Bar Prep: Week One.

We had to create study plans for a Bar Prep class I was in last semester. I had written that I would wake up everyday at 6 AM to exercise, have a quiet time, shower and just generally get ready to face the day. Then I would work for 4 hours non-stop; eat lunch; another 4 hours; dinner; kids; another hour or so; bed. 

That plan has already been thrown out as inconceivable. 

First-I found that giving myself an afternoon break to workout and shower was WAY better for me than doing it all in the morning. I still get up at 6 and do multiple choice questions, but save the other stuff for later on. 

Second-I cannot work for 4 hours straight on anything. I can work really hard for a couple hours, but then I need a break. I have to take a minute or two to breath-mentally and physically. 

Third-I underestimated my need for other activities. I NEED to do other things. I need to have ice cream dates with the kids. I need to sit on the porch with Corey and drink coffee. So I've made time for those things too. I have even added a couple new activities. One of which is contributing to a blog called The City of Morgantown. It is run by a guy named Sam. It is photos and articles and other random stuff about this town written by people that are from here. It is a fun outlet to take my mind off the bar exam. Check it out if you have a spare moment.

Finally- Having a day off is going to be necessary. My original plan had all 7 days accounted for. But I need a day off. That might mean that I have to work harder and longer the other 6, but I am willing. I did not do that this week, so the rest of my afternoon has to be spent learning about Constitutional Law--BOO. I didn't like it the first time around. I like it less that I have to do it while the rest of my lot is having fun. 

No sure what this blog will look like this summer. I pre-apologize if you are not riveted by my dive into the bar exam. It's what is going on with me right now-at least for the next 10 weeks.

Eye on the PRIZE

The semester is more than halfway over. It is the part of the semester that begins to pick up in regard to workload. I am in the midst of researching to write a bill for legislation, reading filings for clinic, and just getting through the regular course load. So of course it is completely reasonable for me to make some additional goals, right? 

A few things have been rolling around in my head to do, and sometimes you just have to START. 

One is scripture memorization.

One of my blogger-pals Amanda shared her scripture memory system (started by Beth Moore) on her blog. I am going to steal it and make it my own. You need a spiral notebook of index cards and a bible :). The concrete goal? Two verses per month for a total of 24 for the year. I do not know where I will start, but I am sure I will post them as I memorize them. 

Another goal is to make exercise a priority again. 

This semester has been an energy drainer. But I am tired of excuses. So I dusted off the elliptical and dragged myself out of bed this morning. It felt great. The concrete goal? elliptical 2x a week, one long run and maybe some yoga in there somewhere. 

FINALLY, over Christmas I will make a quilt. 

I like the nine-patch pattern

This goal requires help from my very crafty Mother in law. But I have had the material for a few years, and I want to MAKE IT! I have enjoyed knitting so much in the last few weeks-creating something functional with my own hands. A quilt is a much bigger time commitment, so it must wait until school is not in the way. 

I like setting goals. I like having things to work toward. Even in the midst of school's chaos and crazy schedules. Even in the middle of it all. 

changing things up...

I have struggled through the summer to figure out what my blog is. It is a place where I share what? Does it matter? Do I enjoy blogging?
Well, for the record, I do enjoy blogging. It is fun to write and document the lovely and not so lovely parts of life. But my very ordered brain really hates the chaotic posts and disorganized nature of what my blog is currently.

If my blog was a picture--it would look like this... 

when I really want it to look like this...

All that being said, this blog is my space. (thus the title-A Space of My Own) I share my life with a great man and two beautiful kids, not to mention friends and extended family and church and school. So this blog is where I get to process it all--where I get to share what works and what doesn't--where I get to talk about the things that I really love!
So I am introducing some specific posts that highlight the areas that I care most about or are just a big part of who I am right now. So here are a few new pieces to my Space...

