June Goal // Organize My Home & Sell Lesson Plans

This past month has been one for the books. It hasn't necessarily been busy or chaotic, but it's been ridiculous. We've had unexpected, huge medical bills. A city park tree fell on our old car and totaled it, so now we're going through all the red tape for claims, etc, to get our money from them. It has rained continually most of the month with cooler temperatures (and my mental and physical health has both been affected by that). I've had a low dip, a reprise of my mild PPD. Numerous Pepsi's have been downed in an effort to stay patient with my 7th graders. Baby illnesses, teething, and minor sleep regressions have occurred. So, I guess it was a busy and chaotic month, just full of minor things.

I decided that this year, my word would be motivation, but there was absolutely no motivation. It was hard enough just to survive, and we didn't even do that very well...

May's goal was to Sell My Lesson Plans.

Sub Goals:

- Organize my classroom binders to make sure they have full copies before I leave

- Redo all my unit plans and format them into PDF's

- Upload and update my shop

I didn't do any of those. But, what I did do was grab all my school unit binders and take them home so I can start...then I'll return them during summer office hours.

I'm certainly hoping that being done with school on Thursday at 10AM and then having the rest of the weekend will help me have the motivation to begin June's goals next week...that and the fact that I won't be working anymore!! I'm still unsure of how I feel...

June--Organize My Home

It will have been almost a year since we've moved in. Rhys will almost be a year old. Seasons will have come and gone. I scrub every Saturday, but it needs a good deep scrub. I'll also need to reorganize a bit and pack away some now unneeded baby stuff. If I do this, I will feel less stressed as a SAHM, and ready to dive into that role head on and totally ROCK it!

Sub Goals:

- Deep scrub the entire house

- Organize all cupboards, dressers, closets

- Organize the household files

- Do a Deseret Industries (like Goodwill) run

- Reevaluate budget

Also, I will be completing May's goal as well.

What are you going to work on this month? What is your motivation for that?

Get Fit Thursdays // Motivation

I finally had time this week (spring break) to go shopping using my birthday money from parents and in-laws. I needed to stock up on spring and summer clothing, especially jeans and shorts as I only have one pair of jeans that fit my thighs and hips right now.

I will be honest. I was struck down twice:
1) At the mall, I couldn't find anything I liked for the price. I miss University Mall in Provo with my favorite shops that had amazing clearance racks...
2) I hate how everything, especially the pants (didn't) fit on me.

It really was a blow to my self-image. Actually, this whole postpartum has. While I was pregnant, I didn't mind how I looked--I was pregnant, creating a human being. And, I didn't show very much nor gained more weight than necessary. I was a good-looking pregnant woman. But afterwards, I still am 20 pounds heavier than I was before and my shape has changed. Before pregnancy, I had a slight hourglass, A-line shape. Now, I am starting to have a pear-shape. I still have an hourglass, but then my sillhouette indents a little before bulging back out at the thighs.

I hate it.

Yes, I wrote a post a few weeks postpartum on being beautiful, but it's been 9 months. It took me this long to put on the weight. Why, after eating healthily and working out for a month have I not lost any weight or changed my shape.

I really want my old figure back. Honestly, I can deal with the weight, as it is an average weight for my height. But, I want my slim, A-line, hourglass frame back!

These are motivation to doing so:

1) At the end of July, we will be having a family reunion with Justin's family. His sisters, even those who are 13 or so years older than me, are hot! And, they're all runners. We'll be doing a half marathon together and then spending a week on a lake...in swimsuits...I want to fit in.

2) I want, desperately, to look like this again:

I miss looking like this. I know I'm pretty. I don't doubt that. I know I 'm healthy. I don't doubt that. But, I do not like how my body feels or the shape it is.

That is my motivation for getting fit.

What is your motivation for getting fit?

April Goal // Camera Skills

Wow! The year is already a 1/4 of the way done!

I decided that this year, my word would be motivation, so I'm trying to keep that in mind each month.

March's goal was to Improve My Health.

Here is how I did with my subgoals:
- Run and exercise at least 5 times a week
For the most part, I was able to exercise at least 4 times a week. And, I went running more than I have in the past year, probably! It felt so good to go running again, even though my pace has definitely slackened!
- Try new types of exercise, such as kickboxing or yoga
We actually did a free trial of Daily Burn. So, we did a lot of core workouts, some shotukan and kickboxing. It was quite fun!
- No sugar this month (I've done this for 3 years, I just didn't do it last year since I was pregnant)
We did pretty good on this. We did get a pie shake on the 14th to celebrate Pie Day. Since my husband is a statistician, it is a required holiday... Then we did well until this past weekend because we were at my parents house and didn't want to be rude and refuse the dessert they specially made since we were visiting.
- Try 1 new veggie recipe
I didn't try a new recipe, but I did make us some old veggie recipes.
- Try 1 paleo recipe
I didn't try a paleo recipe.
- 1 green smoothie a week
We had one smoothie, but then we got on a Greek yogurt and granola fix, so we had a ton of that instead.

However, I do have to say that a success helping to create and host the Get Fit Thursdays linkup series! I would seriously suggest you join us!

