Weight Loss Challenge Update

So, my fiance and I are doing a weight loss challenge at work. There are multiple elements to it that make it challenging. Not only do we have to eat better, but we have to eat less, and exercise more. This is a pretty significant lifestyle change for us. We aren't complete lazy bums, but we aren't fitness fanatics either.

Both of us have pretty steadily lost weight, but we've both had a week where we gained some or stayed steady and not lost any weight. Those weeks can be tough to get over, but it's something that needs to be done.

Last week was one of those weeks for me, so this week I am trying extra hard not to eat more than I need to. It's so easy to just snack, especially when bored or stressed. I am definitely a stress eater. Throughout this challenge, I am getting used to being hungry all the time, and that is one of the hardest parts!

During all this, I have had some fittings for my wedding dress, and it can get frustrating knowing that my size is affecting the fit of the dress. I just wish I could lose all the weight I want to lose and have the dress fit perfectly!

My fiance and I are also continuing to take bike rides, which is helping with the weight loss. It is definitely a commitment, and it is hard being hungry all the time, but ultimately I know it will be worth it.

To those of you who are also trying to lose weight, you can do it! We can do it together, and we will reach our goals!

Nails of the Day

After seeing reviews online, I had to buy this stunning polish that most recently caught my eye. It's called Rockin' Renaissance by Finger Paints. I went by my local Sally's Beauty this past weekend, but they were out of stock. This just made me want the polish even more!

After work on Monday, I decided to stop by a different Sally's Beauty. I went straight to the nail polish, straight to the Finger Paints collection. My eyes scanned the many shades of all colors in the rainbow, and then it fell upon Rockin' Renaissance. They had it! I immediately snatched it up.

This is my first texture polish, believe it or not. I have some rough glittery polishes, but they aren't actually designed to be textured polishes like this one. It isn't super rough, but it has enough texture to be different.

The color is sort of a brownish plum purple. Online, pictures looked more purple, but when I got to the store, the polish looked more brown. Either way, I love it!

Finger Paints also has a color called Hammered Terracotta that is also a textured polish, and although it was super gorgeous, I do have a similar color, so I resisted buying it.

I just can't stop touching my fingernails now! Do you prefer smooth or textured polishes?

Fat Tuesday

In honor of Fat Tuesday, I wanted to share my experience in New Orleans with you all. My fiance and I weren't there during Mardi Gras, but the spirits of fun, mystery, and indulgence still abounded.

New Orleans is a city like no other. It has an old-school charm in parts, while areas like Bourbon Street are just party central. From music to voodoo to seafood and more, New Orleans has something everyone will love.

Here are some of my favorite memories from the trip:

The Jazz Preservation Hall is a building with a lot of history. It has been a private residence, an inn, a tavern, and an art gallery. In 1961 it became the Preservation Hall - a place to honor and protect New Orleans jazz and its history.

If you ever go to New Orleans, you have to go to Cafe Du Monde for their beignets. If you like powdered sugar and delicious coffee, you will love this place. There is a wait, but it's sooo worth it.

Another place you have to go in New Orleans is Bourbon Street! Even if you aren't a big drinking person, you should just walk down the street for the experience. I took this picture at night and I think the blurriness is kind of symbolic of a trip down Bourbon Street ;)

One other thing I like about New Orleans is the architecture. You can see the lacy design at the top of the columns on this house. The city is full of beautiful elements like this, where you can tell someone really put time into it. These things are part of what gives New Orleans its charm.

Have you ever been to New Orleans? Do you want to go now? Do you know of any other cities that remind you of New Orleans?

Semi-Practical Splurges

Do you have certain things you like to splurge on here and there? Really, who am I kidding? Of course everyone has something they like to spend a little extra on sometimes!

Sometimes those special splurges are really pretty ordinary. Sure, it's typical to splurge on makeup or purses, but I'm talking about semi-practical splurges. Things that you do actually need, but you might not need the fanciest version.

