Simplicity

Today I read an interesting post on Unclutterer called "Setting Limits with a Super Simple Month." While the goal is admirable, I am not sure whether I would want to limit the times that I go out. Living in Boston and going to school in a college town, I would feel like I am missing out on too much. However, I do recognize that it is important to have some time to yourself. Also, buying only necessities is definitely a thing I need to be working on, since living expenses seem to be eating me up alive. Why does my contact lens solution cost about $10 for the little bottle that runs out in 2 weeks? Why are sandwiches $7.50? When did the world become so expensive?

Anyway, the post did get me thinking about ways that I would enjoy making my life a little simpler. This month, February, is the Month of Love for my Happiness Project. One of the ways that I should act in a loving way to myself is by having some time for myself away from the craziness that is the life of a college student in a city.

Here are some ideas to give myself more time:

• Turning off my electronics an hour before bedtime
• Organizing what I need for the day the night before (No more running around going crazy trying to find everything) 
• Spending less time on my schedule (I tend to overschedule, which I'm beginning to see is a way of procrastinating) 
• Waking up earlier. (My ultimate goal is to be able to wake up and have energy at 7:00 a.m. My current wake up time ... 7:45 or 8:00.)

Here's what I would want to do with that free time

• Paint my nails a gorgeous, cheery color
• Make collages from my old magazines
• Meditate
• Do the Laundry (Having dirty clothes around makes me feel like my life's gotten too crazy to handle even the simple things.)
• Settle down with a good book. 

Happy Things

How beautiful is my dog? I just saw this picture that my sister posted on her Facebook page, and I needed to have an "I love my dog" post. I can't remember if she took the photo or if I did. (I'll have to ask her later. Some of my dog's hair is shaved off, so this was probably taken soon after she was sick and needed an IV, but she's all better now. :) 

Also, an update on my Happiness Project! Tomorrow is the first day of February. For Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project, she decided that February was the month to "Remember Love." Here are my resolutions for this month! 

1. Write something good about myself or something good that I accomplished that day, every day in my journal. 
2. Reach out to others by making more of an effort to spend time with friends. I especially want to spend some time getting to know my sorority's new members. I've met them only a few times, but I can tell they are really sweet girls. 
3. I will stop myself from saying negative things about people, even when I'm really angry. 
4. I will mail letters to my friends and family as often as I can, since snail mail really does show how much you care. 
5. I will not let myself get myself down. If I start to think negatively, I will try to see the positive side of things. 

So here's my list. I am open to changing some and adding on a few more. Do you have any suggestions? 

- Catie

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Maybe it's because my sorority is preparing for Formal Recruitment, but I'm really loving the television show, "Greek" on ABC Family. You can watch the episodes online for free! Currently, I think they have every episode online. I'm still like two episodes behind and the new season is starting soon. I used to be a big Cappie fan, but I'm really loving Evan Chambers right now.

Though he does not have Kappie's ability to come up with witty one liners, his attempts, bad as they are, come off awkwardly cute. It's okay not to be funny, Evan! I'll still love you :)

Greek starts back up on January 25th, so be sure to mark that in your calendars.

Also, I recently watched a favorite movie of mine, Penelope, starring Christina Ricci and James McAvoy. Reese Witherspoon also is in this and has a hilarious character role as a bad ass mail delivery chick who rides a vespa with wings on it. For those of you who don't know the plot of this movie, it's about a girl who is born with a pig nose. Generations ago in her family, a witch cast a spell so that the first born girl would be born with the face of a pig.

So, seriously, watch this. It's a wonderful movie. And if you like it, be sure to check out Stardust, which is a movie that is much in the same vein in that there are fantastical elements and wonderful characters, as well as lessons to be learned that don't come across too preachy.

Another thing I'm really loving is gold earrings. This pair is absolutely gorgeous and only $35 on Shopbop! I love that they're simple but still beautiful.

Finally, I saw this spectacular bag on Shopbop by Rebecca Minkoff. I love the gold detailing on the bag, and the practicality of the size and shoulder strap. One thing I'm not sure about, though, is that when I first looked at this I thought for sure it was black, but Shopbop calls it Navy Blue. Am I going colorblind or what? This would have to be the blackest Navy Blue I've ever seen.  Sadly, at $595 this bag is merely on my wish list, for when I win the lottery, or if I can find it on sale closer to my birthday. Does anyone know where I can find something similar to this? 

Pictures found on Google Images and Shopbop and not owned by me.