February Ambitions

February

Romance Myself

Write my own manifesto/mission statement: There is something so powerful about proactively defining my mission. I wrote something like this last year and found it to be so invigorating to lay out what I truly wanted in life and how I wanted to go about getting there through my actions. Another approach I may attempt is to write a letter to my younger self. Often times I seek so much information from books and websites yet neglect the overflowing wealth of wisdom that I have simply collected through my own experiences. By taking the time to do this I will be learning from my past and previous lessons.  I should be operating like this daily but I know that I ‘m not. This is going to be one of the first things I chip away at in February.  When I’m done with it I’m going to frame it for myself… after all, I know I’m never really going to get to printing out the pictures that are meant for all of my empty picture frames…

Some great inspiration to get started...

 “If I Had My Life to Live Over” 

Girl on A Mission: How to Write a Personal Mission Statement 

Letters To My Younger Self

The Turned On Woman

Figure out what I truly want: Start with a vision board. I haven’t done one of these since before Miss USA. For some reason it’s been very challenging for me to set a clear vision because my previous vision had an expiration date and I've struggled to navigate past it. I’m a huge advocate of vision boards; I truly believe they have played a large part in all of my accomplishments. This is a project that I’m going to commit to this month. I don’t want to finish it because ultimately my vision should continue to evolve and adjust as life does. 

My vision board creation madness looks & feels like this: I commit to a night either alone or with a friend (shout out to Sarah and our vision board frenzy we had back in December 2010). I gather all the supplies that I’ll need, glue stick, push pins, assortment of magazines, stickers, foam or cork board ect. I set up my favorite Pandora station and have at it. I start by just flipping through magazines and tearing out any pictures or words that compel me… some may not make sense, but I don’t believe they should. Some things may feel superficial but I try to navigate my way around judgment, this is for me and value judgment should not exist. Then I start to lay everything out and plaster the pictures and words onto my board. When all is said and done I step back and marvel with pure giddiness. Then I put it up and let it work its magic. 

The most important thing to remember is to just do your own thing. Let your vision form naturally; don’t force yourself towards something that has been influenced by someone else or societal expectations. Listen to your heart.

“The paper collages you probably made as a teen were feverishly personal manifestations of what you loved. Vision-boards, the grown up alternative, can be just as passionate- with more intention…” -The Oprah Magazine (& here is what Oprah has to say about the art of a vision board) 

Journal 3 things about myself that I love every night: Through continuation of journaling my gratitude  I will also be journaling things that I love about myself.  I am hoping that through this endeavor I will come to learn more about who I am and what I believe my strengths are. I’ll also be journaling things that make me happy, and compliments that I have received along with compliments that I want to give. 

Purposeful ensembles & colorful lipstick everyday: This is my attempt to embrace my creativity and delight myself in my own style. Lately have I become so infatuated with bold lipstick colors, but I’m always so afraid to wear them. Through this endeavor I’m going to stop being so afraid. I know that fear is only stemmed from what I think other people think of me, not what I think of my self…. And that’s just silly. Just a simple effort to make my days a little bit brighter.

Be content in the approval from myself rather than others: Gala Darling is my one stop shop for all adventures on the pathway to what she calls Radical Self Love. I’ve been following and adapting her methods for years and this months I’ve enrolled in her Radical Self Love Bootcamp (how exciting!) and guess what?! It’s half priced right now! It’s a great time to join me on my quest if this is something you are interested in as well. Check her out, she’s beyond fabulous.

I am going to seek SARK! for further wisdom. Two of her books I absolutely adore are Inspiration Sandwich and Succulent Wild Woman. SARK does such a great job empowering women to dance to the beat of their own drum, a practice I very much value & appreciate.  Through this I hope to discover my own ability to approve of myself and identify when I am my best and why, and when I am not my best and how to overcome it.

I will also be seeking opportunity to extend my love and approval outwards so that others are embraced by my actions. I’m going to deliver more random acts of kindness & joy. 

Rabbit! Rabbit!

Ending January.... My Quest Towards Financial Fusion

January has officially come and gone. It was quite blissful. I enjoyed the warm Oklahoma winter weather, I discovered a new addiction for popcorn sprinkled with red chile powder & I put forth all of my efforts into improving myself and seeking opportunity to make life a little bit sweeter.