One of my fun things that I am always tempted to spend a little extra on is - believe it or not - soap!

When I saw this ad in the coupon inserts of the Sunday paper, I was immediately drawn to it. Wild basil and lime, orchid petals and mint water, peony and plum. Who wouldn't want those scents? Not to mention, the bottles are sleek and stylish. 

This might be a weird thing to spend a little extra on, but I love nice-smelling soap, and it feels luxurious when it is dispensed from a pretty bottle. Usually I just buy a bottle of soap and then buy a big bottle of refill soap and keep using the same old bottle.

But I think it might be time to change up my bottle and get something a little special. Yes, it is just soap, but it is soap that makes me feel a little fancier - and who doesn't want that? I even have a coupon, so I definitely plan on purchasing some of this soon!

What are some of your semi-practical splurges? 

Another Liebster Award!

Wow, I am happy to say I was nominated for yet another Liebster Award by the lovely Angie at Angie's Angle! The answers to my questions are below.

1.  Why did you start blogging?
I felt this urge to write and express myself. I've had blogs before, but none have been permanent. This is just the latest one that hopefully will continue for years!
2.  What direction would you like your blog to take?
I'd like this blog to be a reflection of my personal life -- a place where I can share ups and downs and a place that focuses on positivity and seeing the good in everything.
3.  If you could have an evening (dinner, movie/walk) with anyone living or dead, who would it be and why?
I'm not a big history person, so I'd have to say my fiance! We always have the best times together and even when things don't go according to plan, it is perfect and we manage to have a great time.
4.  Imagine you could go on vacation anywhere - where would you go and who would you take with you?
Out of all the places I've traveled, one of my favorites was the Florida Keys. I could travel anywhere in the world, but I'd choose this place that is nearly in my back yard (only a few hundred miles away). Of course I would go with my fiance! There is something magical about the water and the air down in the Keys.
5.  What would be the first thing you would splurge on if you were to win a jackpot?
A Chevrolet Corvette, of course!
6.  If you could domestic any animal as a pet, what would it be and why?
I'd domesticate a dolphin because they are cute, always smiling, and bring happiness to everyone.
7.   Do you have any hidden talents?
Well, I was born with an extra finger, and although it was removed, my thumb on that hand can bend in some pretty funky ways!
8.  What is your favorite way to relax?
A rum and coke, fresh air, and some jammin' music.
9.  If you could have one wish granted right now, what would it be?
I'd like to have more time, but mostly more energy so I can make better use of the time I have.
10.  What is your favorite season and why?
Well, it used to be summer, but our summers in Florida lately have been so suffocating that I think I have to say spring! Everything is blooming, there is a cool warmth (doesn't make sense, I know) to the air, and it overall just exudes positive vibes.
11.  Name 3 other blogs that you enjoy reading. 
Party of One | Neatly-Packaged | Notes from a Newlywed

Thank you all so much for checking out my answers. Questions? Comments? You know what to do! ;)

V8 Fusion Energy: A Review

Disclaimer: I was not recruited to promote this product. It is simply a drink that I enjoy, and all opinions are my own.

Lately I have been feeling like I just don't have the energy to do the things I want to do. It can be very frustrating because you just see tasks piling up in front of you. Especially being at work, sometimes you need something to give you that boost to get through the day.

I present to you: V8 Energy Fusion! This is a healthy alternative to typical energy drinks.

The health benefits are amazing, and it comes in three flavors: Peach Mango, Pomegranate Blueberry, and Orange Pineapple. My personal favorite is Peach Mango. The flavor is super smooth and delicious.

As far as health benefits go, you get a whole serving of vegetables and fruit in one can! It also provides energy from green tea and is "an excellent source of B vitamins." All of this, and it's only 50 calories! How could it get better than that?

Now, this does not give me as much of a buzz as a Red Bull or coffee does, but it does give me just enough of a boost to get through the day. I usually have one of these mid-afternoon, when the day is nearing the end but isn't quite there yet!

