Summer, Plus May, Revisited

For those new around here, every month I establish a few goals (some reading-related, some not) and look back at those from the previous month.

A quick look at May and how I did:

1. Finish my current cross stitch project: Nope I didn't finish the one I was talking about, but I did do one for my mother-in-law.

2. End (the school year) strong and with minimal stress: Yes This is definitely relative, since I was still very over-extended. BUT, I was far less stressed than past years, which I'll talk about in a post soon, for any fellow teachers out there.

3. Plan day-trip to San Francisco: No.... but we're not going. We are still going up to Modesto to visit my mom, but we're going to head the opposite direction to a lake and hike instead. 

4. Go to a new restaurant: Yup Two, actually.

5. Be okay with hard things: Nope

I've decided to combine the next two months, my summer break, basically. And instead of just a flat list, I've broken up my intentions into categories. I definitely see summer as a gift, despite the fact that I work for it and don't get paid for those days, and I have no intention on wasting it!

Be Creative

- cook new recipes

- cross stitch

- work on my writing projects

- think about new ways to teach next year's books 

- get caught up on my 2017 family picture book 

Read in Excess

- blog so much more

- read for pleasure (50 pages a day is my goal) 

- work-related reading 

Learn

- read more non-fiction

- watch TED Talks

- squeeze in a few documentaries 

- help Sawyer count to ten, solidify basic colors, and be 100% potty trained (we're at 90% now!)

- consider applying to be an IB exam scorer (and do the online training now if they'll have me!)

Organize

- our spare bedroom

- my workout/junk room

- my computer

- my photos

- the craft/art supply cupboard 

Rest

- my mind

- my eyelids

Play

- day excursions with Sawyer 

- get out and see friends nearly once a week

- simple fun activities at home

Exercise

- run

- walk/hike

- light weights

- yoga 

- hip exercises (depending on diagnosis) 

May, Plus April, Revisited

A few days behind, but better late than never, right? 

Last month's goals:

1. Use fewer plastic bags for food: Yup! I really made an effort to use tupperware and glass.

2. Financial moderation: Yes! I was a good girl.

3. Exercise diversification: On it. I added in some yoga sessions and several stretches on the bike. I've lost a few pounds this month and I think that this might be part of it. I didn't do more, but I did do things differently. 

4. Update my phone: No. I was feeling emotionally vulnerable this month (kidding, kidding...maybe not completely but mostly...)

5. Plan/start super secret project: Yes! I did!

May:

1. Finish my current cross stitch project: This may be a little too ambitious, but you never know. I have been on a roll lately.

2. End strong and with minimal stress: It's pretty impossible to end the school year with no stress (there is a ton of stuff that has to be done), but I want to stay on top of my grading so that when finals start the only thing I have to grade are the finals.

3. Plan day-trip to San Francisco: I am headed up to Modesto to visit my family next month and I want to take a day to San Francisco so that Sawyer can go for the first time. I need to check into things to do with him that are easily accessible with the BART and trolleys. I'm excited!

4. Go to a new restaurant (or food-related place): We used to be really, really good about trying new places before Sawyer was born but have fallen off that wagon. It doesn't have to be anything big, even a new coffee shop or bakery. Just something new!

5. Be okay with hard things: A few things have come up lately that have knocked me a little off kilter and I need to readjust my attitude. I like to be in control of my life, but that's not always completely possible, so I need to come up with a better plan to cope. How this is a measurable goal, I'm not sure, but I think at the end of the month I'll just know how I did. 

January, Plus December, Revisited

I tell ya, it's hard to get in all of the regular end of month posts combined with the end of year stuff! And I don't know about you, but I'm a little sick of it all, so I'm going to make this quick:

December's Goals and How I Did:

1. Stay 90% on track with my grading calendar: Yes! I love this new system and while I did feel pretty stressed with all I had to do, my calendar made things attainable and allowed me to have my teacher work day for quickly inputting grades and getting some work done for next semester.

2. Run an average of three times a week: Sort of. When I was well I did, but for the week or ten days I was battling double ear infections and and a nasty chest cold I did not.

3. Finish my 2016 year-in-review book: Yes! It's ordered and will arrive next week. I'm so excited to see the finished product! Hopefully I can get it together enough this year to do it month-by-month so I'm not scrambling around at the end of the year like 2016. And 2015. And 2014. And 2013.

