Tag Archives: Lists

06.30.20
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Getting Personal #213: June Goals Recap

Image Credit: jenny collier blog

Welcome back!

Here’s the link to my June Goals post: Getting Personal #211: June Goals

Here were my goals for the month of June:

  1. Give blood. — Accomplished!
  2. Finish the second draft of my novel. — Did not accomplish.
  3. Send the second draft of the novel to my readers for additional feedback. — Did not accomplish.
  4. Clean out and organize the linen closet. — Accomplished!
  5. Send the box of consignment items to Darby. — Accomplished!
  6. Begin the binder of university newspaper articles for preservation. — Did not accomplish.
  7. Send at least four cards or letters to friends. — Accomplished!
  8. Publish a post about The Ebony and Fire Writing Club at least once a week. — Did not accomplish.
  9. Re-organize the filing system. — Did not accomplish.
  10. Finish cleaning out the cabinet above the oven. — Did not accomplish.
  11. Finish de-cluttering the dining room buffet. — Did not accomplish.
  12. Spend another hour on American Girl items inventory. — Did not accomplish.

This month was weird. I was more deeply affected by the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests than I anticipated.

However, I was able to give blood! Yay! Al made steak the night before the drive, and my iron level was 14.3, one of the highest levels I’ve had. The baseline requirement for women is 12.5. And, my favorite phlebotomist, Spencer, was at the drive and helped me through it. I struggled to fill the bag, which is completely my fault. I forgot to drink enough water. More fluids!

I shipped off the massive Walmart box to Darby. It weighed almost 25 pounds! I paid almost $95 in shipping costs, but Darby offered me $164 in store credit, so I jumped on it. I’ve gotten a lot of pretty things this month, and I found a beautiful shirt with a flower on it and “Mom” on it for my mom.

I did a lot of other things with the house the month. The linen closet is finally clean and organized the way it should be, at least in my mind.

Al and I also went through our closets, filled two garbage bags full of outgrown clothes, and gathered several other things to donate. I dropped everything off at the thrift store on Sunday.

I’ve been slowly making my way through Just Mercy. It’s a good book, but it’s heavy. Look for a review on the Netflix documentary “13th” coming soon.

The Ebony and Fire Writing Club is currently on hiatus. I was disappointed at first, but one of the organizers wanted to take a break to focus on Black Lives Matter and some other priorities for a while.

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of June?

Come back tomorrow to see my goals for July!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

06.01.20
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Getting Personal #211: June Goals

Image Credit: Fueled By Carrots

Welcome back!

Here are my goals for the month of June:

  1. Give blood.
  2. Finish the second draft of my novel.
  3. Send the second draft of the novel to my readers for additional feedback.
  4. Clean out and organize the linen closet.
  5. Send the box of consignment items to Darby.
  6. Begin the binder of university newspaper articles for preservation.
  7. Send at least four cards or letters to friends.
  8. Publish a post about The Ebony and Fire Writing Club at least once a week.
  9. Re-organize the filing system.
  10. Finish cleaning out the cabinet above the oven.
  11. Finish de-cluttering the dining room buffet.
  12. Spend another hour on American Girl items inventory.

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

Let me know in the comments!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.31.20
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Getting Personal #210: May Goals Recap

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Welcome back!

Here’s the link to my May Goals post: Getting Personal #206: May Goals

Here were my goals for the month of May:

  1. Re-organize the filing system. — Did not accomplish.
  2. Clean out the cabinet above the oven. — Semi-Achieved.
  3. Start a new writing prompt series. — Semi-Achieved.
  4. Spring clean my closet. — Accomplished!
  5. Publish at least one Book Review. — Accomplished!
  6. De-clutter the dining room buffet. — Accomplished!
  7. Spend at least one hour on American Girl items inventory. — Accomplished!
  8. Start re-organizing the garage. — Accomplished!

I made a lot of progress this month. I’m really pleased with the number of posts I published here!

I threw out all the expired products in the cabinet above the oven, and made a list of needed replacements. The job isn’t finished, but I’m happy with the progress.

I learned that my favorite consignor, Darby, was going to be accepting new consignment boxes as early as June 1st, so I rushed to sign up for a box. I’m mailing it to her new house in Washington State next week. I had a lot of fun going through everything in my closet, and I nearly filled the huge box from Walmart that our new Blu-ray player came in. Plus, everything is now organized for the summer!