Sometimes when you are dragging, it can help to have that pick-me-up so you at least feel like you have a chance of doing what you want to get done. What treats do you enjoy to give you a boost toward the end of the day?

Working on my Fitness

My fiance and I have been doing a weight loss challenge through work for about a week, and today was the first day that we decided to do some serious exercise to help contribute to our weight loss.

We set our alarm half an hour earlier and decided to take a bike ride around our neighborhood. It was early, and we didn't get up quite when the alarm went off, but we got out there and did our thing.

I really thought it was going to be a lot harder than it ended up being. We went to bed early last night so we'd be sure to be plenty rested for the ride today. I actually ended up waking earlier than we had to, but I just laid in bed until the alarm went off. And then I laid in bed a little more, but not as much as I expected!

Once I got up, it was easy to get dressed and get outside. I'd already laid out my outfit for this morning last night. And once I stepped outside, it was even easier to be motivated to ride because the weather was so beautiful! It was warm, but not hot, and everything had that fresh, morning feel to it.

We only ended up riding for about 10 minutes, but that's 10 more minutes than if we would have stayed in bed! It was a really mind-clearing experience, and it was nice feeling like the whole world was at our fingertips, before everyone else woke up and went out and about.

Does the morning give you that same feeling? What do you like to do in the morning before everyone else gets going? When do you like to work out?

What Does Blogging Mean to You?

What does blogging mean to you? To some people, it might mean having a certain number of pageviews and comments daily. To others, the goal might be more spread out, like once a week. And still, to others the goal might simply be to have comments whenever the mood to post strikes. There are others who might not even care about comments and page views, and the most important thing to them would be expressing themselves.

Image: www.ekaterinawalter.com

There are so many different goals we all have when we put our fingers to the keyboard. Because of that, none of us should base our success off of what other people are doing. Just because someone gets all the comments and page views, doesn't mean your blog is pointless. Just because someone posts daily when you only post weekly, doesn't mean your blog is pointless.

We need to keep these things in mind when we are analyzing our blog and its success. Not all of us have ideas for blog posts daily, and not all of us have the network to give us 20 comments on every post. That is ok! For most of us, part of blogging is personal -- we do it for us! It is important to keep that in mind when you start comparing yourself to others.

No one can write like you can, and no one is going to have the same exact thoughts and statements as you. Your words are valuable, no matter how successful you think they are. We all have value, and our blogs mean something unique to each of us!

ABC's of Me

Today's post is a little lighter and sillier than usual. Remember how much fun it was doing surveys on MySpace back in the day? Well here is a little flashback, where you can get to know a little more about me!

A - Age: 26
B - Birthday: July 30
C - Color: mellow yellow
D - Drink: rum & coke!
E - Eyes: blue gray
F - Flashback: things were much simpler during school days!
G - Gent: my fiance Mike!
H - Hobby: taking photos, racing, dance, travel when possible
I - Indulgence: nail polish and purses
J - Job: quality coach for an internet company
K - Kiddos: my kitties, Turbo and Nitro
L - Love: peacefulness, living in the moment
M - Music: everything except heavy metal. currently loving Alt-J!
N - Nation: USA!
O - Overstock: clothes
P - Pets: Turbo and Nitro
Q - Quote: "Everything drifts. Always in waves." - Kurt Halsey Fredriksen
R - Residence: Jacksonville, FL
S - Siblings: one brother, and two future sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law!
T - Temperature: 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit
U - University: UNF
V - Vehicle: Infiniti G35, but saving up for a Corvette!
W - Want: more free time!
X - X: xyz?
Y - Yuck: olives
Z - Zodiac: Leo

As always, I love your thoughts and comments! <3

Currently Reading

You know the library in Beauty and the Beast? I have always wanted a library like that. Stacks and rows of books everywhere. But I was really more of a reader when I was younger than I am now. Now I prefer magazines, but I still will pick up a book here and there.

