Today's Simple Pleasures

• Being sore but proud of myself for a good workout last night.
• Yummy dark roast coffee.
• Cuddling.
• Learning how to be present.
• How freaking comfortable my bed is.
• Thunderstorms in the middle of the day when it gets so dark out you'd think it was dusk.
• Wandering.
• Oh, and this video.

-Julie

"Nobody really cares if you're miserable, so you might as well be happy"

-Cynthia Nelms

-Julie

I did promise...

It's called reverse graffiti....How cool is that?!

what have I done....

2. Stay up all night and watch the sun rise.

Well...i did watch the sun rise a bit. I did fall asleep for a couple hours, and there was a lot of...unwholesome activities going on that night, but i was up and outside watching at the time the sun was coming into the sky. I would like to do it again, and this time be a little less intoxicated and a little more appreciative of my surroundings, but the task did get done.

3. Drive 100 mph and not get caught.

Accomplished shortly after making this list...I was on one of many 3 hour roadtrips by myself across the state of Pennsylvania. The turnpike is very long and very straight and mostly flat. Also there aren't very many places for the police-people (gender neutral. right) to hide. I went 104 and promptly went back to my comfortable 85. I was nervous, but it was exhilarating, I think I've done it a few times since, but my little VW is having trouble getting up to those speeds in her old age....poor Janice.

4. Go camping.

I love camping. It is so much fun. Well...let me rephrase, I love comfortable camping. With some amenities and more importantly a comfortable place to sleep. More specifically, I love camping with someone I love. My boyfriend and I went to Cunningham Falls State Park and stayed for 2 nights for his birthday. We did everything together and it was wonderful. No parents, no responsibilities, just us. We hiked up the falls and swam in the lake (despite the weird plants growing on the floor). We smoked hookah and drank and were delinquents while we still can be delinquents. It was great. I want to go again as soon as I can.

6. Go to a concert/show.

Vampire Weekend was FANTASTIC. I went in April to the Electric Factory in downtown Philadelphia with a few friends and we had a great time. I love that band. They are great live. Ezra Koenig is a babe. Other bands on my list to see? Coldplay (for the second time), Radiohead, Muse, Katy Perry....but mostly MUSE.

7. Go to a state I've never been to before.

I spent almost a week in California in the beginning of June. My family and I flew from BWI to LAX on June 9th, and spent morning in Venice Beach and the rest of the day on Pacific Coastal Highway up to Cayucos...about a 4 hour drive. The drive was beautiful once we got out of the immediate area of LA. Los Angeles is SO not my scene, it's very...hazy and gross and industrialized. My favorite part was Ragged Point, The most southern part of the Big Sur region. Beautiful cliffs and ocean views.

8. Send a postcard to Postsecret, or anyone for that matter.

I didn't send a postcard into Postsecret, but I did send one to one of my best friends while we were both away at school. I love sending and receiving snail mail. It's so much more personal than a wall post or email message... plus who doesn't love getting things in the mail that don't cost them money?!

9. Go for a hike and watch the sunset.

Well, I went for a hike...and then when we were finished the hike the sun happened to be setting so we watched it. haha I know it's a stretch, but the hike was the important part...and seeing the sunset. Both were beautiful. One day, I will hike up a mountain and watch the sun set over the hills. I will do that. I just have to find a good mountain and a good hiking/camping/sunset watching partner. Well, I have 50% of that accomplished :)

17. Finish an entire crossword puzzle.

DID IT! I was so proud of myself. It's in my personal journal for proof. I only cheated a couple times I swear. And granted, it was only in the metro, not the NYT, but hey, you have to start somewhere.

20. Go to Canada - again.

Okay...so I didn't go to Canada, but I did go to Germany and Italy and I feel like that makes up for it. So i'm going to consider this task accomplished based on the fact that I flew internationally, have been in more airports than I can count AND flew cross country from LAX to Dulles by myself with no problems. I think i did pretty darn well. Now it's time to plan for my next European excursion - Spain. For 3 months. The idea of it is scaring me.

