September Goal Updates

So clearly my goal for October should be that I PUBLISH OCTOBER’S POST IN OCTOBER. Anywho…on with the show!

Be More Organized

Something happened during September that made me puff up like a proud bird. One of PDFMU’s Super Important People saw my planner and all my notes and highlighting and was like “OMG you MUST teach me your system!!”. So I got to sit down and tell this Super Important Person all about how I make my to do lists and how I stay organized. Pretty neat, huh?

I also re-did the binders in my office. When I started working, I created all these awesome binders to help me keep track of my staff members and duty logs and all that other fun stuff. Well, part way through the year, I stopped using them. They weren’t working for me. During a rare minute of free time (meaning a meeting that a student didn’t show up for) I completely cleaned them out and put new tabs in them based on the things I keep track of. Much better.

Read More

Shortly after last month’s post, I marched down to the library with my Kindle and found out how I could read library books on it. Which means I’ve been reading more. I’ve tried to make it a routine to read before going to bed, but in honor of One Tree Hill’s 10th anniversary, I decided to re-watch the entire series, which unfortunately has been happening before bed. But really, I need to get my act together and watch TV while I’m cleaning and doing dishes and read while I’m in bed.

Schedule More Me Time

If you missed out on my return from the abyss, I’ll fill you in on the state of my me time: it doesn’t exist. I am doing work stuff outside of work hours and that’s not okay. I’m not the only one doing it, my whole office is and we’re all about to burn out. So what am I going to do differently for October? Well, I already have some time off scheduled for a big vacation. I even added a day on each end of the vacation itself for packing and unpacking. I’m also going to calm it down with the emails. If I don’t get around to it before I leave my office for the day, I’m not going to go home and do it that night. This is student affairs, urgent things come up all the time – even at night – so I’m sure a delayed email here or there won’t be the end of the world.

Keep In Touch

In September, I had the luxury of returning to my hometown TWICE. The second time, I left my laptop in my office so I COULDN’T do work from home. Granted, the second time I was also home less than twenty four hours. I got to catch up with a few of my home friends on both trips, which was nice.

Since Rachel lives closer, I’ve been chatting on the phone more with her. I might be visiting her on Sunday! Not sure yet though…I have gone back to her apartment one other time as well for a visit in which we celebrated the return of pumpkin EVERYTHING to the supermarkets.

Be A Grown Up

What are some grown up things I did in September? I bought a bridesmaid dress. I renewed my insurance. I willingly went to sleep and woke up early.

Actually, one thing that’s been making me feel more grown up is that I’ve missed ALL of Undergrad U’s events so far this semester. Like, I was never the type to return for EVERYLITTLETHING but I’ve missed some major ones for my sorority. Yes, this has happened before, but I’ve always felt terrible about it…not so much missing the event, but not being able to see my friends that were still students. Now, I look at sorority pictures and I’m like, “Wow, I know NOBODY.” Instead, I’ve been making plans to see sorority sisters at other events and other locations.

I know last month I was hoping for a more productive month…this month I’m hoping for a much calmer month!

May Goal Updates

Every other month, I’ve started with some comment about how short the month felt. This month felt like it DRAGGED on. I think that’s because it was so segmented. Classes! Finals Week! Graduation Week! Break! Summer Classes! Seriously. Is May over yet?

Be More Organized

I decided to rearrange my entire apartment. I was hoping that it would involve more throwing away and donating things…but in the end I only brought two giant trash bags of stuff to Goodwill. I can’t tell you how much I threw away because I just carried it to the dumpster as I went. I did NOT want to put it in a pile and then later try to justify keeping something.

I also added more things to my calendars. Yes, I still have multiple. I created a calendar for next school year that I just printed using some boring Microsoft template. Lilly Pulitzer just announced that they are taking pre-orders their 2013 – 2014 agendas…tempting. BUT. I really love my Russell and Hazel planner and I’ve been checking their site on a weekly basis to see if they have 2014 stuff out yet. So far? Nope. GET WITH IT PEOPLE, SOME OF US STILL OPERATE ON AN ACADEMIC CALENDAR. (Or are super-organized Type As. Or both!)

