Monthly Report Card- May 2013

May was long, stressful, fun and joyful all rolled into one. Some months are just like that.
VERY BIG NEWS.... I just found out today that I got accepted into the Nursing program for this fall. Those of you who have been following my blog for awhile no how long and how hard of a journey it has been to get to this point. I wrote this post last year about this time after I had graduated from highschool and in that post I said that I hoped that this time next year I would be writing about being accepted into the nursing program... and it is so cool to see that it came true and that all of the hard work did pay off. Anyways... here's how my resolutions went.

Study REALLY Hard- A

I think I did a good job with this though the last week or so I probably didn't work as hard as I should have because I knew I was in a position where my grades were secure pretty much no matter what I did. However, ironically enough, I scarcely studied for my last Pathophysiology and still only got six out of fifty wrong and one of the 5 extra credit questions wrong. I'm just that smart. ;)

Get all A's!!!- A (that isn't ironic at all)

Yes I did! :) 

Read or Re-Read at least 5 books- A

I read Around the World in Fifty Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth, From the Earth to the Moon, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. I also re-read Out of the Silent Planet. That would be 5!!!! :)

Exercise in some form at least three times a week- A

Way to easily achieved. I will probably be upping this goal to exercise every day, or every day of the week except one.

Stick to my diet- A

I have stuck to it, I had a couple graduation receptions that messed me up some but besides that pretty good. I ended up increasing my calorie goals because I was afraid I was eating too little and I'd lost enough that I felt a slower weight loss would be acceptable. 

Lose 4 Pounds- F

Not achieved. I think though this was largely due to the fact that I started lifting weights and as you all should know, muscle weighs more than fat. I have nice biceps (let's not talk about my triceps though) now so I should be happy nonetheless. Just to clarify, I did lose one pound... it's not like I gained weight. :)

Cut down on electronics time- C

Eh... okay.... not the best. Average.... that's what a C is after all.

Make a Summer bucket list- A

Completed as well as a summer reading/re-reading list.  

Write at least three more blog posts this month- A

Achieved with honors (whatever that means). Book Questionnaire, No Stress Finals Week, Summer reading/re-reading list, Summer Bucket List, I'm a Barista.... and a Librarian, and Bookworm Questionnaire. That makes six MUST READ blog posts. :) I really should have gotten more done... but I didn't. Oh well, there is next month. :)    

I think that makes a B... I didn't really calculate it. 

In other news, we got internet out at my grandparents. :) Makes me happy. 

Have a great last few hours of the month and looking forward to June!  
Linking up with Kelli at She Learns as She Goes. 

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Bookworm Questionnaire

Elyssa at Unscripted posted this book questionnaire which she got off of Goodreads. I do love me a good book questionnaire so I am filling it out too!

What book are you reading right now?

Currently I am reading Mark Twain's A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court and First Draft in 30 Days. 

What will you read next?

I'm really not too sure yet. I will probably pull off my summer reading list. The Scarlet and the Black, Vanity Fair, and The Bastable Children, are some options. 

What was your favorite childhood book?

That's not a fair question... it really isn't. Hmmm.... probably any of Brian Jacques's Redwall books. I read and re-read those a lot as a kid. 

What were your reading habits like as a kid?

At about eight years old I really started reading a lot. I was pretty much always reading. 

How many books do you have checked out from the library?

Two... that's all. I was actually really proud of myself on Monday when I checked to see how many books I had out and I didn't have any (I have a problem with returning them). I have First Draft in 30 Days, and The DASH Diet Cookbook. 

What books do you have on hold at the library?

None actually. I don't normally put books on hold as I always know when they come in... benefit of working at the library.

Do you have a bad book habit?

Besides not returning them as mentioned above, I don't really think so. 

Do you read one book at a time or several?

Normally just one. As mentioned above I am reading two now, but that is slightly different as one is for pleasure and the other is for work.

What is your favorite book you've read this year?

Probably Far From the Madding Crowd. 

What is your least favorite book you've read this year?

Hehe. I really don't read books I am not going to like.

What is your reading comfort zone?

Hmmm.... Any of Jane Austen's novels. It's way too easy for me anymore to just pick up one of her books to re-read. 

How often do you read outside of your comfort zone?

Fairly often. 

What is your favorite place to read?

My bed most definitely. Or a couch or comfy chair. It's all about comfort.

