Goals: I have them.

So, if you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I laid out a bunch of goals for myself and for the blog. And let's be real here: I have SUCKED at keeping up with them.

So I'm here to tell you right now that all that is about to change. It's about to get way awesome and goal-oriented up in here. And instead of just saying "I'm going to focus more on my goals," I decided to choose a few to focus on, and make a plan on how I'm SPECIFICALLY going to meet those goals. Obviously, I'm telling you guys all this for accountability's sake.

So here's the plan, man:

I have lots of plans for things I want to create for the apartment. Unfortunately, I don't have an unlimited budget, so I'll have to spread them out a little bit. Here's the tentative plan:
August - Hooks and decor for apartment entryway. (sort-of inspiration here. I'm actually really excited about this one, and I can't wait to do it and show it to you!)
September - Jewelry Nook (inspiration here)
October - Gallery Wall in dining room (inspiration here and here)
November - Paint furniture and create centerpiece for dining room table (paint inspiration here and centerpiece inspiration here and here)
December - Curtains (inspiration here. I'll probably be using this tutorial.) and MAYBE painting the apartment? We found out we're allowed to paint, but I'm not sure if we will or not.

Now that Garrett and I are going to actually be together, and have a semi-normal schedule, we're really going to get into the intentional meal planning thing.  I'm going to do a more in-depth post on this sometime soon, but what I plan on doing is sitting down with Garrett at the beginning of each month and choosing recipes we'd like to make throughout the month. Then, at the beginning of each week, we'll choose what we're going to make that week. Planning meals for the whole month seems fine in theory, but we're so busy and plans change so frequently that we'd never stick with it. I'd like to avoid mid-week, unplanned, 'lets just make this' trips as much as possible. That's where we typically end up spending the most money, so being intentional is key here. I feel like there are going to be some growing pains with this one, but I'm excited about it nonetheless!
We also really, really need to start eating healthier again. I've gained ten-ish pounds in the last year. The number on the scale doesn't bother me (that much), but the fact is: I've gained weight because I'm being unhealthy. And I need to change that.

Our apartment complex has a nice little gym in it, so there's really no excuse anymore. I used to be able to run a 5k, and now I don't think I can run five minutes. I think I'm going to do the Couch-to-5K treadmill program, but we'll see. What do you guys do to get yourself motivated???

I'd like to read one book a month from now until the end of the year. To a lot of you, that probably doesn't seem like a lot, but it's busy around here, yo. So that's the goal for now. The plan is:
August: Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
September: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
October: MWF Seeks BFF by Rachel Bertsche (per Lauren's recommendation!)
November: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter (I'm also going to reread Catching Fire in preparation for the movie, but that'll be easy.)
December: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
I'm also going to try to start using Goodreads again. Who else uses that? Want to add me, or whatever?

So there you have it. I have a plan, with measurable goals and everything. My dad would be so proud. Keep me accountable, okay you guys?!?



Check out one of the sweetest (literally! get it?) bloggers I know, Leslie!

"We could invite all our friends over!!! Oh, wait."

When Meredith and I went to see Avenue Q a few weeks ago, we were talking about how my parents should get a pool at their house. "We could have pool parties and invite all our friends over!" she said. And then we realized - our friends? uhhhh. What other friends?

Maybe it's because everything in my life is all shifty-changy lately, but I've been thinking about adult friendships a lot lately. What do they entail?

I never had that "we've been friends since we were six" BFF situation. I've always been intrigued with people who have. I have close friends, several of them. I talk about "my best friend" a lot, even though I have four or five of them. I'll say "my best friend teaches sixth grade" and then five minutes later say "oh yeah, last summer when I visited my best friend in Baltimore..." when those are two separate people. My friends all fill separate roles.. Jenna is my sit in coffee shops for hours friend. Kelsey is my lives far away so we text about nail polish all day friend. Meredith is my lets go shopping and get drinks friend.