I'm almost halfway done, I need to get on this! Less than 2 months left!

-Julie

Back by not-so-popular demand....oh and 20 new things.

SO its been a while....more than 3 months... i've been busy i guess, or i could just say i've been lazy and get it over with. Anyway, on with it!

Remember this list? Kinda the main reason why I wanted to blog in the first place? Well I've accomplished several things off this list and would very much like to talk about them. The ones in italics are accomplished, the ones that aren't MUST get done by September 16, 2010 or I will consider myself a failure...just kidding, they'll just go on next year's list. Also, the ones with asterisks have modifications. but only little ones, promise.

1. Go on a multi-day road trip.

2. Stay up all night and watch the sun rise.

3. Drive 100 mph and not get caught

4. Go camping.

5. Knit something. Like an entire something. Not just a few rows of a scarf.

6. Go to a concert/show

7. Go to a state I've never been to before.

8. Send a post card to post secret...or anyone really.

9. Go for a hike to watch the sun set.*

10. Go to a drive-in movie.

11. Learn the guitar correctly, know all (well...most) of the chords by name and be able to just sit down and play.

12. Get up to speed in current events, know what's going on in the world.

13. Volunteer somewhere.

14. Participate in an Iron Girl triathlon.

15. Go to the Baltimore Aquarium (I've lived within forty-five minutes of it for my whole life but never actually been inside. This must change.)

16. Go to an estate sale/ flea market.

17. Finish an entire crossword puzzle (hopefully without too much cheating...)

18. Fill my entire journal. Every last page.

19. Learn to drive stick well enough as to not annoy the unfortunate people who end up behind me.

20. Go to Canada - again.*

I will talk about this in the days to come. Really. I promise.

-Julie

More happiness talk...

I have been told in the past to not try to quantify feelings with thoughts. To define the line between what I feel and how I describe it to myself and others. Essentially, I've been told that what I feel and what I think are mutually exclusive, that feelings - love, hate, happiness, sadness - cannot be adequately described using words.

I can't work that way.

I like to talk about my feelings, not to just anyone who will listen, but to those select few that I know would appreciate what I have to say and wouldn't judge me for it. I enjoy trying to explore reasons behind why I feel the way I do. I suppose that is why I write...to try to get not only my thoughts on paper, but my feelings as well. Finding words to describe feelings is like a puzzle...a word search in its most literal sense.

I guess it's an acquired skill to be able to verbalize your emotions. To be able to tell someone how you feel accurately and articulately. For some, the true meaning of their emotions gets lost in translation, but for others the explanation is what gives the feelings external meaning.

Just thinkin...

-Julie

Sweet Summertime

mmmmm strawberries

Life is crazy. The past couple weeks have been filled with group projects, tests, interviews, and social events that have eaten up all of my time. I'm still working on the whole "D0-everything-well-but-still-have-time-for-myself" thing. I either devote all of my time to my work and to other people and give myself time to sleep...or I half ass things so that I get five minutes to read a book or write in my journal. And we all know I don't ever truly half-ass anything that gets graded...or that someone else is going to see.

I don't even know what to write about...I guess the only things on my mind are summer and getting this semester over-with. I don't like doing the same thing for too long, because I just irritated with it...and then I don't want to do it...and then I procrastinate like a champ. So I guess I can post some pictures of what I'm hoping for this summer.

Sleeping in hammocks...This one's pretty, but it doesn't look structurally sound.

Camping! I really want to give it another try. The last time I went I was very young and angst-y A view like this would be fantastic.

PICNICS! I love them. I want it to look just like this. I have an idealistic view of picnics...when I know full well it would mean bugs and heat and allergies. It's a nice thing to think about, though.

Lame post, I know. I'll get better I hope.

-Julie

Instant Mood Brightener.

Puppy Can't Roll Back Over - The most popular videos are a click away

-Julie

Countdown to....Right Now!

