Shaking Things Up

It is time to shake my life up a bit. School is letting out here soon and I need to make some changes in my life.

1. Change jobs

Well, kind of. I am going back to Brick Oven to be a supervisor down in their bakery. I am thankful for the time that I have worked at Walgreen's. I have met wonderful people who have blessed my life even for the short time that I have worked with them. I have also learned to be a couponer! Walgreen's was not a good fit for me, however, I do believe that I was supposed to work there for the time that I did. I do not regret working there. There are a couple of things that I am looking forward to with going back to Brick Oven. I am so glad that I will not have to work on Sundays anymore. I will also have nights off again! I will be making more money. Score. I will get to work with some of my favorite people again. 

2.  Music

I have decided to finally pick a major. About time right? I am going into Music. After much prayer and pondering I have been inspired to pursue music. I do not know what I am going to accomplish after I get a degree in Music but I know that the Lord will help me in whatever I do. I know that I am not the most talented musician but I love music. There is something in my heart that stirs when I pick up my cello or sit down at the piano. I feel joy and love when I play. There are few things in my life that speak to my soul the way that music does. In my journey towards this degree I decided it is time to take lessons again. I am honestly a little frightened at the thought. I have never been very technical and my teachers in the past (whom I have loved) have been very easy on me. It is time to push myself again. It is time to grow and change.

3. Eating Habits

I know what I need to do in order to be healthy. I was doing really well for months until the holidays came. I have had the hardest time starting up again. Why do I let myself get into cycles of patterns of self-destruction? I feel better when I eat good foods and exercise but yet time and time again I do  choose not to do these things. It is time to choose to be healthy. I can do it! I need to just keep going and not get discouraged when I mess up.  

4. Savings

I need to be better at putting money away for the future and saving up for things such as retirement, vacations, children, rainy days, braces (I am determined to get braces one of these days), etc. 

5. Cleaning

It is time to do some deep cleaning in my house.

6. Patience 

I need to be patient with myself and others. I struggle with wanting change to happen immediately. I do not give the ample amount of time that is necessary for change. I need to rely on the Savior's Atonement to work miracles in his own due time. I need to be patient with myself and not beat myself up when I fail. Failing is part of life. It is okay to fail. Really it is. It is okay as long as I get back up and try again. There are important lessons that can be learned from failed attempts at change. 

What things can you change in your life? Are you feeling that gentle stomach-turning nudge inside of you that is telling you that there is something that you need to be changing in your life? Do it. Try it. Even if you fail or have failed before it is okay to keep trying. 

Becoming Healthy

Source

I have decided to tackle #9 on my bucket list.

This is the MOST important reason for #9 is that I want to become healthy.

 I know what to do. I know how to live a healthy life style but for various reasons I have not chosen to do so.  I could go on about the various excuses that often put the blame on society but really it is my own fault. I choose what to eat. I choose whether or not to exercise.

I want to change.

I will change. 



Here is my game plan for achieving not only my goal but of having a healthy energetic body:

#1: No sugar, except one day a month (for holiday's and birthday's).
#2: No soda (I have gotten into a nasty habit of drinking more soda than I used to).
#3: Eat mainly vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole wheats, whole grains, and nuts.
#4: Try to stick with lean cuts of mean. Preferably fish.
#5: Eat more food that contains probiotics such as Yogurt and Kefir.
#6: Study up on Nutrition and Health regularly
#7: Exercise between 5-6 days a week for at least 30 minutes.
#8: Drink plenty of water.
#9: Have a support system (my mom is joining me on this endeavor).
#10. Pray for help and guidance as I embark on incorporating a healthy life style into my life.

This is a pretty basic plan and it is not supposed to be a diet. It is more of a life long commitment. I have not been kind to my body in the last couple of years and if I am not careful and change my ways I would am headed down a path of various health problems that I do NOT want. I started on Monday and I have realized that I have been addicted to unhealthy food such as sugar. I hope that as I eat right and exercise, I will abolish the cravings and addiction.

What tips do you have for being healthy?

Why do you eat healthy?

Why do you exercise?

What is your motivation?

Need to Get Accomplished

Here is a list of things I need to accomplish in the next couple days:

1. Finish Moving
2. Fill out Application for a Supervisor Position
3. Turn in Application
4. Bake a Cake! (Princess themed, I am way excited to make this one!)
5. Be more consistent at posting on this blog
6. Post pictures of Cakes on blog
7. Unpack all belongings and de-clutter my life
8. Something else. I can't remember this one although I am sure it is important.
9. Remember #8.
10. Relax and Enjoy life.

