Tag: fun

February goals

by Ariana Peters, posted in books, food, healthy lifestyle, House/dating/life, school/studying, training

February

The goals for the year broken down for this month:

Blog at least 3 times a week- I need to do 12 posts minimum this month

PROPERLY train for and run a half, full and ultra marathon- Half marathon training continues, I need at least 64 miles

Revamp my diet and STICK TO IT!!!! Revamp my diet and STICK TO IT!!!! –

Breakfast-juice and muffin or toast and coffee

Midmorning snack– Slimfast or smoothie

Lunch– Soup or salad

Dinner– Anything I want as long as it is make at home

After dinner– tea or hot chocolate, popcorn is ok as well.

Get A’s in all my classes this year. Keep track of current %

Drop two clothing sizes, go from a 10 to a 6. Clothes should be starting to fit better along with less bloating.

Stop overspending!!!! Still not keeping any form of payment with me I also want to consistently send $10 a month to my tiny Edward Jones acct and my savings account that I do not have a debit card for.

Take a few minutes every day to sit in quiet reflection, meditate, and do something spiritual. Keep the goal of last month of 5 minutes a day.

Continue to work on and grow my relationship with Brandon. Keep the goal of last month of getting out once a week.

Read 1 non-school book a month.

I have sugarplum fairies dancing in my head

by Ariana Peters, posted in food, House/dating/life

or more factually correct I have images of fresh baked bread and delicious meals and gardens and chickens dancing in my head.

I cannot wait to break out my bread maker for some fresh amazing bread. Sandwiches our first week in the house on fresh baked bread…..yes!

Brandon already said he would build me a chicken coup from some repurposed wood. In Salem you can have up to 6 chickens without needing any permits. I think we will start with 3-4 this year and see how it goes. Then maybe add the other 2-3 next year. Spacing them out like that will be good for timing too. They don’t lay eggs for about 6 months then they produce for about 2 years then it will be harvesting time. So each year we will have to order 2-3 new chicks (after the first 2 years) and I I’ll need to learn how to butcher a chicken.

I have already placed an order to the Burpee seed company, I will have 6 heirloom tomato plants shipping to me around April 9th ready to be direct planted when they arrive. I think I will pick up 1-2 cherry tomato plants just from the grocery store, not heirloom but that is ok. That is perfect timing and should give us about 2-3 weeks in the house to get the yard ready for planning. I will continue ordering plants over the next few weeks.

Ahhhh about 5.5 weeks at the most!!!!!

 

 

……………..Well we got a call and that 5 or 6 weeks we had until we got to move in just went down to 3! We just got notice that the tenets are moving out early! Which is amazing and moves our timetable up about 2-3 weeks.

We are hoping to start moving things in over presidents day weekend. Brandon gets that Monday off and he would like to refinish the tub that day so it has the rest of the week to “cure” and we could start using it the next weekend. The bottom of the tub is wearing off and pealing away a little bit, so Brandon bought a refinishing kit. This is much cheaper than buying a new tub (which one day we will do, hello claw foot soaking tub!!!! one day lol) Having the tomato plants delivering in early April means we have that as a deadline to get the backyard ready for planting. Spring is also when baby chicks are born and delivered so a chicken coup will be near the top of the list too.

It is going to be a busy but amazing few months as we move it, get everything up and running and settle in!

 

January Goal check in

by Ariana Peters, posted in books, food, healthy lifestyle, House/dating/life, school/studying, training

 

Blog at least 3 times a week- so I need a minimum of 14 blog posts including January 31st Actual number of posts:

PROPERLY train for and run a half, full and ultra marathon- half marathon training is up first, the minimum number of miles I need have run this month to keep up good training is- 60 miles Actual number of miles: 12, I am not made about this, leaving town and dealing with my brothers death this month has taken everything I have so I am just happy I have gotten out and moved once a week. Now the goal is to make it at least twice a week and so on and so forth.  

