Tag: adventure

PostGrad

My Word For 2019

For the past two years, I’ve decided to designate a word to my new year instead of resolutions. In 2017, my word was enough and in 2018, my word was presence. I think about my words from time to time throughout the year and never really feel like I’m accomplishing them until I reflect back. Enough has really made an appearance in my life, I have accepted a lot about myself in the past two years and am generally happy. I am still working on presence and I think that’s mostly due to scrolling through social media so often. But I’m aware of the problem and that means I’m closer to fixing it.

My word for 2019 is going to be adventure. While I like to put on a brave face and show everyone how much I love to do new things, new things actually make me extremely nervous. Traveling, moving, starting something new all give me anxiety and actually give me migraines.

But I’m starting 2019 off with a bang by moving out of state, starting a new job, and basically a new life. I know I will have to make new friends, explore a new area, and balance everything I’m leaving behind in New Jersey.

I’ve decided to accept the adventure and carry that feeling with me throughout the year. It will all be a new learning experience, but I’m going to make it fun and I’m going to make the best of it. Despite the anxiety, I know this is a great step for me so I just need to embrace my adventurous side and see where things take me.

Let me know your word for 2019 below!

man riding boxer motorcycle on road
Photo by Pete Johnson on Pexels.com
travel

The Finger Lakes

Being from NJ, I am mostly limited to New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, etc. for short weekend trips – ones that don’t require me to take off from work.

This past weekend I went to the Finger Lakes with a group of friends and was pleasantly surprised by how much we loved the area.

What we did:

1. Hiked Watkins Glen State Park – the views were AMAZING! And it was a relatively easy hike.

2. Wine Tastings – the Finger Lakes is the Wine Country of the East Coast. Wineries are a must do!

Where we ate:

1. Red Newt Bistro – if you like grilled cheese then you need to try their artisanal take on the sandwich!

2. The Lakeside Restaraunt – great view views of Keuka lake and great food!

Wineries:

1. Red Newt – very fun wine tasting and great views!

2. Wagner- awesome views and also has a brewery!

3. Bully Hill – very quirky, great views, and great wine!

The best part of the Finger Lakes was the views of the farms, rolling hills, and stunning lakes. Anything you do there, make sure you’re doing it with a view. All of the places we went were overlooking dreamy lake and hill views.

Have you ever been to New York and visited somewhere outside of NYC?

PostGrad

How I Made 2016 My Best Year Yet

In 2015, I graduated college and my life changed. And no matter who you are or how old you are, there is usually something that happens during the year that changes you and forces you to adjust.

I was going on Bumble dates and hating it. Living with my parents and hating it. Becoming a loner and hating it. I was slipping back to a place that I thought I had left behind, a dark place that had taken me a while just to see some cracks of light.

And that’s when I decided I was going to make 2016 my best year ever.

I made a list of things that had to change. I needed to manage my anxiety better. I had to stop letting people who barely meant anything to me (like my one time Bumble dates) affect my well being. I had to cut people out. I had to add people in. I needed to find adventure, a better job, a place to live, and I needed to find happiness.

I found happiness in 2016 just by working on myself. And I worked hard.

I got in better shape. I bought a journal and began managing my anxiety by writing in it, as well as taking time to decompress, color, and listen to new music. I stopped going on shitty Bumble dates and deleted my dating apps that only gave me a fake sense of satisfaction for a short amount of time. I worked hard and found a job I love. I saved up and found a place to live. I booked trip after trip and made time for only the friends and family that counted.

For the first time in two years, I was genuinely happy and proud of myself. And with my self satisfaction came everything else that I felt I had been missing. Like a relationship, adventures, and just an overall glow of positivity.

I made 2016 my best year yet by putting myself first and letting everything else follow. I dove head first with a positive attitude, the will to change, and the eagerness to succeed. I have no doubts in my mind that if I continue into 2017 with this same mindset, it will be just as great.

Set goals and smash them. Seek positivity and hold on to it. Better yourself and the rest will follow. You will truly have a happy new year.

 

hc
photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/amandasphotographs/
The Hookup On...

The Hookup On: My Completed Fall Bucket List

Fall FLEW by!! I can’t believe winter is here. Tomorrow is the official last day of winter, so check out my fall bucket list below to see how busy I was this season 🙂 And stay tuned for my winter bucket list!

