Bright Friday -- back again!

Oh, yes. At it again.

Because Pinterest is just too fun.

LET IT BE BRIGHT!

{white armchair}

{white beachwear}

{pink frosting}

{pink soles}

{magenta heels}

{magenta hillside}

{red luggage}

{red suit}

{orange juice}

{orange benches}

{yellow doors}

{yellow streaks}

{green stone}

{green staircase}

{teal bakeware}

{teal eyeshadow}

{blue yarn}

{blue gown}

{violet ornaments}

{violet fields}

{indigo rug}

{indigo coverup}

{purple watch}

{purple house}

{black lamp}

{black coffee}

All images and sources can be found on my Bright Friday Pinterest board -- don't forget to follow!

feeling accomplished

You know what?

I've been reading several posts about how other bloggers can make you feel inferior. How they don't respond to comments sometimes, or don't seem to really read comments when they do respond to them. How they have awesome closets, or spend all day pinning things on Pinterest and then show you pictures of their DIY projects that look like something you could buy at UO (or Watson Kennedy -- which is an awesome store that doesn't exist outside of Seattle, I don't think. Le sigh.) I read a lot of bloggers that buy all (and I mean ALL) their clothes at Anthropologie, a store I hadn't even really given a second thought to before diving head-first into the blog world

Though, I do have to admit, they have freaking cute dresses and coats.

In any case, these posts made me sad for those people, mad at other bloggers, and somewhat depressed about mys own state. And I contemplated writing a very heartfelt (read: pity party) post about how anxiety gets the best of me most of the time and I can't even call the dentist to make an appointment to get my filling re-filled without my boyfriend's help; so I went back to this 'list' I had created a little while back to remind myself of how much of a failure I am in most aspects of my life.

And a funny thing happened.

See, I tend to be a kinesthetic learner -- I learn by doing. I have to literally write things on a piece of paper to be able to remember them long-term (and therefore, the advent of bringing computers to class was the demise of any real studying for me, because typing doesn't learn me the same ;) So, I had forgotten about this list I typed. It doesn't exist anywhere except on my blog -- which I've kind of abandoned in recent times -- and I hadn't actually looked at it in a while.

Apparently I know myself pretty well though, because this is my list:

Things to Accomplish in Seattle

• Start arranging a cappella again
• relatedly, have an arrangement performed and/or recorded
• Learn to sew and use my handheld sewing machine
• Run a 5k (not necessarily enter a race, just be able to run 5k on the treadmill without stopping)
• Lose 5-10lbs (I'd be happy with 5 and even happier with 10!)
• Save money for Hawaii
• Take a wine tasting class (also maybe cheese and chocolate tasting class? I like all these things...)
• Audition for a show at a community theatre (musical or non)
• Take dance classes.

Things to Accomplish by 30

• Complete a novel and/or book of short stories
• Run a 5k Race...outside, somewhere. With other people!
• Take serious cooking courses; possibly get a culinary degree?
• Audition for five or more professional singing gigs (choir, theatre, cruise ship, etc.)
• Learn how to Irish dance proficiently

And here is the list with the things that I have accomplished crossed off (also, a few expected things in italics):

Things to Accomplish in Seattle

• Start arranging a cappella again
• relatedly, have an arrangement performed and/or recorded we are starting learning my arrangement at this Saturday's rehearsal
• Learn to sew and use my handheld sewing machine
• Run a 5k (not necessarily enter a race, just be able to run 5k on the treadmill without stopping) I am halfway to this goal -- I can run 1.5 miles. Baby steps.
• Lose 5-10lbs (I'd be happy with 5 and even happier with 10!)
• Save money for Hawaii
• Take a wine tasting class (also maybe cheese and chocolate tasting class? I like all these things...)
• Audition for a show at a community theatre (musical or non)
• Take dance classes. I have found a place that has relatively inexpensive classes that is within walk/jogging distance of my house at times that I can go. Now I just have to work up the courage to do it. Or, find someone to go with me.