We made a ton of progress on our garage. I’m so happy with it. Everything has a place. We filled our trashcan. And we can walk around freely without tripping. Al also was able to move the refrigerator from the detached garage out back to the attached garage, so we can have drinks out there and some overflow space for freezer items. We also worked together to clean and sanitize it.

I published THREE Book Reviews! Yippee! I’ve finally gotten back in the habit of reading between 15-45 minutes every night before bed.

I also embarked on a new Writing Adventure with joining the Ebony and Fire Writing Club. Stay tuned for more posts every week!

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of May?

Come back tomorrow to see my goals for June!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.12.20
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Commentary #104: “Ten Books I Wish I Had Read As A Teen” (Top Ten Tuesday)

Image Credit: that artsy reader girl

I saw several posts recently about ten books I wish I had read as a teen!

Books, Libraries, Also Cats – Top Ten Tuesday Books I Wish I’d Had As A Teen

The Bookish Hooker – Ten Books I Wish I Had Read As A Child

bookloversblog – Top Ten Tuesday #261

that artsy reader girl – 22 YA Contemporary Romances Teen Me Would Have Loved

Here’s my list!

Note, there are several here that were published after I left my teenage years. I turned 20 in 2008.

  1. The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien (1937)
  2. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky (1999)
  3. Crank, Ellen Hopkins (2004)
  4. Looking for Alaska, John Green (2005)
  5. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie (2007)
  6. Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher (2007)
  7. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins (2008)
  8. Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson (2009)
  9. Eleanor & Park, Rainbow Rowell (2012)
  10. Dumplin’, Julie Murphy (2015)

Out of these ten, I’ve read The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Looking for Alaska, Thirteen Reasons Why, The Hunger Games, and Wintergirls. I read most of these when I was in college.

As for the others, I’ve only read parts of them, or heard of them through various media sources or other bloggers. However, I plan to add these five to future TBRs.

What about you? Have you read any of these books?

What books do you wish you’d read as a teen?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.02.20
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Getting Personal #206: May Goals

Image Credit: Centre for Collaborative Health

Welcome back!

Here are my goals for the month of May:

  1. Re-organize the filing system.
  2. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  3. Start a new writing prompt series.
  4. Spring clean my closet.
  5. Publish at least one Book Review.
  6. De-clutter the dining room buffet.
  7. Spend at least one hour on American Girl items inventory.
  8. Start re-organizing the garage.

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

Let me know in the comments!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

05.01.20
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Getting Personal #205: April Goals Recap

Image Credit: quoteslike.com

Welcome back!

Here’s the link to my April Goals post: Getting Personal #202: April Goals

Here are my goals for the month of April:

  1. Celebrate Dad’s birthday. — Accomplished!
  2. Complete Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020. — Accomplished!
  3. Hang photos in my office. — Did not accomplish.
  4. Re-organize the filing system. — Did not accomplish.
  5. Clean out the cabinet above the oven. — Did not accomplish.
  6. Spring clean my closet, top to bottom. — Did not accomplish.
  7. Drop off thrift store donations. — Accomplished!
  8. Purchase new glasses. — Accomplished!
  9. Finish the book I’m reading, and publish the review. — Accomplished!
  10. Start a new writing prompt series. — Did not accomplish.
  11. Commit to less screen time, especially in the evenings. — Semi-Achieved.

I accomplished quite a few things this month. I’m very pleased.

We celebrated my dad’s birthday virtually. We called and sang to him. We can’t wait to celebrate in person once the virus risk lessens.

I think Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020 was a big success, especially with the recent circumstances around COVID-19. Look for a recap post soon!

I’m so happy with the progress I’ve made with my home office. I gathered up several square feet of donations, and Al helped me drop it off at Goodwill. I can sit on the couch for the first time since we moved in our house! Al also helped me hang up some of my sorority memorabilia.

After working from home on a card table for the first two weeks, I was over it. Al found an amazing sit-stand desk on sale through Office Depot, and I took the plunge and bought it. Look for a new installment in my home improvement series, coming soon!

I bought two new pairs of glasses through Zenni Optical. They were shipped this week, so I’m excited to finally have a proper set of glasses with the correct prescription. The glasses I currently have are at least 6-7 years old.

I finished reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and published the Book Review. I started reading two new books, and I’m excited to finish those soon. Reading before bed nearly every night is something I’m committed to. I’m sleeping better, and also feeling better in the mornings.

