It’s November! This is a big month of celebrations!

Here are my goals for the month of November:

1. Celebrate Lane’s milestone birthday.
2. Participate in the P.E.O. Reciprocity Rally in Richmond.
3. Celebrate four years of marriage with Al!
4. Participate in NaNoWriMo 2019.
5. Publish all outstanding Tag posts where I’ve been tagged.
6. Make at least one thrift store run.
7. Explore The Great Exchange.
8. Celebrate multiple birthdays!
9. Enjoy Thanksgiving!
10. See It’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
11. Write at least two Book Reviews.
12. Clear more clutter.
13. Work in my office for an hour each weekend.
14. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.

What about you? Do you have any goals for the month of November?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Welcome back!

Here’s the link to my October Goals post:

Getting Personal #184: October Goals

1. Continue my fun Writing Prompt series, publishing one every Friday in October. — Accomplished!
2. Celebrate multiple birthdays! — Accomplished!
3. Volunteer at the blood drive. — Accomplished!
4. Publish all outstanding Tag posts where I’ve been tagged. — Did not accomplish.
5. Participate in decorating duffel bags for local children in foster care. — Accomplished!
6. Celebrate my church’s 50th Anniversary. — Accomplished!
7. Make at least one thrift store run. — Did not accomplish.
8. Prep for NaNoWriMo 2019. — Accomplished!
9. Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Ghostbusters. — Accomplished!
10. Send cards to several friends. — Did not accomplish.
11. Research area rugs for the living room. — Did not accomplish.
12. Try some new recipes. — Accomplished!
13. Test-bake the cookies for the upcoming Cookie Exchange with my P.E.O. chapter. — Did not accomplish.
14. Read every night before bed. — Semi-Achieved.
15. Enjoy Halloween! — Accomplished!

October was a jam-packed month! I was able to volunteer at the blood drive, and I was also able to give a pint! Turns out that my Power Red donation in August was only counted as one unit because of some complications I experienced. So, I was eligible to donate in October, rather than having to wait until December to give again. I learned this week that my pint of blood went to the University of Virginia (UVA) Medical Center in Charlottesville.

I’m very excited to kick off NaNoWriMo 2019! I’m writing something new, and it’s something out of my comfort zone. Stay tuned!

We celebrated my mom’s birthday during the first weekend of October. Then, Nick and Savy’s anniversary and Mia’s birthday in the middle of the month! We also went to a fun Spooky Brunch during the weekend of the 12th, where we ate amazing food, watched The Nightmare Before Christmas and Beetlejuice, and enjoyed each other’s company.

The church’s 50th Anniversary was incredible. More than two years of work by many people came together in a wonderful weekend. The combined service on Sunday was packed – It was easily 500 people. We had several former pastors attend. All the musical groups performed together – Children’s choir, chancel choir, handbell choir. The catered lunch afterwards was delicious as well.

The significant new recipe I tried was Greek Chicken Bowls. Delicious! And it fed us for lunch for a week!

Did you have any goals for the month of October?

Come back tomorrow to see my November Goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: BeautyBeyondBones

I used to say that summer was my favorite season, mainly because my birthday is in August. As an adult, my favorite season has been autumn. I love so many things about it: The crisp air, falling temperatures, the leaves changing to beautiful colors, bonfires, s’mores, apples, pumpkins, FOOTBALL!, and more.

Here are my goals for the month of October:

1. Continue my fun Writing Prompt series, publishing one every Friday in October.
2. Celebrate multiple birthdays!
3. Volunteer at the blood drive.
4. Publish all outstanding Tag posts where I’ve been tagged.
5. Participate in decorating duffel bags for local children in foster care.
6. Celebrate my church’s 50th Anniversary.
7. Make at least one thrift store run.
8. Prep for NaNoWriMo 2019.
9. Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of Ghostbusters.
10. Send cards to several friends.
11. Research area rugs for the living room.
12. Try some new recipes.
13. Test-bake the cookies for the upcoming Cookie Exchange with my P.E.O. chapter.
14. Read every night before bed.
15. Enjoy Halloween!

What about you? Do you have any goals for the month of October?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: BeautyBeyondBones

September is a bit of a weird month. The end of summer, the beginning of autumn, and kickoff to the end of the year!

For me, the weather has only felt like fall for a week, a while ago. The mornings are cool, but the high temperatures are still in the 80s and sometimes 90!

Here’s the link to my September Goals post:

• Getting Personal #181: September Goals

Ready?

Here we go!

Here are my goals for the month of September:

1. Start my new job! — Accomplished!
2. Successfully complete my self-imposed “No-Spend September.” — Did not accomplish.
3. Publish a fun Writing Prompt series during the month. — Accomplished!
4. Publish four Commentary posts, aiming for one post per week. — Did not accomplish.
5. Publish all outstanding Tag posts where I’ve been tagged. — Did not accomplish.
6. Spend time with treasured friends. — Accomplished!
7. Publish three Book Reviews. — Semi-Achieved.
8. Participate in decorating duffel bags for local children in foster care. — Did not accomplish.
9. Begin outlining my plans for NaNoWriMo 2019 in November. — Accomplished!
10. Reduce clutter throughout the house, aiming for 1-2 hours of work per weekend. — Accomplished!
11. Purchase a new mattress, bed frame, and nightstands. — Accomplished!
12. Research area rugs for the living room. — Did not accomplish.
13. Evaluate my clothing clutter – Decide what to donate or store away. — Accomplished!

I really like my new job. I’m still adjusting, but the biggest difference is the commute. I can get to work in 20 minutes almost every morning! I like my boss, and I have a really good team. I’m so happy I made this decision.

