Monthly Goals & To-Do's || May

Happy Cinco de Mayo! If Tate were her we'd be out celebrating with margs, dos xx and fajitas but since it's just me and B quesadillas at home will have to do! Ha. I could eat Mexican food every single day but my body would not appreciate that. 

#bringonthechipsandguac

Now that my mouth is watering, lets see how I did with my goals for April. April was an unintentionally busy month and I was only able to really check off one thing from my list.

1. Go to bed earlier - Nope. This still didn't happen. Moving on.

2. Blog at least 3 times a week - Yes, this did happen.. kinda! Some weeks had 4 while others may have only had 2 but I didn't go one whole week without blogging.

3. Spring clean - I was able to do the kitchen and the closets. That's it. It's going to be summer before I finish my spring cleaning.

4. Make 3 'Whole 30' recipes a week - While we did eat cleaner this month, I have yet to actually make a strictly 'whole 30' meal.

5. Pick out paint - We're back to square one on this. We just can't decide and agree on just about nothing. Whyyyyy does it have to be so hard?

I'm going to keep the following  going each month: 

1. Lose 2-3 lbs per month - I did lose 2 but I'm not counting that because I gained 2 last month!

2. Read 2-3 books per month - I read 1. And it was good. I'll share soon, hopefully.

3. Daily devotions - I read Jesus Calling every day but I still haven't found a Bible study.

4. Workout every day - nope.

And as for my 'don't really have to do but would be nice if I did' goals we did take Brylee to her first MLB game and finally made it to the zoo.

Starting with May, I'm going to do my monthly goals a bit different and divide them by categories. I also want to start recapping each month and I may combine the two. Maybe I'll figure out something, maybe not. We'll see.

Health and Fitness

-workout 3-4 times a week
-find a treadmill or a bike
-get more sleep
-eye doctor appointment
-See Sweat It Out for more

Home

-plant a garden/work on flower bed
-take down wallpaper in B's bathroom & paint it
-pick out paint for rest of the house
-living room floor
-paint outside of house
-finish spring cleaning
-finish living room

Blog

-post 3 times a week
-work on making pinnable pictures
-figure out twitter (no, I don't understand it! ha!)
-About Me page

Beauty

-hair appointment
-oily skin fix (thought I found it but back to the drawing board)
-new foundation (see above!)

Personal

-register for summer and fall classes
-tell people happy birthday/anniversary
-read 2 books
-order canvases and photo albums

Sooo, it's setup a bit different and there are more goals so I don't go into a lot of detail with each one. It seems like a lot but most of those are pretty easy to get done, I just need to do it! Cheers to a fantastic May! 

Monthly To Do || April

I'm so excited April is finally here. I've said it before, but the beginning of spring is more of a fresh start to me than January 1. We have big plans for April and I'm so ready! I am keeping my April list a bit short because I didn't do so hot in March. 

Before we get on to April, let's recap March.

1. Purge closets - Yes, yes and yes! I did all 4 closets in our house and even did all the drawers too! I had a huge pile of clothes and shoes that were donated, trashed or sold. So Accomplished!

2. Clean and organize bathrooms and kitchen - This still didn't happen! Boo!

3. Plant garden - Yeah, this didn't happen either. We had such a busy month that this just got pushed aside. Maybe April a garden will come.

4. Bible study - I have found a few bible studies that I'm going to try thanks to Shay's blog. I remembered her posting some a long time ago so after some searching on her blog it was one of her Shades of Shay! Now I just need to decide which one to start with.

5. Take Brylee outside - Yes, this happened. This happened a lot! We loved being outside.

6. Order canvas prints - Nope. Didn't do this either.

7. Go to bed earlier - Big no right here too. I really tried to with this one but it just didn't happen.

8. Easter baskets and Easter dresses - Brylee had her dress and her Easter basket was awesome. I, however, just couldn't find one that I loved that wasn't too short so I just dragged one out of the closet from last year. 

9. Walk/Run 2x a week - Nope. Enough said.

10. Whole 30 (kind of) - This was probably my biggest fail this month. With Easter and my nephews birthday I just couldn't stick to a good meal plan. One week we ate out every single night. This is priority this month. 

