Task: Give up one electronic device for the entire day.
NOOOOOO!!!!!!! Please? Anything but that! I can't live without my computer or my cell phone!
Yeah, yeah, yeah I know what you're thinking. What's the big deal? Its only for a day and it only says one device. But here's the problem, I don't know which one is more important to me. Then, I decided when I woke up this morning that the first thing I go to check will be what I gave up for the day. And guess what? It was internet (facebook to be exact). But before I turned my laptop on, I realized what today was and forced myself to back away from the laptop. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do today. My younger sister joked that I must be addicted to the internet because I can honestly tell you I was facing withdrawal symptoms that I didn't know I could have. I was extremely jittery, anxious, and--to be perfectly honest-- I was kept having the itch to just give up and go back to the computer! Wow. Talk about crazy, huh? So, I mustered up enough strength to give it up for the rest of the day until around 10 o'clock... by then, I was on the verge of a mental breakdown!
Even though I was uncomfortable the whole day and didn't experience that much joy in giving up my internet, I realized that after the first few hours that it was very liberating to not have to check my email or facebook every twenty minutes (OK, that's an exaggeration but you know what I mean). So now its your turn! Turn off the television, leave behind your phone if you can... or be like me and step away from the computer so that you can experience life without them! Best of luck :)
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Day 35
Task: Attend a new class today that you've been dying to try.
Let me start off by saying that this is definitely one of the best days I've had since I started the 365 days project! And you know why? Because it brought together the two things I love: learning new things and exploring what's out there for me to do! And since the gym I go to offers tons (well, more like 10) of classes from yoga to cycling I decided to give one a try. But to be spontaneous and open, I just showed up to a random class today and decided to just go with the flow.
Turns out, it was a Hip Hop Cardio dance class! I was beyond stoked to be there! I stood up front so I wouldn't feel as self conscious (Backwards, I know. But that's how I roll) about learning a new thing. See if you stand in back, you seem self-conscious to others and I believe in the fake-it-till-you-make-it mentality. So up front and center was where I stood! And it was a blast dancing with a bunch of other women to hip hop!
I am also happy to say that my entire body is extremely sore right about now and its been hours since the class ended. Haha well I guess you could say I felt the burn, but in a good way of course! Guess who's signed up for next week's class? Oh yeah! The girl who can barely life her arms above her chest... Night readers! :)
Let me start off by saying that this is definitely one of the best days I've had since I started the 365 days project! And you know why? Because it brought together the two things I love: learning new things and exploring what's out there for me to do! And since the gym I go to offers tons (well, more like 10) of classes from yoga to cycling I decided to give one a try. But to be spontaneous and open, I just showed up to a random class today and decided to just go with the flow.
Turns out, it was a Hip Hop Cardio dance class! I was beyond stoked to be there! I stood up front so I wouldn't feel as self conscious (Backwards, I know. But that's how I roll) about learning a new thing. See if you stand in back, you seem self-conscious to others and I believe in the fake-it-till-you-make-it mentality. So up front and center was where I stood! And it was a blast dancing with a bunch of other women to hip hop!
I am also happy to say that my entire body is extremely sore right about now and its been hours since the class ended. Haha well I guess you could say I felt the burn, but in a good way of course! Guess who's signed up for next week's class? Oh yeah! The girl who can barely life her arms above her chest... Night readers! :)
Friday, July 23, 2010
Day 34
Task: Step away from the flatiron today and rock some sweet braids!
Phew! I was waiting for this day for quite some time! I love it when I braid my hair. Imagine waking up in the morning and part of your routine being taking a 350+ degrees flatiron to your head for an hour. Sheesh! And since its summertime, it usually frizzes up by around noon. Like I said, me and my hair never got along. But thank goodness for braids! They're lighter, more free to wear down, and most importantly... they are a break! And boy did I need one! Haha I loved rocking my individual braids and its almost as freeing as being bald, though not as dramatic.
Don't get me wrong, I love wearing my hair straight, but braids are so much easier to manage! I never knew switching something so small and insignificant as hair can make your day ten times better! And even though I complain about my hair a lot, I am really blessed to have so much of it and that its healthy! Maybe if I let it grow for a while, I might try and donate it for someone else to make a wig out of it. That is, if they'll take it. Who knows? It's definitely a possibility.
Phew! I was waiting for this day for quite some time! I love it when I braid my hair. Imagine waking up in the morning and part of your routine being taking a 350+ degrees flatiron to your head for an hour. Sheesh! And since its summertime, it usually frizzes up by around noon. Like I said, me and my hair never got along. But thank goodness for braids! They're lighter, more free to wear down, and most importantly... they are a break! And boy did I need one! Haha I loved rocking my individual braids and its almost as freeing as being bald, though not as dramatic.
Don't get me wrong, I love wearing my hair straight, but braids are so much easier to manage! I never knew switching something so small and insignificant as hair can make your day ten times better! And even though I complain about my hair a lot, I am really blessed to have so much of it and that its healthy! Maybe if I let it grow for a while, I might try and donate it for someone else to make a wig out of it. That is, if they'll take it. Who knows? It's definitely a possibility.
Day 33
Task: Rethink your life plan today and imagine all the other possibilities for yourself.
I have to say, this task was rather difficult for me to do. I knew that I wanted to be a doctor since I was really young... I'm talking sandbox young. But, regardless, I began to imagine myself in different careers. I understand that my whole life won't revolve around work (there's the husband, kids, where I live, etc) but I figured I should at least try and narrow things down a little bit so it can fit into one post.
So, I practically laid in my bed with a notepad and a pencil and jotted down all the different careers I could think of seeing myself doing. And I came up with quite a few interesting jobs:
Nanny
Veterinarian
Teacher
Clown :)
TV show host
Comedian
Nurse (had to sneak one in.)
So I tried to close my eyes and imagine myself having these careers and many others. And I came to a conclusion that I can be anything I want to be! It used to seem strange for me when I was little when people told me they wanted to be astronauts or firefighters or even the President of the United States! But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that there is nothing holding me back from pursuing any of those careers except me. So, I learned that even if my plan doesn't go the way I want it to, I still have options.
