Currently... March 2020

March is an unpredictable month.  Sometimes it can be warm and spring-like. Other times it can be cold and wintery.  In 1993, we had a blizzard in the middle of March that most people who experienced it will never forget!  Hopefully, that won't happen again. Probably not.  But whatever March brings, I feel ready for it!

Reading:  The Ones Who Save Us by Jenna Blum.  In the next couple of weeks, I will also be reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and The Last Days of Rabbit Hayes by Anna McPartlin.  I was finally able to check out 168 Hours (which I finished yesterday) and The Fringe Hours (which I'll hopefully be completing this week) after having to return them for other holds.  It's nice to be able to get those done and behind me.

Working On:  Planning ahead and scheduling social media posts and promos for my Etsy shop.  I am tired of scrambling to figure out what I want to post most days, and this is helping me get ahead of the game.  The social media planning calendar my sister gave me for Christmas is a big help with this!

Loving: Going on more walks with Max.  Now that he's a little bigger and has received his vaccines, we're getting out for more walks when the weather is nice -  including walking at the park.  It's good for both of us to get a little exercise and fresh air!

Celebrating:  March brings birthdays for my mother and our son in law.   I'm also celebrating that my amazing niece was accepted into the grad program she wanted!

Wanting/Needing:  Some inspiration for healthy, WW friendly meals.  I've gotten a little bored with the same old sameness and that makes it more challenging to stick with the program.

Dreaming About:  Future road trips with the Man of the House.  We spent a weekend in Memphis earlier this month and decided that we want to start taking more long weekend trips together.

March Goals:

1. Lose 5 pounds
2. Take a long walk with Max at least 2 days per week 
3. Drink 75 ounces of water per day
4. Schedule April social media posts for Etsy Shop
5. Follow up with local bath and body shop owner re: wholesale partnership
6. Create samples to provide per #5
7. Schedule April Thankful posts
8. Create April Sunday posts

Currently... February 2020

The month of love has arrived!  The stores are bursting with hearts, flowers, candies and all the rest of the Valentine's Day trimmings.  Love is definitely in the air.   I hope you feel it.  Whether you have a significant other or not.  From your family, your friends, yourself.  And always from God.  

If you're looking for some inspiration this Valentine's Day, be sure to check out Romancing Him: The 14 Day Marriage Challenge or A Date A Month  - two of my favorite ideas I have come up with in recent years for my valentine (aka: The Man of the House). 

Working On:  Creating weekly and daily schedules that work for my life.  Also have some ideas for upcoming blog posts that I am pretty excited about!

Reading:  Finishing "The Starless Sea" by Erin Morgenstern and getting ready to start "Tidelands" by Philippa Gregory.  I am mid-read on both 168 Hours and The Fringe Hours.  Unfortunately both were due before I completed them and since there were holds I could not renew.  Now I have them on hold so I can (hopefully) complete them soon. Until then, I am reading "Hallelujah Anyway" by Anne Lamott.

Loving:  Still loving my sweet little dachshund puppy, Max.  I have to admit it - he's a spoiled brat at this point.  It's all mostly my fault, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.   But c'mon... look at that face!

Celebrating: Valentine's day is the only thing I can think of that's coming up this month.  Birthdays,  anniversaries,  etc seem to come in clusters for our family.  Next month will be a busier one.  Oh, wait... I almost forgot - one of my brother in laws' has a birthday this month.  Oops!

Wanting/Needing:  Sleep!  Having a new puppy who likes to stay up past my bed time playing, and gets up early wanting to go outside has put a hurt on my previous sleep schedule.  I am not getting as much rest as I need.  There are many afternoons when I sit down to write or read or work on my Etsy shop and instead I end up taking a nap with Max.

Dreaming About:  Going back to Disney in 2021.  Can't wait!!


February Goals:

1.  Lose 5 pounds
2.  Drink 75 ounces of water per day (I have been very slack about my water lately)
3.  Etsy shop sales increase 20% over January
4.  List at least 5 new items in Etsy shop
5.  Prepare graphics for March Thankful blog posts
6.  Schedule Sunday Inspiration blog posts for March

What do you have planned for February?

Currently... January 2020

Happy New Year, y'all!!   I don't know about you, but for me there's something extra special about a January 1st that brings not just a new year - but a whole new decade.  I am so excited to see what 2020 has in store, as well as what the next ten years hold for me!

Working On:  I'm making plans and setting goals based on my One Word for 2020, which is "Intentional" (we'll unpack that in an upcoming post)

Reading:  The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin and 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam.  Next up I have The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern and The Fringe Hours by Jessica N Turner checkout from the library and ready to go.

One of the things I received for Christmas was a book light.  I do most of my reading these days on the Kindle.  Nothing wrong with that!  The digital books from my public library are so easy to access and no late fees.  But I would like to get back to reading more physical books.  However, I don't like having my lamp on when I read before falling asleep.  I'm looking forward to using my new light for this purpose.

