#fitnessfriday | this week's weigh-in

i am super excited to share my progress for the week! if it seems like i am only posting hair and fitness stuff, you're correct. i'm still getting my china posts together! #soonandverysoon

anywho, i met and surpassed my dietbet game goal (156.9 by april 8) and i am 22.4 lbs down since i began my anti-candida journey on march 1!

beyond weight loss, my body is actually feeling like it's starting to like me. i haven't gotten sick despite the disrespectfully drastic weather changes, which ALWAYS made me sick in the past. my bloating has decreased immensely and i feel much, much lighter. my feet also feel much better, and i can finally stand to be barefoot for around 30 minutes before the pain comes. i can breathe much better, and i am less winded when i take the stairs.

in pairing the diet with weigh down/intuitive eating principles (and now intermittent fasting! more on that later), i finally feel in control of my eating. even though the diet is really hard, i will eventually be able to reintroduce some old foods back. if i get the go from my doctor, i can start on april 15!

i also randomly took this quiz and a few others to verify, and i found out i am mostly mesomorphic (62%) and less endomorphic than i thought (38%). i always thought i was an endomorph based upon pictures, but i've actually been reading the descriptions for and viewing pictures of fit mesomorphs. both have been spot on for me when i'm in shape with the exception of a few characteristics i possess that are definitely endomorphic. the workout plan for promoting lean muscle mass for mesomorphs includes light cardio, yoga, and regular resistance training, which is absolutely perfect for me!

so my goal from now until the end of april is to walk 30 minutes in my fat-burning zone once per week; i will increase it to twice in may. this doesn't seem like much, but i haven't done any real exercise since my injury, so i want to ease into it.
slow and steady!

in pursuit of:

adopting a healthy way of eating that will heal my body

how is your journey coming along?

linking up with jill

An InLinkz Link-up

"my hole has a new face! ...wait..."

i finally did it!!!

i've been wanting to get my nose pierced for about 8 years now, but i never did it because i thought i was going to work in policy and knew how well that would go over in a room full of senators.
welp... that wasn't in the plan, and now that i know for sure, i took the plunge!

i am happy to report that despite the creepy youtube videos (that i watched over and over again) and some reports of the pain, i actually didn't feel a thing. i didn't even get the famous eye watering that everyone talks about. it took all of 3 seconds to get pierced and i am IN LOVE!!!!

if you're looking for a good piercer in the new river valley, vicki at danny's ancient art is amazing. she was patient through my melodramatic pre-piercing phase and sympathetic when i beat myself up at being such a baby post-piercing.
i am serious, y'all. i literally felt nothing.

bonus: i can cross this off of my 30x30, too!

the task:

getting a new piercing

wash day | straight comb chaser

well, friends...

... my 2-month stint with the water only method came to an end with my last wash day.
the humidity absolutely demolished my product-free hair. not only did it get super frizzy, but it felt horrendous, and i looked a HAM. my hair looked like a lunch lady's net. no, not the hair UNDER the net. like the actual net.

so, i decided to go in the total opposite direction for some straight sleekness. contrary to the beginning of my journey, my hair has done exceptionally well being straight in warmer temperatures and humidity for the past 2-3 years -- maybe texas trained it? otherwise, i have no idea why that is.
it was in the mid-70s and i thought to myself: "my product-free regimen is not working in this heat and humidity. let's go for straight and smooth!"
and literally the next morning, the temperature was well below freezing.

le sigh.
only in southwest virginia.
#global
warming















i will keep this hair straight for as long as humanly possible because it has gotten longer (the tip of my V is nearly waist-length) and straightening took much longer. i still can't believe i committed to keep growing for the next 2.5 years. i'm going to look like cousin it's black baby.

i will absolutely be going back to the method when it gets colder, so i will be a 6-month product user (march - august) and 6-month water only child (september - february). i am thinking of trying out a modified version of sistawithrealhair's regimen during my product phase but i haven't yet decided.

