February Goals

Here we are, half way through February, and I still haven't listed my goals. My masterminds group got together last Monday, so we were already nearly a quarter of the way into February by then, so basically, what I'm trying to say is that this month is flying by!

Here's a recap of January:

• Daily quiet time.  Managed to do this about 3/4 of the time.
• Work out at least three times a week.  I think I only hit this once, but the rest were all two times a week.  One of my friends from work goes so a lot of times we convince the other one to go or I'd be going even less.
• Church every Sunday.  Uhm, I made it twice.
• Twelve blog posts.  We were at six.
• Get together, or set dates to see four friends.  I did this!  There was some early morning breakfasts, an after work supper, and a weekend trip to see a friend about two hours north of here that was so much fun!
• Send four letters.  I sent more than four letters, I'm not sure they were all encouraging, but at least people knew I was thinking of them.
• Sew at least 1/2 an hour a week.  Happened only once.
• Write at least 1/2 an hour a week.  Didn't happen at all.
• Save $100 for travel.  Saved $50, but then spent it on my trip north.
• Read four books.  Managed to accomplish that!

So here's February's goals.  I'm scaling back and since it's a short month, just focusing on a few things.

• Read four books.
• Paint my laundry room.  It's still the matte white it was when we moved here ten years ago.  I'm dreading it because the room is so tiny and there's five doorways to trim around along with a set of cabinets, and the washer and dryer.  But it's looking tacky and it's time.
• Work out three times a week.
• Get together with friends four times.
• Twelve blog posts.
• Start getting up at 5am.  This one would allow me almost four hours before I have to be to work, so it would give me more time to sew, write, or even clean before work.

So how did your January go, or how is your February going?  Let me know.

February Reading List

The books I picked for February are all fiction, but there's quite a variety of genres represented.

Here we go:

• South of Superior by Ellen Airgood was loaned to me by one of my friends.  It takes place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which is my most favorite spot, and seems to just be a story about small town living and how it shapes the protagonist who is new to the area.
  
• Where'd You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple is written all in letters and emails and faxes and the like, but they all work together to tell the story of a mother who disappears and how her daughter resolves to find her.  More comedy than mystery, it's gotten great reviews.
  
• Madd Addam by Margaret has been on my reading list, a couple times now- once in October of last year, and again in November of the year before.  I really want to finish up the trilogy, so I'm hoping this is the month I do it!
  
• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is probably considered young adult, which I normally avoid, and reliving the awkward teenage years doesn't sound fun, but the book appears solid in the reviews department and to be honest, it's a little on the thin side so I figured it was a good pick for a short month. 😉

So there it is, my February reading list. What are you reading this month?

February Book Recap

So February was a mixed bag as far as months go. I got a lot read, didn't add anything new. I celebrated my 33rd birthday (which in itself is a mixed bag). Got a lot accomplished, but was also off work a lot- which is part of why I was able to get so much accomplished. And, our family dog, Gus, which my parents got when I still lived at home, before I had even met my husband, unexpectedly passed away.

February Book Recap

But, lets focus on one of the positives.  Here's what I read:

• C.S. Lewis: Through the Shadowlands by Brian Sibley- This was my favorite read of the month.  C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite authors and I really enjoyed getting a kind of peek into his life and especially into his marriage.  It's always interesting when you picture someone a certain way and then see another dimension of them that changes how you view them.  I also liked getting more of an inside look at his Inklings group and what went on there.  It's an inspiring story, but sad in parts too.  I cried at more than a few points. 

• Little Wolves by Thomas Maltman-  This book was interesting, but I felt the story got a little out of control at the end, and unrealistic.  There was a lot of Norse mythology and symbolism from the author in this book.  It felt a little heavy handed at times, like one of the character getting scares in his palms that they compared to the stigmata.  From the point of view of someone who works in health care, I didn't really buy the cause and that he survived the "accident", but who knows, maybe he was supposed to represent Christ and how he changed afterwards represented a resurrection of sorts.  Others may like all the symbolism, but for me, when I read a mystery, I just want a mystery.  And I felt like this book could have been a great story without the extra sprinkles- it's the story of a high school kid who shoots the town sheriff and the effects it has on his pregnant English teacher, his father, and the town in general.  What had he planned?  Why had he done it?  The dust jacket said Maltman is a creative writing teacher and it shows.  It's not good or bad, it just shows.  If I stumble across another of his books, I'd probably pick it up because he writes well and keeps you turning the pages, just not my preferred style.

