This Is What Happens At 3am

So here I am, wide awake at 3am, and cruising the humor board on Pinterest. I don't normally watch any of the videos that people post but I was a little delirious from lack of sleep so I clicked on the link. Which brought me here...

Now, maybe it's cause I was just really tired, but I found this extremely freaking hilarious. So I ended up going to his main YouTube page and watched like 10 more videos. My favorites are his auto-tune ones. Seriously go check this guy out!

Oh Hi! Remember Me?

Yes, I know it's been over FIVE MONTHS since my last post. Crazy huh? That's kinda what happens when I'm switching jobs, moving and finishing school all at the same time. But all of that is said and done now, so I hope to be posting on a more regular basis.

First, some updates (get ready, this is gonna be a long ass post):

I have fallen off the Project Life bandwagon. *hangs head in shame* Between work and school, that left little to no time to do anything and I felt like I didn't have much to document. I found myself struggling to fill the pages and what I was coming up with I didn't really care for. So that idea went out the window. I did purchase a Sn@p binder and will probably start using that once I set up a place to craft over here. With the exception of Mom's birthday quilt, I haven't crafted in like 4 months. *sobs*

I finally finished school, took the National Exam and am now a NREMT! That's Nationally Registered EMT for all you non-EMS folks. And man, oh man does it feel good to be finished. I have my nights and weekend back! So now that that's under my belt, I had another crazy idea. (You know me and my crazy ideas) I'm looking at the Healthcare Management degree from SNHU. I can do it all online, which is a plus. I'm still on the fence about it though. Do I really wanna jump right back into school? Right now, I think I do.

An opportunity came up in March for me to change jobs. A very good opportunity. Hello mega raise, benefits and day hours. So I'm now working full time as the office manager/physician secretary for the cardiovascular firm that I was PRN at when I first moved back from Alaska. Seriously love this job.

The Sookie Stackhouse series is now at an end. I'm currently in mourning.

Check out my Read tab for a list of past books and current reads.

Recently, I've signed up for quite a few monthly subscriptions. Studio Calico's Project Life kit (even though I've yet to use it), Goodies.co box (SERIOUSLY FUN) and Birchbox (just got my first one yesterday.)

Goodies.co is a $7 a month (that includes shipping!) box filled with snacks. The photo above was the first one I received in April. Normally I wouldn't buy stuff like that so it's nice to sample the snack before buying a full size one and not liking it. By the way, those Wai Lana chips and White Chocolate Amaretto cookies... *swoon* It also came with a $50 wine card which I thought was gonna end up being a ploy to buy $150 bottles of wine. But I ended up going to the site (nakedwines.com) and purchased 6 bottles for $20. And that included shipping! The ones I chose were inexpensive but once they arrived and I cracked one open I couldn't tell the difference.

My May Goodies.co box came with a ton of stuff, including a full size Zico coconut water (which apparently I'm not so crazy about) I'm now a big fan of the Beanitos chips but eaters beware, they'll probably leave you really gassy. Hey, just keeping it real here folks.

Birchbox is a $10 a month subscription that sends you beauty product samples to try. This box came with a full size CARGO 2 in 1 bronzer/powder, a leave in conditioner sample, a perfume sample, a tube of sunscreen (where were you last weekend!) and a hair band. I'm playing it low key this weekend and haven't used any products save for my moisturizer. I'll let you guys know how I end up liking these products later this week.

You can find all of these photos on my Instagram. Apple apps used: Picfx & Pic Stitch.

Also, I'm now on Vine. User name is JLatini.

PL: Week One (Finally)

Week 4 starts tomorrow and I just finished up week 1 last night. I know, I know. But that's further than I got last time I attempted PL. So, yay! I'm almost done with week 2 and have barely made a dent on week 3. I've been fighting some sort of plague-like thing and haven't felt much like crafting. I hope to tackle all of week 2 and at least half of 3 today.

