Strawberry Fields Forever

I just found these pictures on my camera and realized I forgot to post them. They aren't that great because like I said, I have not been taking pictures these days, but I will post them anyways! A few weeks ago I went to visit my friends from college in their lovely little town called East Brunswick. It was such a nice change of scenery and pace and people and pretty much everything. They're really great people! While I was there we ate some food, watched this incredible show called United States of Tara and went Strawberry picking! We also got these incredible sandwiches from Wawa. It was a really good time. These are the pictures from our strawberry picking adventures. Might I add the the strawberries we got were absolutely delicious!

Freelance Whales Show

Last weekend my friend Michelle and I went to a lovely little concert in the city. I didn't even know any of the bands playing, but I am always down to go to a show, and so when Michelle asked me I did a little schedule re-arranging and said yes! The band we went to see was Freelance Whales. I don't remember the name of the first opening band, but the second one, Lucius, was absolutely incredible! Freelance Whales were also really really good. It was such a fun experience and it was exciting because it was sort of a last minute plan. Michelle happened to get offered the tickets through a girl on Tumblr. After the show, we went to this 24/7 Polish(?) restaurant that I can never remember the name of. As you can see, I have a terrible memory. Anyways, here are some pictures from the day, all from Michelle. I don't know what my problem is but I have been a weirdo about taking pictures lately. I still love taking pictures, I have just been super self conscious because I haven't taken any in a while. 

Life as We Know It

I seem to find myself posting a lot less frequently than I would like. I don't know what it is. Its not even that I am busy or don't feel like blogging. Its more that I just don't have much to day. I have been doing things this summer; attending great shows and hanging out with great people and working. I just recently joined the gym which I am super excited about (I am actually going to head there after I write this post). And so yeah, I have been trying my hardest to keep busy. The next few goals I have are daily meditation, volunteering and reading more. And posting on this blog more of course.

As for happiness, because that is in fact the topic of this blog, I find myself rather content. I have been getting a little frustrated recently, which is a feeling that I haven't felt in quite a while. I am hoping that some meditation will change those feelings. Also, I have been feeling a bit lonely. For some reason these days I really wish I had a boy in my life. I don't know if its just because the last two boys I dated both have new ladies in their lives, or because I am bored and a little bit lonely. But wanting a boy really frustrates me; I want to be happy on my own. My mom said this to me the other day when I was upset about not having anyone to hangout with and its really true. She said:

"You can't always depend on other people for your happiness"

And to hear that little bit of wisdom come from my mom; the lady who is all jokes and reality tv and never ever serious, well its was quite incredible. It really is true though. 

"Life begins at the end of your comfort zone"

I think this quote is really interesting, and its also really true. If you're just living inside your comfort zone all the time, what are you getting out of life? Its when you take chances that things really get interesting and life really starts to happen.

Not so happy things

So I have been trying really hard to make sure that my blog stays a really happy and positive environment. I tend to create blogs and then only write on them when I am upset. However, lets be real. We all need some time to vent and just take a load off our shoulders, and so that is what I am about to do. I do not want this blog to become a place where I am constantly unloading things, however it can be necessary every once in a while.

So, my summer started exactly three weeks and two days ago. While I was at school, I was so ridiculously excited for summer and freedom and to be able to do whatever the heck I wanted. But now here I am, three weeks into it and I am just so frustrated! I want to go on lots of adventures and make lots and lots of memories this summer, and it just doesn't seem like anyone else really gives a shit. Its not even that no one cares, everyone is just super busy. Melissa is back at school, I don't even know what the heck Maria is doing but I haven't heard from her, Helga is "busy", Megan has three jobs, Ariel and Faline both live far and both work. Ugh, and this just sucks. It makes me feel like I have no one to depend on and no one to enjoy life with. I used to feel so confident in the fact that I had multiple friendships that were super strong, and now I feel like I am just swimming out here alone with a few people stopping by every once in a while. And its kind of a sucky lonely feeling. I've been trying to not let it get to me, but now that I am actually addressing the problem and talking about it, I am feeling really shitty. I just don't know what to do. I want new friends or something. I should try and hang out with people from work actually. I really like Mikhaila and Jennie, and I've always liked Marissa. I guess that could work. I also just really want a new job or to volunteer. 

Ugh, I hate feeling sorry for myself. I just need to be more proactive. So, I am going to try harder to make plans with people. I am also going to try harder to hang out with new people since all of my old friends seem to be super busy this summer. Buuut, I also have to understand that this is Memorial Day Weekend, and most folks are away this weekend so if I can't find anyone to hang out with is not because I suck, its just because people do shit around this time. THE END.

Anyone else feel like they're a little blue this summer?

Happy Things

So there are not multiple happy things today, just one happy little story. I didn't do anything at all today. And it was really hard for me to accept, but in the end the day turned out really nice. I just stayed in and got some really wonderful quality time in with my family. I played baseball with my little brother, I helped my mom out and did a bunch of favors for her, I cleaned my grandmas car so that I can start driving it. I didn't get anything major checked off my to-do list, but I suppose thats okay because I got to spend time with my family and they are seriously so incredible. I always forget this but I am always reminded; friend and boyfriends are incredibly flakey, but my family has literally been there for me whenever I have needed them. I love them so much for that. I was never really a family person, but recently I have realized how incredibly important and beautiful these folks are. And that is indeed quite a happy thing.

One habit at a time

I just read a really interesting post by a blogger called No Meat Athlete. It was about how after struggling for a really long time with developing healthy habits, he was able to by tackling one habit at a time each month. I find that concept really interesting because like the blogger, I often spontaneously decide that tomorrow my life will be forever changed and I often end up failing miserably. The problem, as this blogger mentions, is that often people decide to tackel too many habits at ones; eating healthier, working out more, waking up earlier, reading every day .... and all of this becomes incredibly overwhelming. Rather, we should devote a few minutes every day for an extended period of time to just one habit. Then, this blogger explains, at the end of the years we will have successfully developed 36 new habits which is pretty freaking awesome. So I am going to give this a go!

The first habit I want to develop is one that this blogger (named Matt; I just found his name on his blog!) worked on. Matt is a runner, but he explained how he would go days without running sometimes and so to develop the habit he started running everyday for just 20 minutes. I am pretty sure I can take 20 minutes out of my day to go for a jog. I really want to start working daily exercise into my life. Hopefully daily exercise will motivate me to eat better and accomplish my goal of losing some lbs this summer. 

Heres a list of habits I'd like to develop, one at a time.

1. Running every day

2. Meditating every morning

3. Practicing piano for 5 minutes every day

4. Drinking a cup of tea every day

5. Taking my vitamins

6. Making sure to get my 5 serving of fruits and vegetables

7. Replacing my constant chocolate cravings with something healthier

8. Planning outfits the night before

9. Sunday grooming

10. Waking up earlier every day

11. Reading every night before bed. 

Some of these are super simple such as taking my vitamins or drinking tea every day so I know I can accomplish more than one goal at a time. But for now, I am just going to focus on running. I obviously still want to try and take my vitamins and drink tea, but I'll put more energy into those later. 20 minutes of running tomorrow will be so lovely!

The exciting this is, I know this is possible. While I was away at school I started developing quite a few healthy habits such as making my bed, making sure my room is clean before I go out and washing my face and brushing my teeth everynight. These are habits that took time and daily practice to develop, but now I seriously can't leave if my bed isn't made and I always make sure my room is tidy before I go out. Its kinda cool how these things start to become second nature and I am excited to start developing a few more heathy habits!