30 by 30 list!

My birthday is exactly one month away from today – I’ll be 28! I decided to make a 30×30 list to have something to look forward to over the next couple of years. In no particular order, here is my list:

1. Learn how to ride a bike (not a motorcycle, just a basic bicycle – I never had one as a kid.)

2. Visit the White House

3. Ride a hot air balloon

4. Have the belief that one day I will pay off my debt (even though I continually increase it)

5. Own a black lace bra that fits perfectly

6. Take a dancing class

7. Learn how to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the relationship

8. Have an emergency fund that can cover 6 months of expenses

9. Have the ability to not touch the emergency fund

10. Go on a cruise

11. Learn how to save myself in a large body of water

12. Attend a concert

13. Have a secret

14. Learn how to shoot a gun

15. Go skiing in Denver (preferably at Beaver Creek Lodge)

16. Own at least one pair of expensive shoes or a piece of expensive jewelry

17. Have a job that allows me to pay rent and maintain satisfying relationships

18. Learn how to trust

19. Catch a fish

20. Have GO-TO Items: a meal I can cook, an outfit to wear (any occasion), a joke to tell

21. Learn how to build something

22. Start a scholarship

23. Ride in a helicopter

24. Be an extra in a movie

25. Learn how to change a flat tire

26. Go to a Bingo night at a neighborhood church

27. Have professional photos taken and framed

28. Eat at a place showcased on the Food Network

29. Stay at a bed and breakfast in another country

30. Have a safe deposit box with: passport, credit card and emergency cash

Bonus:

1. Own a piece of furniture from Z Gallerie

2. Break a Guinness Book World Record

Do you have a to do list by a certain age ? If so, what’s on it? Does having a list increase your chances of doing what’s on the list by the deadline?

February Wrap Up

February was not an exciting travel month for me. I only went to Orlando but while I was there I got some good pics of my little Tai celebrating her first birthday. Her parents had a photographer come to the house to take her 1 year old pictures before her party began. She had about 6 or 7 outfit changes, you can see a few of them below.

I also participated in some All Star Weekend festivities and stayed at a really nice timeshare, Legacy Vacation Club. We had a two bedroom/two bathroom “apartment” that was fully equipped with a washer/dryer, microwave, dishwasher, everything! It was really like a home away from home. By the way, this is not a paid advertisement. I paid to stay there and really enjoyed it.

January Wrap Up

This month went by so fast! I participated in a photo challenge and it went surprisingly well. Here are the last three pictures from the month (inside my fridge, nature, and another snapshot of ME).

I started out the year in Vegas (Jan 1st-3rd). Here are some pics and a short video from that trip.

Pop Locking at the Grand Lux (Vegas)

The next week (Jan 9th-10th) I went to NYC for the first time. For 24 hours I think I got around pretty good. I filmed a commercial with Chuck Nice at the Hershey Store, walked around Times Square, took the subway to the World Trade Center and ate a top rated pizza place. Here are some of those pics:

My last trip of the month (Jan 22nd-24th) was to Orlando to visit one of my best friends. Here is a pic of her beautiful baby girl who turns 1 on Feb 13th.

Jan Week 4: My Shoes, Something Old, Guilty Pleasure, Something I Made, Color, Lunch, Light

Jan Week 3: Happiness, Morning, Water, Something I Bought, Sweet, Someone I love, Reflection

Giving Back

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately… giving back. What does it mean? How do you do it? Where do you start? Well, you can only think about it so long before you have to DO SOMETHING! I’ve decided to share a portion of my blog space helping out DoSomething.org.

DoSomething.Org services teens and social causes. They choose a Cause for the Month, a Project of the Day as well opportunities for YOU to get involved with YOUR own community. I can’t imagine a better way to start out giving back. I am a huge supporter of any organization that promotes creativity and the youth. I know this will be a great partnership.

CALL TO ACTION:

At the BOTTOM of this page there is a WIDGET for DoSomething.Org and all you have to do is CLICK ON IT. That click leads you to a quick activity and that leads to a donation. Thank you in advance for your participation.

Jan Week 2: My Sky, Daily Routine, Childhood, Where I sleep, Close Up, In My Bag, Something I’m Reading

Another week, another week of pictures.

My Sky: I work when I’m not traveling and luckily to two go hand in hand for me. I took a picture of all the Southwest planes lined up early in the morning.

Daily Routine: I wash my hair at least once a week but I have to complete a daily hair regimen that keeps my natural hair looking healthy in between washes.

Childhood: I used another collage and this one contains pictures from different years in my youth (8th grade graduation, 4th grade portrait, random outings)

Where I sleep: I work so much that I’m often the most tired at work. This particular table in the break room is where I would lay my head if I could (it’s frowned upon in the aviation industry to sleep at any point on the job – even breaks).

Close Up: I remember talking to my moms fiancée one day, about 15 years ago, and he says “You have very pretty eyes. Don’t let that go to your head.” I still don’t know exactly what he was referring to because he’s the only one to ever compliment me on my eyes.

