April Goals

I know we're already a week into April, but better late than never right?! But first, let's go back to last months goals and see how I did.

MARCH GOALS

1. Finish photography class and book- Didn't quite happen, but I have it on my to do list for this week. I can't wait to get outside once the rain goes away and practice :)
2. Run the entire St. Patty's Day 5k- Completed! I wrote about it here
3. Make changes- Completed! I purchased a new hair dryer and have worn my hair down ~10 times this past month, which is a HUGE improvement. I've also worn makeup to work a few times, clean up our "spaces" before leaving for work, have been drinking a lot more water, working out everyday, ect. So I'd definitely say this was accomplished.
4. Write more- Considering where I started last month I'd say I've completed this, but I still have room to improve!
5. Start a gratitude journal- Completed.... and I'm loving it!


APRIL GOALS

1. Finish photography class and book- I can read during the rainy April days and practice during the sunny ones :)
2. Run once/week- We're running two races in June so I need to fit running into my weekly schedule.
3. Complete P90X3 daily workout- we're 10 days in and going strong.
4. Go on an outdoor date- with the weather finally getting warmer I want to be outside as much as possible, so hopefully one weekend we can! Maybe mini golf or a bike ride or a game of tennis.
5. Figure out what's next- by the end of this month we should know my status with grad school so it'll be time to make some big decisions. Hopefully it all goes smoothly.

What are your goals for this month?

March Goals

I dropped the ball in February; I didn't make a monthly goals list and it definitely showed. I felt so unmotivated all month long and feel like nothing was accomplished.

{01} Finish photography class and book
I'm halfway through the Shoot Fly Shoot Photography 101 course and the Canon Rebel t3 for Dummies book. I'm definitely learning, but I can't wait for the weather to warm up so that I can get outside and practice!

{02} Run the entire St. Patty's Day 5k
T and I are signed up for a 5k on March 16th and the farthest I've ran so far has been 1.75 miles. I just cannot run on a treadmill {especially my in-law's because it'll 2 seconds away from death} and it's too dangerous to run outside. I'm still determined to run the entire 3.2 miles on race day no matter how long it takes me.

{03} Make changes
I'm still feeling pretty blah/suffering from the "winter blues" and it's time to stop making excuses. Sick of looking like a 12 year old? Style your hair and wear makeup. Sick of feeling so overwhelmed everyday? Make a schedule that has alone time and time to tidy up.

{04} Write more
Here on the blog and in my journal. I've been struggling with my feelings/thoughts and expressing them correctly so I really need to make this a habit.

{05} Start a gratitude journal
In connection with goal #4 I want to start a gratitude journal so that I can stay focused on the good things in my  life and to let go of the things that don't matter.


What are some goals you're hoping to accomplish this month?

January Goals

In addition to my 2014 goals I'm going to making monthly goals again as well. I like that they're small {therefore very attainable} and that I can stay accountable each month with my review and new monthly list.

Here we go with January's list-
1. In addition to drinking at least 1 bottle of water everyday I'm only going to be drinking pop during meals aka twice a day. I'm just not one of those people that can drink water with their lunch or dinner. At least not yet.
2. Join a gym or develop an at home workout routine with the help of my husband.
3. Try hot yoga for the first time. The 105 degree rooms are looking awfully rewarding right about now...
4. Plan out dinners - I've always intended/wanted to do this, but quickly got overwhelmed. I finally got my husband on board!
5. Blog at least three times a week. Extra bonus points if they're not all link-ups!
6. Finish a book

My Goals for 2014

Just like everyone else I'm not a fan of New Year "Resolutions" because I can never stick to them. However, if you know anything about me you know that I am a listoholic. I live by lists. So this year I've made of list of goals that I'd like to accomplish throughout 2014...

TAKE MORE PICTURES
This goal relates to "smaller" goals I'd like to accomplish as well- completing P52 {taking one picture a week}, starting Project Life {which is a form of scraping}, and learning how to use my dSLR.

TRY NEW THINGS
Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who doesn't really like change/newness {is that even a word?}. I want to branch out, I want to learn, and most importantly I want to grow. I already have a few things in mind for this- trying new foods, taking new classes, ect.