4. Send out our Christmas cards: Done! This year's cards were probably my favorite- I posted the picture we used on Christmas. I only send out 25 to close family and friends, but this is a tradition that is important to me.

5. Enjoy the season: Very much so. Sure, it was rushed at times, and working until the 23rd sucked, but it was still so much fun. We visited Santa, had a separate Breakfast with Santa, walked around our neighborhood many times to look at lights, painted ornaments, decorated cookies, went to the Pixar Exhibit (not really Christmas, but still felt festive), visited Downtown Disney, saw family, and watched some Christmas movies. 

January's Goals

1. Stay off the scale: I need to clean up my diet and push myself with exercise, since I'm feeling a little blah after too many peanut butter balls. I usually weight myself nearly every day and instead this month I want to focus on making healthy choices and not focus on the numbers. 

2. Book mini-vacations: I am going to Vegas in February with my mom for a night and need to book a hotel and make reservations somewhere awesome to eat. I am also taking Sawyer somewhere for spring break (probably Zion National Park) and I want to get things locked down because rooms go fast that time of year.

3. House things: I need to find some big area rugs to replace two that we have and are falling apart/buckling, schedule a second opinion on a heater issue, and keep working on organizing. 

That's it! I'm clearly easing into the year. 

December, Plus November, Revisited

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It's six in the morning and I am the only person up in my house- Sawyer woke me up at 5:30 to tell me that a hangnail hurt and then went back to sleep (seriously), but I couldn't settle myself back down. Sigh. So, here we are. What better time for some quiet blogging? Or something like that... I am a few days late on this post, but that's because December is in full swing here! Before I talk about my goals for December, let's revisit November. If you're new around here, I use these posts as a way to keep myself accountable for being happy, productive, healthy, and sane. 

November-

1. Watch 10 TED Talks- Yes! Finally! I'll be doing a post on my favorite ones soon.

2. Not screw up Thanksgiving- Yes! I think, in terms of the food, this was my best one yet. I made a few subtle tweaks (between the brine and cooking my turkey upside it literally fell of the bone it was so moist... yup, still hate that word), as opposed to trying anything crazy new, and it was for the best.

3. Track core workouts- Nope! I will revisit this one soon.

4. Run a 5k I'm happy about- Yup! I ran one at UCLA a few weeks ago and I was able to run the entire time, despite the hilly campus. I will never be fast, but I was consistent and was even able to kick it into high gear for the last quarter of a mile.

5. Attempt to potty train my kid (but be okay if it doesn't work out this time around): Yes! We worked on it during Thanksgiving break and he was doing decently, but then had some tummy troubles for a few days that weren't conducive to the process and then, just like that, break was over. Christmas vacation is coming soon, so we will try again then. He's a little boy and he is barely two and a half, so I am not sweating it. 

6. Christmas shopping started: Yup! And almost done!

December

1. Stay 90% on track with my grading calendar- The semester ends on the 23rd and I have every single day mapped out in terms of what I need to grade to get it all done and not have an Everest-sized pile waiting for me during finals week. So far I have been on it!

2. Run an average of three times a week- (Or 13 times this month) Things have been a little inconsistent in the work out category for me, since I've been so busy. I need to remember that a twenty minute run in better than nothing at all.  

3. Finish my 2016 year-in-review book- This is going to be quite the feat, since the only work I have done on it has been uploading my January pictures to the site I use. They usually have really great deals for the New Years, though, so I need to catch up so I can take advantage.

4. Send out our Christmas cards- My husband will hopefully get the pictures taken and edited today, I can order the cards tonight or tomorrow, and then send them out by like the fifteenth. It's later than normal, but that's life.

5. Enjoy the season- I want to make sure we do a lot of fun Christmasy stuff, but also have time to enjoy being at home together and with the house I just finally decorated. 

November, Plus October, Revisited

If you're new around these parts, each month I check in with the previous month's goals and masochistically give myself some more. What can I say? I like to at least partially feel like a failure at all times. It's humbling. Also, these posts are usually long because I am wordy and very rarely book-filled. You've been warned. 

October was a lot of fun- my mom came down and we went to my school's homecoming game, the pumpkin patch, and Newport to see a friend. I flew to Berkeley for the day to visit an old student and we spent the day walking and taking and going to museums (and I got to hang out in airports, which I weirdly love). Sawyer and I did the whole Halloween thing, decorating his door, cruising the costume and decor aisle at Target seventeen million times (his preference, not mine), decorating pumpkins and then trick-or-treating last night (he was quite the neighborhood hit as Chewbacca). But anyway, here's how I did with my goals:

1. See friends three times a month: Yup! I think I did things with like five or six friends throughout October, so I feel very socially satisfied. 