Revamp my diet and STICK TO IT!!!! –

Breakfast-juice and muffin or toast and coffee (most mornings I had oatmeal, which I consider healthy)

Midmorning snack- Slimfast or smoothie (slimfast or cheese and crackers)

Lunch- Soup or salad (not quite as much but most of the time it was soup or something homemade)

Dinner- Anything I want as long as it is make at home

After dinner- tea or hot chocolate

 

Did you stick to this? Overall I stuck to this about half the time, having to leave town for almost 2 weeks to deal with my brothers death certainly derailed this.

 

Get A’s in all my classes this year- Keep a running tally of my % in my class(es) Current %: 84.83, again I missed the entire first week of class so I am pretty happy with an 84 especially since A&P is a difficult class.

Drop two clothing sizes, go from a 10 to a 6 –Stick with the aforementioned meal plan and marathon training and I should be golden. How is this going? Yea right lol

Stop overspending!!!! – I am not keeping any forms of payment on me at work so that I cannot pop next door to the little market whenever the desire strikes and I only get to eat out once this month so I better choose well. Money saved: $100. I got $100 in my savings and didn’t take it out but I did go on a little spending spree after getting back from Reno and having to face real life again.

Take a few minutes every day to sit in quiet reflection, meditate, and do something spiritual –I have a 5 line a day little diary and a 366 day devotional I am starting to use. Out of 31 days I managed how many days: 12, I packed my little diary and took it to Reno with me then never unpacked it when I got home, I really need to do that.

Continue to work on and grow my relationship with Brandon – we need to get out and do something every week, we currently have Thursday evening through Sunday morning together and I don’t want us to just sit on the couch the whole weekend so my goal is at least one outing a weekend (they just need to be free outings lol)

Our 4 weekend outings:

I was out of town the first 2 weekends

Went for a trail run then hit the Tillamook cheese factory

Went out to his grandparents house

Read 1 non-school book a month- I already met that goal this month so let’s see if I can squeeze in a second one before school starts.

Books read this month: The quarter-acre farm

All in all I didn’t hit most of my goals but considering the circumstances I am ok with this. I got up everyday and kept going, I did the things I needed to do and managed to not completely tank everything. Go me!

Week 3 of A&P

by Ariana Peters, posted in school/studying

Had my first midterm this week, WTF???!!! It covered 4 chapters and I spent 3 days studying for it. Normally I would study more than I did or maybe better is the right word but this is what I managed while grieving so we will see how it turns out.

I have found this great Youtube series called Crash Course that I am in love with. It is great for a quick study review, makes sure I know the big concepts and it gives great examples (in my opinion) I will definitely be using this as long as I can. Wanna learn with me? Check out the intro, epithelial tissue, integumentary system and connective tissue.

I was a little stressed about the exam but also am starting to really get interested in the subject so that is helping. I will keep you posted!

Check out crash course!!!!! They have LOTS of different subjects.

 

PS. I got an 85.5% on my exam!!!!! I would have preferred an A but I will take that since I missed the first week. And now to immerse myself in bones……….not the TV show but the information about our actual skeletal system.

2018 run calendar

by Ariana Peters, posted in healthy lifestyle, House/dating/life, training

These are the races that Brandon and I currently have on our calendar. As I have learned things are always changing so we might end up adding or taking away from this list.

-Couples classic 5k in February

-Vortex 10k trail run in March

-Honeywagon Half marathon in April

-Banks Linear Trail Brave Run 10K in May (haven’t registered yet)

-Timberline marathon in June

-Rugged Maniac in June (we are planning to volunteer in the morning and run for free in the afternoon) (this is taking place of a July race)

-Spartan Sprint in August (again we are hoping to volunteer in the AM and run for free in the PM)

-Hardesty Hardcore 14 miler in September (haven’t registered yet)

-Defiance 50k in October

Those are the only ones officially on our race calendar but I am hoping to find a few more that we can add, for the right price. Money is really the biggest factor. Since we bought a house funds are limited and now all race entries are for 2 people instead of just one, cost is all the more important these days.

Mastering the Art of French Cooking/ Julie and Julia

by Ariana Peters, posted in books, food, House/dating/life

Hello,

As I mentioned on Monday over the weekend Brandon and I watched the movie “Julie and Julia” which I have already seen more than once and have read the book probably twice hahaha. Now that we have a house on the way to us, 7 weeks and counting!!!!! I am starting to dream about all the cooking I get to do!!!!! One of the cookbooks I really want is Mastering the Art of French cooking by Julia Child.

