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 🙂

Image Credit: Centre for Collaborative Health

July was crazy!

Here’s the link to my July Goals post:

• Getting Personal #173: July Goals

Ready?

Here we go!

1. Participate in Camp NaNoWriMo, July 2019. — Accomplished!
2. Catch up on maintenance / gas logs for both cars. — Did not accomplish.
3. Do another round of closet clean-out. — Did not accomplish.
4. See Spider-Man: Far From Home. — Accomplished!
5. Watch Stranger Things, Season 3. — Accomplished!
6. Finish cleaning the attached garage. — Did not accomplish.
7. Work on my office, making sure everything from the garage has a proper place. — Did not accomplish.
8. Read every night before bed. — Did not accomplish.
9. Celebrate the 4th! — Accomplished!
10. Spend quality time with family and friends. — Accomplished!

July was a bit of a weird month. Spurts of productivity, and then a lot of exhaustion. Many nights, I came home from work and didn’t want to look at any screens. Especially the computer!

We loved Spider-Man: Far From Home. I highly recommend seeing it in the theater.

We binged all of Stranger Things, Season 3, between July 4th and 5th. The next week, we started watching it again. It’s spectacular. If you haven’t seen this show, get on Netflix and watch it!

For July 4th, we celebrated the holiday and Kyle’s birthday at their house. Michaela, Kyle’s girlfriend, has been a life-long friend of mine. We hadn’t been to their house before, so it was really nice to go, bring chocolate mousse, hang out, and enjoy others’ company. Kyle’s surprise 30th birthday celebration was fun also.

We also went to the farm to see Al’s parents the following weekend. It was so nice to get away, and much needed for both of us. It was hot! But, the dogs did so much than last time. I think they finally understand that the farm is a “second home” for us, and them. I also read well over 100 pages of my current book. I’m almost done!

This round of Camp NaNoWriMo wasn’t as successful, but still a success. I still wrote, and made progress with my 2014 WIP. I’m going to post a recap in the next few days, so be on the lookout for that.

I have a lot to catch up on for the month of August!

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

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: Facebook

Hello, July! It’s hot and humid here in Virginia. Summer just started, and it’s already reaching the mid-90s during the day.

Here are my goals for the month of July:

1. Participate in Camp NaNoWriMo, July 2019.
2. Catch up on maintenance / gas logs for both cars.
3. Do another round of closet clean-out.
4. See Spider-Man: Far From Home.
5. Watch Stranger Things, Season 3.
6. Finish cleaning the attached garage.
7. Work on my office, making sure everything from the garage has a proper place.
8. Read every night before bed.
9. Celebrate the 4th!
10. Spend quality time with family and friends.

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

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: Beauty Beyond Bones

June felt like a bit of a marathon. Oh well. It was a good month!

Here’s the link to my June Goals post:

• Getting Personal #170: June Goals

Ready?

Here we go!

1. See Dark Phoenix. — Accomplished!
2. Test out the “natural” weed killer recipe. — Accomplished!
3. Plant mosquito-repelling plants in our front flower beds. — Did not accomplish.
4. Work on tidying up both garages with Al. — Accomplished!
5. Catch up on maintenance / gas logs for both cars. — Did not accomplish.
6. Do another round of closet clean-out. — Did not accomplish.
7. Decide what to work on for Camp NaNoWriMo July 2019. — Accomplished!
8. Catch up on tags and participation blog posts. — Accomplished!
9. Spend more time reading. — Did not accomplish.
10. Spend more time with my journal. — Semi-Achieved.
11. Find at least one new recipe to make. — Accomplished!

Al and I went to see Dark Phoenix the weekend it opened. It was pretty decent, but we both have similar opinions about the X-Men movie franchise. The cast was great!

The “natural” weed killer recipe is three ingredients: Vinegar, Epsom salt, and blue Dawn dishwashing detergent. It worked pretty well. We definitely have some stubborn weeds, though, so it may take multiple applications!

We made HUGE progress with both garages this month! I’m so excited. Al single-handedly worked on the detached garage, and we were able to park his Mustang in it last weekend! Happy dance. We took several hours yesterday to tackle the attached garage together, and it looks like a different space already. We still have some work to do, but we filled up my car with thrift store donations, and we have so much less stuff to deal with going forward. We’re hoping, by some time in July, to park one of the other cars in it!

I can’t believe it’s already time for Camp NaNoWriMo, July 2019! I really enjoy the structure of it, and I look forward to meeting everyone in my “cabin.”

I’m working diligently to write in my journal every day. I’m taking a page from my Gratitude Challenge blog posts and trying to capture my gratitude list daily.

The recipe I chose knocked it out of the park! I was looking for something different to make in our Crock-Pot, and I stumbled upon Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas. It’s only four ingredients, and it’s simply set it and forget it!

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

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Photo from Coral Gables, Florida. Found on Facebook.

I’ve been doing a double-take when I look at a calendar. It’s June. We’re basically halfway through 2019 now. It feels crazy!

Here are my goals for the month of June:

1. See Dark Phoenix.
2. Test out the “natural” weed killer recipe.
3. Plant mosquito-repelling plants in our front flower beds.
4. Work on tidying up both garages with Al.
5. Catch up on maintenance / gas logs for both cars.
6. Do another round of closet clean-out.
7. Decide what to work on for Camp NaNoWriMo July 2019.
8. Catch up on tags and participation blog posts.
9. Spend more time reading.
10. Spend more time with my journal.
11. Find at least one new recipe to make.

Do you have any goals for the month of June? Let me know in the comments!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