Motivational Monday: Be Present

SOURCE: SHRIMP AND SALAD CIRCUS

BEING PRESENT

I was browsing Pinterest (surprise, surprise) and came across this motivational quote by Jim Elliot: "Wherever you are, be all there."  It seems deceptively simple.  I mean if I'm here, how can I be somewhere else at the same time?  The true meaning behind this quote stems from a concept many of us aren't fully comfortable with (or at least I'm not)... the concept of being in the now.  Being physically engaged in a situation is much different than being mentally engaged in a situation.

FROM EXPERIENCE...

Personally, my mind constantly wanders to thoughts of the past or future.  I'm always criticizing myself for what I should have done differently or looking ahead to "once I ___, then I'll ___."  My mind has become a dumping ground of never ending to-do lists, catchy lyrics, and overly critical analyses of EVERYTHING.

THOUGHT BEHIND THE THEORY

A therapist once explained the importance of "being present." This idea really resonated with me.  She referenced me to some scholarly papers, but of course I can't find them right now.  Anyway, here are some of the benefits I can recall:

• You are able to achieve a higher level of success by more effectively accomplishing your goals
• Less depression (backwards thinking) and/or anxiety (forward looking)... translates to increased general happiness
• Recent studies show that being present helps lower your chances of developing alzheimers later in life.  Although it is a relatively new study, scientific evidence suggests that being self-aware prolongs the onset of dementia.
• You can recognize your needs better, and then more effectively address those needs (i.e. helps reduce mindless eating)

THEORY TO REALITY

So sure, being present is beneficial, but how do we put it into practice?  The answer: by consciously being aware of yourself and your surroundings.  Pshh easier said than done.  However, it's not impossible.  Every day take a few seconds to be aware of what's around you; Not just recognizing it, but engaging in it to be really aware.  Notice the feeling of the keyboard on your fingers as you type, the breeze against your skin as you walk, and the taste of your food as you eat.  As you engage your senses, you will naturally become more self-aware.  Eventually, it will become habit (or at least that's what they say....)

Now it's time for me to practice what I preach... Wish me luck!

P.S. I'm excited to announce that I've linked up with Amber from Living in the Moment for this post.  Hopefully my first link up of many!

App Spotlight: Vine

Sorry I've been M.I.A. for the past couple weeks.  Between moving into my new apartment and starting my last semester of college, I haven't had the time or energy to post.  Now that I've managed to create some form of routine, I should be back to updating regularly.

Today's post is about an iPhone app called Vine.  It's been around for a little while, but I just discovered it this morning.  Basically it's an app that let's you take and share 7-seconds of looping video.  Some people get really creative with their videos.  I've been playing around with it all day.  It is very user-friendly and makes even the most amateur of movie makers feel like the next Spielberg.  Here are some screenshots I snapped to show how easy it is to use!

   

{SEARCH HASHTAGS & PEOPLE; SHARE ON FB & TWITTER}

Not convinced yet? Download it and try it out for yourself.  The best part: it's free

Here are a couple videos I made earlier today:





Does anyone else have a Vine account?  Are you as addicted as I am?

Agenda Addiction

CONFESSION:  I have a mild addiction to organization -- more specifically, planners!  I typically go through two or three planners a semester.  Some I use simultaneously; others I use in isolation.  While going through storage I stumbled upon six different planners... yes, that's right: SIX.  All of which were used at some point during my college career.

Maybe I'm alone on this, but I always love seeing how people organize their lives.  I'm toying with the idea of dedicating a special segment of this blog to organization.  Today's post is a mini test run...  So without further ado, I would like to introduce three perpetual planners.  (P.S. a perpetual planner is one that allows you to fill in the dates as you go)

THE DAILY AGENDA

 This first planner comes to us from a place familiar to most.  That's right, Target.  Although they don't carry this particular style it anymore, you can purchase similar ones from the Russel and Hazel website.  It is a daily agenda that I used last year as a supplement to a monthly calendar.  Every morning I would transfer events to map out the day ahead.  I love being able to dedicate a whole page to one day!  I was devastated when a water bottle leaked in my pocketbook, damaging the bottom half of the pages.