Do you lend out books?

I have before. I don't do it a lot but I am always willing to. 

Do you dog-ear books?

Uh... no!

Do you write in the margins of books?

Sometimes a book I am reading for academic purposes.

What makes you love a book?

Great characters, great (witty) lines, a strong plot, plenty of humor, tons of imagination, and beautiful writing. That is why I love Austen so much. :)

What will you inspire you to recommend a book?

If I loved it (see above for criteria).

What is the one book you will always recommend?

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, and JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. I don't think nearly enough people read both of those. 

Is there a book that you love that no one else seems to?

I can't think of a single one. There are some that less people like, but not that no one likes.

Do you read while you are: Eating? Taking a bath? Watching TV? Listening to music? On the Computer? On the bus?

What kind of multi-tasker do you take me for? Eating, yes, music, sometimes, bus, yes. But while I'm watching TV or on the computer? That's impossible!

What is your favorite genre to read?

My favoriteS are historical novels, fantasy and of course the classics. 

What genre do you rarely read, but wish you read more of?

Science Fiction or biographies maybe. 

What is your favorite biography?

The first thing that popped into my head when I read that question was... Have I read any biographies? And then the next thing that popped into my head was... Of course! Booker T.Washington's Up From Slavery! So there you are. I really can only think of a few others I have read.

What is your favorite non-fiction?

I'm having trouble thinking of non-fiction books now too. You would think that all I read is fiction. Anyways... hmmm... probably Greg Bahnsen's Pushing the Antithesis. I also really liked R.C. Sproul's Chosen by God. 

Have you ever read a self-help book?

I'm not sure what qualifies as a self-help book so I'll say yes.... the Bible?

What is your favorite reading snack?

I don't snack too much while I read. If I do, it will just be whatever is on hand... most likely popcorn, peanut butter and apples (addictively delicious), or cookies (bad Lois!).

What is the most inspirational book you've ever read?

Do Hard Things. 

Are there any books that have been ruined for you by all the hype?

I don't read pop fiction so no.

How often do you agree with critics about a book?

I honestly don't really read what critics write about books. I suppose if you want to call my family critics, then I normally always agree with them. 

How do you feel about giving negative reviews?

I don't really read books I don't like. I know though, as you will readily attest to if you read my blog much, that when I do movie reviews, that I have no problem saying that I don't like one and explaining why. So I am sure the same would go for books.

What books are you most intimidated to begin?

Anything super long. Those Russian authors. I remember being really intimidated by With Fire and Sword.

What books are you most likely to take on vacation with you?

Just whatever I am reading at the time. Probably if I am reading something heavier though I might grab something lighter.

What is the longest you have gone without reading?

I don't really measure that amount of time. It kind of just happens and then I pick books back up like I never left them.

What is a book that you just couldn't finish?

I don't think I've ever not finished a book. It did take me awhile to finish The Silmarillion, but I did finish it. Now a certain brother of mine on the other hand, he NEVER finishes books.

What is the most money you have spent on books at one time?

I don't really buy books too much. The couple times I have, I am sure I didn't go over twenty dollars.

How often do you skim through a book before reading it?

Never! I just read the back to get the gist of the book or maybe read through the table of contents.

Do you keep books or give them away once you've read them?

Keep them! I don't get books I don't want.

Are there any books that you've been avoiding, or refuse to read?

Off the top of my head, The Hunger Games trilogy. I refuse to read any romance novels... but you probably already knew that.

What is a book that you didn't expect to like, but did?

The Silmarillion, Far from the Madding Crowd, The Lord of the Rings (When I read back through it). 

What is your favorite guilt-free pleasure reading?

Jane Austen novels... especially Pride and Prejudice, I could read that all day. 

What reading materials are in your bathroom right now?

None.

What book do you most remember reading for school?

The Westminster Confession of Faith, or Chosen by God. They both helped me with figuring out a lot of theological topics.

What was the last book you couldn't put down until you finished it?

I always put down books. I know that sounds awful but I do because I have to. There are those that are harder to put down though... most recently Jules Verne's Around the World in Eight Days. 

What book is physically closest to you right now?

 The two books I am currently reading... First Draft in 30 Days, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. 

What is your favorite book series?

That's not a fair question either. There are are so many series that I have loved through different time periods in my life. When I was young it was the Redwall series, or The Chronicles of Pryidan. Now it would probably be The Lord of the Rings. 

