chasing after greatness

New Years Resolutes

acbryant — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:03:28 +0000

I’m about a month late, but I wasn’t completely motivated to do the blogging part of new years. However, I think as I’ve accomplished different things, I want to tell people (besides Dan) about what I’ve done. But I hate talking about myself. I feel so silly when I make it about me. So I’ve come to the conclusion that I can write in here about things I’ve done/made/accomplished/failed at, and if someone CHOOSES to read it, they’re CHOOSING to hear about me. Right? I’m sure it won’t be all about me, because I want to include things that I’ve done that other people can do, too. So lets get started.

Heres a list of my new years resolutions:

Read my Bible more regularly.
Memorize a verse for the week.
Drink 3 bottles of water before coke is allowed.
Get in shape to meet next goal.
Run a half marathon by the end of 2010.
Have at least one night at home every week.
Cook a new recipe every two weeks.
Try a new craft project every month.
Minimize clutter.
Give freely.

Since January 1, Dan and I have joined a gym and worked out relatively consistently (until last week…) and I can tell a huge difference. Dan is a huge motivator for me and such a great encouragement! Not only have we joined 24, but I keep running into people that are wanting to run half marathons too! I thought I was crazy, now I find theres a whole lot of them! Let it be known, I’m going to attempt to run the White Rock Lake half marathon in November. (Lord, help me.)

I was doing REALLY good on the water, hardly drinking any cokes at all (Diet Coke is my kryptonite) until one of those super tired, I-need-caffeine-before-my-eyelids-slam-shut days. I can tell a clear difference with this too. But I will admit, it was incredibly frustrating to have to pee so often. Especially at work, when I’m in the middle of projects, etc. I should probably be drinking some water now…

I set a goal to cook a new recipe every two weeks, mostly because of time and realistically, how often we’re home to cook. But this is one resolution I have (so far) gone above and beyound with (in my humble opinion). Since January 1, I have made

Turkey Lettuce Wraps

Coconut Chicken Chili

Parmesan Crusted Zucchini

Beef and Parmesan Pasta (not a new one, but definitely a great one)

Sundried Tomato and Spinach Stuffed Chicken (recipe compliments of my wonderful sister)

and

Penne alla Vodka

[left to right: Coconut Chicken Chili (minus the rice), Parmesan Zucchini, Sundried Tomato Spinach Chicken, Penne alla Vodka]

So I say above and beyond because my “rules” called for 2 new recipes this month, but I was able to do 4! And considering that once I started working back in October our dinners consisted of Grilled Cheese, Tomato Soup, and Mac-n-cheese (respectively), its awesome to look back on this month and see how much fun it was to make these new recipes. Its super motivating to keep cooking too!

I wanted to try a new craft project every month because at the beginning of the year I felt inspired with free time and amazing websites. I have fallen in love with design*sponge, as well as Storage | Glee and Design Crush. There are tons more, but those are the top ones right now. Design*sponge has especially inspired me to decorate and be creative with simple things. They have a great list of DIY projects here. Earlier in January, I made this grocery planner which makes me feel organized and crafty (like my friends Andrea and Bekah). I’ve been working on redecorating the living room, via Photoshop (haha) which helps my indecisioness but also makes me second guess my decisions. Its so easy to paint the living room in Photoshop, too bad its not like that in real life. This weekend, our best man Gabe and I worked on this Illuminated Canvas project. I love the finished product and I’m so glad Gabe likes it too! I’m excited to see how ours turn out!

Clutter is suffocating. And I’ve felt lately a big urge to purge. We’ve managed to get rid of a lot of junk, but theres still so much! Maybe I’ll post things we can get rid of on here…

Along with minimizing comes giving. Being willing to let go of stuff allows you to open up to giving of yourself and your resources so much more freely. When you can really strip down what matters in a materialistic sense, its easier to see what matters for other people’s needs, too. Possible blog post on that.