Back at the start of the month I wrote about my plan for stackable resolutions. Having this plan for 2012 has actually provoked a lot of ideas and reflections to the way I approach my day-to-day life and my future. I'm looking forward to each month and making 2012 amazing through new ideas and approaches.


I have to admit- January's resolutions were the least exciting to me of all. I think this is because they have the longest turnover for results and success, which is why this goal ultimately needed to be first. Though I haven't yet felt the impact of my actions it does feel good to have gained clarity on my finances and to now be more purposeful and proactive with how I am spending my money. Here is a recap of how January, my month of Financial Fusion, panned out:

• Create a budget and stick to it: I actually am still sorting out what this looks like but I found a few great apps for the iPhone that are helping me be strategically plan my budget and be accountable for my spending and my actions. I also found in the past that mint.com is a great tool for taking control over your finances. I like the support of a very structured system and I also like tracking my spending and progress to my goals (in this case my budget). I've enjoyed setting up these tools and using them & I'm looking forward to continuing this. 
• Make a plan to be debt free by December: Dave Ramsey is a financial genius. I spent time reading one of his books this past month and what I really appreciated was recognizing that I am not alone in my financial standings. Hearing about other people's situations (who in most cases were much more severe than my own) and how they overcame them helped me become more optimistic and empowered about my controlling my fiances. I highly recommend you check him out, he has a radio show, several books and work books, and a few other learning experiences. In addition to reading Dave's book and I set a goal for what I'm going to start saving my money for and what I'll be able to do once I'm completely rid of my debt. Doing that has invested me even more in my efforts. 
• Spend only the money I posses, no more credit cards: It simply took the act of naming this goal to commit to it. I'm also going to start only using cash, and then I'll be able to do the $5 Savings Plan.

• Journal gratitude every night, depend less on materials: This is a ritual I have actually been doing for a while, but I was writing down gratitude for all things in my life, even the materialistic things. By being conscious of this I am now only listing things that did not require money to obtain. I have found that I am even more blessed and fulfilled by identifying these things and now materials are less valuable to me than before. I have begun discovering happiness and gratitude in places that I have neglected for far too long. This has been a very eye-opening practice for me.
• Give generously: This is my greatest opportunity for growth. I've given when the opportunity has found it's way to me, but I have yet to proactively seek opportunities. I want to give generously to something that I care about, something that aligns to my values, and to something that my donation will be of true value. I'm still in search of this so if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them. I also don't  believe that this act needs to be in the form of just monetary donations. 

All-in-all I found great success in January and feel even more invigorated to hold steady with my goals as I move forward towards approaching my February goals. One thing I did learn is that the more clear I am with how I will meet my goals the more successful I am. Tomorrow I plan on sharing my methods & clarity for February...

"It doesn't cost a thing to smile, you don't have to pay to laugh..."

pennies, poise & poodles-

The One Line Journal

Back in December I started what I call a One Line Journal. It has since become part of my nightly routine and I absolutely love it. For Christmas I created a One Line Journal for my friend Maile and she has found it to provide her the same level of joy. Maile says that she loves the art of routine and her One Line Journal has helped her create a nightly routine that excites her.

What makes the One Line Journal so great?

If you’re anything like me you probably have a container or draw that is full of partially full journals. I always get excited about the idea of a new journal and the endless blank pages dying to be filled with words. I’ll spend hours decorating my new journal or listing inspiring quotes on the inside of the cover. Then when it comes time to actually “journal” I start off really strong, I commit to writing every night and begin to fill up page after page. Sure enough, a few days/weeks will pass and one night I just don’t have the energy, then the next night I’m not as invested after already skipping one night, then by the third night I’d have too much to write so I don’t even know where to begin…. You see where I’m going with this? On top of that when I go back to read my old journals (if I ever do), I find that my thoughts and experiences 1.) aren’t really as exciting to me now as they were to me then and 2.) always make me chuckle because they really have no purpose or meat to them. The One Line Journal is a simple and fun solution to all of that.

So what exactly is a One Line Journal?

It’s actually quite simple, and something you can start today.

Supplies:

Journal

Pen

How:

Step One: Write the date.

Step Two: Reflect and think about the events of your day.

Step Three: Write one line that sums up your day or one line that jumps out at you about your day. These can be a synthesis of your day, a question you’ve been pondering, a feeling you had, something you or someone else said, a Haiku (sure, we can count that!), a song lyric, a quote ect… (it can even be a run-on-sentence… hey, after all, it is your journal)

Step Four: Make it count. You only get one line a day, what was most important or impactful? What do you want to be sure to remember?