              1. Go pumpkin picking
              2. Go apple picking
                Sort of did this, by the time I got to go the season was over so I went to a farmer’s stand instead 🙂
              3. Bake apple things
                Homemade apple sauce!
              4. Visit Washington D.C.
              5. Go to 3 concerts
                Went to 2, close enough
              6. Put together a dope Halloween costume
                I was a half assed unicorn lol
              7. Get in better physical shape
                Still working on this
              8. Get a new ear piercing
              9. Learn to knit/crochet something new
                Baby hats 🙂
              10. Save money!!
              11. Reach 2,200 Instagram follower
              12. Reach 1,500 WordPress followers
                10 away from this goal!
              13. Make more time for friends
              14. Become more involved at work
              15. Bake pumpkin seeds
              16. Watch 13 Halloween movies
              17. Be happy

I almost did it all! I’m pretty proud of how much I accomplished this fall, but it was small list just like winter’s will be. I can’t wait for spring and summer to come back, but for now I’ll make the most of it!

PostGrad

If You’re Not Writing Down Your Goals, You’re Doing It Wrong

For most of my life, I don’t think I really had any goals. When the new year rolled around I’d say I wanted to lose weight or I wanted to go on more adventures. But those were just words that fell to the floor and disappeared as the days, weeks, months, and years went by.

In 2016, I started writing down my goals and I started writing them down monthly. I wanted to make a positive change in my life.

By writing them down, you will realize you have goals that you’ve never said out loud before. You will have a visual guide of things to strive for. Right before your eyes, you will see the development and finishing of ideas that will better your life.

Did you even know you wanted to lose 2 lbs by the end of the month? Did you even know you were capable of it? The idea may have been buried in the back of your head somewhere, waiting to be achieved. But unless you’re seeing it, living it, and striving for it – will it ever really get accomplished?

Split your goals up into long term and short term goals. And always remember to be realistic. You want to lose inches on your waist? That’s awesome! But it may be more of a long term goal than short term. You want to see your friends twice a month at least? You should! And make that a short term goal, make it happen now.

And always throw in little goals on top of your big goals, ones you know you can make happen. You’ve been wanting to add some positive pieces to your home. So write it down and go out and buy some plants this afternoon. You’ve already accomplished something, so imagine how much further you can go!

When the end of the month is nearing, you’ll see that you’re very close to reaching some of your goals and that makes you push harder to finish them before the next month begins. Or you’ll see that some of your goals just can’t happen this month, but it’s okay because you’ll work towards completing it next month.

Writing down your goals is the simplest way to motivate yourself and make life changes. The whole process has turned my entire life around and moving towards a more positive direction. Make the list and soon you’ll be crossing off those goals one by one. You’ll be so much closer to your dreams and your happiness.

hc
photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/joestpierre/
PostGrad

7 Reasons Why It Sucks That Summer Is Ending

Labor day weekend is pretty much the last weekend we have to enjoy the dwindling amount of summer we have left.  Here’s why that sucks:

1.The warm weather disappears

Why does it feel like it’s cold for 90% of the year?

2. My tan will fade

Lucky you if you look good pale, I look like I’ve had the flue for three weeks straight.

3. It’s harder to look cute in sweaters

We all know sundress season is the best season.

4. There’s no excuses to eat ice cream like all the time

Down the shore? Ice cream. Hot day? Ice cream. Bored? Ice cream.

5. I can’t drive with my windows down

My morning commute won’t be the same if I can’t feel the wind on my face and blast 7 Things I Hate About You by Miley Cyrus.

6. Summer hours at work are over

Back to the normal 9-5 Monday-Friday.

7. Another summer has come and gone without much accomplishment

What else is new?

photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/white_ribbons/
photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/white_ribbons/
PostGrad

7 Things I Was Supposed To Do This Summer…

1. Go on adventures

I had a list of places to go including the beach, museums, flea markets, and more – but I just worked and slept a lot.

2. See my friends all the time

The characters in the Netflix shows I watch count as my friends right?

3. Lose weight

Going to the gym every day turned into thinking of going to the gym every day turned into binge eating.

4. Find a relationship

But that involves going to the gym and going on adventures and I did neither.

5. Get an awesome tan

I did, but it only lasted like three days.

6. Save money

I worked a lot, but can’t really seem to find where I spent all of my money?

7. Get my life together for the upcoming year

*See 1-6*

photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hillaryraindeer/
photo by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hillaryraindeer/