2. Log 50 treadmill miles: No, but... I still averaged over 13,000 steps a day. I probably got in 30 miles, and many of those have been in the past week because my new pair of Asics arrived. I switched back from Mizunos and it's like running on a cloud. I hate myself for not doing it earlier. Now I want to run every day! I don't have time, but I'm excited to be motivated.

3. Read 1,500 pages: Yes! I think I barely reached this, but like ten pages, but it still counts.

4. Track personal expenditures: No I actually did a good job for three weeks, but this last week I failed. I know I did spend quit a bit in the apparel category, though, since I bought a new dress from Anthro and running shoes. Oops. 

5. Travel: Yup I went on an airplane, granted to the Bay Area where I've been hundreds of times, but still, I got out of Southern California! Yay! We also went to Temecula, the wine country of this half of the state, for the pumpkin patch and Orange County a few times, so I feel like I have made an effort to venture away from home. It's actually made me want to travel even more... at some point today I asked myself "Is taking Sawyer to Banff practical for spring break?" Sigh. We'll see. 

6. 30 minutes of uninterrupted Sawyer time at least five days a week: Yes! I killed it here. I'd say pretty much every day, actually, and often more than thirty minutes. I suck at SO MUCH in my life, but I think I am a decent mom. 

7. Feel less nervous breakdown-ish about papers to grade: Yes! I am on the verge of freaking out about the stacks of essays again, though, so some damage control needs to be done asap. I got a ton of assignments graded and inputted into the gradebook over the past few weeks, so I am proud of that.

8. Ten TED Talks: No This is the second month that it was on my list and I couldn't do it. 

9. Start 2016 Year in Review book: Ha! No!

10. Throw our or donate 100 things: Yes! I think I need to do this every month, though. It feels so good to purge closets.

Now, for November (my favorite month of all!):

1. Watch 10 TED Talks: I am going to effing do this.

2. Not screw up Thanksgiving: We are hosting my husband's family and my brother this year, which we have done in the past. I took a break last year, but we're back in action. I actually don't mind, since I like having people over, but it's not exactly a meal you want to mess up.

3. Track core workouts: Does the expansion currently happening from the Halloween candy eating count for this? 

4. Run a 5k that I'm happy about: I'm doing the We Run This City one at UCLA on the twentieth, so I'm hoping I walk away feeling content with my time. I'm realistic and don't expect miracles, but I have some times in mind...

5. Attempt to potty train my kid (but be okay if it doesn't work out this time around): He's barely 2.5 and the whole home/daycare thing seems like it might be challenging. But we'll see!

6. Christmas shopping started: I want to at least have ideas for everyone on my list ready. 

October, Plus September, Revisited

Hey there, October. 

October is the last long stretch for us teachers, since almost every single month for the rest of the school year has either a vacation or a day off. I know. I just had a summer, right? But still. It's all about having things to look forward to!

Here's how I did on my September goals:

1. No social media, blogs, or email in bed at night: Not really. Improvements were made, but I definitely can't claim a yes here.

2. Planks every day: Nope. I did a great job until I got sick, and then it took me about a week to feel right again. I've been back at it for the last few days, but, a week off definitely takes me out of the running. 

3. Watch 10 TED Talks: I AM A FAILURE AT LIFE

4. Finish an Audiobook: Yes! Finally. I finished the incredibly lackluster, mediocre After You by Jojo Moyes. I'm done with her, just too many misses after Me Before You.

5. Sign Up for a Toe Surgery or a 5K: Yup. I signed up for a 5k in November after seeing my podiatrist and getting some gel sleeves for my toes. The pain has started creeping back (the honeymoon period is over, apparently), but it's still manageable with these. I will still need to get the toe surgically straightened out at some point, but I can't take the time to be off my feet right now, considering I have a very energetic toddler. 

