I haven’t been completing my lists… and lately, I’ve been lacking focus (surprising, I think not). I was reading a feed from Serendipity’s Guide to Saving (it’s one of my favorite personal finance blogs) and she had a list of what she envisions for herself  and her perfect future, and I decided to do the same. It’ll be nice to look back in a few years to see how everything panned out

1. What time do you wake up, and how are you feeling as you greet the day?
For work, I would ideally like to wake up at 5AM and get to work really early, and leave early… with a big smile on my face all day long.

2. Where are you? If you’re at home, what does it look like?
I will be in a 3-4 bedroom house with an AMAZING view. Berkley or Paia would be my top choices in cities to live in. I will have the large front and back yard, white picket fence and everytime I walk through the door, I can breathe and feel at home for the first time.

3. Who is with you?
I pray that AMH get’s his shit together and it’ll be us. But more than likely, I will be the “animal” lady on the block with a Greate Dane and a Dachsund.

4. What kind of work are you doing?
I will be at a job that allows me to grow and learn… With my degree, I want to work for a political marketing firm or do the books for a politician… or manage a political manager. Maybe after having some experience under my belt, I will go back to school… become a lawyer.

5. As you head out to face the day, how do you look? What are you wearing?
Classy and sexy! Clean & fresh makeup, tan and always in a killer pair of heels. For example, red Louboutin platform heels with khaki slacks, silk leopard blouse, with a black cardigan and red mini-belt.

6. How do you get to work?
An Aptera! It’s aerodynamic with AMAZING fuel economy…. and for the same price as a prius, but better

7. When you’re done with work, how will you spend you spare time and with whom? What activities do you enjoy?
I would spend time with people who enjoy my company and who want to create amazing memories. People that put smiles on my face.

8. When is your evening like?
I honestly can’t say… but I will be very happy.

9. When you go to bed that night, how are you feeling after spending the day doing exactly what you love?
Over joyous that I will not be living my life like my mother’s.

10. What are you most grateful for and what are you looking forward to as you go to sleep?
I’m grateful that I’ve managed to do so well for myself without much help of others. And I look forward to falling asleep in MY home with the people/animals that I love. I’m a simple gal..

Lea

So, for the most part, I think so far in terms of to-do lists, I’m doing an okay job. I’m crossing off items, identifying issues (being lazy) and I get to start anew again. I’m very happy

Last week, I was able to get quite a bit done. The initial execution went well, but then I had a major fail slowly following… example?

I did create a budget for myself, one I knew I could stick with. But then some drama entered my life, and emotional spending kicked in… so that budget went out the window, as well as eating well. Sure, I logged all of my food, but I’ve exceeded my daily RDI (Recommended Daily Intake) by at least 500 calories each day, and sure I exercised…. but it didn’t really make up for the bad eating habits. Either way, I’m not going to beat myself up over the mistakes I’ve done. All I can do is try to do better. My life is slowly coming together, and I can’t get discouraged now! What I’m going to do now is make my goals feel more obtainable so I will be more likely to accomplish them… and then gradually increase the difficulty, intensity, etc.

So here is my list of things I would like to accomplish this week:

1. Blog at least 3 times a week.
2. Work on Chapter 8-9 for my Philosophy class.
3. Start my Philosophy project that is due in 2 weeks. (Total priority!)
4. Get at least 3 hours of exercise a week.
5. Make my $140 dollars stretch until 11/15! (This will be rough!)
6. Read the books I’ve checked out at the library, even if it’s only 1 chapter this week…

I’m keeping my fingers crossed

Complete Success!

• Drink at least 80 oz. of water each day & record it
• Follow up on my CSUDH application
• Buy head & tail lamp for my road bike
• Log all the food I eat into fatsecret.com
• Started my new budget for 10/31/09-11/15/09.

Semi-Success!

• Go to the gym for at least an hour 3 times a week & entering it into fatsecret.com: I did go at least 3 times a week, but I only worked out for 40-45min for two of those days. At least I got off my ass!
• Drink at least 80 oz of water each day & record it: I didn’t record what I was drinking, but I’ve been drinking water like it was the last thing I will ever get to drink!
• Read and complete Ch.7-9 Philosophy homework: I only read Chapter 7 and I did a half ass job on the assignment. The other 2 I’m currently working on.

!! FAIL !!

