December Goals

Our Christmas Tree

Hey'all !

The month of the "last times" is finally coming ! Last week was the last one to write my thesis. This is also my last week of college and probably one of the last weeks in our apartment. What makes me really happy is that it will be the last Christmas holidays I will spend studying for the exams. And it might be my last exams ever ! I am ready to finish my student life and start jump in the professional world. There will be a lot of changes in 2015 !

November Goals:

• Be more thankful and let people know it ✓
• Start writing review cards for the exams x
• Start buying some Christmas presents ✓
• Celebrate Thanksgiving ✓
• Find a new place for January x
• Save money !!! x

As I wrote it in my last article, I have been pretty ill a few weeks ago. I have also been busy studying for all the essays I had to give back this week. Well, I can say that as usual, studies took over everything else in my life ... But I am glad to say I found some time to enjoy the holiday season ! I have spent a lot of time with my friends, roaming around the Christmas market in our city.

December Goals:

• Finish all the Christmas present on time
• Meet Lucie while she is in France
• Clean my bedroom at my parents
• Read by the fireplace
• Go to the Christmas mass
• Find a good balance between my family and my reviews
• Find an apartment for January/February
• Watch 5 Christmas movies

Well, I LOVE this season ! Since I finished writing my thesis for this semester, I am fully enjoying this period of the year. I just like watching movies with Guillaume while drinking a cup of tea or just listening to Christmas carols ... My brother came home from Canada last night, and I am super excited about spending the holidays with my family ! One more week left !

What are your plans for the last month of 2014 ?

September Goals

Hey y'all !

September has always been a big month for me. First, because I was born in September and secondly, because it is the back to school season. Therefore, this month always means that I can have a fresh start in the school system but also in my personal life. Like New Year's resolutions, September is the opportunity to make some changes in my lifestyle and start over.

But before listing my new goals for September, let's get back to August's !

August Goals:

• Write my thesis and my report ✓
• Sign up to the public library ✓
• Go to the farmer market ✓
• Have breakfast in bed  x
• Order pizzas from Domino's (missed them too much !) ✓
• Go to the beach ✓
• Donate blood ✓
• Loose weight  x

Frankly, I am surprised I did so many things last month ! I usually plan to many things to do and never achieve them. Of course, I still struggle with my weight ... But I keep working on it ! I really focused on two major goals: being reunited with my family and Guillaume, and my studies. And guess what ? I finally catch up on my assignments ! I gave my thesis and report back last Friday and had an oral exam this morning. I don't have to rush anymore and can start my (hopefully) last year of college peacefully ! So now, what about the coming month ?

September Goals:

• Write a post per week
• Organize a birthday party with my friends
• Be more supportive with Guillaume
• Find an internship
• Answer my emails more often
• Be more serious about loosing weight
• Start saving money

I am aware that I am not posting as much as I should, but now that I respected the deadlines for my homework, I will have more time to devote myself to the blog. Also, I will be celebrating my 22nd birthday in a couple of days, and it will be the opportunity to meet up with my closest friends ! Moreover, I feel that I need to be there for Guillaume. He finished his last year of masters and will have his thesis defense in a few weeks, so it will be a big deal and a lot of stress. Guillaume is also looking for a job at the moment, which is much more complicated than we thought it would be. I think that he is going to need me and I have to be compassionate.

What about you ? Do you like September ? It is not Fall in France already. To be honest, the weather is a lot nicer than it was in August ! We are having a late summer and we are still enjoying a bit of sun before the new season !

August Goals

Heya !

I have a confession to make ... I am feeling awful for leaving this blog for so long ! I was thinking about posting all the time, but I really felt that the last couple of months were a sort of break from my ordinary life. I had to put my life in "stand by" and wait until things get back to normal. It truly was an incredible experience, but now I am feeling ready to move on. The back to school season is coming soon, and I can't believe it will be my last year in university. I feel like there are a lot of things I have to change in my life right now. It is time ! And what is better than having some goals for this new month ? :)

August Goals:

• Write my thesis and my report
• Sign up to the public library
• Go to the farmer market
• Have breakfast in bed
• Order pizzas from Domino's (missed them too much !)
• Go to the beach
• Donate blood
• Loose weight

Basically, this month will be challenging for me. I will come home in two days now (still can't believe it) after being abroad for five months. I have never been away from home and from my family for so long. Of course, Guillaume came to visit (that was four months ago) and my family came in May. But still. I haven't seen France, my brother, my dog and my friends since March. So August will be about spending time with my loved ones and relaxing. Also, I am planning to start a diet (yeap, I said it). Diet is such a big word ! I really want to have a healthier way of life: eat better and exercise more. I feel that it is time for a big change, and I am ready for it !

