Summer Goals!

These pictures are all spring flowers at the Ida Lee Park Wedding Garden

Mmm Summer Goals! Where to start? I've been composing this post in my head for a few weeks and I should really take notes. I've forgotten most of my thoughts on the subject.

I really enjoyed doing the Spring Goals even though most of them were a struggle throughout the season. There were times that I did really well and times that I got too relaxed about doing well and I struggled.

I do know that i kept them attainable, I worked at them and I kept going even when it was tough or even when I outright failed at them and I came out better at the end of it. So I definitely look forward to adding on and expanding on those goals to include the Summer.

Summer is such an energetic time. You can be outside climbing rocks, taking hikes, swimming, walking and just enjoying the warmth of the sun and the feel of soft fresh grass beneath your feet.

I think this Summer i'm definitely going to really try hard to be present and to enjoy it no matter what.

Work hard (and smart) AND play hard. PLAY. Hm what a concept!

Permission to just play. Like a child. Permission to have fun and enjoy your downtime/ off time. 

I have trouble enjoying downtime. I beat myself up so badly over the things that I really should be doing instead, that I never fully enjoy just being present in that moment and doing whatever it is that i'm doing right then.

Summer Goals 2011

Be Present

Whatever i'm doing, wherever I am, I promise to Be Present.

Play

I promise to give myself some time to just enjoy doing something/ anything without feeling guilty.

Work

I promise to be there and do what i'm there to do vs thinking about the dishes/laundry/gardening etc that needs to be done at home.

Craft

I need to be crafty for ME. Not because I promised to do or make x y or z. I want to work on my knitting again and knit up a shawl for the fall.

Mind and Body

I want to meditate. Every. Single. Day. It doesn't have to be a long drawn out meditation practice where I end up running through days events in my head and making my to do list for tomorrow (yea, you know you do it too). A simple short meditation and longer ones if i feel like it.

I want to continue with yoga and zumba. I would love to add a second zumba class but it would involve paying a gym membership which i don't really want to do but we'll see.

Walking. More walking with my husband. I love walking earlier in the day. Evening....not so much. But he loves to walk as late as possible. Not happening. If i go on a walk at 8pm  I will never wind down till 2am.

We'll just have to figure that one out. I'm good with Saturday mornings for now.

So there is my short list of Summer Goals.

I basically want to keep on keeping on and enjoy it. Be present. Enjoy my now.

Spring Goals Update

• A regular exercise routine. 

I have been working out a few times a week. I'd love for it to be every day. So far this week the only day i've taken off is Sunday because I was pretty wrecked from Friday and Saturday! Saturday was an amazing day. We walked into town and went to the weekly community yard sale and the famer's market. I look forward to repeating it this weekend!

• Taking lots of pictures. (pictures of the gorgeous new springiness!)

We went to DC and the ole camera got a workout. I still need to do a post about the yummy flowers I saw at the botanical gardens! I look forward to visiting again really soon. I would love to go on a weekday in the summer when maybe the crowds would be a bit lighter. I want to get the camera out around Leesburg soon. I'm itching to go spend some time in the wedding garden. Did that too and i'll include those pictures in my upcoming Summer Goals post.

• Starting and or completing a watercolour.

I've been feeling the need to play with watercolour again. Right before we visited the in-laws last month, I started a watercolour. Then I was lucky enough to see the amazing work of Andrey Avinoff at the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh. As soon as I came home I completed the painting and posted it a few posts below. I love how it turned out! I feel another one coming on this weekend :)  

• Spending time outdoors

The weather is amazing so spending time outside is pretty easy and fun again.

• Eating more greens - trying new vegetables too.

Green smoothies became a definite fave around here! Yummm! We tried a couple new fruits and veggies as well. I'm actually making a jicama salad tonight.

• Make some jewellery.

I made some mala beads for a local yoga studio and I also made a fun gemstone charm bracelet as well.

• Not heat style my hair at ALL (not possible but i'm going to try to minimize)

I did heat style my hair this weekend - twice. We celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary by spending time in a nearby fave mini city of sorts. I felt a night out on the town deserved getting dressed up for. So i blew out my hair. Then i attended a wedding event on Sunday evening and thought it might be fun to do that again.
Other than that i've found myself loving my natural waves and i'm actually enjoying wearing it natural! Not to mention the time savings of wash n' go hair woo hoo!:D

You got that right,
ALL crossed off.
I'm not comfortable that some of them are 'routine' yet but they have been done, some multiple times!
I feel this life surge almost. This need to jump out of bed and seize the day and I fully believe that it has come from choosing better quality foods and moving more.
I cannot wait till i feel comfortable enough for it all to be habit/ the way I live my life and there is a part of me that is nervous that these new habits won't stick.
A recent trip out of town derailed me. I don't believe in willpower. I believe in planning. Poor planning and wishful thinking lead me down a path of not eating the best things, staying up way past my bedtime, getting stressed about it and ending up sick for almost a week. Next trip out of town needs to be planned better and i need to dump the 'vacation' mentality.
Here's to fun summer goals and whipping through those as well:)

Spring Goals

Spring spans March 20th to June 21st.

Some of my spring goals are silly, some are serious and some are pretty small. Either way they are things that I want to accomplish this spring.

• A regular exercise routine. I'd been doing well, then i moved. The smallest move in the world but I allowed it to disrupt my routine. I'd like to do at least three days a week minimum.
• Taking lots of pictures. (pictures of the gorgeous new springiness!)
• Starting and or completing a watercolour.
• Spending time outdoors
• Eating more greens - trying new vegetables too.
• Make some jewellery.
• Not heat style my hair at ALL (not possible but i'm going to try to minimize)

That's it. I'm keeping it simple and attainable. No crazy long lists that would take me years to complete. Just a few tasks that i can accomplish and things that will help build my foundation.

Hey spring, welcome! Nice to see you - let's roll!