Wednesday, December 29, 2010

.:For 2011 I Will:.

1. Save money! This is super important since I will not be working and will be student teaching this Fall 2011. To accomplish this goal, I will live simply live with the clothes I have, the make-up I have and spend very little on myself. I will convince Duong to eat out less (he'll save more too in return). I know this can be done because I have learned so much in 2010 about my finances and have made pretty good decisions this year. My financial motto will be "Live with necessities."
2. Health and Wellness! I will lose 5 more lbs for the Key West Trip and maintain 115 throughout the year. To accomplish this goal I will continue to workout and eat healthy. I will not keep any junk food in the house. This will be hard to do because Duong loves Chips and we love love love Ice Cream. Good thing Duong will be dieting for Key West, FL too. I know this goal can be accomplished because of the things I have learned from this year 2010 and I know I can.
3. Take my mother on a vacation! My mother has expressed interest in going to Vegas, PA, Texas, Hawaii and Florida. I have called Delta and it seems difficult to have her travel since she is in a wheelchair and immobile. In March 2010, she had a pretty bad infection and was in ICU for a week. My family and I dealt with all sorts of emotions and I swore to myself that I would take her on a vacation. I need to do this in 2011 or else I may never forgive myself. There are a couple of choices from Lake Superior Duluth to as far as Vegas. I have even contempted taking her to Atlantic City, NJ since it's a mini Vegas and it's right by the ocean.
4. School. School. I have a couple classes to finish before student teaching this fall. I have three tests of the Praxis II, that I NEED to pass. I need to apply for my MN license to teach. 2011 is soo important and I need to stay focus. Focus on the prize (to be a teacher)!! I know these goals can be accomplished with lots of hard work and studying. I can't afford to fail a class nor fail a test. This year is CRUNCH year for me. I know the little steps that I need to take in order to accomplish my goal this year.
5. And then there are the smaller things that I would like to focus on to better myself.
a. Organize my Education Files. This way I am ready to teach, documents are easy to find and less clutter.
b. Lit more candles. Creates more relaxing and romantic atmosphere.
c. Run a 5k. Practice running. Run outside. Run around Calhoun. Run a 5k!
d. Eat more vegetables. 
e. Give everyday 100%.
f. Smile today. Be happy now.
g. Drink less alcohol, drink more water.
h. Spend time with my loved ones.
i. Spend more time with myself, so that I am not burnt out.
j. Spend more time outside.
k. Learn to cook, make, bake something new every month.
l. Knit at least one scarf.
m. Do at least one painting.
n. Do and finish at least one Scrapbook.
o. Be less of a crabby-patty.
p. Stretch more and everyday.
q, r, s. Be more considerate. Nicer to people. Listen more.
t. Talk less!!
u, v. Walk straighter. Sit Straighter.
w. Spend more time playing rather than planning.
x. Go HIKING at least once this summer.
y. See the ocean/lake/pool. Dip my feet in.
z. Whatever happens in 2011, I am ready to tackle, to cook, to clean, to eat, and to JUST DO IT.


Whew! I think I have covered it all. :D

Monday, December 27, 2010

.:I know your heard this before:.

At a Christmas event the past weekend, a friend asked me "How did you do it?" "Do what?" I said. "You know loose weight and how much weight have you lost?" Hmmm.. Well I was 120 in Jan 2010 and now I am 115. 5lbs doesn't seem like alot, but it's alot on my small 5 feet frame. Here is what I said to her...


1. Exercise. This is so important. Remember it's weights first and then cardio. You need more energy to lift than on the treadmill. Or else, split your days up. You have to do weights to tone up. You'll reach a plateau and when you are there, you'll have to up your weights.
2. Diet. I use to workout and then eat alot and I was just maintaining. I ate what I burned. This year I learned about false hunger. Hunger triggered by boredom, emotions and thirst. I am definitely more conscious of what I put into my body. You are what you eat. To truly DIET one actually needs to get over your false hunger. Your suppose to be hungry because you are changing the amount of calories you are eating. Food is fuel for your body... its not meant to be extra weight or a temporarily solution to your feelings.
3. All MENTAL. Yes, you gotta change the way you think about eating, working out, your feelings and yourself.  You MUST believe in yourself.


