June Goals 2018

Health...

    -- Average at least 10,000 steps per day (minimum 70,000 steps per week) 

    -- Walk Wrigley EVERY morning (even weekends and Bob's days off).  Was successful in doing this the last week in May... let's see if I can continue through June, shall we?  Getting up earlier actually does help... I had been getting up and walking him around 6:45 / 7:00, but honestly at this point in the summer the sun is already hot by then, and there are people already out walking.  Getting up and going an hour earlier is definitely the way to go... much cooler and hardly anyone else around, walking or in cars.

    -- Incorporate some kind of muscle-building into the exercise routine now that the walking / sometimes jogging routine has been established.  Sit-ups, push-ups, use the kettlebells... SOMETHING.

   -- Lose 5 more pounds by the end of June.  See above.

Home...

    -- Purge closet and drawers, especially socks and underwear in drawers, and clothes I'm just not wearing (haven't worn or won't wear) in the closet.

   -- Hang the pictures sitting in the bedroom. 

   -- Start figuring out better storage for the pantry... it might be a July goal, but I want to start figuring out lazy susan's for the awkward corners and bins for some things that would be better kept together.

Try...

   -- more recipes from the Laura Lea cookbook (or her website).  The chocolate avocado mousse sounds amazing, and I know there are more things in the cookbook I want to try

   -- a new bread or pastry recipe... on the third season of the Great British Baking show and now I want to bake all the things.  All. The. Things.

Buy...

   -- On my wishlist to buy this month...
               Make-up removal cloths
            Emani primer
            Fenty matchstix contour in Amber

   -- very little else other than essentials.  Maybe a few more of these 3/4 length shirts from LL Bean and these capri pants from Amazon.  Steph recommended them and they're so comfy and the pockets are a bonus.

   -- plants for the empty planter on the back porch.  Everything else is planted and looking good except for that.  I'm thinking more of these million bells that are doing so well in the hanging baskets out front and have been super easy to care for and keep looking good.

Do...

    -- finish the Stars and Stripes quilt -- goal was for a quick finish that I could get done by July 4th.  Flags are about halfway put together, and sashing, backing and binding fabric has been ordered. Definitely do-able. 

   -- finish Bob's Star Wars quilt.  Just need to sort out the backing and if I have enough, piece it together, then it just needs quilting and binding!

   -- keep up with all the yard work and watering.  Everything is looking so good right now and the bare spot in the front yard has completely filled over.  Now just to keep everything alive and looking good through the summer!

More...

   -- reading - now that I joined the Durham County library (whose e-book selection is surprisingly better than Wake County's), I have at least 3 library books on the kindle and more on hold.  I also went back and cataloged all my books on Goodreads for 2018, and set a very achievable goal of 30 books to read for the year.  I'm happy I met and exceeded the 50-book goal last year, but it got to the point where I felt like I HAD to read instead of reading for enjoyment.  Hence the lowered goal this year.  Also need to get back to linking up my books with Stephanie and Jana for Show Us Your Books!

      Currently reading: The Murder House by James Patterson & David Ellis.
      Up Next: A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena & Let Me Lie by Clare Mackintosh

   -- evening walking.  A couple weeks ago I was doing really well walking Wrigley both morning and evening, but last week I just got tired and mainly only walked him in the morning.  Especially since the weather is pretty mild this week, I need to get back in the routine of doing both.

   -- blogging - mainly as a tool to hold myself accountable and journal.

Less...

   -- time mindlessly scrolling Instagram.  It's really the only social media I partake in, but it can be a huge time suck.  Time to cut back.  Last night I left my phone upstairs in the closet while I was changing clothes after work, and when I realized that's where it was I decided to just leave it up there.  It wasn't until after 9:00 when I was getting ready for bed that I picked it up again, and I can't say I missed having it during those few hours.  If I'd had it, I would have been on it mindlessly, but having it so far away was extremely freeing.


   -- Starbucks.  I'd gotten out of the habit for most of May, but somehow the last week have gotten sucked back in.  I think maybe I need to delete the app on my phone, as it makes it way to order through the app and reload from my card without feeling the pain of spending the money.  I did it way less when I had cash in my wallet and was using that.  The allure of using the app though is to build up points to a free drink, which I don't get when I use cash.  I see you Starbucks marketing gurus, I see you.