Day 32
Task: Hone in on your inner Emeril skills and cook up something delicious using only the ingredients you have in your kitchen.
So let me start out by warning you all that I am not calling myself a good cook by any stretch of the imagination. I can make a few good dishes but that was after frequently ruining them and practice. So my inner Emeril is really, really inner... like deep down there! But I wasn't afraid because of two reasons: 1. My mom was only a holler away and 2. I had a fire extinguisher handy (in case). So, first I had to go through all my mom's cookbooks and decide what I wanted to whip up for this task. So I found a really interesting pesto pasta that I decided to try.
Seeing as it had a zillion and one ingredients to make it, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we had all of them and didn't have to rush to the store. I was in the middle of chopping the onions (and crying) and almost chopped my index finger clean off!! *Screams* AHH!!!! Once I collected myself and realized I was completely fine, I decided to keep going. But I was probably the most careful (read: slowest) food chopper after the almost incident. My mother walked in after about 10 minutes and asked me if I needed help but I didn't want to cheat so I told her I was on my own.
My favorite part was after all of the pasta was cooked and the vegetables and sauces were made, I decided it was time for Emeril's signature trick. I picked up a dash of salt in one hand and pepper in the other and "BAM!!" I love it when he does that in his cooking shows because its so gosh darn entertaining! And I felt that I probably would have made him proud with my execution. After lots of mixing and prayer I served it to my family. And guess what? They loved it! I couldn't believe how well it all turned out and I was so proud of myself for making it (without burning the house down).
Do you have a special dish that only you know how to make? Or have you flipped through a cookbook lately and found a recipe you've been dying to try? Well by all means... do it! And leave the dishes for someone else... Haha! Night readers.
So let me start out by warning you all that I am not calling myself a good cook by any stretch of the imagination. I can make a few good dishes but that was after frequently ruining them and practice. So my inner Emeril is really, really inner... like deep down there! But I wasn't afraid because of two reasons: 1. My mom was only a holler away and 2. I had a fire extinguisher handy (in case). So, first I had to go through all my mom's cookbooks and decide what I wanted to whip up for this task. So I found a really interesting pesto pasta that I decided to try.
Seeing as it had a zillion and one ingredients to make it, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that we had all of them and didn't have to rush to the store. I was in the middle of chopping the onions (and crying) and almost chopped my index finger clean off!! *Screams* AHH!!!! Once I collected myself and realized I was completely fine, I decided to keep going. But I was probably the most careful (read: slowest) food chopper after the almost incident. My mother walked in after about 10 minutes and asked me if I needed help but I didn't want to cheat so I told her I was on my own.
My favorite part was after all of the pasta was cooked and the vegetables and sauces were made, I decided it was time for Emeril's signature trick. I picked up a dash of salt in one hand and pepper in the other and "BAM!!" I love it when he does that in his cooking shows because its so gosh darn entertaining! And I felt that I probably would have made him proud with my execution. After lots of mixing and prayer I served it to my family. And guess what? They loved it! I couldn't believe how well it all turned out and I was so proud of myself for making it (without burning the house down).
Do you have a special dish that only you know how to make? Or have you flipped through a cookbook lately and found a recipe you've been dying to try? Well by all means... do it! And leave the dishes for someone else... Haha! Night readers.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Day 31
Task: Act extremely girly all day long!
I never in my life saw myself as a girly girl... EVER! So the first thing I had to do was observe how a girly girl acts and try to imitate her the best I can. So I called one of my old friends Jenna* (and if you haven't already caught on to this, * means I used a fake name) and asked her what her three rules to being girly are. Her response really shocked me and I think it will shock most of you as well. She told me: "First, wear a dress and makeup, point blank." (duh, I thought) "Second, smile and laugh in a genuine way... no fake stuff. Guys see right through that. And finally, if someone is being rude or insulting, throw manners out the window and let em have it! Release your inner tomboy!" Haha. Needless to say, I took into account that she was one with a bit of a temper when it came to people being treated like doormats in front of her. Lucky for me, I didn't run into any trouble today.
This morning, I was at home babysitting my sister when I remembered Rule #1. So I suggested we give each other makeovers and act as if we're going out somewhere when clearly we weren't due to a stomach bug she was having. But it definitely took her mind off of it and I got all pretty and done up! It was super fun. So later tonight, I was heading off to bible study with my friends that I go to every week. When we finished talking we all just hung out and told each other funny stories and I was rolling on the floor laughing! It wasn't until I got home that I realized that I did Rule #2 the whole time! I'm not sure whether or not I am a girly girl, but I did like acting like one for a day!
I never in my life saw myself as a girly girl... EVER! So the first thing I had to do was observe how a girly girl acts and try to imitate her the best I can. So I called one of my old friends Jenna* (and if you haven't already caught on to this, * means I used a fake name) and asked her what her three rules to being girly are. Her response really shocked me and I think it will shock most of you as well. She told me: "First, wear a dress and makeup, point blank." (duh, I thought) "Second, smile and laugh in a genuine way... no fake stuff. Guys see right through that. And finally, if someone is being rude or insulting, throw manners out the window and let em have it! Release your inner tomboy!" Haha. Needless to say, I took into account that she was one with a bit of a temper when it came to people being treated like doormats in front of her. Lucky for me, I didn't run into any trouble today.
This morning, I was at home babysitting my sister when I remembered Rule #1. So I suggested we give each other makeovers and act as if we're going out somewhere when clearly we weren't due to a stomach bug she was having. But it definitely took her mind off of it and I got all pretty and done up! It was super fun. So later tonight, I was heading off to bible study with my friends that I go to every week. When we finished talking we all just hung out and told each other funny stories and I was rolling on the floor laughing! It wasn't until I got home that I realized that I did Rule #2 the whole time! I'm not sure whether or not I am a girly girl, but I did like acting like one for a day!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Day 30
Task: Write a song today about what you feel.