April--Learn My Camera
I got a Canon E05 T5 Rebel for Christimas. I have been typically using the default lense on automatic. But, I want to be a better photographer. I want to be able to use both lenses I have and different settings on my camera. I also want to be able to do better at editing my photos and create a big group of stock photos.

Sub Goals:
- Participate in (or even create!) a photo-a-day linkup on Instagram
- Do a fashion-post with my own photo skills
- Read all the manuals and watch all the instruction videos for my camera

- Learn some photography skills
- Explore picmonkey more and do the free-month trial

What are you going to work on this month? What is your motivation for that?

Bring It On February! Get Motivated in Church!

I decided that this year, my word would be motivation.

I also decided that instead of doing resolutions, I'd do monthly goals, all using motivation to, well, to motivate me.

January's goal was to Grow My Blog.

Here is how I did with my sub goals:
- Organize all my info with a planner, binder, spreadsheet (post calendar, groups, link-ups, sponsors, etc)
I bought a Passion Planner and put everything in it!

- Learn how to and implement scheduled posts on all my social media platforms
I now use Latergramme for scheduling Instagram, Viralwoot for Pinterest (or I did with a free trial), and Tweetdeck for Twitter. I already knew how to schedule on Facebook and Blogger.

- Redo my Pinterest boards

I reorganized my boards and fixed the broken links.
- Be more active in blogging groups

I posted and then I shared. I gave and I took.
- Reach out to bloggers and create 1 linkup and 1 giveaway

I did a giveaway...congratulations to Amanda, Shelby, and Brandy.

But, I never created a linkup, although I participated in my own.
- Understand Google Analytics

Nope! I never took my time to learn it.

So now, it is time to move onto February!

February--Magnify My Religion

My religion has always been part of my life, but I want to be better and not take it for granted. I have many friends who always post such encouraging scriptures and quotes from church leaders, whether they are Mormon or not. They also mention their relationship with God so eloquently and frequently in their blogs. Mormon or not, these women are so strong in their religion, and they are something to be admired and emulated. I want to improve my relationship with God and be a better example as a Mormon.

Sub Goals:

- Daily personal and family scripture reading with a scripture journal

- Daily personal morning and evening prayer, as well as daily family prayer

- Read an General Conference talk once a week

- Hold a full Family Home Evening every Monday

- Participate in church at least once every Sunday

- Find at least two times to perform charity or service to someone else

- Bear my testimony of Fast and Testimony Sunday

What are your goals this month? Do you have any goals this year that have to do with your religion?

The Golden Vlog: January Edition

I am so happy to be doing another Golden Vlog edition. I love this series and I love getting to know the girls who link up on a closer level by seeing and hearing them!

Here are this month's questions:

1. Now that 2015 is officially here, what were your biggest moments/achievements of 2014?
2. How did you ring in the new year? Did you watch the ball drop or sleep right through it?
3. Did you make resolutions or pick a word of the year? Care to share?
4. How do you stay organized and on top of those goals/resolutions - a favorite planner or app? Do you stick to a strict schedule?
5. What things/moments are you looking forward to in 2015 - vacations, graduation, weddings, conferences?
6. What do you think your life will look like on January 1st, 2016?
7. In honor of Faith's birthday, do you celebrate your birthdays with a big celebrate or go for something more low key?
8. What is your favorite birthday memory - a surprise party or a Disney themed party when you were little stand out?

What MOTIVATES Me To Blog

Since my word of the year is motivation, and January's priority is "Grow My Blog", I thought I'd talk about what motivates me to blog.

I've been blogging since November 2009. I know many bloggers who have been blogging since 2013 or even sooner and have many hundreds of followers on all platforms of social media. However, I have less than 200 on every platform. I've written here and here on why I'll never make it big in the blogging world.

Many would have given up by now. But not me. I'm still here, and blogging is still one of my favorite hobbies.

Here are reasons why I still blog even if I don't make it big or earn income from it. For reasons #1-3, visit Emma over at Ever Emma.

#4) Writing Practice
I began this blog 5 years ago, at midnight, in my college apartment, after my roommates and I had held a "philosophical" discussion. I wanted a place where I could write creatively. Not fiction or poetry--I was already good at that--but non-fiction, which was my weakest point. A few times along the way, I've lost sight of that. Many times, I've got caught up in the trap of writing to gain followers, and the quality of my writing has suffered. I have to keep reminding myself what the true purpose of this little space is!

#5) The Perks
I haven't sold a lot of sponsors...so, shameless plug! If you're interested, I have all spaces open for January and every month after for very cheap!!! And, I've only written 1 or 2 paid posts. However, I've won many giveaways and have been given many products for free, just for a review. I've received products that were sample sizes, and I've received products worth more than $50. Now, I've put money into my blog--buying a domain, getting a professional design for my blog, and sponsoring other blogs. But, my husband and I both agree that I've earned it all back through products!

#6) It's A Hobby
Plain and simple, I like to blog. It's fun, I enjoy it, and I'll never give it up.

What motivates you to blog, whether you are a big or small, new or old blogger?