What is the longest book you've ever read? The shortest?

The longest would be either The Lord of the Rings, or With Fire and Sword. The shortest... well that would be all of those picture books I read as a kid. Dr. Seuss's ABC's!

Who is your favorite book character?

Off the top of my head, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Knightley.

Who is your favorite author?

Another unfair question. Jane Austen obviously is one and Dickens and Tolkien are favorites as well.

What is our favorite book?

Pride and Prejudice!!!!!! That one is actually fair... at least for me that is.

That actually took me awhile to fill out. I kept wondering when they would end. That was a total of fifty question by the way. That was fun to fill out though. If you have filled this out too post a link in the comments section!

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

I'm a Barista!.... and a Librarian

Yep that's my honorable profession. I work at my college library. Barista obviously sounds ten times more awesome than librarian so I like to hold to that label. However being a librarian is pretty awesome. I've learned a lot and have tons of fun. I have some of the best bosses in the world (one of them is retiring though, very sad) and a lot of great co-student workers. I seriously think I have too much fun to call this job work sometimes. Great memories include vaccuming books, cleaning out the back room, inventory and of course staff lunches! Somedays I love it so much that I want to give up nursing and take up librarianism but other days I am ready to be out from behind the circ desk.
Now I know what you're thinking... librarian? Does that mean you wear horn rimmed glasses and a tight bun on the top of your head? Well I do wear glasses (not horn rimmed though), and sometimes I wear buns on the top of my head. However, I am pretty positive that despite common opinion, horn rimmed glasses and tight buns are not criteria for being a librarian. In fact, my bosses, who are the real librarians here, do not wear horn rimmed glasses or buns on top of their heads and are actually pretty cool. Sometimes they are more up on the fashions than I am. So do not stereotype our awesomeness! You are just jealous.
And speaking of bosses... I have some of the greatest. I have been there so long (three years) that they kind of just treat me like the regular staff. We have great conversations about books and movies. They are interested in what is going on in my life and are always very flexible about the hours I work if something comes up.
Yep being a barista... AND a librarian has its perks. :)

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Mid-Month Progress Report- May 2013

Already it is the middle of May... which is really hard to believe. The months just keep rolling by. I'm in the middle of finals week right now, but as I mentioned in my previous post, this is a no stress finals week! So here's how my resolutions are going.

Study REALY Hard

I did tolerably on this. I kind of tapered out at the end of the semester because I knew just how much effort I needed to put into my classes and that is all I put in.

Get all A's!!!!

As far as I know I am going to!!! My finals are completed (I actually waited to post this so I could say they were). It is a really wierd feeling to know that next time I will be going to school, it will most likely be the nursing program!!! :) I should be hearing in early June, by the way, whether or not I got accepted.

Read or Re-Read at least 5 books

I've read three already (Around the World in Eighty Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth, and From the Earth to the Moon all by Jules Verne) and I've start a fourth Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain. Yes I know they are all easy books but still I am pretty proud of myself. I also re-read Out of the Silent Planet, which I remembered so little of it that it was more like reading it for the first time. 

Exercise in some form at least three times a week

I am really doing this well. Next month I am going to up it to exercise every day... since that is what I already do. I try lots of different types of workout including, lifting weights, a ten minute cardio exercise and an ab exercise as well as a 5K training and my normal T-Tapp. No, I am not actually training for a 5K, I am just trying to work myself up to the point where I can run for longer than a minute without dropping down dead. I also did P90X Plyometrics for the first time in awhile and I was really happy with how well I did with it. I am told I am obsessing over working out.... possibly. 

Stick to my diet

I've been doing pretty well on this, though a my boss's retirement reception and a graduation reception kind of messed me up.

Lose 4 Pounds

I haven't been able to weigh myself consistently this month as I have been at my Grandparents. Last I knew though I lost a pound. I need to get to work on this.

Cut down on electronics time

Not so good.

Make a Summer Bucket List

This is made and you can view it here. PLUS I made and posted a summer reading list.

Write at least three more blog posts this month

I have four (Book Questionnaire, No Stress Finals Week, Summer Break Reading List, and Summer Break Bucket List/To Do) done and several drafts rotting. 

Doing pretty well but there are some goals I need to pick up the pace on.
Be sure to vote in the poll in the sidebar!!!

