october goals

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhEjThHmMmDNIifKNyweat_lWtsM1tMJyctL8fYROenlHzOwg3amQSFr2axqdJTlT47XSEd4C_0_LAq9Oov4eOw8i1h-QKijQgqGO7HOTihKw5dnd-gySxScIM-LZ8I_cPSGbuBx4Rkph/s1600/20130914-IMG_2044_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhEjThHmMmDNIifKNyweat_lWtsM1tMJyctL8fYROenlHzOwg3amQSFr2axqdJTlT47XSEd4C_0_LAq9Oov4eOw8i1h-QKijQgqGO7HOTihKw5dnd-gySxScIM-LZ8I_cPSGbuBx4Rkph/s1600/20130914-IMG_2044_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />this whole Hong Kong/visa business really derailed my <a href="http://www.inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/09/hello-september.html" target="_blank">goals for last month</a>. but for me, one of the lessons of goal-setting is not just to get things done, but to be more forgiving to myself when I don't.<br /><br />I couldn't have anticipated having to go to Hong Kong. and it's not the first time I have underestimated the amount of time it takes to accomplish something in regards to my book manuscript. so... <b>live and learn</b>. this month we will have friends/family visiting for 2 weeks, so I'm going to be hesitant to overreach with my goals again.<br /><div><br /><h2>goal updates:</h2><strike>update my manuscript with the edits I made this summer</strike> only 1/3 complete.<br /><b>new goal: complete this by Christmas</b><br /><strike>do pushups every day</strike> that didn't happen.<br /><b>new goal: workout [run, hike, or lift] 3 times per week</b><br /><strike>get back on the <a href="http://www.inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/03/money-talk-envelope-budget-system.html">envelope budget</a>  </strike>aside from the expenses from my HK trip, we managed this.<br /><strike>transfer music + photos to my new laptop</strike> partially. I think I have all the photos I want.<br /><b>new goal: complete music transfer so I have tunes to write to</b><br /><strike>blog at least 3 times per week</strike> this one I managed to do! I'm hoping to get a little ahead and schedule some posts for while our visitors are here.<br /><b>new goal: keep up the 3 posts per week routine.</b><br /><b><br /></b><i>what are your goals for this month?</i><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">linking up with <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/">Melyssa</a> for weekly wishes.</span></div></div>

october goals

this whole Hong Kong/visa business really derailed my goals for last month . but for me, one of the lessons of goal-setting is not just to g...

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hello, september

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpFQYsufQE8-lHGgpjmrU-NtFWIdoXPohFdOyl1Q3OT8JHIkOLHFintX172bpCu4Eu_Cb5SXzkioVAdQRAzYtIk9fdU8hYqA_bws9e0hruMCfMxCjHDD4NWqbwmHNvmeEWvcE0Uh1Z1OM/s1600/pink_buddha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpFQYsufQE8-lHGgpjmrU-NtFWIdoXPohFdOyl1Q3OT8JHIkOLHFintX172bpCu4Eu_Cb5SXzkioVAdQRAzYtIk9fdU8hYqA_bws9e0hruMCfMxCjHDD4NWqbwmHNvmeEWvcE0Uh1Z1OM/s1600/pink_buddha.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />consider this your obligatory oh-my-god-it's-september statement.<br /><br />I'm sitting in my office - aka the Starbucks across the street. they remodeled it while I was gone this summer. it looks lovely, but now I need to figure out which tables give me the best writing mojo all over again. they sadly did not remodel their music selection, so instead I'm listening to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSj4vmbyh5M" target="_blank">Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack</a>. [which, to be honest, is probably better than anything they would play anyway.]<br /><br />in some ways it feel like this summer was a dream... all the bacon, time spent with family and friends,  Lake Michigan sunsets. slipping back into hot + humid life in Taiwan for the third year in a row has been both easy and difficult. I could extrapolate that statement into a ten page essay, but let's just leave it for now and move on. Taiwan has made a few improvements [other than the Starbucks] while I was gone. Ive noticed that more items in the local stores have English labeling. the selection of ciders has practically doubled. and best of all, we discovered <b>real barbecue sauce and sriracha hot sauce</b> at the import store this week.<br /><br />with all the indulging we did in the states, we've been trying to stay healthy since we got back. we've been eating pescatarian at home [just veggies + fish] and Husband has been teaching me how to lift weights. I'm hoping to find a short race to run in the next few months, and trying to work yoga into our schedule too.<br /><br />the end of august means things are about to get a lot busier. today is the first day of school, and tomorrow I'm teaching my first blog class. I have a lot of emailing to catch up on, a million post ideas to flesh out and photograph, and there's that whole book thing too. we're trying to assemble a routine that will allow us to be healthy + productive, but still leave time for fun.<br /><br />sounds like it's time to set some goals to stay on track.<br /><br /><h3>this month I want to:</h3><b>- update my manuscript with the edits I made this summer</b><br /><b>- do pushups every day</b><br /><b>- get back on the <a href="http://www.inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/03/money-talk-envelope-budget-system.html" target="_blank">envelope budget</a></b><br /><b>- transfer music + photos to my new laptop</b><br /><b>- blog at least 3 times per week</b><br /><b><br /></b>it's time to hit the reset button, wipe the slate clean, and get to work. bring it, september.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">linking up with <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/" target="_blank">Melyssa</a> for weekly wishes.</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71t6wHXaNgMR8gOzukjZtnbVB_t3xLa91eNYIH0Frz-XCQRf7UN4d-ABFFdjRiPPBqglpcxNeHs9sA2vAPGeMstI-ESeDj82KaYpwXU-V_jnCcrEKH8YgZe-rDu9VEY7RBazBnxiz0RH7/s640/blogger-image--442554268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71t6wHXaNgMR8gOzukjZtnbVB_t3xLa91eNYIH0Frz-XCQRf7UN4d-ABFFdjRiPPBqglpcxNeHs9sA2vAPGeMstI-ESeDj82KaYpwXU-V_jnCcrEKH8YgZe-rDu9VEY7RBazBnxiz0RH7/s640/blogger-image--442554268.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i>the cup of coffee that fueled the writing of today's post was sponsored by <a href="http://couchteacher.com/">couchteacher.com</a>, a marketplace for one-on-one language lessons via webcam. stop by and check it out!</i>

hello, september

consider this your obligatory oh-my-god-it's-september statement. I'm sitting in my office - aka the Starbucks across the street. th...

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july goals: out of the office

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXuduUtej8zlRzg1dYoLS8aAs9FCmzdC2T42ewa4uWBTFk1zblYsM2Be9GY8sbGr2DE1ttpA6ByJ0tjGGF4_pkjm279DlqHBKSe_JZasgh1HqHNpMLxNNRfVN4SVWsfDaFXSiZLHG7KmV/s1600/untitled-5709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXuduUtej8zlRzg1dYoLS8aAs9FCmzdC2T42ewa4uWBTFk1zblYsM2Be9GY8sbGr2DE1ttpA6ByJ0tjGGF4_pkjm279DlqHBKSe_JZasgh1HqHNpMLxNNRfVN4SVWsfDaFXSiZLHG7KmV/s1600/untitled-5709.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>just popping in quick to wrap up the month before I start my blogging vacation for July. this month I only have one goal: <b>to relax and enjoy spending time with friends + family.</b></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/06/life-is-good-may-reflections-june-goals.html" target="_blank">last month</a> I accomplished all my goals:<br />+ get packed and get back to the states +<br />+ participate in Rachel's <a href="http://postcardsfromrachel.com/2014/05/an-instagram-photography-challenge/">instagram photo challenge</a> +<br />+ print a paper copy of my book manuscript to edit +<br />+ run a 5k race with my Mom +<br />+ come up with a blog plan for summer +<br /><div><br />I'll be traveling all over the country these next few weeks, and you can still keep up with me on <a href="https://twitter.com/jamiethewalker">twitter</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/jamiethewalker">instagram</a>. <b>I hope you all have an amazing July, I'll be back in August with plenty to share! xo</b></div><div><br /><i>the cup of coffee that fueled the writing of today’s post was sponsored by <a href="http://okenjoyblog.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kristen</a>. she drinks her coffee with soy milk + stevia, and blogs about life and learning to enjoy every day over at <a href="http://okenjoyblog.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ok, enjoy.</a> go say hello!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">linking up with Melyssa for <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/2014/06/july-goals-weekly-wishes-58/" target="_blank">weekly wishes</a>.</span></div>

july goals: out of the office

just popping in quick to wrap up the month before I start my blogging vacation for July. this month I only have one goal: to relax and enjoy...