Both Chris and I woke up sick on New Year's Eve so we had to reschedule our NYE and Nashville plans. Bummer, fo' reals. My upgrade finally rolled around and I got my belated Christmas gift, the iPhone 5. I love it! But I think I was really more excited to have a phone where the screen wasn't cracked.

I currently don't have Photoshop so I've been editing and creating in Paint. Not the greatest but it works for now. I stuck in the list of recipes for the 2013 Pinterest Foodie Challenge, which I'll be blogging about later this week. I also gathered up some mail, cropped it down to size and adhered it to a 4x6 piece of card stock. The quote came from Pinterest and you can find my PL board here and Typography board here. I will be using a lot of quotes this year and it's nice to have them all in one place to pull from. 

The J came from Martha Stewart's chipboard alphabet. I (very quickly) added the glitter to it last night and was unhappy when it all came off once I stuck it in the plastic. So, since I'm a little ADD about these things, it's currently being reglittered. Yes, that's a word. You might also have noticed I'm using a LOT of washi tape. I just can't help myself. The yellow chevron paper and leaf paper came from the Amy Tangerine 6x6 paper pad from American Crafts. I cut the hot pink 'ONE' from Bazzill paper using my Don Juan cartridge.  The black 'WEEK' letters are from Thickers 'Subway' alphabet.

I added my cough drop and Sudafed packaging and added some washi, journaling and foam stars. The 'Goals' card was created in word and printed on patterned paper (Recollections Bright & Basic). I added the 'Dream Big' brad which came from Studio G. I snuck in the bag from my cinnamon twists from Taco Bell and also printed two screen shots from my iPhone; my current book (Gone Girl - totally twisted but a good read) and tunes (Been listening to a lot of Ellie Goulding lately)

Anyone else obsessed with Downton as much as I am? So glad they're back on! The green kitty paperclip is super old and came from Michael's $1 bin. 

I printed out the first 7 days for the 365 project. I think from here on out instead of printing them weekly, I'll just make a grid at the end of the month and add that in it's own sheet protector. I tend to use some of those photos during that week for PL and I don't want them repeating themselves during that week. 

So, that's it for now.

If anyone has any questions about products/construction, just drop me a comment.

Determination

I've literally been working on this blog post for the past week. It's not that I don't have anything to say. I do. Lots, in fact. It's just been one of those where-do-I-start kinda things. Plus, I've had the plague since New Years Eve. So, in true bullet list fashion, here goes:

• I am SO excited to be starting a new year! The semester starts in 2 weeks and I'm itching to get back. (Read: trauma junkie) Lots of new projects and adventures to be had. 2013 will be MY year. To focus on me. Getting back in shape, a career shift (Hello, EMS. Goodbye, ER... sorta.), kicking this little blog up a few notches, personal goals and so on. I have to keep telling myself, change is good. Trust yourself.

• Project Life: Yes, I am FINALLY using my Project Life stuff I purchased *cough* two years ago *cough* I will be posting weekly shots and also plan on having some PL goodie giveaways. I downloaded an awesome 8x11 memory logbook from Log Your Memory that is not only your standard 12 month planner but it also has pages for PL planning. Lovelovelove it so far. It's available in two sizes for download, or in print. 

• Project 365: I had started this back in August and had snapped daily photos religiously. I was using only my iPhone and Instagram. When the year was over, I had planned on making a 365 Blurb book. Then my iPhone broke in November and I wasn't eligible for an upgrade until this month. Everything went out the window. Luckily, Santa helped me out and I was gifted a new iPhone 5 for Christmas. So this project is back on. You can find me on Instagram at @jlatini.