Although I struggled immensely with No-Spend September, I’m much more aware of where my money is going. I now track every dollar I spend, which is my own version of YNAB. I also have a proper notebook now, so I don’t have to write everything on scratch paper. I’m spending a lot less on clothes. I’m also aware of how much I’m eating and snacking, especially at work. My new job has a great cafeteria and a cantina with pick-me-up snacks. And – I haven’t added anything to my credit cards for almost a full month. That’s HUGE!!

I really enjoyed creating the Fall Fridays Writing Prompt series. I have decided to continue it in October, so stop by every Friday for more! (Writing Prompt #239, Writing Prompt #240, Writing Prompt #241)

I wrote one Commentary post: Thoughts on “Mindhunter”

I posted two Book Reviews: “Mosquitoland” and “Glory Be”

With the new job, I struggled with the blog this month. I had a period of self-doubt with my writing. But now, I’m back on the horse, and excited to write about so many things! I’m looking forward to completing my Tag posts, more Commentary posts, more Book Reviews, and continuing my Fall Fridays prompt series.

Al and I cleared a lot of clutter this month! We still have a long way to go, but I’m very happy with the progress we’ve made.

We are really happy with our new mattress, bed frame, and nightstands. We also got awesome under-bed storage drawers. This was also motivating for me to fully clean out my closet, re-organize it, and fill those storage drawers. The last thing I need to do is drop off the donations at the thrift store.

The foster care children duffel bag event was postponed. It has been re-scheduled for the end of October.

Did you have any goals for the month of September? Let me know!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: BeautyBeyondBones

Welcome back! September is one of my favorite months of the year. It’s our dating anniversary. The weather starts to finally shift from summer into autumn. So much to look forward to as we wind down the year.

Here are my goals for the month of September:

1. Start my new job!
2. Successfully complete my self-imposed “No-Spend September.”
3. Publish a fun Writing Prompt series during the month.
4. Publish four Commentary posts, aiming for one post per week.
5. Publish all outstanding Tag posts where I’ve been tagged.
6. Spend time with treasured friends.
7. Publish three Book Reviews.
8. Participate in decorating duffel bags for local children in foster care.
9. Begin outlining my plans for NaNoWriMo 2019 in November.
10. Reduce clutter throughout the house, aiming for 1-2 hours of work per weekend.
11. Purchase a new mattress, bed frame, and nightstands.
12. Research area rugs for the living room.
13. Evaluate my clothing clutter – Decide what to donate or store away.

What about you? Do you have any goals for the month of September?

Image Credit: Found on Facebook

August was a fun month!

Here’s the link to my August Goals post:

• Getting Personal #176: August Goals

Ready?

Here we go!

1. Donate blood. — Accomplished!
2. Celebrate my birthday! — Accomplished!
3. Celebrate others’ birthdays! — Accomplished!
4. Read at least two books. — Accomplished!
5. Complete at least two Writing Prompt posts. — Did not accomplish.
6. Plan a fun Writing Prompt series for the month of September. — Accomplished!
7. Catch up on Commentary and Tags posts. — Semi-Achieved.
8. Research You Need A Budget! (YNAB). — Accomplished!
9. Read my Daily Guideposts book every day. — Accomplished!
10. Dedicate at least an hour every weekend to working on my office. — Accomplished!
11. Participate in my church’s clean-up day. — Accomplished!

I was able to give a partial Power Red donation at the blood drive. Because I attempted Power Red, I have to wait 16 weeks to donate again, so that will be in December. We collected 61 units total!

I had so much fun celebrating 31 this year! I wanted to try this new place in Norfolk called Circuit Social, a barcade. It exceeded everyone’s expectations! Great food, so many games, and nearly a whole wall of drink choices – Beer, wine, and ciders! Highly recommend!

All of the food!

Most of the gang! We had so much fun!

Besties! Michaela and I have been friends since she was born!

We celebrated Savy’s birthday and my birthday during the weekend of August 10th. Al’s parents came in for the weekend. We went out to the Chinese Buffet, and ended the evening with Dairy Queen ice cream cake – Chocolate chip cookie dough, my favorite!

The church clean-up day was a rousing success. I helped power wash several sections of the sidewalk at both entrances. I also helped pick up pruned branches and sprayed poison ivy killer. We also got a great lunch out of the deal, too.

I spent a lot more time in my office because I broke down the goal so simply. I’m able to walk easier in there now, and I can sit on the couch. I still have more to do, but I’m happy with my progress. I also dressed my seven dolls in back-to-school clothes!

L to R: Stephanie, Molly, Kit.

L to R: Autumn, Chrissa, Z, and Mia.

At the end of the month, I had the opportunity to visit Seminole, Florida, to see my Grandpa and my Aunt Marny. Grandpa is 93 and doing well! It was really nice to catch up with Aunt Marny. The last time we saw each other in person was for my wedding in 2015!

Did you have any goals for the month of August? Let me know!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: transforminglifenow

Welcome back! August is my birthday month. Every year, it seems like August is far away when the year begins. But, then, it always sneaks up on me! And it seems to go by faster than the other months. I guess time really does fly by when you’re having fun!

Here are my goals for the month of August:

1. Donate blood.
2. Celebrate my birthday!
3. Celebrate others’ birthdays!
4. Read at least two books.
5. Complete at least two Writing Prompt posts.
6. Plan a fun Writing Prompt series for the month of September.
7. Catch up on Commentary and Tags posts.
8. Research You Need A Budget! (YNAB).
9. Read my Daily Guideposts book every day.
10. Dedicate at least an hour every weekend to working on my office.
11. Participate in my church’s clean-up day.

What about you? Do you have any goals for the month of August?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