Attempting the New

Over break, I've been trying desperately to capture the inner creative, ingenious girl inside... the part of me that doesn't have near enough free time to come out as often as I'd like. I've also tried doing things I don't normally do and things I would like to start doing regularly.

Here's a few things I've experimented with:

• My sister and I spent a day being crafty. We went to Hobby Lobby and picked up some amazing, ornate accessories and attractive supplies that just seemed to draw us in. We decided to create hair pieces galore (clips, headbands, and bows). It was so easy and fun... only needed a hot glue gun and some creativity. You'll probably see me wearing some extra hair blingage in the coming weeks.

• I also experimented with homemade chicken tortilla soup. And let me tell you, this may or may not have been the most delicious food I've ever made. I found recipes online that sounded the best and mixed and matched ingredients to make it my own... the best ingredients probably being TONS of cilantro and a good amount of lime juice.

• I also tried baking cookies with cake mixes! Pretty successful I must say. My favorite being lemon cookies with Super Deluxe lemon cake mix.

• I actually started reading a book! That doesn't happen too often if it's not a required textbook for class. I started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and I have to admit, it's wonderful so far. Here's to hoping I keep getting pulled in and actually finish it!

• I'm trying to get myself organized before school starts back up, so I created a sort of filing system for all the physical therapy doctoral programs I'm interested in applying to. My next project will be creating a spreadsheet for each of the programs to make it easy to compare costs, GPA requirements, GRE scores, class sizes, pros about the locations, etc. It's starting to hit me that after this semester I'll be sending out applications... whew BABY.

• I'm trying to save money in every area possible. A lot less random shopping, combining trips across town and errands to drive as little as possible during the day, making my groceries last longer (goes along with grocery shopping according to a previously written list so I don't buy unnecessary food items), and doing things with friends that don't cost money.

I want to start back up my daily quiet times (it was really wonderful last semester when I got into the grind of doing it every day). I want to spend more one-on-one time with my friends instead of always in group settings. I want to give people more credit. I want to keep a constant prayer list. I want to show more gratitude. I want to paint something. I want to decide what to paint. I want to take more advantage of Happy Hours in town. I want to spend time learning songs on my new keyboard.

It's pretty refreshing to try new things. I guess they could be considered my "New Year's Resolutions," even though they might be more of a "To-Do List." But, I'm okay with that.