PUT MY PHONE AWAY
I'm semi-addicted to my iPhone and I admit it. I'm always checking Twitter/Instagram/BlogLovin and it drives my poor husband crazy. I need to learn when to "turn it off" and to just be in the moment.

BECOME ACTIVE AGAIN
This is probably on everyone's list in some form, but I think it's a good thing. I need to drink water {I can't tell you the last time I had a full glass}, find a yoga class to attend weekly, and start training for the runs we're signing up for!

FIGURE OUT MY NEXT MOVE
Whether it's grad school or finding my first "big kid" job I need to figure out what comes next. It's out of my hands now and I need to just believe that what's supposed to happen will.

Here's to hoping that 2014 is going to be a great year!

Monthly Goals {October}

I meant to post this last week, but never got around to it. First off lets see how I did with my September Goals..

•  Study for GRE at least 5 hours a week - Accomplished
• Take Duke to a park/large area where he can run - Not accomplished... We no longer trust him in an open field so I'm on the hunt for a good dog park
• Treat my grandparents to a special Grandparents Day- Accomplished! We took them to Benihana and had a great time!
• Go to the Columbus Zoo - Accomplished and we had such a great time that we've decided to make it a yearly trip!
• Start scraping regularly/get Army book completed - Big fail... I didn't do any scraping

And here are the things I'd like to accomplish this month-

• Do my best on the GRE and then LET IT GO
• Complete 4 craft projects - I have big plans for my wisdom teeth removal break!
• Scrap at least 4 pages of T's Army book - I'd really like to have it completed by his birthday or Christmas
• Organize all of our storage boxes - I want to clean out every single one of our boxes and "repack" more efficiently which includes numbering the boxes and having a list of what is inside each
• Start grad school prep- brainstorm personal statement, get paperwork in order, ect.
• Clean off laptop and back it up onto hard-drive
• Post two blog posts that are currently on my "blog to-do list"

What would you like to accomplish this month?

Monthly Goals {September}

August Goals

• Rearrange the basement- While there's still more work to be done I considered this completed!
• Set up iPod Shuffle & clean off Touch- Didn't happen..
• Read one book- I finished Silver Linings Playbook and I'm almost done with Divergent!
• Complete the August photo challenge on Instagram- Didn't happen... when I got my new phone I lost all of my pictures. Maybe I'll try it again some other month.
• Complete two items on my summer to do list- Completed! We went to a zoo and we played Mini Golf!
• Spend one day at the pool- Completed! We spent the day at T's cousins pool :)
• Start working out regularly- Didn't happen in August, but it's already happened in September!

I'd say 4/7 isn't too shabby!

September Goals

•  Study for GRE at least 5 hours a week- I'm registered to take the exam October 12th {cue panic attack...} and this means I'm in crack down mode!
• Take Duke to a park/large area where he can run- Now that it's getting cooler Duke will be a lot more active and willing to be outside for long periods of time!
• Treat my grandparents to a special Grandparents Day- We have plans to take them to Benihana for the first time!
• Go to the Columbus Zoo
• Start scraping regularly/get Army book completed

I'll be posting my Fall bucket list this weekend!

August Goals

I mentioned last Thursday that my summer to do list hasn't really worked out for various reasons so I thought I'd change it up and do monthly goals instead. I'm hoping that this way will keep me more on track. I also need to get the hubs on board ;) Anywho, here's my goals for the month of August!

• Rearrange the basement- Now that I'm officially in GRE crackdown mode I need an "office space" that is isolated. I get distracted way too easily to be upstairs with everyone else while trying to study/work. We also want to put in a workout area as well eventually.
• Set up iPod Shuffle & clean off Touch- I've had the Shuffle for three weeks now and I still haven't done anything with it. I also need to clean out/make playlists on my iPod Touch.
• Read one book- Should be simple enough right? I really want to get back into reading.
• Complete the August photo challenge on Instagram
• Complete two items on my summer to do list {Having a picnic at our lake & Mini Golf is at the top of my list}.
• Spend one day at the pool
• Start working out regularly- Now that my schedule will be becoming more consistent {more on this later this week!} I have no excuse. I need to start working out again.

What would you like to accomplish during the last month of summer?!