October

I have a really busy month ahead of me, between visiting family, things planned with friends, parent-teacher conferences, and whatever else I can't think of right this second. I want to be realistic, but I also want to work on being more focused, efficient, and balanced. When I've been stressed lately I take a second and ask myself, "What would make you happy right now?" and try to come up with three doable solutions (frequently "drink coffee" is on the shortlist). So when I thought of what I should work on this month, I pulled from things that I constantly consider as ways to make me feel happier. A glimpse into stressed out Christine's happy places:

1. Continue seeing friends at least three times a month: I try to do something with a friend every weekend or every other weekend. I've talked a lot about my emotional and mental welfare depends on being social and active, and being able to touch bases with the people that are important to me in person is a non-negotiable. Luckily most of my friends are moms, or non-moms that love kids, so if I have to bring Sawyer it's no big deal.

2. Log 50 treadmill miles: Now that the weather is cooler the room upstairs that my treadmill is in is as well, making my runs (or run/walks, depending on the day) a lot more practical. Once upon a time 50 would have been nothing, but considering I'm just now starting to log my miles again it's a good place to start.

3. Read 1,500 pages: This is a little more than normal, but there are so many books coming out that I really want to read! I need to get through some of my old ones to justify picking up a few new ones.

4. Track Personal Expenditures: I try to do this once a year or so for a month just to keep tabs on where my personal money is going (my husband and I keep separate accounts and then have a joint one for household expenses). 

5. Travel: Obviously a big trip is out of the question this month, but I am once again afflicted with cabin fever. I have a day trip out of the local area in the works for next weekend, so hopefully I can be assuaged for now. 

6. 30 Minutes of Uninterrupted Sawyer Time Five Days a Week: I spend a lot of time playing with Sawyer and caring for him, but it's not always thirty minutes straight and is often interrupted by folding a quick load of laundry or grading a few papers or starting dinner. I want to make an effort to devote thirty minutes straight at least five days a week to my little guy. I know people without kids probably think this is nothing, but I'd have to just say it is categorized in the "you wouldn't get it unless you have kids" category that I hated to hear about before I was a mom. 

7. Feel Less Nervous Breakdown-ish About Papers to Grade: I am always behind at work- it's The Plight of the English teacher. Lately, especially since I lost a weekend this month, I am more behind than usual and it's bugging me. I refuse to sit home and grade papers all the time, though. I refuse to no do something with my family or friends because I have essays to grade. I refuse to spend every work night with my signature blue gel pen making up writing. So, something has to give and I just need to make things work and get caught up. Conferences are in three weeks, so that's the perfect time-frame for me. 

8. Ten TED Talks: We're going to try this one again. I need to learn. 

9. Start 2016 Year in Review Book: My original goal was to complete every month of time of the photo album I do for myself and family each year, but have not. I uploaded all my pictures from my phone on to my computer the other day, so the next step is to actually get the book layout started. Mixbook, the company I use, does killer sales around New Years, so I want to have the book made so I can jump on them.

10. Throw Out or Donate 100 Things: I need less in my life. 

September, Plus August, Revisited

[all of these, plus eat more ice cream. duh.]

Most of August was spent transitioning from the wonderful, glorious summer to the return of the school year. My goals were simple, but maybe not completely obtainable:

1. Be in bed 10:10 on work nights- I'd say I basically did this, at least 90% of the time. The problem? I'm not going to sleep, whether it's because I'm on my phone or I can't turn my brain off (<-- font="" this="" usually="">

2. An average of 12,000 steps a day- Thanks to the work Fitbit challenge group I'm in every week I am able to do this. Even with that many steps (or more) I still don't usually win! I generally come in third or fourth, since we have some super active people in the group, but it's motivating and fun.

3. Yoga three times a week- I started off doing really well here, but the heat has really put a damper on things, as has choosing cardio as my exercise of choice lately. 

4. Grade summer work- YES! I left work this week with it all in the grade book. Sadly, this is probably the fastest I've ever gotten it done.

5. Spend less money- This didn't happen for two reasons. The first is because I started buying myself things to make myself happier about going back to work. The second is because I had to spend $400 on new brakes. 

September

September is a long month, but we have a lot of fun things planned and the weather is getting cooler which makes me SO happy. I'm fine with the heat when I'm off during the summer and can hang out in the pool, but now that I'm at work I want to be able to walk to my classroom to the car without sweating, not to mention that I miss our long afternoon walks before dinner. Here's what I'm hoping will magically happen this month:

1. No social media, email, or blog-reading in bed at night: I don't care about texting, because there's an actual a purpose there (twenty-first century communication, thanks), but I'm done checking Facebook or answering work email when I get into bed at night.