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life is good: may reflections + june goals

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigs41vMQHnhNbnHX2u4VhTc7DsSelrjoTUwmqB9fG8iBN0dSWtGevwTF1dCgjD1npUHz7nfMZ9xqr95t6-8FekAY7sDEIuF6KmW_urzT-ne4EEOmnYjNVoMn2ZVxB9ZA9rjfm-JCR7MYvk/s1600/junegoals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigs41vMQHnhNbnHX2u4VhTc7DsSelrjoTUwmqB9fG8iBN0dSWtGevwTF1dCgjD1npUHz7nfMZ9xqr95t6-8FekAY7sDEIuF6KmW_urzT-ne4EEOmnYjNVoMn2ZVxB9ZA9rjfm-JCR7MYvk/s1600/junegoals.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />is anyone else outrageously surprised that it's June already? my May was pretty jam-packed and it just flew right by... but it was full of some amazing moments. today I'm joining Belinda's new <a href="http://foundlovenowwhat.com/wp/2014/06/01/hello-life-good-linkup-wrapping-month-may/" target="_blank">life is good linkup</a> in an effort to share not just goals and things checked off a list, but the everyday goodness that can sometimes be overlooked. in that spirit, here are some of my favorite feel-good moments of May:<br /><br />+ being a kid at <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/05/travel-by-iphone-tokyo-disneyland.html" target="_blank">Tokyo Disneyland</a> +<br />+ <a href="http://instagram.com/p/nsJNu6hHaZ/" target="_blank">wine and macarons</a> on the train +<br />+ <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/05/interview-with-author.html" target="_blank">interviewing myself</a> +<br />+ my first <a href="http://instagram.com/p/oYC93ThHf6/" target="_blank">Taiwanese baseball</a> experience +<br />+ visiting a <a href="http://instagram.com/p/op3tDJhHYZ/" target="_blank">kitten cafe</a> +<br /><br />I'm flying back to the US in 2 days [have I mentioned that lately?] and beginning my travels to every corner of the country. it's going to be a crazy messy busy wild and beautiful summer. <b>I can't wait.</b><br /><br />my <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/05/may-goals.html" target="_blank">goals for last month</a> were to enjoy time traveling and with visitors, soak up as much Taiwan as I can get before I leave, and to just let go and do what I can. I think I definitely got the first two down, though I've been a little panicky about being ready to leave.<br /><br /><b>this month I want to:</b><br />+ get packed and get back to the states +<br />+ participate in Rachel's <a href="http://postcardsfromrachel.com/2014/05/an-instagram-photography-challenge/" target="_blank">instagram photo challenge</a> +<br />+ print a paper copy of my book manuscript to edit +<br />+ run a 10k race [or drop down to the 5k depending how my foot feels] +<br />+ come up with a blog plan for summer +<br /><br />of course, these goals are all contingent upon not burying my productivity under a pile of bacon and kitten snuggles once I arrive back in Michigan. <i>is anyone else excited for the start of summer? what are your plans and goals this month?</i>

life is good: may reflections + june goals

is anyone else outrageously surprised that it's June already? my May was pretty jam-packed and it just flew right by... but it was full ...

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may goals

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP9-rmkIYYtfc_kVx2_6KDZN8s_pQM8FJayYt2RkDGZRs9QZdM0PRvWLMTF4DY6X0q7djtEBNeRlcg72GLwFbGsb_z-2kx4cl2EBpfzpZ8LSVelhm6K5e6gQMtiNdLWncQG-vbFRhV2Az/s1600/maygoals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP9-rmkIYYtfc_kVx2_6KDZN8s_pQM8FJayYt2RkDGZRs9QZdM0PRvWLMTF4DY6X0q7djtEBNeRlcg72GLwFbGsb_z-2kx4cl2EBpfzpZ8LSVelhm6K5e6gQMtiNdLWncQG-vbFRhV2Az/s1600/maygoals.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />April was kindof a big month. I taught a week of blogging classes, hiked through a gorge, turned 29, and hit 500 bloglovin followers. with all of that, I didn't quite complete <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/04/april-goals-rock-it-out.html" target="_blank">last month's goals</a>. [I was, perhaps, a bit over-ambitious.] the book made it up over 50,000 words but definitely not to 75,000. I started my 10k training plan, but the past week I've been replacing a few runs with long hikes and sightseeing days. I finished one <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/04/neon-rainbow-stripes-washi-tape-wall.html" target="_blank">washi tape wall project</a> but not quite the second. and though I tweaked the blog design, I'm already itchy to change colors.<br /><br />but I still accomplished a lot that was not related to these goals [that in truth was more important] so I feel like April was jam-packed and productive. even if it wasn't quite what I had pictured. my unread blog post count is insane and I'm so behind on commenting on other blogs... and it's going to stay that way until the end of this week when my friend leaves. I'm mostly just dropping by to schedule this post because my brain gets all kinds of disorderly if I don't write something every now and then.<br /><br />I'm almost hesitant to set any goals for May. my friend has been here for the past week and we've been traveling and touring like crazy... and there's not much of a breather between more travels and more visitors before I fly back to the states in a month.<br /><br /><i>um... a month? holy cow.</i><br /><br />so my goals this moth are hopefully a little more realistic:<br />+ enjoy the time with visiting friends and family +<br />+ soak up as much Taiwan as possible before leaving +<br />+ let go of trying to do everything, and just do what I can +<br /><br /><b>I hope your April was as awesome as mine, and that your May will be full of adventures!</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">linking up with <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/" target="_blank">Melyssa</a> for weekly wishes</span></div>

may goals

April was kindof a big month. I taught a week of blogging classes, hiked through a gorge, turned 29, and hit 500 bloglovin followers. with a...

