Challenge of the Week

Last night I watched "How To Train Your Dragon" and "Despicable Me" with some girlfriends while eating brownies and chips. It was a great girls night. That inspired me for this week's challenge:

Spend some time watching cartoons or an animated movie. 

Veg out for an hour or two with some popcorn. The movies are funny, heartwarming, and usually have a good song or two. It's impossible to remain in a bad mood after that!

Challenge of the Week

I hope everyone had a great New Years Eve! I finally had a wonderful one myself, so I feel like I can start the New Year off on the right foot. So here is your challenge for the week:

Make an achievable list of things to accomplish in 2011.


Everyone always makes New Year's Resolutions - but this year I urge you to be more realistic and set goals you can accomplish throughout the year. Jen brought this to my attention with her own list for 2010. A few of her examples were becoming a Make a Wish volunteer and playing on a competitive hockey team again. These attainable goals pushed her out of her comfort zone and gave her a bit of framework for who she will be after college.

So sit down and make a realistic list of things to accomplish in 2011. I'll do the same and post it here this week. Remember, challenge yourself - but make the list doable!

Challenge of the Week

As it is the holiday season, here is a challenge in the spirit of giving:

Donate to a charity.


It can be however much you feel you can part with, and it can be to any charity you want. Drop your spare change in the Salvation Army buckets or donate that coat you never wear to a local shelter. Whatever it is, just do something to help someone else this week.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Challenge of the Week

I have a fun one for everyone this week. Very easy too:

Visit a new restaurant or bar this week.

It's so easy to get into a routine of visiting your favorite pizza place or the bar where everyone knows your name. Mix it up this week and visit some place new. I know everyone can think of at least one place they've driven by and thought, "I want to go there sometime." It's time to do it! 

Candi Tales & Challenge of the Week

For those of you who were interested in the 25 New Things New Things To Do Before Turning 25, you can keep up with her personal challenges on her blog: Candi Tales


For your challenge of the week (I hope a few of you are doing these!) I have an easy one:
Tell three people this week that you love them.


It can be anyone, a good friend, your mom, your grandfather, a total stranger if you really want. Trust me, you can make someone's day and you'll be pretty happy to hear it back :)

Challenge of the Week

I hope all my American friends had a wonderful holiday weekend! This week's challenge was inspired by the fact that a lot of people ate way too much this weekend (and probably drank too much), and that it is getting colder and more depressing outside. Well, my Costa Rican and Aussie friends are enjoying some nice weather, but everyone else is starting to bundle up and the thought of even running errands is weighed against how terrible it will be to actually go outside. So here is the challenge of the week:

Workout for 20 minutes at least three times this week.


Some of my friends will find this incredibly easy to accomplish - but I know there are a few of you out there who haven't used that gym membership you're paying for in months. If you don't have a membership that doesn't let you off the hook though. Search Google or Youtube for some workouts and you'll find ones you can do around your apartment or house. Even just taking your dog for a longer stroll is healthy for both you and your pet. Those of you who say you don't work out for lack of time, think about 20 minutes you spend in front of your computer checking Facebook each day, or watching a TV show you don't even really like. Honestly, you will feel really good if you keep active, and this is a great time to get into the routine with winter just around the corner.


If you are already a gym rat then make sure you commit to the schedule you envision this week. Today I told myself that I am going to go to 4 workout classes this week. I know which ones they will be and I'm already a little afraid - but I'm going to do it! I'll even post about it because seriously, these classes kick my butt. If I, Miss Procrastinator Extraordinaire, can commit to a workout schedule, then everyone else can too! Get those feet moving and the endorphins flowing :)

Challenge of the Week

After watching "Hot Tub Time Machine" for the 50th time, I got an itch to watch my favorite 80's movie - "Adventures in Babysitting." There's nothing like neon colors, big hair, tight jeans, and John Hughes' humor to put you in a better mood. So this week, if you ever need a break from the holiday hangover, take on this challenge:


Make some popcorn and watch your favorite 80's movie.


For my international friends - some good 80's movies to check out are:
Airplane
The Princess Bride (one of my personal favorites)
Back to the Future
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
When Harry Met Sally
Bull Durham (about baseball)
E.T.
Big (Tom Hanks)
The Breakfast Club
Ghostbusters
What About Bob (really this is 1991 but I love Bill Murray)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (put this on a list of movies to watch before you die)

Challenge of the Week

I spent this weekend making favorite recipes and learning some new ones from my mom. I currently have a beef stew on the stove and some loaves of oatmeal pumpkin bread just came out of the oven. I'm sipping on a homemade smoothie while staring at the bread, willing it to cool faster so I can cut off a piece, slather on some butter, and enjoy the resulting ecstasy.


This leads to my challenge of the week:

Try out a new recipe and share the results with a good friend. Throw in some wine (or a non-alcoholic drink) and make it a reason to get together with someone you care about.


If you need some ideas check out www.food.com and search for anything and everything you could want to make. If you really want a challenge ditch the recipes on the back of boxes and cook it from scratch. Even if it is a disaster it will be a funny story to tell later! If you need help give your mom or grandma a call....they will certainly love to hear from you and give you some good tips. 

Challenge of the Week

I was looking through my glove compartment yesterday when I randomly pulled out Risen, the second album from O.A.R. This was my absolute favorite CD during sophomore year of high school and I still can't hear "Hey Girl" without thinking of one of my best friends from back then. I popped it in my car stereo and was soon driving down the highway, singing at the top of my lungs and smiling. So that's where this week's challenge comes from:

Find a favorite old CD (or find it on your iTunes) and listen to it all the way through. 


You can do this while driving, cooking, working out, whatever - but I guarantee that you will be in a great mood for at least the duration of that CD. Happy Listening!

Challenge of the Week

After doling out some advice this week I have decided to add a new component to this blog: Challenge of the Week. These challenges will be easy (most of the time, although some may be embarrassing so that you’ll laugh at yourself) and are guaranteed to make you happy in some way.

So let’s start November off right. Here is the inaugural Challenge of the Week:

Write an email, send a real letter, or call up a good friend you haven’t spoken with for some time. Use this week to reconnect with someone!

Remember: Make sure to ask your friend what is going on in his/her life before launching in on how great or horrible yours has been recently.