I’m still working on less screen time in the evenings. I noticed recently that my body is giving me signs, in a way. I find myself naturally putting down my phone and/or iPad about an hour or so before we go to bed. So that’s good! I’ve also noticed a big difference as soon as I was able to set up my laptop in my office. It’s a dedicated space. No more laptop on the couch!

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of April?

Come back tomorrow to see my goals for May!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.21.20
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Getting Personal #203: Fourteenth TBR Recap

Image Credit: hippoquotes.com

Welcome back!

Here’s what I’ve read since my last TBR update:

  1. Polacco, Patricia, Thank You, Mr. Falker (Review coming soon)
  2. Rowling, J.K., Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban *Re-Read*

Removing from Laura Beth’s TBR

  1. Brunt, Carol Rifka, Tell The Wolves I’m Home
  2. Sanchez, Alex, Rainbow High
  3. Wilkinson, Lauren, American Spy

Keep & Re-Classify – Laura Beth’s Updated TBR

  1. Betz-Hamilton, Axton, The Less People Know About Us: A Mystery of Betrayal, Family Secrets, and Stolen Identity
  2. Elliott, T.E., Loved by the Beast: A Historical Retelling of Beauty and the Beast
  3. Jennings, Ken, Brainiac: Adventures in the Curious, Competitive, Compulsive World of Trivia Buffs
  4. Westover, Tara, Educated

Adding to the TBR

  1. Gaiman, Neil, The Ocean at the End of the Lane
  2. Gilbert, Elizabeth, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear
  3. Rowling, J.K., Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire *Re-Read*

So, my current TBR is 7 books.

Do you have a TBR?

What book are you looking forward to reading next?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.03.20
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Getting Personal #202: April Goals

Image Credit: Maria Estes Photography

Welcome back!

Here are my goals for the month of April:

  1. Celebrate Dad’s birthday.
  2. Complete Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020.
  3. Hang photos in my office.
  4. Re-organize the filing system.
  5. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  6. Spring clean my closet, top to bottom.
  7. Drop off thrift store donations.
  8. Purchase new glasses.
  9. Finish the book I’m reading, and publish the review.
  10. Start a new writing prompt series.
  11. Commit to less screen time, especially in the evenings.

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

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

04.02.20
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Getting Personal #201: March Goals Recap

Image Credit: pinterest.com

Welcome back!

Here were my goals for the month of March:

  1. Print out the first draft of my novel, and begin editing it by hand.
  2. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  3. Go through at least three boxes in my office. — Accomplished!
  4. Make at least one thrift store run with donations.
  5. Purchase new glasses.
  6. Help my parents get ready for Grandpa’s arrival. — Accomplished!
  7. Publish at least one Book Review.
  8. Finish out my term as P.E.O. Treasurer. — Accomplished!
  9. Prepare for Camp NaNoWriMo April 2020. — Accomplished!

I made amazing progress with my office this month. I have a temporary set-up of a card table and Al’s old office chair, and these will stand in for now until I get my stand-up desk from IKEA. I’m excited to have more space.

This weekend, I hope to get all of the donations out of the corner, hang up some pictures, and make progress with some filing.

I’m grateful that I was able to help my parents when I could, before COVID-19 took hold in Virginia. It was one Saturday – Moving the dryer back to its proper place, moving the dresser from downstairs to upstairs, disassembling the desk at our friend’s house and getting it back to the house for Grandpa – but it feels like it was a lifetime ago.

I’m grateful my dad and grandpa arrived home safely earlier this week. That took away a lot of anxiety.

Now, I’m eager to dive head-long into Camp NaNoWriMo, April 2020. And get back to blogging. I’ve missed it.

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of March?

Come back tomorrow to see my goals for April!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

03.01.20
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Getting Personal #200: March Goals

Image Credit: East Willow Grove

Here are my goals for the month of March!

  1. Print out the first draft of my novel, and begin editing it by hand.
  2. Clean out the cabinet above the oven.
  3. Go through at least three boxes in my office.
  4. Make at least one thrift store run with donations.
  5. Purchase new glasses.
  6. Help my parents get ready for Grandpa’s arrival.
  7. Publish at least one Book Review.
  8. Finish out my term as P.E.O. Treasurer.
  9. Prepare for Camp NaNoWriMo April 2020.

What about you?

Do you have any goals for the month of March? Let me know!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