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april goals: rock it out

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOPB53aOcZxnEI0R8dSrTSGs_hKXG5hmMt-x8897TvzY2b8tFJ1LRXtQf1nywJqnllEeXWCh27j_QrcwJjlZlmLtgC2P7ri0JNWiCfYWIuQte9MbpzhjiN9EkD4UoDF22fC4nS1FUHp8i/s1600/rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnOPB53aOcZxnEI0R8dSrTSGs_hKXG5hmMt-x8897TvzY2b8tFJ1LRXtQf1nywJqnllEeXWCh27j_QrcwJjlZlmLtgC2P7ri0JNWiCfYWIuQte9MbpzhjiN9EkD4UoDF22fC4nS1FUHp8i/s1600/rocks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />it's April 1st, which means in 29 days I turn 29.  there's a lot of "shouldn't I have a house and babies and such by this point?" floating around in my head. accompanied by "I don't feel nearly old enough for that" and some indignant "my life is awesome as it is." I have a feeling you'll be hearing a lot more about this later.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>the start of a new month also means setting some new goals.<br /><br />side note: we went to Taipei this weekend for some falafel and a walk through <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/03/searching-for-spring-Taipei.html" target="_blank">our favorite park</a>. someone might have had a glass of wine at lunch and then decided the thing to do on a beautiful sunday afternoon was to take jumping photos.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VVT-ZK_i6lAgkIYKpVxzICmX94IVqxXBDECFRoJXsv24b8xz5Df2sqWNuJ7TzDJRBXu1ouHAnXnVdNazHN5AZiTNZI9BFh_uDyTa4DA4qS_seEgsA9QXfMecp6Ov7g2mHePK4uORjG6p/s1600/jamiejumps1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4VVT-ZK_i6lAgkIYKpVxzICmX94IVqxXBDECFRoJXsv24b8xz5Df2sqWNuJ7TzDJRBXu1ouHAnXnVdNazHN5AZiTNZI9BFh_uDyTa4DA4qS_seEgsA9QXfMecp6Ov7g2mHePK4uORjG6p/s1600/jamiejumps1.jpg" /></a></div><br />as for <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/03/march-goals-get-back-on-track.html" target="_blank">last month's goals</a>, I was pretty successful!<br /><br />as you can see from my, er, impressive leg musculature... I've been running and doing yoga. our budget has also resulted in eating at home more which means healthier meals. with all of that, I've been feeling really strong and just <b>good</b>.<br /><br />I hit 45,000 words on my manuscript last week. 46,241 to be exact. which means I more than doubled my word count this month. if that isn't worth another jumping photo, I don't know what is...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWC_Sqxk8pI73F0fEr48zeJbGePSw2ClkatZSTasYFWOdN7pS-oXKDIB8roA90bXC1vZpsmFVwKSpv5iJxTupJkaBcZCskgUfHllccuKPa6wgYi58rh7tTKJa5qwXpC0Fe05nWk9AKiEP/s1600/jamiejumps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwWC_Sqxk8pI73F0fEr48zeJbGePSw2ClkatZSTasYFWOdN7pS-oXKDIB8roA90bXC1vZpsmFVwKSpv5iJxTupJkaBcZCskgUfHllccuKPa6wgYi58rh7tTKJa5qwXpC0Fe05nWk9AKiEP/s1600/jamiejumps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />for this month, my goals are a little similar:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h3>+ keep writing +</h3><br />I have a friend arriving on April 27th, which gives me nearly 4 weeks to cram in as much writing as possible. I'm going to aim for hitting 75,000. it makes me a little dizzy to type that number, but since I just wrote 25,000 words last month I don't think 30,000 is our of the realm of possibility.<br /><br /><h3>+ start a training plan +</h3><br />like I said before, I've been running. but this month I want to sign up for a few races so I have a goal in mind. I've just been getting back into things, but creating a solid training plan will help me be more consistent and stay on track.<br /><br /><h3>+ get the apartment together +</h3><br />spring [and anticipating visitors] also has made me antsy to do some cleaning and re-arranging in our apartment. I've got a few decorating and organizing projects in the works, and as long as I can get enough light to shoot the photos you should see one project tomorrow.<br /><br /><h3>+ tweak the blog design +</h3><br />I've been itching to do this for a while, but lately my internet service has been a piece. [which also has put me behind on comments and blog reading] I'm not making any huge changes, but things may look a little different around here soon.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96k1cVMRrdzU2J8Jv4NZPD6LDMYHyISqEXurGOuP4lrz_lMGKkgYRfBWgJ6mkjq8mMN2zGuTDoDrV58KnqGUgKBbrR54YEcX2Q4qS4NVwi4BC9rS3UBQ5rZGmhUkw_1VxE6jrqw6D2ZlH/s1600/tigerflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96k1cVMRrdzU2J8Jv4NZPD6LDMYHyISqEXurGOuP4lrz_lMGKkgYRfBWgJ6mkjq8mMN2zGuTDoDrV58KnqGUgKBbrR54YEcX2Q4qS4NVwi4BC9rS3UBQ5rZGmhUkw_1VxE6jrqw6D2ZlH/s1600/tigerflower.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>what are your plans for April?</b><br /><b><br /></b><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">linking up with <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/2014/03/weekly-wishes-45-april-goals/" target="_blank">Melyssa</a></span></div>

april goals: rock it out

it's April 1st, which means in 29 days I turn 29.  there's a lot of "shouldn't I have a house and babies and such by this p...

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march goals: get back on track

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpHRp0BrnvYSmnmhcyw5pDJId59mB7X1_zeh7ByVdN5SBcmTWO-ONMrD9Nn5I-xEqhgl7PH8Hd_OVW7oROVBP67w34KQadUC4OYXrZZMVYZZwq8Tk97IxRKyiggie3L91mb4DI73VfBRG/s1600/marchgoals1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpHRp0BrnvYSmnmhcyw5pDJId59mB7X1_zeh7ByVdN5SBcmTWO-ONMrD9Nn5I-xEqhgl7PH8Hd_OVW7oROVBP67w34KQadUC4OYXrZZMVYZZwq8Tk97IxRKyiggie3L91mb4DI73VfBRG/s1600/marchgoals1.jpg" /></a></div><br />from a blogging standpoint, this year has been really productive for me. [my pageviews have increased by 40% since 2014 started... hi-five to myself!] I actually accomplished all of my <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/01/january-goals-my-new-job.html" target="_blank">January goals</a>... and then didn't even set any for February. vacation was wonderful but it really threw me off my book-writing and workout mojo, and I let myself be wrapped up in keeping things up here.<br /><br />I am sad to say that I went almost an entire month without working on my book. <i>at all</i>. I thought about it plenty. but when it came to the doing I always had something else that seemed to be <strike>more important</strike> easier to do and therefore was done instead.<br /><br />does this sort of thing happen to you? you take a break from something. you keep telling yourself you need to start again. but it seems the longer you go without doing it, the more impossible it seems starting again will be. so you just put it off longer and longer because it feels like it will be more and more painful when you pick it back up.<br /><br />finally - you start. and it sucks for the first five minutes or so. but then you stop and think "why on EARTH was I procrastinating this? it feels so good to do _____ again!"<br /><br />yes? well, that was me with book writing. I picked it up again last week and ever since I have been bursting with ideas and energy. I'm cooking dinner, brushing my teeth, or running errands and words and phrases just start coming to me and I have to run to find pen and paper so I can write them down. I've been rethinking everything, but in a good way. I'm overflowing with good creative juice and I'm just pouring it all into this story. <i>you guys, <b>this</b> is what I want writing my book to feel like.</i><br /><br />and I think that the not-so-secret secret is: I just need keep writing.<br /><br />we don't have any major plans for March, but towards the end of April things are going to get busy. people will be visiting, we will be traveling. and then in June we fly back to the states for summer and will be spending a solid seven weeks criss-crossing the country to see people... making time to write is going to get <i>really</i> difficult. so for March, I need to get as much in as I can.<br /><br />it's really quite ironic. when I was looking ahead to <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2014/01/my-motto-for-2014.html" target="_blank">what I wanted to do this year</a>, I wrote under January "ENJOY vacation, but don't break new habits" referring to regular book writing sessions. well, oops. but there's time to get back on track. and it gets even more hilarious when I look at my notes for March: "write your face off, write your face off, write your face off." [seriously, I wrote it three times.]<br /><br />so I flopped on February. in March, I will get back on track.<br /><br /><h3>+ book writing +</h3><br />I want to dedicate 4 or more writing sessions to working on the book each week. right now I'm around 20,000 words into my first draft. 21,233 to be exact. if I could be at 50,000 by the end of March, that would be amazing. I'm hoping for at least 35-40k. hopefully that isn't too crazy.<br /><br /><h3>+ blogging +</h3><br />tough I'm going to spend more time on the book, I want keep up with 3 posts per week, and make sure sponsors are getting enough love. [ps - have you checked out the ladies on my sidebar lately? you'll be hearing more from them soon!] I still have plenty of adventure from Bali to share, and hoping to show you a little more of Taiwan too.<br /><br /><h3>+ balancing with exercise +</h3><br />since my other two goals involve a lot of time sitting at my computer, I'd like to be sure I get off my butt and sweat a few times a week. there's a weekly yoga class that started up at the school which I plan to go to. I also want to start training for a race this summer [which I should sign up for.] and of course I want to spend some time with my buddy Jillian.<br /><br /><b>so here's hoping this month can get back on track. what are you hoping to accomplish in March?</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">linking up with <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/tags/weekly-wishes/" target="_blank">Melyssa</a></span></div>

march goals: get back on track

from a blogging standpoint, this year has been really productive for me. [my pageviews have increased by 40% since 2014 started... hi-five t...