• The 101 Project: This was initially started in early August. You can find the original post here. If you're unfamiliar with the 101, it's essentially 101 goals that you'd like to accomplish in 1,001 days. I've been using Day Zero to keep track of the goals that I've already accomplished and those still in progress. Recently I signed up for Elise's Big Picture Class, I Choose. After watching the video she posted I had one of those, 'Duh, that totally makes sense, why didn't I think of that' moments. I'm not gonna give anything away, but if you want to get more goal oriented (And actually succeed) I highly recommend this class. You can find more info about Elise here and the class here. That being said, I know I'm not going to accomplish all 101 goals. That's perfectly okay with me. But I will be determined to check off as many as I can.

• 2013 Pinterest Foodie Challenge: Good God I have a lot of projects going on! This week I will be posting the recipe list for the 2013 Pinterest Foodie Challenge. Please feel free to follow along or create your own. This year I chose 24 new food and drink items I would like to try. I went ahead and scheduled 2 a month in my planner but I think I just might wing it as long as I keep myself in check and make sure said recipes are actually getting made. #YayRunOnSentences

• $1378 Club: Think Christmas Club without the bank. A few of us at work got together and came up with the $1378 club. At the end of each week, you add money to your fund. Week one, you add $1, week two, $2 and so on. So at the end of 52 weeks, you've accumulated $1378. Personally, I'm thinking a 5 night cruise may be in order after that. Had I tried to do this by myself, I would've failed miserably. But now that I've actually got a team to keep me motivated, it just might work. (I've already paid 5 weeks worth!)

So, as you can see, I'll be a busy little bee this year.

And baby, it's gonna be a good one.

101: Movies

I know this is kinda an empty page now, but over the next 1001 days it will fill up with movies that I've seen during that time. Sound like fun? Wanna play along? See this post about the 101 Project!

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (08/11/12)
2. Big Fish (08/11/12)
3. The Rainmaker (08/12/12)
4. Gulliver's Travels (08/15/12)
5. Thirteen (08/17/12) 
6. The Kids Are Alright (08/23/12)
7. Rio (08/27/12)
8. The Blindside (08/27/12)
9. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (08/28/12)
10. Bend It Like Beckham (08/28/12)
11. Part of Me (09/18/12)
12. Hysteria (09/19/12)
13. Bel Ami (09/19/12)
14. The Hobbit (12/23/12)
15. Cracks (10/2013)
16. Tanner Hall (10/2013)
17. The Other Woman (10/2013)
18. Lars and The Real Girl (10/2013)
19. Starlet (10/2013)
20. Full Metal Jacket (10/30/13)
21. Albatross (11/03/13)

The 101 Project

It's that time again to get started on the 101 Project! For those of you who haven't experienced it yet, the 101 Project is essentially a list of 101 things you want to accomplish/experience/create/etc in the next 1001 days. Yep, almost 3 years to get them done. I try to make realistic goals but if I don't get them done in the time allotted, no worries! I'll add them to the next 101 Project. Here's the breakdown:

The Mission:

Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:

Tasks must be specific (ie, no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?

Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:

1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

Start Date: Friday, August 10, 2012

End Date: Friday, May 8, 2015
Last Update: Sunday, January 6, 2013

Goals completed: (6/101)

I'm using Day Zero to help me keep track of my accomplished goals.

You Can Do It!