Things to Accomplish by 30

• Complete a novel and/or book of short stories
• Run a 5k Race...outside, somewhere. With other people! It's possible I will be doing the Seattle Color Run in May. Possible.
• Take serious cooking courses; possibly get a culinary degree?
• Audition for five or more professional singing gigs (choir, theatre, cruise ship, etc.)
• Learn how to Irish dance proficiently

So I kind of surprised myself.

And that feels pretty good.

What have you surprised yourself with lately?

(now to post this list somewhere where I actually see it daily!)

all grown up (semi-wordless, what i wore wednesday)

{Satin-Front Gray Top: Express | Mustard Infinity Scarf: Forever 21 |

Faded Gray Embellished SkinnyJeans: Express | Tall Brown Boots: Payless}

{Black Top: Xhiliration by Target | Mustard Infinity Scarf: Forever 21 |

Sunglasses: Forever 21 | Dark-Wash Jeans: Express | Tall Brown Boots: Payless}

{Heather Gray Dolman-Sleeve Top: Express |

Faded Gray Embellished Skinny Jeans: Express | Green High-Tops: Toms}

(no blue-mop handles or litter boxes were harmed in the taking of these pictures)

Blog Sale!

Here we go, hopefully I have something you want! Because they don't fit me anymore.

Also, don't you love my spotlight? I'm fancy like that. (Thank you, $15 lamp from Ikea, for having LEDs!)

H&M Navy Blazer

Size 10 (runs a little small)

This jacket is made of a material a little stiffer than sweatshirt, 

definitely not normal blazer material.

$25

Black NewYork & Company Shift Dress with Three-Quarter Sleeves

Size Small

$15

Express One-Shoulder Bronze Metallic Party Dress

Size Small (runs large and the fabric is stretchy)

$30

Express Red Turtle-Neck Sweater Dress

Size Small

$30

Express Red, White and Silver Striped Cap Sleeve Button Up

Size Medium

$15

Express Black with Metallic Thread and Buttons, Faux Button Up with Side Zipper

Size Small

$15

Forever 21 Crop Bolero-Style Sweater

Size Small (runs a bit large/bulky)

$10

Forever 21 Plaid Sleeveless Tunic

Size S (runs large)

$10

Express Purple with Black Dots Faux Button Up with Side Zipper

Size M

$15

Lark & Wolff (UO) Tank

Size M

$15

Forever 21 Orange/Coral Sundress with Back Tie

Size M

$20

Forever 21 "I Love H81" Light Khaki Pants

Size 27; 33-34" inseam

(Too big for me and I'm generally a size 4 in pants. I'd guess fits a 6 to a small 8, the people in Forever 21 were not very helpful when I was asking about sizing.)

$20

Merona (Target) Green Sweater

Size Small

$10

Wet Seal Bright Blue Strapless Bubble Dress with Pockets

(never worn)

Size Small

$15

Shipping is inlcuded in all prices and all sales are final. Please email me at doneandalsodone@gmail.com to purchase. 

I'll cross things off once they are sold. Thanks!

cabin fever

So, Seattle looks like this right now:

That last one is the the most current -- the grayness of the photo indicates that it's actually snowing currently. I tried to take pictures of the snow, but the camera can't focus on the snowflakes and I don't know enough about it to make it do otherwise.

This is my second day off from work and I accomplished vacuuming and laundry yesterday, and I'm going through my clothes to see what I want to keep/sell/giveaway. Fun thing about it, I'm finding things that didn't used to fit are fitting again! Thumbs up. I'll have those up here soon, but for now, here's a picture of my cat from yesterday.

She thinks she's a hunter.

what i've begun

Just some things:

• You should listen to 'Where I Stood' by Missy Higgins. Here, I'll put it here for you. Something about it just feels right.

• I'm almost done with my arrangements of the acoustic version of Sleepyhead by Passion Pit and Deer in the Headlights by Owl City. I'm really excited for my a cappella group to (hopefully) sing these. I think they will be banging.
• Today, I am tired. I don't feel like doing much of anything, but I at least have to finish payroll.
• Justin's Nut Butter on bananas is the most excellent of on-the-go breakfasts.
• I am having a love/hate relationship with the third book in the Game of Thrones series. I want to know what happens, but I don't want to spend the time reading about characters for whom I have no love or investment. I am in love with half of them and completely indifferent to the rest. I could really just do with a whole series about Daenerys Targaryen. For serious, y'all. She is the bomb dot com. Yeah, I did just say that.