Right now I am reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I started it forever ago, but haven't read it in a while, actually. Since I am writing a post about it, maybe this will motivate me to get back into reading. It's a really intense book, and it's one of those books you have to focus on. You can't just read it when you're tired and only half- paying attention.

Part of the fun of reading is relaxing while you read, and that's why I prefer magazines. I don't have to be super focused, and I can even skip parts of magazines. With a book, you can't do that. It's strange because I used to get addicted to books, but now it just seems that I don't have the time! I miss that feeling though.

One of the magazines I really like to read is Bridal Guide. It is about all things bridal, of course! Ceremonies, receptions, decoration, honeymoons, you name it! Now that I have a lot of my wedding vendors already booked and a lot of my ideas fleshed out, I don't need to delve into the magazines as deeply anymore, but they are still always a fun treat when they arrive in the mail!

What books and magazines do you look forward to reading?

Don't Forget Time for Fun!

Wow, things have been so busy lately and I've been totally absent from the blogging world! What have I missed? I've tried to keep up with you ladies and leave comments on your blogs, but sometimes it is impossible to get everything done!

Work has been totally overwhelming lately, but it always is at the end of the month. There are goals to reach and lots of meetings always scheduled during this time. It is stressful, but I am getting through it. I am happy to be returning to blogging, though!

It is easy to get caught up in work (whether for your job or home life), and forget to allow yourself to have a little fun. I just reminded myself today that it is ok to take a break sometimes, and it is necessary to allow yourself to have fun! Be sure to take that time out to let yourself let loose.

Photo: Trivia Tonight

Some things I enjoy doing and plan on doing really soon are trivia, riding my bicycle, playing with my cats more, and of course, blogging!

I appreciate you ladies hanging with me and still checking out my blog despite the little hiatus!

What are some things you like to do for fun when you get a chance?

Liebster Award

Oh my goodness, I've been nominated for a Liebster award! I'm so honored. Thanks to Fashion Styling by Kendra for the nomination!

Here are the rules:
:: Answer the 11 questions provided by the person who nominated you.
:: Nominate 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers.
:: Create a new set of 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

Without further ado, here are the questions from Kendra for me to answer:

1. What is your favorite clothing store in the whole wide world? Forever 21
2. Would you rather wear all black or a pop of color? Pop of color!
3. If you could only wear one or the other which would you..purse or watch and jewelry? Purse; you can put stuff in it!
4. Favorite celebrity? I've never been into celebrities... so, none.
5. Boots or sneakers? Sneakers; they're so comfy!
6. For a gift would you rather be given flowers or chocolate? Flowers; super romantic
7. Favorite clothing trend of 2013? Umm.. leggings?
8. You can only wear one item of make up on your face for a day, which do you choose? Mascara
9. Notebook or a Walk to Remember? A Walk to Remember
10. Favorite brand of make up? Maybelline
11. Chevron print top or Chambray top? Chevron

I wasn't able to find any nominees, particularly who hadn't already been nominated, but I did come up with 11 more questions. Feel free to answer one or a few (or all of them)! I'd love to get to know all of you :)

1. Would you rather bungee jump or sit on the dock of the bay?
2. Do you prefer cats or dogs?
3. What is your favorite flavor of gum?
4. Would you rather read a book or watch TV?
5. What is your favorite place to shop in general?
6. Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind it?
7. What is your dream job?
8. What is your favorite snack?
9. What do you not feel guilty about splurging extra cash on?
10. What is your favorite sport?
11. Would you rather spend time at the beach or on the river?

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to getting to know you a little better!

How I Coupon

Couponing is so fun! Do you all agree? Yes, it is work, but it is rewarding work. It's fun doing the research, and then you save money that you can later spend on fun things like nail polish (or whatever sparks your interest).

The last couple weeks, our local newspaper has had quite a few coupon inserts, which is glorious for me! So many things to look through!