I'm going to keep the following  going each month: 

1. Lose 2-3 lbs per month - I gained this month, once again.

2. Read 2-3 books per month -I read two this month! I'm hoping to get a review up soon.

3. Daily devotions - Yes, but just my Jesus Calling book. See #4 above for more on this.

4. Workout every day- I started off super strong on this one and by the end of the month I was lucky to have in one day.

Now, on to April.

1. Go to bed earlier - I know I said this last month, but I really mean it this month. I NEED to start going to bed earlier. My schedule is changing and in order for me to get things done I have got to get more sleep. I like waking up early so sleeping in and staying up late isn't the answer. Going to bed earlier it is!

2. Blog at least 3 times a week - I love this little blog of mine. I may not have many follows and I am still growing in this area but I do enjoy this little outlet I have. I hate trying to catch up with only one post a week.

3. Spring clean -Yeah, said this last month and it also didn't happen... other than the closets. I do need to complete the entire house.

4. Make 3 'Whole 30' recipes a week - I brought up the idea to Tate to do the Whole 30 and the look he gave me was enough of an answer. That being said, I am going to try to do at least 3 Whole 30 type meals a week. He may not be able to do it all day but he's sure going to do it for some dinners.

5. Pick out paint - We decided to hire a painter to paint each room in our house (that we haven't already finished) just to get it all done. That leaves me with 7 rooms to pick out paint for. Most will probably be white but we can't even agree on a white. Ha! This has to be done this month!

I'm going to keep the following  going each month: 

1. Lose 2-3 lbs per month

2. Read 2-3 books per month

3. Daily devotions

4. Workout every day

 

Now, since this months list was kinda short I decided to add a few things that I would like to do but if they don't get done, I'll be just fine. 

Take Brylee to her first professional baseball game. 
Remember birthdays - I've been so bad at this lately!
Finish plans for living room.
Landscaping/plant a garden.
Pick out classes for summer.
Go to the Zoo.

So, there's what I hope to get done in April! I can do this! What do your April goals/to-do's look like?


Linking up with Annie for Thoughts for Thursday!
 

 

Monthly To Do | March

I'm so glad March is here! January is the start of a new year but I always feel like March is really when things seem to refresh! I've officially decided that spring has hit Texas. It's been in the high 70's and low 80's for a few weeks now with the occasional dip in temps, like today it's 71. I can already tell it's going to be a hot summer!





Enough about the weather.
Hi March!! :)
Today I'm going to tell ya my March To-Do list and recap my February ones. Let's go!

1. Oily skin remedy -Yes! I ran out of my Rodan + Fields one day and realized I was also out of Cetaphil so I needed something stat until my R+F came in. FYI: I do the R+F at night and the Cetaphil in the morning. Well browsing around Target looking for something 'oil control' related I came across this! Friends, it was the perfect add on to my skincare routine. Since it's Cetaphil I know my skin wouldn't react to it. I can tell a huge difference now that I've used it for a few weeks.

2. Appointments: Eye, Dentist, Hair - Hair - Check! I was able to get mine and B's done when we went to Odessa a few weekends ago. Dentist- Check! We both go next Thursday. Eye - negative. I'm still trying to decide on an optometrist for us.

3.  Activities with Brylee - Well, we've painted, played, cooked, played, colored, painted.. etc. - the normal things but I still haven't found something to do! I heard another small town nearby has toddler gymnastics but I cannot get anybody to return my phone call. Boo!

4. Organizing challenge - Ha! I did the dining room. That's it. I feel like I need an entire weekend to do my kitchen and I just never had the time this month. See March!

5. Keep up with January To-Do's:

• Read 2-3 books - I read one and started one. I just can't seem to get into this one.
• Lose 2-3 lbs - ha! I gained far more than I'd like to admit. It's those dang cookies!
• Morning routine - Yes! I've been getting up and at em' earlier and earlier and I'm back to loving it!
• Workout 3-4 x per week - Yes! I've worked out 4 or more times each week!
• Daily devotions/Bible reading - I've loved my Jesus Calling devotions but I haven't been reading my Bible like I wanted to.

Now, on to March! Lots of things to do in March. 

1. Purge closets - Clean, organize and giveaway/sell! We have way more than we need and I have my eye on a few things for spring/summer but I'm making myself clean out the closes first.

2.  Clean and organize bathrooms and kitchen - I was supposed to do the kitchen for the past 2 months. I have got to do it this month! And the bathrooms. I hate clutter and it needs to be fixed!