In My Bag: I always keep food in my purse (hence, the popcorn) but also any items that may be needed if I get stranded somewhere (iPod, calendar, wallet, work id, Altoids, lip gloss).

Something I’m Reading: I drink a lot of juice. More and more companies are adding fun facts and trivia to their packaging. This particular juice cap just happened to have a saying that I agree with.

I’m blogging again!

January 4, 2010 I started this blog and I did good until August 18th, where I posted a generic post related to my old job. Things have changed so much and I miss sharing my thoughts, feelings and ideas with the free world. Please indulge, support and comment to encourage me to keep going. I didn’t blog all of last year and that time was perhaps when I needed to the most. Here’s a little timeline:

June 2010 – Started working as a Service & Training Manager with Old Navy as well as attending school for an Internet Marketing degree. Celebrated my birthday (and one (1) year of unemployment) by moving from Chicago to Orlando for this job. I worked at the largest Old Navy in Orlando. I learned a lot, worked with great people and had a boss who appreciated me. I was happy.

December 2010 – Dropped out of school because I ran out of financial aid and didn’t have the time due to the retail industry killing me over the holidays. I was also moved to a new (existing but new to me) Old Navy to fill in for the holidays.

January 2011 – Almost immediately I realized that this wasn’t the place for me. The store manager wanted a robot but I’m a free thinking Gemini so this relationship went nowhere fast. I constantly asked upper management when they planned to hire someone else because I wasn’t a good fit. I was told to deal with it because all work situations cannot be ideal. I was talked to like a child, treated like a lesser being and overall demoralized in every conceivable way. I took the time to drive home for lunch because I didn’t want to stay in the building. I went out of my way to help customers because that was my only outlet. The more I excelled at my job, the more I became a punching bag for the company. There had to be a reason that two (2) managers quit within the last month and I seemed to be the only one who actually cared about the effect that had on the employees. I felt alone and stuck.

March 2011 – I closed the store that night and while on the phone with a friend decided that I was never going back to Old Navy (at least as a manager). I was talking to her and actually said, “I’m not suicidal but if I go back to that store, someone is going to get hurt… and it won’t be me. I would never hurt myself but if I fell down the stairs and broke my ankle I wouldn’t be upset.” This has to be the point people reach before they really do hurt themselves or snap. I was done! You can’t explain what it takes to get you to that level but once you get there YOU KNOW. Fortunately, I was interviewing for other jobs. I was very open with my boss about seeking employment elsewhere and luckily she seemed to want me gone as much as I wanted to be gone. I spent the end of March surrounded by friends and family then I got a call that changed EVERYTHING.

April 2011 – I accepted a job within the airline industry. There were some cons: A. I wasn’t going to make much money. B. I had to pay for my own move from Orlando BACK to Chicago. C. I was starting at the bottom. There were also pros: A. I get to fly for free. Well, that’s the only pro that matters.

Here it is January 2012 and I’m still with this company and loving it. Old Navy was the worst job that I ever had but had it not been for that experience I would have never been able to fully enjoy the blessing of the job that I have now.

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS:

1. Be more specific and open. I am very secretive by nature which impedes my ability to fully communicate what I’m going through. It’s hard to tell a story and hide half of the information. I hold so much inside that it wears me out. If you ask a question, I give an honest answer but I never volunteer any more information than deemed necessary.

2. Spend more time with friends and family. I’ve always lived away from home. I’m not accustomed to juggling work with family and friends. I am consciously working on this.

3. Experience new things. With this resolution comes the hope that I try something new and then wonder how I lived so long without it. Wish me luck!

Jan Week 1: Me, Breakfast, Something I Adore, Letterbox, Something I Wore, Makes me Smile, Favorite

I just started my first ever photo challenge and here are the results. Some pictures could definitely be better but I’m more concerned about the commitment. I actually remembered to take a picture for each category!

Me: The picture of me in the hat is in Vegas. I started my year out in Sin City with my best friends.

Breakfast: This pic is from the Grand Lux Cafe at the Venetian. There is also a Grand Lux Cafe in Chicago and it is one of my go-to restaurants for good food at a good price.

Something I Adore: My MacBook Pro. I have had this computer for about 3 years now and I’ve never had a problem with it *crosses fingers*

Letterbox: I took a picture of my digital letterbox. I never check voicemails so it’s always full.

Something I Wore: I make it a habit to go through all of my clothes on a regular basis. I just took a picture of my whole closet because I’ve worn all of it.

Makes Me Smile: I had to use a collage for this category. Friends, food, traveling, shopping… all make me smile.

Favorite: My Coach purse. I bought this purse as a Christmas present to myself Dec 2010. I’ve carried it everyday since then. I actually tried to switch and carry another purse but it didn’t feel right.

Photo Challenge by FatMumSlim

This year I am looking forward to expanding my social network and being more involved (Read more here or here). There’s no better way to combine my love of my iPhone, social media and free photo apps than by participating in a photo challenge set forth by FatMumSlim. My bestie Julie is participating in this as well and so far it seems cool. Check out the daily challenges below and comment if you’re participating so I can check out your pics on Instagram.