The way I coupon is really pretty simple. I don't consider myself an extreme couponer (although sometimes it is fun to think of myself as that), but I do invest some time into saving money.

Basically, here is my routine: Look through the Sunday newspaper. That's it! On my best shopping trips, I've been able to save up to 22% off my grocery bill. It's not a ton, but it's about $20 worth! Believe me, $20 can buy a lot of fun things, or it can go a long way toward another household need.

We recently got a printer for our house, so my fiance and I are excited about the ability to print things now. I am mostly excited about being able to print extra coupons! Silly us though, we bought the printer, but we didn't buy printer paper at the same time, so we will have to wait just a bit.

Do you like to coupon? What is your technique?

Healthy Habits are Hard!

Let's face it: It's hard to get off your butt and get exercising! I have so many ideas about what I'd like to do, but I haven't yet taken action on any of those ideas.

One of the primary things my fiance and I want to get into is riding our bikes. Here in Florida, the weather is pretty wacky, so that is always an excuse. It's either raining, too hot, or too cold. On the perfect days (when we aren't working), we do try to get out and ride.

Our bikes are locked up in our shed, so this will have to do.

Photo Credit: http://jimsbikeblog.wordpress.com

Our ultimate goal is to start riding our bikes before work. My fiance wants to ride three times a week (!!!) but we are going to start with just one. I'm sure it won't be too hard once we get started. One of the most difficult parts for me is going to be getting up early.

What I'm going to try to do to overcome that tough part is envision the results. I do the same thing at work. Have a picture in a convenient place of what you are working toward. You know you will be so much happier and proud of yourself when you reach that goal. You don't want to let yourself down, do you?

What are the biggest obstacles for you when it comes to exercise? How do you plan to overcome them?

Real vs. Fake Flowers for Weddings

"Ewwww, she's using fake flowers!" This is what I hear so often on all those wedding shows on TLC. You know the ones. Fake is always less appealing than real, but does it have to be that bad? I don't think so.

Real flowers, of course, do have a lot of advantages. They smell pretty. They are poised in a certain way that just makes them look full of life. They provide a soft touch. But if you don't touch them, how obvious are fake flowers?

Fake flowers have their advantages too. Specifically for weddings or other events, you can arrange the flowers beforehand and not worry about last-minute arrangements. You don't have to worry about keeping the flowers fresh-looking.

I am leaning toward having fake flowers at my wedding because it is more economical. The only thing is, I will need to read up on flower arrangement so I can construct some pretty things. Fake flowers can be more costly if you go for the ones that really look really real, but I don't need that. As I've mentioned before, weddings are about the couple, not the decorations.

What is your opinion on fake flowers? Would/did you use them at your wedding, and would you use them in your home?

Winter Skin

With winter still in full force in much of the country, skincare can become an issue. It's dry and cold, and those are not ideal conditions for glowing skin.

Many people have a plethora of skincare items, including anti-aging stuff. Personally, I think you don't need to use anti-aging anything until you're 40 or 50. Even then, embrace who you are! Wrinkles and spots add character and wisdom. All these fancy beauty products are aiming to make us all the same, and I don't know about you, but I don't want that.

However, I do use a couple products on my skin, especially in the winter, just to keep myself feeling healthy and fresh. First of all, I like to use basic lotion (after a shower especially) to moisturize. I use this mostly on my arms and legs. My favorite lotions are from Bath and Body Works. When I want to feel extra sexy, I use the Forever Red. The smell is super luxurious!

I also use a few products from The Body Shop for my face. It is a three-step process. I don't do this daily, but only when I'm feeling like I need a face refresher.

First, I use the facial cleanser in the shower to clean off makeup and any other buildup from throughout the day. The next step happens after the shower. The toner is rubbed all over my face to help clarify. After that, the last thing I do is apply some facial lotion, lightly, over my face.