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january goals + my new job

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing> <w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing> <w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery> <w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> </w:Compatibility> </w:WordDocument></xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276"> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3w1JkDhtxg6jd5LrU2veRHN9ehZqU0A3-j82o4A_93_s5qNcl7aXtrCack_m0nXKnhxcXgc1irLLV6dO8A6XUr6gqpxWyWFI-EiJZmov2H6GPX1IKeWOdhosBNEohjtY-HC5zi2VJ92U/s1600/january+goals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3w1JkDhtxg6jd5LrU2veRHN9ehZqU0A3-j82o4A_93_s5qNcl7aXtrCack_m0nXKnhxcXgc1irLLV6dO8A6XUr6gqpxWyWFI-EiJZmov2H6GPX1IKeWOdhosBNEohjtY-HC5zi2VJ92U/s1600/january+goals.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">last week, I started a new job: writer and blogger.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I hear you asking yourself, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wait, wasn’t she doing that before?</i> yes I was [and I have been taking it seriously!] but now I've decided to make it officially official. now I have a <b>work schedule -</b> one that I’m forcing myself to keep to. even though last week was a holiday week, I wrote. even though on Friday morning I woke up feeling like I had gotten a collective 15 minutes of sleep and all I wanted to do was stay in bed, I wrote. even though I missed a Passionfruit chat and the season 4 Downton Abbey debut today, I wrote. I have a schedule and I’ve been sticking to it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">my January is all about and getting things done. and we're leaving for Bali in 2 weeks! which means there's a lot to accomplish before I go. to help keep me on track, I'm setting a few goals for the month:</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><b>1. book-specific writing sessions 3-4 times a week:</b> I feel like I'm just starting, but already I want to get ahead. I haven't decided yet if I'm going to try book writing while on vacation. I don't want to lose the habit, but I don't want to drag my laptop with me. [or waste precious beach time.]<br /><br /><b>2. wrap up sponsor business:</b> this is my first month of hosting sponsorships and I'm still learning, but I want my sponsors to feel taken care of. my first full-post sponsor feature will run this week! I'm both nervous and terribly excited to share these lovely ladies with you. and my <i>new </i>sponsors will be starting right when I'm flying out- I want to be sure to welcome them and set things up before I go.<br /><br /><b>3. schedule at least 3 posts for when I’ll be gone:</b> yes, I'm going on vacation, but I don't want to disappear completely! there are a few things I've been meaning to share that may never be posted if they don't get in before all the travel this year. I have a lot of half-written ideas brewing... I just need to round them out and get them scheduled.<br /><br /><b>4. remember to take care of myself:</b> the last thing I want to do is be sick for vacation. with everything else going on I want to be sure I'm eating right, getting exercise, and sleeping well. Husband and I have been carrying on the weekend tradition of running the mountain + sushi lunches, and I'm making a date with Jillian Michaels a few times a week.<br /><br /><b>5. get packed for our trip ahead of time</b>: have we discussed how I'm a terrible packer? I'm hoping to be packed [as much as I can] in advance so that I can relax and actually sleep the night before our flight. I've already started a list, and I'm thinking of throwing together a post because that would mean I <i>have</i> to do it in advance. right?<!--EndFragment--><br /><br />that's a lot for the next two weeks, but I'm hoping I can stay on track... you all might have to remind me from time to time! what are your goals for this month?<br /><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">[linking up with <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/">Melyssa</a> for <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/tags/weekly-wishes/">weekly wishes</a>]</span></div>

january goals + my new job

last week, I started a new job: writer and blogger. I hear you asking yourself, wait, wasn’t she doing that before? yes I was [and I h...

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how I was awesome in 2013

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUwcz4bgebsZnz-3CZEQfLGa3kfemo2Gw5FcWVGjWqYuivXMHJJtjA2O7IoCIeEcJ3r2j3EGTvohWwUv-mK4SLUJp8pQ4tqBgJIWL6szwlWfA0vUh5o6TxBdPRUrQxH6kc7O-7OiyX3LU/s1600/laceshirt2013c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUwcz4bgebsZnz-3CZEQfLGa3kfemo2Gw5FcWVGjWqYuivXMHJJtjA2O7IoCIeEcJ3r2j3EGTvohWwUv-mK4SLUJp8pQ4tqBgJIWL6szwlWfA0vUh5o6TxBdPRUrQxH6kc7O-7OiyX3LU/s640/laceshirt2013c.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I think we all need to remind ourselves of our own greatness sometimes. good things happen to us in life, but we also <b>make</b> these things happen by our actions and the choices that we make. I want to believe that I have a hand in my own destiny. my 2013 was awesome, <b>because I was awesome in 2013</b>.<br /><br />do I sound a little ridiculous? maybe a little full of myself?<br /><br />well, at the end of 2012 I was not feeling quite so positive. I had just survived my first months as an expat and was recovering from a scooter crash. and all I could think about was what I hadn't accomplished. over the course of 2013 I have grown - a lot - and become a happier person. so as we end the year I'm choosing to look back and give myself big hi-five. I'm linking up with <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/" target="_blank">Melyssa</a> for <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/tags/weekly-wishes/" target="_blank">weekly wishes</a> today to share the things I accomplished and goals I achieved this year, big and small.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCMM4qTWnIS0q4wCV0oo0E3nM3ZA3qeBBdNztlNwD9xnx37tP9I1LfX72KyEpFGZCOPPtnt7giIxTG5aeiSAPUpzCFGpn2VExsT__6er6Y_jrYtTfEhsZ8U96ZmivQHI_Qn3Ed09DssK_/s1600/laceshirt2013e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCMM4qTWnIS0q4wCV0oo0E3nM3ZA3qeBBdNztlNwD9xnx37tP9I1LfX72KyEpFGZCOPPtnt7giIxTG5aeiSAPUpzCFGpn2VExsT__6er6Y_jrYtTfEhsZ8U96ZmivQHI_Qn3Ed09DssK_/s640/laceshirt2013e.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />here are some of the ways I was awesome in 2013 - in no particular order, and with lots of links for you to investigate if you so choose:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I started keeping a journal<br />I participated in <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/search/label/blog%20every%20day%20in%20May" target="_blank">two month-long</a> <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/search/label/blogtember" target="_blank">blogging challenges</a><br />I trained for and ran a ten mile race<br />I fostered <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/04/whos-that-lady.html" target="_blank">a puppy</a><br />I survived the epic <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/06/a-tale-of-two-mattresses.html" target="_blank">mattress/leaky ceiling</a> drama<br />I started <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/search/label/font" target="_blank">creating and sharing</a> my own fonts<br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I took risks and <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/05/lean-into-it.html" target="_blank">faced my fears</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2LVno87nXQJF0qgJngN69MvVJSCJDeQ6-Mj46IPTWIUXPVAF1uENghCkRqdGklcoAyPL95Yno3yJr2K2R9ymqBnUjkELG65qvERbTwPngTwWvzWRnXewsYK06zEAUcYGBufqHag6INo0/s1600/laceshirt2013b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji2LVno87nXQJF0qgJngN69MvVJSCJDeQ6-Mj46IPTWIUXPVAF1uENghCkRqdGklcoAyPL95Yno3yJr2K2R9ymqBnUjkELG65qvERbTwPngTwWvzWRnXewsYK06zEAUcYGBufqHag6INo0/s640/laceshirt2013b.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;">I went outside my comfort zone</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: right;">I <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/p/travel.html" target="_blank">traveled</a> to Thailand, the Philippines, and Hong Kong</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: right;">I figured out how to <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/11/five-ways-to-have-better-day.html" target="_blank">turn around a bad day</a></div></div><div style="text-align: right;">I organized my life a little more</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;">I tutored a few Chinese teachers in English</div><div style="text-align: right;">I attended a <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/11/my-photography-workshop-experience.html" target="_blank">photography workshop</a></div><div style="text-align: right;">I started <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/10/decide-that-you-want-it.html" target="_blank">writing a book</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf_8zdBNmaegxv7f-6V1-H7vviBDj7XUN-3ZomrchXOiL6Zp0DAHa-sID5PW8ImZuNmstuCOzsNjUOhGxwibqFg0g0nhbZrW_9UiezgB3tgIB_uLwg24qx79v3EU4YgwvdtvlhU-1poIV/s1600/laceshirt2013a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFf_8zdBNmaegxv7f-6V1-H7vviBDj7XUN-3ZomrchXOiL6Zp0DAHa-sID5PW8ImZuNmstuCOzsNjUOhGxwibqFg0g0nhbZrW_9UiezgB3tgIB_uLwg24qx79v3EU4YgwvdtvlhU-1poIV/s640/laceshirt2013a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I painted a <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/03/for-your-monday-entertainment.html" target="_blank">chevron wall</a> in my office<br />I completed the Everyday Happy e-course<br />I began purchasing sponsorships to promote my blog<br />I <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/07/michigan-sunrise.html" target="_blank">watched a sunrise</a><br />I used a squat toilet for the first time<br />I chopped my hair short<br />I purchased + hung curtains in our apartment<br />I weathered<a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/07/typhoon-soulik.html" target="_blank"> a typhoon</a> or two<br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRuH2T8qwMOlIh4SCESNkHXvqDKabzkjBFph70wLWNiDFQiI0Yg5v72ssseP_cEEyMY0CDu1eCsOo_PqguiQS3lYYNXHDgsJhOSOvb3JjKFGec5cFjAmc9rKyezamIMYT8oFAxFmY-CCs/s1600/laceshirt2013d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRuH2T8qwMOlIh4SCESNkHXvqDKabzkjBFph70wLWNiDFQiI0Yg5v72ssseP_cEEyMY0CDu1eCsOo_PqguiQS3lYYNXHDgsJhOSOvb3JjKFGec5cFjAmc9rKyezamIMYT8oFAxFmY-CCs/s640/laceshirt2013d.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;">I got outside and adventured more</div><div style="text-align: right;">I created + launched my own <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/p/sponsorships.html" target="_blank">sponsorship program</a></div><div style="text-align: right;">I redesigned my blog four times [at least]</div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: right;">I <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/01/din-tai-fung-date-night.html" target="_blank">dated my Husband</a>, on occasion</div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="text-align: right;">I worked on scheduling my time to get more done</div></div></div><div style="text-align: right;">I ate a lot of bacon while in the US</div><div style="text-align: right;">I embraced <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/11/a-letter-to-my-pre-expat-self.html" target="_blank">the label of "expat"</a></div><div style="text-align: right;">I set + achieved goals with <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/search/label/weekly%20wishes" target="_blank">weekly wishes</a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Kz6dAFYry6vgnDbn0trsUegjVdZ12y2LRC_32q0sDCwBNtklkHbIztlkbaFrUkVStraG8q__aBc0EbDAT3-tNtJ723_X02E6dTVnIgFW7xFIb7Gr2eR6IpjvoyJWbsqFQXzIQaWCIJum/s1600/laceshirt2013f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Kz6dAFYry6vgnDbn0trsUegjVdZ12y2LRC_32q0sDCwBNtklkHbIztlkbaFrUkVStraG8q__aBc0EbDAT3-tNtJ723_X02E6dTVnIgFW7xFIb7Gr2eR6IpjvoyJWbsqFQXzIQaWCIJum/s640/laceshirt2013f.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>I asked for help when I needed it<br />I learned more about <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/09/a-thirst-for-adventure-is-close-to-your.html" target="_blank">myself and how I operate</a><br />I packed for a weekend trip in one small backpack<br />I completed a <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/search/label/52%20weeks%20project" target="_blank">52 weeks project</a><br />I filled up that journal I began in January<br />I shot this ridiculous end-of-year self photoshoot<br />I <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/08/and-then-i-found-five-dollars.html" target="_blank">found five dollars</a>, literally<br /><br /><i>phew.</i> of course there were things I didn't do this year and ways I'd like to improve, but today we are celebrating the positives. I wasn't perfect, but I <i>was</i> pretty awesome. hopefully you aren't annoyed or intimidated by this list, but feeling inspired to create your own. [I mean... if squat toilets and bacon count as awesome, then I think it's safe you assume you can dig up some good from your 2013.]<br /><br />look back through your journal or your blog archives, even your Facebook feed, and I promise you will find things. nothing is too big or small. you watched the entire series of Battlestar Galactica? awesome. you finally cleaned out your closet? awesome. bought a stranger a cup of coffee, read a new book, adopted a kitten? <i>awesome, awesome, awesome</i>. make your list, and then tell me! because I want to know: <b>how were YOU awesome this year?</b>