the deets:
washed with tresemme nourishing moisture shampoo (um... no one told me this stuff was amazing!)
conditioned with tresemme 7-day smooth conditioner (also amazing!)
blow dried and flat ironed using the comb chase method with tresemme 7-day smooth treatment (again, amazing!)
*** no, i am not a spokesperson for/affiliated with tresemme, but i'm used to spending nothing on hair products, so i went the cheap route. i have to say that i forgot how effective tresemme products are! i'm very pleased.
i smoothed in a little argan oil and set my hair on 8 teal perm rods overnight

i would be perfectly happy with using only these 3 products during my 6-month phase. my hair feels absolutely fantastic -- this cheapo stuff is LEGIT. i may or may not try to find a deep conditioner. my hair doesn't seem to behave much differently with a DC versus a regular con since 'the change.'

how was your wash day?

in pursuit of:

treating my hair as my crown and glory

linking up with klp, nicole, and amanda

#fitnessfriday | this week's weigh-in

there have been a few times this month when i have lost complete hope in eating my diet. it's so incredibly strict (and i have been following it very strictly) and despite the fact that i have been experiencing so many benefits -- less bloating, no indigestion, shortened colds, etc -- it's just been hard sometimes to have to list off all of the things i can't eat.
today's weigh-in made it totally worth it.

as of today, i am less than 0.5 lbs from a 20-lb weight loss since march 1! whoop!
my goal for my dietbet game is 156.9 by april 8, so I will hopefully hit that tomorrow.

i have to say that dietbet has definitely played a huge role in my success, and no, i am not advertising for the site in any way. it's just nice to be in a group of people trying to reach literally the same goal (4% in 4 weeks) when no one around you is on a weight loss journey. and i have been ridiculously motivated to get my entry fees back. i refuse to throw away that money -- i'm a poor student!

in pursuit of:

adopting a healthy way of eating that will heal my body

how is your journey coming along?

linking up with jill

An InLinkz Link-up

wash day | the water-only twist-n-curl

i dusted off my old perm rods for the first time in a long time to do this super easy style.

i started by finger detangling my dry hair followed by twisting it into 12 sections.
i did everything else while in the shower, which took about 20 minutes.
i took down each twist to saturate in water, scritch my scalp, preen my sebum down the length of my hair, and brush detangle.
i then re-twisted, leaving about 1.5"-2"of the ends free to secure on orange perm rods.
once out of the shower, i pinned my twists down with large bobby pins and let my hair dry overnight.

i TRIED to unravel pretty gently, though i am used to using some sort of oil to do so. i initially produced some frizz (mostly at the front, of course) until i remembered that i could collect sebum on my finger pads to make them a lot smoother. once i massaged my scalp to cover them, fluffing and pulling apart produced much less frizz.

this was a really simple way to stretch my hair, so i will continue to do it on rinse days, which i am now planning to reduce to saturday and wednesday nights.
on non-rinse days (as needed), i will continue to use my fingers or brushes to distribute the sebum. i have also enjoyed baggying on these days, and will continue to do that often.

i am still experimenting with quick and easy ways to set my hair post-brushing, like this style below that i'm just going to call the "thread-n-curl"...

...but i have a lot of other ideas pinned that i also want to try!

i love the water only method! what are your thoughts?

in pursuit of:

treating my hair as my crown and glory

drastically reducing my carbon footprint

linking up with klp, nicole, and amanda

wash day | the water only method explained

i've been considering the water only method for a really long time - when i first went natural in 2010, again a couple of years ago, and most recently a couple of months ago.
when i found myself placing my 10th order of new products to try to "fix" this new hair i have, i decided that enough was enough. i was tired of trying any and everything to make my hair act "normally." what is normal?

i did a bit more research into the method (helpful links here, here, here, and here), gave away all of my products, and took the plunge on january 28.

so far, i am really surprised by how much i like it!
i knew i had soft hair before this, but i am truly amazed by the softness even without products. i absolutely love my natural texture that's been hiding under gels, oils, and other products. i also discovered some golden hairs that i guess had been darkened by whatever i was using in my hair, which is pretty cool.
and a little scary.

my sebum is finally coming in and the first inch or so of my hair is shiny and feels incredibly soft and smooth! i can't wait until it covers all of my hair (it seems like 3-6 months is the reported transition period).
in the interim, i have begun using some tea rinses/spritzes on my uncovered length and ends. i use fenugreek tea for moisture and black tea for strength.