Since when has life become a never ending series of countdowns? I find myself counting down to every big, exciting event even before the previous event is over. I counted down to spring break and the day i got back started a countdown on my Dashboard until I go back home for the summer (49 days, if you were wondering). Sure, countdowns are great, they give you something to look forward to, but what are the repercussions?

I've realized that if I continue to countdown to each new event, I don't live in the moment. It's impossible to cherish the day you're in if you are looking forward to tomorrow, or the next day, or next year. Days go by far to quickly when you're looking forward to something else. They may feel slow, but what do you do with those days? Do you make them meaningful? Or do you spend your free time thinking of how great tomorrow will be?

Right now, I have 3 different countdowns on my planner, written in the corner in sparkly gel pen. But why should I wait for something great to happen when I can make today great and something worth looking forward to? We shouldn't dwell of what will happen, we should focus on what is happening and what we can make happen.

-Julie

Eat your green beans.

There was an article on tinybuddha recently that struck a chord with me. I always read their articles, but this one in particular happened to be about something I think about all the time.

The big question in the article is "If there are others suffering in the world, what right do I have to think about myself or my lofty goals?" I often feel guilty for the things that I have and the things that I want. If there was ever a poster child for lofty goals, it would be me. I want to have a high-paying and highly rewarding job. I want to write, I want people to know me. I want to have the perfectly balanced family with a beautiful house and a big garden by a lake. I want to never have to worry about money, and be able to live comfortably well into old age.

But really, how can I want all of these things, when there are people dying at such young ages in disease ravaged third world countries, with nothing more than a piece of tin and a few stick to call a home?

I suppose we're taught to feel that guilt from day one when we won't eat our vegetables..."there are starving children in Africa that would love those green beans" my mom would always tell me. But what this article is telling us is that you shouldn't downplay your dreams or your accomplishments because of it. We are all related, our lives are all one life, "an interwoven tapestry." There cannot be great wealth without great poverty, great success without great failure.

With great success comes the ability to help those in need; to start foundations or adopt children or donate to any charity you can think of. You do not need to give up worldly possessions or squander the gifts you are given in order to feel better when comparing your life to the lives of others.

Strive for Self-Actualization. Be all you can be and all that jazz. I sure plan to.

-Julie

"All that is gold does not glitter...

...not all those who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

I've finally figured out what kind of girl I am..It's taken nineteen years, but I've finally come to terms with the person that I am, and what I've found is that I am full of contradictions. I am a human contradiction, quite frankly.

First of all, I figured out my Myers Briggs type yesterday and came out with an ESFJ - Extroverted, Sensing, Feeling, Judging. This essentially means that I am usually open to and motivated by the outside world, I like clear and concrete information, I have a serious memory with a lot of detail, I am unsettled by conflict and have a toxic reaction to disharmony, and I plan most details in advance before acting.

This is who I am...But when I took a closer look, I figured out that I am both introverted and extroverted, I wish there were an introverted extrovert category, because if that was an option that would be who I am. It's funny because I like being around people and feel as though when I am alone for a long period of time, I am almost wasting my time....but by the similar token, when I'm around people for too long, all I want to do is retreat to my room and be alone so I can hear myself think.

I've also realized that I like to wander without being lost, and I like to plan to be spontaneous. (Human contradiction, remember?) I like to go new places and do new things, but not without knowing exactly where I'm going and exactly what I'm doing. This is something I am trying to change about myself, because so many of the things I want to do in life require spontaneity and a little bit of getting lost. So far, I haven't really had the opportunity to completely immerse myself in spontaneous wandering, but I hope that when I travel, I will be able to let go of my planning nature and just wander. Get lost for a bit. See what its like.

What kind of person are you?