Read More

I finally finished a book I have been reading here and there for MONTHS. Unfortunately, I am not motivated enough to write a book review entry on it. I couldn’t really get into it at the beginning and then silly impatient me went and read the plot summary on Wikipedia, so I spoiled the ending for myself. Oops. I’ve also been reading “The Great Gatsby” this month. I used to read all the time, but this was back before the days of SVU marathons.

I did buy someone “Girls in White Dresses” as a graduation gift. That was one book I had no problem whipping through and I want to try and read it once a year. It sounds silly, but I think the book will mean different things to me as I get older. I also got another special person some books on travel for a graduation gift. Maybe I will convince everybody else that reading is cool and then I will start doing more of it myself!

Schedule More Me Time

I’ve realized that whenever I do “me time” stuff, it’s never scheduled, it’s always on a whim. Oh, I’m not on duty but I’m in the area? Let’s go to the mall! Oh, I need to go to the grocery store and I happen to be wearing sandals and there’s a nail salon? Pedicure time! So, I’m total crap at scheduling me time. I keep saying I need to take advantage of living near a massage therapy school, but I’ve been here a year and still haven’t done so.

Keep In Touch

One unique way I’ve managed to keep in touch with some friends is by helping them with their resumes. Even though we don’t actually see each other in person, I get to communicate with them via email AND find out about what they’re doing now and where they want to go next.

I’ve also been keeping in touch with some sorority sisters because we’re planning our trip. I honestly have to limit how much time I spend on the Disney website because I get too excited.

The biggest thing I did this month was head to UU for Alumni Weekend. It’s like Homecoming, minus the football. One of my friends owns a house about ten minutes from UU, so a bunch of us crashed there. We had a huge barbecue and a camp fire. It was wonderful. We’ve been joking about going on a cruise in a few years to celebrate being out of college for ten years. I hope we actually follow through with that!

Be A Grown Up

My least favorite category. I swear. Well, I still need to pay those doctor’s bills. In fact, I actually need to FIND those doctor’s bills. Oops. I should also probably go to the dentist (and create more bills). But. I have this strange fear of the dentist. So, I’ll put that one off… And last but not least – the dining hall is closed for the summer so I think I’m going to need to re-work my budget to make up for that!

2013 Goal Updates – February

Another month (already?!), another update on my goals. February was a short and very busy month for me. When I set out to write this post, I thought I was going to have to say how February was the month that I lost it, but I guess there’s always March for that.

Be More Organized

Shortly after I started working here, I bought myself a new planner but it was only this month that I finally started using it. I also did manage to go through some of my clothes! I invited a friend over and we went through my closet. I needed someone with me so they could talk me out of keeping things that I never wore or didn’t fit properly (read: everything that I still own from high school). There’s still a bag in my room that needs to get donated and I need to do it soon before I start digging things out from it!

Read More

This month, I managed to read two books. The first was “Total Frat Move” by W.R. Bolen. And yes, that is the same Total Frat Move as the website. The book was everything you’d expect it to be after visiting the site. Keep your friends close and enemies closer, right? Actually, some of the stories reminded me of the madness that was Undergrad U. The other book was “Girls in White Dresses” by Jennifer Close. I definitely plan on writing about this one. I’ve recommended it to all my friends and everybody has loved it! The book follows a group of friends for ten years after graduation. The stories seemed so familiar, as if the author wrote about me and my friends.

Schedule More Me Time

While February was the month of the infamous 100 Hour Work Week, I still managed to find some time to have fun. I went to some sporting events with friends and even planned a dinner! Also, I did take a day off to make up for the week from hell. I used the day to do things around the house and run errands which doesn’t sound fun, but it was stuff I had been putting off because of work.

Keep in Touch

I feel like I did a better job keeping up with people this month. I chatted with some friends from high school and even managed to see them during a visit to my parents. I also got to catch up with one of my closest friends from Undergrad U…unfortunately it was not for a good reason. Her boyfriend moved out (and in with another woman) AND she lost her job all within a two week span. She was pretty miserable at first, but she seems to be seeing the positive in all this now. I was going to try to visit her but then some little fish winter storm ruined those plans.

Be a Grown Up

This month I managed to find a doctor that is on my insurance plan and made an appointment all on my own. I feel so proud of myself. I still need to go to the dentist, but that is a scary, scary place. My big grown up challenge is going to be in March when I do taxes!