my method:
i water rinse, which includes scalp massaging and scritching, every 2-3 nights. i detangle with a modified denman brush during rinsing as needed (usually twice/week). i then finish with a tea rinse on the length and ends of my hair. i don't rinse out the tea.

on my off nights, i brush my scalp and hair with a baby denman brush to distribute the sebum. i do this on hair that has been lightly spritzed and finger detangled with water or fenugreek tea.
     note: if my scalp feels really oily or my hair has buildup, i use the morocco method boar bristle brush to remove excess sebum.

after rinsing or brushing, i style (mostly wild child style - aka no style - and sometimes chunky twists or twist-outs, buns, rods, etc).
     bonus: this method = dry hair in 3-4 hours even in chunky sections! pre-WOM, my hair took well over 24 hours to dry in large sections.

i love how i can use this method to condition my hair naturally and reduce my carbon footprint. i am all about treating the earth and my hair well!

would you ever try this method?

in pursuit of:

treating my hair as my crown and glory

drastically reducing my carbon footprint

linking up with klp, nicole, and amanda

#fitnessfriday | fitness confessions 3.0

i confess...

... i am feeling myself right now!
i have absolutely no way of knowing this because i don't weigh during my "lady time," but i feel like i've lost a few pounds, and i feel good!
i feel (mostly) in control of my eating since i began weigh down last week. i've stopped the near-daily emotional binges, and i feel like i am getting to the point where i can put food in its place: in my body as fuel when i am legitimately hungry and moving from it when i am legitimately satisfied.
it hasn't been a perfect week, but i feel like i am making lots of progress in both my relationship with food and God!

i've literally been eating whatever i want, and waiting for true hunger makes food taste so much BETTER!
i do notice that i'm starting to make better choices, though, because i get full a lot quicker on the so-called "unhealthy" foods that i crave from time to time. i either have to eat them in really small amounts, or i may overeat and then have to wait a long time before i'm hungry again. i'm working on finding that balance.

summer's coming up quickly, and i don't know if i will be where i set my own goal...

looking forward to adopting this lifestyle forever!

what are your confessions? progress this week? triumphs and challenges?

in pursuit of:

adopting a healthy way of eating that will heal my body

An InLinkz Link-up

replay | charlotte: colony house & sir sly

i THOUGHT i was taking a break from concerts but ticketmaster and livenation have been making my entire life as of late, so my favorite concert buddy (BT) and i headed to charlotte for the day for a much needed break and to catch up with sir sly! they are touring with the kongos right now on a super crazy schedule.

we just canNOT get a normal picture. like ever.

BT and i love sir sly (not so much with the kongos), and we anxiously awaited the show at vgbg next door eating really good nachos, playing sorry, and drinking hard cider. it was a pretty cool place, and the food was good!

there had been a line outside of the fillmore when we arrived about 2 hours before the show, but we weren't sure why since the place barely had more than 100 people waiting when we got in. it eventually filled and we quickly realized that charlotte has a mutated water supply because EVERYONE was tall. i'm talking both men and women WELL over 5'9" and in a huge quantity. i have never seen so many tall people in one place in my life, and standing at 4'9" and 5'3", we didn't have the easiest time seeing the show despite being on a riser.

we got some drinks and chatted with the people beside us for a while - they were two parents who brought their 14-year-old daughter to see the show.
i then began to question my life choices as a 27-year-old who attends the same concerts as 14-year-olds.
shame aside, it was a great show!



"silhouettes" is their most popular song right now, and while it's really catchy, it is definitely not the best in their repertoire. the lead singer has a great voice, and it's showcased much better on other songs, like "caught me by surprise":



next up was sir sly, and they were amazing (just as they were in raleigh in september).
a guy behind me was nice enough to record the entirety of "you haunt me" so i could dance around like a woman child.
their sound is just so unique. it's got this spacey (BT calls it "other-wordly") quality that is absolutely phenomenal. my phone couldn't even begin to do it justice. that hasn't stopped me from watching it multiple times already though...


sir sly is known for "gold," which was featured in a phone or car commercial last year. it's a really great song, though my favorite right now is "easy now."



next up is alt-J and tycho in april!



been to any concerts lately? who are your favorites right now?