Step Five: Do it again tomorrow.

What I love about doing this is that it provides an opportunity for me to reflect on my day & determine what is most important by helping me put my life into perspective. It also forces me to get creative & think more visually rather than just being focused on the product of writing. It helps eliminate the boring details of my day that aren't important but that I had felt compelled to write about for the sake of “writing.” Along with all of this I love going back and looking at my writing as if the lines were little snapshots of my days or experiences. Some entries are very reflective and insightful; others may just be a funny quote... none-the-less that simple one line always takes me back to that feeling or experience (good or bad).

It’s kind of a like a more personal and purposeful Twitter.

1/22/2012

The sweet wouldn't be as sweet without the sour.

Saturday Swag

Wine Lounge Girl's Night by brittanytoll featuring a military style jacket

A girls night at a chic wine lounge affords the ultimate opportunity to tune into your inner sophistication. For me that looks like deep red lips and a chunky stack of bracelets that I just barely manage to squeeze into the arm of my military blazer. I may live in Tulsa but I'm finally starting to grow into my own style. Oklahoma provides me the perfect landscape to take just enough of a risk and try new things out. 

Don't let your environment determine your style, let your style* determine your environment. 


*style isn't just a garment or something you wear.

late night talks & mismatched socks,

Kicking Off The Week

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have an adventurous and meaningful week-

Saturday Swag

Forever Young Saturday Swag by brittanytoll featuring kitten heel boots

Lazy as can be and looking forward to the OKC Thunder vs. the NY Knicks game with some of the greatest company I could possibly imagine tonight. I drank my first soda in 2012 with my mac& cheese lunch (thanks to Mike) and it was delightful. I slept-in & took a nap all before 2pm. I've been wearing my charm bracelet again & today I'm going to wear my frozen yogurt charm since this has become my greatest obsession lately (Mmm... Cherry Berry).  I love enjoying every second of my youth.

have a fabulous MLK weekend,

voices & choices

shel silverstein

I've recently become very interested in my "voice" and have made more of an effort to listen and control it.  Perhaps this newly discovered fascination has been provoked by the article The Secret Rule of Changing Anything combined with the book I'm currently consumed by, The Art of Choosing (both are very insightful reads). Every time I'm about to do something that I know I may regret, or that I know isn't important, I force myself to pause and then answer the question "DOES THIS MATTER?" Almost 99% of the time it doesn't....& then I move on and carry on. I always end up feeling much better than I would have after I'd chosen to do whatever I "thought" I wanted to invest my time and mind into. I'm not perfect with this practice yet but I try to be a little bit more conscious every day & I'm starting to feel really good.

&

Today as I was walking out the door I caught myself thinking about all of the things I end up regretting at the end of a day. This discomfort prompted me to stop,  put my things down, and sit down at my desk for a moment. I grabbed an index card and a Sharpie and wrote out 5 non-negotiable rules for January 12th, 2012. I folded up the index card, tucked it into my pocket, and then continued back out the door to start my day. All day long I could feel the card in my pocket, and I could feel the weight of the rules above me. I was determined to not break any of them.

Sure enough I followed all of my rules and I'm sitting in bed much happier than I have any night this week. I have nothing to regret about any of the choices that I made today. I also managed to be more productive, healthier, and more responsible by following these rules. By addressing them and writing them down before my day started I managed to keep myself much more accountable and committed. I'm eager to write another set of rules tomorrow...

love & learning,

Stackable Resolutions

2012 I resolve...

It’s none-too-typical that one finalizes their resolutions mid-January. With traveling and readjusting from the holidays I find it much easier to start off on the right foot after I’ve set the foundation to do so. Now that I’m back to the swing of things in my little ole life in Tulsa, Oklahoma I’m finally ready to unleash my resolutions in full force. This year I’m trying a new approach- stackable resolutions. 

Every year it’s the same song and dance… sometime in late December I sit down with a pad of paper and a pen and write out a long lofty list of resolutions… and then every year in January I am usually so overwhelmed that I can’t even strive to resolve even a handful of them. Well, this year I’m stacking them & making them happen as best I can while making the most of the adventure of learning new skills and enjoying more opportunities. 