2013 Goal Updates – January

So back at the not-so-beginning of the month, I posted some goals for 2013. I know most people are pretty good at sticking to their resolutions for at least the first month, but I usually never even made it that far. This makes me rather proud of the things that I have done so far.

Be More Organized

While I haven’t gone through my clothes yes (ugh, dreading that task), I did make some major progress on the kitchen and the bathroom. I completely reorganized my kitchen cabinets. I know that sounds unnecessary, but I was sick of climbing my counter to reach things I actually use while having things I haven’t touched in months fall into a sink full of dirty dishes. Unfortunately during this process, I found duplicates of things like spices and canned food. A similar thing happened when I cleaned out my bathroom closet. I found extras of conditioner, deodorant, and other toiletries. I have WAYYY too many travel sized lotions. I also bought new storage bins for the bathroom closet so all those small bottles would have a place to live.

Read More

I did say that I wanted to do a book a month and I stuck to that. Unfortunately it means that I’ve only read one book this month – “The Carrie Diaries” by Candace Bushnell. The a TV series based on this book (and its sequel that I just discovered the existence of) recently started, taking the place of my Monday night fave, Gossip Girl. Keep an eye out for an entry about that. For next month, I plan on finishing two books that I started reading last summer. Not making any promises though – February’s a short month!

Schedule More Me Time

I took an entire weekend to clean my apartment and organize the bathroom and kitchen. Unfortunately, I have not been taking this approach with work and I’ve actually fallen behind on some projects.

Keep In Touch

I’ve officially made savings accounts for two of the trips I want to take this year. I mentioned my big trip to Disney for later in the year, but I’ve also planned some smaller trips as well. I did get to see one of my out-of-town friends at the beginning of the month and we are making plans for me to visit her after I survive formal recruitment. Another friend posted that her travels next month are going to take her pretty close to the city I live in, so I’m trying to make plans with her.

Be a Grown Up

Well, I registered my car. That meant I needed to also purchase insurance and get it inspected. Such grown up things. I mentioned earlier that I started more savings accounts and I am really trying to watch my budget.

Have you stuck to any resolutions or goals you’ve set?

…Now Where Was I?

Sorry to leave you all hanging the past few weeks! Today is my first “normal” day at work since December 13th. The 14th was anything but normal, that weekend I disappeared (it was planned, but NEEDED) and I made it a long weekend by taking Monday off, and then I returned with the flu. Worst. Week. Ever. But, it gets better! With some clever use of my soon-to-expire days off combined with PDFM U’s holiday schedule, I wound up being able to take the week between Christmas and New Year’s off. Yes, some of that time was spent recovering from the flu (no energy), a lot of it was spent with friends and family.

Due to recent events at home, there were some not-so-fun things about my vacation that didn’t revolve around my fever. Everywhere I went, there were sad reminders and Christmas just wasn’t the same. There was so much traffic from people trying to see roadside memorials and from reporters trying to interview everybody. My mom’s cousin passed away in a car accident and she said there were reporters creeping outside the funeral home. That’s sick. But there were also amazing things…Newtown had to tell people to stop sending donations because they had TOO MUCH and were overwhelmed…so thank you, rest of the country and rest of the world!

One of my most favorite things I did during my time off was head into Manhattan for a day. Now, living close to NYC means that this isn’t a foreign concept to me. What was new this time is that I didn’t have a plan…yes, super-organized Type A me went somewhere without an intinerary! I met up with a friend to see a museum exhibit (that was planned) but once that was finished, I set off on my own and went exploring. That was also new to me – usually I was with people and did things they wanted to do. This time, I got to do whatever I wanted. Duck into a store? Sure. Look up random places on Yelp for food? Why, of course. It was so freeing!

I also spent a lot of time catching up with my home friends. Everybody has “real” jobs now and so many people are in serious relationships…some even married with kids! It was strange to go out and have everybody want to leave before closing time because we were tired. My friends and I used to be the last people out. It was great to hear that everybody was so happy though…all of my friends like their “real” jobs which is a complete 180 from when we all worked at the mall. Maybe growing up isn’t so terrible?

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season – no matter what you celebrate! There’s going to be some New Year’s-esque entries soon…better late than never! Happy 2013!