The Quiet Concert: How I Plan To Spend My Newfound Freedom

Apr

2015

How I Plan To Spend My Newfound Freedom

Welcome to Thoughts for Thursday! This feature is our outlet to talk with you about whatever we currently have on our minds. It might be bookish, it might not! Now for this week's thought:

How I Plan To Spend My Newfound Freedom

So as some of you may know, I have been going to school part time for the past two years to get my MBA (Masters in Business Administration). Between school and working full time, I didn't really have much time to do anything else. What time I did have was mostly dedicated to keeping this blog going. Everything else sort of fell by the wayside, including my social life. Well as of Tuesday, I attended my last night class. *happy dance* I still have one more test to take and one more weekend class this summer before I officially finish my degree, but as far as I am concerned I am free. And here are just some of the things I hope to do with that newfound freedom (and money):

1. Cook!
No joke, I’ve been eating basically the same breakfast, lunch, and rotation of dinners for the past 2 years. Enough of that. There are so many new recipes I’ve been meaning to try but more than that, I really want to start eating healthier. Therefore, I’m definitely planning on dedicating more time to meal planning and meal prep. Maybe you'll see some posts on this topic in the future! Meanwhile, if you have any recipes to share, or tips or anything related to cooking - I'd love to hear them!

2. Tone it Up!
I used to exercise 6+ times a week back before I started school but since then it’s been drastically less (although I’ve still managed to keep it up!) I would like to work out more regularly again and discover new ways to work out. I want to take an aerial yoga class, maybe even a barre class and I am definitely interested in joining the Tone It Up community. I've started doing some of their free YouTube workouts and I'm thinking about buying the TIU Nutrition Plan. Do any of you do their workouts or recommended any other YouTubers for good workout videos? Whats your favorite way to exercise?

3. Travel Planning/Traveling!
As most of you know by now, I LOVE to travel. I haven't stopped traveling these past two years but most of the trips I've taken have been through the MBA program - and they've been great - but I'm happy to be back to picking and planning my own trips. Honestly, it's therapeutic for me. There are so many places I want to go and I've started creating Pinterest boards for each trip to start organizing my ideas. For starters, I'll be going to Budapest, Vienna, and Prague at the end of June - have any of you been there? Any travel/trip suggestions?

4. Watching TV
I am SO BEHIND on shows it's not even funny. First order of business will be to catch up. But I also haven't started any new shows in a while and quite a few I used to watch have ended so I'll probably be in the market for a couple new ones. Maybe I'll start watching The 100 so I can join the fandom! What else should I watch? Any other TV show recommendations?

5. Riding!
I LOVE horses and I rode for a little bit in college but I’ve barely been on a horse since then. Part of the problem is that I don't own my own horse but my dad's girlfriend does and has asked me to go riding with her. I will definitely be taking her up on her offer now that my weekends won't be overwhelmed with school work and I can't wait. What do you like to do to unwind?

6. My 15in'15!
Two weeks ago I shared my list of 15 things I hope to do this year. In addition to all of those things, I am just really excited to discover new places, hobbies, interests, etc. I just can't wait to LIVE. I feel like a new chapter of my life is starting! What are some new things you are hoping to do this year?

7. Nothing!
I can't wait to have the luxury of doing nothing, completely guilt-free. I forget what that feels like. I am reinstating Sunday Fundays and I have every intention of bumming it on my couch for long periods of time to bask in this nothingness. :D

Comments (11)

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Lili · 519 weeks ago

This post was so perfect, Nicole! You make me jealous that I have 2 years left and then one more hopefully working full-time and taking night classes for my accelerated masters. While I love all things on your list, I have to say the final one, "nothing" is my favorite. I never really realized how much of a luxury doing nothing is. Being able to laze around all day in bed doing whatever you please with no consequences is something I miss, but like you, it's a luxury I can't afford at this point in my life. I am one of those people that always has to be productive, so I can't imagine myself not interning or working this summer, therefore the whole "nothing" thing will only be on the weekends that I sleep away from being so productive ;) Adulting at its finest, eh?