THE UNCALENDAR (small)

I bought this second planner from the co-op at my school.  I typically don't believe in love at first sight, but this planner was the exception.  It is extremely versatile -- you can use it for anything you could ever imagine.  Whether you are in high school or uni, working a full time job or a staying at home, this calendar is for everyone.  You can easily tailor it to your own needs - whatever they may be!  Since I switch planners so often,  I love being able fill in the dates as I go.  The other great thing about this particular model is its size.  It is small enough to fit carry with you at all times.  They have lots of great options on the Uncalendar website

THE UNCALENDAR (large)

I loved the second planner so much that I decided to invest in the large one for my junior year!  I didn't think it was possible, but this agenda gives even more options for organization.  I used it to keep track of resolutions, assignments, and to-do lists.  I only included photos of the weekly view, but it also includes pages for monthly and yearly views.  On top of that, it provides spaces to doodle, and set/track goals!  Again, you can find this planner on the Uncalendar website.

How do you organize your activities?  Should I continue with posts like this? Yay or nay?

Bathroom {AFTER}

I'm so excited to share the pictures of the new and improved bathroom!  After a long day of painting and lots of trips to Target, Home Goods and TJ Maxx, I am proud to say: it is finally finished ...at least for now.  There is still some work that needs to be done -- i.e. replace the showers, sink and toilet-- but I'll cross that bridge another time.  Considering the time frame and budget, I would consider it a huge improvement from the old bathroom.  But why listen to me, take a look at the results and decide for yourself :)

WORK THAT WAS DONE:

• Painted the trim white and the walls a light blue/gray (Valspar's Ghost Ship).
• Replaced the medicine cabinet and old vanity lights with a new mirror and brushed nickel lights.
• Replaced the wood and gold towel bar, towel ring, and toilet paper holder with modern brushed nickel ones.
• Installed an old cabinet we had laying around to go over the toilet for extra storage
• Decorated/accented with brushed nickel toiletries, a new shower curtain, white towels, and simple artwork
• Replaced the mini-blinds with a valence curtain and shutter window treatments

{NEW LIGHTS AND A GIANT MIRROR ADDS BRIGHTNESS}

{I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE DETAILING AROUND THE MIRROR}

{NEW ROOM SPRAY SO THE ROOM ALWAYS SMELLS LIKE CLEAN COTTON}

{ORGANIZATION OF QTIPS, COTTOM BALLS, AND FLOSSERS}

{THE NEW CANVAS PAINTING THAT HANGS OVER THE TOWEL BAR}

{A LOOK AT THE NEW CABINET, WINDOW TREATMENTS AND SHOWER CURTAIN}

{A CLOSE-UP OF THE SHOWER CURTAIN I FOUND AT TJ MAXX}

Bathroom {BEFORE}

Whenever I come home for break, I always complain about how dreary the upstairs bathroom is.  Between the outdated medicine cabinet, poor lighting and wood moulding, it is the only room in the house that constantly gives me the heeby-jee-vies.  Whenever I go in there I am convinced that something out of a horror movie will jump out at any moment and attack me from behind the water-stained shower curtain -- not exactly the feeling you want while taking care of business, if you know what I mean.

When my mom gave me the green light to make some changes this winter break, I ran with it.  Unfortunately, limited resources (mainly money and time) means that I have to keep all the old fixtures and appliances for now.  Here are a couple BEFORE pictures.  By "before" I mean after we took out the medicine cabinet, lights, and shower curtain... but you get the general idea.  Just moving everything out makes it look brighter!  Be sure to check back tomorrow for the AFTER photos!

The Liebster Award

I'm excited to make today's post all about the Liebster Awards.  It is a fun way to help your blog get noticed and share a little bit more about me.  A big thank you to  Jenna from The Bechtholts for nominating my blog!!!