Summer 2013 Bucket List

In honor of this week being the official beginning to summer I thought today I'd share my summer bucket list!

{1} Visit Greenfield Village and Henry Ford Museum
{2} See fireworks
{3} Go to the Columbus Zoo
{4} Go camping

{5} Go to the Backstreet Boys concert! - tickets are bought :)

{6} Trip to Cedar Point

{7} Bike all 17 miles of Hines Park

{8} Have a picnic

{9} Go in the dark put put

{10} Attend a Tigers game

{11} Run a 5k

{12} Start scrapbooking again

{13} Organize iPod

{14} Revamp blog

{15} Celebrate our anniversary

So that's my summer to do list- what's on yours? :)

13 Goals for 2013

I'm usually not one for new year resolutions because letsbehonest 99% of the time I never "accomplish" them, but I still wanted to make a to-do list of sorts for 2013. So I've been thinking for the past few days about what I could do and this is what I came up with: a list of 13 goals that I'd like to accomplish in 2013!

1. Have a date at least once a month with the hubs
This will be our first full year together in four years and I want to make it count! These dates don't have to be spectacular or anything, but I am requiring that I beautify myself for them (make up/hair/no scrubs).

2. Use my dSLR more
T bought me a Canon Rebel t3 last year (2011) for Christmas and I barely touched it in 2012... this MUST change! So I've devised a plan to do just that! I've always wanted to do a P365 (take a picture everyday for a year) but I just don't think I could ever accomplish that. So instead I've decided to do a P52 which is to take at least one picture a week for an entire year. And as motivation if I complete this goal T will by me the camera Pandora charm. A little motivation never hurts anyone ;)

3. Get back to blogging regularly
Blogging has been a big part of my life since I was thirteen years old (hellooo LiveJournal) and within the past two years it's fallen by the wayside. I want to change this. I don't blog for followers or comments, I blog to document my life. I love looking back at old posts, especially the ones from when I met T, and I want to be able to do that again.

4. Completely train Duke
Duke is my first pet (besides a Beta fish) and I never thought he'd be this much work! He'll be a lot more enjoyable once he's trained and therefore I'd like to have him completely trained (potty, walking, biting, commands, ect) by the end of the year.

5. Get in shape/healthier with T
I know, I know this is one of those annoying goals. I've just been out of shape for far too long and I think having a partner to keep me on track will help tremendously. I'm taking a meditation class and a yoga class through school so hopefully they'll be the push I need.

6. Cook more
My cooking abilities are extremely limited and I'd like to change that for my husbands sake. T is a great cook, but I know he'd appreciate not having to cook every single day. This also includes learning how to meal plan and finding new recipes.

7. Graduate with a bang
I'd love nothing more than finishing the last semester of my Bachelors degree with all A's and B/A's. I would say all A's, but I know that getting an A in my clinic class is near impossible. As long as I do my best I will be proud of myself!

8. Explore Michigan
Growing up I always complained about living in Michigan, but as I've gotten older I've learned to appreciate this state. Traveling is one of my favorite things to do and it's time to travel within my own state. I'm really hoping to see the Sleeping Bear Dunes this spring/summer!

9. Have professional anniversary pictures taken
Our one year wedding anniversary is in July and I'm dying to get professional pictures taken and with our pup! I've made a folder and have started saving pictures for inspiration. What can I say I'm a planner ;)

10. Get back into scrapbooking
Words cannot describe how much I miss scrapbooking. I know this just sounds like an excuse, but I just haven't had the time. Come May (after I graduate) I don't have an excuse and I will get back into it even if I have a full time job! I still have to make T's Army book, start our travel book, and start a book for Duke!

11. Spend more quality time with T without electronics
I couldn't tell you how many times T asks me to put away my damn iPhone and spend time with him. How pathetic does that make me look?! This needs to happen more than any of these other goals.

12. Take a weekend trip with friends
We already know that money is going to be tight this year for all of our friends, but we still want to take some sort of trip together. It'll probably be somewhere in Michigan, maybe camping or renting a lake house. It doesn't matter where it is as long as we can all get together!

13. Celebrate T's 25th birthday in a big way!
T hates celebrating his birthday, but I'm determined to do something amazing! I mean you only turn a quarter of a century once! ;)