-Julie

Don't burst my bubble

i can't remember where this is from, but i know it's not mine ♥

I haven't written in a while. It's not that I haven't had things to write about, just none of things I wanted to write about were positive... and I don't like writing negative things. Because when you read negative things, it kind of brings you down. And I definitely don't want to bring anybody down....Even if only 3 people read this.

the past two weeks have been one of those times where I worry about everything. Every negative over the past two weeks has opened up a whole new can of worry in my head and as hard as I tried I couldn't get it to go away.

I can kind of liken the feeling to the sensation you get as you're waiting for a balloon to pop. Like someone is squeezing it and squeezing it and you just sit and cringe and brace for the loud imminent POP.

Today is the day it all went away. and it's a feeling of relief that feels SO GOOD. I guess whoever was squeezing my proverbial balloon just decided to let go... Nothing can get me down today, even if I have a huge bruise on my arm from a failed attempt at giving blood. And my car won't start again. And I have a project due friday. I repeat nothing can get me down.

-Julie

The Ultimate List

Just in case you haven't noticed, I like lists. I like lists a whole lot. I am probably addicted to lists. If there were a twelve step program for list addicts, I should probably join it...but then again, the 12 steps would itself be a list, thus only adding to my problem.

The bottom line is, I'm a list-maker. Hardcore. So here's a list of reasons why I like lists.

• They are very organized. Obviously.
• You can write them anywhere; in a planner, on a post it, in a notebook, on your hand.
• You can write them about anything: what to buy at the store, what to do this weekend, where you want to be in ten years, your hopes, dreams, fears, favorite songs, somebody stop me!
• You can write them with markers or crayons or pretty colored sparkly gel pens.
• Crossing things off is the most rewarding sensation. Well, not the most rewarding, but it's pretty damn great.
• They can break giant tasks into little manageable ones.
• Every once in a while, I'll do something that's not on my list, then proceed to write it onto my list, just so i can cross it off and verify to myself that i was in fact productive.
• They also make really good blog posts when you can't think of anything better to write about :P

In other news, it's going to snow more. So I may or may not be snowed in again. So I may or may not post more soon.

-Julie

Remember that rant I had about procrastination?

I obviously cannot take my own advice, because here I am writing this, when I should be studying for the 3 tests I have in the near future...BUT I have a new idea. And I'm gonna share it with you.

This week I've decided to start a new self-project. The 45 week project. To do something new every week, for the whole week, for the rest of the year. There's 44 1/2 weeks left...But this week makes it 45 weeks. I think. I counted, but I could be wrong. The point is, that every week, I'm going to do one thing that I usually don't do, for that whole week. Does that make sense? I hope so.

So this week, I decided to do something I never ever do, and that's wear big earrings. Yes. That is trivial and rather silly, but I have to start somewhere. If you ask my roommate, she'll tell you that I never ever wear earrings; small, big, doesn't matter, it just doesn't happen - and seeing as she is the queen of ostentatious jewelry, she is a pretty reliable source on the matter. It's mostly because I don't want to look overdressed or like I'm trying to hard, so all of my pretty earrings just sit in my jewelry box waiting for a big night out in which I might just wear them. But this week, I've resolved to just not care and it's kinda nice. Not to mention, all of the big earrings I've accumulated over the years are coming into use finally.

Basically, every week I will have a new thing to accomplish that I usually don't do. I have some ideas already, so I'll list them. Because I like lists. And also, I don't want to forget.

• Feb 21-27: Drink tea instead of coffee everyday...this is going to be a hard one due to my serious addiction, but hopefully I'll like this better, because it is far more healthy.
• Feb 28- Mar 6: Wear heels everyday. I'll have to get over my height complex eventually, and lets be serious, who do I have to be shorter than?
• Mar 7-13: Read [a book] for fun every night before I go to sleep. I might try to start this early, but that week it's serious business, I want to get back into the habit.

That's a good start, I'll keep you posted. Even though I don't know who "you" is. Or if there is a "you" at all. IRRELEVANT. Procrastination's over.

-Julie

Happy Late Valentines Day.

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It may not be my favorite holiday...but even over-commercialized, overrated holidays can be beautiful.

