thebabyperks

While I didn't publish my new year resolutions on my blog last year I did have them in a note on my phone. 

1. Get in shape (for real this time)
2. Stop biting my nails
3. Continue to be happy

I can say that I successfully accomplished 2/3 of these this year. 

#1: My physique may not ever resemble that of when I was swimming 5 days a week for 2 hours a day, but I am in my best post-swimming shape. In 2017 I learned that I can't just do cardio and expect to see the results I want. I thought lifting would make me bulky but what I realized once I got over my fear of the weights is that it actually helps a lot (duh... that's why people are always in the weight section of the gym). For 2018 my goal is to work on my arms and core.

#2: I failed at this again and I fail every year. Biting my nails isn't something I always even recognize I'm doing. Sometimes I may go a long time without biting them and then I look down and I realize I've done it again. It's part a subconscious thing, part coping method for stress. For 2018 my goal is to be more aware of when I'm biting my nails so I can stop. 

#3: WOO I did it. 2017 had it's ups and downs like any year but I can honestly say that this year was pretty great. I did a lot, traveled, hung out with my best friends, continued my studies, and overall just became a better version of myself. For 2018 my goal is to continue to be happy and hopefully help make other people happy.

My winter break seems to be flying by but I have thoroughly enjoyed the rest and relaxation, traveling with my family, and getting to see David and my friends for NYE. My next semester is going to be pretty busy, too, but I know 2018 is going to be a great year.

Happy New Year everyone, I will see you in 2018!

Until next time,
Taylor xx

If you are no stranger to this blog you've read about my triathlon experience a handful of times. I love the sport, I will rave about it to anyone who gives me a chance to. When I came back to school for my sophomore year I originally had planned to train for a long distance triathlon but I had a few challenges. I am really busy (I mean it's college, who isn't?) and the pool hours don't fit into my schedule and I don't have a bike rack or my bike at school. One thing I have been doing though is running. 

I was thinking about doing a 10K over fall break but I didn't end up doing it. I did the Turkey Trot 5K on Thanksgiving Day and got my PR (24:54, an 8:02 mile), which was definitely because this semester I began incorporating lifting into my workouts.

A high quality picture of me very early in the morning for the Turkey Trot

The last two weeks of school, though, my workout schedule fell apart. I had a lot of final presentations, projects, and tests that took over. If I'm being honest not working out stressed me out but I also knew I needed to be properly rested. Taking a week or two off wouldn't hurt me that badly. And it didn't. It gave me the rest and recharge I needed to get back to working out over break. That get's me to the main point of this post.

I am doing a half marathon. 

Completing a half-marathon has always been a far out goal that I didn't think I'd ever accomplish. At the beginning of break I had texted David and joked that I'd "maybe" do one. He said to do it. I began looking at races in Springfield and I found the Big Party Half Marathon on April 7. When I read more about the Big Party Half Marathon I knew I had to do it. All of the proceeds go to Camp Barnabas-- "a unique ministry providing Christian camping experiences to people with special needs and chronic illnesses, along with their siblings." The money raised from this race goes to funds so that kids have money to go to the camp.

I found a beginner's training plan for a half marathon and I just completed my first week. I don't expect to be super fast or place in the top 5, but I want to do it to say I've done it. I also feel like if there's any half marathon to do it might as well be the one that provides opportunities to kids to have fun at a camp that is accessible for them.

Here's Sophia and I, I literally couldn't have survived this semester without her constant love and support. I am forever grateful for our MudHouse study dates and trips to Sonic.
And throughout September I got to gather things and put together a basket for my future little. Noelle-- I love you so much and I am so glad you are a part of the fam ba bam.

Here's her completed basket!

 Big/Little Reveal--

Kappa Delta did a paint Twister (that turned into paint war) exchange with Sigma Pi.
 We also created a team for Lambda Chi Alpha's Watermelon Fest.
Noelle officially got initiated into Kappa Delta and I was a proud mom. 
Around this time it was midterms so here's a picture of Sophia and I dying in the library. One night we went to Target and each bought a pint of Ben and Jerry's and ate them in one of the study rooms.
My mom came to visit and of course I took her to MudHouse. We spent our night on the couch in my apartment eating candy and watching documentaries.
Then it was Halloween at Drury....
 Next was the Kappa Delta masquerade-themed formal.
They had a fire pit for s'mores and I was living my best life. David took a to-go box full of extra s'more making materials which I continued to eat for the next week.

I was slated for Vice President- Public Relations for the Alpha Psi chapter of Kappa Delta and got voted in. Here's a photo of the incredible women I get to work and serve with over the course of the next year.
I went with David to Sigma Pi's formal.