CONGRATS ON COMPLETING THE DEGREE! Go buy a nice bottle of wine and celebrate. You deserve it!
My recent post Review: The Start of Me and You by Emery Lord

1 reply · active 518 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 518 weeks ago

Thanks Lili!! <3 <3 And the time when you no longer have to go to school and work will be here before you know it and I'll be saying congratulations on your blog ;) It's always nice to have the option to do nothing but I know I'll be too restless to actually take advantage of it. On to the next thing!! :)

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aperfectioncalledbooks 76p · 518 weeks ago

YAY, congrats on getting the degree!! I wish you luck on all of your endeavors, and hope you enjoy your newfound freedom :) Cooking and traveling seems like two great places to start!! ooh in terms of tv shows, I HIGHLY recommend iZombie. I thought it would be silly and ridiculous, but it's actually really good. It's by the writer of Veronica Mars...
My recent post ARC Review ~ A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas

1 reply · active 518 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 518 weeks ago

Thank you! and thanks for the TV show rec! I'll check it out! <3

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Kay · 518 weeks ago

Congrats!!!! Freedom!!!

These all sounds like wonderful ways to spend your new found freedom.

1. I love trying out new recipes. Two of my new favorites are this really easy dinner. Italian Chicken Bake and Quinoa Soup and a favorite site where I get recipes from is Six Sister's Stuff I think maybe I should do a whole post where I share some of my favorite recipes I found online now that I think about it. Wouldn't that be fun?

2. I was doing so well by working out every day and then I went on vacation last week and now I have lost my groove. I just need to pick a day and start up again. Luckily I have only been out of my groove for a week. That isn't too bad. I will have to check out Tone Up thing myself. Good luck!

4. So I watched the first two episodes of The 100 when it first came out and I just couldn't get into it, but now it is such a big thing that maybe I should give it another try. It really has gotten pretty popular.

6. I know you will totally hit your 15 in 15! :D

7. Sometimes doing nothing is the best thing to do. Especially after you have been so busy.

Congrats again!!!

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Pam@YA Escape · 518 weeks ago

Congrats, that has to feel great that you are pretty much done…what an accomplishment and yes, you will definitely have a lot more time to do fun things and it sounds like you already know what you're going to do! Budapest, Vienna, and Prague…that sounds amazing.

Hmmm…TV series. I just got sucked into Scandal and binge watched 3 seasons in no time at all and then had to buy the current season because I just couldn't wait. I would also recommend Orphan Black, which is on Amazon Prime. I'll try to think of more.

Great post!!
My recent post Stacking the Shelves (92)

1 reply · active 518 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 518 weeks ago

Thank you! And I've been eyeing up Scandal now that it looks like Revenge is being canceled (they have similar vibe, right?) And I do have Amazon Prime so I'll check out Orphan Black! :D

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mel1704 86p · 516 weeks ago

Almost done, smarty pants :D You are traveling to so many places, that is great! I haven't been able to do a lot of traveling with my boyfriend, but hopefully next year.

Cooking is so much fun! I made my own muesli bars with with dates as basis and then you can add all kinds of flavors. I used pieces of chocolate, rasped coconut and chopped hazelnuts! Makes a sweet, but pretty healthy thing to add in between meals when you want to snack something.

Tone it up; I really love Cassie from Blogilates. She is such an inspirational person, just look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsL7W-GHhJA

Watching TV, YES, I am so behind at this moment.

3 replies · active 513 weeks ago

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The Quiet Concert 59p · 514 weeks ago

Do you have a recipe for those Muesli bars, Mel!?

And I did see that video from Cassie - such a powerful message!

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mel1704 86p · 514 weeks ago

It was a Dutch recipe on a website I can't remember (and I could find it anymore). but after some search work on google I found this one and it looks very similar! http://deliciouslyella.com/granola-bars/ I didn't use sunflower seeds or Chia seed, but my own variation and you can use all kinds of ingredients.