Oh my gosh! I have always wanted to sit down and write a song of my own. And today was the big day! When I was sitting up in my room with my pencil and paper in my hand, a rush of ideas came to me of what to put down. Should I write a song about love? Friendship? My past? So I drained all my thoughts out onto my drawing board and wrote one line or lyric I could use for each category. It was tons of fun! And I couldn't believe how creative I was being. Seeing as I don't know how to play any instruments very well, I chose to sing acapella (and because of my insane shyness). Most of my friends don't know this but I am terrified to sing in public and everytime I do, I have a mini panic attack before the song starts. But, hey I'm a work in progress as we all are.
I started humming a tune and wrote some lyrics down. It was really that easy! But I did promise myself one thing, when I learn to play guitar I am going to finish this song and perform it for my friends. I sure hope it comes out good and it can be something I can look back on with fond memory when I'm older. Readers, I know this may be asking too much of you but I want you to try and make up a song too! And let it be about anything you want! Forget about all those worn out love songs and maybe go a different route! Pure Enjoyment is just a few lyrics away...
Oh my gosh! I have always wanted to sit down and write a song of my own. And today was the big day! When I was sitting up in my room with my pencil and paper in my hand, a rush of ideas came to me of what to put down. Should I write a song about love? Friendship? My past? So I drained all my thoughts out onto my drawing board and wrote one line or lyric I could use for each category. It was tons of fun! And I couldn't believe how creative I was being. Seeing as I don't know how to play any instruments very well, I chose to sing acapella (and because of my insane shyness). Most of my friends don't know this but I am terrified to sing in public and everytime I do, I have a mini panic attack before the song starts. But, hey I'm a work in progress as we all are.
I started humming a tune and wrote some lyrics down. It was really that easy! But I did promise myself one thing, when I learn to play guitar I am going to finish this song and perform it for my friends. I sure hope it comes out good and it can be something I can look back on with fond memory when I'm older. Readers, I know this may be asking too much of you but I want you to try and make up a song too! And let it be about anything you want! Forget about all those worn out love songs and maybe go a different route! Pure Enjoyment is just a few lyrics away...
Day 28 And 29
Task: Go on a camping trip today with some friends! See the sites and take some sweet pictures of the scenery.
The main reason why I chose to do this was because I am the only person I know who has never gone camping before in my life. First off, I have to say that it was not by choice that I hadn't. My parents have just really sheltered me and my sisters our whole lives. Anything that seemed dangerous to them was a no-go. And I love them so much that I never complained about it because I knew that they were only trying to protect me in the only way they knew how. They never went on camping trips in the same way most people in the US do, and being from a different culture made it difficult to lead the same lives as other children. But that was all about to change this weekend! I was finally going camping!
So me and four amazing friends of mine went up to Lake Dillon for an overnight stay. I never laughed so much in my whole life! And I could tell you a million and one stories about what we did up there and the stuff we talked about but you really had to have been there for yourself. We went to an art festival in the town, the lake, and everywhere in between! And I took tons of pictures of the scenery, the flowers, and the people.
I was thoroughly satisfied with how the trip went and its safe to say that I plan on going camping again real soon! Admiring the beauty of the mountains really made me realize how much God loves us. So much that he would create all these things for us to just marvel at until we're left breathless in awe. And it cleared my head of all my worries, which is just what the doctor ordered. :)
The main reason why I chose to do this was because I am the only person I know who has never gone camping before in my life. First off, I have to say that it was not by choice that I hadn't. My parents have just really sheltered me and my sisters our whole lives. Anything that seemed dangerous to them was a no-go. And I love them so much that I never complained about it because I knew that they were only trying to protect me in the only way they knew how. They never went on camping trips in the same way most people in the US do, and being from a different culture made it difficult to lead the same lives as other children. But that was all about to change this weekend! I was finally going camping!
So me and four amazing friends of mine went up to Lake Dillon for an overnight stay. I never laughed so much in my whole life! And I could tell you a million and one stories about what we did up there and the stuff we talked about but you really had to have been there for yourself. We went to an art festival in the town, the lake, and everywhere in between! And I took tons of pictures of the scenery, the flowers, and the people.
I was thoroughly satisfied with how the trip went and its safe to say that I plan on going camping again real soon! Admiring the beauty of the mountains really made me realize how much God loves us. So much that he would create all these things for us to just marvel at until we're left breathless in awe. And it cleared my head of all my worries, which is just what the doctor ordered. :)
Day 27
Task: Perform the art of Kung Fu in a fake battle against someone.
Kung fu has always been an interest of mine since I was a small child. When I was five, I started learning Tae Kwon Do and have loved martial arts ever since. I didn't get to finish what I started because I broke my wrist during one of my sparring classes and was forced to quit. But ever since, I have never lost my passion to learn about all the types of martial arts. And I feel that I had to create this task because it was something from my past that truly gave me joy to do!
So, the first thing I did today was I went online to search for training videos about how to learn the most basic of kung fu moves. I learned how to do a lot of very interesting kicks. Here are just a few:
Inside crescent kick
Outside crescent kick
Roundhouse kick
Yup, everybody was Kung fu fighting! Huhh!! Haha, so I challenged one of my guy friends to a little battle where I could use my skills and I was pleasantly surprised with how well I remembered how to do everything. I kicked, blocked, ducked, punched, and took a bow when we were finished. It was awesome! And I also like the fact that he had a fun time being beat up by a girl... because he obviously wasn't trying to seriously hurt me. Haha. Sometimes, it really pays to be a girl.
Next time (and there will be a next time) I want to get a bunch more of my friends and we can have a mini-tournament! So keep an eye out for that task coming up because you might wanna join the fun! I really want to go forward with this and maybe start attending a class in martial arts. Since I have to go now, I'll close with a respectful bow... *bows* Bye!
Kung fu has always been an interest of mine since I was a small child. When I was five, I started learning Tae Kwon Do and have loved martial arts ever since. I didn't get to finish what I started because I broke my wrist during one of my sparring classes and was forced to quit. But ever since, I have never lost my passion to learn about all the types of martial arts. And I feel that I had to create this task because it was something from my past that truly gave me joy to do!