Valentines day is one of those days that gives those people who usually rationalize themselves out have having expectations, the reason to have expectations, however small... If that makes any sense?

Well, I am one of those people. I don't want expectations. I really don't. Expectations lead to disappointment, and disappointment leads to a whole slew of unpleasant emotions that I prefer to avoid. So usually, I lose the expectation...or just expect the worst in most situations. The best thing about expecting the worst is that when that doesn't happen, you're super excited. It's kind of the feeling you get when you have a really bad headache and then all of a sudden, it's gone. You feel 50 times better than you would normally, just because of the drastic improvement.

Anyway, back to V-day. Have you ever noticed how so many relationships end around any holiday? A whole lot. And why is that? My bet is that its because of unfulfilled expectations by either or both parties.

And even people like me, people who don't really give a damn about a dozen roses, or a five star dinner, or a unique romantic gesture; still long for something. Anything. Frankly, I could get a letter and a mix cd every holiday for the rest of my life and be pretty damn happy. Sure, jewelry is nice, flowers are nice...obviously I'm a girl, I like those kinds of things. But I know that a lot of guys only get them because of the expectation the girl has, not because it has any special meaning to them whatsoever. I don't want to expect that from anyone, and to be honest, no one should.

Some people think that love only exists if others can see it and if it's paraded around in the form of a tacky "journey" necklace from kay jewelers. Wrong. Oh so wrong. What has become of us?

I realized this recently also, how sexist Valentines Day is. The girls expect everything from their guy and what does the guy get? I mean sure, they probably get exactly what they want [after all, blowjobs are like flowers for men, or so I've heard] ...without the girl having to spend a dime....but still. Some girls expect flowers and dinner and jewelry and romance and chivalry in return for what? Sexual favors? These girls give us all a bad name, I swear.

I propose valentine's day get wiped off the calendar completely. We already have birthdays and anniversaries and christmas to worry about, stress over, and expect things from. Why must there be a random day in February that puts relationships in jeopardy?

Sorry for the rant...but I feel better.

-Julie

Don't Hate on Winter

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As snow is accumulating by the foot outside my window, it's hard not to dream of sunny spring days and beautiful summer nights...it's even harder not to hate on winter all together.

But what good does it do to sit inside and hate life? Why not make the best of the cold weather and everything that goes along with it?

It is my resolution to love every season, no matter how adverse the weather condition happens to be... so since I love lists so much, here's one of all the reasons why I'm not going to hate one winter.

1. Snow=Snowball fights and snow cream and beautiful landscapes.
2. Drinking hot cocoa, tea, coffee, etc. to warm you up.
3. SNOW DAYS - I think I'll be excited about snow days for the rest of my life.
4. The feeling when you wake up in the morning, look out the window, and everything is blanketed with beautiful, untouched snow.
5. Lots and lots of blankets to keep you warm.
6. Cute slippers. Mine are lady bugs :)
7. Movie marathons when you're snowed in, my plan for tomorrow? Phantom of the Opera, Gossip Girl Season 2, and maybe The Pianist?
8. Being snowed in in general...it's complete justification to do absolutely nothing productive....or maybe organize your entire life. But then again, I'm a virgo, so I like that kind of thing.
9. Cuddling in front of a fire, or under lots of blankets....or just cuddling in general. (Body heat is the best kind, right?)
10. Spring anticipation! Flowers and leaves and blue skies. mmm.

It's winter. Love it. Only a few weeks left!

-Julie

Happiness vs. Practicality

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I pretty much have one mantra i repeat over and over "do what makes you happy."
I say it to myself, it's my go-to piece of advice when someone has a tough decision, and generally I believe that it is something to live by. If you always did what made you happy, you would always be exactly that, right?

Well what if what would make you happy would cause you stress? What what makes you happy requires you to live in your parent's basement for the rest of forever? What if what would make you happy involves dropping out of school and hitchhiking across the country?

What it really comes down to is: when does happiness butt heads with practicality? When should we put aside our happiness for future goals?