These steps give me a nice, fresh glow, and I smell good too! My skincare routine is not extreme, but when necessary, I like using these products. What skincare products do you like to use for yourself particularly in the winter?

Click Chicks Challenge: Vision

This week I am participating in Krystal's Click Chicks challenge. Every week, she'll challenge readers to take photos about a certain topic and blog about them. This week's topic is vision. The challenge asks "What do you see? What are you planning? What do you hope for?"

I've always enjoyed looking at things in different ways -- intellectually, spiritually, and physically. Since this is a photo post, this will focus on the physical ways that I look at things differently.

One of my favorite photo techniques is macro. I love looking at things up close. When you are closer, you can see things that you normally wouldn't. You can also see something else entirely, if it's close enough. It can alter the shape of the object, and if the focus is on a unique point, it will disguise the object further.

Looking Down a Straw

Sometimes macro photography isn't about getting a different perspective, however. Sometimes it is just about getting a closer look so you can admire the tiny elements of something and all the beauty within.

Layers of Glitter Polish

What is your vision? What do you see, and how do you like looking at things?

You Are What You Think About

Here I am, sitting around trying to brainstorm blog post ideas.

What about this? No, that's not unique. Or this other idea? Everyone knows about that. It's nothing new. You don't have any ideas.

Suddenly, I realized that I didn't have ideas because I was telling myself I didn't have any good ideas. I'm never going to come up with something if I keep telling myself I have no ideas!

This concept can apply to more than just blog posting. With the new year, we are all trying to accomplish something -- whether that is losing weight, cooking at home more often, or simply staying positive throughout the year.

How are you planning on accomplishing that? What is your thought process? It is easy to put yourself down. Sometimes even when you want to do something, you tell yourself you can't do it, or it's hard, or your ideas are worthless. But that's not true!

Don't let your brain trick you into an alternate reality. The reality is, you have a world of possibility. Allow your mind to wander. Allow yourself the chance to accomplish those goals without any negativity butting its way in. You deserve it!

Guest Post: Neatly-Packaged

Today I have a special guest post for you all! This is from my fantastic friend Nancy!

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Hi there! My name is Nancy and I am the proud writer for Neatly-Packaged :) When I came to Rachel with the idea that we do a guest post on each other as a way to put our new blogs out there, she loved it! She initially reached out to me after seeing through my blog that we had more than a few things in common and I was more than thrilled to hear from her. And thus our bloggy friendship was born :)

I started blogging about 3 months ago as a way to document my adventures post-graduation from university. Neatly-Packaged is my little piece of the internet where I write my likes, dislikes, adventures, and passions. I had really no idea what the blogging world was like and only had a tiny glimpse through the movie “Julie & Julia.” So when I found myself spending hours surfing the web, pinning on Pinterest, and watching countless shows on Hulu, at my now finacé’s office I knew I needed to do something. The credit for the commencement of Neatly-Packaged really goes to my finacé. He suggested that I start a blog and maybe one day I could make money off of it. Now this is not my sole purpose of writing Neatly-Packaged but it is something nice to look forward to. Getting paid for writing my thoughts? Cool!

I am 23 years old and newly engaged. I graduated from The University of Texas at San Antonio with my B.A. in French and minor in International Business. I had every intention of attending law school after I graduated but that is not what the stars had planned for me. I met my very handsome fiancé, fell hopelessly in love, and made the promise to follow him :)

My hobbies include reading my nook, looking for great deals on wine, reading greeting cards, and most recently blogging :)

I have really enjoyed becoming fully immersed into the blogging world and figuring out the ins and outs. Reading some truly, beautifully written posts and makes new friends like Rachel have really made this experience worth it. Please check out my blog as well as Rachel’s and lets become friends too :)

-NP

Simple Escape

Do you ever have those experiences where something simple transports you to a different place and time? For me, it doesn't happen super frequently, but when it does, it's usually a fun daydream.