Second year in a row of Fratsgiving photos with Oliver

 I started dating David, too, I can't forget to mention that ;)

This was before we officially started dating but it's close enough

If you didn't know, David is incredible. I could probably go on and on about how great he is but that's kind of cringe-y, but please know that he means the world to me and makes me incredibly happy. 

And his Tweet was featured on Buzzfeed (he's #10) and that's pretty cool.

After a crazy busy two weekends I went home for a quick Thanksgiving break...

and then came back to finish out the last few weeks of the semester. I helped decorate both David and Matt's Christmas tree and my own apartment's tree.



Before finals week started Noelle, Rachel and I exchanged Christmas gifts. Noelle got us these rockin' sweaters and I am pumped.
 As you can tell we all fit into this family quite well.

The infamously branded "dead week" is upon us. And while we have almost made it through the week, the stress is far from being over. 

Dead week (or the week before finals) is always significantly worse than finals weeks. Traditionally it's because you are prepping for finals, finishing up papers, and practicing presentations, but from my experience more finals happen on dead week than finals week. Many of professors think it'll make it easier on us but then everyone does it and finals week becomes you staying until Wednesday for your one final from 1-3.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad my stress is almost over but earlier this week I was really testing my sanity. At one point I was set up in the Commons (our cafeteria) while making phone calls, drinking my third cup of coffee on an empty stomach and typing out an article for a newspaper story. Don't worry- the Commons put out their lunch options and I ate. But later that day I went to a coffee shop with my friend Barbie and we each had our fourth cups of coffee for the day. I was wired, but pretty productive.

Mudhouse was full so Barbie and I went somewhere else for coffee but here's a picture I took at Mudhouse earlier in the semester

As you can tell from what I have told you I am incredibly busy. My days are 12+ hours and at points I feel like I'm going crazy. I see the light at the end of the tunnel, though. 

In exactly one week I will be in my pajamas at home on the couch, drinking coffee and watching cheesy Christmas movies. My dream of relaxing will be coming true shortly. 

I am also trying to cherish this last week of my fall semester by spending as much time as I can with my friends and boyfriend before we all go home for 4-5 weeks. 

I feel like this semester passed in a blink of an eye, it's wild to see how much has changed from August to now. 

To my fellow Drury peers and other college friends-- we're making it. We just have to push for a bit longer before we can do nothing and not feel guilty about it.

Until next time,
Taylor xx

As more and more women share their "#MeToo" stories I have reflected on my own experiences of not feeling safe or secure. 

Growing up my parents emphasized to my brother and I how important it was to be aware of everything around us and be ready to take action. Being vigilant is one of the largest lessons that has stuck with me to this day (so thanks mom and dad *thumbs up for you* your parenting was effective). 

My parents stressing of the importance of being aware of my surroundings only grew when I started going running in my neighborhood at home. I ended up carrying pepper spray for a long time. If I am being completely honest I have not (yet) experienced a time where I felt uncomfortable running in O'Fallon. I'm sure it helps that where I live is a very family-friendly neighborhood with a lot of active people. This hasn't lessened my senses though, I am still very aware of any dogs or people that could be around.

This changed when I came to Springfield. I am not located in the most safe part of Springfield and that has definitely influenced where and when I go running. I only go running in the daylight, I always have my keys in one hand and my phone in the other. When I run alone I only do a loop around the Drury campus so that I always have a building I could go to within a few feet in case I feel unsafe.

The first time I felt really uncomfortable when running was when I was running in downtown Springfield with a male friend. We were running down a residential street, I looked to my right and saw a guy looking at me for an unreasonably long time. My guy friend made eye contact with the man staring at me and he looked away. I'm not sure if my friend realizes that he helped stop a situation I was uncomfortable in (we never talked about it and I'm not sure if he remembers) but I was glad he was there to do so. It was the first time I really felt like someone was ogling at me and it's an awful feeling. I should not feel in danger for working out. 

See, it is much more fun to run downtown or go on different routes instead of doing the same loop 3 times to get in my 5K, but I can't do that if I run alone. I am sad that I live in a society where I have to be fearful of doing something I love because of someone's unwanted advances. I am sad that people are still tying to justify my running attire as an invitation to stare at me. What saddens me the most is that people are not willing to talk about this and other cases of sexual harassment because they feel like no one is listening.

My "#runningwhilefemale" story may not be the most dramatic but I still feel like it's important to talk about sexual assault and sexual harassment. I would also suggest checking out the #runningwhilefemale for more stories.

I love running and I don't ever intend on stopping, but there are times I feel discouraged because of situations like my own and the others I read. My hope is that one day if I have a daughter that we can run together and not feel unsafe. I hope that she lives in a world that is able to respect her body's abilities and strengths.

Until next time,
Taylor xx 

What do you want? A pretty broad question that can take you a variety of directions. 