So many things can hold you back from doing what you want, money, family, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends. All of the things that support you can just as easily prevent you from doing what truly makes you happy. That shouldn't be the case...but it's kind of an inevitability that we all have to live with.

I wish I could provide better answers...for myself or anyone else...but really all I have is questions...

I guess doing what makes you happy is harder than it sounds sometimes.

-Julie

As if I needed another reason to love Conan O'Brien

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"all i ask is one thing, & i’m asking this particularly of young people that watch: please do not be cynical. i hate cynicism. for the record, it’s my least favorite quality, it doesn’t lead anywhere. nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. but if you work really hard & you’re kind, amazing things will happen. i’m telling you: amazing things will happen. i’m telling you, it’s just true." -conan o’brien.

-Julie

The Happy vs. Pet Peeves

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Pet peeves - we've all got 'em. and they always seem to get us down.

Mine include, but aren't limited to:

• Complete disorganization and chaos.
• Really loud phone talkers. (They can hear you! I promise!)
• People who laugh really loud by themselves, with no consideration for others...forget that, just people who have no consideration for others.
• Arguing with ignorant people about unimportant facts (much different than arguing about opinions, because I'm all for that).
• Any sort of passive aggressive behavior.
• Hypocrisy on important issues, changing your mind is one thing, being a hypocrite is completely different and infinitely more irritating.
• When cups get stacked before they are all the way dry and then get all moldy and gross.

Trivial? Yes. Stupid? Also yes. BUT I will not let these things get me down, no matter how many of them happen in a three day period.

Pet peeves are those things that just get under your skin, no matter how hard you try to ignore them. I tend to fancy myself a pretty easy person to get along with, but these things send me from completely chill to an irritated you-know-what in about 5 seconds.

It is my resolution, as of today, to not let these things get me down. To make happiness not just an intangible feeling, but an actual thing - a noun i suppose. It's not just happy anymore, it's "the happy"..."my happy." Does that make sense? I hope so. Because it makes sense to me.

It is also my resolution to spread the happy. Happy people make other people happy. It's as simple as that. We can all do it, all we have to do is try.

-Julie

An Endlessly Changing Horizon

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“Make a radical change in your lifestyle & begin to boldly do things which you may previously never have thought of doing, or been too hesitant to attempt. So many people live within unhappy circumstances & yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned to a life of security, conformity, & conservation, all of which may appear to give one peace of mind, but in reality nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man’s living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, & hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new & different sun. If you want to get more out of life, you must lose your inclination for monotonous security & adopt a helter-skelter style of life that will at first appear to you to be crazy. But once you become accustomed to such a life you will see its full meaning & its incredible beauty.” — Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild.

Just something to think about...

-Julie

Simple Pleasures

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In my opinion, simple pleasures are some of the most under-appreciated, underrated things in the entire world. This might be cliche, but it's the little things that really matter and that bring true happiness.

What are some of my simple pleasures you ask? Well, I'm going to tell you!

• Those lines that a vacuum cleaner leaves on the carpet.
• Finishing every last thing on a to-do list so all that's left are scribbles.
• Writing mundane things in pretty colored markers or gel pens.
• A perfectly made bed.
• When a song comes on shuffle that perfectly fits your mood.
• Those socks with the little grippy things on the bottom, they're comfy and safe! (I'm clumsy, that's important.)
• Rediscovering songs that I haven't listened to in years. (Example: Fall Out Boy? remember them? I'm listening to them right now.)
• The look and smell of my room after I do ALL of my laundry and it's all put away (perfectly...in color order.)
• Putting a sweater on right out of the dryer.
• When it's a lot warmer outside than I anticipated and I don't even need my jacket anymore.
• Seeing people doing nice things for other people. Unexpected kindness is my favorite.
• Having really good ideas about things to write about.
• Learning a new song on the piano.
• Buying greeting cards.