2. Planks every day: Man, what sad excuse for abs I had at one point are long gone. I love planks because they work you core, arms, and legs, so you get so much bang for your buck. We'll see what I can do in a month. It's important to be in the best shape possible for the holidays, so when I let myself go to shit I am really just getting back to the shape I am in right now. If that makes sense. 

3. Watch 10 TED Talks: I love TED Talks, but for some reason haven't watched any for awhile. I don't have time to watch full documentaries right now, so this is the next best thing. 

4. Finish an audiobook: I have a serious Audiobook Situation right now, which maybe I'll post about later. But finishing one this month would be progress.

5. Sign Up for a 5k or a Toe Surgery (or both?): I have been buddy-taping my useless piece-of-shit toe to the one next to it so I can run and it's helped a tiny bit, but I'm done with the pain and the inconvenience. I see the podiatrist later this month and I refuse to leave without a plan. There's a a 5k I want to do at UCLA in November, so if I haven't had surgery (if I end up going that route) I'll do it, pain and all. 

August Goals

I think falling back into a good routine is something really important as I start this school year on Monday -gulp- so I thought I'd get back to some basics, both at home and work. 

1. Get into bed by 10:10 Sunday-Thursday nights- I get to sleep in until 5:20 or 5:25 now (as opposed to 5 last school year), and Sawyer is sleeping better (knock on wood), so I'm hoping this will allow me to get close to 7 hours a sleep a night (as opposed to six broken hours like last year). In reality, by the time I fall asleep and turn off my brain probably a little less, but it's something to start with. 

2. An average of 12,00 steps a day- I feel best when I move. Which leads me to...

3. Yoga three times a week- Whether it's 20 minutes of restorative before bed or a full 90 minutes in a class on the week, I want to start the school year with consistent habits. I am going to subscribe to the Down Dog App and eventually I'll review it on here. 

4. Grade summer work- I donotdonotdonot want to start September with my student's summer work packets hanging over my head. 

5. Spend less money- July was a bit expensive (within reason), so I'd like to just chill a bit when it comes to spending. A lot of it was just because we went and did so much, which I don't regret, but I wasn't able to meet my savings goals for the summer, so time to get back on schedule.

April, Revisited, Plus May

Sometimes I think my goals for the month should be:

1. Keep everyone alive

2. Don't lose my shit

3. Prevent house from becoming a hazmat area

But, alas, I like to torture myself. 

Last month's goals and progress:

1. Prep my students for testing: Yes At least to the best of my abilities and as much as they were willing to cooperate. Today was day one and they came out with the perfect level of confidence. Too much in either direction can be unsettling. I'm cautiously optimistic. 

2. Plan something for Sawyer's birthday: Yup We had fun at the aquarium, had his favorite dinner, and did the cake and present thing.

3. Book map up: No This shouldn't so hard.

4. Curb 3-7 snacking: Partially "Curb" is definitely not quite the word I'd use to describe it, but I definitely have improved. Some days I still want to eat everything that has excessive amounts of carbs and fat in the house (and, uh, probably do...), but on the days I'm careful and deliberate it's fine. I've noticed my levels of stress and energy are of course a factor. Smoothies have been a success in the sense that I've made them twice and have like a dozen cute little baggies full of frozen fruits and veggies made in the freezer... why am I lazy about the easiest part? 

5. Finish my audiobook and choose a new one: Yup and yup!

May

1. Abs, abs, and more abs- Once upon a time (aka before Sawyer) my core was fairly strong. Well, at least strong enough that I could pop up in a tripod headstand. While that is definitely something I'd like to be able to do again, right now I'd like to get into a routine of a quick ab routine five days a week.

2. Finalize June travel plans- I'm making two trips to places in June (Lake Tahoe for work and back home for... fun... or something like that) and need to deal with logistics.

3. While at home more iced tea than Diet Soda- Heartbreaking. 

4.  Enjoy the rest of the school year- I know this is probably an oxymoron for a lot of teachers, but the next month for me is the last few weeks I'll be spending with my seniors, an opportunity to get my room organized, and a time to reflect on how I want to start next school year. 

5. Organize Sawyer's toys- I am still coming to terms with the fact that I am responsible for another human's crap. My husband and I have always taken care of our own things, and now I have to sort through the clothes and toys Sawyer has outgrown. I have to clean another person's room. It's sort of bullshit, if you think about it.

6. Do book-related things and post about (some of) them- I'm supposed to attend a reading with a friend on the eleventh, go to a book festival with another friend next weekend, and need to just generally organize my books in general.  

