July to September 2015 Goals

This summer was such a busy summer with a lot of technical problems, such as my laptop. So, I never got to do a recap of my July goals nor introduce my August goals.

July's goal was to Explore My City.

Sub Goals:

- Go to the library at least twice.

We went once, but got a lot of books that Rhys really enjoyed. Even Justin got a book!

- Have a picnic twice, in different locations.

We never had any picnics.

- Visit one new place (aquarium, park, museum, local restaurant, historic site, splash pad) per week.

We did go to a few local restaurants and the splash pad, but didn't do a lot--mainly becuase we just didn't have the funds.

- Visit the Community building and try to get involved

This was a definite bust!

- Go to Bear Lake for the Morrell Family Reunion!!

Going to Bear Lake was the best thing this summer! It was so fun and I want to go back!

Although I didn't really hit the goal in the ways I intended, I still feel that I achieved it. Rhys and I went running quite a bit and biking, and always took different routes. We also spent a lot of time in the park in our backyard. I also took a few de-stressing drives around the city in places I had never been before. 

August's goal was to Strengthen My Family:

Sub Goals:

- Plan a small anniversary

Check! We had my parents watch Rhys for two days while we went out to Texas Roadhouse and watched Jurassic World and slept in.

- A date a week (doesn't have to be spending money)

This didn't really happen. But, we did spend time together watching shows or playing games.

- Visit the temple once with Justin

Sadly, this didn't happen. But we need to!

- Have sibling dates

I had lunch with my brother, but didn't do anything with my sisters.

- Have deep and honest conversations with my other relatives

This didn't really happen.

- Do learning games/adventures/activities with Rhys every day

Rhys and I have spent a lot of intentional time together. We read a lot of books, played a lot of one-on-one games. We had dance parties, explored the creek in our park, and learned a few body parts.

I kind of did really crappy with my August goals and to be honest, wasn't the best wife. I was pretty lazy as wife and not equally yoked to my husband. I have to really be intentional and work on that.

September--Work from Home

Since I won't be teaching after the first week of June, I still want to help earn some sort of an income--some play/date money for the family. I want to get into tutoring or small online transcription/free-lance jobs. I also want to start selling something--maybe Scentsy. I think since I will have time, also learn more about and sign up for blogging campaigns and affiliate programs.

Sub Goals:

- Find a sell-from-home job and learn all there is about it

- Find work-at-home freelancing or transcription jobs

- Join blogging campaign sites and participate in campaigns

- Join affiliate sites and learn all there is to it
- Learn more about couponing and money-saving skills

This is actually a pretty important goal as I don't have anymore teacher income. Justin and I are a little nervous about being able to afford the rent of our townhome on just his income. So, wish us luck!

What are your goals for this month?

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July Goal // Explore My City

This has been quite the interesting month. Quite the big transition has been happening--learning to take care of Rhys 24/7 (which I haven't done since he was a year old), not working, etc. So, it's been a little hard to figure out a good balance between errand/household duties, being a good and attentive mom for Rhys, quality time with Justin when he's home, and finding time for my own hobbies and interests. But, I'm slowly, slowly starting to get the hang of it.

June's goal was to Organize My Home:
Sub Goals: 

- Deep scrub the entire house

I just have to do the washer and dryer, kitchen, and downstairs hall (with the storage closets), and the living room floor/floorboards. But, I am waiting until we purchase the new couch we have our eyes on since there will be some rearranging done! I would also like to do the outside of all the windows since they are dirty snow and rained stained, but I have no idea how to reach them (especially the 2nd floor ones) and we are just renting, after all!

- Organize all cupboards, dressers, closets

I have started to do this, but I'm actually waiting for Justin to help a bit, as well as my Mom, so it will get done probably in the next two weeks.

- Organize the household files

I was actually going to do that yesterday, but I was super sore from an intense workout on Monday, and coughing up a lot of mucus. But, it will get done today!

- Do a Deseret Industries (like Goodwill) run

This will happen after closets and dressers get reorganized.

- Reevaluate budget

We are in the process on working on this.

I decided that this year, my word would be motivation, and I feel I was motivated this month. Although, half way through the month, I got YET ANOTHER UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION (seriously! I've gone maybe two weeks without having a UPI this entire calendar year so far), and there were some days where Rhys was just having a hard day. It was also a little difficult to figure out when to actually deep scrub since I didn't want Rhys around the chemicals, but I like using his naps for blogging and a nap myself...

I have also been working on my unit plans for Teachers Pay Teachers. I got one whole one up, with other additions, and I'm working on my second unit plan. But, I'll be working on it all summer.

July--Explore My City

There were a lot of things Justin and I never saw or did in Provo and we regret it. So, I want to explore Salt Lake County and get to know it's history more. There is so much here to do or visit or see, and now that Rhys is getting to age of exploring, I want him to.

Sub Goals:

- Go to the library at least twice.

- Have a picnic twice, in different locations

- Visit one new place (aquarium, park, museum, local restaurant, historic site, splash pad) per week

- Visit the Community building and try to get involved

- Go to Bear Lake for the Morrell Family Reunion!!

What are your goals for this month?

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Cry of the Icemark Book Review

Yaay! I finally finished my first book of the summer.
I had actually stolen this book from my younger sister about 4 years ago, read the first 10 pages, then never finished it. It's been on my shelf ever since then and taunting me, so I finally decided to read it.
And, there is a reason this easy, 400 page YA fantasy-adventure took two and half weeks to finish!

Via

Cry of the Icemark by Stuart Hill is about Thirrin, Freer Strong-in-the-Arm Lindenshield, the 14-year-old crown princess of the cold, snowy, war-like country of Icemark (think Viking culture in the Scandinavian Peninsula). To the north, is the Land of Ghosts, ruled by the Vampire King and Queen, sworn enemies of the Icemark. Werewolf bands roam the lands, as well. To the south, is the dangerous, rational, technicological, ever-growing empire of Polypontia (think like if the Roman Empire had access to muskets and cannons). The Polypontian Empire invades Icemark and kills the king in battle. It is now up to Thirrin to create alliances with the White Witches, Vampires, Snow Leopards, Tree-folk, and WereWolves to save her small kingdom.

It is a very interesting premise, and I like how Hill pulls Scandinavian myth, Roman history, and even the myth of the Amazon warriors into this novel. However, I had to drag myself through the novel because Hill cannot write to save his life! It felt like a teenager was writing this book. The protagonist is barely 14, yet has the attitude, knowledge, and stamina of at least a 17 year old. A lot of the dialogue was forced, characters didn't stay true to themselves, events were very predictable. It really was the dialogue that killed me. Oh, my, gosh!

The last 150 pages of the 470 page novel focused on the final battle. But, there were only two fronts: Icemark and Polypontia. Now, I know that Tolkein (Lord of the Rings) and Robert Jordan (Wheel of Time) spends just as much time on battles, but they break up their bands so there are numerous, numerous characters at different parts of the battle that the author focuses on. Hill writes the battle with almost an omniscient third-person, so it's as if we are watching the battle from a distance rather than being in the battle.

There is a sequel, as it is a series, but it takes place 17 years later and focuses on Thirrin and her husband, Oskan, whom she meets in the first book, and their 5 children. (And the romance between the 14 and 15 year old children is almost non-existent in the first book!) I'm not going to read it. I'm glad I'm done with the book and can finally return it to my sister. If she doesn't want it, it's going on my classroom's bookshelf. Who knows? Maybe my 7th and 8th graders will enjoy it more than I did.

I give it 1.5 out of 5 stars!