Since I read Julie and Julia several years I ago I have fantasized about also cooking my way through her book (except the aspics and the pates, ewww) hopefully now I will be able to do that. Look forward to some great meals in the future.

 

I am starting to get so flipping excited about planting food and cooking and eating!!!

Technically it’s the 2nd week of A&P

by Ariana Peters, posted in healthy lifestyle, school/studying

but since I missed the 1st week while I was in Reno helping take care of all my brother’s stuff it is my first week. How, I don’t know if ironic is the right word, that I didn’t take a fall quarter class because I would miss the first week due to my Europe cruise and here I have missed it anyways. I of course talked to my lecture and lab professor (a different teacher for each) and let them know I would miss the first week, they were both understanding. My professor emailed me on Thursday and let me know there would be a quiz on Tuesday; since I got home Thursday evening and picked my book up Friday I decided to go ahead with the quiz instead of waiting, no sense in falling even farther behind.

On Tuesday after work I went straight to school to use the hour and a half-ish that I had to study for the quiz, I had done about an hour and a half of studying previous to this but since I hadn’t been to lecture I only had a vague notion about what I needed to study. The professor has office hours before class so I stopped in to introduce myself and make sure I had studied at least some of the correct things. I got a 4/5 on the quiz which is great when you think I hadn’t even been to class but slightly depressing when you realize that is only an 80%. But it is ok. Since I am still adjusting to being back and hadn’t adjusted to school yet I ended up getting panda express after talking to my professor and before class. I tried to stay away from the carbs that would make me sleepy. I got a small mushroom chicken, small beef and broccoli and small kung pao chicken.

Wednesday was a planning day, now that I have the syllabus it is time to plan out the quarter. I put reminders in my phone about tests, quizzes, and any other due dates. I also updated the calendar in my room. and did an in-depth weekly break-down. Now it is time to do any prep-work for my lab on Thursday. On Thursday again I go to school right after work to get any more prep-work I need to do and if I am ready for lab then I start on next weeks reading and work. Since I only have about 2-2.5 hours between work and school I decided the best use of that time is to just go to school and get uninterrupted studying done. At home there are too many distractions and on the weekends I am with Brandon and would like to study as little as possible when I am with him (obviously during midterms/finals that doesn’t count hahahaha)

Thursday is my first lab (well I already missed one) you can drop one lab so my first was my dropped lab, this means I have to buckle down with my labs and focus. I tend to get a little impatient in labs and rush so I need to really not do that this quarter since I already have the 1 dropped lab. And of course there aren’t many grades available in lab, there is usually a score for the whole lab which means you only get about 10 things going toward your over-all grade, that makes each grade very important.

And with that my week is over!!! I got to sleep in this morning and it’s my Saturday; and technically my 2nd week of class is already over, only 9 weeks left. Oh boy this is going to fly by, I better start studying!! and did I mention that I have been to 1 class and have a midterm on Tuesday!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Something I am going to do this weekend is get food for school/study time. As I discovered this week (and throughout the last year) I like to munch and graze while I study and in class, as I realized this I remembered that I used to make fruit and cheese plates to eat while I studied so I am going to start doing that again. That is the best thing for me to eat and do during the about 10 hours a week I will spend on campus. I think fruit, nuts and cheese will be the main staple. I might through crackers in from time to time and a protein bar here and there but that should work really well for me……and my waistline and budget as I found out this week hahaha.

 

January Monthly goals

by Ariana Peters, posted in books, healthy lifestyle, House/dating/life, school/studying, training

January

The goals for the year broken down for this month:

Blog at least 3 times a week- so I need a minimum of 14 blog posts including January 31st

PROPERLY train for and run a half, full and ultra marathon- half marathon training is up first, the minimum number of miles I need have run this month to keep up good training is- 60 miles

Revamp my diet and STICK TO IT!!!! –

Breakfast-juice and muffin or toast and coffee (I dropped my muffin this morning, sad face, so leftover slice of pizza and juice it is!)