I have decided that if I can stick to all five these I can upgrade my Fitbit at the end of the month. I feel guilty about getting a new one, since mine works just fine, but the of the matter is the black plastic band isn't exactly cute and I'm sick of it standing out when I'm attempting to look nice. 

May! Already! It's exciting. 

March, Revisited, Plus April

I am a data, detailed, list-oriented person... to a fault. Because of this, at the beginning of each month I write one of these posts looking at the goals I set for myself the previous month and make more for the upcoming month. 

I have noticed lately that I'm struggling a tiny bit in terms of... I don't know. Productivity? Energy? Positivity? March was full of some highs and lows, so I guess it's only natural that sometimes I don't physically or mentally feel like going seven thousand miles an hour. For that reason, April is going to be more about catching up, having fun, and somehow resting. 

In the meantime, March:

1. Make a tough recipe: Yes I roasted a chicken and made a bunny cake (from scratch), so while neither are super challenging they required  a little more foresight than normal.

2. Weigh xxx pounds: Probably not I've been staying away from the scale the past week because of vacation. 

3. Deal with house stuff: Yes This ended up being more costly than we intended, but I guess that's part of being a homeowner. 

4. Yoga once a week: Ha! No.

5. Read a book I've had for at least two years: Nope

6. Watch a documentary: No Like I said, it's hard for me to commit 90-120 minutes, and if I have that kind of time I work out or read (I don't have the TV on when Sawyer and I are home in the afternoons and early evenings... it's my only time to hang out with him and other than the occasional Curious George episode, I prefer it off, but that's just my preference because I hate the extra noise and distractions... Legos and coloring are hard work). I should just do it in a few chunks, I guess.

7. Catch up on my 2016 photo book: I need new ways to say no...

8. See the butterflies: Yes! We had a lot of fun going down the San Diego Safari Park in Escondido. 

9. Walk the dogs more: Yes We still have a lot of progress to be made, though. But I definitely did better in March.

10. Plan some fun things for April: YES! I think we have something fun every weekend going on, but I've made sure to leave one day free so I don't go crazy. I need to plan things to look forward to; it's as vital to my mental health as exercise. But, rest is also essential, as is the time to catch up around the house. 

Scaling back a bit for April...

1. Prep my students for testing: My sophomores take the AP Language test and my IB seniors also take their exam, both towards the beginning of May. I want this month to end and feel like I did my part. This means getting them back more graded work, ending our current units of study, reviewing content, and sharpening skills. 

2. Plan something for Sawyer's birthday: My little guy is going to be two, and while we had a decent-sized party last year, Scott and I plan to take him on an outing to somewhere like the aquarium and then just have cake and gifts at home.

3. Book map up: I have a book map for my students at work, so they can pin the settings of their books to see how internationally they read. I have the map and pins at home and would like to get it up, just to see how my own reading pans out.

4. Curb 3-7pm snacking: I'm really good about eating pretty healthily until I get home work, and then it's game on. It's a combination of hunger, boredom, and stress, and it's bad. 

5. Finish my audiobook and choose a new one: I'm really pushing things hard this month, in case you can tell.. 

February, Revisited, Plus March

It's that time again, to check in and publicly declare how much I suck at life. 

Just kidding. 

Anyway, every month I review the month's before goals and make a few new ones. It's working somewhat well, so I'll keep it going.

February was interesting. I was exhausted for most of it, since Sawyer's 12-20 month sleep regression was still going strong (a corner may have been turned this week, but I refuse to say anymore, as his sleep is the only thing I'm superstitious about) and I spent a lot of time on work-related tasks. But I also had ten days off, have managed to get together with a few friends, and have gotten a few nagging things in order. It was definitely not a bad month, but just a little rushed. 

February:

1. Think about daycare for next school year: Yes! And we're in the clear. Our provider can't get enough of Sawyer (the feeling is mutual), so she's keeping him until then end of the 2016-2017 school year. Such a relief.

2. Prepare tax documents: Yes! I made a checklist a week or two before and just put a few things together every day. It was painless and the appointment went well.

3. Cross train more: Yes! I bought a calendar to log steps, exercise, and weight. I've been on the bike more and have gotten in some yoga. Seeing it laid out visually really helps me. 

4. Walk dogs more: Nope. But I have started brushing their teeth again, for what it's worth.

5. Drink less Diet Coke: No way. Who am I kidding? It was unrealistic to consider giving up something I love with every ounce of my being.

