Thursday, July 05, 2012

TWENTY-FIVE THINGS: MID YEAR CHECKUP

It's the middle of the year and it's time to re-visit my 25 things in 2012 list! I'm excited about some of the things I've done so far and I'm looking forward to accomplishing more things from this list!

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>>> 1. Take the DIY Dress-Up E-Course. -- I've purchased the e-course, but I've yet to start it. I feel like this one has been put on hold due to moving and another move coming up this month! But this is definitely still on my list of things to accomplish! 

>>> 2. Read 3 business//development-related books or e-courses. -- I'm halfway through the Dream Job e-course, but I still have a pile of business books, yet to be read! I've always had a difficult time adding reading time into my routine, but I need to figure out something soon!

>>> 3. Learn to bake French Macarons. -- I bought a Macaron cook book, and I've poured over all of the different recipes. I need to pick up some baking supplies to make them, but once we move and settle in, I'll be SO excited to start. :) 

>>> 4. Start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier on weekdays. -- Check! Jon and I have gotten a lot better about heading to bed around the same time every night and waking up earlier. I'd like to continue working on that routine and eventually wake up even earlier. 

>>> 5. Do project HIS & HERS. -- I've played around with a few ideas for this, but I haven't put it all together yet. This will be a photography project, but I still need to work on defining it. 

>>> 6. Move into our first house//townhome! -- Almost! We are only about three weeks away from the big move and we couldn't be more excited! Follow our condo re-design progress here. :) 

>>> 7. Take 2-year anniversary photos. -- Check! My sweet sister took some shots of Jon and me to celebrate two years of marriage last month. See the post here

>>> 8. Pay off 2 of my final 4 student loans. -- Jon and I have been working SO HARD on paying off my student loans. In may, we realized that we have hit our half-way mark! We started off with 10 loans total are are down to 4. We will definitely pay off another this year, and we're hoping to squeeze in one more before the year ends. 

>>> 9. Have at least five Pinterest parties this year. -- So far this year, we've had two Pinterest Parties! Check out the posts here and here. We have plans for another this month, and several more before the end of the year. 

>>> 10. Organize all of our family documents, memories, and MISC paperwork. -- This is a when-we-move-into-our-condo, to do item! 

>>> 11. Attend a marriage retreat with Jon. -- Check! Jon and I attended a getaway at the beginning of the year and loved it. We are hoping to make it a yearly tradition to get away and focus on our marriage. 

>>> 12. Complete first year of 5-year journal. -- Work in progress. 

>>> 13. Become an official member of our church. -- Check! Did this with Jon quite a few months ago. 

>>> 14. Have at least six 7-11's. -- We've had several 7-11's this year. 7-11's are our sometimes monthly get together with close friends. It's been such a special tradition we started when we first got married and we've loved spending time with such a special community here in Atlanta. 

>>> 15. Print and frame wedding photos for our home//make blurb books for our home and for our family. -- Goodness! I NEED to get this done. 

>>> 16. Explore 5 new places in the Atlanta area. -- Check! It's safe to say that I've been to several new places in Atlanta this year. From antique stores to new restaurants, it's been so special discovering how unique the place I live in is. It's definitely helped my "the grass is greener" attitude about Atlanta. 

>>> 17. Take a summer workshop at SCAD. -- This did not happen. Hoping to squeeze in some time of class or workshop this year to make up for it! Maybe I'll take a couple classes from ALT

>>> 18. Launch the new re-design of www.MaieDae.com. -- Check! This was such an exciting thing to accomplish this year. It's great to have a professional website and a new logo that we LOVE. See posts about it here and here

>>> 19. Go thrifting or antiquing one time each month. -- This has been one of my favorite challenges this year. I've loved finding new shops, scoring amazing treasures and recording it on the blog! See each month so far: JAN, FEB, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, and JUNE

>>> 20. Put together special date night calendar with Jon. -- Check! See my date night calendar DIY and post about date nights here

>>> 21. Start and develop new Balance series on blog. -- Check! I've been trying to make it a goal to post about balance each month. This is something I'm really passionate about. I love this series and I plan to continue it! See balance series posts here

>>> 22. Participate in another craft show. -- Jenny and I have plans to participate in another craft show at the end of the year. It's been so nice to close down the online shop and focus on blogging and our graphic design jobs, but it will be such a treat to be in another show! 

>>> 23. Read the "No Brainer Wardrobe", purge my closet, define my style, and begin to shop more intentionally. -- Check! I really enjoyed reading through this e-course and slimming down my closet. I definitly suggest reading the "No Brainer Wardrobe"!  

>>> 24. Create an organized dinner menu with easy//healthier recipe options. -- While we've been eating healthier and trying new things we haven't developed a dinner menu yet! I'd like to do this when we move. 

>>> 25. Make artwork with our wedding vows. -- Haven't done this yet! But I'm looking forward to making something special from our vows. 

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I'm feeling good about my progress! It's been a fantastic year so far. :) 



Thursday, April 21, 2011

ListoGraphy: Shows I Love

I might have mentioned this before, but I love love lists. I'd like to make them all day long with different colored felt-tip markers in my Moleskine journal. :) So, I'm starting a new "random whenever I feel like it" feature, Listography.