What are your goals for August ?

March Goals

I haven't been posting on my blog for ages ! There were no February goals since it was my last month in France and my only world was: ENJOY. Yes, February has been all about enjoying the simple moments of life. I have spent only two week-ends at my family's, but we cooked and had dinner together, with Guillaume as well, and it was great. We had friends coming over some Saturday night for pizzas and waffles. Was February all about eating ? Maybe ! That would explain why I can't fit into my jeans anymore. But I don't really care. This month was about letting myself go and do things I won't be allowed or able to do in the next few months.

Baking Donut's with Dad

So, March will be a big change for me. New country, new city, new job ... I am really excited about this new experience. Of course, my main goal is to make a good impression at my internship and learn a lot of new things. I am also planing on visiting my family (Zoe is performing at the end of the month)  and I have a couple of friends to see in Dublin.

My March Goals:

• Visit my uncle, aunt and cousin
• Celebrate Saint Paddy's day
• Visit one new place in Ireland
• Work on my thesis 
• Save money
• Loose weight

What are your goals for this new month ? :)

January Goals

I know, it's been almost two weeks since I wrote my last post ! And no, it's never too late to catch up and write about my January goals ! :)  Basically, my life has been about studying for my thesis, going to class, organizing my stay in Ireland and spending as many time as possible with Guillaume. The beginning of 2014 is much busier than I thought !

My December Goals

• Decorate our home for Christmas
• Study for my exams
• Plan a party for New Year's Eve
• Send out Christmas Cards
• Spend time with my family

I have to say December was pretty great. Of course, it has been tough with my exams to take and all the craziness of Christmas shopping. But yet, it has been a wonderful time. Strangely, I did not care so much about my exams' results. I know I will have to repeat  at least one of them, but I thought: "I've done my best, if it doesn't work out, then I will do something else". And yaaay ! For the first time since I have started this blog, I have achieved all of my goals ! We decorated our home for the very first time, I have stayed a week at my parents' and I even had the chance to spend time with Guillaume's family. On New Year's Eve, we were invited by two friends of ours and we spent the evening with another couple of friends. It was a great way to end 2013, wishing the best for the new year coming ! 

My January Goals

• Give my blood (I know ... again ! It's been 3 months already !)
• Save 150€ for Dublin
• Buy new clothes for the internship
• Start studying for the February exams
• Finish all the papers for the internship
• Go to the restaurant with Guillaume

It's not too late for you to make your goals ! What are they ? :)

December Goals

It is starting to be quite cold outside. No snow yet, but winter is definitely coming and so is Christmas ! This is probably my favorite holiday ! I love preparing surprises and gifts to my loved ones, walk in the street to see the Christmas lights and sit on my coach to stare at our tree ! There is definitely something special and magic during this period of the year. It makes me feel like a child again and it gives me hope and strength. 

My November Goals

• Host a Thanksgiving dinner  
• Try a new recipe every week
• Go on a date with Guillaume
• Find my internship
• Save money for Christmas 

I wasn't very good last month ... I got overwhelmed by my studies and I spent a lot of money driving home during the week-ends, buying boots for winter and going out with friends and Guillaume. We did not have a proper date since we had some budget issues and with Christmas coming, it is not going to get any better. But I am doing my best so we can spend some quality time together, even if we don't go out. I did not find my internship either ... I had an interview, but they took someone else, so I keep looking ! I am disappointed, for sure, but hopefully there's something better waiting for me !


My December Goals

• Decorate our home for Christmas
• Study for my exams
• Plan a party for New Year's Eve
• Send out Christmas Cards
• Spend time with my family

If you want a card from France, feel free to add your information in my address book ! :)
Have a nice week-end !