All seems so easy and logical right? It's alot harder to do then said. But it can be done. How bad do you want it? Do you want it enough to keep it up for 3 weeks, 3 months or 3 years? It's a lifestyle change, not just change to look good for beach season.. Why keep putting your body through so much strain.


Love yourself. Love your body.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

.:Home in Philadelphia:.

The other day when I was at the clinic for my physical, I weighed in at 115lbs. :) 
I am here in Philadelphia now. I love coming back here. I always have so much fun and get lots of downtime during the weekdays. It's going to be hard to keep it together since I am on vacation. Lots of eating and no workouts.. 
BOY! I don't know how I'll look smoking hot for New Years. Pray for me...

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

.:Reinventing the way we live:.

.......Not just by creating and sticking to resolutions (here’s my guide for doing that), but by reinventing the way we live.

Here’s how.

1. Let go.
Many times we are held back by the tangled web of previous failures, commitments, emotions, barriers. We cannot change careers because we’re used to what we’re doing and it’s too hard to change. We cannot find time to get healthy and fit because we have all these other things to do. We cannot find time for our loved ones because we have too many commitments.

This is all old baggage. A fresh start demands a clean slate. Let everything from the past go (easier said than done, I know). Clear your plate and your palate.

Let go of attachments to what you’ve been doing for the past year, or years. Let go of failures. Let go of fears you’ve built up. Let go of reluctance. Let go of your ideas about what your life has to be like, because that’s the way it’s evolved so far. Let go of long-held beliefs and habits.

You have a fresh start. Let go of last year, and start anew.

2. Decide what matters most today.
Forget about your goals for all of this year. Instead, decide: what do you want to do today?

What matters most to you, to your life? What are you most passionate about, right now? What excites and invigorates you? What would give you the most fulfillment?

Often the answer is in creating something, making something new, helping other people, becoming a better person, working on a project that will be an accomplishment to be proud of. But whatever your answer, have it clear in your mind at the beginning of the day.

This might be something you work on all year, or it might just last a month, or it might last a week or a few days, or just today. It doesn’t matter. What matters is today — that you’re going to work on this with all your heart, today. Tomorrow … we’ll decide on that tomorrow.

3. Clear away distractions and focus.
Clear away email and Facebook and Twitter and your favorite blogs and news websites and social forums, clear away the iPhone or Blackberry or Android or cell phone, clear away all the little nagging work and chores and errands that pull at your attention, clear away the clutter that surrounds you (sweep it off to the side to deal with later).

In fact, if you can, shut off the Internet for awhile. You can come back to it when you take a break.

Now, find focus. Even if only for 15 or 20 minutes at first, but preferably for 30-60 minutes. You can take a break and check your email or whatever after you’ve focused. Focus on the thing that matters most. Do it for as long as you can, until you’re done if possible. Feel free to take breaks, but always return to your focus.

When you’re done, focus on the next thing that matters most, and so on.

4. Find happiness now.
Don’t look at happiness as something that will come when you’re done with this goal, or when you’ve attained a certain accomplishment or certain amount of wealth or material goods. Don’t look at happiness as a destination, something that you’ll get later.

Happiness is possible right now. Always remember that. When you push it back until later, it’ll never come. When you learn to be happy now, it’ll always be here.

When you’re doing whatever you’re passionate about, whatever matters most, whatever you decide is worthy of your time and heart and focus … be happy! You’re doing what you love. And that is truly a gift.

5. Reinvent yourself, every day.
Every day, you are reborn. Reinvent yourself and your life, every day. Do what matters most to you, that day.

It might be the same thing that mattered most yesterday, or it might not be. That isn’t important. What’s important is today — right now. Be passionate, be happy, right now.

