Week 3 Goals

  Let's just start with goals today and follow it up with motivation tomorrow. 

  This week:

        I want to be on book number 3!

                     Try a new recipe!

                      15 miles of cardio. 

 Prep and plan future blog posts

                          Paint my nails!

  I specifically picked 5 because maybe one per day will not be overwhelming.  I can choose to end my week with a little pampering and get my nails done.

  Don't forget when you plan your week to do something for yourself too! Working hard deserves a reward.

2018 Goals

  Yes, there are two types of people. Those that make resolutions and start fresh at the start of a New Year and those that don't make resolutions but still start a New Year with the rest of us.

  I have made several lists of what I want to complete or consider completing this year.  Consider completing gives me that open window of no stress but want to complete but may not make it.

  In 2018 I resolve to be more organized, to follow an order or plan, to be more precise and follow through what I start. 

  I have broken goals down in several areas because I like a challenge and each area will help me grow. 

Blogger goals: to include more collaborations, engagement hopefully attend an expo and personally meet a few bloggers to name a few.

Family goals:  to volunteer together more, roadtrips, play more games, more intentional play and interaction.

Fitness goals: continue exercising, try different classes, hydrate regularly.

Me goals:  reading, learn hairstyles for my daughter and continue with group interactions

  I haven't figured out my strong words yet but had some last year and I like reflecting on them throughout the year so I will work on narrowing that down.

  The first week is almost over.  Have you figured out your resolution or yearly goals? 
 

2017 recap

  I can't say that I have never had a year I wanted to hold onto and this was definitely not one either.

  I started 2017 out with some bad health news in my family and then problems just continued after that.  You know that saying, "When it rains it pours."  I don't want to over exaggerate my problems because there is worse out there but, I did have doubts of how much I could tolerate at one time.

  Thankfully some issues have resolved themselves and others I'm carrying with me into 2018 sadly.  I have nonetheless also accomplished some goals and had proud moments.

  In 2018 I crossed off 2 bucket list items!
Stand up Paddle Boarding and Zip line in addition to hanging out in a tree obstacle course!  Of course what I didn't get around to doing just gets rolled over and hopefully some will get crossed off again this year.

  I read a total of 40 books and went to the movies at least 16 times.

  I shared firsts with my kids like a hockey game, a carriage ride and laid wreaths.

  I had more collaborations both paid and with complimentary products compared to my previous year (this was my 2nd year blogging).  I even was selected for the Chick Fil A moms panel!

  Kudos to me for even donating blood for the first time!

I also tried aerial yoga and that wasn't even on my list! Bonus!

  So I can sit back and smile with satisfaction of my success as a blogger.  I can't wait to see how I grow in this new year.  I have a few blogging goals I would like to accomplish so amongst everything else like my bucket list and resolutions. I'll be working towards those too.

  Happy New Year everyone and I wish much success on everyone. 

Goals for week of October 30

Its a new week and I'm excited.  I have taken the last two weeks off from my fitness and now I'm ready to get back into it.

1.  So fitness goal is 25 miles of cardio.... do stipulations. Walk, jog, run, hike or bike!  Preferably spread out during the week instead of 2 days of cycling.

2.  Reading goal will be finish the book I didn't complete last week!

3.  Snack for the kids for the week.  Even though we made cookies last night.

They will appreciate something to nibble on in the afternoon. I'm thinking either Jell-O, granola bars or energy bites.

4.  Start on November goals. Organization is my focus for the rest of the month.

5.  Get ahead on blog posts.

  How busy is your week going to be?  Do you already know what needs to be done for the month of November?

Weekly Goals

  I was going to skip goals this week but then I thought to myself what would I accomplish?

  Last week I managed to complete some or all of my goals.  I went through some of the kids clothes to get rid of but now the bag sits in the hallway.  I downloaded some pictures but not as much as I should have.  I just finished one book yesterday and I did get a few posts done for the week ahead.

  This week I would like to:

1. Tackle some more clothes AND drop off the clothes at my local thrift store!

2.  Dump 500 pictures!

3.  Finish another book.  I have one that I still need to finish for my book club next month but I'm still sitting on 2 that are approaching due dates.

4.  Keep ahead with my posts!  Mealplans the most so I know what to get when I go grocery shopping!

5.  Complete some campaigns and surveys.  The more I complete the more products or giftcard I receive.

 Oooh look I added on an extra one this week, I'm getting wild and ambitious now.  Once I get my books and pictures caught up though I'm going to have to move on to something else and quit stalling.