So, the first thing I did today was I went online to search for training videos about how to learn the most basic of kung fu moves. I learned how to do a lot of very interesting kicks. Here are just a few:
Inside crescent kick
Outside crescent kick
Roundhouse kick
Yup, everybody was Kung fu fighting! Huhh!! Haha, so I challenged one of my guy friends to a little battle where I could use my skills and I was pleasantly surprised with how well I remembered how to do everything. I kicked, blocked, ducked, punched, and took a bow when we were finished. It was awesome! And I also like the fact that he had a fun time being beat up by a girl... because he obviously wasn't trying to seriously hurt me. Haha. Sometimes, it really pays to be a girl.
Next time (and there will be a next time) I want to get a bunch more of my friends and we can have a mini-tournament! So keep an eye out for that task coming up because you might wanna join the fun! I really want to go forward with this and maybe start attending a class in martial arts. Since I have to go now, I'll close with a respectful bow... *bows* Bye!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Day 26
Task: Wave at and/or say hi to everyone who passes by you on the road today.
It's tasks like these that remind me of my days on the schoolbus when I used to sit way in the back of the bus and play SweetN'Sour with the other drivers. For those of you who may not have ever heard of this game, you wave at a driver and if he/she smiles or waves back at you that's considered sweet. And if they don't do anything and ignore you then he/she is considered to be sour. It was tons of fun! Ever since I can remember, I never had much trouble meeting people and making friends. And even though I never made friends with any drivers, I enjoyed being friendly to strangers nevertheless! People are way too guarded and don't push themselves to seek out something better for them. Which is exactly what this task is meant to break you out of.
So I was on the RTD today and made friends with 3 new people who were all from out of town! One was from Chicago, one from Boston, and one from Mexico! It was so fun. And I waved at around 20 cars as I rode by the highway. Some waved back, some didn't. But that wasn't the point. I decided that I will no longer rely on others for acceptance, only on myself. It wasn't easy to reach and act on that decision, but it was definitely worth the experience. Do you have anything you feel too uncomfortable to do out of fear of being judged by friends (or even complete strangers)? I say, how can you grow without pushing your own boundaries in order to have room to grow? Don't be a fish in a bowl when you're born to be a fish in an ocean!
It's tasks like these that remind me of my days on the schoolbus when I used to sit way in the back of the bus and play SweetN'Sour with the other drivers. For those of you who may not have ever heard of this game, you wave at a driver and if he/she smiles or waves back at you that's considered sweet. And if they don't do anything and ignore you then he/she is considered to be sour. It was tons of fun! Ever since I can remember, I never had much trouble meeting people and making friends. And even though I never made friends with any drivers, I enjoyed being friendly to strangers nevertheless! People are way too guarded and don't push themselves to seek out something better for them. Which is exactly what this task is meant to break you out of.
So I was on the RTD today and made friends with 3 new people who were all from out of town! One was from Chicago, one from Boston, and one from Mexico! It was so fun. And I waved at around 20 cars as I rode by the highway. Some waved back, some didn't. But that wasn't the point. I decided that I will no longer rely on others for acceptance, only on myself. It wasn't easy to reach and act on that decision, but it was definitely worth the experience. Do you have anything you feel too uncomfortable to do out of fear of being judged by friends (or even complete strangers)? I say, how can you grow without pushing your own boundaries in order to have room to grow? Don't be a fish in a bowl when you're born to be a fish in an ocean!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Day 25
Task: Have an epic staring contest today with someone.
How come as soon as you tell someone that they can't blink, they have to blink ten times more? Staring into someone's eyes is one thing, not being able to blink until they do is another. Which makes it all the more entertaining to do! So I summoned one of my friends from high school to meet up with me for an epic staring contest! We both decided to prepare for it by going into the bathroom and staring at our reflections in the mirror.
Once we got all warmed up, we turned to each other and began round one. She blinked after literally 5 seconds! It was rather easy and helped give me a boost to my own ego. That is, until I lost the second round. Haha. So it was 1 to 1 and the next round wins. We both stared into each other's eyes as if the other person would vanish if our eyelids closed. About 30 seconds into it, she made an attempt to yawn without closing her eyes... no luck! Her eyes welled up so much that she had to shut them or risk her tears overflowing out of her eyes. And I was crowned champion of staring contests!
Feels good to win at something once in a while. I guess all those years of watching television and sitting in front of my computer weren't a waste! Haha. Well, not a complete waste anyway. Me and her scheduled a rematch in the future... this isn't over! I'll make sure to keep you posted on how it goes. Night readers!
How come as soon as you tell someone that they can't blink, they have to blink ten times more? Staring into someone's eyes is one thing, not being able to blink until they do is another. Which makes it all the more entertaining to do! So I summoned one of my friends from high school to meet up with me for an epic staring contest! We both decided to prepare for it by going into the bathroom and staring at our reflections in the mirror.
Once we got all warmed up, we turned to each other and began round one. She blinked after literally 5 seconds! It was rather easy and helped give me a boost to my own ego. That is, until I lost the second round. Haha. So it was 1 to 1 and the next round wins. We both stared into each other's eyes as if the other person would vanish if our eyelids closed. About 30 seconds into it, she made an attempt to yawn without closing her eyes... no luck! Her eyes welled up so much that she had to shut them or risk her tears overflowing out of her eyes. And I was crowned champion of staring contests!
Feels good to win at something once in a while. I guess all those years of watching television and sitting in front of my computer weren't a waste! Haha. Well, not a complete waste anyway. Me and her scheduled a rematch in the future... this isn't over! I'll make sure to keep you posted on how it goes. Night readers!
Day 24
Task: See how long you can stay awake all day and all night. But you can't have help from coffee, tea, soda, or sugar.
I remember when I was little and got sent off to bed and wishing I could stay up as long as I want! Well I figured that I should take advantage of the fact that I can now. So I embarked on a no-sleep day to see how long I could make it without any help. To be quite honest, the longest I've ever stayed up in my entire night was 24 hours. And that was because it was the day of my prom and I was so excited I couldn't sleep the night before and I was out all night having fun with my friends. My friends joked about my sleep deprivation because somewhere around 5am the next day, I began to act extremely loopy!