• Life Sentences by Warren W. Wiersbe- I just realized this is the second book called "Life Sentences" that I've read in the last few months.  This is nothing like Laura Lippman's book though.  Wiersbe's book is 63 mini character studies of people from the Bible.  They were interesting and offered new insight into their lives and backgrounds.  Each was only a few pages long, so I read one with my morning quiet time.

• The Snow Child by Eowyn Evey-  I really liked this book, and it was a fast read, even though it was a decent size book.  I had first heard of it when I was paired with Jolene of With A Little Help From My Friends in a book swap, and she had requested it.  Basically, the meat of the story is about an older couple who have moved to the wild Alaska of the 1920s, they are unable to have children and are barely surviving at making a homestead for themselves.  Mabel, the wife, is despairing, even though it was her idea to move to Alaska, her husband fears he's too old for the back breaking work and is worried they won't last another year there.  Their relationship is strained and almost to the breaking point, but one night, the snowflakes are falling big and fluffy, and in a moment of lightness, they make a snow girl, just for fun.  The next day, they're visited by a girl with a red fox who is wearing the mittens they had put on their snow girl and seems to be from the woods.  As the story progresses, you only get more and more confused about the girls origins- is she an orphan, a fairy, or just a delusion of two desperate souls?  The Snow Child is partially based on a Russian folk tale.  I was sad with the ending, but it was definitely worth the read.

What I acquired? Nothing!  I was a good girl this month, but I don't expect it will last through March.  There's a library book sale in my friend Lori's town, so I'll be checking that out this month!

2016 Totals
Read 7
Acquired 6


And here's a picture of Gus.  He loved to ride in my Outback.  (Probably because it usually ended with a trip to the park or McDonalds.)  He was such a good boy and already missed!

Gus, my parents dog, riding in my car last summer.

February 2016 Goal

We're in the second month of year already!  2016 is 1/12 done!  So that means it's time to talk about how January goals went and what I'm hoping to accomplish in February.  First off, here's a recap of January:

The Good

• Exercised at least three times a week for 20 minutes a time!
• Had quiet time nearly every day.  (Missed once the whole month!)
• Finished my 21 Day Cleanse.  (Want to know how it went?)

The Bad

• Only read three books, instead of my goal of four.  (I'm still okay with that though.)
• Did horrible about writing Morning Pages.  Did it for maybe the first two weeks and then never again.

Overall, I was happy with how January went and am looking forward to building on that momentum in February, so here's what I want to do this month!

February Goals

• Increase exercise to five times a week, at least twenty minutes a time.
• Get back on track with Daily Pages.
• Read four books. (Five would be even better, but I'd settle for four.)
• Continue daily quiet time.
• Really celebrate Valentine's Day- send cards to friends, spoil husband, make treats, etc.  Basically, just make everyone around me feel loved.
• Make my home feel homier- plan gallery wall of family and friends' pictures, make valance for kitchen window, make curtain for my office.  
• Try hand embroidery.  I've been looking for a more portable craft, and I always liked counted cross stitch, but hated how if you messed up one square, it could through your whole design up.  I have a Pinterest Board filled with hand embroidery ideas and am looking forward to trying it.

So, that's what's on my agenda.  What are you hoping to accomplish this month?  And be sure to check out the linkup over at My So Called Chaos and A Peek at Karen's World to see what everyone else is planning for too!

Monthly Goal Link Up- February

Last Sunday, my Masterminds high bred group met up and we went over how our goals went last month and what we're hoping for this month.  Here's how I did (green= success and read= didn't make it):

January Goals
Read Four Books- I read four, even though they weren't the four I had been planning on.
Post 15 times on my blog-  Almost, I only managed 13 blog posts.
Work out four days a week- Succeeded three out of four weeks, but totally slacked off the last week.
Sew four things- Managed to do more than four and even got a jump on some birthday presents
Get my church's website back up and running- Done!  Finally!  It had been on my to do list for months.
Have a daily quiet time every day for Bible reading and reflection- Success!  I'm also rereading Simple Abundance and Something More (both by Sarah Ban Breathnach) every day.

So, I did fairly well, and even the things I didn't have total success on where improved from what I did in December.


Here are my goals for February:

February Goals
Read another four books this month.
Post 15 times on my blog.
Work out four days a week.  (Ugh!  Exercising is miserable.)
Try four new recipes.
Drink 96 oz of water a day.
Continue daily quiet time, and spend more time in prayer and reflection.
Save $100 towards summer vacation.

So,what do you think, any advice?  Right now exercise is my biggest pain.  I do it, but only because I know I'm supposed to, not because I like it or feel like it.  I keep waiting to get to that point where exercise feels good and I feel sad if I don't do it.

And, if you want to share your monthly goals and link up, click the above picture to be taken to the link up.