All of these girls are people I call my best friends. But what does that mean? We easily go two weeks without talking to each other. Not on purpose, but we're all busy, and before you know it, it's been two weeks or three weeks or a month and boom! we have A LOT to discuss at coffee.

Friendships take work, you know? I mean, duh. Of course you knew that. I always knew they would. But I guess I didn't anticipate the kind of work. Kyle and I will plan a phone date three weeks in advance. A phone date! We have to PLAN a phone date. It's so weird, right? But it's really not. I mean, I know you guys are reading this and nodding along with me, because you totally have to do it too. 

And then there's the whole other weirdness of how some friends are 'talk on the phone friends' and some friends are 'gchat friends' and some friends are 'make plans via text and we'll just catch up in person' friends. I mean, Meredith and I have been friends for over ten years now, and we've never gchatted one single time, but I gchat with my blog friends nearly every day. Kelsey lives in Baltimore and we rarely talk on the phone, but Kyle (who lives in San Diego) and I talk on the phone once a month-ish. It's weird and illogical, right? Right. 

But all these people are my friends - my best friends. And at the risk of sounding TOTALLY cliche, our sporadic texting and once-a-month meetups and three hour phone dates are what has made our friendship that much stronger. And that's something I'll be forever grateful for. 

And PS - you're all invited for a pool party if my parents ever get a pool.

Check out one of the sweetest (literally! get it?) bloggers I know, Leslie!

This weekend was for...

...furniture shopping and soccer games and wine and some of the best sushi I've ever had and a quick trip to Urgent Care (everyone is fine) and preseason football and time with Garrett's family and packing and would you believe I didn't take a SINGLE picture?

This is my life. Having too much fun and forgetting to take pictures. My life is hard, right?

Anyway, coming up on the blog this week: my thoughts on Friendship, a goals check-in and a plan for the remainder of the year, and an Ode to Blogging!! Good things are happening, my friends.

Have a great Monday!!


Check out one of the sweetest (literally! get it?) bloggers I know, Leslie!

Fuh-Riiiiiiiiiiiday.

Garrett and I got to spend a lot of time together this week because, you know, he's HERE now. So that's pretty great. Other than that, this week's been stressful, I gotta be honest. My Grandpa is being discharged from the hospital tomorrow, but either to an assisted living facility or home with a full-time care nurse. We're waiting to find out. We're spending the weekend at Garrett's parents to get everything together that he's bringing back to NC and HOPEFULLY moving it all here on Sunday! 

I don't know what my favorite post was this week... it was either the one where I talked about all the things that make me happy, or the one where I talk about all the reasons our kids are going to make fun of us in 30 years. I took GREAT comfort in knowing that I'm not the only genius that locked her keys in her car, so thanks for that, you guys. 

Were you ever wondering what 53 coats of fingernail polish looked like? Well, today is your lucky day. Apparently while shopping in Switzerland, someone told Oprah that a $38,000 bag was too expensive for her. Not to pull the "don't you know who I am" card, but like.... dang, man. Grumpy Cat's people have come out with a coffee drink... What's it called? A Grumpiccino, of course! For those of you who are as obsessed with musicals as I am, here are ten scenes that gave us unrealistic expectations about love. Perfection, right? 

Are you an overthinker like I am? If so, knock it off. Science says so. I've never read any of these books, but apparently I should. I thought this article about gender roles in the media was super interesting. Gay spouses are going to be treated the same as heterosexual ones when they apply for visas now. Progress!!

Uh - did I mention it's Friday? It's totally Friday. That is great news. I have on the most comfy and fabulous outfit ever. Bonus points because it's my favorite color, and triple points because my nails match my shirt. Boooooooooom. Okay, there are probably other great things that happend this week, but Garrett's here so that's all for now! I hope you all have a GREAT weekend!!!!

Check out one of the sweetest (literally! get it?) bloggers I know, Leslie!