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Summer Break Bucket List/To Do

My summer break bucket list/to do... as promised. I am pulling a couple things from my Bucket List that I hope to knock off this summer.

1. Become a Tolkien Geek- I am not sure that it is totally realistic to reach this amazing point of perfection by the end of the summer but I'll try with all of my might too. This of course will involve a lot of reading and re-reading. 
2. Learn to swing dance- I've been wanting to learn how to swing dance for a long time and I have some friends that know how so hopefully I can get them to teach me before the summer is up.When I went to Contra dancing last, during our break we did a bit of swing dancing but all I (barely) got was the basic step, so not there yet.
3. Finish editing my novel- I have gone through so many times and edited that stupid book. Each time I think up some new plot twist that makes me have to go back and change a whole bunch of stuff. I just need to edit it and be done. I'll have plenty of time... I'm just working during the summer so I should be able to complete it.
4. Get a complete outline done for new story idea- I was inspired with an idea for a story a couple weeks ago and came up with a rough outline but I need to get a more complete outline. I also want to make character profiles and things like that.I am really bad at planning a book and I wish I could do that better. So for this book I WILL!!!
5. Read or re-read five books on writing- Two summers ago I read probably twenty books from my library on writing. They were all really good so I would like to read them again or maybe find some new ones to read. I think to help with the above goal, I should do this first. 
6. Read a lot... I'm not exactly sure how much a lot is but a lot. I upped my goal from twenty-five to fifty books for the year so I need to keep that in mind. I have made a summer reading list so I'll pick and choose off of that. 
7. Work on my Spanish- I most likely will not be taking a Spanish class this fall and maybe never again and I definitely want to keep up with my Spanish. So I am thinking of just finding different flashcard sets on Quizlet and going through them as well as doing some verb exercises. My little sister has asked me to teach her Spanish in the past and if I can work it out hopefully I can do that with her, which should help me as well. I also acquired a Spanish bible from a friend that I want to use as well. 
8. Go Swimming!!! Not that I actually can really swim very well... I just go down slides and fun things like that. Anyways.... I've lost some weight so hopefully my swimming suit will be good. Last summer I remember feeling super uncomfortable in it.

Lots of things to do and probably less time than I realize to do it. Do you have a bucket list for the summer? Link to it in the comments section or just leave a comment!

If you haven't yet, vote in the poll in the sidebar!

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Summer Break Reading/Re-Reading List

Note: Summer break, not summer the season. My summer starts when school ends and stops when school begins. So this is just a list to pull from throughout the break... I don't necessarily have to read them all. Some of these I really don't know too much about... I've just heard of them or I've seen the movie so if there are some on here you would dissuade me from feel free to comment and let me know. Also, feel free to recommend others in the comments section. I should have lots of time being out at my Grandparents to read and I hope to do just that.

Read

1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo
2. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
3. Mysterious Island by Jules Verne
4. The Forgotten Tales by JRR Tolkien
5. The Children of Húrin by JRR Tolkien
6. Series of books by Christopher Tolkien about the Lord of the Rings
7. Calvin's Institutes by John Calvin
8. Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther
9. Innocence of Father Brown and other Father Browns by G.K. Chesterton
10. Gods and Generals
11. Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
12. Little Dorrit by Charle Dickens
13. Hard Times by Charles Dickens
14. Cyrano de Bergerac
15. The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson
16. The Last of the Mohicans
17. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
18. The Four Feathers
19.  The Adventures of Richard Hannay by John Bucchan
20. The Princess Bride
21. The Warden by Anthony Trollope
22. Beau Geste
23. Adam Bede by George Elliot
24. Anything to do with Tolkien
25. Always Ready by Greg Bahnsen
26. Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper
27. Rebecca
28. Scottish Chiefs
29. The Bastable Children by E. Nesbit
30. The Mill on the Floss
31. The Thundering Head
32. Shaking the Nickel Bush by Ralph Moody
33. The Dry Divide by Ralph Moody
34. Horse of a Different Color By Ralph Moody
35. King Solomon's Mines by Henry Rider Haggard
36. Gone with the Wind
37. War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
38. Goodbye Mr. Chips
39. The Diary of Anne Frank
40. How Green was My Valley
41. Guns of Navarrone
42. The Red and the Black by Stendhal
43. Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens
44. Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell
45. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
46. Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell
47. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
48. Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackery
49. The Importance of Being Ernest
50. Any Shakespeare
51. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
52. Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon
53. Mama's Bank Account by Kathryn Forbes
54. Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
55. Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian
56. A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
57. Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
58. The Virginians by Thackeray
59. The Ultimate Proof of Creation by Dr. Jason Lisle
60. Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
61. The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer 
62. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Re-Read

1. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
2. The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien
3. The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien
4. Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul
5. Eight Cousins by Louise May Alcott
6. Swiss Family Robinson
7. Killer Angels
8. Any books by G.A. Henty
9. Pushing the Antithesis by Greg Bahnsen
10. Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott
11. The Wind in the Willows
12. Little Britches by Ralph Moody
13. Man of the Family by Ralph Moody
14. The Fields of Home by Ralph Moody
15. The Home Ranch by Ralph Moody
16. Mary Emma and Company by Ralph Moody 
17. Heidi
18. Moonstone by Wilkie Collins

My list kind of just kept growing and looking at it now I am thinking this is DEFINITElY just a reference... not a "read all or fail miserably" kind of list. I'm imagining along the lines of "List for the next year".
If you haven't already, vote in the poll in the sidebar!

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

No Stress Finals Week

That's right.... I think I might be the least stressed (school wise that is) person coming up on finals week. I have zero finals... I'm being serious. One of my teachers offers the option to not take the final if you have missed no classes but one, another teacher doesn't give a final because she knows we'll be busy with others, then another teacher just has a final presentation (which I have already completed), and then my Pathophysiology teacher doesn't have a final, just a last test, which I could flunk and still get an A in the class.... don't worry though, I won't flunk it. :)
So I am honestly just sitting around, writing lame blog posts, playing games on my iPhone, and reading while everyone else if frantically studying, finishing up papers, ect. I have never been this unstressed out coming up on finals week. It's amazing. :)
However, I have had plenty of other things to stress out about. Things aren't going so smoothly at my Grandparents as I had hoped they would. It is improving daily, I think, but it is still very hard. My Grandma seems to be doing pretty well, but my Grandpa, who has Parkinson Disease, is always worried about everything so my sister and I are having to continually having to reassure him, re-explain things to him, ect. Please keep both of my Grandparents in your prayers as well as my sister, who is getting the brunt of this.
Thank you and God Bless!

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Book Questionnaire

I saw a questionnaire on a couple different blogs (Kelli's and Suzanne's). It was about books so obviously I had to fill it out.

Sorry about the skeletons and my skull collection in the background...
They are always getting in the way of my pictures. 

1. Do you snack while you read? Not habitually. Every once and a while I will.
2. What is your favorite drink while reading? Probably tea... though I don't normally drink anything while I'm reading because I'm afraid of spilling my beverage on my book.
3. Do you tend to mark your books while you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you? This depends on the book I'm reading. Fiction books, never. Non-fiction sometimes. Of course I always mark up my textbooks. 
4. How do you keep your place while reading a book? A bookmark. I have a ton that I have made, were given to me, or were freebies so I never am at a shortage.
5. Are you the type of person who tends to read to the end of the chapter, or can you stop anywhere? I used to only be able to stop reading when I was to the end of the chapter but now I am more flexible, though I would still rather wait until the end of the chapter.
6. Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or onto the floor if the author irritates you? No! Absolutely no! If there is one thing I learned from my parents, it was that books were never to be dropped, thrown, or stepped on. I did learn other things from them too... like how to read, what to read.... but I digress.
7. If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you look it up right away? I don't normally come across an unfamiliar word. If I don't know one though, I can usually figure it out from the context of the sentence/paragraph.
8. What are you currently reading? Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne.
9. What is the last book you bought? I don't buy a lot of books as my family already has so many. However, recently I have begun to build my own collection. The last bunch of books I got are from a library book sale I went to with a friend. I got several cookbooks, some Agatha Christie novels, The Chosen by Chaim Potok, some Shakespeare, and a lot of other books. 
10. Do you have a favorite time/place to read? I read when I have time... or sometimes when I don't have time but just feel like it. My favorite place to read is without a doubt my bed. I'm such a slug. But I also don't mind reading on a couch, or comfy chair.
11. Do you prefer series books or stand alones? I enjoy series a lot because you stick with the characters for a longer time and see a lot more development. However, my favorite book is a stand alone so I really just think it depends.
12. Is there specific book you find yourself recommending over and over? Any Jane Austen... especially Pride and Prejudice, The Lord of the Rings, any Dickens. Just classics in general.
13. How do you organize your books? I had them all alphabetized on one shelf of my bookshelf but after the last buying of books I had to expand that. I still have the one shelf alphabetized but now some of my nicer looking books are part of the decorative side of my bookshelf now.