So, I went a good 20 hours without sleep! Sure, it isn't my record but then again I wasn't running on excitement and anticipation for half the day! I nodded off around 4am when all the good television shows were done airing and all they had were exercise equipment and kitchenware infomercials. I can definitely appreciate my parent's decision of a bedtime now because I was so cranky when I woke up this morning! Haha. Luckily, I took a long nap and was back to my usual happy self! Kids don't try this at home.
I remember when I was little and got sent off to bed and wishing I could stay up as long as I want! Well I figured that I should take advantage of the fact that I can now. So I embarked on a no-sleep day to see how long I could make it without any help. To be quite honest, the longest I've ever stayed up in my entire night was 24 hours. And that was because it was the day of my prom and I was so excited I couldn't sleep the night before and I was out all night having fun with my friends. My friends joked about my sleep deprivation because somewhere around 5am the next day, I began to act extremely loopy!
So, I went a good 20 hours without sleep! Sure, it isn't my record but then again I wasn't running on excitement and anticipation for half the day! I nodded off around 4am when all the good television shows were done airing and all they had were exercise equipment and kitchenware infomercials. I can definitely appreciate my parent's decision of a bedtime now because I was so cranky when I woke up this morning! Haha. Luckily, I took a long nap and was back to my usual happy self! Kids don't try this at home.
Day 23
Task: Set up an obstacle course in your house and time yourself to see how quickly you can get through it!
I think the best way to go about explaining this is by going through all of the things we had to get through. So here it is:
Jump over two boxes of old VHS tapes
Spin in the computer chair ten times while trying to throw a sock ball into a big bowl
Stop! Drop! and Roll!
Do the Macarena and the Cupid Shuffle
Military crawl under the coffee table
Perform a breakdance move on the ground
And finally, slide down feet first down the stairs!
I really don't think I need to explain how fun this day has been getting to my perfect time of 2 min 48 sec! But again I must urge you to try this fun task and make up your own obstacle course! Best of luck!
I think the best way to go about explaining this is by going through all of the things we had to get through. So here it is:
Jump over two boxes of old VHS tapes
Spin in the computer chair ten times while trying to throw a sock ball into a big bowl
Stop! Drop! and Roll!
Do the Macarena and the Cupid Shuffle
Military crawl under the coffee table
Perform a breakdance move on the ground
And finally, slide down feet first down the stairs!
I really don't think I need to explain how fun this day has been getting to my perfect time of 2 min 48 sec! But again I must urge you to try this fun task and make up your own obstacle course! Best of luck!
Day 22
Task: Create a fake cell phone out of cardboard and use it all day as if it were the real thing.
Does anyone remember what life was like when cell phones were merely a luxury that big businessmen had and everyone else had to fight over the same single house phone? I sure do. And those simpler days before texting was created when you only contacted people by calling them. I really miss those days.
So, I decided to go back to when I was 7 when I used to "play grown up" and made a fake cell phone out of cardboard. I even drew in fake number keys and a fake screen to make my cell phone seem more legit. It was a blast! And the best part was, I created my own ringtones and sang the songs out loud whenever 'someone called me'. My absolute favorite instance of the day was when I was in the local supermarket and 'someone called' so I started singing Don't Cha by the Pussycat Dolls in the checkout line. The looks people gave me were beyond any description I can give you! The checkout lady stared at me in shock when I pulled out my cardboard phone and began talking into it. And I'm not completely certain why but every single person waiting in line behind me mysteriously disappeared and went into the adjacent check out line! My best guess is they figured I was crazy, but I sure didn't let that stop me from continuing my fake conversation.
When I finally hung up I smiled at the checkout lady and went on my way. She was beyond speechless. And I wasn't expecting such a funny idea to be so empowering to me, I have had my phone within 3 feet of me since I was about 15! And today, I left it home and discovered that I didn't go into temporary shock. If you are like me and feel like you can't live without your phone, try and leave it for a day. I guarantee you will automatically feel liberated from your technological bondage. Yeah so you should...*cardboard phone rings* Oh, um... I have to take this. Gotta go! ;)
Does anyone remember what life was like when cell phones were merely a luxury that big businessmen had and everyone else had to fight over the same single house phone? I sure do. And those simpler days before texting was created when you only contacted people by calling them. I really miss those days.
So, I decided to go back to when I was 7 when I used to "play grown up" and made a fake cell phone out of cardboard. I even drew in fake number keys and a fake screen to make my cell phone seem more legit. It was a blast! And the best part was, I created my own ringtones and sang the songs out loud whenever 'someone called me'. My absolute favorite instance of the day was when I was in the local supermarket and 'someone called' so I started singing Don't Cha by the Pussycat Dolls in the checkout line. The looks people gave me were beyond any description I can give you! The checkout lady stared at me in shock when I pulled out my cardboard phone and began talking into it. And I'm not completely certain why but every single person waiting in line behind me mysteriously disappeared and went into the adjacent check out line! My best guess is they figured I was crazy, but I sure didn't let that stop me from continuing my fake conversation.
When I finally hung up I smiled at the checkout lady and went on my way. She was beyond speechless. And I wasn't expecting such a funny idea to be so empowering to me, I have had my phone within 3 feet of me since I was about 15! And today, I left it home and discovered that I didn't go into temporary shock. If you are like me and feel like you can't live without your phone, try and leave it for a day. I guarantee you will automatically feel liberated from your technological bondage. Yeah so you should...*cardboard phone rings* Oh, um... I have to take this. Gotta go! ;)
Day 21
Task: Today enjoy some popcorn and air conditioning in a local theater and watch a movie.