3. Plant garden - flowers, shrubs, produce, herbs - all of it! I've been reading up on how to do it because I definitely don't have a green thumb. I do want a pretty patio and with as much fruits/veggies we eat, we might as well be growing them!

4. Bible study - I've been reading my Jesus Calling but I really want to dig in and study the Bible. Anybody have any good recommendations?

5. Take Brylee outside - The weather is too nice to be inside here! She can play while I tend to my garden! :) She may even want to help with the garden!

6. Order canvas prints - I've been needing to do this since we had the pictures taken in November! I need to order a few big canvas' and some prints.

7. Go to bed earlier - Since I've been waking up earlier I need to go to bed earlier to make sure I have enough sleep. I don't take naps - they make me grouchy so in order to catch those zzz's I need to be in bed earlier.

8. Easter baskets and Easter dresses - I've started on B's basket and she has a dress. Mine is a different story. I wanted this lush one but I'm afraid it'll be too short on me... long legs + long torso = odd fitting clothes!

9. Walk/Run 2x a week - I've been working out every single day but I really want to start running again. With Tate coaching softball, B and I can go up there for a bit and she can hang with him on the fields and I can run the track and bleachers! We'll see!

10. Whole 30 (kind of) - I don't want to give up my french vanilla creamer and I don't want to tell myself I cannot have ice cream when I want it. I want to cut out on a lot of things but keep moderation in mind when eating sweets/snacks that I normally wouldn't have. And yes, I know I need to stop baking and buying cookies! 

I'm going to keep the following  going each month: 

1. Lose 2-3 lbs per month

2. Read 2-3 books per month

3. Daily devotions

4. Workout every day!

I can do every single one of my goals. every. single. one! 

Good luck to you on all your monthly to-do's and goals! 

Friday | First for Chasing Texas

Happy Friday, y'all! This week has draaaaggged on. I'm not sure why - we've had beautiful weather, I don't have any major plans I've been anticipating and we really haven't done much. On a brighter note, it's Friday!

As always, I'm linking up with my favorite Friday gals.

 Andrea | Erika

 

April | Christina | Natasha

 

Karli
 

 {ONE}

I'm still in love with my new blog! If you missed what I'm talking about, read here.

 {TWO}
Because of my new blog and the design, I missed linking up for weekending so I just thought I'd save it for Friday. They were some of my favorites this week!
Saturday we went to lunch at a steakhouse in the middle of nowhere Lowake. It really is way on out there though. :) These two are my favorite!

 

 On our way home Tate decided to take the scenic route - mesquite trees, tumble weeds, dirt, you know, typical west Texas things. Oh, and a lake! Ha! When we first moved here I saw a sign for Ballinger Lake. What? I tried to find it once, driving around trying to get Brylee to fall asleep, ended up on a small dirt road and hit a dead end. I never believed there was one after that but there were signs, people, there had to be one! Tate drove out there with my step dad a few weeks back so he decided to prove it to me. Ladies, I welcome you to Lake Ballinger. I hear it used to be really full and a fun place but considering the drought we're in, it has almost dried up.

 

On Sunday we went to Abilene. I needed to go to the grocery store, run a few errands and lunch! We tried out a new restaurant and I've declared these tacos to be the best ever!

 

On the left is coffee rubbed brisket with jalapenos and on the right is Dos XX crispy chicken with jalapeno ranch! I never try anything outside my comfort zone but these just scream 'try me' and they were delicious! I'm going to try to make them myself for our weekly taco night. Wish me luck.

{THREE}
 
Of course the Bachelor was a favorite, but waiting for Shaeffer's recaps is even better! She's hilarious! If you watch the bachelor you totally need to check out her recaps.

{FOUR}

I shared my February To Do list with y'all on Wednesday. I've also shared Valentine's Gift Guides for Her, Him and the Minis! If you're needing a gift idea you should totally check them out.



 {FIVE}

And last, but certainly not least, I became an aunt (once again) to sweet Merritt. She was born February 3 and I cannot wait to meet her! I'm so in love already. All the heart eyes! Being an aunt is such a great blessing.



My nephew Jackson is the only one that does this as of right now, but it gets me every time he says "Nini"! Side note: My Barney (grandma) used to call me Nikki (my middle name is Nichole) so I always said when I became an aunt I wanted to be called Nikki again, or Nini, whatever works.

And I'll leave with this....  :)

 

I hope you guys have a fabulous weekend! 

