This coming weekend marks one year since I graduated! Like Shikole, I've decided to write a list of a few things that I want to accomplish before I hit the two year post grad mark.
1. Write and publish an e-book (a little hint for you guys.. it may have a little something to do with this blog!)
2. Finally learn how to play my guitar. I've had it since I graduated high school and can play a few Bob Marley songs and random chords. This will change over the course of the year!
3. Buy or lease a new vehicle.
4. Experiment more in the kitchen. I seem to have no problem trying out new baked things, but cooking more complex dinner foods actually make me nervous! Since I now have my own kitchen I want to experiment much more!
I'm sure there are many more goals that will pop up, but for now I think these are a good start! What about you readers, do you have a #1 goal for the next year?
Things You Forget You Need
I am 2/3 moved into my new place! While this is a great accomplishment and I am SO close to being done with this horrible process, I have realized that I have forgotten to bring/buy some of the things I use most often. Most of this is kitchen stuff previously shared between 5 people that I only realized I didn't own after leaving. Other things are mine but I didn't think to bring them at first. - Wine Opener. I was so upset last night when I realized the one I had wasn't mine and there was none at the new place either.
- Bathroom trash can. Seems important now that I think about it.
- Lamp. I had only seen the new place in the daylight, until I moved in. And it was dark.
- And I had a bed to put together. And realized there was no ceiling light.
- Pot holders. So small. So simple. So forgettable until you try to drain your pasta.
I have learned my lesson. And will be going to Target tonight to get all of these things.
Let's Try New Things!
I was reading another awesome blog, Yes and Yes, and saw that Sarah Von wants to do 32 new things before her 32nd birthday. We wish her the very best of luck and thank her for the idea! I've been cooking new things, but there are so many areas of life that I need to explore other than just the kitchen.
As I've mentioned previously, today is the one year anniversary of my college graduation. There are several things I want to do before the 2 year anniversary. My list is below:
- Go to a water park. Not that I haven't been before, but I was much younger and it wasn't a park dedicated to water fun.
- Get a matching tattoo with my sisters in our Dad's honor.
- Take some kind of writing class/workshop.
- Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
- Read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
- Go bungee jumping or sky diving
- Write at least 2 full chapters of a book
- Learn to make a tart
- Make my own piece of art, whether it be an amateur painting or a piece of pottery.
- Be able to do 200 sit ups. That's right people, this is a historic day. I have created a goal related to physical activity.
- Eat heart. doesn't matter from what kind of animal. Andrew Zimmern is my inspiration on this one.
- Own a plant. And not kill it.
That is all on my list for the next year. I will keep you all updated on when any of the above is completed.
Moving Weekend
As is my usual style, it is moving weekend and I haven't packed yet. I'm beginning to get really sad about moving. I have been living at Fessenden for 3 years. That's right, 3 years. I never had to deal with the moving drama because we found an amazing house our first time around and just didn't leave. This is very atypical for college students and post grads. I have been in a little bubble of comfort for 3 years. And now I'm being pushed out of it. And I need to somehow pack three years worth of crap. So far I am failing.
Last night was the last night I will sleep at Fessenden. My bed goes to the new place today. I have thrown my sheets in the washer and took apart the frame.
While I've been in my bubble of comfort I have also forgotten how much work it is to move. The packing, the washing, the cleaning, the disassembling, the reassembling, all of it is very exhausting.
I will update you all during the next break I have in this process. Have a happy Sunday!
What Moving Has Taught Me About Independence
Throughout college and since graduating, I have been proud of my independent spirit. In college I figured out ways to intern, convinced professors to let me into the classes I wanted to take, and kept up my GPA all on my own. After graduation I found my first apartment, landed a full time job, managed my own health insurance, will soon be buying a new car, and most recently found a new apartment and completed the subleasing process.
Especially since graduation, I've wanted to provide as much for myself as possible without relying on others. It's been working so far (and as so many of you out there know, it's not easy), but moving into this new apartment has really thrown me for a loop. It's made being independent feel sort of of lonely.
I definitely understand why the majority of the closest people in my life couldn't be there to help me move last weekend. My parents live five hours away, my boyfriend was interning 9 hours away, many of my close friends are scattered across the country, and my Rochester friends have busy lives as well. But the stress from this move has left me feeling like there is this child inside of me just waiting to escape.
I almost burst in tears when my desk chair broke three times while carrying it into the building, fell down an entire flight of stairs, and almost smashed into a poor girl carrying her laundry. I held it together. I wanted to kick the smug looking 20 something guy in the shins who watched me carrying my heavy desk up the steps and then let the door close and lock behind him instead of holding it open. I resisted.
