the weekend...

This past weekend Jonah and I tried a new restaurant in downtown Cincinnati, Nada.  It was a wonderful new experience.  Nada has a great ambiance and amazing mexican food.  After relaxing with some delish food and drinks we ventured into the cold and onto fountain square to watch people skate for a few minutes.  We then wimped out and headed back to the car since it was quite cold!

Then Saturday we ran tons of errands, which always makes me feel like I've accomplished a lot.  Then we spent hours printing and assembling our wedding invitations.  I'm so excited about how they turned out.  While running errands we got monogrammed stickers to use....love em.  I think monogramming things is becoming a new fave thing for me.

Sunday involved a few more wedding related things and some time wandering around the mall and people watching.

We're now almost done with wedding planning, all the pieces are in place we just have to finalize details with the vendors.  yay, and I can't believe the wedding is only about 9 weeks away...eeek!

The past week or so in review.

The past week has flown by......and here's why...

*I started some fun experiments last week and they worked.  Most of my experiments so far this week have worked.  So, I'm trying to get as much done as I can before my lab luck runs out.  Let's hope I can get all the additional data for my paper before my pot o' gold is gone.
*Last weekend Jonah and I were able to spend some much needed time with friends from Muncie.  We had good food and drinks and enjoyed great company.  We had an adventure exploring Jungle Jim's International market then headed to Lexington for more exploration and fun.
*My evenings during the week have been focused on getting some wedding planning completed.  I can say that I've gotten a lot done, had many meetings, and printed loads of invite related things.

I'm exhausted just thinking about all this.  Tonight is a much needed relaxation evening with friends eating $1 hamburgers and chatting.

Goals for 2011....

I like to make goals for the year instead of resolutions.  Most resolutions that I've made end in failure, however, when I make a goal I approach the task differently.  Basically, this is a matter of approaching what you want to accomplish/improve in a manner that works for you and sets you up for success.

The way I set goals for the year involves:
1. general brain storming on paper
2. developing specific goals so I know the direction I need to take
3. strategizing a plan to accomplish this goal
4. understanding that I will probably have to take a deviation from my original plan and try to not be too hard on myself.

Here are a few of my goals for 2011:
1. Professionally
    a. finish grant-done
    b. write and get paper accepted in a good journal
    c. by the end of the year have most of project 2 completed
    d. find positive female role models-facilitate relationships with various professors I interact with regularly
2. Personally
  a. develop patience in everyday frustrating situations by slowing down and thinking before responding instead of reacting
  b. Find more positive female role models through organizations that I'm involved in
  c. Continue exploring ballet through classes
  d. do more yoga - goal is to attend at least one class at a yoga studio/wk instead of doing yoga at home every time
  e. Try to reduce stress by focusing on being present instead of being overwhelmed by the big picture.

Those are my goals for this new year.  I encourage everyone to sit down and create goals.  Seeing them on paper allows you to organize your thoughts and approaches.  Also, when I'm having a movement when I feel like I have no idea what's going on in my hectic life I can re-read my goals and refocus.

This year I participated in the new year new you teleclass from Kimberly Wilson which helped organize thoughts and reflect on the previous year.  Yay new year and so much potential!

AHA heart mini

One cause that's very near and dear to me is heart research.  Nearly a quarter of all congenital heart anomalies are heart valve malformations.  As a heart researcher myself, I understand the need for contributions to organizations that fund this critical researcher.  I investigate gene regulation during heart valve development.  I chose to do heart valve development research because my Grandmother had her aortic valve replaced at age 60, and so have several of my great-aunts and great-uncles.  In a way, my research is helping me understand a disease that directly affects my family members and potentially me.  Also, as a member of Alpha Phi Fraternity and a regular contributer to the Alpha Phi Foundation, who is the largest supporter of women's heart disease research, heart disease advocacy has been a part of my life for nearly 10 years now!

This year one of my goals is to run a race where I can raise money for a cause that means a lot to me.  Hopefully, accomplishing a goal early in the year will help motivate me for all the other goals I've set for the year.

Please consider contributing even just a couple dollars to this cause for those that you know that are impacted by heart disease or congenital heart malformations!

Thanks everyone!!

_Mary

a sigh of relief

I finished the stressful process of writing a grant and submitted it this morning.  I can take a huge sigh of relief and catch back up on things for everyday life!!!!

I'm finally ready to start the new  year and take time to reflect more thoroughly on my goals for the upcoming year and some personal strategies.  I participated in an awesome teleclass about creating a new you in the new year by kimberly wilson! It was fab and I will share all of my 2011 goals and 2010 reflections soon!

Happy new year everyone!