New Years Resolutions - Version 2013

Looking back at my resolutions from last year, I think I did a pretty good job of being a more awesome Carolyn. I went skydiving, read good books (Hunger Games anyone??), discovered new music (but also rediscovered some old music I haven't listen to since college and forgot how much I loved), made some good crafty things (my NC State and Spring/Summer wreaths top the list), started my plate wall, went to a place I've never been (both Spruce Pine and 1000 Islands covered this...and I guess technically Birmingham too, but that was for work - I'll eventually make my way to Montreal), definitely had great conversations, and most definitely tried to live my life as a good and positive person (even if it meant chasing down a purse snatcher).

I did change my mind on the whole DC thing, (mostly because I was just trying to figure out what to do with my life and it seemed like an easy escape) and instead decided to do something much better, which was start taking nonprofit management classes at NC State. And unfortunately I never got around to baking something really fancy, even though I baked a LOT. So all in all, I feel pretty accomplished and happy with what I did in the past year.

While totally overrated because most people don't actually stick to them and are never very serious about them past January, I do find resolutions a fun thing to think about because you have a whole year ahead of you that you don't know what's going to happen, and you can take steps to make sure it's going to be a good one and its a good way to improve upon your life (as long as you stick with them). This past year I definitely had kept my resolutions in mind, and putting them out there helped keep me accountable to them and reminded me what they were. Ha. And I think I did a pretty good job of sticking with them!

So what about 2013? I have a lot of fun things going on this year, especially the first half:

• FINISHING MY INVISALIGN! 2nd day of the year. It'll be amazing.
• One of my best friend's, Nichole's, wedding and all the surrounding events
• NC State basketball games (gotta get my student fees worth)
• Turning 27. Odd age. So we'll see how fun that really is. Ha.
• Getting a new niece or nephew!!
• Zombie Mud Run
• Heading to London for a study abroad reunion, and Barcelona for a few days afterwards with one of my best friends
• NC State football. We have a new coach. Let's see how this goes.
• Taking more classes! (HR for Nonprofits in the Spring, not sure about the Fall semester yet)

This year, I'm not sure what kind of resolutions to do. I'm probably just going to continue with the overall "Be Awesome" idea:

• It sounds uber cliche, but less so when you factor in that I've already been in a workout routine, but I'm definitely needing to start running more to get ready for the Zombie Mud Run and then my half marathon in early 2014. I'm a terrible runner, so the more practice I get in, the better. I'll keep up my kickboxing and yoga because I think that'll help too. However, I keep debating about whether or not I should avoid my gym in January and wait for the crowds to die down in the classes I go to.

• This is also going to sound cliche, but I need to start cooking more and cooking healthier. I find myself getting lazy and making pasta most nights, especially since I'm cooking for one, and all this holiday sugar has made me crave green beans and broccoli. If I can just plan my meals out every couple weeks and maybe even make some in advance depending on what they are, I'll be better off. And I'm going to use my Crock-Pot way more.

• I think I'll try to get around to that fancy baking thing this year. I really want to try making croissants. I have a recipe, I just gotta make it! And I really want to start making my own apple butter. That's an easy resolution to float over from the previous year. And same thing with the read good books, listen to good music, have good conversation, live as a good and happy person. If it's more of just continuing good life ideas, does that continue to make them resolutions?

• One new thing I'd like to try to start is writing at least one letter a week (or month...we'll see how well I can stick with this). It's kind of a "lost art" these days with email, facebook, and text messages, plus I love getting real mail and I assume others do too. And it would give me an excuse to buy fun and pretty cards and stationary!
• Do something "extreme". Last year it was skydiving. This year? Who knows. Hot air balloon ride? Ziplining? If Special Olympics does their "Over the Edge" fundraiser again where you rappel down a building downtown, that is high on my list. Who knows, I'm not exactly sure what else is out there to try. But it would be fun to do something that gets the heart racing. I'm not counting the Zombie Mud Run in this though.
• Volunteer more. Since I've decided I want to go into volunteer management, I've been kind of "studying" the different experiences I've been having volunteering, and thinking about the things I've learned in class. That's both a good and bad thing, but it can make them more thought provoking for me. My trouble is finding a consistent volunteering opportunity, so I kind of go where I can. Hopefully something will come along at some point where I can volunteer consistently with an organization.

