Pay It Forward

Last night, I was flipping through Facebook when I came across a post from an old friend from my BYU Hawaii days. 

Here is what the post said: 

To start this year in a loving way, I'm participating in a pay-it-forward initiative: the first 5 people who comment on this status with "I'm in" will receive a surprise from me at some point during this calendar year - anything from a book or a ticket to something homegrown or handmade, a postcard, absolutely any surprise. There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something I believe would suit you and make you happy.
These 5 people must make the same offer in their FB status. Copy this text to your profile (don't share) so we can form a web of connection and kindness.
Let's do more loving things for each other in 2014, without any reason other than to make people smile and show that we think of each other. Here's to a more enjoyable, more friendly and love-filled year.

{via}

How completely wonderful is this?!? This is exactly the positivity that I need in my life right now. I added my comment to her post, and I copied and pasted on my Facebook page. And then I thought why stop there? 

I want to bring this project over to the blogging world. I encourage all of you to join in this Pay-It-Forward initiative. 

If you want to participate, here's what you do: 

The same rules as above will apply for the blogging world. {I've changed a few of the words around for those that want to post it on your own blog!} 

To start this year in a loving way, I'm participating in a pay-it-forward initiative: the first 5 people who comment on this post with "I'm in" will receive a surprise from me at some point during this calendar year - anything from a book or a ticket to something homegrown or handmade, a postcard, absolutely any surprise. There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something I believe would suit you and make you happy.
These 5 people must make the same offer in a blog post of their own. Copy this text to your post and let the giving begin.
Let's do more loving things for each other in 2014, without any reason other than to make people smile and show that we think of each other. Here's to a more enjoyable, more friendly and love-filled year.

Your Pay-It-Forward acts can be any size you want. The whole point is to give back to others- there is no price tag. Don't let budget stop you from participating! It's the thought that counts with this. I hope you guys are with me on this. I think this could be an amazing thing if we work together and use our blogging connections to get this initiative out! 

*Note: For Our Lives Are An Open Blog, this is open to both international and domestic readers! Don't let your address stand in the way of leaving me lovely comments. :) 

Happy Weekend! 

If you want to share your participation through Twitter (@afahey14) or Instagram (afahey14) make sure to tag me and use #payitforward 

New Year's 2014

I'd like to say Matt and I were exciting and went to Seoul for New Year's Eve, but we weren't. Matt actually had to work that day, so we had a nice night at home. 

On the 31st, we had dinner out and then rang in the New Year at our place. Our night consisted of cake, games, bubbly, and Harry Potter.  Maybe next year we'll make it into Seoul.

{Matt and I did enjoy playing around with the tripod and remote my dad sent us for Christmas. We love it!}

 Every month last year, Matt and I both wrote a favorite event, activity, or memory we had of that month and put them in a jar. New Year's Eve we dug them out and read them. It was really nice to look back at our year and see what we had done.

The next day wasn't that exciting. We had plans to go to a Japanese restaurant, but it apparently no longer exists. We tried another place, but it was closed- even though it was just 7:00. Then we tried to go to a movie, but it was all sold out. So we just ended up eating near our home and then heading back to our house. 

It was a wonderful day, but we didn't have to go to work so that was a huge plus!

Like most people around world, Matt and I sat some goals for the new year. Here are a few things we want to accomplish:

Have Family Home Evening every Monday night- This does not have to be a formal thing, just something to keep us together.
Work on genealogy- Last year, I got pretty far on my dad's side, but I want to keep working on it. I am looking at getting a membership to Ancestry.com. When I was at BYU we were able to use this site for free, but now that we are away I am missing it.
Work on Korean- This is something we have struggled with, but I know it just takes getting into the study habit for it to work.
Get back on a normal sleeping schedule- With us not going to work until 2 and getting home at 9- we are on a very unproductive sleep schedule. Our goal is to go to bed around 12 and wake up between 8 and 9.
Exercise three times a week- Matt and I really go through cycles of exercise, but our goal is to slowly work on this.

We have a few others, but these are the ones I feel we are most likely to slip up on. To keep ourselves accountable, we are going to have weekly updates during our FHE nights. At least that's the plan.