how I was awesome in 2013

I think we all need to remind ourselves of our own greatness sometimes. good things happen to us in life, but we also make these things hap...

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end of the year goals: 2013

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHQUmE8R2ktFR5vXIMivDo2rmZ4dcNamOHqByiw8ppp4v3N79PyK7yot_SD62GhEEBMNLuDWSa61F76hJt_D8fs9g4KWT-5An8tHde7ftHFKLHl5xQBAa1OQFnkjs4VhKFrCjI0AdmqIS/s1600/20132014flora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHHQUmE8R2ktFR5vXIMivDo2rmZ4dcNamOHqByiw8ppp4v3N79PyK7yot_SD62GhEEBMNLuDWSa61F76hJt_D8fs9g4KWT-5An8tHde7ftHFKLHl5xQBAa1OQFnkjs4VhKFrCjI0AdmqIS/s1600/20132014flora.jpg" /></a></div><br />as the end of the year approaches, I get more and more contemplative. or as I told Husband the other day: retrospective + introspective. you can expect several posts relating to these themes in the coming weeks, as I look back on 2013 and head into the new year.<br /><br />I've achieved a LOT this year, but of course I never find time to cross everything off my list. with only two weeks left and Husband's birthday/ Christmas celebrations coming up, I know I won't have unlimited time to devote... so I'm doing some prioritizing on what I can reasonably do that will help me kick off 2014 right. it's all about wrapping things up and laying the groundwork for next year.<br /><br />with that in mind, here are my goals to accomplish by the end of the year:<br /><br /><b>1. print and fill out this workbook on <a href="http://www.susannahconway.com/2013/12/lets-make-some-magic-in-2014/" target="_blank">unravelling the year ahead</a>.</b> I went through 2013 without a plan, and it turned out to be exactly what I needed at the time. it gave me the freedom to grow and to dream... but now it's time to make those dreams real. this intention-setting notebook seems like the perfect place to start.<br /><br /><b>2. set up my sponsorship page and open up ad sales for the blog.</b> this whole sponsorship thing is a little scary. I want to do it right, but if I wait until I feel it's "perfect" I'll never start. I know I would tweak and nit-pick until the end of time... so I'm going to launch by the end of the year, ready or not.<br /><br /><b>3. create a writing schedule, and stick to it.</b> the past few weeks I have not been a very good writer. to be honest, I'm struggling with just how personal this book should get, and trying to decide if I can actually write about my own life or if I need to fictionalize and just use real life for inspiration. and instead of writing and worrying about editing/overhauling later when I figure it out... I just stopped writing.<br /><br /><b>4. finish my journal, and purchase a new one for 2014.</b> I didn't start journaling until our trip to Thailand in late January. but I've only got 25 pages left in my journal, and I get OCD about keeping these things neat and tidy. so I'm going to fill it up and start fresh with the new year.<br /><br /><b>5. complete my <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/search/label/52%20weeks%20project" target="_blank">52 weeks photo project</a>.</b> I haven't decided if I'll do another next year, whether with instax again or digital. I've contemplated doing another self-portrait theme. or maybe 52 weeks of dragons? I guess deciding what [if any] project to tackle next year should be part of this goal as well.<br /><br />I also think I'm going to make my weekly wishes posts every other week, or maybe twice a month. I love the <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/tags/weekly-wishes/" target="_blank">support of the linkup</a>, but I think fewer posts with more big-picture goals will be a better formula for me. [speaking of - I accomplished all of my goals from <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/12/Christmas-cats-cracked-iPhone.html" target="_blank">my last wishes post</a>. though the transferring of the phone happened just today.]<br /><br /><b><i>what are you looking to accomplish by the end of 2013?</i></b>

end of the year goals: 2013

as the end of the year approaches, I get more and more contemplative. or as I told Husband the other day: retrospective + introspective. you...