You’ll have a fresh start every single day — not just on January 1. And that, my friends, is the best thing ever.

Article from: http://zenhabits.net/

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

.:7 Steps to Life Success:.

1. Define your goal: Know exactly what you are going after. Write it down.
2. Believe in yourself: Direct energy toward a positive transformation. 
3. Stay Positive: Compliment yourself and create experiences that allows you to believe in yourself.
4. Imagine your goal: Visualization allows you to get comfortable with the possibility of change.
5. Get Educated: Study/Research so you know what you are doing.
6. Don't fear failure: It is a part of progress and a way to learn and grow wiser.
7. Get feedback: Don't be afraid to receive constructive criticism--seek it out.
~ Jillian from Biggest Looser


Keep them in mind. Review.

Monday, December 13, 2010

I love Christmas

Oh, how I love Christmas! Every-since I could remember, Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. It's not just the fact that it's a celebration of Christ's Birthday, but the joy of giving, the excitement of family together and of course all the lights and decorations. Duong and I have decided on a small tree this year, which I found this one at the thrift store. It had ornaments, flowers and lights on it already. Pretty sweet deal! We also have a number of other items up: wreath, stockings, lights, snowflake mirror/window clings and tassels.

Shopping this year has been relaxing and easy for me. We did our tradition of Secret Santa selection amongst the siblings. I got one of my brothers and his list was easy to accomplish. :)  I noticed many of us had very practical and essential items listed rather than ridiculous wants that drive people insane. It muse be the economy or the fact that my siblings are all older and more thoughtful. I decided to make family calendars through Snapfish.com. It was pricier than I thought, but the end products were lovely. I can't wait to share them with my family. Duong and I will be exchanging our presents before he leaves to Philly this Friday.  I think he got me a dress, maybe the purple dress from Express, that I have been eying for a while. If it's not, it's okay. I still have a handful of dresses that I have not worn yet and the New Years dress has already been selected. Oh, I can't wait til Christmas!! Did I mention that I will be baking everyone treats too!

Tonight's workout will be cardio. Last night I did half weights and half cardio already.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Snowed In Reflections

I am loving loving this weekend so far. I love love love being snowed in. Perhaps it's because it's my last weekend of classes and they have been canceled. Maybe it's because I get extra time to spend with Duong too. Tonight for dinner, we are making Banh Cuon again! I can't get enough of them.


Recently I have been super motivated to workout and diet religiously. Reason #1: I consumed thousands of calories over Thanksgiving break and didn't make it to work out at all that weekend. On average, people gain a few pounds over the holidays and never loose it, so it accumulates over time. Reason #2: I bought a sexy dress for New Years and want to look smoking hot in it! Duong and I will be spending New Years again with Philly friends on the East Coast. I am looking forward to that very much! Reason #3: And of course I just want to be healthy on the inside and outside.

About a month be ago, a college friend befriended me on Facebook and asked me "what is your secret because you have lost sooo much weight." I was annoyed by it for a number of reasons (of course I didn't show it at the time). One, I was not fat in college or ever been fat in my life. I have always been within my BMI. Secondly, there is no secret! I know I am thinner than I was before and that is because I am more aware of what I am putting into my body. I do drink less and eat less than I did before. That is the secret to the NO secret! A balanced diet and regular exercise.

I get comments like "you have time." I have just 24 hours a day just like anyone else. I just choose to use an hour a day to spend at the gym. "Duong goes to the gym, so you have a partner." I would still go to the gym even if he doesn't go. I did have a gym membership before he came along. "I don't have money." I look at it as it's one of the best ways to use my money; by keeping me healthy. Come on, how much money do you spend on "entertainment, clothes or who knows what." "It's too hard..." or "I just can't.." If you continue to tell yourself, you can't then you start to believe it. It's gotta start inside of you. Tell yourself, "I can and I want to." 

I want to live the BEST life I possibly can. 

"The key question to keep asking is, Are you spending your time on the right things? Because time is all you have. "
Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture)