Monday, July 31, 2017

10 Ways to Reassess Your Goals When You're Feeling Stuck

Sorry I wasn't around on Friday, it was an extremely rough day for us. More divorce drama and not any sleep = no blogging, and a grumpy demeanor. Boo! Moving right along (because the rest of the weekend was great, and I even got to meet up with Shea, which was so awesome! Click that link to check out our "oh yeah, we should take a selfie!" selfie. hehe We did some fun chatting and brainstorming, so stay tuned for some fun collaborations! :)



I don't know about you, but when I hit a setback, or get into a funk... I often realize it's because I'm not working toward anything.

Now you might be thinking... "it's ok to just relax, you don't need to be striving all of the time!" - that's definitely true! But I've realized that if I go long enough without looking at my goals or working on some introspection I feel extremely unmoored. Especially when the world is a mess, or maybe people in your circle (but maybe not in your home) are causing stress. There's not much you can do to make significant change in those situations. Rather than letting myself be entirely bogged down by this, I try to put a plan of my own into action. Working on my goals helps my anxiety tremendously, and it also helps me to know myself better. I notice how I change, what I need, what I don't want, etc.

How on earth do you get started again? It's not necessarily a new year... so what can you do to get your brain going?

(recently being in said funk....) Here are a few things that help me & some great free resources!

1) revisit your yearly (or other recent) goals

By revisiting past goals, you can see how you're doing, where you're going, and what you're no longer interested in. If you look back a few years at your older goals, it may remind you of something that you still hope to try or accomplish, but have forgotten about. Just looking at your list can get your brain thinking. This can also help you figure out why you're in a slump. Do you not care about your goals anymore? Drop them! Do you not feel excited by some of them? Change them! Are you forgetting what they are?! Print them! Stick them in Evernote or your planner.

2) try a yearly (or birthday) reflection

I saved an article a few years ago about the top 5 regrets of the dying written by a hospice nurse. She then came up with a "birthday check-in" for herself, to make sure that she "never goes more than a year without attending to her life on the deepest level. It's an annual regret-prevention measure." I FINALLY remembered to do this around my birthday this year, but you could do it annually regardless of what month you choose. I found doing this reflection very interesting.

3) think of your longer-term (almost bucket list style) goals & put an assured spin on them

I have a confession: I'm not great at setting long term goals. I have a hard time "dreaming". I like to pick things that are achievable. I also have a hard time picturing my future. Some days I could picture living in Scotland, traveling around Europe on the weekends with KC. Other days I picture a farmhouse, an orchard, and lots of sticky children. It's very difficult to pinpoint what I want, so long term goals stress me out. However, they can be very useful as well. Give yourself permission to dream for a while! Start my trying a 10 years from now list. Write it as if you will do it, by 2027 I have been to 7 new countries. By 2027 I have bought a house. By 2027 I am a full-time writer. Etc. Visualizing it is half the battle.

I also find the exercise in the Passion Planner helpful. It's a free download if you share on social media that you are using it. It has you spend 5 minutes brainstorming what you want in the next three months, one year, three years, and lifetime. I've done it twice, and it was fun to compare to see which goals were the same vs. not. And which ones are probably worth working on more, because they keep showing up. Just have fun with this exercise!

4) use words to focus your goals

When you are thinking about your goals (old or new), try to think of a word that appears a lot. Or a theme within the goals. Maybe you use fresh a lot. Maybe you need to be outside and eating fresh foods. Maybe you use energy a lot. Maybe you need to focus some effort on sleep, nutrition, and spending your free time off of your phone. For me, last year I felt a definite lack of space. I didn't have physical space or mental space and it was really starting to get to me. So my word of the year this year is space, and most of my goals for 2017 are centered around creating physical and mental space. I like the idea of focusing on your word more throughout the year. It will give you a focus for your goals, it will help justify them by showing you the life you want to be building, the things that are currently missing or lacking in your life. I stumbled across this great way to document your word of the year goal progress on Youtube. It's the coolest thing I've seen lately. I want to do one of my own! It's a great way to mark your progress, but a list would do just fine if you're not craft inclined.

5) happiness project resolutions

When I was writing my goals for 2017, I did a lot of reflecting on my friend Rachel's happiness resolutions. She had been reading Gretchen Rubin, and even though I hadn't had time... I wanted to make one too. Even just trying the activity helped me think about what is important to me and what isn't. It was incredibly helpful in centering myself, and in feeling like I had some ideas of what I wanted, and what made me happy. I then made my own list, and I keep it in Evernote. It's really helping me to go back through it and reflect on the list, especially when working on new goals.

6) renaissance soul?

You've probably heard me mention this book before, but I am absolutely the kind of person who loves too many things to pick just one. Does that sound like you? If so, seriously read THIS BOOK. It helped me so much to center my current interests, and how to fit them into my schedule. It gives tons of real life examples, has plenty of activities, etc. I cannot recommend this enough if you feel the way I do.

