H54F! {edition 2}

1. Although it wasn’t an actual resolution, I’ve been pretty good with finding at least one creative thing to do each week. Since this week has been filled with trying to write a decent and adjustable cover letter and update my resume/CV, I needed a creative outlet so I decided to try Colleen at Lemon + Thistle’s tutorial to make my own custom street art. I don’t have photoshop, but I was able to follow the instructions (with a little tweaking) in Gimp and I think they turned out pretty well! I made smaller maps of the apartments R and I have lived in since he moved to the US in early 2012, and I can’t wait to print and frame these for our newest place!

2. I actually thought this would happen MUCH sooner, but I’m finally burnt out on instant coffee. I actually have a very nice French Press, but it just seems like too many steps daily and I can’t stand the sludge at the bottom of the cup. Basically, I’m missing my Keurig like whoa, especially the Dunkin coffee pods. I think all this came about thanks to Gilmore Girls, and I really should have known. (I’m getting through slowly but surely. Just started the first of the Jess years –finally--. Necessary unemployment does have its perks!)

3. This video is actually one of the most interesting things I’ve seen in a while. I almost stopped watching because I thought Walt Disney was boring in his explanations, but I’m glad I stuck it out until they started painting the tree. Maybe it’s because my art background is more imitation than imagination, but I find the creative process fascinating.

4. On that note, I would really like to start painting again. In the US I had a whole dresser devoted to different crafts and at least 4 sets of paints I could whip out when the mood struck which worked very well for me. I’m thinking here it might be better to just get a useable set of water colours (somewhere between elementary school Crayola sets and professional) and some paper and cheap brushes to play with. If anyone has suggestions on brands, please let me know!

5. The worst I’ve felt all week was the day after my birthday, because I skipped my workout. I actually felt far guiltier than anticipated. What is with that? I’m guessing single-handedly eating a majority of my birthday cake (along with the rest of the sweets in the house. I really can’t be trusted around Haribo or anything chocolate) had something to do with it, but I’m back in the swing of it again. Now to decide if I make up the missed workout on my rest day, or if skipping the rest day will make it worse?

H54F! {edition 1}

It figures that the first Friday I want to link up with Lauren for High Five for Friday, I find out she’s passing the torch! Well, I’m still excited to do it, and can’t wait to see who the next host will be!

Anyway, without further adieu, here are 5 things that rocked my week.

1. My new visa got approved and is on its way to me!

The past year I was living and schooling in Northern Ireland on a UK Student (Tier 4) Visa, which expires at the end of the month. When we were trying to figure out the plans for next year (I’m not quite ready to head back to the USofA) I felt like I exhausted all my options, until I stumbled across the Working Holiday visa for the Republic of Ireland. Since my boyfriend has already been working there for a couple years now (and was very sweetly commuting 1.5hrs each way for the last year so I could be close to school and had to officially live in the UK for my visa) it seemed like the perfect choice. Since my circumstances are a bit different than most people applying for this visa, programs such as BUNAC and USIT weren’t really beneficial to me so I decided to do the application on my own. Well, yesterday I finally got confirmation that not only was my visa approved, but its now confirmed and sent to me! Which means basically that I can officially live and work in the Republic of Ireland for the next year! Woo!

(all those links above are just for more information about the visas and programs for people interested!)

2. Home for Thanksgiving

homage to thanksgivings past, when the quality of my simple iPhone 1 camera wasn't fabulous.

One of the requirements of the visa was that I show them proof that I’m going home at some point. Since airlines don’t allow bookings a year in advance, they only require proof of a visit home as late as possible (to make sure I’ve got something to go home to) so it only made sense to book a ticket home for Thanksgiving! I’ve missed out on Thanksgiving the past two years, so its extra special this time. In 2013, we had a group presentation in class on the holiday and 2014 we were in the middle of a move and without a working oven, so both years I settled on a turkey and stuffing baguette at the Belfast Christmas Market and called it a day.

3. Netflix

image source: imdb

I’ve seen all the magical lists of the fantastic things Netflix has added, but the one I find most appealing is the fact that they added Fantasia. I definitely have a renewed appreciation for it as an adult. Currently it's only available on the US Netflix, but I'm hoping it will come to the other versions soon!

4. More time with the Man

the view of the moon on our walk home from town on Saturday

The move down south has really changed things for the better, mainly by getting back those extra 3 hours a day. In the past year, by the time R was home it was time for a late dinner and then maybe an episode of whatever show we were watching before it was basically time for bed on the days when he didn’t have training. When he did, it was usually some combination of toast with things on it for him (Heinz beans or jam usually) before and after, and then straight to bed. The first couple days were pretty rough with an extra 3 hours but no technology (even our phones didn’t work down here), but we’ve developed a pretty good pattern since. Before, even weekends were rushed trying to fit in all the fun things and time together and we weren’t really able to enjoy it. But now we’ve got our catch-up lazy days out of the way, and we’ve been going for drives and exploring the area without any specific plans in mind and just enjoying time together. No, this isn’t specifically for this week, but as R’s work schedule has been crazy during this week it’s made me appreciate it more.

5. Blogilates

Today is day 5 of the Blogilates beginner calendar for me, and while that doesn’t seem like much to most of the world, it’s the only time I’ve ever made it this far into a consistent workout program, much less 5 days in a row. I am personally very proud of myself, especially as my sore muscles have begged me to just skip a day, no one will know, but I will know. This may be on my top 5 list each week for the next month, only because it will consistently be my greatest fitness achievement to date and if it’s missing well, my abs gave in.

So those are my five highlights of the week. What are yours?