Comment with a link to your blog post with answers or if you don't have a blog just leave your answers in the comments section! :)

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Monthly Resolutions- May 2013

Finals are creeping on me. :(

Study REALLY Hard!!!

Finals and final projects are closing in on me and I need to study hard and finish strong.

Get all A's!!!

I have worked hard all semester and I think that I should get all A's. Hopefully!

Read or Re-Read at least 5 books

I think that hopefully I can do better about this as I'll be finishing up school and have more time to read. I was definitely picking up on my reading at the end of last month so hopefully that will carry on over to this month. I grabbed a bunch of Jules Verne books when I was at home last that I hope to read and I'll see what else I can get done.

Exercise in some form at least three times a week

Whether it's walking, biking, or whatever I do. Just three times a week... but hopefully more.

Stick to my diet

Stick to it! Of course I'll have a couple days where I'll indulge in something delicious (not to say eating healthily isn't delicious) but overall I need to stick to my veggies, fruits, and GREEK YOGURT!!! Love that stuff. I'm also a little addicted to jicima. 

Lose 4 Pounds

Again, a pound a week. I got my first complement on my having lost weight from a non-immediate family member the other day! :) Made me happy. 

Cut down on electronics time

Computer AND iPhone.

Make a Summer Bucket List

I don't know exactly what it will involve yet but probably will have to do with reading and writing. :)

Write at least 3 more blog posts this month

I was planning on upping it to five but since I don't have internet at my Grandparents I decided not to.

Changing it up a little this month but mostly sticking to the tried and true goals!
In case you missed it in my April report card, my Grandma was able to come home a little less than a week ago and my sister and I moved with them to help out. Also, I got an iPhone.... an iPhone 5 to be specific!
Linking up with Kelli at She Learns as She Goes.

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.

Report Card- April 2013

The end of April and almost upon finals. :( Big news! My Grandma was able to come home last Friday! My sister and I have moved in with my grandparents are helping them out. So far it is going great!
Also, some more big news... I got an iPhone!!!!! It's amazing. Just saying. :)
So here is how my month went.

Study!!!- A

I think that I did well on this. I have had a successful month for grades in my various classes and I believe that is a reflection of my studying. 

Read or Re-Read at least 5 books- D

I re-read Northanger Abbey, finished The Silmarillion, and read Far From the Madding Crowd. So only three books. Epic, epic fail. 

Exercise in some form at least three times a week-A

Easily achieved. I still am not fond of exercising but I am getting more used to it.

Stick to my diet-A

As I mentioned in my mid-month progress report after I gave blood it kind of messed me up and I had to eat more. Besides that though I have been really good. I have really gotten into lettuce salads and greek yogurt. I am always trying out new things though so if you have any suggestions about delicious healthy foods let me know! I recently got some hummus and carrots.... which was super good! I also tried some jicima, which is not to everybody's taste but I enjoyed a lot.

Lose 4 Pounds-A

At my mid-month progress report I was worried this wasn't going to happen, but it did! Four pounds gone for good!

Cut down on Computer Time-A

I actually did quite well on this. For me keeping to it was doing little things like when I was at school even though I had my charge cord with me not recharging my computer once it ran out of battery. And other times I just forgot my charge cord... and not on purpose either. Also, I now spend tons of time on my iPhone instead of my computer. That worked really well. 

Write at least three more blog posts this month- A

Easily achieved! I need to up it for next month. I wrote this post that included a recipe for "Healthy" Brownies, this post that was a review of the 1980 version of Pride and Prejudice, this post that just told a little about my life, this post about The Lizzy Bennett Diaries, this post about the 2008 version of Sense and Sensibility, and this post on the 2007 version of Persuasion. So all in all five posts!

Bonus!

I knocked an item off of my Bucket List! I gave blood! 

So all in all a really good month except my book reading. :(

Linking up with Kelli at She Learns as She Goes.

Lois Johnson, avid writer, tea drinker, and reader but first and foremost, avid Christian.