I don't know how I stumble upon the TED Talks that I end up watching, but it usually starts with me scrolling through their official website or YouTube pages. I go through and click "watch later" on the ones I am interested in and randomly pick one to start at. The one I landed on? "How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over" by Mel Robbins. It's pretty blunt but pretty applicable. 
I'm always pretty weary of motivational speakers because so many times people buy into the idea of the empty words speakers are saying and profiting off of. Robbins' talk gave the listeners practical advice for making changes in their lives, though. She also wasn't afraid to call out people's flaws or problems. 

Now going back to the original question of "what do you want?" I automatically think about a dream job or dream future. But why do I assume it's a "dream job", why can't it become a reality?

That's what Robbins wants to blame on the F-word. No, it's not what you're thinking. The F-word is "fine." We get so used to saying "this is fine, things are fine," that we don't challenge ourselves. 

Why do we do this? According to Robbins it is because we like the idea of routine, we like what is safe and normal. She said that the ways to change how we live are simple, but not easy.

1. It's simple (but not easy): force yourself out of your own head

As Robbins said, "If I put a speaker on your [mind] and broadcast what you say to yourself you'd be institutionalized." If we don't speak about/to others that way, why do we subject ourselves to that negativity? 

2. It's simple (but not easy): force yourself past your feelings 

Our feelings are usually what keep us stuck in our repetitive routine. We don't "feel" like doing something different. A moment for change may present itself but we hesitate. That hesitation is our feelings acting over what we really want.

I am as guilty as the next person. One of my many fears is rejection so I sometimes settle for what is fine versus taking the risk. I think that the bigger problem comes when you consistently settle for just being "fine" instead of doing what you really want. As I have discussed in my previous posts I really am trying to live in the moment more and I feel like I have some progress.

By forcing ourselves out of our own heads and forcing ourselves past our own feelings we become vulnerable. That vulnerability allows us to grow as people and eventually become who we really want (even if we get hurt at first).

Until next time,
Taylor xx

It's pretty safe to say that we all want to be remembered. While what we want to be remembered for may vary, we all want to look back on our lives and see that we made a difference in some shape or form.

As I've continued my reading of Mark Manson's, "The subtle art of not giving a f*ck," (I introduce it more in my last blog post here) I have been reflecting on what I want to do and what legacy I want to leave behind.

Part of that legacy isn't up to our control. It's what other people thought of us, how they interpreted our actions and the values we held.

What we can control is what we do and why we do it. Many people let opportunities slip through their fingers because they are too scared or too lazy. I heard the quote "step outside your comfort zone" so much growing up that it makes me cringe, but Fred DeVito's quote "if it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you," resonates much more with me.

It can be so incredibly easy to get caught up in our day to day routine and become complacent. I'm a creature of habit and I find that I get so engrossed in my routines rather than just living life. I have come to realize that I have to push myself to strive for more.

What do I want to be remembered for? Among many things I hope that I am remembered as someone who made an impact on someone's life for the better. I hope I make others feel important and valued.

This is a photo I've used before when I've talked about my trip to Hawaii. Visiting Hawaii is one of my most cherished memories and I cannot wait to go back. This is part of the Ironman triathlon swim course that I swam a part of while visiting and I hope to one day be able to qualify to compete for the Kona Ironman.

Manson's novel has made me reconsider who I value in my life. You only have so many cares to give and you should invest in the people who mean a lot to you. If I let the wrong things stress me out or consume me, what impact does that have toward how I want to be remembered? I end up neglecting the people I surround myself with.

We need to shift our focus from our worries to what we can do to live how we want. This will not only shape how we are remembered, but also give us a better sense of self.

Until next time,
Taylor xx

For the past two weeks or so I have had this blog post and two others queuing. I haven't had the time to sit down and write them, but just know that they are coming soon and I'm feeling really good about them. 
My inspiration for this post and the next two all come from my thoughts while contemplating a book I have been reading, "The subtle art of not giving a f*ck" by Mark Manson. My friend Ethan recommended it to me and it's completely restructured how I think about life.
While reading, the first thing it made me consider was why I struggle with feeling guilty. I have learned a lot over the past 5 weeks of my sophomore year, but one of the most important lessons is that you are only one person. You can only be so much for others without losing yourself. 

You can't change people. They have to want the change you seek for them. Sometimes you just have to step back from a situation because nothing you say/do can make it better. 

It's okay to be selfish. It's okay to spend time with the people I want to spend time with, I don't have to feel guilty about it. I can go on those late night trips to Andy's, spend all my time at Mudhouse, do what I want and not feel the need to apologize.

I think it will always be something I struggle with. I just have to learn to strike a balance between making others happy and making myself happy. 