Today is all about shows  -- These are all shows that I have watched through life that have given me interesting memories and lots of laughs (some more than others.) I've watched a lot of these growing up with my little brother and sister, when I've been sick, and during college with Jon. We love sharing shows together, cuddling up, and eating a yummy snack. The first three months of our marriage were spent watching every season of Lost back to back...and it. was. amazing.
A List of Shows I've Watched & Loved:
* Full House**
* Step by Step*
* Family Matters
* Boy Meets World*****
* Sabrina the Teenage Witch
* Clarissa Explains it All
* ZOOM*
* Figure it Out
* All That***
* The Amanda Show**
* Are You Afraid of the Dark?
* Even Stevens**
* Lizzie McGuire
* Smart Guy
* The Cosby Show**
* Doug
* Lois & Clark
* America's Next Top Model****
* Project Runway*
* Design Star*
*Smallville
* Lost**
* Twin Peaks*
* X-Files*
* The Walking Dead**
* Fringe**
* Bones
* Teen Mom***
* Trigun*
* Degrassi***
* Castle**
* Grey's Anatomy*
* Mythbusters**
* The Office**
* Dexter****
* Community****


* = Favorites! * = Currently Watching/ReWatching * = Shows I've Watched with Jon * = Childhood Favs * = Good for Passing the Time * = I'd Watch You Over & Over

What are your all-time-favorite shows from your childhood and currently? Feel free to leave a comment with your answer or blog about it and link up! I'm always in the mood to find a new show to sink into!


Thursday, December 16, 2010

A Christmas Vacation To-Do List

Jon and I are counting down the days until we get time off for Christmas! This is our first Christmas together as a married couple and we cannot wait. We have made some exciting plans and are still in the process of thinking of new traditions to make as our own little family. Kaito, our little green-eyed kitten, is completely obsessed with the tree and does his best to get as many candy canes off without my knowing as possible. Before Jon and I visit my family and his family on Christmas day, we are planning to dedicate Christmas Eve to our little family. I can barely wait for him to open his gifts!


1. Wrap all of the Christmas presents
2. Buy Jon's stocking stuffers
3. Make custom Etsy orders and ship out
4. Hang up floating shelves in studio//guest room
5. Christmas play with Jon's parents Friday night
6. Time with Anica & Jenny
7. Biltmore House day trip with Jon
8. Figure out what Jon and I want to do for Christmas Eve and what traditions we want to start
9. Do some more brainstorming and business planning for MaieDae
10. Make new pieces for Etsy shop
11. Go to Fort Mill, SC, to celebrate some Christmas time with Jon's extended family
12. Finish blog love course
13. Buy sister a birthday present
14. Spent some rest and relaxation time with Jon
15. Watch Christmas movies!
16. Take pictures of home decorated up for Christmas
17. Complete 22 before 2012 list.
18. Get some supplies from the craft store
19. Take Kaito (the cat) to get his "special surgery"
20. Cuddle...with Jon
21. Drink lots of Starbucks with extra-whip


Thursday, October 07, 2010

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

We all have our vices, and like the best of them...I am guilty as charged. The following eight items are things that are essential to my everyday life. These are tools, and frankly comforts, that I have grown to adore like a little girl who loves her Barbie collection, dream house and all!
1// Macbook Pro: Sure, I love the Macbook for its sleek look and user friendly operating system, but most importantly, I love my laptop because it is my portal into creative resources, home ideas, connections, inspiration, starting up a small business, bills (uuh not so much), vendors, photography...really I could go on and on. 

2// Younghouselove.com: By far my favorite blog in the universe. I check it on a daily basis and get too excited when they have a new post on gourds or a room they designed. I love to see how they do renovations and projects in their home. Both (husband and wife) blog for a full-time job! Doing what you are passionate about full-time? Count me in!

3// Pointed-Toe Flats: I think I am going on my 7th year of wearing these on a consistent basis. Do not worry, not the same pair. Although my dear friends, Jenny and Anica, would contest that they literally had to hold me down and throw out an old pair that was way past their expiration date. Now, I try to get in a better habit of changing them out and keeping them fresh. Right now I have six pairs, including a great blue pair I nabbed from Plato's Closet for $3.00.

4// Photoshop: The fact that I spend approximately 25 hours a week on this program for CFA corporate, Maiedae, and other projects tells you exactly why it is on this list. 

5// Moleskine Graphed Journal: I'm never without this handy little notebook. I keep everything from MaieDae ideas, church notes, books to read, goals, date night thoughts, to To-Do lists, etc. Check out my blog on Art Journaling for more information. 

6// Urban Decay Eye Primer Potion: This stuff is too neat to pass up. I originally was introduced to this product in Sephora about two years ago with Jenny. This is how the magic happens: you put it on your eye lids before you apply your shadow, liner and mascara. Then, you apply your make-up and it will stay put exactly as you have it for the entire day. No creasing!! It is amazing and worth every penny. Not to mention, it makes your eye shadow appear more vibrant. Three cheers for pigment!

7// DroidX: I used to own an iPhone and while I loved my time with it, I had to make the leap and transfer over to Verizon in order to form a family plan with my husband. I decided to get the DroidX, and although it takes a little longer to get used to, the more I learn how to utilize it the more I really love it. Smart phones are amazing for the pure fact that you can have your music, social networking, pictures, camcorder, calendar, email, phone, and much more all on one device, at your fingertips. 

8// The Nest Magazine: Although magazines as a whole would be in this category, The Nest is by far my favorite and most anticipated magazine. It only comes out quarterly, which makes me sit on the edge of my seat even more, but I love how it features organization tips, home decor tricks, recipes, newlywed tips, and numerous other ideas for being a young adult. They recently released this magazine to the newsstands so you can pick one up at your local Target or Walmart.