Midmorning snack– Slimfast or smoothie

Lunch– Soup or salad

Dinner– Anything I want as long as it is make at home

After dinner– tea or hot chocolate , popcorn is ok too

 

Get A’s in all my classes this year- Keep a running tally of my % in my class(es)

Drop two clothing sizes, go from a 10 to a 6 –Stick with the aforementioned meal plan and marathon training and I should be golden

Stop overspending!!!! – I am not keeping any forms of payment on me at work so that I cannot pop next door to the little market whenever the desire strikes and I only get to eat out once this month so I better choose well.

Take a few minutes every day to sit in quiet reflection, meditate, and do something spiritual –I have a 5 line a day little diary and a 366 day devotional I am starting to use. (the first of the year was about setting your intention for the year and sending it out into the world, my intention this year is FOLLOW THROUGH!!! I am terrible about this)

Continue to work on and grow my relationship with Brandon – we need to get out and do something every week, we currently have Thursday evening through Sunday morning together and I don’t want us to just sit on the couch the whole weekend so my goal is at least one outing a weekend (they just need to be free outings lol)

Read 1 non-school book a month- I already met that goal this month ( I read online yesterday because work was dead) so let’s see if I can squeeze in a second one before school starts.

Happy New Year!!!!!/Monday motivation!

by Ariana Peters, posted in healthy lifestyle, school/studying

 


Today is day 1, make this the year of you, the year you have always wanted to have, lose the weight, pay off debt, let the walls down, deal with your depression or other illness, travel, do whatever you want. With the right attitude you can do it! I promise anything is possible, if you want it bad enough you will find a way and the universe will bring it to you. I mean I just came back from 18 days in Europe a few months ago, I am going to school to be a nurse, I am spending my life with the man I love, I live paycheck to paycheck currently and also managed to pay off a credit card last year!!!!! Yes it was my smallest one but every thing counts!!! If you want to make a change, take charge and do it.

I hope you have a great day and realize all the amazing things this next year holds for you.

Week 2 marathon training:

 

Not gonna lie, nothing happened this week. I took full advantage of using the holiday as an excuse and sat on my butt. My roommates were out of town so I enjoyed the empty house and binged on TV. I also rationalized that school is starting soon and workouts are going to get longer to enjoy this week of total laziness.

My 2018 goals (resolutions seems like a word that means you aren’t really going to stick with them so these are goals!!! AND I will achieve my goals!)

  1. Blog at least 3 times a week
  2. PROPERLY train for and run a half, full and ultra marathon
  3. revamp my diet and STICK TO IT!!!! (I am going to do a post about this soon)
  4. Get A’s in all my classes this year.
  5. Drop two clothing sizes, go from a 10 to a 6.
  6. Stop overspending!!!! I am terrible about sticking to my budget, I have stopped over drafting and am paying off debt but I could be in such a better place if I didn’t spend so frivolously.
  7. Take a few minutes everyday to sit in quiet reflection, meditate, do something spiritual.
  8. Continue to work on and grow my relationship with Brandon
  9. To read 1 non-school book a month. I had originally wanted to do 1 a week then thought about it and changed it to every other week but now I think it will be 1 a month to be safe. I have a 40 hour work week, 6 hours of classes a week, another probably 4-6 hours of school work a week, in a few months I will have a 2 hour/day commute, training for my runs and house work.

In a few days I will post about breaking these down in to manageable goals which will help them be more attainable.

New Years Eve!!!!

by Ariana Peters, posted in food, healthy lifestyle

Be safe, have fun, spend the night the way you want to spend it! Live it up and let the stress, drama and crap of the last 365 days go away, tomorrow you start fresh. Enjoy!!!

 

I will probably be watching the ball drop on the east coast at 9pm my time on the internet lol. I have to be up tomorrow morning at 5:40am to get to work by 7am. The boyfriend is going to keep me company. This will probably be the first year, since I can remember, that I will not stay up until midnight and ring in the new year…….I guess I am getting old, or maybe just responsible. Who wants to work on 5 hours sleep?