Random Catch Up Session

First off, I'd like to say I'm sorry for my few month hiatus.  I've been a bit busy and my life got kind of crazy there for a second.  So, there's that.

I'm sitting at my parent's, currently enjoying a cup of tea (and doing laundry) and enjoying the weather, and it occurs to me how much more content I am at this point in my life.  A lot (a lot) has changed in a really short span of time and I think because of it I'm moving in a better direction.  Needless to say, I am much happier than I have been in a surprisingly long time. 

I'm stuggling a little bit more but it's character building (and doable, it really isn't THAT bad).  It's helping me manage my money and figure out what counts and what doesn't.  Don't worry, I'm still saving money for LeakyCon (cue segway).

I cannot wait for LeakyCon this year.  I was just researching some things and now I'm just filled with awesome energy and I am so excited.  This year everything is going to be different.  For one thing, Harry Potter World will be right there and I am going! WEEEOOOOOO! Secondly, this will be the first time I will be going to LeakyCon and actually knowing people there and hanging out with them.  It's going to be fantastic.  Thirdly, I'm actually going to have spending money this year as I've been saving for LeakyCon since October.  Cue the extreme excitement and random topic switch.

It's finally warm(er) outside! Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a winter person.  I like snow and colder weather and snuggling, hot chocolate, etc.  However, I feel like this particular winter has definitely overstayed its welcome.  Hello Spring, we've missed you!

I've been working on my novel, rewriting the ending and then I'm planning on another quick edit (to make sure my changes make sense) and then we'll see what I feel like after that.  The plan is still to start sending out my "finished" manuscript by the end of the year.

Well, with that, I feel like I must apologize again for the sporatic, random-topiced blog post.  But, at least it's a blog post! :D

Hello 2014!

Well friends, it is a new year (and has been . . . oops).  But better late than never.  This year I'm sort of breaking it down for goals I want to accomplish.  I like checklists.  This is more of a reminder to myself of things I want to do more of on a regular basis, but putting them all down together makes it more real.  Visual reminders seem like a good thing sometimes.

So, without further ado, I give you my Goals for 2014.

12 Goals for 2014
- Spend less time on the internet
- Get my finances solidly sorted out
- Travel more
- Get in shape
- Write/edit a helluva lot more
- Read more
- Be musical more often
- Go outside more
- Mark something off of my Bucket List
- Continue to make considerable dents in my student loans
- Cook for myself more because it's fun not because I should (maybe that will be helpful motivation)
- Be awesome.

12 Books to read for 2014
- Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
- Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
- Feast of Crows by George R.R. Martin
- The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury
- City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
- Children of Hurin by J.R.R. Tolkien
- Tripmaster Monkey by Maxine Hong Kingston
- Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
- China Men by Maxine Hong Kingston
- Paper Towns by John Green
- The Monuments Men by Robert M. Edsel
- The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling)

8 Other Things to Do in 2014
- Keep in touch with people better

- Go on an adventure.
- Do something impulsive (again).
- Rock NaNoWriMo this year!
- Send a novel out to publishers and agents.
- Write a novel (or a large chunk of one).
- Save money.
- Stop making excuses for not doing things I want to do.

Happy Christmas With Love!

And what a day it was!  I went home for Christmas Eve and spent the night.  For Christmas Eve dinner I made my minestrone soup (my most favorite soup) and we had cheese and crackers and such before going to the candle light service at church.  

More as an impromptu party, my roommates and I opened our presents on Christmas Eve morning before we all went home for Christmas.  It was really great!  I got a couple awesome books and the Hobbit movie with bonus dvd (my favorite!) and we're still planning on having a friends Christmas party.

Once home, I really did just kind of chill for the evening along with making soup.  We had to come up with a stand in tree because we've all been so busy these past few weeks that we didn't really have a tree! We pulled out a little tree we've had as a decoration for ages and we decked it up and stuck it above the presents! I liked it.  Then, I had trouble falling asleep (which has been very commonplace lately) but I didn't have much issues waking up the next morning. . . I wonder why! 

We had Christmas Day breakfast, minus the usual frozen fruit cups (it'd been a busy couple of days) and we had cinnamon rolls (also my favorites).  Opening presents was as you'd expect: hilarious and awesome.  I got a lot of great stuff!  For example, I got a portable keyboard piano!! Granted that's what I asked for, but it's still awesome!! All 88 keys and everything!  And a stand for it and I'm borrowing my mum's vintage earphones so that I can play my piano and be the only one who hears it!!! (Hello to no noise complaints at 1 in the morning from my playing!) 

Last year, I got over $50 in Starbucks giftcards.  This year, I got 2 bags of whole bean coffee!! Just as good (if not better) than a whole bunch of giftcards! I've been making my own mochas at home so this is the best!!  It will last me a whole lot longer than $50 in giftcards!

I'm proud of myself this year; I didn't go way out of budget for presents for people.  I'm trying to live within my budget more and more and I really did accomplish it this year! I didn't set myself back in my finances and I managed to get everyone gifts that they seem to really like.  Now if only I could figure out how to fit writing Christmas cards into my busy schedule! Maybe next year, even though I'm still planning on sending some this year . . . you know, as Happy Belated Christmas cards.  That's a thing . . . right?

And now, as a virtual tiding from my computer to yours,

 


HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND THE VERY BEST 
OF NEW YEARS TO YOU AND YOURS!