SETTING GOALS!!!

I've been watching a lot of YOUTUBE videos on weight loss and saving money. And I've noticed a common theme: if you want to achieve something you have to set small realistic goals (duh, I knew that). These goals must be measurable and have a time limit. You can't just say 'I want to loose weight' or 'I want to save money'. Also another important step when setting your goals is to WRITE THEM DOWN and rehearse them. It reminds me of a book (Think and Grow Rich) my dad slipped into my bag when I first journeyed to Korea. In the front cover he wrote, 'FIND THE SECRET, LOVE DAD'. It wasn't until I read it the second time that I found the secret.

I've been thinking about why I'm not able to achieve some of my goals as of late and I came to the realization that it's because I'm not setting realistic tangible goals. And I'm not writing them down and I'm not giving myself a deadline.

So that brings me to the purpose of this post. What better way to measure my success then to document it right here on my personal blog. And in turn, perhaps inspire a few of you to do the same.

The first goal I want to achieve is FINANCIAL.

* I would like to save 15 000 Canadian dollars by the end of February (about 16.6 million Korean Won given the current exchange rate).

Although this may seem far out of reach, I think it is feasible given that:

a) I've already paid for my winter vacation ticket and set aside all my spending money for my trip.
b) At the end of my contract (which marks the end of my job) in February I will be getting double pay plus about $700 for my air fare reimbursement
c) I've already got a start of $2200 Canadian (2.5 million Korean Won) in my bank now
d) I don't pay rent
e) My biggest expense is food. For the most part I don't buy beauty products, cosmetics or clothes in Korea

So now that I've written it down, it's time to set this plan into action. I've even got a cute little budget book* to help me along the way.

This is going to be an interesting next few months. I will be sure to keep everyone updated and I challenge you to set your own goals and then leave a comment on this post so I can encourage you along the way!

* cute little budget book!

HAPPY SAVING EVERYONE!!!!! (or weight losing or exercising or whatever goal you so desire)

It's about time......

.....I got a haircut. I think my last one was 2 weeks before my wedding in May (but who's counting?!!!!)

This is how I wear my hair everyday because I'm too lazy to do anything else
This is me BEFORE my hair cut, rockin the robe

And this is the AFTER shot. Forget the hair, check out the hunk that is my hairdresser

I love it. AND it's still long enough to put in a pony tail....hehe

Fun in Hongdae

A day of shopping with Annie and then a meet up with Becca in the evening = a perfect Saturday night!

He's blushing isn't he?!!!
I love these soju slushies.........

These girls love (or are in love with) the mussels

This boy can eat and eat and eat

A fun crew

Then we topped the evening off with a few hours in a singing room

Annie and Becca got really into it......WE ALL DID! Thanks for the fun evening gals ;)

I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

I'm blessed to have this special man in my life!

I'm not dead, or sick.....

My school will be closed for 3 days (Monday to Wednesday) because several students are infected with H1N1. YAH! for having a few days off but yucky for all those who have to deal with the side effects of this nasty sickness.

I've been quite busy lately (THE STORY OF MY LIFE I KNOW). And I've been doing a lot of fun things, meeting a lot of fun people and just doing toooooo much.

I can't wait to finally sleep in tomorrow.

Cooking Korean!

I threw together a few random clips from Sunday night. Unfortunately my camera kept dieing so it's not very smooth. Nor did I have to patience to deal with editing.

A special thanks to JiEun for teaching me so well!

Fattie Files!!!! and life

And just when I promise that the fattie files project will continue it takes a nose dive. Seems like that's a re-occurring pattern in my life. Make a plan = plan fail! For instance, last year I planned to return to Canada this summer. Well as you all know that certainly didn't happen. So I kept taking pictures of what I was eating even though I wasn't posting in the hopes that I would only fall a few days behind. Well you know how life goes; a few days turn into a few too many and then it's too late to rewind and go back. So that's where I am right now.

Life has been happening. I've been in a funk the past week. After my wonderful Chuseok vacation with my Korean family I hit the wall. Maybe I can attribute it to the fact that I stopped taking birth-control. I cleaned my apartment during summer vacation and stashed away my Canadian supply. When if came time to take a new pack I completely forgot where I stored them. I looked for them but to no avail so I just decided 'what the hell, I'll just stop taking them'. I only had a 4 months supply left so I was going to run out of them before I returned to Canada anyways. Well it's been wreaking havoc on my body and my hormones. I have been taking this same prescription of birth-control since I was 16. I never missed a pack, I never missed and pill, I was that good! So I didn't get my period this month for whatever reason (help here! and don't get your hopes up b/c I'm not pregnant). The school nurse told me I would never be able to get pregnant b/c I took the pill for so long. This notion is probably based upon misinformation and lack of knowledge (I certainly hope so. Again, help here).

Okay now I'm going to eat a pizza because that seems to be all I'm good at in life right now!

Fatie Files!!!!

Day 10 -- Friday October 1, 2009

Apple with cinnamon + apricot yogurt ($1.50) -- 11:00
Sideways salad (hehe) with feta ($1) -- 12:00

1/2 spicy bacon pasta +

1/2 garlic shrimp pineapple pizza ($17 for my share -- western food is expensive in Korea) -- 2:30

Health Nut ice cream from Cold Stone ($3.50) -- 4:30

1 slice of cake + orange juice (Free) -- 6:30

1/3 spicy chicken veggie dish ($8) -- 9:30

TOTAL = $31

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