• Lastly, I plan to study hard, work hard, and play hard! 

I think that's good for 2013! I'm looking forward to finding out what's ahead in the new year :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

A Touristy NY Christmas

In case you didn't know, I love Christmas. No, I don't think you get it. I. love. Christmas. I love it more than anything pumpkin, which, if you know me, that is a big statement. There is just something about the holidays: the decorations, the music, the holiday movies, everyone's cheerfulness, Advent and the overwhelming spirit at church, I love it all.

Now, I've also been to New York City many times. It's to the point where a lot of the typical touristy things I've already done, so since now I'm usually going to go just to visit my friend Laura, we do more non-mainstream things (which I like). However, the one thing I haven't done is Christmas in New York and all those fun touristy activities. So when I planned my visit to see Laura for December, I got the idea of being super touristy (especially since she doesn't do those types of things either)!

We started Saturday by attempting to go and get tickets for a matinee show on Sunday at the TKTS booth in Brooklyn. Mega fail on our part because the tickets ended up being waaaay more than we wanted to pay, so we decided to pass on that, but at least we did see this pretty tree in the MetroTech Center!

Up next was a holiday market in Union Square!

There were all sorts of cool items, from hats made with alpaca hair, lots of hand crafted jewelry, different types of chocolate, and even an irish gifts booth (I had to resist like crazy there). We pretty much just window shopped, but seeing all the different and fun things was great. 

Since it starts to get dark early, we decided to head to Central Park for some ice skating fun! Now, I've actually done this about ten years ago, but it was mid-March and the ice was starting to melt, so it wasn't holiday-y and NYC wintery. There's always ice skating in Rockefeller, but seeing as how I'm not a fan of painfully large crowds, I much preferred the idea of Central Park. Plus the setting is absolutely perfect. 

We didn't fall once! And weren't the people holding onto the wall! All in all, a success. Even though the little kids embarrassed us by being way better than we were. And of course, it wouldn't be a super touristy Christmas if we didn't see a couple get engaged on the rink...and we did! Adorable.

One thing that I've always heard about and seen stories on are the windows in department stores on Fifth. The themes of the windows change every year, but they're always elaborate displays that are way better than the typical advertising windows. We didn't see every store, but we did see Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, and Macy's. All spectacular! Lord and Taylor's windows were probably my favorite.

Bergdorf Goodman:

Lord & Taylor:

Macy's:

Other buildings were all covered and lights and other holiday things, but I really think that every store, department store or not, should totally do their windows like this.

Of course, it wouldn't be a touristy Christmas trip if we didn't see the tree in Rockefeller Center! For someone who doesn't like crowds, I was surprisingly eager to see it. I mean, it's a HUGE Christmas tree covered in pretty lights! My love of Christmas outweighs my distaste for crowds.

Now that I've done this once, I don't need to do it again because holy crowd. The fact that we were able to weave our way through the crowd and get a decent picture with the tree in the background had to be a Christmas miracle or something. It was super pretty though, so I'm glad we went!

We ended the awesome Christmasy day with an amaaaaaaaaaazing sushi dinner at Taro Sushi. Pretty sure the best tuna I have ever had. We also hit up the Brooklyn Museum for Target First Saturday where we saw a dance troupe, an awesome collection by Brooklyn artists, and just walked around to check out some of the displays.

Oh. And we also saw a guy with these light up pants:

We had a pretty easy Sunday, starting with going to church at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. I love going to church during the Christmas/Advent season, so I wanted to go to the Brooklyn Tabernacle because they have an amazing choir and I was hoping to hear some Christmas music and a great message. Well. The choir was fantastic. But not Christmasy. Bummer. And the service overall was way more evangelical than I was expecting. I loved the diversity of the church and all, but not really my style. (Side note: makes me realize how perfect where I go now is. It's kind of nice when something like that happens)

Following church, we hit up Cheryl's Global Soul for brunch. Oh. Em. Gee. I love brunch, and this was a win.