Too Soon

School is almost here again! I am not very happy with Walmart right now. They have most certainly started selling Back-to-School supplies. They always jump the gun on every season such as Christmas decorations in September.
In all honesty, I love school. I love learning. Nonetheless, it is coming a tad premature for my liking. I am still trying to enjoy my summer. I semi-finished registering for classes for the fall today. I re-arranged my schedule at least 20 times. Really. I think it should be done for now though. Hopefully I can get into one of the two classes that I am on a waiting list for.

Are you going to school in the fall?


Are you ready?


Do you like school?

I should not stress about school starting soon. And neither should you. Enjoy each day of summer without worrying that it will end soon. It will end either way, so have fun and don't stress.

A side note of something almost related. I was wandering through the D.I. (A huge thrift store) the other day and I spent a little too much time looking at the books. Just looking at all of the old textbooks made me feel smarter. Does flipping through books on Aerospace Technology or Molecular Biology make me any more intelligent than if I were flipping through a cookbook? Most likely not. I also do not mind that it doesn't. I simply enjoy having a strange fascination with old scholarly books.

The Business of Growing Up

Growing up is such a peculiar business.
What does growing up mean? 
When does it happen?
Is it worth it?
What happens to the magic and excitement you feel as a child?
Is there a way of growing up without losing the enchantment of new and beautiful things?

My mother has mentioned to us children that she still hasn't felt like she has grown up. I feel like I am more grown up now than I was five years ago but I simply refuse to admit of being grown up nor do I feel grown up. I am not sure if I want to either.

When I was younger I wanted to grow up faster so I could participate in the wonderful world of driving, dating, marriage, college, etc. Why was I so eager for the next stage of life? Not that the things that I wanted were bad, they are not. They are wonderful things that have brought joy in my life. But, there are wonderful things in life at all stages of life.
Innocence and youth allow an enjoyment for the world with little reservations.
I have another goal that I think about almost everyday.
To enjoy the world as if I were young again (well younger at least, I am still young).
I want to soak up the little things.

 Sunsets
 Trees
 Love
 Flowers
 Laughter
 Joy
 Music
 Holidays
 Friends
 Books
 Art
 Rain
 Beauty

I want to have butterflies in my stomach when I see fireworks or a waterfall. I want to play pretend with my future children and believe it as much as they will.  I want my heart and soul to embrace the world with all its wonder and beauty.

Is it possible? I think so.

Caitlin's Bucket List

Writing a bucket list seems to be a popular thing to do now days. I wrote one about three and a half years ago but I recently realized that some of my life goals have changed. So here is my new and improved bucket list! (List is not in any particular order)

1.   Get Married and Have Children
2.   Finish College
3.   Learn to Drive Stick Shift
4.   Leave Someone a $100 tip
5.   Pay for a Strangers Meal
6.   Ride a Tandem Bike
7.   Sew a Dress
8.   Reupholster a Piece of Furniture
9.   Lose 50 lbs
10. Milk a Cow
11. Write and Perform a Song
12. Conduct a Symphony
13. Read the Chronicles of Narnia
14. Run a Full Marathon
15. Cook Filet Mignon
16. Catch a Fish
17. Be able to Explain Einsteins Theory of Relativity
18. Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
19. Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
20. Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with a Non-Member
21. Hike Mt. Timpanogos
22. Write and Illustrate a Children's Book
23. Go to an Italian Opera in Italy
24. Attend a Masked Ball
25. Get a Pedicure
26. Christmas Carol with Real Candles
27. Send a Message in a Bottle
28. See the First House I Ever Lived In
29. Go to White Sands National Monument Again
30. Go Hang Gliding or Paragliding
31. Spend 1 Month without T.V. or Movies
32. Leave Cookies in the Mailbox for the Mailman
33. Prepare a 5-7 Course Meal and Serve it To Loved Ones
34. Ice-skate Outside
35. See Stonehenge, Eiffel Tower, and Fontana Di Trevi
36. Sleep Under the Stars

I know there is more, but this is all I can think of right now. I will let you know when I accomplish any of them.  Feel free to ask about any of them too..I would love to tell you why I choose to put it on my list.