We hope your New Year's was good, and good luck with all your 2014 goals!

A Challenge- #NoSodaSummer

It's no secret that I love reading other blogs. One that I really love and find inspiring is Freckleberry Fit . 

This lady is truly awesome and what she has gone in the last year was awesome! Anyway, she has issued a summer challenge- A No Soda Summer. The challenge is from June 1- August 31. 

Since I am a little late, I will end my challenge September 10th. 

So here it goes:

  #NoSodaSummer

This is a big deal for me because if you know me at all you know I am addicted to caffeine. If you think I am joking, you don't know me well enough. While I have definitely lowered the amount of soda I intake in the last month or so, I never can seem to cut the habit. 

Here is my chance to be a part of a mini community and kick the soda habit once and for all. My goal is by September 10th to not even want to drink soda again. 

Please wish me luck and give me all your support. 

Here is some of information Ashley from Freckleberry Fit put on her blog: 

 Those who drink large amounts of diet soda for long periods of time often experience tooth erosion, rotting, decay and other types of oral damage – in many cases just as bad or worse as the effects experienced by long-term drug users, according to a new study published in the journal General Dentistry.

Well, good grief! I think I need to stop drinking soda! 

Well, Here it Goes

So I joined this diet bet. And it starts February 1st. 

I found it on this blog I follow, and I guess diet bets are a big thing. All you do is buy in and then lose 4% of your starting weight. There are tons of diet bets out there, and you can even start one of your own. 

Currently, our pot is up to $350 and if I meet my goal I get part of the pot. 

Pretty Cool! Now I just need to lost the weight! 

Wish me luck.

50 by 50

When I was home for Christmas I went through a lot of my old stuff. I was trying to clean and organize all the crap I have stored at my parent's house. 

Anyway, when I went through my stuff I found all my old journals. And it was hilarious! I had the best time reading all my journals, but there was one especially that I just died when I read. 

This was my journal from Fall of 2007- Summer of 2009. 

Be prepared for a few journal entries in the Flashback Friday series. But for now I wanted to share the 50 by 50 list I came up with in August 2009. 

I was in Florida and my cousin Jessie and I made our personal 50 by 50. At the time, I had just turned 21 and I thought it would be a great idea. Now, it has only been 3 1/2 years but it crazy to see all the weird stuff I wrote as goals. I mean some of this stuff is just bizarre! 

So here it goes, and with personal commentary! 

1. Get my masters (okay not too bad)

2. Get my PHD (doing good) 

3. Adopt at last one baby from China (some would say this is admirable) 

4. Get married in the temple 

5. Go to Africa and volunteer with an AIDS organization (again admirable)

6. Read the Harry Potter books

7. Run a half marathon (bahahahaha yeah right) 

8. Get certified in Yoga (I actually hate yoga. I think Joe and I had just went to our first yoga class and I was really into at the time.)

9. Live in New York City 

10. Serve on a charity board (?)

11. Teach Abroad 

12. Learn to sew (yeah, that ain't ever happening. After teaching this FCS class, I am done with sewing!) 

13. Get published 

14. Learn to bake cookies, pies, and cakes from scratch (ha ha ha) 

15. Sing a solo in church (What the.... I don't think I have ever seen Joe or Matt laugh as hard as when I read this sentence to them) 

16. Get certified in scuba diving (I am deathly afraid of the ocean)
17. Visit China with my family
18. Go to major church historical sties (I went to a bunch in England, does that count) 
19. Go to Washington D.C. 
20. Go to Mount Rushmore
21. Donate Christmas gifts to charity
22. Work on a campaign (?)
23. Start personal library
24. Travel to Europe...a lot (A lot? What does that mean?)
25. Travel to Asia (Doesn't China count)
26. Go to Jerusalem
27. Give up red meat for one year
28. Organize all my photos
29. Work on my genealogy for my dad's side
30. Go to New Zealand
31. Go to Australia
32. Teach at the University level
33. Go see an Opera 
34. Throw a masquerade (Why would this be a goal?) 
35. Go to an Olympic games out of the country (YEAH!)
36. Plan someones wedding (Does mine count?)
37. Learn the thriller line dance (Wow, awesome. Some would say this is just as important as adopting a child.)
38. Learn a different language
39. Learn how to drive a stick shift
40. Learn how to change a tire
41. Learn how to change the oil in a car
42. Ride in a gondola (Wouldn't I do this in Europe.. A lot?) 
43. Drive coast to coast road trip
44. Go to Egypt see the pyramids
45. Take a cooking class
46. Go to my high school reunion (?)
47. Better my piano skills
48. Go on a safari
49. Go on a cruise (I hate cruises) 
50. Learn calligraphy (Wow... what a good life skill)