The people who worked there were awesome and omgggg that hot cocoa. And the food was incredible. I will definitely want to go back there again.

We needed a walk after brunch, so we went the three miles around Prospect Park.

Prospect Park definitely looks like a place I'd want to hang out. It's calm but busy with activity at the same time. I got to see parts of Brooklyn that I hadn't seen yet too. Also, it appears that they have a problem with people falling through the ice in the winters because there are ladders everywhere to fish people out.

I ended my time in NYC by trying Indian food for the first time and watching a Bollywood movie with Laura and some of her friends!

I've always been nervous about Indian food because of how spicy food sets my mouth on fire, but trying it with people who know what they're doing, made it easier. And it was way delicious! The movie we watched was Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, which is super adorable and I highly suggest it (it's on Netflix, but be warned, like most Bollywood movies, they are loooooooong).

All in all, it was a great trip to New York, filled with lots of new experiences (but most importantly time spent with one of my best friends)!

Color Run Charlotte 5K!

So let me tell you one thing first. I don't really like running. In general, I find it boring. Sometimes if I've had a long, stressful day, I just want to run it out, so I might go run a little. And if I have a good playlist going, then it's not so bad, or if I have someone to go with. But in general, I prefer to stick to yoga and kickboxing for my exercise. 

But with that being said, you give me something fun in a run, and I am ALL for it. So when my best friend Megan suggested we do the Color Run 5K, I quickly agreed. Luckily we kept up with the registration dates because two days after it opened, it had sold out! 

The premise behind the Color Run is at every kilometer they would throw color on you so you'd be covered in the end! It made it way easier to run it because every time you saw the color stations, you would have motivation to run to it. 

Unfortunately in the week before the run, Megan got sick so she wasn't able to come with me :(. But one of my other best friends, Amy, who lives in Charlotte and we were planning to stay with, stepped in to her spot to run with me!

There were tons and tons of people there!! It was so packed! But we needed to stretch beforehand...

We had to get the classic "pre-color" shot with our nice clean shirts and headbands!

We were pumped up and ready to go! It was clear skies, but about 40 degrees and windy. We wanted to RUN just so we could get warm!

Since there were so many people, they divided up in sections as you went so you'd be able to run and there would be enough space so everyone wouldn't hit the color stations at the same time. Luckily, we ended up in the very front of our little wave! We were running around the outside of the Charlotte Motor Speedway!

The way the color stations worked were the volunteers were on the side either using their hands or squeeze bottles to get it on you. You had to run kind of slow to make sure you got covered. There was blue, pink, yellow, orange, and then the major color bomb at the end (which I'll explain in a minute). Some people really wanted to make sure they were covered in color and started rolling on the ground in the extra powder. 

Lots of people dressed up for the run too. Many people were in tutus, or other crazy getups. There was even a guy in a tutu. It was great. There were also a lot of families running it, and even a lady who broke her foot having her friend push her in her wheelchair. She was NOT going to miss this.

Amy and I ended up running about 2 miles of the race, which is way impressive for me considering I haven't had time to do any type of training. We mostly walked the hills, but we made sure to run through all the color stations and across the finish line! There was no way to know our time since we didn't have stop watches with us, but this was more about the fun anyways!

We got COVERED in color!! It was great! Amy got some all in her hair, and it soaked through our clothes too. But it was a total blast!

After the run they did this "Color Festival" where there was a DJ playing some music and everyone was dancing around, just having fun. And preparing for the COLOR BOMB!

 The Color Bomb was probably the BEST part of the day. After counting down to 10, we took our extra color packets we got and everyone threw them in the air and danced around! It felt like a mid-day rave almost.

All in all, it was a GREAT way to do a 5K, and I am totally planning on doing the Color Run again! I was in such a good mood the rest of the day, and I'm still on a color high!