6. Schedule at least one or two posts a week: No. And I was doing so well when the list started...  

7. Clean something abnormal: Yup Our garage is pretty neat, but there's some junk in there that has needed to be thrown out. 

8. The Closet Situation: Ongoing I have found a few organizational things that I'm considering, but still need to do some measuring and researching.

9. Research, and book, some short getaways: Yes! We are going to Yosemite soon and then Malibu this summer for a wedding. I may also get to go to Tahoe for a training later, too.

10. Expose my kid to something new: Yes! We went to the zoo and have been doing lots of artsy, messy, things. 

Now, for March: 

1. Make a tough recipe: There's the churro cake I posted a few weeks ago or something else. The only problem is that if it's a dessert I'm the only one who will eat it, and that will get in the way of my next goal...

2. Weight xxx lbs: Bathing suit is coming up. I've manage to drop a few pounds lately (like three or four, not seventeen) and so far keeping it simple has worked: eat a little less, work out a little more. Dieting just isn't for me, especially with the new Filled Cupcake flavored Oreos. So, instead of having four I have two (except today, I think I had twelve). 

3. Deal with house stuff: With part of our tax return we are having carpets cleaned, getting an estimate on crown molding, having the the air conditioner and heater serviced, and buying a few odds and ends for the house (we are so exciting ohmygod), so I need to make calls and schedule things. 

4. Yoga once a week: Either the Down Dog app or the studio. It's amazing what it can do for soreness; I had some mild IT band pain happening as a residual effect from the half and a night or two of yoga and it was gone.

5. Read a book I've had for at least two years: There are several books on my shelves that have been around, unread, for years. Time to make one of them happy.

6. Watch a documentary: I feel like this is a huge time commitment. 

7. Catch up on my 2016 photo book: And by catch up I mean start.

8. See the butterflies: I love butterflies, for whatever reason, so I'd like to take Sawyer to the butterfly exhibit they have at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park over spring break.

9. Walk the dogs more: I'm not giving up on you, guys. 

10. Plan some fun things for April: March is going to be great (knock on wood...) but April is looking pretty open. 

    

January, Revisited, Plus February

Time! It's flying! 

For those new around here, I like to start each month with some goals to keep me focused and accountable, as well as a check-in to see if I was able to follow through with what I wanted to the month before. I'm naturally competitive, even with myself, so putting it out into the world at least motivates me a little to be productive. I'd say 70% of them are actually really, really boring and make me seem much more responsible than I really am, but... I don't care? Correction: I mostly don't care. Anyway. 

Here's how I did with January's goals:

1. Make fruit/veggie smoothies three times a week: Nope Twice. Total.  And I think one was actually from Juice It Up. I've been much better about Sawyer's veggie intake, so that's a plus. Now for my own....

2. Finish 2015 photo book: Yup! 117 pages and 700+ pictures later it's been ordered. It's not the masterpiece I would have wanted, but I had a great coupon code that knocked off half the price, so I hauled ass to finish. 

3. Take stuff to Goodwill: Yes! I actually donated to one of those companies that drive around and pick up your stuff, but same thing. And easier.  

4. 95k steps a week: Reached in excess! I ran/walked nine miles the other night and the only thing that hurt the next day was my mutant ankle. I'm cautiously optimistic I won't die when I do the half on Sunday. 

5. Computer maintenance-type stuff: Partially I backed up my phone but have yet to find the balls to update my phone and computer (I'm afraid they'll die... I need to go to first-world-problems therapy). 

6. Chart time for two weekdays and one weekend: Yes Honestly, I don't know why I did it. I'm on the go constantly, between work, taking care of Sawyer, dealing with the house, working out, and trying to see friends. I need to sleep more. 

7. Stay on top of grading: Yes? I question this because I don't feel like I'm buried, but I may be, in reality. Nonetheless, it's not stressing me out so we'll call it a win... for now. 

8. Journal more: Sporadic.

9. Write two short stories: Big fat no.

10. Get a pedicure: Yes I walked and ran hundreds of thousands of steps. It was much needed. 

And for February:

1. Think about daycare for next school year: This stresses me out unbelievably. Deciding where to put your child for nearly eight hours a day is no small task.  I just keep picturing him crying at some strange place with people he doesn't know. He's very social so this is probably more my issue, but still. I've found not thinking about it to be a successful strategy, but we're nearing six months out and I need to start preparing. This month I'm trying to get the courage to initiate the conversation with our current provider to see if she's completely sure she's done. I'll go from there.