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weekly wishes #6

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHLL6SHxWQ5ZMZ_CER2MhNEpelmi-CQBLi3SWDBnT4KUjPjG1pPaIOXEVMOaLHXLk43WcqMZ329nmm_Z9YSTbeCmXhgurnnBUjQ-RStTN7E4H8APTKPch6gg9R5CAq_1FfhLdFUf_QfRp/s1600/weeklywishes6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHLL6SHxWQ5ZMZ_CER2MhNEpelmi-CQBLi3SWDBnT4KUjPjG1pPaIOXEVMOaLHXLk43WcqMZ329nmm_Z9YSTbeCmXhgurnnBUjQ-RStTN7E4H8APTKPch6gg9R5CAq_1FfhLdFUf_QfRp/s640/weeklywishes6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />since it's getting all festive up in here and this week's photo theme is animals, I have an excuse to trot this gem out once again. my cat Beaumont, looking grumpy in reindeer antlers circa 2010. because who doesn't love grumpy cat photos, or photos of cats in costume, or really just cat photos in general?<br /><br />I'm going to keep myself from entering into a I-miss-my-kittens ramble, and instead assure you that Beau is plenty fat + happy living with my parents back in Michigan. [I'm pretty sure my parents are just glad that he hasn't tried to climb the tree this year... yet.] and our other fur baby Rocky is living the country life with my Mother-in-law, busy chasing mice and attacking her sewing projects.<br /><br />but I said I wasn't going to ramble about cats...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZYVF5tdaHWKDKO3MrxMzYqPP5f9kL6ZV2p7Wa4RFqFHuJBZXDzXofgRRJgmxaAHmDXY07aKRctcD0rL3Pol5KW2_FmrMZYrbz2eJ7JnOoTwy4ldeShDLaaFeYP5fe7yc9J0jJH5SNztv/s1600/IMG_2629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZYVF5tdaHWKDKO3MrxMzYqPP5f9kL6ZV2p7Wa4RFqFHuJBZXDzXofgRRJgmxaAHmDXY07aKRctcD0rL3Pol5KW2_FmrMZYrbz2eJ7JnOoTwy4ldeShDLaaFeYP5fe7yc9J0jJH5SNztv/s1600/IMG_2629.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cYoftqvT-VmQkVlJkogLndvsp_FESl4F9vodZOZ93TR45InjzibYG0gHVkx3p2RywIlaBeh5vWAkQLWkAech_GkhJuIFhBtr8QUOjIbwYYSlrg5ka60LJ6I_6vDkPFdnurvYWbS3Ii5A/s1600/IMG_2639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cYoftqvT-VmQkVlJkogLndvsp_FESl4F9vodZOZ93TR45InjzibYG0gHVkx3p2RywIlaBeh5vWAkQLWkAech_GkhJuIFhBtr8QUOjIbwYYSlrg5ka60LJ6I_6vDkPFdnurvYWbS3Ii5A/s640/IMG_2639.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />which brings us to to weekly wishes. I crushed all 3 of <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/11/life-lately-ww-5.html" target="_blank">last week's goals</a>:<br /><strike style="font-weight: bold;">1. hang up the new curtains.</strike> 3M hooks got the trick done! I swear, I'm not sponsored by them.<br /><strike style="font-weight: bold;">2. have an awesome time at the Thanksgiving potluck.</strike> so much so, that <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/12/thankful.html" target="_blank">I didn't take any pictures</a>.<br /><strike style="font-weight: bold;">3. start decorating for Christmas.</strike> note tiny snowflake tree + mini ornaments above.<br /><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAgcq0gP5T3_gJo1sfTfPW0enAYn1Bc6rW5Y3tlNMSBCsDZPCEMOIRq3RNZtbkFRewH2uZ-qF3tRDSdHQHW-FPuzJkAP8eh9Qq-5ceJagVS7k2DSodfzlSYIlaxXxFpLoQ0k-GBdrwIcI/s1600/IMG_2622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAgcq0gP5T3_gJo1sfTfPW0enAYn1Bc6rW5Y3tlNMSBCsDZPCEMOIRq3RNZtbkFRewH2uZ-qF3tRDSdHQHW-FPuzJkAP8eh9Qq-5ceJagVS7k2DSodfzlSYIlaxXxFpLoQ0k-GBdrwIcI/s640/IMG_2622.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>and this next week I want to:</div><div><b>1.</b><b> transfer my life to Husband's old iPhone.</b> a sad thing happened this morning. I dropped my iPhone [which doesn't get service in Taiwan but I still use with wi-fi] and the screen shattered. I've dropped this thing a billion times and for the past year have been living with one small crack. but this morning I was [as usual] trying to carry too many things at once and bam. thankfully Husband will let me use his [also now-defunct] phone so I can still instagram. because let's be honest, I might not survive otherwise.</div><div><b>2. post a new font download.</b> you see the text on my weekly wishes photo? that's the latest font I've been cooking up. I think I've decided on a name, and you can expect a post with the download later this week. it's not strictly a holiday font, but I'm totally envisioning using it on my Christmas cards. and maybe a blog redesign. I'm really excited for this one!</div><div><b>3. have a tree decorating/Christmas movie date. </b>growing up, we always used to put up our tree while watching the Muppet's Christmas Carol. while that is still on my to-watch list I would settle for Love Actually or even Die Hard [totally a Christmas movie] so long as there's a Husband and hot chocolate involved.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/tags/weekly-wishes/" target="_blank" title="The Nectar Collective"><img alt="The Nectar Collective" src="http://thenectarcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/weekly-wishes-button-yellow.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><i>happy monday!</i></div></div>

weekly wishes #6

since it's getting all festive up in here and this week's photo theme is animals, I have an excuse to trot this gem out once again. ...

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life lately + ww #5

<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxwHcOxOZmhTzWHPJ_LU3iWm14isnuP0Srev1yvHGcpu180NMbuF1TKJ226p8BJabD8Ht57JAbbrWRjc5X1Gp-DG1OTloSatvB7ztk72PNLnUdLG4AERhyxvWqC1rLU7hW7T0111L86G0/s640/blogger-image--776512455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxwHcOxOZmhTzWHPJ_LU3iWm14isnuP0Srev1yvHGcpu180NMbuF1TKJ226p8BJabD8Ht57JAbbrWRjc5X1Gp-DG1OTloSatvB7ztk72PNLnUdLG4AERhyxvWqC1rLU7hW7T0111L86G0/s640/blogger-image--776512455.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">happy monday! it's finally feeling like fall here in Taiwan. the weather has cooled off and Husband and I have tried to take full advantage, spending weekend mornings or sunsets walking in various parks. it's sweatshirt + moccasin weather. drink tea or spiked cocoa weather. but not yet turn-on-the-space-heater-my-bones-are-cold weather.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>the past few weeks have involved a lot of Starbucks writing and sushi dates, attending high school basketball games, sending + receiving international mail, pulling over on the scoot home from dinner to watch spectacular sunsets or climb the rainbow bridge, ginger lemon tea and making plans.<br /><br />what kind of plans? well, for starters, we just booked a trip to Tokyo Disneyland for next spring! we plan to see some of actual Tokyo too, but the main point of this trip is to go to Disney, because that's what I wanted to do for my birthday. a girl only turns 29 for the first time once, right?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VkEdqkw1x7_Qouck7Tmx0Spp1ceQ9mbeDtO0iZZzTteUJoLv41bE75pHNw9-sPKZU1WYwFcIrtrjFG5vynGdTMerrLgwfkHVocM2RwgNREjH8ALd-fJrNb4Zbv96PUcEtrBU0dYP_xWT/s640/blogger-image--58189312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VkEdqkw1x7_Qouck7Tmx0Spp1ceQ9mbeDtO0iZZzTteUJoLv41bE75pHNw9-sPKZU1WYwFcIrtrjFG5vynGdTMerrLgwfkHVocM2RwgNREjH8ALd-fJrNb4Zbv96PUcEtrBU0dYP_xWT/s640/blogger-image--58189312.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also have to mention, last friday I went on a Taipei adventure with a friend. we did some masterful MRT navigation, devoured a few platters of middle eastern food, and wandered around IKEA. I almost bought a stuffed broccoli toy for Husband, but opted for apple cinnamon candles and some new curtains instead [above.]</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div>which means we should mention <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/11/weekly-wishes-4.html" target="_blank">last week's wishes</a> [or 2 weeks ago, whatever.]<br /><strike><b>1. have 2 or more writing sessions for the book.<br />2. go to Ikea and buy some bedroom curtains.</b><br /><b>3. finish organizing my bookshelf. </b></strike><br />in case you're looking for proof - I posted a <a href="http://instagram.com/p/g8BGClhHbi/" target="_blank">picture of my finished bookshelf</a> on instagram last week. but blogger is being weird tonight about square photos, so you'll either have to click the link or take my word for it.<br /><br />this week's wishes:<br /><b>1. hang up the new curtains.</b> since my walls are cement, this will involve a system of 3M hooks and maybe some string. I am 98% sure my ninja improvisation skills are going to work.<br /><b>2. have an awesome time at the Thanksgiving potluck.</b> right now we have almost 25 teachers + family members planning to gather for dinner. definitely one way to beat the <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/11/5-ways-to-beat-expat-holiday-blues.html" target="_blank">expat holiday blues</a>.<br /><b>3. start decorating for Christmas.</b> I'm usually a strict not-until-after-Thanksgiving kind of girl, but this year has been tough to hold out. I am sooooo excited to start stringing lights + hanging ornaments!

life lately + ww #5

happy monday! it's finally feeling like fall here in Taiwan. the weather has cooled off and Husband and I have tried to take full advant...

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weekly wishes #4

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVy5ioXasAZVLkrhJpCk0v5E7Z9Kt7cliuymEX5bku3-ajPX1hXwEl8gYQe3GJshNlB7BBOYVo1NDpa5qDcy-suxeBE6k2uf1OO7Z8CWQ5L7sIp1UQclPbi0AptgO9oDjbBse0Lp9auDs/s1600/weeklywishes4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVy5ioXasAZVLkrhJpCk0v5E7Z9Kt7cliuymEX5bku3-ajPX1hXwEl8gYQe3GJshNlB7BBOYVo1NDpa5qDcy-suxeBE6k2uf1OO7Z8CWQ5L7sIp1UQclPbi0AptgO9oDjbBse0Lp9auDs/s1600/weeklywishes4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><i>it's weekly wishes time again!</i> this post is going to be short and quick because Husband got back late last night from Beijing and [no offense] I'd rather spend time with him than staring at my screen. this week's photo theme was "hobbies" and the one I've been practicing the longest is photography. this particular picture is from 2011 when I did my first 52 weeks project of self-portraits, and I shot it on the trail I used to run on most mornings. so... two hobbies in one! [side note: that trail is one of the things I miss most about living in Princeton. that, and Wegman's.]<br /><br /><a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/11/life-lately-ww-3.html" target="_blank">last week's wishes</a>:<br /><b>1. </b><b style="text-decoration: line-through;">have 2 or more writing sessions for the book.</b> I wrote tuesday and friday last week, and friday turned out to be a really awesome writing day. some of it was actually blog stuff which you'll see later this week, but the majority was book-related.<br /><b>2. <strike>catch up on Everyday Happy homework.</strike></b> I finished this afternoon... and so did the course. I can't believe it's over, but I'm so glad I decided to take the plunge and sign up. <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/" target="_blank">Melyssa</a> and <a href="http://www.chimerikal.com/" target="_blank">Erika</a> did a fantastic job!<br /><b>3. actually organize my bookshelf. </b>this... did not happen. or at least, did not finish. I bought some baskets to help sort craft supplies and nailpolish, so at least that's a start<br /><div><br /></div><div>this week I want to:</div><div><b>1. have 2 or more writing sessions for the book. again.</b> because I'm trying to form habits here. and <i>somebody</i> needs to keep Starbucks in business.</div><div><b>2. go to Ikea and buy some bedroom curtains.</b> yes, we've lived here for over a year and we don't have real curtains in our apartment. this needs to be remedied. because for some reason I feel like curtains are a sign of a "real" home, and I'm adult enough to want them now.</div><div><b>3. finish organizing my bookshelf. </b>hopefully. I feel silly that this is still on the list, but it's one of those things I keep putting off but I know will feel SO GOOD to finally be done with.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/tags/weekly-wishes/" target="_blank" title="The Nectar Collective"><img alt="The Nectar Collective" src="http://thenectarcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/weekly-wishes-button-yellow.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>

weekly wishes #4

it's weekly wishes time again! this post is going to be short and quick because Husband got back late last night from Beijing and [no o...

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life lately + ww #3

<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimN0sWQgxENy2JsYWg7kXsIe7liBOhgiBac6nJ9GPChDbye53XeJU85KzgUrt8Ch3rTYUFC_Ef9DX3dttrL-6roLp0SevyBPKn0Kp25L9KnF0f-ZdLPz60Fo0_l-c751yMKYEQXaL_pDFu/s640/blogger-image--1800235039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimN0sWQgxENy2JsYWg7kXsIe7liBOhgiBac6nJ9GPChDbye53XeJU85KzgUrt8Ch3rTYUFC_Ef9DX3dttrL-6roLp0SevyBPKn0Kp25L9KnF0f-ZdLPz60Fo0_l-c751yMKYEQXaL_pDFu/s640/blogger-image--1800235039.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div>it's been a busy couple of weeks. I think I've finally settled back in to life in Taiwan, <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/10/life-in-taiwan-strange-but-true.html" target="_blank">cultural oddities</a> not withstanding. Husband is gearing up to head to Beijing for a long weekend [NOT with me, sadly] and we are entering the weird Taiwan weather pattern I like to call "it's November but feels like an early Michigan September. [speaking of Michigan... my MSU Spartans whomped on the Wolverines this past weekend. awesome.]<br /><br />but first things first: I'm so totally psyched to tell you that my first-ever blog ad is now up and running on <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/" target="_blank">The Nectar Collective</a>'s sidebar. I'm doing happy backflips... and using phrases like "so totally psyched." I also added a new <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/p/buttons-badges.html" target="_blank">page of buttons + badges</a> if you would like to take a little bit of me over to your own blog.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJVt6Y06yrBguGjEdv0Fo4VeRsV3uyykuZLOaQsjopPV1Mti3y169nLNORf407gnxypN_EBghscuuZqtx7ql4XOYWXngr46tamTOstC-N8LIFHcMwLZvN8eKQDAwNEiBNQqJ9IWxalQyh/s640/blogger-image-838322689.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbJVt6Y06yrBguGjEdv0Fo4VeRsV3uyykuZLOaQsjopPV1Mti3y169nLNORf407gnxypN_EBghscuuZqtx7ql4XOYWXngr46tamTOstC-N8LIFHcMwLZvN8eKQDAwNEiBNQqJ9IWxalQyh/s640/blogger-image-838322689.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElHkzcbME-W23MOZRNEKTuitgqURijRZCouvTAh7FsnjFKjUPrBJm_-DWZnklUMOWFbItwjG1hvBsPvZvfpo2b2XZxGBxgm10wIyNH78nxx3t5DPjwWZ2c4xDex7UvJNO9EhyvXaL7MOh/s640/blogger-image-165133946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElHkzcbME-W23MOZRNEKTuitgqURijRZCouvTAh7FsnjFKjUPrBJm_-DWZnklUMOWFbItwjG1hvBsPvZvfpo2b2XZxGBxgm10wIyNH78nxx3t5DPjwWZ2c4xDex7UvJNO9EhyvXaL7MOh/s640/blogger-image-165133946.jpg" /></a></div><br />in other news... we went to not one but TWO music festivals in Taipei. the first was a collection of cover bands [both expat + local] and had the largest group of white people I have seen in one place in Taiwan. and also, cider on tap. the second was called the Moonrise Kingdom music + fun festival and headlined Explosions in the Sky and The Flaming Lips.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GV8YDkvWsfP9hNDbx0qcfekhsc83D59J3sn9jaDzLwZ97aJmFTWI1A3vEMOmMiCgQHHlKYmBdPYIm4nUmUJUGW35U2AM8igWfSKRFQ_NwH_ZAPC1ACtS8_o2foOOTHAuEOMlOKZcM-DE/s640/blogger-image-707610610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GV8YDkvWsfP9hNDbx0qcfekhsc83D59J3sn9jaDzLwZ97aJmFTWI1A3vEMOmMiCgQHHlKYmBdPYIm4nUmUJUGW35U2AM8igWfSKRFQ_NwH_ZAPC1ACtS8_o2foOOTHAuEOMlOKZcM-DE/s640/blogger-image-707610610.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTcPlmFOSgyyqgUxCgHMKstTLDvaMxqQLZ94SIJKfePBtZ8oNja81l24VOLdMRmJYzUIib1U5woILLhK5OxC7hPpEW72bWJHS_a4jiBOFk8aFmsyE1PCNaqpE7zxS9KxnWv31qXY_u43p/s640/blogger-image--829442345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTcPlmFOSgyyqgUxCgHMKstTLDvaMxqQLZ94SIJKfePBtZ8oNja81l24VOLdMRmJYzUIib1U5woILLhK5OxC7hPpEW72bWJHS_a4jiBOFk8aFmsyE1PCNaqpE7zxS9KxnWv31qXY_u43p/s640/blogger-image--829442345.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />this past weekend we went exploring a little closer to home. we investigated a new craft beer store in Jubei called iBeer [and obviously I had cider.] afterwards we went to check out the peking duck place that always has a line wrapped around the building. the food was SO tasty... until I realized my delicious side dishes all had tiny shrimps in them. wah wah. but we still had a great afternoon - and thanks to the benadryl I always carry - no serious allergic reactions.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPpZGrEOeYKedAS-YSPYGrEeYZ7h5hF7gWyLPodHWa7TplYdXFcZkHTtECiusDISvPU7CHbQgpL0k-iP2q52i6N4iL_EewpLadZL-927gUNBMFKcYRZfu_-31wUf7mMgUdgKoGIJSk3KQ/s1600/ww3warmth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPpZGrEOeYKedAS-YSPYGrEeYZ7h5hF7gWyLPodHWa7TplYdXFcZkHTtECiusDISvPU7CHbQgpL0k-iP2q52i6N4iL_EewpLadZL-927gUNBMFKcYRZfu_-31wUf7mMgUdgKoGIJSk3KQ/s1600/ww3warmth.jpg" /></a></div><br />and now for some weekly wishes! this week's photo theme was "warmth." there's not a whole lot of need for scarves and hats just yet... so my photo is warm coffee, but also something that gave me the warm fuzzies. Husband woke me up yesterday with a Starbucks delivery, and that's about as awesome as a morning can get. <i>yep, I picked a winner.</i><br /><br /><a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/10/weekly-wishes-2.html" target="_blank">last week's wishes</a>:<br />1. <strike>finish and post a font download.</strike> done! you can find the new <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/11/free-font-download-outlined.html" target="_blank">OutLine Font download</a> here.<br />2. organize the bookshelf in my office. <strike>or at least start.</strike> I started by clearing off the collapsable table that has been residing in my office and collecting junk. now everything that needs to be on my bookshelf is on there, though it isn't organized. I DID get my 52 weeks project photos up on the wall.<br />3. <strike>watch Hocus Pocus.</strike> check! I love how many of you also agree that this is one of the best things about Halloween.<br /><div><br /></div><div>this week I want to:</div><div><b>1. have 2 or more writing sessions for the book.</b> I've been putting off book writing in favor of blog writing and other things [like binge watching Buffy and Angel, oops.] I've started, which is a good... start. but I need to get into the habit of writing more consistently.<br /><b>2. catch up on Everyday Happy homework.</b> it's the last week! and I'm a week behind.<br /><b>3. actually organize my bookshelf. </b><br /><b><br /></b><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/tags/weekly-wishes/" target="_blank" title="The Nectar Collective"><img alt="The Nectar Collective" src="http://thenectarcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/weekly-wishes-button-yellow.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div><b><br /></b><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i>happy monday!</i></div></div>