I'm sure there are more things, but I can't think of anymore right now...but i think that's a pretty solid list :)

-Julie

Things I Love Thursday

I took this one :) it's my favorite necklace and new journal.

It's an internet phenomenon that i have decided to take part in :)

Just a few things that made me smile this week:

• This website, I can't stop reading it. I love discovering new things that you can go back through and read all of the archives and never get bored. I especially like this post.
• Cute text messages.
• Pandora. Enough said.
• Not-so-scary plans for the future.
• Cold room + warm blankets = me not getting out of bed.
• Gossip Girl Season 2. I've been watching it like its my job. I love the drama, but it only affirms why I love my life and wouldn't trade it for all the upper east side fame money could buy.
• Hazelnut coffee with soy milk instead of half and half. seriously. try it. you won't be disappointed.

And that's about it. I need to start writing down the little things I notice, because they're always the best :)

-Julie

Okay, so I've lost count...

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I know it's been quite a while since my last post, but I've been so wrapped up in other things I have hardly had the time to think about what I want to write!

I started keeping a paper journal again. I filled nearly a whole spiral notebook with random stories and musings over the course of the summer and fall semester, but now I've upgraded to an actual journal, and its beautiful. Most recently, I have made a list of 20 things I would like to do before my 20th birthday (September 16, 2010). This list is inspired by Sarah Von at Yes and Yes and her 31 before 31.

I think it's a fantastic idea, to make a new list every year and every year as you get older you have to do more and more new things, because when you're young, frankly, everything is new. When I'm pushing 50, I hope that I can still find enough things to do 45 new things in a year's time. It will keep me young I think....I know, all of this coming from a 19 year old college sophomore...

A few years ago, my list probably would have consisted of: getting my license, kissing a boy, getting on the honor roll, getting into college....but having accomplished all of those things, now it looks a little more like this (in no particular order):

1. Go on a multi-day road trip.

2. Stay up all night and watch the sun rise.

3. Drive 100 mph and not get caught (I actually did this one this past weekend. it was exhilarating, and I very quickly slowed down because I was sure I was going to get caught.)

4. Go camping.

5. Knit something. Like an entire something. Not just a few rows of a scarf.

6. Go to a concert/show (PLANNED - I have a ticket to see Vampire Weekend at the Electric Factory on April 2. It's SOLD OUT baby!)

7. Go to a state I've never been to before.

8. Send a post card to post secret...or anyone really.

9. Go for a hike to watch the sun set.

10. Go to a drive-in movie.

11. Learn the guitar correctly, know all (well...most) of the chords by name and be able to just sit down and play.

12. Get up to speed in current events, know what's going on in the world.

13. Volunteer somewhere.

14. Participate in an Iron Girl triathlon.

15. Go to the Baltimore Aquarium (I've lived within forty-five minutes of it for my whole life but never actually been inside. This must change.)

16. Go to an estate sale/ flea market.

17. Finish an entire crossword puzzle (hopefully without too much cheating...)

18. Fill my entire journal. Every last page.

19. Learn to drive stick well enough as to not annoy the unfortunate people who end up behind me.

20. Go to Canada - again.

Several of these things I have done in the past, but I either really want to do them again, or I want to do them my way...without parents and not on a family vacation. It will be such a different experience to go to Canada and have to deal with customs and driving there on my own than it was to have my parents deal with all of that for me. (I mean...i was 13, so what do you expect?)

All of this is on my quest for independence and self-sufficiency. I am a naturally independent person, but there are a lot of things I still need to learn before I can REALLY be on my own. But I am so ready to learn!

Day 4: Cupcakes and Needlepoint

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This picture and this picture alone makes me want to learn needlepoint so that perhaps I can needlepoint some baked goods with faces. Maybe I'll do vegetables. I hear they're a little healthier than cupcakes.

Day 2: Back "home"

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I moved back to school today, almost 12 hours ago, actually, and I'm still not finished unpacking. I have a problem with procrastination, especially when it comes to cleaning and organizational tasks, and especially when I have 5000 things that I could be doing instead.