in pursuit of:

attending at least five concerts/festivals

6-month locks and low carb challenge | wash day 11.29

this may come as a surprise given how much i was loving my roller sets, but i am back to twists until at least june 1.
why?
because once i realized i couldn't keep a roller set to my standard for longer than a week due to frizzies, night-time sweating, and root tangling, i was uncomfortable with the amount of manipulation weekly velcro roller sets and maintenance would create, especially for my fragile ends.
moreover, the amount of time it took to set and maintain is just not realistic for my current lifestyle. and this early winter crap we've been experiencing is not helping at all!

so, while i am completing my challenge, i will stay in two-strand twists (with occasional twist-outs) because i know that my hair loves being left alone a lot of the time, and twists are easy enough for a 6-month commitment. i can keep them moisturized constantly without worrying about reversion like i did for my roller sets, and they are somewhat versatile.
i have opted for medium-sized twists this time around because mini twists take too long to install and remove for the amount of time i plan to leave them in.

this is from a set i did earlier in the year, and this time all of my twists are about the size of the larger ones in these pictures.

without further ado... the process:

steamed and pre-pooed with q-redew and covered with a cap overnight
shampooed and conditioned with a reconstructor followed by a moisturizing con
sealed with oil, air-dried in 4 twists for about 30 minutes, and twisted

the twists took me about 1.5 hours to do, as i stopped to snip some split ends along the way.

*note* i did not post product names because they are about to change in my effort to support natural businesswomen. i will reveal these after my next wash day, but the process will still look the same!

i plan to redo this process every two weeks, including the trims if they are needed. i want SUPERB ends, and what i'm trimming isn't really affecting my length much at all.
in the interim, i oil my ends every night before bed and moisturize my hair and scalp as needed.
on wash day (fridays!), i will wear the resulting twist-out (if i want) before starting the process again that night.

anyone else twisting it up for the winter?

upcoming length check: december 26

in pursuit of:

treating my hair as my crown and glory

linking up with klp

#fitnessfriday | 6-month locks and low carb challenge

i hope everyone had an AMAAAAAZING thanksgiving! i definitely did. we had a huge gathering of family and friends in atlanta. we cooked, played games, and almost EVERYONE helped clean up! now you know that's a blessing!

as i mentioned in this post, my goal for the next six months is consistency with both my way of eating and my hair regimen! december 1 - june 1 is the timeframe, and i am excited to get this going!
feel free to join in with any kind of challenge you want -- i will happily support you!

hair regimen
consistent wash day regimen (specifics coming next wednesday!)
i will trim my ends at least once per season
i will keep my hair up when i need to wear my coat until i get inside

starting length: around mbl
last time i straightened (on the equinox), my "V" ends were there, but not the bulk.

what i want to remedy:
dry ends
tangles at the nape
dry roots when i extend time between washing

low carb regimen
my goal macros are 5% carbs, 20% protein, and 75% fat
i will weigh-in once per month on the second friday
i will publish a #fitnessfriday post at least twice per month to hold myself accountable
i will focus on working out at least once per week for an hour (no, this isn't a lot, but it's what i absolutely know i can commit to for the next six months without excuses)

starting weight:
- 0 lbs

what i want to remedy:
excess weight (duh)
inflammation and bloating
damaged gut
binge/emotional eating
allergic reactions

i will have lots of progress pictures to share as i go along (including a length check on december 19!).  wish me luck, and feel free to join in! the challenge starts on monday!

An InLinkz Link-up

52 weeks of gratitude: the three people [you meet in heaven]

last week, i had to express gratitude to three different people, and i chose to send them a little note about how much i missed and loved them and how i couldn't wait to come home and see them again!

i truly do love these three ladies, and receiving their responses that were also filled with gratitude made me realize that sharing positive energy and appreciation is so easy but makes such a large impact. it takes nothing to share love and joy, but to receive it is monumental.
and the impacts that they've made upon me are equally tremendous. they have taught me so much.

the three people you meet in heaven (and the three with whom i share an amazing friendship)...

the kaleidoscope:

marina is one of the most complex people that i know. she is ever-changing, courageous, sweet, and sensible. she knows how to balance her emotions and she can love really hard while maintaining a practicality that protects her heart.

the optimist:

cherita is one of those people that just makes you feel good. she is the epitome of the silver lining finder. her smile and laugh is ridiculously infectious, and you can't help but be attracted to her positive outlook on life.

the comforter:

veronica is literally one of the sweetest people that has blessed this earth. regardless of the kind of friend you are to her (regardless of whether or not you are actually friends at all), she is there to provide comfort to anyone who needs it. she is much more trusting than me, and she sees the best in people all the time.

i truly value our friendships, and i will always treasure the lessons they've imparted to me as i move through this life and the next.

