26 to 26

I like dates… a lot.

No, not the dinner-and-a-movie variety, but actual dates like July 31^st.  What is so special about today’s date? I’m happy you asked! Today is my (half) birthday.

…half birthday? Really? Yeah, yeah. I know. But this year I’m using my half birthday to start something I’m pretty excited about: 26 to 26.

In 26 weeks I will turn 26. That means I have 26 weeks to improve on year 25 and set myself up to make 26 my best year yet. Here’s the plan: Each week I will pick one aspect of my life that I’m not completely satisfied with, develop a plan to make it better, and work towards the goals I set for myself. Some weeks will be easier than others, but my goal is that every week is rewarding and teaches me something about myself.

Without further ado, here is the first entry in 26 to 26.

1.      Be more consistent with recommended healthcare appointments.

Details: Since moving off of my parents insurance and onto my own plan, I have been slacking on making my various annual appointments. I pay a lot of attention to my diet and exercise routine, so why wouldn’t I take care of myself in this way too? Mostly I think this has been because I currently don’t have a great understanding of my insurance policies and I’m afraid of accruing healthcare expenses that I’m not expecting and/or cannot afford. That needs to change.

Plan: First things first, look up specifics about what is/is not covered under my current insurance plans. After that, call and set up appointments! To successfully complete week 1 of 26 to 26 I need to have the three appointments I want to make scheduled by Thursday of next week.

26 to 26 – Ready, set, GO!

Hello world.

Welcome to A Vibrant Journey, my cozy little corner of cyberspace.  

Who am I? Well, that’s a part of what A Vibrant Journey is all about (more on that later). But, here is what I know:

I’m a bit eclectic (and eccentric), but I never did claim to be a fan of monotony.

Monogamy, however, I am a fan of. I have a handsome man who makes me smile, tells me I’m beautiful, and makes me feel loved each and every day. He’s pretty great and I’m pretty lucky. A big (literally) part of our life together has been our fawn Great Dane. He’s bigger than I am, but I love being a Great Dane Mom.  

I’m a PhD student in Molecular Biology and aspiring Evolutionary Geneticist. I study the evolution of gene regulation and more specifically I study the sequences of DNA that control when, where, and how much a gene is expressed. I’ve always been a bit of a nerd, so I’m sure some science and other geekery will make it into my posts.

Don’t worry if that isn’t really your thing. Remember when I said I’m eclectic?

I’m also an amateur chef. Well, I suppose I simply mean I LOVE to cook (and bake). You can often find me watching Food Network, trying various kitchen gadgets, and experimenting with new recipes. That’s basically an amateur chef, right? Either way, there isn’t much that can beat a Sunday morning at the farmer’s market, followed by a full day of cooking, culminating in a delicious meal. Just thinking about it puts a smile on my face.

Some (myself included) would call me crafty. I really enjoy making things, especially gifts for other people. I often forget to document my adventures in crafting, but hopefully this will help change that. This translates over into a love for home décor and home improvement projects.

Anyways, that’s enough about me for now. Thanks for joining me on A Vibrant Journey. I hope you’ll continue to come back to explore my musings on life, science, food, crafts, home, fitness and more.