November Goals

I can't believe this is actually November the 1st! It seems like yesterday when I wrote my October list ... I have to say last month has been really busy: we had our Irish friends visiting for a week-end, then I had to study for my first exams, got sick, we celebrated our third anniversary and went to Spain last week ! Anyway, I felt more relaxed, I took time to meditate before going to sleep. It is a good way to focus on the good things that happened during the day and the bad ones I should stop doing. It is a special moment I have with myself. In a certain way, it is also a prayer, but I am still a bit confused about religion. I guess I should write a proper article about it ... 

 My October Goals

• Write my 101 in 1001 list
• Work out everyday for one week
• Prepare a surprise dinner to Guillaume
• Plan a special date for our 3rd Anniversary 
• Find some fall decoration

Again, it was hard to reach my goals this month. I didn't see the end of the month coming ! I would have worked out more often if I have noticed ah ah. I really tried, but I got sick and lazy (I admit) and then forgot about it. My scale is still broken, so I don't know if I have lost weight or not. Concidering the holidays and how much I ate, I would say I gained some ! I could not find any fall decoration ANYWHERE ! This is insane how French people do not decorate their home ! (except for Christmas)  Shame, shame, shame ... I guess now I will have to wait until December to buy our Christmas decorations ... But well, it's a new month, time for new resolutions ;)

My November Goals

• Host a Thankgiving dinner 
• Try a new recipe every week
• Go on a date with Guillaume
• Find my internship
• Save money for Christmas 

This month, I will also participate to Nicole's Joy Filled Home Challenge and share with you all about our sweet home !

101 in 1001

This is it ! After an entire week of reflexion, I have finally finished my 101 things to do in 1001 days. This idea came from Victoria's blog and originally from Design Darling. I use to make lists all the time. On Sunday afternoon, I start thinking of what I will have to do during the week. Sometimes it is really exciting, sometimes it is more compulsory. But writing this 101 in 1001 list was a real challenge ! I am only 21 (and still surprised by this number !) and so many things can change in 1001 days, so many things are vague and most of the time, I feel unsecure about the future (especially these days while struggling with my studies). So we can say that this is the list of what a college girl in her twenties must accomplish ! Here we go !!! :)

Start Date: Saturday, October 5th 2013

End Date: Saturday, July 2nd 2016

Personal 
1. Find my first real job
2. Write a novel
3. Learn to love myself
4. Be more confident
5. Find faith
6. Get involved in a charity
7. Do a professional photo shoot
8. Spend a week-end with no technology
9. Keep a journal of possibilities and dreams
10. Write myself a letter once a month   1/33
11. Achieve all these goals

Fun & Entertainment
12. Celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time  (see here)
13. Attend Oxygen festival, Dublin
14. See a band I've liked for a long time performing
15. See a rugby game
16. Try 10 new restaurants in our area
17. Watch the Lord of the Ring movies
18. Sing in a pub
19. Have a Disney movies marathon
20. Get up to watch the sunrise

Beauty and Health
21. Let my hair grow
22. Drink 8 glass of water a day for a month
23. Eat five fruits and veggies a day for a week
24. Work out everyday for a week
25. Achieve my target weight
26. Learn 5 new hairstyles
27. Find the perfect lipstick color
28. Go to bed before 11pm for a week

Blog
29. Write 101 goals
30. Inspire someone to write this list
31. Re-design my blog
32. Meet a friend blogger
33. Have 5 blog sponsors
34. Post everyday on the blog for a week
35. Contribute to someone else's blog
36. Leave comments on 5 blog everyday for two weeks
37. Have five friends reading my blog
38. Hit 50 followers on my blog

Travel
39. Visit New York City
40. Move to a foreign country
41. Visit the Châteaux de la Loire
42. Spend a romantic week-end in Paris
43. Go geocatching
44. Visit 5 new cities 1/5 (Belfast)

Friends & Family
45. Adopt a pet

46. Celebrate our third anniversary (see here)
47. Get Engaged
48. Buy our first house

49. Send out Christmas Cards
50. Send ten handwritten notes
51. Throw a surprise party for a friend
52. Be my cousin's sponsor
53. Go on a trip with my friends
54. Compliment someone everyday for a week
55. Tell one friend per week that I am thinking about them
56. Take family pictures every year
57. Reconnect with a childhood friend
58. Buy my parents' a big gift
59. Hang out with my brother for a whole day
60. Take my Granny to the casino
61. Call or Email my family every week
62. Spend a whole week-end at Granny's
63. Go on a day trip with my cousin
64. Support a friend on something important to him/her