Usually, organization is my form of procrastination, but when I actually have to do it, I'll try anything to just not put all of my things away.

I've come to realize that when you have any large task staring you straight in the face, it's much easier to run from it and...I don't know...play Wii for a few hours, than just crack down and get it done. Large tasks, like moving your entire life (...or all of your clothes...which may or may not be the same thing) from Maryland to Philadelphia, are much easier to accomplish in small bits. I have learned that if you unpack each bag as you bring it inside it is far easier to get everything finished, because that way, everything gets put away by the time all of your suitcases are inside...and that's a lot nicer than staring at a giant pile of suitcases and shopping bags.

This philosophy can be applied to just about any big task that has to get done...that big statistics project or english paper, or applying to grad school, or planning the rest of your life. If you chip away at it, take each challenge as it comes, it becomes much more manageable. It is much easier to take your life one day at a time, one "suitcase" at a time (...see what I did there? this whole thing does make sense!), unpack it, organize its contents, and move on to the next.

Trying to tackle a big project all at one time is a setup for failure...or at least a lot of unneeded stress.

[Disclaimer: I didn't realize this entry would turn out to be a rant against procrastination...it just kinda happened. But i can almost guarantee that I won't follow my own advice and I'll be scrambling to finish just about ever assignment this semester, just you wait.]

-Julie

Day 1: Introductions

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Every once in a while I get this urge to write, like I have something to say that I need to tell everyone. And i figured now would be a great time to start.

I am about to start the second semester of my sophomore year of college, and the start of 2010 marks the start of the second decade I've been around. This realization made me think about all of the things I've done and all that i hope to do. Which is why, i guess, i've decided to write here, so that maybe I could inspire someone the way my favorite blogs have inspired me. A lot of the reason I'm writing a blog at all is because of all of the wonderful ones I have been reading for the past few months, and a lot of the things I will be writing will be inspired by these lovely ladies, and i'll be sure to give credit where credit is due :)

But to start with, here's nineteen things about me:

1. I really like using smilie emoticons, it's the only way you can show emotion through text and I don't like people not knowing how I really feel when I can't talk to them in person. :)

2. I am a Virgo and I think that horoscopes are, in most cases, disturbingly accurate.

3. Music is my life. And as cliche as that sounds it could not be more true. I play 3 instruments and sing with at least a little bit of proficiency. If I had to choose another area to study, it would unquestionably be music performance with a concentration on education. I've thought this through.

5. Speaking of music, I listen to a wide range, a bit of everything, but mostly indie/alternative type stuff. My favorite band is Coldplay, but don't hold that against me.

5. Sarcasm is my go-to sense of humor. It's pretty much all I've got.

6. I hate doing things that I'm not good at. If I'm not immediately good something, I probably won't stick with it because I'll just get frustrated. A prime example? Any sport involving a racket.

7. I am a certifiable coffee addict.

8. I have red hair and I love it.

9. Trying to think of nineteen interesting facts about myself is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.

10. I'm studying international business and accounting, but I have no intention of being an accountant, I just had to pick a concentration.

11. I'm much more interested in traveling the world and writing about it for a living than anything else.

12. I feel like I was born in the wrong decade, I like old fashioned things like chivalry and the art of conversation.

13. I am constantly trying to better myself, there's always something different I want to do or something new that I'm inspired by.

14. The thing I value most in people is honesty, insincerity is the biggest turnoff.

15. I like to bake when I'm upset or nervous about something. I make some mean chocolate chip cookies.

16. Driving with the windows down in the middle of the summer while blasting good music is my favorite thing in the world.

17. For a while I have been extremely cynical about love and everything that goes along with it, but I'm starting to come around a little bit.

18. I only wanted to do 19 things about me because that's how old I am and I thought it would be cute.

19. I hope writing in here isn't just a phase and continues for a while, I have a lot to say :)

That's about it. A good start I think. :)

-Julie