#fitnessfriday | 6-month hair and body goals

can you believe that it is almost december?
2014 is almost over! i can't get over how quickly this year passed by, and i am kicking myself for being almost exactly where i was last year in terms of my weight.

i have noticed that for me, being regimented and consistent are the keys to success in pretty much all areas of my life. i am not one who can do "moderation." i am not one who can "take a break." i plan ahead and my calendar is my lifeline.

the one and only time i was successful and sustained my weight loss was when i ate a ketogenic diet, and the success stopped immediately when i decided i would try to include carbs back in "in moderation" last june - not because i really wanted them (because my sugar tooth and my carb cravings had vanished a long time before and i was happy and satisfied), but because i thought i was doing it wrong by not being "moderate." the subsequent carb cravings led me back to gulping down steroids and antihistamines because once i got back on sugar, i couldn't stay away from wheat, and i have a serious wheat allergy.
and now, i've been rewarded with the side effects - extreme bloating, random and increasingly frequent break-outs, and an overall feeling of a lack of control.

low carb ketogenic diet (march 2014) vs now (november 2014)

it is beyond embarrassing to post this because i see how close i was to goal in march - i had 5-7 pounds to go and for the first time, i felt in control of my body and my relationship with food.
well, i'm not going to do what i'm doing now anymore. i am extremely carb-sensitive, and it only takes a little bit to completely throw me into binge mode, and i'm just done.
i lost a ton of weight successfully, i tried to reincorporate sugar, and now i know for sure what works for me and that i'm just going to be one of those people who needs to stop trying to fix what isn't broken. it wasn't hard and it didn't feel restrictive at all once i got through the first two weeks, and i know that it will be a permanent lifestyle change this time around.

the same is true for my hair.
when i stuck to one regimen consistently during my transition, my hair thrived like crazy. my hair is doing fine, but i really want to improve its health, and it's hard to determine the factors affecting it when i keep changing things.

so, my hair and body goals are simple: be regimented and consistent.
from dec 1, 2014 to june 1, 2015, i will follow a low carb ketogenic diet and follow a consistent roller setting regimen.

i will resist making any changes unless i notice negative effects from my diet or regimen. i will resist joining in on new challenges, trying to crash diet, or anything else that will detract from my plan of action. it is hard for me to stick to things because i am continually researching new methods, products, and techniques, and i want to try them all on myself.
no more.

my goal is to have my hair and diet regimen completely finalized by the next #fitnessfriday so that on december 1, i will be ready to go and get things done. this is not to say that i will stop what i am doing on june 1, but i am challenging myself to stick to both for six months without wavering. i pray that i will be rewarded with a healthier body right on time for summer and healthier hair with lovelier, thicker ends that can withstand summer heat and pool and salt water.

in pursuit of:

treating my hair as my crown and glory

adopting a healthy way of eating that will heal my body

An InLinkz Link-up

new regimen trial #2 | 11.15

i went a totally opposite direction in this weekend's wash day from a wash 'n' go to a roller set, and i have to say that i am super stoked about this even though it was a bit more work!

the process
henna glossed with lush caca noir for two hours
washed scalp with lush blousey
cowashed with white rain tropical coconut conditioner to remove all of the henna
treated with mastey super pac reconstructor (AMAZING!!!!)
conditioned with renpure argan oil conditioner (also AMAZING!!!!!)
set on jumbo velcro rollers

i used 18 conair 2.5" velcro rollers, and it only took about 30 minutes to dry on medium heat and speed. since i didn't bring my standing dryer to school, i set my blowdryer up in a drawer and laid under it (resourceful or nah???).
i was in loooooooove with this big hair! it was super smooth and super soft, and the rollers got my roots pretty straight. i could've easily hit a few roots with my iron on low and gone really sleek, but i'm a low density girl with dolly parton dreams.

