this book! I would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy stories, and definitely suggest reading it around Halloween.

A not-so-new movie

I was searching Netflix for a movie that I hadn't seen before, and I found Clueless. I know, I'm the last person to watch that movie! It's very 90's but it's really cute and funny. And it had a happy ending where everything is tied up and everyone lives happily ever after, so that's nice too. If you haven't seen it (or if it's been a while), definitely check it out!

Another (short) Book

Yes, I know, another short book! But that's the key to reading as many books as possible in a short amount of time. This book was Never Stop Shutting Up by Mike Falzone. It's a collection of essays about everyday life, with some really unique advice. It's a funny book, and a very light read, not something that needs to be read all at once. It's a great summer read if you need something light and fun for vacation, I would definitely recommend it!

5 pounds down!

I have officially lost five pounds since my birthday! I did a juice fast shortly after my birthday, and since then I've been drinking plenty of water, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, and working out regularly. I feel amazing, and I love that I'm leading a healthy lifestyle instead of dieting. I'm not counting calories or worrying about eating things that are low-fat. Instead, I'm focusing on eating whole foods and things that have lots of nutrients, and less processed food. If I keep losing at this rate, I'll reach my goal way before next year, and it would be awesome if I could lose even more than 25 pounds! But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, and for now I'll continue to focus on small goals.

Another book down!

I'm trying to get more into reading and writing, which is excellent news for one goal of mine! I read another Doctor Who e-book, this one was for the Fourth Doctor (I'm a little behind). This book was Doctor Who: The Roots of Evil by Philip Reeve. It was an okay story, I don't know a whole lot about the Fourth Doctor but it seemed fairly true to character. Not a great book, but these are meant to be quick stories about each Doctor and not great literature.

Maybe my next book will be an actual, full-length novel! No promises though.

I finally tried avocado!

I know. I KNOW! I always thought I wouldn't like avocado because I don't like the smell of guacamole. But it was on my salad, so I decided to give it a try. It didn't have much of a taste, but a really nice texture. I'm glad I tried it, because I'll definitely be eating more avocado in the future.

Another goal completed!

So I told you guys that I bought my two-piece bathing suit. Now I'm on vacation at the beach, and I've worn it in public!

Laying out at the beach!

I was a little nervous at first, but there are so many people of all shapes and sizes wearing all kinds of swimwear. So I didn't feel self-conscious at all! Plus I didn't get much of a sunburn, so it's a win all around.

My Bathing Suit

One of my goals is to buy a two-piece bathing suit, and actually wear it in public. I've actually gotten a swimsuit- the Gabi Fresh Galaxy Bikini!

Gabi in her fabulous Galaxy bikini!

I haven't had the opportunity to wear it yet, but I'll be wearing it on my vacation later this week. I'll post a picture when I have it on!

Greeting Cards: Birthday and Father's Day

I've given three more greeting cards! I sent one to my friend Caitlin in Montana, for her 25th birthday. I also gave cards to my Dad and Grandad for Father's Day. This has been one of my easiest goals to work on!

New food: Smoothies!

I really don't remember ever having a smoothie before, but I got one for free at Panera last week. I didn't think I'd like smoothies, but I really did! Now I'm kind of obsessed, and I've already tried a couple more flavors! I think smoothies would be a great breakfast food too, and I'm thinking about getting a blender so I can make them myself!

Movie: Paranorman

I haven't had time to watch many movies lately, but I did watch Paranorman on Netflix. It was okay, but I wouldn't recommend it or watch it again. I think as a kid I would have loved it though!

New Video! My Juice Fast

I made a whole post about my juice fast, but I also did a YouTube video about it this week. Check it out!

New Food Maybe? Baked Beans!

My mom made some baked beans, and I thought they were awesome. We were trying to figure out if I'd ever had baked beans before, and we decided that if I'd had them, it was just a taste. So I'm counting them now!

New food: Beets!

In my juice cleanse I've tried some beets. I'm definitely not a fan of them in the juices, but maybe I'd feel differently eating them regularly.

I Did A Juice Fast!