THE RULES

• list 11 facts about yourself
• answer the 11 questions given to you
• create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award
• choose 11 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate
• go to each bloggers page and let them know about the award
• thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog :)

11 FACTS ABOUT ME

1. I never have my camera at the most opportune times.  I wish my eyes could take pictures!
2. I am absolutely petrified of all types of vents and drains
3. I can't fall asleep before 2 o' clock in the morning, but Ill never sleep past 10am
4. I go through phases of extreme perfectionism.  It's actually a huge problem
5. I am a Libra and I read my horoscope religiously
6. I love dessert!  I'll usually have ice-cream for breakfast on the weekends
7. I enjoy sarcasm and have an appreciation for anyone that can engage in witty banter
8. I spent a semester studying abroad at the University of Melbourne in Australia
9. The verified Britney Spears was my first follower on Twitter
10. I've lived in New England my whole life (Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island)
11. I hate introductions and sharing interesting facts because I never know what to say

11 QUESTIONS FOR ME

1. What is your favorite color to wear? Black! Especially when I'm feeling plump
2. What is a hobbie that you wish you had? I wish I could speak different languages (is that considered a hobby?)
3. Best part of your day? Having a lucid dream right before I wake up, wasting an afternoon in sweats while catching up on my DVR recordings, pouring that first cup of coffee in the morning, spending with my friends and family... There are so many great parts of every day, I can't pick just one!
4. Favorite beverage? Coffee in the a.m., Moscato in the p.m., and Diet Coke in between
5. What is your favorite season & why? Fall. Everything about it is so whimsical!  The weather, bright leaves, spiked cider, carving pumpkins, the cozy yet fashionable clothes. Plus Halloween is my favorite should-be-a-no-school-holiday.  Oh, and my birthday is in October so I may be slightly bias ;)
6. Do you have a hidden talent that most people don't know about? Ummm...
7. What is your go-to junk food? ICE CREAM!!! All kinds of ice-cream but especially Ben Jerry's Half Baked
8. Favorite vacation spot or memory? Australia a.k.a. the most amazing five months of my life
9. What does your ideal saturday night look like?  Depends on my mood.  Either a crazy girls' night out at the bar or sometimes I prefer a cozy night in watching movies, sipping wine, and painting nails.
10. What is a guilty pleasure of yours? Online shopping! Or I guess it'would technically be considered online window shopping since most of the time I don't actually buy the stuff. I just add it to my virtual shopping cart
11. Are you a morning or night person? Both! I don't sleep well. I'll be lucky if I can get 5 hours in a night.... I'm guess I'm not an afternoon person.

11 QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES

1. What is your favorite holiday?
2. Thoughts on tattoos & piercings?
3. What was your last tweet or status update?
4. How long have you been blogging?
5. What does your name mean?
6. If you could spend 24 hours with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Why?
7. What's your favorite thing about yourself?
8. How would you describe your style?
9. What does your last text message say?
10. Favorite store?
11. PC or Mac?

MY 11 NOMINEES

1. Jess at Blonde Meets World
2. McKenna at The Modern Prep
3. Alexa at Apstonee
4. eTm at The Everyday Musings of eTm
5. Nat at An Odd Girl
6. Elle at Wishin Good Luck
7. Stacey at Life on Cephei
8. Chloe at The Preppy Diaries
9. Brittany at Blissfully Britt
10. Mary Claire at Les Cuisiners
11. Emily from Life's a Beach

Happy Blogging Everyone!!!

Where the Wild Things Are

Happy Sunday!  I'm moving into my new apartment all this week which means everything's a little crazy at the moment.  I'm not sure how much time I'll have to post, but I'll try my best to get in a few words by 11am every morning.  Anyway, today's quote was inspired by the book/movie Where the Wild Things Are.  I still haven't seen the movie, but I've always loved the book.  Sometimes we all need a reminder that it's okay to be a little wild :D

Has anyone seen the movie?  Is it worth the 101 minutes?