maintenance
i put my hair in a very loose bantu knot or bun overnight and used just enough coconut oil to lubricate my hands to take it down in the morning.
two nights ago, i set my dry hair on 8 perm rods using shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie on the ends and got a really cute roller wrap look (i will take a picture after the next one!), so i will probably do this every few nights to keep the set fresh.

with a few tweaks, i think this may be my new regimen! and i am ready to have one that i can use CONSISTENTLY!!!!

things i want to include/try:
coconut oil rinses and scalp massages
roller setting with renpure conditioner - this condish is my new holy grail!!!!
q-redew - i just purchased one, and i want to test it out for extra moisture
pomade for my edges - i love my hair but my "baby" hairs are determined to eat my forehead, and i just want them to blend into my hairline

i am going to stretch this set until it's on its last leg to see how long i can go to keep the manipulation of washing, conditioning, combing, and setting low. plus i'd get to save money on products!

in pursuit of:

treating my hair as my crown and glory

linking up with klp

new regimen trial #1 | 11.8

though my minimalist "regimen" involving shampoo, oil, and butter worked pretty well, i wanted to see if i could get better results using actual products. i immediately went to lush because i know they are all cruelty-free, and those i have chosen are also vegan and gluten-free.
unfortunately, all of lush's conditioners contain sulfates, so i was somewhat in a bind of what to use. i just picked up r&b because it was something my manager tried to convince me to love when i worked at lush.

this shows the lack of overall definition to which i was referring in this post.

the process
henna glossed for 1 hour with lush caca noir (1 block melted in 6oz water)
shampooed scalp with lush blousey
conditioned and detangled with lush r&b (2.5oz moisturizer + 1.5oz coconut oil + 1oz water)
squeezed out excess water, coated with coconut oil, and raked in some lush dirty hair cream
i also added in a little streak with maybelline's color tattoo in fierce and tangy (i'm getting super duper bored with my color, but i refuse to compromise my hair's health until i'm done growing my hair)

r&b is now phenomenal for my less porous hair, but i'm pretty sure the glycerin dried it out in the cold winter air when i used it alone as a leave-in. i turned it into a "conditioner," and that worked ok, but considering how much it costs, i won't repurchase. i am planning to try renpure argan oil conditioner next.

i loved everything else (even the pain-in-the-ass henna), though i think i can find something that performs just as well as dirty for less money and masculine fragrance. i am planning to try the shea moisture curl enhancing smoothie and kinky-curly curling custard next.

note: i am planning on swimming weekly on fridays so i will have to reverse the order of some things for my second trial this week.

in pursuit of:

treating my hair as my crown and glory

linking up with klp

5 things

i seriously fractured my foot running, and honestly, i am just done with trying to make myself into a runner. i wanted a challenge, but every time i've tried i've ended up injuring myself in some capacity. i'm just coming to terms with that, and i will challenge myself to something with which i really struggle but enjoy: hiking.
i've been hiking before but i have to stop very often on the way to the top because i get tired so easily. but i love the reward at the end of being able to bask in the beauty of an amazing mountain view. since i am in the appalachians, i am in the perfect place to work on building my strength and stamina. i will be changing my 30x30 to reflect this.


i am back to paying monthly tithes, and i feel really happy about being obedient.

i considered doing nanowrimo with madi, but i realized i just wouldn't have the time this month with the assignments i have been given. i am cheering her and anyone else who does this on, and i am hoping i can do it next november!

my favorite read from last week.

i am a near-daily red wine drinker, so i joined the vinesse wine club about a month ago. i have to say that i am very impressed so far. i've only tried 3 of the 6 wines that came in the box, but i absolutely loved all of them. i usually like my wine super duper dry, but i definitely enjoyed the smoother montepulciano d'abbruzo and gracenote pinot noir, especially since my mouth is already dry from the cold!

make a habit, break a habit link-up #3

i am so excited to be back with lauren for the third habit link-up! shout-out to raewyn and cheryn for joining us last time!
october was a much better month for me, so i am super proud of myself and excited to share my progress!