life lately + ww #3

it's been a busy couple of weeks. I think I've finally settled back in to life in Taiwan, cultural oddities not withstanding. Husba...

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weekly wishes #2

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_z6EVRR0fLIm8IIu7hxZZSzDvUCow3Fr3sG6Itlmpl7-LCt7N3H5v3ap7PjcqAAjU1wUe_McfJTju2oFLXonYzRRlMYkqZ8-1IvDErysMxAGOCGCmDMscf4geg842yr3gShff1ztQ5IHh/s640/blogger-image-1649964044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_z6EVRR0fLIm8IIu7hxZZSzDvUCow3Fr3sG6Itlmpl7-LCt7N3H5v3ap7PjcqAAjU1wUe_McfJTju2oFLXonYzRRlMYkqZ8-1IvDErysMxAGOCGCmDMscf4geg842yr3gShff1ztQ5IHh/s1600/blogger-image-1649964044.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">ok, kids. let's talk weekly wishes. and me looking awkward for the "selfie" photo theme. [or maybe we'll skip that last part.]</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2013/10/weekly-wishes-1.html" target="_blank">last week's wishes were</a>: get outside every day, set up a weekly schedule, and unpack my last suitcase. I think I'm two and a half out of three... I made it outside every day, and three days even went running. saturday I was outside practically the entire day. check. the suitcase was unpacked, the closet was organized, and everything put away. double check. where I ran into problems was the whole schedule thing. I made a schedule. so there's half a check... but it's really a really general schedule. it kindof goes like this: <i>do something you have to do, then do something you want to do. rest if you need it. repeat.</i> I'm not sure if that counts as a schedule, but I've done well at keeping the balance so far and if it works I'll stick with it.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">so for this week... my goals are pretty basic.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>1. I want to finish and post a font download. </b>I've been playing around with a few ideas lately. they're all just scribble-ish handwritten fonts, but hopefully you guys will enjoy them as much as the <a href="http://inkandadventure.blogspot.tw/2012/11/free-font-download-skinny-caps.html" target="_blank">"skinny caps" font</a> I posted last year.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>2.</b><b> organize the bookshelf in my office.</b> or at least start. and <b>hang up my 52 weeks project photos</b> from the summer. they are definitely still sitting in a pile on my desk right now.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>3. watch Hocus Pocus.</b> because Halloween is this week. and Hocus Pocus is the best Halloween movie. ever. of all time. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /><div style="text-align: right;">happy monday, and hope you all had a fantabulous weekend [I did!] </div><div style="text-align: right;">xo</div></div>

weekly wishes #2

ok, kids. let's talk weekly wishes. and me looking awkward for the "selfie" photo theme. [or maybe we'll skip that last pa...

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weekly wishes #1

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEUJ2XhSBsryE85N8cbEmBR4rXL4zkeRK9VED9ot-AVLkM_WKc68DIIe__BBOF4bdPLP2z_b9V5kErEskcGYywfEJMPq0rBF2QOFykBLK6zOoVef8w5zQj4WPwKoVlFfDoDvZeXj69bGu/s1600/weeklywishes1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaEUJ2XhSBsryE85N8cbEmBR4rXL4zkeRK9VED9ot-AVLkM_WKc68DIIe__BBOF4bdPLP2z_b9V5kErEskcGYywfEJMPq0rBF2QOFykBLK6zOoVef8w5zQj4WPwKoVlFfDoDvZeXj69bGu/s640/weeklywishes1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><i>ok you guys, I'm jumping on this lovely little train of goal-setting, positivity, and support called <a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/tags/weekly-wishes/" target="_blank">weekly wishes</a>. because I need to start setting some goals to get me going and keep me moving, and I could use a little help being held accountable.</i><br /><br />my first goal is to <b>get outside every day</b>. life since I've come back to Taiwan has been a lot of sitting at my computer in my apartment, writing at Starbucks, or running errands to Costco or the grocery store. those things aren't always bad, but my skintone is starting to shift towards vampire. even if I just go sit in the park for ten minutes, I want to make more of an effort to get some fresh air. it would also be nice to leave the apartment for a purpose other than running an errand.<br /><br />in fact, for the past year I've been trying to find the right balance in my life between the things that need to be done [dishes, laundry, grocery shopping] and the things I want to do. to help find that balance, my second goal is to <b>set up a weekly schedule and try it out. </b>I want to block off time for blogging, time for writing, time for exploring the city, and <i>yeah</i> time for domestic chores too. maybe even exercise if I get ambitious... since I don't have a traditional 9-5 job this will [hopefully] help me manage my time and get a better handle on my days so that I don't burn out on any one thing.<br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">my last goal is to <b>start unpacking my last suitcase</b>. yes, you read that right. I've been back in Taiwan for nearly three weeks and I still haven't unpacked. [if you know me in real life, it's actually impressive that I already unpacked two of the three suitcases.] I've been putting it off because this bag is full of things that need to go into our storage closet, and to make them fit I need to rearrange said closet before the bag can be unpacked. see my dilemma? I went out and bought bins to help me get organized but I haven't tackled it yet. I'm pretty sure Husband would like to reclaim the floor of his office though, so this week I'm going to attempt it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><i>if you'd like to check out the linkup and see what it's all about, click on the button below!</i></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://thenectarcollective.com/tags/weekly-wishes/" target="_blank" title="The Nectar Collective"><img alt="The Nectar Collective" src="http://thenectarcollective.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/weekly-wishes-button-yellow.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div>

weekly wishes #1

ok you guys, I'm jumping on this lovely little train of goal-setting, positivity, and support called weekly wishes . because I need to s...

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