Saving the best for last:

I am not good at reading my Bible. There. I said it. I love reading it and really digging in with cross references and everything, but I’m really bad (and always have been) about MAKING time for it. I feel like this speaks a lot to my discipline, and unfortunately where my heart is. I did memorize one verse from 2 Peter, “By His divine power, He has given us everything we need to live a godly life.” So rich. so so rich.Why don’t I read my Bible more? Is my time more valuable than God’s? Isn’t it God that allows me to even breathe this second? What in the world do I value more than spending time learning about the God that chose me even before the foundation of the world?

I’ve gotta get off this thing.

Field Lounging

acbryant — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:41:24 +0000

setting up for change

acbryant — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:27:11 +0000

Soon, this will be a website for my upcoming wedding to Daniel Bryant! We’ll have photos, wedding info, and general updates on whats going on in our lives. Changes to come!

Wedding Day Countdown: 178

so sorry

acbryant — Tue, 06 May 2008 02:11:33 +0000

I’m a terrible person for not keeping this thing up.

This semester has been absolutely nuts! Full of all nighters, fundraisers, lots of computer work and a variety of movie-homework marathons. School-wise, its been the most challenging semesters of my life. Life wise, its been absolutely wonderful. I still am waiting to find out about how my review went, which is challenging on so many levels. But here is some of my work from the semester

letter2

logo1

nonrep1

abs

final-revi-3

Computers in Art Project 3

acbryant — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 05:05:39 +0000

Final Poster

acbryant — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:53:16 +0000

Designed for the Children’s Book The Hundred Penny Box

I think in the conversion process the colors were dulled. so imagine these a little more vibrant

uggh.. finals

acbryant — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 17:33:46 +0000

i only had one final exam. But I have a paper due Wednesday, of which I haven’t started, a huge project for typography due Wednesday, that I am completely tired of, and a project due in computers in art, that I have also not started. All procrastination can be attributed to the typography project. I’ll probably post the final products of the two design classes on here.

its been one heck of a semester.. What was you’re favorite part?

Parents of the Millennials

acbryant — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 06:20:33 +0000

Did you know they have labeled our generation (born between 1982 and 1997ish) the Millennials? (also called Generation Y [lame]) Heres a video from 60 minutes talking about the work ethic of the 20somethings.

We watched and discussed this video on Wednesday in my small group and it made me really grateful for my parents. The way we are raised plays such a huge part of who we are, whether we like it or not. If we don’t like the way we are raised, many times we’re driven to change that. Our attitudes are defined by our home lives and I think the same is true for our parents and their parents.

My dad is a baby boomer, and my mom is, I guess technically, part of the following generation.. (not sure on that one) but their influence on my sister and I have taught us to take responsibility for our actions, our decisions, our messes and our successes. And i think in the same breath to give credit where credit is due. I am so thankful for my parents. Going to college made me realize how well they have brought me up and it is awesome to know they love me as much as they do.

It seems like the video really focuses on who is to “blame” for our generation and I think along the lines of giving credit where credit is due, parents are responsible BUT individuals are just as susceptible to blame for their own actions.

So. What do you think about the “millennials” ? Whats your take on the video?

heelys suck

acbryant — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:10:00 +0000

Heelys are annoying. Every time I see a kid rolling around on them, I just watch, waiting for them to fall on their face. haha thats terrible.

Image from http://tetsujin.metamudcreations.com

Encouragramitis

acbryant — Sun, 18 Nov 2007 17:48:59 +0000

I’ve realized recently how wonderful it is to receive a note. Seriously, no matter how bad the day is, a little post-it on my desk with something encouraging turns the whole day around. It reminds me of camp with Sagemont with the encouragrams in the pit of the San Marcos place and at the Marmax in Camp Tejas. It would be awesome to have little white candy bags with your name written on it that people could write notes to you and put in the bag, but from any distance. Kinda like the bank tubes, but instead of a tube going to the bank taking my money, it would be a note popping up in the little white sack. But you could send them to anyone!

I think its safe to say these are called emails. Or mailboxes. (the one the postman goes to.. with a key)

(side note: I wrote a note to someone and had to send it, and I had to buy stamps, did you know they’re $0.41?! they used to be 25!)

So I encourage you to write a note! Even if its just a short one, it will make someones day.