last month
make a habit: spend more wisely!
not only did i successfully complete a 21-day spending freeze (hey-oooooooo!), but i paid off one of my credit cards, revamped my debt plan and budget, and i am actually sticking to them!

break a habit: technology at bedtime.
i didn't keep my laptop completely away from my bed (i like writing my blog posts in bed), but i definitely did put it away when it was time for bed, and i slept much better this month.

this month!
make a habit: oil pull everyday!
as i mentioned in my last habit post, i tried out oil pulling this past month and the benefits have been great! i haven't been doing it regularly, but my tooth and gum sensitivity disappeared and my morning breath has been much better since i began doing it. i want to try it everyday this month!

break a habit: hitting the snooze button.
i hit the snooze button pretty much everyday because i hate breaking away from dreams and the morning in general. however, this means i am either rushing through or skipping things in my morning routine (my 5-minute face was the first to go), or i am barely making it to class on time. this needs to change!

what habits are you making and breaking this month?
link up below with lauren and i between now and november 8 at 11:55 pm.
the link-up will go live on the first monday of every month to share goals and progress!

how it works: 1) link up your post on what habits you want to make or break and progress you've made towards last month's. (link directly to your habit post! that means no homepages or unrelated posts - please and thank you!) 2) make new friends! visit at least two other Habit Makers and Breakers and give them some love! 3) include our snazzy button below or link back to your hosts in your post so other people can join in on the fun. (don't forget to follow us as well so you don't miss out on any new and exciting habit making or breaking news!)

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<a href="http://thepinnacleproject.blogspot.com" title="The Pinnacle Project"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlOFr5Z0z2Oh9Z_3uOjF8BBrlWoMGFpQoPahl2Cq482qeTJH9XDEXI1ICUw10smbG2qPRlA0zpzzY_5zSeYYZSU4AfWSUUSCLN3ZyRxkP3ZSzJyk-PiovZTzxCxJZORMLnopLERu3Z5Dh/s250/makeahabitbutton.png" alt="The Pinnacle Project" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

wilderness adventure | new castle, va

two weekends ago, i attended an outdoor adventure with the international student center on campus with the intentions of getting to "camp" (we stayed in a cabin, but this is as close as i can get to camping since no one i know likes real camping), canoe, zipline, and spend some time in self-reflection against the backdrop of the appalachian mountains. in fact, i was most looking forward to going off on my own and reflecting. i spent the first hour by the lake and on small trails trying to claim one as the place where i'd spend the rest of my weekend in contemplation.

 

 

 

... and then this happened, and i realized that what i thought i would learn by processing internally was taught through my experiences with these amazing people from all over the world.

the trip was absolutely amazing -- one of the best trips on which i've ever been. the whole time was spent in exchanging our stories and how each of us was so unique but also so much more similar than we imagined. from that point on, we were all pretty much attached at the hip.

this group of people is just ridiculously awesome, and i know i have made new friends for life.

in pursuit of:

becoming a resident tourist

going camping and hanging around a fire with cool people ( from my autumn bucket list)

linking up with esther and nicole

make a habit, break a habit link-up #2

i am just going to be frank and admit that my first foray into this was just not successful. *sad face*
there are a lot of reasons why september was probably not the best choice for doing this, but overall, i just need to refer back to this post and do better!

last month
make a habit: exercise!
i actually did an okay job of this until i hurt my ankle/foot running a couple of weeks ago - i'm pretty sure it's a hairline fracture. i've stopped running until it heals, but i still plan on speed-walking in the upcoming color run.

break a habit: technology at bedtime.
as an insomniac, i associate a lot of restlessness, frustration, and anxiety with my bed, and technology isn't making that better. however, i was only able to keep my laptop away for a few days at a time. my phone has definitely been kept away, though, so maybe i should consider that a shallow victory?

this month!
make a habit: spend more wisely!
i have issues with impulsive spending, so i started a four-week spending freeze on october 1. since i have a meal plan, the only things i really need to buy are essentials like toilet paper, toiletries, laundry, etc. i am not going to spend on anything beyond those (except for food when i am at a conference next weekend), and i am going to journal my thought process when faced with buying things i really don't need in order to reflect upon how to combat impulsiveness in the future.