1. Complete the EMT program

May 2013

2. Complete the Paramedic program

3. Get CPR Certified

4. Run a half-marathon

5. Complete a Sudoku book

6. Vote!

7. Influence a person to make a 101 list

8. Write an inspiring message in a public bathroom

9. Run 1 mile a day from Thanksgiving to New Years.

10. Put away $5 for each task completed ($30/$505)

11. Send 10 postcards via PostCrossing (11/10)

12. Wear a skirt or dress every day for a week

13. List 500 items in my Etsy shop (17/500)

Have Love, Will Travel

14. Go camping... anywhere

15. Visit Stephanie in Montana

16. Seattle!

17. Thunder Over Louisville

18. Rolex 3 Day Event in Lexington, KY

19. Memphis Zoo

20. Atlanta Aquarium

21. New Orleans

22. Times Square for New Year's Eve

23. Move to another city

March, 2013

24. Visit the Hoh Rain forest in Washington

25. Go to the Harry Potter theme park

I Can Make That

26. The 365 Project... using Instgram photos (0/365)

27. December Daily (Seriously, just do it.)

28. One (completed) layout each month (0/24)

29. Finish 3 quilts (0/3)

30. Make 10 mini albums (0/10)

31. Crochet 1 afghan (0/1)

32. Design a rubber stamp set and have them made

33. Design the rest of my tattoo sleeve

34. Rent a booth at the Reelfoot Arts & Crafts Festival

35. Post 20 DIY tutorials (0/20)

36. Take a photo of the same place every month for a whole year (0/12)

37. Make a custom recipe book

38. Make a video about a typical day of my life

39. Blog makeover!

40. Make a piece of clothing for myself. And actually wear it.

41. Finish my 'Wreck This Journal'

Eat, Watch, Read & Be Happy

42. Watch 101 movies (19/101)

43. Read 101 books (0/101)

44. Complete the 2013 Pinterest Foodie Challenge (0/24)

45. Visit 10 new restaurants (1/10)

8/11/12 - Backyard Burgers - Paducah, KY

10/29/13 - Genghis Grill - Jackson, TN

46. Eddie Izzard's Force Majeure!

47. Go see a new movie at least once every two months (0/17)

48. Collect a post card from each country (14/196)

49. Go see a movie at IMAX

50. Try 3 new drinks from Starbucks (1/3)
8/11/12 - Iced Coconut Mocha

51. Have one whole day of Harry Potter movies, back to back.

52. Don't eat for 24 hours

June, 2013

53. Participate in an mp3 mega mix swap

Retail Therapy

54. DSLR (Yes, please!)

55. New laptop!
8/11/12 - HP Pavilion g Series

56. Assassin's Creed 3

September 2013

57. Tattoo sleeve

58. A good pair of headphones

59. These earrings

Experience

60. Have my fortune read

61. Go for a spa treatment

62. Have my make-up done at the MAC counter

63. Do the polar bear swim on New Year's Day

64. Visit 5 museums

65. Attend a baseball game at Fenway

66. Attend a costume party

67. Go snorkeling/scuba diving

68. Swim in the ocean at night

69. Learn how to play a song on the piano

70. Go to 3 concerts

71. Send a secret to PostSecret

72. Tour a scotch distillery

73. Take pictures in a photo booth

74. Go to a chiropractor

75. Swim with the sharkies

76. Go to a winery. And get inebriated

77. Get a professional bra fitting

78. Ride a train somewhere

79. Stay at a 5-star hotel

80. Participate in a flash mob

List/Organize/Unplug

81. Make a list of my top 50 movies

82. Make a list of my top 50 most favorite quotes

83. Make a list of the 100 songs I could listen to forever

84. Organize my music collection

85. Don't go on Facebook for a week

86. Pay off my credit card debt

87. Clean out my closet

88. Turn off my phone for 24 hours

89. Make an emergency kit for my car

90. Go electronic free for a whole weekend (no cell, internet or tv)

Giving Back

91. Donate blood twice a year (0/8)

92. Register as an organ donor

93. Take 500 photos for Find A Grave (0/500)

94. The Color Run (proceeds go to a local charity)

95. The Warrior Dash (proceeds go to St. Jude's)

96. Donate 5 books to the local library (9/5)

97. Find out my blood type

98. Wear a 'Free Hugs' sign in a crowded place. Give out hugs.

99. Give a 100% tip

And then...

100. Blog about each goal completion (0/101)

101. Complete a whole new 101 project with any leftover goals not accomplished

Somehow I have 102 (I screwed up somewhere!) It's probably a duplicate, but I'll search for it later. (Found it.) I've spent the past week making this list and I want to get it live. 

I encourage everyone to at least try this once in their lifetime. If you'd like to try it along with me, post the link to your list or blog post about it in the comment section.

Good luck to all!