So Much To Do, So Little Time

Yesterday I was procrastinating studying for my final, so I decided to compile all my random little tasks (many of which are on sticky notes lying around the house, my purse, my backpack, the pockets of my work jacket, etc.) into an actual TO-DO LIST. What a concept, I know. Some of these are small little things that I just want to get done and don't take too much time, like painting my toenails :) Other things will take more time and energy, naturally. I generally try to have a list for the month or so, but this is not always possible. I don't sweat it though, I just get as much done as I can and try to prioritize. This, by the way, is much easier said than done (as all you procrastinators out there are well aware of). So, just to keep myself on track, I'm posting my list on my blog!

To-Do in September:

• clean out and wash car - check! Did that last week :)
  
• mail photos to B's mother - she requested a few photos of us to frame at their home...yay!
  
• mail DVDs to my parents
• put away clean laundry - I hate doing this. Honestly, this is the worst part of the entire laundry process.
  
• clean bathroom - and I mean scrub that baby down!
• purge (and organize) closet - I try to do this about once a month. By this, I don't mean getting rid of everything in my entire closet; I just fill up a medium sized grocery or trash bag with all the clothes I don't wear often enough and give them away! It makes me feel good that people who need clothes can actually have access to them, and I make room in my closet for the stuff I actually love and wear! Plus, it leaves me room to buy a new article of clothing :) General rule of thumb: for every bag you get rid of (5-10 items, say), don't buy more than one new thing to replace it. *one new thing = ONE article of clothing, one or two small accessories, etc. NOT an entire outfit!!!
• steam living room and bedroom carpet - my mom has a carpet steam cleaner that she has graciously let me borrow and I think I'm addicted! It's kinda fun and very relaxing to do, plus the results are phenomenal and make you feel great!
• clean laptop - I have a white MacBook that is a little over 3 years old and I've only truly cleaned it once. I clean the screen all the time, but the keyboard is starting to drive me crazy because the oils from my skin are beginning to stain the keys.
• get a new bike - my bike was stolen a while back and I've been borrowing B's to use for school (by the way, pretty much everyone in Santa Barbara bikes in one way or another, and everyone at UCSB rides bikes to campus because most students live less than a mile from campus and there are bike paths everywhere. Biking is a way of life here). I've decided that I need to get a replacement bike because he wants full use of his back (oops!) and I want to drive less and bike more when I am only traveling short distances.
• Sephora.com - I use Clinique facial care products and purchase it form Sephora rather than somewhere else. There is a Sephora store in Santa Barbara, but I prefer to order online for a few reasons: (1) it's easy! I'm not being lazy, I swear...I just really like online shopping; (2) I get cash back on my debit card if I order on Sephora.com; (3) I still get my beauty points whether I order online or purchase in-store. These points are redeemable for free Sephora stuff, btw; (4) for every online order, you get to choose three free samples! That's right ladies, free designer samples. Three of them. And you get to pick them out! As a working girl and a student with no money, this is a great way to get little things you need/want (like moisturizers and perfumes) with little or no cost to you!!!
• hit the gym! - I work at a private health club, and I enjoy the atmosphere there. One of the perks of being an employee here is that we receive a complimentary all-access gym membership. I definitely do not take advantage of this as much as I would like to. I intend to change that.
• read a book - for the past four years I've been so busy with school and/or work that I rarely have time to relax and read a book for leisure. I enjoy reading, and didn't mind doing the assigned reading for my English and Literature classes, but this took away from my personal book time. I miss my personal book time.