Luckily, I have some pretty great friends who don't even realize how amazing they are. From the spontaneous movie nights to scrolling through Pinterest at 1 a.m., sophomore year has been significantly different than I anticipated but I wouldn't want it any other way.

Until next time,
Taylor xx

P.S.: Be on the lookout for my next two blog posts. I'm hoping to get them published as soon as possible but ya know life happens sometimes and there's this thing called my accounting class that consumes everything I am.

Fun fact-- I started working at the school gym at the beginning of the school year. As people have slowly found this out they ask how I motivate myself to go to the gym, how to overcome feeling self-conscious and how to get started (by the way, I'm more than happy to talk to anyone in person about these topics or any other questions).

I needed a picture of the gym and this is as good as it got, I'm sorry

If I am being honest, I battle myself every day in regards to the above questions. Sure, I "went" to the gym last semester, but "going to the gym" for me was getting on the treadmill and running for 1-3.5 miles. I'd promptly wipe down the treadmill with the sanitizing spray and walk out the gym doors. I'm not trying to disregard this accomplishment by any means. Any time you choose to get moving is a step in the right direction. I wanted to do more than just run on the treadmill, but if you read my fitness journey blog post, I was terrified.

It took me until this summer to pick up a dumbbell. I had nothing better to do when I wasn't working and I needed to occupy some time. We have a small gym set up at home, but I had no clue where to start. I followed plenty of fitness bloggers on Instagram but they didn't seem realistic. I searched YouTube for some sort of beginner tutorials and I stumbled upon HasFit. Now their video tutorials are what I use as a guideline for most of my workouts. They have have a lot of great options especially when you're under a time crunch.

Now to answer the question about not feeling self conscious. I always feel self conscious-- in regards to the gym and life. It's terrifying at first, don't get me wrong, and honestly a moment of panic flashs through me every time I open the door to the gym. What I've found, though, is that going to the gym makes me feel strong, confident and accomplished. 

I have this constant fear that everyone is watching me and judging me, but what I have learned is that no one is paying attention to me. They are focused on themselves and their own workout, as long as you aren't being obnoxious or stupid no one is going to really care what you are doing. I make a lot of accidental eye contact with people, but I've accepted that it happens sometimes and I move on. 

Life is going to be uncomfortable at times, you can let that stop you or you can use it as motivation to improve. 

Everyone's lives are incredibly busy, it's easy to forgo working out because you don't have time. I feel a noticeable difference in myself if I don't go to the gym when I originally planned to. It's also something I know I can check off my to-do list and feel proud about afterwards.

My best advice? As someone who feels like I'm still a novice, it's just to take the step and go to the gym. Start with the ellipticals and treadmills, or jump straight to the dumbbells. Do what you're most comfortable with, but then challenge yourself to go a little further. You'll be amazed at the progress you see physically and mentally.

Until next time,
Taylor xx

P.S.: Below are some of my favorite fitness inspirations:
- Whitney Simmons
- Bianca Franco 
- Carley Rowena 
- Rob Lipsett

It's a running joke amongst my friends that I spent $60 on a planner. At school I am constantly on the go. I have long days filled with lots of classes, work, extracurriculars and homework, but I'm no different from a majority of college students. My planner is my lifeline for time management and organization. While I could do an entire post on the ins and outs of this planner, that's actually not why I'm writing today. 
There is a section in the back of the planner dedicated to notes and I've turned it into a place to record quotes that have impacted me.
The one I wish to highlight today is the large block of text in the upper left corner that reads:

"And on some days you need to remind yourself that you're worth more than they've led you to believe. You are not a maybe or a back up plan. You have no time to waste trying to convince people to see that. Somedays you have to create your sunshine. Every day you must love yourself." 

So many times I get wrapped up in everything that's wrong. In today's society I feel that it's so easy to highlight the bad without ever acknowledging the good. Don't get me wrong, some days you do just need to have a pity party and recognize that life can suck. However, since coming back to school I am really trying to minimize my stress by maximizing my positivity. There are so many good parts of life that can become masked by our worries and problems.

I'm sure I'll talk about some more of my favorite quotes in the future because I absolutely love words and the power they have.

Until next time,
Taylor xx

I moved in early for my sorority and got unpacked/settled pretty fast. My apartment (the top half of the picture above) is a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, with a kitchen and living room. It's pretty neat because each apartment in the complex is working with a specific Springfield nonprofit over the course of the school year. My apartment-mates and I will be working with Jordan Valley Community Health Center, a healthcare facility that provides a full range of medical services to low income people in Springfield.
Here's an overview of what my year will consist of: 
    * I'll be continuing my classes for my Strategic Communication major and           Business Administration minor
    * I'm serving as the managing editor for Drury's newspaper
    * I'm volunteering as an assistant coach for Girls on the Run
    * I'm training for my first 10K in October