I love to watch movies at the theater! So, I decided to take my little sister and mom to see Despicable Me. As we got into the ticket line, I could tell the movie was gonna be packed. Everyone in the line had a kid between the ages of 4 and 12 yelling at their parents "I wanna see Despicable Me in 3D!!!" I thought it was rather funny because my parents would never let us act that way in public without a swift glare that would quiet even the most unruly child. So when we finally got inside the theater with our ticket, we found a seat up close enough to the center that we could enjoy the movie without breaking our necks in the process. And one thing I always love to do when I go to the movies is watch and review new previews of movies. Usually I just smile and nod at the person next to me if I like a movie and whisper "we should go see that."
So, the movie started and we were making our way to the bottom of the popcorn bag and soda pop. I never ruin a movie for other people so I won't say what exactly happened in the movie but if you ever saw a commercial about it, that's pretty much all of the best parts (I don't know why movie directors do that, seems like bad marketing to me... but what do I know?) Haha! Anyway, we all enjoyed the movie a lot and once it was over we clapped for it a little and walked out. I also found a new favorite phrase I heard in the movie that I'll close this day off with: IT'S SO FLUFFY!!!!!!!!!!
I love to watch movies at the theater! So, I decided to take my little sister and mom to see Despicable Me. As we got into the ticket line, I could tell the movie was gonna be packed. Everyone in the line had a kid between the ages of 4 and 12 yelling at their parents "I wanna see Despicable Me in 3D!!!" I thought it was rather funny because my parents would never let us act that way in public without a swift glare that would quiet even the most unruly child. So when we finally got inside the theater with our ticket, we found a seat up close enough to the center that we could enjoy the movie without breaking our necks in the process. And one thing I always love to do when I go to the movies is watch and review new previews of movies. Usually I just smile and nod at the person next to me if I like a movie and whisper "we should go see that."
So, the movie started and we were making our way to the bottom of the popcorn bag and soda pop. I never ruin a movie for other people so I won't say what exactly happened in the movie but if you ever saw a commercial about it, that's pretty much all of the best parts (I don't know why movie directors do that, seems like bad marketing to me... but what do I know?) Haha! Anyway, we all enjoyed the movie a lot and once it was over we clapped for it a little and walked out. I also found a new favorite phrase I heard in the movie that I'll close this day off with: IT'S SO FLUFFY!!!!!!!!!!
Day 20
Task: Turn every dish you eat into a kabob day.
Who doesn't like a good kabob every now and again? Some of you may be wondering where I got the idea of doing this as a task. Well I guess there's something very appealing to me about eating stuff off a stick (corndogs, any other kind of meat, marshmallows, cotton candy!) The possibilities are endless! But I didn't go for the easy foods to eat today. Where's the fun in that? So here is my menu for what I had today for my kabob meals:
Breakfast: French toast and bagel kabobs
Lunch: Turkey sub kabob (of course I had to cut it into smaller pieces)
Dinner: Veggie and fish fillet kabobs
I bet you wanna try and eat your next meal with a kabob, right? Well here are some tips I learned about foods to avoid when kabob-ing your meals... No rice, corn, or pasta can ever get into a kabob (trust me, I tried). So keep that in mind and I hope you all have a kabob-tastic day!
Who doesn't like a good kabob every now and again? Some of you may be wondering where I got the idea of doing this as a task. Well I guess there's something very appealing to me about eating stuff off a stick (corndogs, any other kind of meat, marshmallows, cotton candy!) The possibilities are endless! But I didn't go for the easy foods to eat today. Where's the fun in that? So here is my menu for what I had today for my kabob meals:
Breakfast: French toast and bagel kabobs
Lunch: Turkey sub kabob (of course I had to cut it into smaller pieces)
Dinner: Veggie and fish fillet kabobs
I bet you wanna try and eat your next meal with a kabob, right? Well here are some tips I learned about foods to avoid when kabob-ing your meals... No rice, corn, or pasta can ever get into a kabob (trust me, I tried). So keep that in mind and I hope you all have a kabob-tastic day!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Day 19
Task: Write an acceptance speech of an award you've always dreamed of receiving.
And here's mine for the award of Nobel Peace Prize in Medicine (which is still a possibility):
Hi there everybody! Thanks for coming out! Gosh, I can't believe I did it! I have so many people to thank. First, I have to thank God! For giving me so many blessings and getting me to where I am today. Because I can assure you, I couldn't have done it on my own! Umm... my parents! Of course, without them deciding to have me, well you get the picture. And my friends and family members who all believed in me and got me through all those hard, stressful years of med school. And to my loving husband (I hope), thank you for supporting me and being there for me through my good days and bad ones. We all have this one body and we must take care of it in order to live long lives. You don't want to be 40 years old with arthritis or 20 with heart disease, so I urge you all to take a step out of your comfort zones and substitute good foods from bad ones. Go out and play with your kids. And if you are a kid, go ahead and put those videogames and cell phones down and be active! We all have it in us to be in shape and I feel we will unlock our true potential this year. Thank you for this honor I love you and God bless.
You know, writing this speech gave me extra motivation to work harder and be the best person I can be! Who knows? Maybe you'll hear this speech in twenty or so years! :D
And here's mine for the award of Nobel Peace Prize in Medicine (which is still a possibility):
Hi there everybody! Thanks for coming out! Gosh, I can't believe I did it! I have so many people to thank. First, I have to thank God! For giving me so many blessings and getting me to where I am today. Because I can assure you, I couldn't have done it on my own! Umm... my parents! Of course, without them deciding to have me, well you get the picture. And my friends and family members who all believed in me and got me through all those hard, stressful years of med school. And to my loving husband (I hope), thank you for supporting me and being there for me through my good days and bad ones. We all have this one body and we must take care of it in order to live long lives. You don't want to be 40 years old with arthritis or 20 with heart disease, so I urge you all to take a step out of your comfort zones and substitute good foods from bad ones. Go out and play with your kids. And if you are a kid, go ahead and put those videogames and cell phones down and be active! We all have it in us to be in shape and I feel we will unlock our true potential this year. Thank you for this honor I love you and God bless.
You know, writing this speech gave me extra motivation to work harder and be the best person I can be! Who knows? Maybe you'll hear this speech in twenty or so years! :D
Day 18
Task: Make up a famous saying and use it as many times as possible on other people.