I finished my first goal! I completed a cleanse. I followed the 3 Day Plan from Reboot With Joe, which you can find here. I bought and set up my juicer, went shopping for some great organic produce (with the help of the shopping list included in the PDF), and got started.

The first day went pretty well. My stomach was a little uneasy that first day, I think it was in shock! I felt very normal on day 1, until about 5:30 when I just crashed. After a nap I was okay, but from then on my energy level was pretty low.

Day 2 was easier in that I knew what to expect, but I was much hungrier. I was really missing food, and I wasn't craving anything in particular but I just missed eating food. Day 3 was definitely the easiest because I was less hungry, but my energy was at an all time low.

I was able to finish though! I went for three whole days only consuming juice and water, and I lost 5 pounds! I know I won't keep all that off right away, but I'm hoping my fast will kickstart my 25 pound weight loss. I don't feel any different after my fast, but I am more open to trying more fruits and vegetables and including more of those in my diet.

My fast was difficult, because I didn't enjoy any of the juices. I don't think I finished a single one! Juicers need to be cleaned after each use, so I had to at least wipe it down after I made every juice. My juicer isn't difficult to clean, but it was a time consuming process. I felt very tired and weak the whole time, and my lips got incredibly chapped. I was also very scatterbrained the whole time, which is unlike me. I was really hoping that my unhealthy cravings would go away and I'd only want fruits and veggies, but that didn't happen at all!

While I'm glad I tried this, and I do plan on including juicing in my diet in the future, I don't think I'll be doing another juice fast. It was incredibly difficult, and I'd much prefer to eat my fruits and vegetables than to drink them!

First book!

Finished a book today! Well, an ebook... but I'm counting that too, because 25 is a lot. The book was Doctor Who: The Spear of Destiny. It was pretty good, it's part of a book series for the 50th Anniversary and this is the third book in the series. So I'll have more of these to list later on!

Juice Cleanse!

I'm starting on my goal of completing a detox or cleanse tomorrow. I'm doing a three day cleanse that I found at rebootwithjoe.com. Here is the link if you want to check it out! I might post updates day to day, but I may also just wait until the cleanse is over to tell you all how it went.

Today I went shopping and bought about $50 of fresh produce. Right now it's taking up our whole fridge! My parents are being very supportive, and I'm just really anxious to get started. I'm really interested in seeing how the cleanse will affect me, since this is all very new to me. I'm also excited to complete my first goal on my list!

I made a video about my goals!

I've officially announced my project on YouTube! Welcome, YouTube friends!

First new food: Rhubarb!

My dad got some rhubarb from the farmer's market this weekend. We had no idea how to prepare rhubarb, but my mom found a recipe for a dessert with strawberries and rhubarb. The dessert was really good, and I actually liked the rhubarb!

I set this as a goal because I'm kind of a picky eater, and I don't like trying new things. This was definitely a good experiment though, so I hope I like the next 24 foods just as well!

Starting On My Greeting Cards!

My birthday helped me start on my goal of sending 25 greeting cards! Today I mailed 5 thank you notes to relatives who sent me birthday cards and money. It feels great, because I know they'll really appreciate my cards!

About My Weight Loss Goal

I've done my official weigh-in, so I can give you my starting weight and goal weight.

Weight as of 5/18/13: 203 lbs
Goal weight: 178 lbs

25 pounds is a lot to lose, and this is not a goal that's right for everyone! However, two years ago I weighed about 250 lbs, so I know how to lose weight (and keep it off). Although this will be a challenge, taking off 25 lbs in a year is a completely attainable goal. I'm about 5'8", so this will move me from the obese category to the overweight category. Still not to a "healthy" weight, but much better! I'll keep you posted on my weight loss periodically.

Why 25 things?

Yesterday I turned 25. I want this to be a productive year in my life, where I make a lot of positive changes. After much consideration, I've finally set my 25 goals- and now I can start working on achieving them!

On this blog I'll be updating periodically, either when a goal is in progress or when I achieve one. Keep checking back to see how I'm progressing!