Today my fiance and I went on a bike ride, and afterward I was super hot. Despite the cold in the rest of the country, it's actually pretty decent here in Florida. I noticed a fan sitting on the shelf next to me, so of course I started using it.

As soon as I started fanning myself, I closed my eyes and enjoyed the cool breeze. Almost immediately, I was transported elsewhere. It was unexpected, but I ended up feeling like a rich lady sitting by the pool, surrounded by luxuries, including my fan providing the freshest breeze.

I felt like I was in California, sitting beside an infinity pool, surrounded by hibiscus and other tropical delights. Of course I had a fruity rum drink in my hand in this little fantasy.

It was short lived, but it was a nice little daydream that interrupted my ordinary day. It's nice to allow yourself to have these simple escapes. Sometimes it's one of the only things that can keep us going.

Always allow yourself to dream!

2014 Inspiration

I am participating in a 2014 Blogger Challenge, where a topic is given at various times throughout the year, and bloggers write a post about it. The first topic is inspiration. Instead of coming up with resolutions, which I've already decided against, the idea is to share an inspirational quote or picture. Here's mine:

This image appeared on my feed a few weeks ago and I had it saved on my phone. It really spoke to me, because so often in life I tend to go along with the flow even if it's something I don't feel too crazy about.

It's easy to let other people make the decisions in life. But ultimately, if you're not making the effort to put aside some time for yourself to do something fulfilling, you're really harming yourself. This happens to me way too often. I usually don't realize I haven't been taking care of myself until it's been so long that I feel like I'm suffering.

On a similar note, the people you surround yourself with can impact your well-being too. If there is someone around you who doesn't make you feel good, get them out of your life (as much as possible). It's ok to not be friends with everyone.

What is most important is that you surround yourself with positive things and positive energy so your soul can be nourished and fulfilled. Going into the new year, I am going to focus on living in the moment and making sure I don't sacrifice too much to the point that it is harmful.

Want $1,378 for Free?

The only thing this will cost you is a little willpower. I've seen this idea various places across the web, and it is a great way to save a little extra cash!

Basically, each week of the month, you'll deposit some cash into a savings account, and at the end of the year, you'll have a total of $1,378! Here is how it works:

Week 1: Deposit $1

Week 2: Deposit $2

....

....

....

Week 51: Deposit $51

Week 52: Deposit $52

There are 52 weeks in the year, so whatever week it is, deposit that much cash. I've obviously skipped quite a few weeks in my example above, but you get the idea.

Some people like to reverse this plan instead. Money can get tight around the holidays, and setting aside $50ish might be a squeeze for some. Sometimes we even have a little extra cash at the beginning of the year after receiving gifts from people!

Instead, you could follow a plan that goes like this:

Week 1: Deposit $52

Week 2: Deposit $51

....

....

....

Week 51: Deposit $2

Week 52: Deposit $1

I already have some budgets and a savings plan in place, so I'm not sure if I will do this challenge this year, but let me know if you plan on doing it! I'll be rooting you on!

Living Day by Day

Do you ever feel like you just don't have a plan and you don't know what direction you want to take? That's how I feel about 2014.

So many of you have goals of weight loss, blog organization, doing things to make yourself happier... but what do I want? Do I need to want something specific? What does it mean about me if I don't have specific goals? What does it mean for 2014?

There are so many questions I could dwell on, but I'm not going to. Sometimes it's nice to live day by day without the pressure of reaching certain goals.

Sure, I would like to weigh a little less, I'd like to have a list of blog topic inspiration, I'd love to spend my days at home organizing the house and being a housewife (technically, fiancee). Some of these are possible, and some of them aren't.

There's nothing wrong with waiting until you feel up to tackling a task. The new year is inspirational for many people, and that is fantastic. I'm just not feeling it this year.. but I have a feeling that positive changes will come in the next few months.

Until then, I'll enjoy my days of nothing and living in the moment, and look forward to taking action later on! Are you excited about the new year? What goals do you have, or why do you choose not to have goals this year?