When I first thought of doing this task, an interesting thought came to me. What kind of saying can I possibly use on other people that would convince them that it was a legitimate saying. So, I decided to make it one that would make people laugh:
"Remember, a man who leaves his newspaper out on his front porch too long finds it piddled on by the neighbor's shih tzu."
I know this from experience, and it is no fun trying to read what Garfield got himself into when all the pages are stuck together and smell like dog pee. So, basically, every time someone asked me for advice or words of wisdom, I fed them my fake saying.
"What if he doesn't like me?" "What should I do about this problem at work?" "How can I get his attention?" Yep, all of them got the same response. And even though it wasn't what they were looking for, they sure got a good laugh out of it! And that's what I'm hear for, to make people live with a little more joy and a lot less troubles. I had so much fun and now I have to go do some laundry, turns out some mutt "went" on my favorite shirt when I wasn't looking! Bye!
When I first thought of doing this task, an interesting thought came to me. What kind of saying can I possibly use on other people that would convince them that it was a legitimate saying. So, I decided to make it one that would make people laugh:
"Remember, a man who leaves his newspaper out on his front porch too long finds it piddled on by the neighbor's shih tzu."
I know this from experience, and it is no fun trying to read what Garfield got himself into when all the pages are stuck together and smell like dog pee. So, basically, every time someone asked me for advice or words of wisdom, I fed them my fake saying.
"What if he doesn't like me?" "What should I do about this problem at work?" "How can I get his attention?" Yep, all of them got the same response. And even though it wasn't what they were looking for, they sure got a good laugh out of it! And that's what I'm hear for, to make people live with a little more joy and a lot less troubles. I had so much fun and now I have to go do some laundry, turns out some mutt "went" on my favorite shirt when I wasn't looking! Bye!
Day 17
Task: Health kick day! Health is very important, so become more aware of yours today.
As Dr. Oz likes to say to his viewers, "The best way to live healthier is to start with your diet." So I did just that, I ate a fruit-filled cereal with fat free milk for breakfast! And it was fruit-tastic! Haha I remember growing up thinking french fries were vegetables and fruit punch actually had real fruit in it! Boy, was I wrong! And the older I get, the more I pay attention to what my body needs to stay healthy!
The next half of my day consisted of going to the gym and hitting the trusty elliptical! That lovely contraption and I have become very close in the past couple of months and anyone who has been on it can tell you, it does what its supposed to do! I jumped on that baby for an hour and I was sweating more than a criminal down at the police station! And the best part of working out is, you gain tons of energy! Seriously, I felt like someone jolted 1000watts of energy into me once I was through. And all that energy makes you feel such a euphoric high that nothing (no, not even drugs) can possibly amount to. If you were like how I was and didn't care for the "gym thing" I strongly urge you to give it another try! What do you really have to lose, right?
As Dr. Oz likes to say to his viewers, "The best way to live healthier is to start with your diet." So I did just that, I ate a fruit-filled cereal with fat free milk for breakfast! And it was fruit-tastic! Haha I remember growing up thinking french fries were vegetables and fruit punch actually had real fruit in it! Boy, was I wrong! And the older I get, the more I pay attention to what my body needs to stay healthy!
The next half of my day consisted of going to the gym and hitting the trusty elliptical! That lovely contraption and I have become very close in the past couple of months and anyone who has been on it can tell you, it does what its supposed to do! I jumped on that baby for an hour and I was sweating more than a criminal down at the police station! And the best part of working out is, you gain tons of energy! Seriously, I felt like someone jolted 1000watts of energy into me once I was through. And all that energy makes you feel such a euphoric high that nothing (no, not even drugs) can possibly amount to. If you were like how I was and didn't care for the "gym thing" I strongly urge you to give it another try! What do you really have to lose, right?
Day 16
Task: Draw a picture from your own imagination.
So, basically, I love to draw anything I can get in front of me. Art has always been a secret passion of mine since I was in Kindergarden art class. Unfortunately, every single art teacher I ever had was less than enthusiastic about my artwork so I gave it up for years. But it's back and better than ever!
Today, I decided to go to the park and sketch some pictures. I imagined a couple riding a bike where the girl was sitting on the handlebars and the boy was peddling her around. It was a really cute image I had in my head. So I decided to give this drawing the good old college try! And after about an hour of drawing, erasing, and more drawing, it turned out quite nicely if I do say so myself. It's definitely still pretty rough, but it has potential. So, instead of showing you what my picture looks like, I want you to imagine what my picture looks like and draw one for yourself! So go forth, my little Picasso's and DaVinci's, and have some fun!
So, basically, I love to draw anything I can get in front of me. Art has always been a secret passion of mine since I was in Kindergarden art class. Unfortunately, every single art teacher I ever had was less than enthusiastic about my artwork so I gave it up for years. But it's back and better than ever!
Today, I decided to go to the park and sketch some pictures. I imagined a couple riding a bike where the girl was sitting on the handlebars and the boy was peddling her around. It was a really cute image I had in my head. So I decided to give this drawing the good old college try! And after about an hour of drawing, erasing, and more drawing, it turned out quite nicely if I do say so myself. It's definitely still pretty rough, but it has potential. So, instead of showing you what my picture looks like, I want you to imagine what my picture looks like and draw one for yourself! So go forth, my little Picasso's and DaVinci's, and have some fun!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Day 15
Task: Perfect your s'mores recipe today.
Being the chocolate fiend I am, I love roasting marshmallows and making s'mores! And since today was so hot, I figured it was the best way to have fun after dark. My family and I fired up the grill and sat on the patio roasting and talking. You know what they say, a family that eats together stays together... or something like that. It was really fun and we ended the night off watching classic Bollywood movies that my parents watched when they were growing up. I think my fanaticism with Indian culture is genetic. :) Summer is all about being outside and spending time with the people you care about! So step out sometime and have an adventure, I promise you won't regret it!