Do & Make
65. Own a Christmas Cookie's Yankee Candle
66. Start a collection of Christmas decorations  (see here)
67. Make homemade bread
68. Make homemade ice cream
69. Learn to sew a button
70. Do five DIY projects
71. Have breakfast in bed
72. Take a wine testing class
73. Buy fresh flowers once a month  1/33
74. Plant something and have it grow
75. Try a new recipe each month  3/33
76. Ask for a new passport
77. Acquire a new cookbook every year
78. Put back a rim on my car's wheel
79. Take a baking class
80. Learn how to make pastries
81. Try two recipes from the Bible of Pastry each month  0/33
82. Buy a frame and put a picture of Guillaume and I inside
83. Buy a hard drive and save all my files and pictures
84. Go to a farmer market every month   4/33
85. Go on a day spa with my boyfriend

Organise
86. Turn my Granny's and family recipes into a book
87. Get rid of my old class books
88. Write my favorite recipes on a book
89. Donate my old clothes and shoes
90. Print out our trips pictures and organize it in a book

Education
91. Graduate from college
92. Learn how to play the piano
93. Read 20 new books   6/20
94. Find my two internships  2/2
95. Learn a few German sentences

Investments
96. Own a pair of Repetto flats
97. Find the perfect little black dress
98. Spend an entire month not eating out
99. Find a good financial plan
100. Save a minimum of 30€ each month  1/33
101. Put 5€ into savings for every goal accomplished  30/505

October Goals

Time is definitely flying ! A month ago, Guillaume and I were moving in and I was completely scared of what the future had to offer. September had been quite tough on me ... I was really confused about my studies: should I stay or should I go ? To be honest, I hate half of my courses, and I hate the fact the system wants to make us spend our entire life studying, so much that our well being and our health have to be forgotten. I really hate it. Last Friday, I was so upset that I went home crying and I kept crying in Guillaume's arms for about an hour. I felt lost, I felt lonely and I had no one to turn to. 

My September's Goals

• Save money
• Give my blood 
• Go to the local market once a week
• Use my free spa vaucher
• Host a party in our new flat
• Work out three hours a week
• Buy a mirror for the bedroom
• Prepare our trip to Spain
• Loose weight

Saving money was not easy, as I don't really have any income, but I have saved 30€ (put into a blocked account). We received many friends last month and had our first party at our place. We also went out quite a lot. This month, we need to be more careful about what we buy, especially food (and not waste it !) I didn't have time to go to the local market, but if it is cheaper than supermarket (and probably healthier) I should try to go at least once a month. Oh, and I was so so so desapointed about the spa vaucher... Turned out ot passed the deadline one September 17th ... 

 My October Goals

• Write my 101 in 1001 list
• Work out everyday for one week
• Prepare a surprise dinner to Guillaume
• Plan a special date for our 3rd Anniversary 
• Find some fall decoration

I really hope October will be more peaceful now that we are really settling down. I hope I will have more time to spend with my family, whom I really miss. October must be full of love and great moments as Guillaume and I will be celebrating our 3rd Anniversary on the 22nd, any ideas what we could do ? We are also going on holidays with my family at the end of the month. I need to have my homework done by then so I can really enjoy being away from college ! Anyway, Fall is definitely coming ! We had a lovely and warm weather in the last couple of weeks, but tonight, it is all stormy. I am just going to put my pyjamas on, eat that pie cooking in the oven and stay in Guillaume's arms while watching Game of Thrones ! Night Night !

September Goals

As I was writing it in my last post, September is the perfect month for a fresh start and experiences, and since I moved in a new city, there are plenty of things I want to try !

- Save money

- Give my blood (it has been a year now, no more excuses !)

- Go to the local market once a week

- Use my free spa vaucher (I have received for my 20th birthday, it's time to use it !)

- Host a party in our new flat

- Work out three hours a week

- Buy a mirror for the bedroom

- Prepare our trip to Spain

- Loose weight

My return to college had been quite stressful, I do not feel quite integrate yet, we already have plenty of things to write and study ... So I want to learn how be organised: have time to study, see my friends, spend quality time with my boyfriend and relax !