Currently... April 2022

I had hoped that March would be calmer, but it was another doozy of a month!  

I felt like I spent most of the month in and out of medical offices.   I had a dental cleaning and an attempted root canal.  It was also the month for my regular labs and well check with my primary doctor, as well as my mammogram.  It was certainly a busy month, medically speaking.

The weather in March was a roller coaster ride.  We've had a little bit of everything.  Warm, sunny days.  Cold, wintery weather.  And some spring storms. Typical early Spring in western North Carolina. You never know what to expect. Even April can be iffy in some years.  

The grandkid has time off from school the week before Easter. That means I will get to spend some extra time with him that week.  I feel as if we have hardly seen each other in the past few months, so I am very much looking forward to this time together!

Working On: I've been working on some cleaning, purging, and reorganizing things around the house. Last month it was the master bathroom. This month I'm going to work on my closet and clothes. 

I am also having to work on some changes to the Etsy shop.  Unfortunately, I am going to have to make some price increases. I am very nervous about this.  I have been putting it off for a while, but with the increasing prices of supplies and shipping, I can't avoid it any longer.

Celebrating:  Let's see... There's Easter, of course.  And my "baby" sister's birthday is in April.

Wanting/Needing: I need some new sandals for summer.  Something cute, but also comfortable and not too flimsy. Or too chunky.  I would love something with a little bit of a wedge heel,  but nothing that I'm risking an ankle when I walk around in them.  And not costing an arm and a leg is a must.

Eating: I have been trying to eat more fish.  Before I would cook fish maaaybe once a week.  Sometimes.  I am now aiming for twice a week. Although often I am still only getting it in once a week.  But I decided that falling short of my goal and getting it once a week is better than none. I am also trying to eat more plant-based meals.  And more whole grains and leafy greens.

Loving: My coffee routine.  I have become absolutely spoiled when it comes to my morning coffee.  Now that I have a selection of sugar-free syrup flavors and my milk frother, I can whip up some tasty treats in the morning instead of the same ol' coffee with half and half.  It's delicious and I look forward to each almost every morning!

April Goals:

• Purge and reorganize my closet
• Read 3 books
• Update Etsy shop with new prices
• Walk stairs every day (April 3-9: 3 flights x 2, April 10-16: 4 flights x 2, April 17-23: 4 flights x 2, April 24-30: 5 flights x2)
• Reorganize cotton yarns

What are your plans for April?

Currently... July 2021

Happy July!  Time for some cookouts, ball games, vacations, and fireworks!  Whether you have all, only some, or none of these things planned for this month - I hope you are going to have a wonderful July.  

June just felt a little "off" to me, if that makes any sense.  I was about 50/50 on goals.  Except for a few little details, the office is finally cleaned out and mostly organized.  I'm not done with my crochet top, but all I have left is joining the pieces and washing/blocking.  I did update my Etsy about page and a few listings. And I cleaned out the pantry.  I didn't do 15 minutes of physical activity a day, because... well - I'm lazy.

What's my July looking like?  Well, since you asked...

Working On: I've been creating new items to list in my Etsy shop.  It's been a while since I had time to work on anything other than made-to-order requests.  I reduced the number of the "pick your color" listings that were made to order and now I am working on some new soap savers, dishcloth, and washcloth sets.  Soon I'll start some gift sets to have available for the holiday season.

Celebrating: July is one of those somewhat busy months for our family.  We've got the 4th of July this weekend.  My youngest niece has a birthday and then 6 days later is our daughter's birthday.  

Wanting/Needing: A better plan for becoming more physically active.  I said I was going to do daily physical activity last month but it didn't happen.  I believe I need to be more specific than just "some physical activity"  I need an actual activity or exercise and a schedule.