Monthly To Do | February

Yay for February! Bring on all things hearts and flowers, oh and football! I've said it before, I've been cheering on the Panthers all season long, but I am a Broncos girl, always have been!

Before I dive right into my February to do's, let's see how I did with January!

1. Lose 2-5 lbs - I lost 3! Considering I started late in the month and I cannot seem to lay off the oreos, I'd say I did pretty good! From the day I actually got serious about it, I'd say I was averaging a little over a pound a week.

2. Read January in Bible Challenge - yeah, this didn't happen. First of all, I couldn't find the challenge I had initially started with and spent so much time looking for another one that it was almost February when I realized it. I would like to read the bible chronologically so if anybody has a plan they like, help a girl out. I did, however, start the Jesus Calling daily devotional and I love it. 

3. Read 2-3 Books - I kinda checked this one off. I read PS I Love You by Cecelia Ahern and started reading The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty. I'll have a small little book review thing in a few months or so when I have more than one book to talk about.

4. Workout at least 3-4 times a week for at least 30 minutes a day - Same as goal number 1, I started a little late on this, but once I committed to my daily workouts, I kicked some butt! I'm still doing the Tone It Up challenge and still love it. The trainers are great. It's by far my favorite plan.

5. Finish the living room - I really shouldn't have expected this to be finished within in the month because of what we plan to do with it. We did pick out the new floors (yay!), I finally got the curtains hung and I'm almost finished with the collage wall. I still need to purchase new pillows, a rug, replace the fireplace screen and figure out what to do with the pocket door. 

6. Register for school - Another thing that I didn't get checked off. I waited too long for spring so now I get to start with Summer classes. Oh joy! I seriously need to get finished.

7. Valentine's Day decor - I can totally check this off too! Maybe one of these days I'll get a post up on my decor and maybe a tutorial of the cute wreath I did. And as figured, Brylee loves it and has totally forgotten about the Christmas tree.

8. Make a hair appointment - I tried. My hair stylist is back in Odessa and we just can't seem to get a weekend together. I'm hoping something will be done this month so I don't have to find another one. (insert crying emoji!)

9. Update my blog - Check. Check. and check. It's even prettier than I hoped it would be. I still have things to add to it, but for the most part the (new) blog is updated!

10. New morning routine - Again, I kinda got to check this off too. I wanted to start getting up at 5, read the bible, my books, workout and even have a nice breakfast cooked before 7:30. I've been getting up anywhere between 5:30-5:45 and slowly making progress. On days that I don't wash my hair I have more time (obviously) but on days that I still have to blow dry my hair, forget it! 

And now for February. Short month, short list.

Pssstt.. ya like that notepad underneath? $$ Section at Target!  :)

1. Oily skin remedy - My face has dramatically cleared up after using Rodan + Fields; I really noticed the change when I was out of it for a week - yikes! I hoped that after clearing up my face, the oiliness would go away too but nope, still there. If anybody has any remedies they love, help me out!

2. Appointments: Eye, Dentist, Hair - This goes for me and Brylee. Tate is all for himself. I could make him the appointment but I would have to drag him there. No thanks. I really need to get my eyes check (it's been 4 years!), I'm due for a teeth cleaning and refer to January #8 for hair. I would like to get Brylee a trim, take her for her first teeth cleaning and hopefully get an eye exam in there also. Her pediatrician doesn't think the eye exam is exactly necessary but I think the sooner I start her having regular exams, the better.

3. Activities with Brylee -  She really, really, really wants to do dance or gymnastics but where we live we would have to drive 30-45 min to one of the bigger towns on a week day at night. That's not exactly what I'm wanting to do. I've got to figure something out before she drives me complete nuts!

4. Organizing Challenge - Well I started the organizing challenge with A Bowl Full of Lemons and that's about as far as I got, day 1! Ha! I quickly figured out I needed more than a week to complete each task so I'm going to continue her challenge but at my own pace, starting with: Kitchen/Laundry Room (their connected) and Dining Room.

5. Keep up with January - I did so well (mostly) with these last month so I might as well put them here too to keep me accountable.

• Read 2-3 books
• Lose 2-3 lbs
• Morning routine
• Workout 3-4 times per week
• Daily Devotions/Bible reading

I hope you guys have a fantastic Wednesday and good luck to any monthly to-do's you may have!