Let’s skip right over the how is it March already? conversation and just dig right in, okay? This week has been rough. I’ve been tasked with a huge project at work and then have another pressing matter on my calendar for next week. I’m trying to squeeze two full time jobs into a single week and not lose every single brain cell I have left. I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and under-rested and can’t wait for the weekend. Oh, wait… I’m working. Whomp whomp.
watching | We have been on a serious movie kick here lately and have even convinced my parents to join us for a few late nights. Let’s not discuss how we are able to view these movies in the comfort of our own home, okay? I loved Passengers so much — fun and quirky and science-y all at the same time. The Accountant is SO smart and I just love Ben Affleck. We also watched Into the Wild, since I was a little obsessed after reading the book earlier in the month. Have you seen Hidden Figures? We squeezed it in the day before the Oscars and it was a family favorite. Speaking of the Oscars, did you want that debacle? Also on our radar this month was the Amazon series Goliath starring Billy Bob Thornton. We binge watched it in two evenings after the kids were in bed and it did not disappoint.
eating | We took a little break in February because vacations call for delicious food. Now we’re back on the wagon and feeling great. I gave up soft drinks (again) for lent and I’m also trying to add something to my life over the next forty days. I know it’s unreasonable to say I will run daily (because: life), but I’m committing to a regular running schedule for the next several months. I am bound and determined to get my groove back.
saying | I probably shouldn’t tell you what I’ve been saying. The frustration at being exhausted and overwhelmed with life has caused more than a few meltdowns. God bless my husband.
wearing | I’m still sticking with my capsule-ish wardrobe from February and loving it. Sticking with a single color palette has been a game changer and I’m looking forward to translating these same principles into spring. You can catch a recap of my travel outfits here, as well as twenty-two ootd flatlays from February here!
posting | I’ve decided to jump back into Sunday posting. I had a huge increase in viewers back in January when I was sharing weekly meal plans and Whole30 recaps and I miss how much the act of planning for those helped me. I might cut back to four posts during the week in order to create brain space for a weekend post instead. Friday has never been a big traffic day here anyway, but I’m playing around with how to balance things out. Six posts a week is a bit much, no?
Rather than call this a list of goals, I thought we’d do a little “to do list” each month instead. The word goal makes it sound so lofty and important, and I’m talking more about things I want to accomplish than achieve.
Before we gather a list for March, let’s check in on how things went in February. Shall we?
Schedule Blog PostsThis worked out pretty well. I’m still not a month ahead with scheduled content, but my editorial calendar is pretty full and I have photographs edited and outlines drafted for several weeks. We’ll call that a half win for now.Improve the Blog, generallyI guess you guys are the only ones who can decide how this is working, but I have been really focused on creating content that you love and regularly interjecting real life. I had some great comments this week and I’m trying to reach out individually, to ask lots of follow up questions. If you are a regular reader here, can you leave some feedback in the comments? Since the reader’s survey, do you think things have improved, stayed the same or tanked? I’m so curious!!Embrace life after Whole30Maybe embraced foods I couldn’t have on the Whole30 is a better way to answer this, but March is looking promising.- Plan Sophie’s Birthday Party: Nope. I did exactly zero things for Sophie’s party and it’s a good thing since she’s completely changed her mind about where she wants to have it. Y’all know I’m a big birthday party girl, but it looks like we’ll be having sheet cake and pre-printed invitations this year. I might need therapy after.
- Film a House Tour: Also, no. I considered moving this to March’s list, but I’m not sure it will happen this month either.
For March, I’m focusing on the following:
Continue being content with my closet. I’m not saying I won’t buy anything, but I am loving this break from shopping and consuming and spending — I want to keep it going. I’m looking for a few specifics, but I might wait until the weather warms up a bit more before making those purchases.
Finish the Master Bedroom redo in our travel trailer. I’m planning for a workday on Saturday and I should get the paint finished in the “master.” I’ve ordered fabric and wallpaper, so I’m hoping to get all of the details wrapped up for a room reveal later this month!
Survive our first dance competition with no hiccups. This month is the start to our fifth year of competitive dance (and eighth year of dance total) and Ella is beside herself with excitement. I’ve ordered her a few things for her ridiculous dance bag (new makeup bag, stool and a monogrammed patch) and we’re practicing hair and makeup to get ready for the big day. Being a dance mom is the weirdest thing ever, but I totally dig it.
Get organized. The paper situation in my life is a little crazy right now. Since moving, I haven’t come up with a new system and I have important stuff stashed everywhere. I think I’ll clean out some drawers while I’m in the office this weekend and start keeping important papers on-hand there instead. I am significantly more focused at work, so maybe I should relegate all organizational issues there. How do you keep paper (taxes, bills, calendars, planning, etc.) organized at your house?
I know you’ve been waiting for it! Let’s catch up on all the goodness that was February, with a little by the numbers graphic update.
- I’ve only recapped days one and two of our California getaway, but there is much more to come. I’m hoping to share our last day in San Diego on the blog tomorrow!
- We went to IKEA last weekend, which means a single state road trip. My parents and my sister went with us and it was so much fun. I didn’t post about our trip (what happens when you forget your camera), but I did talk about a few of the things we purchased for the trailer.
- I read another six books this month! You can read about my favorite book of February and learn all about our virtual book club here!
- I ran the six mile leg of a marathon relay just days after our return from California. Pros: it reminded me why I loved running and encouraged me to do it again.
- Cons: running while jet lagged is ridiculously stupid.
- Cheeseburgers are my all time favorite food and we ate plenty of them on our trip. Maybe I should do a post about all of my favorite burger joints. Is that weird?
- I stuck with my capsule wardrobe this month and bought ZERO items of clothing. You can read about my plans for a closet overhaul this year and catch up on all that I wore this month.
- I mentioned above that we watched a ton of movies last month and I wasn’t kidding. What is the best movie you’ve seen lately?
- Our California AirBnB was right next to a Starbucks, so I enjoyed it thoroughly. It’s time to embrace my coconut cream again, though. Sugar in your coffee cup is just dumb.
- I know it’s ridiculous, but it took ten days to unpack my suitcase. This after I insisted the girls unpack immediately. Thank goodness all of those clothes were clean since we had a laundry room in our Hollywood apartment.
- Did I mention that we sold a cow? I know, that’s so weird if you aren’t a country girl. My grandparents raise cows and they designated the grandchildren as owners. When our mama cows have babies, he takes them to the cow sale and the proceeds go into the girls’ college fund. We aren’t selling cows on a regular basis around here, but when Ella called to tell me she made $514 yesterday, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
Happy March, friends!