The reason for the FAIL? Sheer procrastination and laziness. No real valid reason

• Go to yoga at least once a week (at the gym or studio)
• Blog at least 3 times a week
• Read 3 chapters from each book I borred from the library
• Start my project for my philosophy class
• Decorate my newing cleaned apartment

Starting today, I’m going to start challenging myself with a Goal/To Do list.  Every Monday, I’ll update my list with what I did and did not accomplish. I’m trying to hold myself accountable for the things I want to do, and if for whatever reason I don’t do it, I want to know why… So why the list? I’m very visual, and if I don’t accomplish something, I’m forced to explain why I didn’t every week… then if I notice a pattern, I can do everything in my abilities to fix it. Makes sense right?

1. Go to the gym for at least an hour 3 times a week & remembering to put it into fatsecret.com.
2. Log all the food I eat into fatsecret.com
3. Buy my head & tail lamp for my road bike.
4. Go to yoga at least once a week (at the gym or the studio)
5. Drink at least 80 oz. of water each day & record it
6. Blog at least 3 times a week.
7. Read 3 chapters of each book I borrowed from the library… maybe I’ll have something to write about from there.
8. Follow up with CSUDH with my application.
9. Read and complete Ch.7-9 Philosophy HW.
10. Start my project for my philosophy class.
11. Start a new budget on Friday, 10/30/09.
12. Decorate my newly cleaned apartment… remember, less is more!

I know I can do all those things this week… it’s just a matter of remembering Thank God for the Astrid App for my phone!

After reading this… maybe there is hope that there are some genuinely nice people out there.

I pray I have a moment like this. Saint Pio… can you make this happen?

You know how most people tend to date the same type of person each go-around? Like, some women only date nerds or bad boys… or they all have very similar appearances or personality traits… I have finally come to the conclusion on my “type” and I think it’s about time I try even harder to change it.

I always try to date men that were different than my exes. In that respect, I have. They all differ in ethnicities & socio-economic backgrounds… education levels and career aspirations widely range from retail to the very top of the corporate ladder. The one and only thing I can find in common with these men are the fact they are completely selfish… and instead of me being their companion, I’m just along for the ride until my usefulness expires. The most logical thing is just walk away and not get hurt, but by the time the masks finally come off, and their true colors show… I’ve already invested a lot of time, money, energy and emotion into the relationship, and I’m always heartbroken in the end.

The second I express any discontent or stand up for myself because I know I deserve some respect, I’m the bitch… I’m the one that is delusional… or I’m just completely ignored. There is never a resolution, and I end up holding a lot of anger and resentment.

It would just be nice to be with someone who had the same respect and regard for me as I did for them… but I highly doubt that will ever happen. Even my own family abuses the fact that I would do anything for them…

I am a big fan of NPR mainly because of the unbiased news coverage across the US and around the world. My favorite part of the site is the Obama Tracker widget. This widget tracks all of the policies made by Obama and classifies them as domestic, foreign or economic.

I just find it interesting that the push for economic policies were at its heaviest during his first trimester in office… since then, there has been very little done. To date, only 47 economic policies when there have been 94 domestic and 81 foreign policies… Our nation (a capitalist one obviously) has a foundation built on money. Our success and failure as a nation are directly linked to that foundation. Wouldn’t it make sense to rebuild a foundation that is falling apart before the things we’ve established on that foundation will fall apart as well? If we thrive as a nation, we can better implement domestic and foreign policies with the money we have.

I guess its a rough patch again. I dislike this bipolar thing I seem to attract.

Since my birthday, I have been feeling rather blue. I feel like I haven’t accomplished as much as I should have… and I am no where near where I should be financially. Of all my friends, I will be the last to get my bachelor’s degree. I’m at a job in which I don’t see very much opportunity for advancement. I still live at home…

With all the being said, I am very grateful to have Dwele in my life. I admit, we have our rough patches, but the one thing I am taking from this experience is all the things I’m learning from him.

1. Everyone needs f*** you money. For the first time in my life, I am forcing myself to save $. And I’m not touching it! I never want to be in a position to ever borrow $$ from an ex. I only have a double digit amount saved, but its a start!

2. Be a woman, not a girl. At first, I didn’t undestand what he meant. Biologically, I am a woman and not a girl… but its so much more than that!
a) be confident in yourself and your decisions.
b) look, dress, speak and carry yourself like a woman.
c) Cosmo put the last one best, be a fun, fearless female

3) Always follow through. I have a hard time with this one because I’m so indecisive. I’m getting better though.

those would be the top three on my list…. to be honest, I lost my train of thought, and I need to rest my head.

Its just the first day of the month, but it means I’m one day closer to the new year.