  I hope you have a productive week!  What's one thing you keep putting off?  How many pictures are trapped on your phone?

Lessons Learned on the 30 Day Challenge (Blogging)

  The 30 day blogging challenge is over.  Did you know I was participating?  Well I was and now am celebrating on this final day with the 30th post on the 30th day of November.

  It was harder then you think.  I don't always know what I'm going to write.  It's not always planned. Hmm, I'm not one to plan ahead.  Sometimes I was good others not so much but, I have learned alot from this journey.

What I learned from 30 days of blogging:

1. If you plan ahead things are easier.
2.  If your determined you will get the job done even if it's past your bedtime.
3. I am confident now how to not stress about what to post.
4.  I gained more exposure and interaction with daily posts.
5.  Posting variety gets people's attention!
6. This was special me time that I made happen.
7. I can learn from others along the way when I do engage.
8. You have to focus and have patience to finish something you started.  If it was important enough to start it's important enough to finish.
9. Speak from the heart or experience because people like real and deserve real.
10.  There's always something to post!

Each day there was a prompt to help you with ideas if you needed it.  Todays prompt was if a chose a word for the year and what it was.  I will finish this 30th post on this 4th day of November with my answer.

  At the beginning of 2016 I did choose several words.

INSPIRE
MOTIVATION
DETERMINATION
DESIRE
ACHIEVE

  I can sit back and reflect on how I used all these words for myself making myself a better person and pursuing the current situation.  I can also smile as I have shared all of these in one way or the other with friends and acquaintances.  If I can why not you. I post a cannoli one day and I'm at the gym working out.  The struggle is real and I keep it real.

Thank you for keeping me company on this journey.

Have you ever completed a 30 day challenge on anything?
What did you learn from it?
Would you do it again?

#NaBloPoMo

Blogger Challenge

  I do like a challenge.  I don't always take on a challenge nor do I take the easy way out and take a easy challenge.  I selective choose them and sometimes I don't complete it but I don't lose sleep over it.  I just keep it moving.  Recently my lasted challenge was to blog for 30 days.

  30 days is a long time.  Let's be honest it 30 days.  The only thing I would like to say I do regularly for that period of time is take a shower, and brush my teeth but I'm not so sure those happen everyday either.  Following through on something for an extended amount of time takes real effort.  Funny how you could be doing something all the time then when you sign up and make it official is when you start losing power, patience,  motivation and getting more easily distracted.  Sometimes work is no fun.  You were only completing it last time for sheer habit.

  I have officially completed a 30 day blogging challenge.  I signed up obviously 30 days ago with the goal of staying on track. Some days I wrote and uploaded sooner than others but always managed to get a story posted everyday.  Some days are easier than others.  Topics don't always flow.  What's that cold?  Writer's block?  Could be more like lack of motivation or just plain too busy that day.

  This challenge was great for numerous reasons.

1.  It was free.
2.  I received a daily email with prompts tips and motivation. EVERYDAY!!
3.  You belong to an exclusive Facebook group where you post daily, holding you slightly accountable as you just don't want to miss a day.
4.  The Facebook group allows you to get concerns addressed by admin in a timely manner.
5.  The Facebook group also gives you acess to other bloggers with the same experience as you.
6.  Everyone is supporting, motivating and encouraging.
7.  You discover new blogs and well as establish relationships with other bloggers
8.  Bloggers helping each other through immediate,recent experience.
9.  Sharing what works for them.  With so many bloggers open to needing one thing or another.  This group even provides you with comments and critiques; of course solicited.
10.  Your hard work is noticed as you get recognized for the progress your making.  I thought it was so neat to see a badge congratulating me on 14 days of writing!

  This is a great group.  If your looking for more tips to better writing, prompts of what to write, how to incorporate certain items into your post then this is the place for you.  Everyone is at different levels and there are even some seasoned bloggers in there as well.  I never felt out of place and enjoyed reading other blogs that were new like mine.  There was not a stupid question and there was always an answer for a question!

If you know you need the motivation.  If you know you don't know everything about blogging.  If you like a challenge sign up!
http://www.sarkemedia.com/30dayblog tell +Sarah Arrow I sent you.  She will remember me I left a lasting impression. You know not the star pupil type the other one class clown!