break a habit: technology at bedtime.
i am a glutton for redemption because i refuse to fail at this. i would love to get to the point where i get off of my laptop/phone like an hour before bed, but i don't have a predictable bedtime since i'm in grad school. instead, i am just going to (again!) refuse to bring my laptop to bed just like i refuse to bring schoolwork into my room.

honorable mention
not ready to make a habit yet but i am also trying out oil pulling this month.

what habits are you making and breaking this month?
link up below with lauren and i between now and next thursday at 11:55pm!
the link-up will go live the first monday of every month to share goals and progress!

how it works: 1) link up your post on what habits you want to make or break and progress you've made towards last month's. (link directly to your habit post! that means no homepages or unrelated posts - please and thank you!) 2) make new friends! visit at least two other Habit Makers and Breakers and give them some love! 3) include our snazzy button below or link back to your hosts in your post so other people can join in on the fun. (don't forget to follow us as well so you don't miss out on any new and exciting habit making or breaking news!)

<div align="center">
<a href="http://thepinnacleproject.blogspot.com" title="The Pinnacle Project"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRlOFr5Z0z2Oh9Z_3uOjF8BBrlWoMGFpQoPahl2Cq482qeTJH9XDEXI1ICUw10smbG2qPRlA0zpzzY_5zSeYYZSU4AfWSUUSCLN3ZyRxkP3ZSzJyk-PiovZTzxCxJZORMLnopLERu3Z5Dh/s250/makeahabitbutton.png" alt="The Pinnacle Project" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

in pursuit of:

completing a successful spending freeze

el rodeo south main | blacksburg, va

this past week and the upcoming weeks will be are hell.
so many school deadlines, commitments, and requirements all stacked on top of one another and holding on for dear life some crazy game of jenga.

but it feels amazing to have that as a complaint and it's even better when you can sneak away from work for an hour or two to hang out with cool people who've treaded the waters you're about to enter or are there holding your hand and their breaths in preparation to go under with you.

i didn't order food at el rod's when i and my cohort members took a study break there this past weekend, but i can attest to the deliciousness of the chips and salsa. those who did order were impressed, and plates were thoroughly cleaned. and the drinks were AMAZING.

the 12-ounce mango classic margarita for $5 = heaven.
my cohort member/musical soulmate got a 32-ounce pitcher-like contraption of blue moon for $6.

the rest of the time was spent taking selfies ("usies" just sounds too douchey to me...) of our tired faces both inside and outside of the restaurant once closing time came, and looking through them today just reminded me of how grateful i am to have found support, intellectual stimulation, and true friendship.

in pursuit of:

becoming a resident tourist

linking up with nicole and esther

recap: music midtown | atlanta, ga

i got on the megabus and rode down to atlanta a couple of weekends ago to see the amazing festival that was music midtown!

there were a CRAP ton of people... like more than i have ever seen in life. i don't think you realize how many people there are in the world until you are smack dab in the middle of an 100+-acre park full of people. and even more so when many of those people are drunk. and they just never stopped coming... the porta potties were just as horrible as you can imagine. especially at night.

but i had such a fantastic time at the performances (my favorites were lorde, jack white, bastille, the strypes, and sleeper agent), but the best part was spending the weekend with my good friend moe AND experiencing some cool firsts!



i got to walk my first abandoned railroad track.
pro: it was cool to see how the train tracks that historically ran around the city are slowly being revamped into a walking trail. walking it felt like a scene straight out of fried green tomatoes.
con: unfortunately that trail is still mostly abandoned railroad track complete with wooden planks, steel, and gravel. i was wearing flip flops.

i got to go to a gay bar for the first time.
pro: the energy level at blake's was AMAZING. everyone was friendly (for the most part), and everyone was dancing and having a great time.
con: the line for the women's restroom was still surprisingly long.

i got to see my first drag show.
there are NO cons. it was phenomenal!!! i am definitely going to another - i had such a fun time!

...

ps. no more concerts/festivals for a while (except the big ticket in december!). i am saving up for coachella 2016!
pps. if you're in the area and you're vegan (or just enjoy deliciousness), bhojanic has THE BEST chickpeas, masala fries, and rice!!!

in pursuit of:

attending at least five concerts/festivals