Being the chocolate fiend I am, I love roasting marshmallows and making s'mores! And since today was so hot, I figured it was the best way to have fun after dark. My family and I fired up the grill and sat on the patio roasting and talking. You know what they say, a family that eats together stays together... or something like that. It was really fun and we ended the night off watching classic Bollywood movies that my parents watched when they were growing up. I think my fanaticism with Indian culture is genetic. :) Summer is all about being outside and spending time with the people you care about! So step out sometime and have an adventure, I promise you won't regret it!
Day 14
Task: Memorize a new poem or song today.
Remember when we were little and heard a song only twice and could to know every word of it? I certainly miss those days. Now I can't even recognize a song until the chorus starts... haha its embarrassing. So I decided to try a poem today that I read a couple weeks back. The poem is called "Messy Room" by Shel Silversteen (one of my favorite childhood poets):
Whosoever room this is should be ashamed!
His underwear is hanging on the lamp.
His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,
And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.
His workbook is wedged in the window,
His sweater's been thrown on the floor.
His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,
And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.
His books are all jammed in the closet,
His vest has been left in the hall.
A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,
And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.
Whosoever room this is should be ashamed!
Donald or Robert or Willie or-
Huh? You say it's mine? Oh dear,
I knew it looked familiar!
Haha! I just love this poem because it is precisely like how my room looked when I was a kid. Memorizing a poem by Shel Silversteen is quite an honor for me because I look to his poems for inspiration whenever I feel the urge to write my own. This was such a fun task today and my family were amazed at my memorization skills. Here's a fun little poem of me signing off:
Take the day as it arrives,
Dream of living better lives! :)
Remember when we were little and heard a song only twice and could to know every word of it? I certainly miss those days. Now I can't even recognize a song until the chorus starts... haha its embarrassing. So I decided to try a poem today that I read a couple weeks back. The poem is called "Messy Room" by Shel Silversteen (one of my favorite childhood poets):
Whosoever room this is should be ashamed!
His underwear is hanging on the lamp.
His raincoat is there in the overstuffed chair,
And the chair is becoming quite mucky and damp.
His workbook is wedged in the window,
His sweater's been thrown on the floor.
His scarf and one ski are beneath the TV,
And his pants have been carelessly hung on the door.
His books are all jammed in the closet,
His vest has been left in the hall.
A lizard named Ed is asleep in his bed,
And his smelly old sock has been stuck to the wall.
Whosoever room this is should be ashamed!
Donald or Robert or Willie or-
Huh? You say it's mine? Oh dear,
I knew it looked familiar!
Haha! I just love this poem because it is precisely like how my room looked when I was a kid. Memorizing a poem by Shel Silversteen is quite an honor for me because I look to his poems for inspiration whenever I feel the urge to write my own. This was such a fun task today and my family were amazed at my memorization skills. Here's a fun little poem of me signing off:
Take the day as it arrives,
Dream of living better lives! :)
Day 13
Task: Do an interpretive dance.
I can't believe I've never done this before! And I knew exactly which song I wanted to dance to... "Hear Me" by Kelly Clarkson. So first things first, I got into my yoga pants and flexible shirt and stretched so I didn't pull anything. Then I went into my basement and blasted the music as loud as it would go! I wish I could've videotaped it but it was pretty epic. I was flailing my arms and legs around and mimicking the lyrics whenever the chorus came on. Interpretive dancing should be a sport, seriously! Because I was sweating when the song was over. Haha. Its simple activities like this that take only a few minutes that really count! I was pumped the rest of the day! I think I am gonna go put my iPod on shuffle and do it again! See ya later.
I can't believe I've never done this before! And I knew exactly which song I wanted to dance to... "Hear Me" by Kelly Clarkson. So first things first, I got into my yoga pants and flexible shirt and stretched so I didn't pull anything. Then I went into my basement and blasted the music as loud as it would go! I wish I could've videotaped it but it was pretty epic. I was flailing my arms and legs around and mimicking the lyrics whenever the chorus came on. Interpretive dancing should be a sport, seriously! Because I was sweating when the song was over. Haha. Its simple activities like this that take only a few minutes that really count! I was pumped the rest of the day! I think I am gonna go put my iPod on shuffle and do it again! See ya later.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Day 12
Task: Host a movie marathon today
I don't want to toot my own horn when it comes to movie knowledge but I watch movies quite a bit! Everything from cartoons to comedies to foreign films (Bollywood is my favorite!) Anyway, it isn't the movies I like, its the movie experience. Having the ability to switch the lights off and enter a different world is as easy as pressing play! And I hate to say it, but books just aren't doing it for me anymore. Besides, every book worth reading is made into a movie now! Haha. So, I decided to channel my inner preteen girl and chose the twilight movies to watch today. Don't judge me! It was purely because I was planning to watch the latest movie Eclipse that day. Okay, go ahead and judge I deserve it. :)
So, first I watched Twilight with my little sister and friend Anna* in my basement. For those of you who don't know about these movies, it was when the two lead actors fall in love with each other. But the guy is a vampire and she's a human. I know, weird stuff.
Then we saw New Moon, which in my opinion is much better than Twilight. I have a little bit of a crush on Taylor Lautner and seeing him all buff and what not was pretty cool. He's my favorite character in the whole cast so it was pretty awesome seeing him and Bella, the girl, get closer.
Finally, we watched Eclipse in the theater. Now, maybe it was the fact that we went the day after it came out or whatever but it was packed!! Guess who filled 98% of the seats? Anybody? That's right! Twleve year old girls... and here I was a grown woman going to see it. Haha. But it was pretty fun to watch and the actors were much better in this movie than they were in the last two. I won't give anything away about what happened, but I kinda wanna see the last movie when it comes out. Just to answer some questions they left unanswered.
Movie marathons rock! Whether you watch Twilight like I did or Harry Potter or whatever you want! And not to mention how relaxing it was to just sit and let your mind rest from all the troubles and stresses you have. It was extremely cleansing and I think that I'll keep this task in my back pocket to do another time. I urge you to go see a movie too... and let me know how it left you feeling afterwards. I shouldn't be the only person enjoying my life, you should too!! Best of luck!
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