update: new year's all year challenge

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If you have been following this blog for awhile, then you may remember that this year I decided to embark an adventure I call the New Year's, All Year Challenge. I intended to post monthly updates on my adventure on this blog. That fell apart in March when I got pretty sick. April and May were super busy with graduating and moving, and I didn't have the time to really sit down, reflect, and write an update post. So here it finally is! An update on how I am doing on the Challenge.

A complete list of 2011 goals are here. This is the progress I have made in the past few months:

• Developed blog further
• Applied for full-time teaching jobs; attended job fair
• Read a few books (with reviews to come soon!)
• Cooked a couple new recipes
• Gathered wardrobe inspiration and bought a few new pieces
• Began eating healthier and exercising more
• Have made more progress with Madison learning "stay"
• Began using Mint.com to budget better
• Doing better with more thoughtful/meaningful gifts for loved ones
• Using Pinterest to document home inspiration; got my first interior decorating book

While I would love to meet all the goals on my Challenge list, I recognize that might not happen, especially with how busy this summer is shaping up to be. I will continue to work on all the goals, but the ones I will focus on the most are the ones that I think will have the largest and most positive effects on my life right now. These goals are:

• Get a full-time teaching job and/or apply to graduate school
• Reach a healthy BMI
• Save a substantial amount of money
• Bake one new recipe a month
• Cook one new recipe a month

On a different note, you may have noticed that I had multiple goals on my Challenge list that related to health and really could be considered stepping stones to the overall goal of reaching a healthy BMI. I am starting a new sort of journey to reach that overall goal, which I will discuss on a second post later today. Be sure to check it out, I am so excited to share it with you all!

Have you kept up with any 2011 New Year's Resolutions? Similarly, do you have any summer goals or a summer fun /"bucket" list?

(belated) weekly gems

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• Pretty pumped for new Looney Tunes shorts!
• I am beyond excited that artist Caitlin McGauley has launched a new site that includes a blog and a shop!
• Such a fan of Chris Colfer - glad so much is happening for him!
• Can't wait to try making these potatoes and these ice cream cones.
• Kate Spade recently debuted its tabletop collection. I am in absolute heaven.
• I adore all of these fun sweaters.
• Awesome cleaning tips!
• Possible bad news about cell phones and health, and weird news about too much coffee and health.
• Check out this fun post about tattoos inspired by YA literature.
• Thanks, Kat, for posting this song. Can't wait for the new movie!
• Love this wedding, this wedding, and this bachelorette party.

vacation in a glass

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Blueberry Lemon Iced Tea

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Ginger Ale with Strawberries

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Sparkling Orangeade

How has your week been? Mine has been an adventure: going to an Indians game, my first day of my summer job, knocking things off my to-do list, seeing a movie...an excellent mix of fun and productivity. There is still plenty to do, so I thought I'd combine the fun and to-do list by drinking some summer-inspired beverages while taking care of some things. What summer drinks do you enjoy? What are your tricks for making your to-do list less tedious?

bookmark it: hello giggles

If you are looking for some humor in your life, check out the new website Hello Giggles. What is it?

"Founded by actress/musician Zooey Deschanel, producer Sophia Rossi and writer/Internet Sensation Molley McAleer, hellogiggles.com is the ultimate entertainment destination for smart, independent and creative females. Everything hosted on the site will be lady-friendly, so visitors need not worry about finding the standard Boys Club content that makes many entertainment sites unappealing to so many of us." (source)

The site has many different categories on which articles and videos are featured. In addition to having a great deal of variety, Hello Giggles has a great, easy-to-use (and cute!) navigation area along the left side of the site:

See the "Contribute" section up above? Hello Giggles encourages its readers to "submit your favorite original and found videos, text posts, and photos," making the site a truly interactive experience.

You can subscribe to the site via RSS. You can also follow Hello Giggles on Twitter and Facebook (in fact, "liking" Hello Giggles on Facebook allows you to comment on posts).

Have you explored Hello Giggles yet? What did you think?

photos from Hello Giggles

(twenty-two) things that are making me happy

Hello everyone! Today is my 22nd birthday! : ) My 21st year was filled with wonderful times with the people I love, lots of hard work, plenty of reflection, and tons of the "little things" that brighten life. I hope my 22nd year is just as blessed and adventuresome! To start it off right, here are 22 things that are making me happy as of late:

1. Iced black coffee
2. Comic book movies
3. Presto Pink nail polish
4. Quality time with family
5. Starting my summer job as a lifeguard
6. Visits with Dan and his family
7. Long walks with the dogs
8. Going to Indians games
9. Apple slices dipped in peanut butter
10. Reading favorite books
11. Naps on the porch swing
12. Trips to Bowling Green to see friends and visit favorite places
13. Cheers marathons via Netflix Instant
14. Pub trivia with friends
15. Morning workouts
16. Days filled with sunshine
17. The treats I can make with my birthday present (thanks, Elizabeth!)
18. Catching up on favorite magazines
19. Striped sundresses
20. Chocolate-covered bananas
21. Picking out picture books for little kids
22. The flowers my dad picked for me for my birthday, pictured above : )

What things are making you happy as of late?

design dreams: word art

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I really like the idea of words as art. The word art above are all babies' names, designed to be hung in a nursery. While I am not a mother and not searching for nursery decor ideas, I do like the examples above as inspiration for word decor in general. Which style do you like best? What word would you display as art?

(belated) weekly gems

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I'm sorry for my absence last week. Things got unexpectedly busy. The blog should be back to normal this week. And with two posts today to help make up for it! : )

• Tips on how to have a happier commute!
• Some awesome summer nail polish ideas.
• Great summer entertaining tips here and here.
• Do you use Twitpic? If so, you probably want to read this news.
• This remodeled airstream is gorgeous and comfy-looking.
• I adore this contemporary Chicago home, too.
• Desktop wallpaper for June here and here.
• I love reading lists of what makes people happy.
• Yummy banana pudding for grown-ups.
• An excerpt from Mindy Kaling's book! I'm so excited, can't wait to read all of it!