2. Prepare tax documents: We have our appointment later this month and I don't want to wait until the last minute to get our paperwork together. My life. It's just so exciting. 

3. Cross train more: I've been all about running and walking lately. I need to do more yoga and cycling. My brother and I are also trying to figure out a Saturday to try Orange Theory together. I can't wait to be humiliated. 

4. Walk dogs more

5. Drink less Diet Coke: I don't want to, but I need to. I really, really love it. I have a "no wine on weekdays" policy, so Diet Coke is my trusty friend. And it has enough caffeine to take the edge off my exhaustion when I haven't had coffee. But it's basically liquid cancer and it costs more than a gallon of gas or milk, which are both far more useful. 

6. Schedule at least one or two posts each week: I'm generally a "write it and post it" kind of girl, but I'd like to start sitting down on the weekends and scheduling at least one or two posts for the week.

7. Clean something abnormal: Junk drawers (yes, plural), my work out room, the upstairs desk. Something that has been neglected.

8. The Closet Situation: Speaking of taking on a super fun and exciting new project, I want to look into doing some sort of huge overhaul on my closet. We are lucky enough to each have our own walk-ins, and I'm sick of using the rubbermaid drawers that I've had since college to organize everything that's not hanging. It's not a mess, but I'd like it to look more put together. 

9. Research, and book, some short getaways- We're hoping to spend some time in Yosemite later this spring as a family, and then possibly a night in Malibu in July for a wedding (we'd leave Sawyer with my mom... he's not currently wedding material).

10. Expose my kid to something new: I want to take Sawyer to do two new-to-him things this month. 

December, Revisited, Plus January

For the past few months I've been posting some monthly goals and then holding myself accountable to review how I did. Like I always say, this is more for my sake, but I respond well to public accountability. 

Yes, I know I have been goal-heavy with the end of the year resolutions and recaps. Oh well. 'Tis the season and all that. 

I may have been too ambitious for December, but considering the grading hell I had to save myself from and the holidays, the fact that I'm still alive is an accomplishment. It was a very half-assed month in many regards:

1. Not gain any weight- Have no clue I haven't stepped on the scale in two weeks, but my clothes still fit so it can't be that bad. D-Day is Sunday. 

2. Go to yoga three times- No way Try zero. It's been way too busy on the weekends.

3. Work on my 2015 book- No I have thought about it and am giving myself until the end of this month.

4. Read a graphic novel- No Sigh. 

5. Pay more attention to the dogs- Yes I definitely walked them more, but still not enough. But technically I did pay more attention to them, so it's a win.

6. Salute the sun- Sorta I did do a session or two every week of sun salutations but want to do more. I love the app I downloaded!

7. Make appointments- Sorta I booked one with my doctor and went, as well as the podiatrist and the tax lady. I still need ones for my eyes and teeth, though.

8. Cards and thank-you notes- Sorta I did Christmas cards but still have yet to do thank-you notes. 

9. Clean out every cabinet and drawer in the kitchen- No This is downright laughable. They're probably in worse shape than they were. 

10. Get out and have some fun- Yup Maybe not as much as I wanted, but Scott and I went away, Sawyer saw Santa, we decorated cookies, we met up with friends, and we saw lots of Christmas lights.  

For January...

1. Make fruit/veggie smoothies three times a week- Sawyer and I need some disguised spinach and kale in our diets.

2. Finish 2015 photo book- It's not going to be a masterpiece, since I'm not very organized, but I want to do something!

3. Take stuff to Goodwill- Why is this so hard? The box of donations is full; shouldn't that be the challenge?

4. 95k steps every week- I'm still training for a half marathon... 

5. Computer maintenance-type stuff- Buy a new laptop charger, back up everything to my external hard drive, back up phone, and update IOSes. I am scared. 

6. Chart time for two weekdays and one weekend- In my ongoing quest to be more efficient with my time, it would be nice to see a breakdown of some typical days.

7. Stay on top of grading- Time to start a new semester! This translates to not wanting to ever feel like I'm in the grading hole. 

8. Journal more- I've let this slide lately, and it always makes me so feel so much calmer and organized. 

9. Write two short stories-  My current goal is to create a twelve story collection. I have no idea why I chose that number.

10. Get a pedicure- Finding the ninety minutes on a weekend to make this happen is tough (this includes driving time).