What I noticed is there is A LOT of repetition- for example: On my road trip, I would probably see Mount Rushmore.

And while in Asia, I would go to China.

Also, there are a lot of things I am NOT going to do. {I.E. Sing a solo in church.}

But at least this ended up as a funny blog post! 

Do What Makes You Happy

{image via} 

While searching the world of blogs today, I came across this little sign. 

It is a little strange that I found this saying and in such way that I would love it. {If you haven't noticed, I love owls.} 

Do What Makes YOU Happy. 

The last couple of weeks, I have felt a little like I haven't achieved anything. I look at Facebook or in my own family, and I think well geez I have done literally nothing with my life. 

I know that this is a bit ridiculous because I have accomplished a lot of things

{Going away to Hawaii for school, London Study Abroad, Got Married in the Temple, Graduated from College, Got a Full Time Teaching Job Right out of School... etc.}

So I know I have done things, but I feel like they just aren't enough. With people having babies, traveling around the world, or continuing their education- I feel like I am just stuck in a rut, and in some sense, stuck on an island- literally! 

But what I realized is that these things are what OTHER people are doing. While it is hard not to- I cannot judge myself in terms of what others are doing. 

There is no need for me to rush through my life just to try to catch up with others.

Matt and I want to start a family- just not right now. 

We want to travel the world, but we want to build some savings first. 

We want to continue our education, but we want to have some real world experience first. 

See, everything that other people are doing is great, but it is their lives, not ours. 

Right now I am working full time to help Matt finish up his Bachelors in Social Work. 

And that is good. 

Right now we are planning our next adventure. 

And that is enough for right now. 

At the end of the day you have to Do What Makes You Happy. 

I hope you are doing the same.

It's An End of An Era.... or at the Very Least 2012

Happy New Year all my faithful readers! 

I hope your 2012 was great and your 2013 is even better! 

I want to take this time to thank you all for reading my blog. It means so much to me that my words and stories are being heard. 

Our New Year's Eve and and New Year's Day was good and I will blog about that later, but for now I want to talk about resolutions. 

For the last month or so Matt and I have been talking about our resolutions or goals for the new year. There are a lot of things I want to work on, but here are a few: 

Work on my patience with my husband and my students

Have F.H.E (family home evening) more frequently in my home

Run/ Exercise 4+ times a week

Finish....Start my first book (yup that's right I have an idea for a book that I am working on)

Figure out a way to eat more vegetables .... and enjoy doing it

Actually stick to our monthly budget 

Cut back on my soda intake 

There are many more goals that Matt and I both have either as a couple, or as individuals, but some are more personal and I did not want to bore you to death! 

I hope you all have something you are trying to work on... even if it is just flossing your teeth on a more regular basis! I think goals make us better and help us focus on improving our lives. 

Good luck with your 2013 and please stay safe! 

Goals-Goals-Goals

I have been saying this for awhile now, but now I am going to write it! I want to lose weight and get in better shape. There I said it... I am not ashamed... well, a little, but oh well. We are all friends here right? Right? I hope so at least. I was at a good weight about a year and a half ago- so it is possible, and I am young. I want to be -as the Brits would say- fit!

So here is where I am starting, I am NOT going to tell you my starting weight-- that would just send me in a deep depression! And I probably won't tell you how much weight is coming off, but I will share the journey.

Now, if this bores you, don't read it. I just feel it is time to keep myself accountable, and what better way then my through my large following of 11 people!