I'm so thankful for my friend that did take time out of his Saturday to help me move my heaviest items into the apartment. Feeling like I could lean on someone a little bit really did help to quiet the increasingly cranky child inside of me. I don't know what I would have done if I literally had to move every piece of furniture alone...
Actually, yes I do. I would have hired movers or rented a small van. I would have dragged the mattress down the street myself if need be. I would have figured something out because I had to. I am completely capable of being independent, and I know I would've made it work on my own. But I've realized something, although I am proud of my independence and how far I've come in the past year, it still doesn't mean that I don't appreciate help.
A lot of girls my age (including myself, obviously) have this independence complex. We think we that we don't need a significant other around to be happy, we'll be fine if we don't see our parents for months, we're completely okay living our lives alone and our own terms. I definitely agree with this! I don't need these things. But it doesn't mean I have to feel weak if I decide I want them or wish I had them.
From this day forward I want to allow myself to swallow my independent pride just a little bit. I still want to provide for myself as much as possible, but maybe I'll stop turning down some of the help I'm offered. Just as it seems to be with every other aspect of post grad life, finding independence seems to be another balancing act.
How about you readers? Have you struggled with the amount of independence you have at this point in your life?
Especially since graduation, I've wanted to provide as much for myself as possible without relying on others. It's been working so far (and as so many of you out there know, it's not easy), but moving into this new apartment has really thrown me for a loop. It's made being independent feel sort of of lonely.
I definitely understand why the majority of the closest people in my life couldn't be there to help me move last weekend. My parents live five hours away, my boyfriend was interning 9 hours away, many of my close friends are scattered across the country, and my Rochester friends have busy lives as well. But the stress from this move has left me feeling like there is this child inside of me just waiting to escape.
I almost burst in tears when my desk chair broke three times while carrying it into the building, fell down an entire flight of stairs, and almost smashed into a poor girl carrying her laundry. I held it together. I wanted to kick the smug looking 20 something guy in the shins who watched me carrying my heavy desk up the steps and then let the door close and lock behind him instead of holding it open. I resisted.
I'm so thankful for my friend that did take time out of his Saturday to help me move my heaviest items into the apartment. Feeling like I could lean on someone a little bit really did help to quiet the increasingly cranky child inside of me. I don't know what I would have done if I literally had to move every piece of furniture alone...
Actually, yes I do. I would have hired movers or rented a small van. I would have dragged the mattress down the street myself if need be. I would have figured something out because I had to. I am completely capable of being independent, and I know I would've made it work on my own. But I've realized something, although I am proud of my independence and how far I've come in the past year, it still doesn't mean that I don't appreciate help.
A lot of girls my age (including myself, obviously) have this independence complex. We think we that we don't need a significant other around to be happy, we'll be fine if we don't see our parents for months, we're completely okay living our lives alone and our own terms. I definitely agree with this! I don't need these things. But it doesn't mean I have to feel weak if I decide I want them or wish I had them.
From this day forward I want to allow myself to swallow my independent pride just a little bit. I still want to provide for myself as much as possible, but maybe I'll stop turning down some of the help I'm offered. Just as it seems to be with every other aspect of post grad life, finding independence seems to be another balancing act.
How about you readers? Have you struggled with the amount of independence you have at this point in your life?
New Apartment: Before
My life is consumed with duvet covers, assembling furniture, and unpacking at the moment, but here is a sneak peak of my studio apartment before I had most of my furniture moved in. Can't wait to show you all the finished product!
Housing Search Etiquette
The entire process of finding a new place to live is difficult and stressful. A new home has several requirements before you can even consider moving in.
1. Location. Is it close enough to where you need to be.
2. Price. Can you afford it?
3. Roommates. Who will they be? Do you like them?
4. Timing. When would the lease start and end?
5. Utilities. Included? Extra? How does affect the price?
Most people include these details in their craigslist post. If they don't, you can ask about it. Those searching for roommates or a house are typically familiar with the process and are very accommodating to needs and questions. But what about those people who blow off meeting you after they already set up an interest appointment?
Sadly something like this occurred to me and my soon-to-be roommate during a search for a third. There was a girl who went to my high school that expressed interest in the last room available in the apartment. She was emailed an application and had told us she was coming into town to see the place in person. This might seem sketchy if it is a random stranger, but I went to high school with this girl so we thought it was legit.
That is until the day she was supposed to arrive. She had texted about when she was coming, and then all of a sudden, nothing. Soon-to-be roommate and I both called, texted and emailed in the days following asking if her travel plans had fallen through and to make sure she wasn't in a ditch somewhere. But we received no response.
If you don't show up to your appointment, you don't get the apartment. Just a word of advice to all those looking.
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