Loving:  My new dachshund puppy, Max.   I'm not gonna lie - I'm a little bit obsessed with him!  I can't help it.  He is the cutest little thing.  I adore his little face and his stubborn little personality.  He makes me laugh every day.

Celebrating:  No birthdays or holidays this month.  But my youngest sister is coming to visit me this month.  That's worth celebrating!

Wanting/Needing:  I have let my healthy eating slide during the holidays and it is time to get back on the program.  Fortunately, I didn't gain back much weight.  But, I know that if I don't get it under control now the pounds will keep creeping up.  Time to get back on track! 

Dreaming About:  Snow.  I love a snow day.  But we've had mild temperatures so far this winter.  Even the few days that there was snow in the area, I never saw a flake here at the house.  Hopefully I'll get to see a little of the white stuff soon.

January Goals:

1. Weight dropped below the next decade mark
2. Scheduled a trip to Texas for the spring
3. Attended a Knit/Crochet group
4. Wrote 1 newsletter email for Etsy shop
5. Received 20 new orders
6. Scheduled Pinterest posts for Etsy shop to publish during Jan & Feb
7. Scheduled February Thankful posts for blog
8. Scheduled February Sunday posts for blog
9. Scheduled Pinterest posts for blog

What does the beginning of the year look like for you?

Currently... March 2019

We all know that February is the shortest month of the year.  And, it certainly did feel like it this time around!  It was a busy month, which always make the time fly.  Between confirming the venue for our daughter's wedding and reception, wedding dress shopping, celebrating Valentine's day, and keeping up with all the usual day to day of work, family, etc - we have barely had time to slow down for even a moment.

Reading:  This month I will be reading the 2nd of my never-before-read classics from this list.  My first (as you may remember) was Anna Karenina.  The 2nd book I have selected is Fahrenheit 451.  Which I will be starting just as soon as I finish See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt.

Celebrating:  My mother celebrates her 70th birthday next week!  Yeh, I said it out loud. Or rather, I typed it.  Sorry, Mom - not sorry.  Happy Birthday!

Our future son-in-law also has a birthday this month.

Working On:  Some pre-Spring cleaning, purging, and organizing.  So far, I have cleaned out and re-organized the hall/guest bathroom, the linen/cleaning closet, the pantry, and the refrigerator/freezer.  This week I have been focused on the living room and next week I'm on to the master bath. 

Enjoying:  Wedding planning with my daughter!  We went shopping last weekend for her dress.  I can't give away any details, but I  can say that she is going to be a gorgeous bride.  The dress she chose is perfection!

Anticipating:  I was going to say something about the coming of spring with warm weather and blooming flowers.  But... honestly, I'm anticipating all the Easter candy being stocked in the stores. I have a teeny little addiction to jelly beans.  I don't eat them year 'round - but this is the time of year I allow myself to indulge that 

Needing:  To make some couple time with the Man of the House a priority.  We've both been so busy lately that we haven't had much opportunity for date nights.

Wanting:  To figure out what I will do for Lent this year.  I don't want to do something mundane or empty just to be doing something.  I want to give something up - or work at developing a new habit with will have real impact on my life and help me to grow closer to God. 

Making:  Some cute little bunny baskets for my Etsy shop.  They should be listed by sometime next week.  

Feeling:  A little waterlogged.  We have had so much rain down here in our part of North Carolina.  I'm hoping that as we move into Spring later this month the weather will dry up a little and give us a chance to get out of doors a little more often. 

Favorite Things:

1. Egg salad
2. Simply Clean by Becky Rapinchuk  (also her blog Clean Mama)
3. Spring flowers in bloom

Currently... freaking out that May is half over already!

Wait.  It's May what, already?  But, it was just May 1st the other day!  Right?
Of course, I am a very poor judge of time.  I'm still pretty sure Christmas was just a few weeks ago.  So, take that for what it's worth...

Currently...

Reading:  Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  I am less than a quarter of the way through, and it's already made me cry.  Despite that, I am enjoying it.  Much more than I thought I would.

Eating:  Breakfast.  I got back into a bad habit of skipping breakfast.  Which meant by 10 am I would be starving, resulting in poor choices at that point.  Now I am back on the breakfast train.  Usually a 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt, a teaspoon of chia seeds, some mix of berries and a sprinkling of walnuts.  Although I may switch the yogurt for oatmeal or some scrambled egg; as I am considering limiting dairy again.

Working on:  Staying focused.  You may remember that my intention for May is focus.  I had been getting distracted from my goals recently and need to narrow back in and get some things accomplished.

Enjoying:  Music.  Between guitar recitals, orchestra concerts, the radio, my iTunes, and Pandora - I have been soaking up the music recently.

Anticipating:  Fresh, homegrown veggies!  The Man of the House put a bunch of plants in the ground this weekend.  Which means garden season has officially started.  Now, I just have to be patient and wait for those goodies to grow and start producing.

Thinking:  About what it really means to be a Christian.  Love and grace vs judgment.  Trusting God's plan.  The Holy Spirit.  Soooo much thoughts.  Too many to share in this one little blurb.

Feeling:  Loved. 💗

What are your "currentlys" ?