Though I’ve only merely read the first chapter of The Happiness Project I was intrigued by the method of the creator. Focus on a new skill or area of growth each month, and let each be mastered before tackling a new one. As one month’s goals are mastered it’s time to move on to the next month, while still maintaining the resolutions from all previous month(s). Sheer Brilliance! So here is what I’ve got in my effort to do things better & make 2012 as exceptional as it’s destined to be….

Each month I’ve picked an area of focus, and then crafted a list of mini-goals within that focus. This way my energy is narrowed into one place and I can truly make the changes I’ve been longing for year after year.

January

Financial Fusion

• Create a budget and stick to it
• Make a plan to be debt free by December
• Spend only the money I possess, no more credit cards
• Journal gratitude every night, depend less on materials
• Give generously

February

Romance Myself

• Write my own manifesto/mission statement
• Figure out what I truly want
• Journal 3 things about myself that I love every night
• Plan outfits & wear more colorful lipstick everyday
• Be content in the approval from myself rather than others

March

Healthy Habits

• Eat more fresh fruit & vegetables daily
• No texting and driving
• Exercise 6 times a week for 1 hour+
• Get 7 hours+ of peaceful sleep per night
• Floss teeth nightly

April

Create Order

• Clean out closet & purge all items I haven’t worn in a year
• Make iTunes playlists that I actually enjoy
• Write a list of all of my hopes, dreams & ambitions and then prioritize the most important ones
• Organize all files on all of my computers

May

Seek Wisdom

• Read the news for 15 minutes each day
• Listen to NPR in the car
• Study something new once a month (prepare for the GRE)
• Listen to a TED Talk at the start of each week
• Read at least one book of my choice per month

June

Love What I Do, Do What I Love

• Take more risks at work
• Wake-up every morning energized & inspired by the movement
• Infuse more of myself into my efforts at work, be more creative with my job
• Plan a very detailed approach for the 2012-2013 school year
• Write a vision that I’m utterly passionate about

July

Live Young

• Go skinny dipping
• Apply sunscreen every day
• Color the tips of my hair in rainbow ombre
• Do something that terrifies me
• Learn more jokes & laugh more often

August

Spirituality of Life, Self & Creation

• Meditate every morning
• Live in the present, read Be Here Now
• Study a new religion, commit to openness & learning
• Breath more
• Listen to others, really listen
• Create & adopt affirmations

September

Happy Brittany

• Plan my blogs a week ahead
• Make a new friend
• Paint weekly
• Celebrate my 26^th birthday in bliss and pure excitement
• Plan a trip to somewhere new
• Create an audacious goal and draft clear & measurable steps towards achieving it

October

Fear Less & Plan Ahead

• Decide on and apply to graduate programs I want to pursue
• Make more choices, be less passive
• Be open to new and unplanned opportunity, positive thinking
• Speak up more about what I believe in or think
• Figure out what my next adventure will be

November

For the Love of Others

• Get to know my brothers better
• Seek to understand the perspective of others, ask questions
• Reconnect with someone from my past every week
• Write a card to a friend or loved one every day
• Smile at strangers 

December

Awaken Self

• Reflect on another blessed year
• Enjoy the company of the ones I love & who love me
• Plan for 2013
• Celebrate progress & growth and embrace memories of sweet adventures & happenings from 2012

I know these are quite vague & some are even ambiguous but I plan on drafting an even more in depth plan before each month. At the conclusion of every month my hope is that I can share my experiences (in all of their vulnerability). Things may change, life may reroute, but in any case this is my projected plan. There are also things on these lists that I’m trying to begin already (ehem, no texting & driving) but it is the hope that by the end of their respective month I will be a master of said skill or effort or at least to have learned valuable lessons.

I’m incredibly excited about all of these resolutions and 2012. I've got a really good feeling about this year. 

What are you resolving in 2012?

Winterfy Your Humble Abode

I’ll be the first to admit that I dread the cold. This year I am taking proactive steps to combat ole Jack Frost and winterfy my cozy little loft…

1.

Stock up on candles- No doubt the dim flickering of a candle automatically makes me feel warm. But even more satisfying is the sweet aroma of winter. I’ve fallen madly in love with the Cranberry Pear Bellini holiday scent from Bath & Body Works. It’s subtle yet sweet & clean and of course, and even better that the wax is a soft pink so it fits right in with my décor.

2.

Draw the blinds- I only put my blinds down during sunset but I especially love that I keep them up through the winter. First of all I love falling asleep by the glow of winter nights. Second, I love waking up to blankets of white outside my window. And third, letting the sun in during the day will actually cut back on heating costs.