• Book Nook: I am revamping Book Worm series. This is where I share about books that I love or am reading or that I hate (hated books are a very short list, really I can only categorize ONE book as hated "The House of Mirth." - ugh, terrible).
• Kitchen Adventures: FOOD. I love food and cooking and baking. (oh and the eating part isn't too bad either). The hubs and I have become much more adventurous in our kitchen-with ingredients, with recipes-and I love to share what works, other foodie blogs, and tricks and tips I pick up along the way.
• The Office: I work. It is part of my life. I am a wanna-be property attorney, and I don't want to forget to talk about this piece of who I am right now. I love my job-it can certainly be draining, but law school was one of the best decisions I ever made (right after marrying Corey and popping out our kiddos). 
• Walk-In Closet: I am a fashion infant--I make other people (cough-Danielle and Lauren and Britt) dress me. But when I create an outfit or buy some fun pieces, I like to share my successes with the blogging world.
• Law Library (aka Lawbrary-at least to @LDCMcIntosh): Again. I go to school. It is a BIG part of my life right now. It is not always fun. But the friendships that have been forged and the opportunities I have been given here are really extraordinary and should be documented.
• cityChurch: I have a really great church. I love sharing about what Jesus has done in my life through these incredible people. 
• Living Spaces: Everything else. I can talk about places we go and the people we see. Probably a lot of coffee mentioned... cause you know-I love it. My life is full of interesting happenings--even though I sometimes think it is all very boring! 

I think it is reasonable to think that I will post more about some than others. But I hope to get one of each at least MONTHLY. Am I missing anything? I love feedback, so don't be shy :)

images via pinterest

New (School) Year's Resolutions...

Check out my post on the law ladies blog here. One last year to have a new school year to make new school year resolutions.

I'm sitting here...

surrounded by several law books, a cup of coffee and my planner. It is official. Summer is over. Fall has begun - despite what the calender says. My consolation is that it is my last year.

I have no idea what this year holds. I have no clue what twists and turns await me.

But I do know what I hope will happen....what I want to happen...

I want to grow in my faith. I want to cook new things. I want to spend more time with my kids. I want to run. I want to read the minor prophets with Abby. I want to relax. I want to watch True Blood with Corey. I want to invest time in my friends. I want to teach Lauren to knit. I want to marvel at God's work. I want to have dance parties. I want to take trips (mainly to Knoxville and Dayton). I want to read books in bed before I go to sleep. I want to pray - better and more often. I want to laugh- A LOT. I want to start hiking. I want to take care of my body. I want to play my guitar. I want to take a few long drives.

And what is great is that God knows all of these things. He knows that desires of my heart. And He will give them to me..."Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4)

So I am going to work on DELIGHT, and trust that all the other things will follow...

Another long Tuesday

It was SO nice to have a week where I did not write about my long Tuesday. But here I am back in class and watching the clock tick--is it 7:20 yet?

Nope.

LUCKILY it is sunny. And it looks like spring outside (it doesn't feel like it because it is 40 degrees). Spring makes me so happy. Fall is probably my favorite season, but Spring is a close second. The colors (especially the GREEN) make me smile. The budding trees and colorful clothing that comes out. Spring always makes me want to change things up. So I am taking some of my earlier goals a little further and changing them up for this new season of life.

One of my original goals was to be healthy--not be on a diet or strict exercise routine, but to be healthy. To make healthy choices and be happy with my body no matter what the scale tells me.

So today...

I gave up artificial sugar.

One of the only reasons I used it was because the thought of drinking calories made me upset. I love food--to devote any calories to a beverage seemed absurd. But I have pretty much cut out soda anyway, all that was left was coffee. And I drink a lot of coffee with a lot of sweetener. I think that it has really messed with my body's ability to feel hungry and satisfied (especially with sweets). So for spring, I am going to see what happens if I replace the artificial with regular sugar. Spring time also brings more fresh fruits and veggies that I am excited to incorporate into our menus.

I started an exercise switch up

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I am so bad about getting in a cardio rut. I feel like I have exercised when I run or do the elliptical. There is something so satisfying about being sweaty and exhausted. But Saturday I did a long run that ended with strained muscles--it was cold, I wasn't properly hydrated, and I pushed too hard. I don't want to do nothing, so the hamstring/knee injuries mean that I have to try some new things. Today I did a free weight workout. I am planning on incorporating pilates too. It is really refreshing to think about new ways to keep in shape!

Spring (even with this cold start) invigorates me!

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