Thoughts from a Tuesday

It has been a gorgeous couple of days in STL lately.  The weather is in the mid 40s to low 50s and sunny, today has been pretty windy though.  After the snowpocalypse of last week and subzero temperatures, this is quite an improvement.  I am soaking it up as much as possible because I know it will soon be gone before it snows again.  I spent a couple of hours outside a coffee shop doing some work and enjoying the sun in my face.  For those of you reading from the south, I know you probably think I'm crazy and the midwest is already screwing up my perception of nice weather.  

Thoughts from this Tuesday: 

• My Book Club page has been updated with the last two recent books I read, check it out.

• The Fault in Our Stars (TFIOS) by John Green is a young adult (YA) book I read over my winter break.  YA books are my favorite genre because of how real they are with emotion.  There is a certain transparency and innocence that comes with the feeling and emotion expressed in YA novels, one much forgotten about in the adult world.  I like to remember that it is okay to be vulnerable and reading YA novels helps me do that.  TFIOS is beautifully written, I could not put it down and read it in about two days.  It was funny, real, and heartbreaking, all of which are quintessentially very YA.  I learned that this book is in the process of being made into a movie, in theaters everywhere summer of 2014.  

• I recently saw a great TEDx talk that I'd love to share with everyone.  This fellow sister is from my home state (Texas) and went to a university just a bit further south than my alma mater.  She has a very important message that I hope hits close to home for many, "What defines you?" 
• This song has been on my mind a lot lately

Happy Tuesday! 

Favorite Moments of 2013

I love reminiscing on good times, and 2013 was full of them.  Let's recap, shall we?

January
Listening to "Anything Could Happen" at the Red River Grill w/Matthew, Tickle, Dan, and Kathryn and having lots of Lemon Drop Martinis.

February
It would have to be a tie between New Orleans (Carousel Bar!) w/my cousin, Anjali, and Jasmyn during Mardi Gras season and New York City with Anjali and Jasmyn.  Listening to "Dancing on my Own" at an old strip club bar/club.  Paying too much money to see Mumford and Sons ( but worth it!).

March

St. Patrick's Day at Bailey's singing Karaoke w/Kathryn and winning the contest thanks to our fabulous rendition of Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" (w/dance moves).  Oh, and taking students on a field trip to University of Louisiana in Lafayette. The beach and Austin, Texas w/Leigh Anne.

April
Winning a bunny at the farm festival with my sweeties.  Tequila tasting at Bailey's and taking a day off with Kathryn to go to The Bull Dog in New Orleans for pint night (best decision ever!).

May
Jazz Fest!! Cochon de Lait w/my family and friends. The best Bon Voyage parties! The most amazing view you'll ever see in Louisiana. Falling in love.  Saying goodbye to beautiful and amazing friends I made while I lived in Louisiana for two years.

June
Moving back to Texas.

July
California with Anjali and Liz.  My first Indian wedding experience.  Spending time with my cousin on the beautiful island of Cozumel drinking piña coladas and soaking up the sun.

August
Moving to Saint Louis, starting a new job, starting graduate school, gaining new friends and wonderful new roommates.

September
Going to Lou Fest with Janie and seeing Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Alabama Shakes, The Killers, and Icona Pop.  An amazing Labor Day weekend with someone who made me very happy.  My first STL Cardinals baseball game.

October
Fall in St. Louis!  Apple and pumpkin picking in Illinois.  One of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever experienced.  Seeing the Lumineers with Jess and Alex! Reuniting with my favorite people in Louisiana and the most epic Halloween costume ever!

November
Hearing Laverne Cox speak.  The most beautiful fall leaves I ever did see.  My first Diwali experience.

December
Lots of healing. TEDx STL Women's event with Jess. Meeting Ellie Kemper. My first snowfall in St. Louis. Following my heart and choosing to take big risks...with a little help from my friends :)

2014: Mais fais le doucement

It has been far too long, hasn't it my friends?

I agree, but I think 2014 is a great year to get back into writing.  Especially because I have so many friends that are all over the place, and I would love for them to stay in the know on what is going on in my life.

Now, the question: why did I stop blogging? 
You know, there are a lot of reasons for this and among them transitions, change, and graduate school.  It was definitely not because I didn't have anything to write about, because if anything I think I have more to write about than I ever have.  There are so many things I want to discuss, rant, cry and be angry about.  A lot of feminism, a lot of self-discovery, and a lot of laughter in between.  To answer it in one word I stopped writing because of growth.  I realized in December that I stopped blogging because the person I was portrayed as on this blog had grown up a little bit.  I have discovered a lot about myself and what I care about this last semester in graduate school.  I think a part of me was afraid of how to express that to the virtual world.

I have edited my about me to make it feel a little bit more like my current self.  I will be editing the blog here and there in the upcoming months.  The important thing is that I am back now and not afraid to voice a lot of strong opinions here every now and then.

Now, let's get started shall we?  What a better way to start than to go over my goals for 2014?! One of my very best and dearest friends and I sat down on New Years Day to write our goals together.  We were determined to have a fantastic year, and I think we have gotten off to a really good start.

So, like last year, I divided my goals into professional, physical, and personal goals. It helps me organize them better this way, and I intend on reflecting in six months as well as at the end of the year.

Professional

• I will learn something new every day and take risks at my internship with one goal in mind: educational equity.
• I will begin interviewing/researching for fall internships by April 2014.
• I will find opportunities to network at least once a month.
• I will read at least three books for professional development (spring, summer, fall)
• I will make connections in Austin, New Orleans, Dallas, and the RGV by December 2014 for future job opportunities for 2015.
• I will improve at my current job by developing my relationships with my RAs and Residents

Physical

• I will continue to walk to school at least four times a week.
• I will find an affordable yoga studio that is no more than $30/month.
• I will limit my meat (not including fish) to no more than 2X a week (unless holiday falls on that week).
• I will eat more vegetables through smoothies (kale, carrots, spinach, celery, tomatoes)

Personal 

• HAVE MORE FUN
• I will have more fun by going out to more pubs on a biweekly minimum.
• I will find a stable summer job that will pay the rent by mid-April 2014. 
• I will finish all my free therapy sessions until the end of the year
• I will treat myself to a massage at the end of finals
• I will keep in touch with my long distance friends by personally contacting them at least once a month via skype or phone.
• I will send more care packages to people I care about for no reason at all (spring, summer, fall)
• I will call family members besides my mom biweekly.
• I will attend more concerts (3 minimum)
• I will ONLY consider dating people whose values meet my checklist (more on that later)
• I will explore my spirituality and faith by going to the Catholic Student Center for more than monthly happy hour.

Oh, and for a 2014 mantra?  Last year my mantra was "Anything Could Happen" inspired by the Ellie Goulding song.  While it is hard to pick a new one, I have decided on something I learned in Louisiana.  When I lived there a sweet friend who still inspires me introduced me to the following:

Laissez les bon temps rouler (mais fais le doucement)

Laissez les bon temps rouler (mais fais le doucement), let the good times roll, but do it slowly/gently.  Is that not just absolutely fabulous?