Awesome August: A Month in Pictures*

*My computer crashed so these are 3/4 of the photos from this month.

(Reposted from August 1, 2014)

When it comes to these monthly challenges, I like to keep the audience in mind. I gather opinions, post pictures, receive valued feedback, and write these blog posts that I know are boring in hope that some people find entertainment (Hi, Mom). The month of July, however, was completely different. “Junk July” was all about clearing the stuff out of my own life, on my own time, in my own privacy. Because – I’ve figured out – in order to organize your life and make space for others, you need to be selfish first. 

Being selfish to be giving; it seems backwards, I know. But trust me when I say you’ll be better off for it. I’m not saying be selfish all the time and then end up rocking in the back of some dive bar next to a jukebox no one will go near because you claimed the whole area by showing up every night just to force everyone to listen to your horrible taste in music – no, I’m saying be selfish for a day, for a week, maybe even a whole month (within reason, obviously). Being selfish is underrated. You’re only going to live this life once, so why should you do it for anyone other than yourself? Take risks, meet as many people as possible, move to the place you can’t stop dreaming about, try everything at least once, and if you love it – try it again. Then, when it seems like it’s all become too much, find what is dragging you down and CUT IT LOOSE. Keep your life more simple and only surround yourself by necessities and things that make you happy. Everything else is just gravy that you’re not obligated to put on your turkey… if you catch my drift. Though you might like the gravy. Especially if it’s from Dysarts. 

I digress. For Junk July I focused on getting rid of the excess from my life, and while there’s still a ways to go until I’m content, things are definitely better than they were before.

In the month of July I:

• Cleared out 3 email address inboxes worth of emails. (They dated back to 2007.)
• Cleared my phone of contacts I don’t know and/or need. (It was like playing “Call or Delete”, but everyone was “Delete”.) 
• Started clearing my Facebook of ‘friends’ I don’t know/need. (This has barely begun so none of you are safe. Buy me things to better your chances of staying).
• Cleared at least 5 bags worth of clothes out of my room that I don’t need. (They were given to a local venue.)
• Found my very first iPod and my sister’s old phones. (The pink Nokia that refuses to die is basically a National Treasure).
• Found a tanktop I thought I lost in 2011. (This is actually a BFD.)
• Cleared my computer of files I don’t need. (Though, somehow, my desktop picture – which is an attractive stranger – seems to remain.)

So all in all, Junk July was good for me, and a solid beginning to get me ready for my move to California that’s coming up in less than a month. Since everything seems to be in preparation of that, I thought, “Why not make August’s challenge about that as well?” AND SO I DID… BECAUSE THIS IS MY BLOG.

My challenge for the month of August is going to be: AWESOME AUGUST.

I know, right? Don’t get too excited.

If you’ve ever seen/heard/taken part in/actively ignored the cute trend of “#100HappyDays” then it’s like a mini, 31 day, version of that. Every day for the month of August I will post a picture and write a brief word vomit about something during that day that made me happy… something that was awesome.

I chose this challenge because for the rest of my time in Maine I want to really enjoy every day and I reckon this will force me to do so – find the good even when I’m focusing on the stress of it all. Also, by the time I move to California, I will be in a better mindset to really appreciate all the new experiences that’ll occur. It’s a win/win situation, and I love winning.

In conclusion, July was all about making space in my life for the good things that will happen to me, and August is all about being in the right frame of mind to appreciate those good things. So let’s get started…

Can I win the lottery now? 

Just Do It June: Write Your Dang Blog Post Edition

(Reposted from July 2, 2014)

June is over and boy, did that month go fast. 

I think June had to be my favorite challenge month, by far, simply because I ended up having the most fun with it. There was no stress; the month was about just letting go and DOING things and not worrying about it because wow, there’s so much to do and we’re all only scratching the surface.

Times when I would have had a lazy weekend, I made sure to woman up, put a bra on, and go do things with my family and friends. I saw films without waiting for them to leave the theater (even going by myself sometimes), I played mini-golf (and won), and I even danced with strangers in a Camden bar that was so ‘local’ that within five minutes people were introducing themselves because, “You’re not from here, are you?” 

