Category: personal

around here
Every Saturday morning I sit down and plan out my weekend and usually make my grocery list at the same time. It’s one of my favorite things. (Also: more on how I use the bullet journal, and that pen is amazing.)

This is how I get almost all my chores done really quickly on Saturday mornings. She’s watching Mother Goose Club YouTube videos, FYI.

It’s so nice that Liam can sit in the high chair now! (This is the one we have and it’s pretty great.) I wanted to see if he’d be interested in that banana, but it eventually just fell in his lap and that was the end of that.

I went out to eat with a friend and had to just order a big veggie salad and add egg because the grilled chicken was marinated in canola oil, which I can’t have. I’m ready to be through with restrictions like that, plus I had to bring my own dressing. The salad was good, but not worth the money.

Coffee and cakes being served up. The pretend play at this age is so fun.

Started my new Bible study! I have so many thoughts about this right now that I’m going to have to write them all in a separate post. But for now, let me just say how much I adore Beth Moore’s studies, and I’m so glad I started another. I am doing a combination of her study, plus a little extra research on my own, and journaling. I have to wake up pretty early to get it all in, but I really look forward to it.

Made a huge fruit salad to take to our church life group. I’ve gotten really good at chopping produce over the past month. :)

Some other thoughts to start out the week:
- Meredith turns three next Sunday! This week I’m ordering her presents and planning the details of her party.
- I’m very excited about a couple new blog series in the works. Lately I’ve had a lot of inspiration for this space.
- I’m in the mood to start a new photography series for Instagram, something that will be ongoing, not necessarily daily but it could be. I’m brainstorming ideas.
- I started a savings account so that I can eventually buy a real camera. My old point and shoot broke, so now I just have my iPhone. It’s fine most of the time, but I’m itching for better!
- What’s your favorite blog of the moment? I’ve loved discovering new ones lately. Here are three recent favorite new finds: Green Fingerprint, Roots, Wings, & Wanderings, and Create, Share, Love. That last one just started today but it’s obvious she planned it well and I’m excited to follow her! (Love her on Instagram too.)
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July 14, 2014
things i’m working on

I’m working on Liam’s stocking. It’s progressing very nicely and I don’t think I’ll have a problem finishing this summer.

I’m working on getting 10,000 steps on my Fitbit each day. Without trying, I average 7500, depending on how busy we are at work. So to make my goal, I’ll probably have to add in a walk each evening.

I’m working on upping my pumping output. For me that means more water and timely pumping sessions. What else can I do?

I’m working on potty training Meredith. Actually it’s pretty much done, and it was quick & easy. I’ll share my “secrets” soon.

I’m working on making it halfway through Lonesome Dove (the book) by July 13 for book club. It’s a long one so we broke it up into two parts.

I’m working on waking up earlier. My kids are just really early risers so if I want any time alone in the morning it looks like I have to get up around 5. Kind of a bummer, but I’ve also been sleeping so great since starting whole30, so it’s not too hard.

I’m working on catching up on my podcast queue, and thinking about how I can add audiobooks back into my life.

I’m working on my personal style. I pretty much know what I like but I don’t have the wardrobe yet. Since I’m back down to my regular size I look forward to another closet purge and slowly adding pieces that I love.

I’m working on a letter to my pen pal.

I’m working on coordinating Meredith’s 3rd birthday party. The plan is: family only, local park, evening, a few balloons, a banner, bubbles, grilling, and a big chocolate cake.

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Post idea from Ali Edwards who is inspiring as always.

July 2, 2014
summer goals

I’m feeling really laid-back about this summer and don’t have anything huge planned. Maybe that’s how summer is supposed to be. These goals are things that might happen anyway, but hopefully this will motivate me to focus on them a bit more.

>Complete Whole30 and reintroduction plan. I’m already on my way, but it’s a big deal and I want to stick with it so it’s going on the list.

>Finish Liam’s stocking. When fall comes around there are other holiday projects I’ll want to work on, so I’d love to finish this before then.

>Go to the beach. We only live 1-2 hours away, but it’s been years since I’ve been!

>Read a long book. I’ve been so out of my reading groove and I want to get back in.

>Meredith’s birthday party. This is going to happen whether I make it a goal or not, but I want to find a place to have it that isn’t our house, preferably some sort of park.

Let’s go summer!

June 24, 2014
spring goals report

Although it has felt like summer for a month already, spring is technically just ending today. I liked doing seasonal goals and feel that they are appropriate for me this year. Here’s how I did with mine this spring:

>Finish sewing my quilt top: Completed! Also sewed the back and obtained batting.

>Add 5 new easy weeknight meals: Well, I added three. Baked BBQ taquitos, slow cooker taco chili, and taco chicken bowls. The taco chili and the taco chicken could easily be adapted for paleo (since that’s the lifestyle I’m aiming at), but the BBQ taquitos will have to be a splurge every once in awhile.

>Complete Couch to 5k: Done, and ran a 5k race too.

>Finish the 12-week Bible study: Check plus, and have been continuing daily Bible study (most days) following along with She Reads Truth.

>Go on a family outing or adventure: We went to the zoo as a family! We have also been doing a lot more walks to the park which are like little mini-adventures.

I’m finalizing my summer goals and will share them with you next week!

June 20, 2014
where do you live?

photo credit

Where do you live, and do you like it? Sometimes during the long, hot summers of Houston I get to daydreaming about a milder climate. I even decided to take a quiz to tell me what my ideal U.S. city would be. It gave me the top 24, but the first five were:

1. Tulsa, OK

2. Greenville, SC

3. Clarksville, TN

4. St. George, UT

5. Hampton, VA

I didn’t know much about any of these cities, so I took some time to read about them and I decided Greenville, SC is my favorite! If I could just up and relocate though, I’d have to visit and really feel the “vibe” before deciding.

As it is, for the most part I do love living near Houston. I actually live in a suburb, and I like the conveniences of a nearby large city (top medical center, lots of culture, shopping options, restaurants) but there is more space, better schools, and it’s affordable. And although it’s super hot in the summer, we have awesome springs and falls, and our winter is very mild. I can handle hot better than cold. We also have a really low cost of living here!

The number one reason we are probably in Houston to stay, though, is that both of our families (including all siblings) live here. We are all pretty close and now that kids are involved it’s become even more important to us to be very involved in each others’ lives.

What about you? Where do you live, and do you like it? If you take the quiz, what are your results?

June 19, 2014