Brain Dump and Questions

Once again, it has been a bit since I've posted.  I'm still working through the balance of school and work happening in my life.  It's quite busy really. 

I find myself at that place where I have secured some new friends, but am now worrying about their status in my life.  Do we ever get to a point where we don't worry about these things?  My mother, 30 years wiser than I, still worries about what other people think of her.  I'm afraid that with my over-thinking tendencies I'm destined to worry my entire life.  It just takes so much energy that I would much rather spend reading, writing papers, or heck, just watching tv.  

I'm not bold enough to think I will never have to worry about what anyone thinks, but it would be nice to worry about it less.  I'm constantly baffled by the ability some people have to do this, and I just don't understand.  If you know about the Myers-Briggs personality assessment, it may not surprise you that I tend to test back and forth each time I take it as either a "t" or an "f" (thinker or feeler).  I'm always working to reconcile these conflicting sides of me without diminishing one or the other.  

Obviously, I haven't found a great way to do that just yet. 

Does anyone ever?

So many questions to ponder really. I'll keep working on it and let you know. 

Return from the darkness, if you will.

Well, that title sounds much more ominous than this post really is, but I'm back! Not in a permanent sense because, let's face it, I'm a graduate student and that means I will most assuredly be too busy to post all the time.  So, I'm back for now. 


The decision to return comes from the immense amount of over-thinking I've been doing.  Despite being so exceedingly busy, I've still managed to wrack my brain for too many comments and evaluations on life and distract myself from what I really should be focusing on (ahem:: classes:: ahem).  


Instead I'm often thinking about the creation of friendships.  They are a complicated and delicate thing, and take some nurturing for sure, but that is once they are established.  I'm still in that phase where a group of people is figuring out just what the dynamic is, do you remember that time?  We are all entirely new to each other, so it is a bit awkward and uncomfortable for a while and now all those alliances are being formed and people are breaking off into their own groups and it's just complicated.  


Of course, I'm over-analyzing my place in all of this: what are people thinking of me? Do they want to be my friend? Really my friend, not just a fake friend. It's complicated enough already, and my little brain is just spinning more and more into it.  Right now there is just too much going around in my mind to even begin to break it down for this post.  So, I'll resolve to relax about it a bit more and just spend time with folks.  


To start with, I'm making these babies tonight. mmmm. drool all over the keyboard. 

New Favorite Things

I am completely obsessed with this puppy. Absolutely my new favorite thing!

Sadly, it is sold out right now online. However, I picked mine up in store, so it could be worth a try looking there.

I use it for more than just Starbucks drinks. I can take it to the local coffee-shop and since it says how much it holds on the bottom (a cool 20 oz) they just charge me for a 20 oz drink but make it in my cup! Reusable and fabulous. Or, I just put my own iced coffee, tea, heck even lemonade in it. LOVE.

How to Simplify Your To Do List OR Get Some Stuff Done

Are you still waiting with baited breath since this post? So sorry about that. I don't know what baited breath is exactly, but it doesn't sound like a nice way to wait. oops.

Anyway, my gift from the lovely Miss B and Chronicle Books finally came! I was delighted to come home from a failure of a day of errands and trying to find running shoes to find this little package inside my door.

(I was quite eager to open it...can you tell by the ripped cardboard ala a 5 year old on Christmas morning?)

TADA! This wonderful freebie is the newest goodie from the incredibly crafty Mary Kate McDevitt. I've decided we should be bffs. She did, after all, create a wonderful way to organize my life! (Or yours!) What do you give a lady after she does a thing like that? That's right, your undying friendship. Decided. If you don't want to take my word for it, please go visit her adorable Etsy shop. Then come back and tell me I was right. Go ahead. I'll wait.

...

All set? Great. Now that we've cleared that up, take a look at this puppy.

I mean, with motivational phrases like that, how can you NOT help but get things done? You know how terrible I am about making lists, but this wonderful bunch of paper simplifies it down. Only two things to accomplish today? Why yes, I think I will. Throw in cute illustrations and motivational phrases? Don't mind if I do.

I mean, it's already working...check out my list for today.

See? Already done!

If you are as in love with this baby as I am, head on over to the Pre-Order page on Chronicle Books! Just think of what a great present this would be...especially for those folks who are a little less organized. You know, those friends you have who don't always want to get stuff done. Now you can help them get some stuff done. Or yourself. ahem. ;)