• I bought new jeans from Express (which is my new favorite place because I'm now an extra small there) and they are fabulous EXCEPT that they are made for people who are a) at least four inches taller than I am (and I am 5'7" -- that is above average height for ladies here, people,) or b) people who wear 5"+ heels every single day for everything they do in life. I have been wearing them with heels at work and tucked into my boots outside of work, but I just need to get them hemmed because I like my Toms, thank you very much.
• In other news about Express, I have a pair of jeggings that I bought when we first got here that fit just okay and now they fit great. They are shiny and have many jewels on the butt. It makes me happy.
• Sometimes, my spam mail just makes me laugh. In this case, Godiva wants to send me a free Nicholas Sparks book, but my "friend" Janelle would like to recommend tasteful...toys.

•  Lastly, here are starting pictures for toning things up at the gym:

p.s. - This is what I look like after I go to the gym.

Only I wear a shirt while I'm actually there.

And sometimes a jacket.

Tummy region = needs some abs.

 

Check out my lack of biceps, y'all.

I'm planning on using a combination of our free personal training sessions (once a month,) websites like Blogilates and other online video resources, and iPhone apps to come up with new and exciting exercises to keep my muscles guessing. If you have other resources that you love, let me know! I get bored easily. I'm kind of back to where I was with my muscle tone, because I spent a month sick in bed. It got rid of the fat (I went from 22.7% body fat to 20.7% body fat) but it also undid all of the work I'd been doing. Just doing squats was hard last night, and I was down a step in the amount of weight I could sustain on the machines when we went last night. Stupid.

• Remind me to buy some new clips for my hair. OH YEAH -- can anyone recommend awesome headbands that are really actually non-slip? The ones from the drug store that say they're non-slip pop off my head. It might just be that I have a strangely shaped head, but I think it also might have something to do with the fact that I have extremely soft, slipper hair. Bobby pins don't even stay in it very well. Maybe I'll just bring back sweat bands...
• Lastly, I want some coconut water and a kit kat bar. Regular water and pumpkin spice coffee will have to suffice. Le sigh.

so this is the new year

I have been struck by several different plagues:

• an actual plague that knocked me off my feet and cause me to have to call out of work two days in a row
• a second actual plague that interefered with my Christmas vacay with my family. I had Christmas Eve lunch with them, and then I basically didn't get out of bed from 6:30AM Christmas morning until Friday the 30th. It was awesome.
• the plague of laziness. I get this plague a lot.

Here is the only picture of my with my family from the entire nine days I was there:

In other news, I will actually be writing again, but I've been thinking a lot about what I want to write. I tend to get caught up in doing link-ups, reviews, recipes and things that a lot of other blogs do. Well, I've fallen off the new recipe wagon and link-ups have seemed like entirely too much work as of late. The reviews I will have a series of -- for the products in my latest Influenster VoxBox -- starting soon, but after that I think I'm going to back off of the 'follow all the blogs!' mentality and focus on me and what I'm doing. And what I want to do. And music, because I'm a musician.

I will also post what I got for Christmas, because I want to. So there.

And I'm going back to the gym tonight, even if it kills me. Which it might, since I can't walk to and from home without coughing like a TB patient.

Being sick for two weeks allowed me to drop five pounds nice and easy, but now that my calorie intake has come up again and my weight loss has evened out, I have to tone it up and figure out my calorie intake to maintain this weight. This weight: 131(!) which is very, very close to what I graduated college at. I'm back in a size 4, comfortably, which is exactly where I wanted to be. I'm actually under my goal weight, so I'm going to focus on getting buff for the next time I wear a bathing suit. I bought myself some jeans that fit. I'm happy with how my body is looking in my clothes.

I also think I may have a blog sale for some of my nicer clothes that are now too big or just don't quite fit the way I want them to. So be on the lookout!

New year, new things. That's a saying, right?