Eating:  The summer fruit frenzy continues.  I don't know what the difference is, but the watermelons this year have been so good! I am also starting to try eating more salads for lunch.  One that I especially enjoy is a simple salad of greens, grape tomatoes, cucumber, garbanzo beans, and feta with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Loving: Baking with the grandkid.  We made some cookies with shark sprinkles before he went to the beach.  This week we made some 4th of July cupcakes. He likes baking, especially when I let him crack the eggs.  I like that it is an activity he enjoys other than watching tv or playing video games. 

Thinking About:  Over the past couple of weeks, I've been thinking a lot about prayer.  More specifically, my own prayer life.  How I pray, when I pray, how I can strengthen and improve my prayer life, etc. 

Goals for July: 

• Walk 30 minutes a day for 30 days
• Finish crochet top
• Add at least 15 new listings to the Etsy shop
• Preschedule Sunday Inspiration posts for the rest of the year
• Create Thankful Thursday posts for the rest of the year that will just need to be completed weekly

How are things looking for you as we move into July?

Currently... January 2021!

Be honest - how many of you released a huge sigh of relief at the stroke of midnight last night?  (or when you woke up this morning, if you're like me and staying up to ring in the new year isn't really your thing).  

Even though we know things aren't going to magically change and suddenly improve just because the calendar turned over, it's nice to be able to say good-bye to 2020  and look forward to a new year!  I mean, every new year seems fresh and full of promise.  But maybe... just, maybe (definitely)... this year more so than usual. 

So, here's to you 2021!  Please be gentle with us.

Working On:  The usual "new year" stuff.  Trying to get reorganized.  Set goals for the year.  Get back on track on some things that went awry over the past year.  You probably know exactly what I'm talking about. 

Reading:  My current read is Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel.  Because I adore historical fiction, especially about the Tudors, and I've been putting off reading this one for a while.  

My non-fiction book is I Thought It Was Just Me by Brene Brown. I have never read any of her works, but many people seem to like her so I thought I would give it a go.

The grandkid and I are nearing the end of Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary.  Ramona was another big favorite of mine growing up.  (Really, any and all of Beverly Cleary's characters were favorites for me)  Next up we have Ramona Quimby, Age 8.  Then I think we'll be reading Half Magic by Edward Eager.

This month I also plan to read A Moveable Feast by Hemmingway.  It's on my list of books to read this year.  I have avoided anything by Ernest ever since The Old Man and the Sea bored me to tears back in high school, and after all this time I'm finally willing to give him another chance. 

Celebrating:  There's not really much going on this month.  I'm celebrating having made it through the holidays - and through all of 2020 - in one piece.  I'm going to celebrate my accomplishments this month - no matter how small they may be. 

Loving:  I'm getting some extra time with the grandkid!  His school is going back to all remote learning for at least the first two weeks of January. (a quarantine of sorts following the holiday break) which means I get an extra day with him each week! 

Wanting/Needing:  A better way to store Christmas decor that protects it from moisture. We store the plastic bins (which I thought were good enough) under the stairs, where it can get damp and musty.  I had to buy new stockings this year because ours were mildewy and stinky when I took them out of storage.  Our Christmas tree is scheduled to be replaced also because it was musty smelling when I first took it out - although that doesn't surprise me because it has just been stored in the original cardboard box that it came in.  So, if anyone has any tips or tricks - let me know ASAP!

Dreaming About:  Summer vacation.  I know it's a little early still, but we have a vacation to Disney World planned for this year.  And this time the Female Offspring, the Son in Law, and the Grandkid are all supposed to come!  Fingers crossed that Covid vaccines are flowing to the general population by then and we don't have to wear masks in the Florida heat.  We didn't get much of a vacation last year thanks to the pandemic and I really really need this trip!

Goals for January: 

• Create (and stick to) a relaxing bedtime routine
• Deep clean and organize the bedroom
• Read "A Moveable Feast"
  
• Track all food in the WW app and stay within my points
• Created 3 new hats, 3 washcloth sets, and 5 cotton bath puffs for my Etsy shop

How is your January 2021 looking?