3.

Keep your slippers by the door- After you’ve trudged through snow and wetness all day the first thing you do when you get home is take off your dreary boots. Be prepared by leaving your slippers by the door on your way out- your toes with thank you.

4.

Stack up a pile of books- Need an excuse to read? Stack up the books that you want to read and put them next to your bed. The calmness of the winter nights and the fear of leaving the indoors will draw you back to this stack consistently and please your somber little heart beyond words.

5.

Pull out your winter sheets- Wherever they are wash them and prep them so that you are one step ahead of the cold. Nothing makes me happier than a fluffy, cozy bed on a cold January night.

6.

Always keep the kettle full- Make it simple enough to just turn the knob. Keep your water warm and your tea bottomless. Warm your belly as often as you can. Sipping tea can also be a meditative opportunity, try this: sip slowly and calmly and meditate on the taste of the tea, the present moment, or the sound of tea flowing into your lips. Take deep breaths and breathe in the aroma.

7.

Hang a hook for your pajama sweater- I’ve found that hanging up my night sweater leads me less towards the “UP arrow button” on my thermostat. Having it within arms reach makes my life all the more simple, and having a place to put it before bed also allows me to wake up to less clutter.

8.

Get a plant- I love the satisfaction of giving my plants water and life. I have simple generic house plants from Home Depot but I really do enjoy the life they bring to my home, especially during the dull months of winter. 

snow globes & silk robes,

*All photos taken using Instagram

Lessons Learned on New Year's Eve

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just a few lessons learned from a fabulous New Year's Eve....

have no expectations, epic is what you make of it: 

One thing 2011 taught me well is that from limited expectations come bountiful bliss. Why I forgot this on New Year's Eve is beyond me. Fewer expectations gives greater outcome, you're often less disappointed & more open minded. Now this can't always be the truth but I must remember to know when expectations are necessary or not.... this will be my experiment for 2012.

do wear sparkly shorts instead of a skirt: 

What a beautiful thing it was not having to constantly battle with a skirt that hikes north. I did not envy girls with their restricting outfits, no sir I did not. Low-maintenance is always in fashion. 

make friends: 

So often New Year's Eve puts you in new places with an abundance of strangers, which was no different last night. Embrace the company and have a good time. Given that I'm usually shy around large crowds of new people (it's all a forceful act people, I really am quite shy), but this New Year's Eve would have been miserable if I didn't open out and enjoy the fine company I was surrounded by. This is always a good game plan. 

don't punch the wrong passcode in your iPhone multiple times: 

My phone crashed on me last night after the strike of midnight thanks to this foul party move. I was completely helpless. Apparently if you punch in your passcode incorrectly too many times your phone decides to reset, costing you all of your data until you can connect to WiFi or iTunes. Bad news on NYE. #lessonlearned

do yo thang: 

Who are you? What do you want? Then do it. Remember how much fun you are? Don't forget that. I know this lesson all-too-well... and if my phone hadn't gone all Y2K on me this may have been easier... but let's be real, I can't blame my phone for this. Lesson learned and reaffirmed for the year ahead. 

play the dancing game: 

I love to make up games and this is one of my favorites. Get behind an unsuspecting male victim and get jiggy with him without him knowing. It's HILARIOUS. I'm going to make more attempts to do this more often off the dance floor too. Have more fun. Be more child-like.

don't be dramatic: 

You're not the starring role in the hottest new romantic comedy.... so don't act like it. Do you want me to repeat that Brittany? No, you've learned your lesson. The cocktails and flashing lights probably didn't help though, in your defense. 

don't wear red lipstick: 

I had it on & took it off. No way did I want to deal with that gnarly red outline and endless reapplications. It's beautiful and all but- thanks but no thanks. Not on NYE.

do celebrate a blessed year: 

Going with the flow of no expectations don't forget the beauty of the year you bid adieu to. Celebrate a new year but don't neglect the past. You've learned too much to start over.

live & learn and do it better next time: 

So you added a lot of pressure, had expectations, and forgot a few rules. Oh well. Another experience learned, try something new next time and use what you've learned to make it better. Don't dwell on what has already happened, it's not worth it. That baggage can be left in the old year. Remember how you actually had a really great time? 

resolutions start on January 2nd:

Make them count. End of story. 

Well that was fun. What's next? Here we go, 2012...

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keep calm the new year is here,