My challenge didn’t just stay with me, either, as I have been contacted by others deciding to take on the “just do it” attitude as well, and the results have been great – one of them being that I got to reconnect with someone I haven’t seen in 7+ years. 

With all these new experiences, I need to make space in my life, which leads me to my next month’s challenge… 

JUNK JULY

For the month of July I’m going to try and clear my life of Junk. Physical and mental. 

I have a bedroom full of things that need to be cleared out (half which aren’t even mine – THANKS, SARAH) before I can renovate it, and I really want to strip myself down to my basic possessions. If I could pack my whole life up in two boxes, I’d be pretty happy. Plus, it would make moving a lot easier. 

Speaking of, I’m planning on moving in a couple of months and while I’m not sure where I’m going, the decision would be made a lot easier if I could sort my thoughts and come to some sort of solid resolution. While trying to choose a place to live based on pizza ratings seems like a solid plan, I honestly need to focus on what I need, what I want, and where I need to go – though delicious pizza certainly follows under what I need. 

So there you have it. July is about out with the old and in with necessary. Do you think Hoarders would sponsor me? 

#ManeMay is over and I’m not bald yet, so I’m counting that as a massive success.

(Reposted from June 1, 2014)

While I didn’t hit the amount of hairstyles I wanted to try (I’m chocking that up to the fact that this past week I have been out of commission with a sickness I’m hoping doesn’t end of being whooping cough) trying out 10 new ‘do’s that I normally wouldn’t have isn’t too shabby. 

Some things I learned this month are: 

• Invest in some good hairspray that doesn’t turn your locks into a helmet because it will be your best friend.
• It’s perfectly normal to use a bazillion bobbypins in your hair when you’re trying to keep 50 pounds from falling out of a bun. 
• Grabbing a fully heated curling iron barrel with your bare hand is most definitely not the best idea unless you’re planning on murdering someone within the next few weeks and want to have no fingerprints with the extra bonus of everything feeling like silk. 
• Layers in your hair will make whatever style you’re trying to do automatically fall under the “messy” category. Doing a pristine braid twist? Those wild hairs escaping say otherwise. 
• It’s okay to ask for help with your hair – especially if you have the wingspan of a T-Rex [this is 100% about me trying to justify myself]. 

So May has come to pass and while the previous few months have gone well in regards to doing physical goals such as cooking, and applying makeup… I can’t help but want to challenge myself mentally as well – which leads us to my June goal. 

JUST DO IT JUNE aka. JDIJune 

For the month of June I’m going to put myself in the mindset of overcoming whatever mental block I have and just DO things that I’ve been meaning to for quite some time. Examples of this are re-doing my bedroom, watching films I’ve been too lazy to actually force myself to focus on, and trying out activities I’ve always wanted to but have avoided for various reasons. 

I used to live by the notion that you should try everything at least once and somewhere in the past couple of years I lost that bit of myself. I want it back and I’m hoping this month will help me find it. 

I do, however, promise to keep myself out of jail. That’s something I simply don’t ever feel like trying out. Not my scene, really. Orange would go horribly with my skin tone. 

In conclusion, I don’t know where June will lead me, but I’m helping it’s one step towards a better version of myself. 

#MANEMAY MASTERPOST

 MORE AFTER THE CUT

ALCOHOL APRIL IS COMPLETE.

(Reposted from May 1, 2014)

Now that my blog looks like I’m reliving my undergraduate years all over again, let me reflect on some lessons I learned during this month:

• Coffee travel mugs do NOT make good shakers.
• Protein shake shaker cups, however, work wonderfully.
• If someone says he/she doesn’t like the taste of alcohol, you probably shouldn’t give him/her a drink that has absolutely no mixer involved.
• Dessert drinks are always a hit.
• Usually a drink won’t taste like what its name implies.
• Sometimes a drink tastes EXACTLY like what its name implies.
• Pouring caramel into an Appletini resembles 2 Girls 1 Cup, but the result is way better.

At least my family had fun being guinea pigs.