Matt has been a trouper but the thing about husband (or at least my husband) is he is pretty sweet and is too nice to say uh, honey you are starting to to have 3 chins. Another thing about Matt is he is Asian- meaning small- meaning doesn't really have to worry about what he eats. He could eat a value meal, 5 candy bars, and a soda and LOSE weight, meanwhile, I THINK about eating that and I gain 10 pounds.

So here we are. Here are some goals. I have been talking with my dad about it and I was saying oh I am trying to kick the soda habit and candy and fast food, etc. And he simply said, 'Just do it'. Now, I know it will NOT be that easy, but it's the exact right mindset. Just do it- no excuses. In another conversation we were talking about running and I was complaining about how hard it was. And my dad said 'Well, if it was easy there would be no overweight people.' Now, my dad is freakishly fit and takes pretty good care of himself, but his attitude, while pretty extreme, is what I want to have.

I need to stop justifying the soda (oh my head hurts, or I am tired, or just this last one, etc.) and I need to realize I can NOT eat what my husband eats. Now, I know the tone of this post is a little light hearted, but the message is serious. And this has been extremely hard to admit, not only to myself, but here on my blog. But that is what it is MY BLOG- my personal space- and if I can't be myself here and honest then what am I doing?

So here are my goals:

1. Run at least 4x a week (I have been pretty okay with this- thanks to my dad- this will hopefully increase once I no longer have to both student teach and work at the Reading Writing Center

2. Kick the soda (cold turkey- I can do it)

3. Kick sweets and fast food

4. Eat more fruits and veggies

Four goals sounds like a good start! I know a lot of people say not to rush kicking all your bad habits, but with me it's best because I love to justify and with my personality extreme is better.

Wish me luck and thanks in advance for your support.

Running Week 4

It has been a whole month since I have been running- these last two weeks have been rough, but I have stuck with it. This last month Matt and I have also been trying to eat at home a little more, but we have our struggles! Operation Portia DeRossi has not been going well, but with this running routine going ok- and by ok everyday is a struggle- this week I am going to commit myself to eating better. This means NO eating out!!!!!! We have our menu all set and it looks good! Wish us good luck!

Meanwhile, I ran four miles Friday so YAY!

I will keep you updated!

Running Week 2

So in August I am starting to play lacrosse again! I am SO excited! But, I have not played since freshman year at Georgia College.. so Matt and I have been throwing around to get used to playing again. BUT I have also not RUN in a LONG LONG time.... soooo I my dad has been texting me everyday with how far to run!

Now, that might seem a little weird to people, but I have stuck with it for TWO weeks and it is great. Now, I still hate it, but it is great to just have a plan one day at a time! This plan is keeping me accountable and I do love this part of it!

Anyway, I will keep you updated on my running progress!

Projects for the Summer

Since I have the next 12 weeks without school I plan on getting a lot accomplished! My CRAZY grandmother-in-law asked me if I would have an apron on and dinner on the table by the time Matt comes home... of course I said UH NO!

This summer is different because now Matt will be the one working and going to school, while I will just be working. Since we both will be working through dinner time we decided to just have easy meals around the house to grab on the go... Plus, if you know me you know I DON"T COOK!!!

So since I no longer have to worry about putting dinner on the table I have come up with some projects to do over the break!

1. Work on genealogy for the Fahey side of my family. Lately, I have been so interested in finding out about my dad's side so this will be a perfect time!

2. Putting photo albums together!!! I am soooo far behind at putting these together. Right now my biggest concern is LONDON! I can't believe in a few months it will have been TWO years! And of course I have my wedding.... and Hawaii.... and one that I want to do for my bff.... It's so much but if I just get a couple done I would feel so much better.

3. Work on my journal. I need to be so much better about this on a daily occurrence, but I really want to write down Matt and mine story before I start forgetting all the details!

4. Work on crafting! I have always wanted to be able to be the woman that can see a piece of ribbon and be able to make something out of it. Luckily, I have been looking at some blogs and there are some great tutorials and projects that I can get started on! Now don't worry, I am not going to be Holly the housewife... but I just want to be able to do some stuff!

5. Study for the GRE and Praxis II! This should probably be at the top of my list, but I can't be bothered!

Well, I think that is enough goals for right now!

What are your summer goals?