Alas, April may be over, but isn’t every month a bit of “Alcohol April”? I mean, Cinco de Mayo is coming up…

Speaking of May, a new month means a new challenge.

This month’s challenge is MANE MAY. 

Anyone who knows me personally knows that if there’s one thing I have an abundance of, it’s hair. Big poofy hair that refuses to be tamed and resembles the ears of a Cocker Spaniel if I try to brush it. Because of this, I rarely try and tame my locks. I don’t own a straightener or hairspray and I don’t even blow dry it.

This month I will attempt at least 15 different hair styles. ATTEMPT BEING THE KEY WORD. I have the wingspan of a T-Rex and the hands of a toddler – not exactly perfect tools for reaching behind my head to manipulate 40 pounds of tresses. Most likely I will have to recruit the help of others, but what this challenge is really about is trying to see what works with my hair and what doesn’t. I have about 3 staple hair styles so it would be nice to spice things up.

Prepare yourselves, it’s about to get hairy.

VODKA GUMMY BEARS

PART I: 

PART II (post 48 hour soak):

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

**Photograph lost in computer crash**

• 1.5 oz. Pinnacle Cake Vodka 
• 4 oz. Club Soda
• Splash of Pineapple Juice 

Mix over ice and pour into a tall glass.

“Smells more like cake than tastes. It’s a good summer drink; it’s light. The only aftertaste you have is pineapple.” – Mom

If you like pineapple, this is a good drink for you. There’s not a very strong flavor, but what you CAN taste is pineapple with an extra kick (one that is easily ignored). It’s fizzy – the type of drink that begs to be sipped next to a pool in the sun.

My Rating: 7/10
Mom’s Rating: 6/10
Dad’s Rating: 5/10 “Would have been better if I didn’t have peppermint gum in my mouth. I wish you had warned me.” 

COFFEE CAKE SHOT

**Photograph lost in computer crash**

• 1 oz. Pinnacle Cake Vodka
• 1 oz. Bailey’s Irish Cream

Rim a shot glass with brown sugar, pour ingredients over ice and mix, then pour the result into the prepared shot glass.

“It’s almost like a White Russian. It doesn’t taste like ‘coffee cake’ to me, but it’s really good.” – Sarah

Lets ignore about how absolutely revolting my glass rim decorating skills are and focus on the fact that this shot has potential. I reckon using Coffee Brandy or Kalúha would add more of a ‘coffee’ flavor than the Bailey’s and would, thus, play into the name of the drink more.

Sarah’s Rating: 8/10
Mom’s Rating: 8/10
Dad’s Rating: 8/10

MUDSLIDE

**Photograph lost in computer crash**

• 1 part Kalúha 
• 1 part Bailey’s Irish Cream 
• French Vanilla Ice Cream 
• Chocolate Syrup 

First scoop ice cream into a blender. Try and put enough for the amount of drinks you’re making. Two scoops usually equals one drink, depending how big your scoops are. You’re basically making an adult milkshake – so keep that in mind.

Next pour in Kalúha and Bailey’s to taste (Vodka can also be added, but all it does it add alcohol – not taste) and blend until smooth. The alcohol will cause the ice cream to break down, so after the initial blending, you may want to add more to balance out the taste or thicken up the consistency of the drink. It’s all about preference.

Once the drink is blended to your liking, decorate the sides of your glass with chocolate syrup*, pour in your drink, and swirl more chocolate syrup into the top (this will sink down into your drink and add flavor).

“It’s good. The first thing I’m going to do is scrape all the chocolate off the sides.” – Mom

This drink was an absolute necessity to make for my household seeing as it’s my Mother’s specialty. I was scared to try and live up to her legacy, but with her booziful guidance, I was able to recreate this liquid gold for your tastebuds.

My Rating: 10/10
Mom’s Rating: “Give her a ten.”
Dad’s Rating: “That’s gotta be a ten. Definitely.” 

*My mother hated that I decorated my glass because “it’s a waste of chocolate” but I worked at Godiva and it’s something that can be left out when making a dessert drink. Feel free to do whatever you want.