7) level 10 life

This concept is big among bullet journallers (I'll get to that in a bit)... and was discussed by Hal Elrod in his book Miracle Morning. It has you break your life down into 10 categories, and rate the level you think you're at right now. Those categories are: Family & Friends, Personal Development, Spirituality, Finances, Career, Marriage, Fun & Recreation, Giving & Contribution, Physical Environment, and Health and Fitness. By ranking where you are right now, you can set goals to improve specific areas. I like this post with some ideas from Boho Berry.

8) procrastination inventory

On my 2017 half way through the year check in Torrie shared this fabulous post she wrote back in 2012! Its all about tracking what sorts of things you continually procrastinate on (hello yoga! hello dentist! etc.) I cannot wait to fill out this worksheet (she links to it in the bottom of her post) and delve a bit more into where I procrastinate vs. don't. Then maybe I can brainstorm some ways to focus on those problem areas!

9) think of the big ones

If your dreams don't scare you, you're not dreaming big enough, right? That's what we hear anyway. Over time it has become harder for me to dream this big, probably because I'm afraid to fail..? But I've realized that having BIG goals, dreams, etc. is really really important in addition to the ones that are going to be easier to accomplish. Even if they change, or you only get to do one of them in your lifetime, dreaming is such a big part of happiness for us. It helps us realize what we want, and how we change. I also find the bigger my goals are, if I meet one, it's easier to meet more. It becomes a priority. (if you want it to).

9) keep track of it all

If you're doing these exercises, these lists, journalling, etc. keep it close. Keep track of your progress, your changes, etc. I love to keep my goals in Evernote, but I also like keeping it in a new bullet journal that I am trying out. I don't think I'll use it for day to day planning, but just for goals and introspection. Having it all in once place will keep it easy to access. If you can't reference your goals, they'll be harder to carry out!

10) add what's missing or lacking to your life (even if it's a tiny change)

If you've been revisiting your goals, working on some lists and ideas, just thinking about yourself and what you want and need out of life... you've probably identified some weak spots. Now you might be thinking... "all my spots are weak spots!". Sure, I understand, there's a lot to be working on! We all want to "fix" so many things in our lives. But what I'm talking about are the biggest things. The ones that are almost "ah ha" moments. For me, it was that so many of my goals were centered around needing space. Other times it's been realizations that I love the water and need to be near it, or hear it, etc. What are those things for you? How can you add them to your life? Sometimes it's something big, sometimes it's something small. Maybe you can supplement it in a smaller way that still makes you feel more fulfilled? For example, if you are wanting adventure and travel, but cannot afford to travel right now... what else can you do? Watch movies or read books set in far away places, try new cuisines at home or at restaurants, try listening to some salsa, reggae, or Celtic music, even taking a day trip to a nearby city and wandering around can help. Don't think that you can't add what you need to your life. Get creative, I'm sure there's something you can do to fill that gap!

So there you have it... 10 ways I've been re-assessing my goals since my 27th birthday. To say that I felt lost was probably and understatement... but by spending some time with and by myself, I was able to brainstorm where I am, what I want, and how to get it. 

Will my goals change? Probably. Does that make these exercises less valuable? Nope. :) 

How do you get back on track when you feel stuck?

How do you choose your goals or reflect on what you want?

What are some small ways to add what you need to your life?

Hope this helps if you're feeling like I did!

XO,


Alexandra

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

17 Things Our Cats Go Nuts For // #catlady

Happy Wednesday friends! What an interesting week it's turning out to be.... Hope you're enjoying yours! I realized I hadn't written a cat post in over a year... what?! So if you haven't met my furballs, click that link! :)

I know a lot of you have cats, and some of you have recently adopted cats... so I wanted to share some of our fool proof kitty toys, foods, and trouble-solving methods, etc.! If any of you have been reading here a long time, things like litter boxes, etc.* can be a challenge with multiple/difficult cats, and it's good to hear tips from other cat owners! I hope that this helps other cat moms out there! If you don't have cats, this won't be very interesting... sorry!. hehe :)


We feed our cats Blue Buffalo and they love it. I like that it doesn't contain any weird ingredients, or anything cats wouldn't eat on their own. We decided that the price was worth it for the ingredients, and it's easy to find coupons and sales for pet food! Here is what we buy most frequently!

Freedom Grain Free Dry Food (for indoor cats) - the wilderness kind was a bit too rich for them, they love this kind! This is their primary food.
Salmon Pate (Wet Food) - we just give them a spoonful each night when we have dinner. They only eat it squished down in the bowl. Is that normal?! LOL
Salmon Wilderness Treats - for Duchess, she looooves these wilderness treats.
Salmon Kitty Yums (Healthy Treats) - for Scalawag who does not like the wilderness treats, but will chase these across the room. :)

They do like other flavors, but tend to like Salmon and Trout most. :)

Food Tips: 

-We noticed that Scali and Duchess like different treats, so we throw Scal's across the room, and then give Duchess hers to keep them separated. It's a fun game for him, and it doesn't scare her off.

-In addition to squishing the wet food down into the bowls, when it's time to open a new can, we save two days' worth of "old" food for Scali, and give Duchess "new" food. He won't eat the new stuff. Such a weirdo!

-We purchased a rolling pet food tub to pour the dry food into. Best. Decision. Ever. We have one like this, and we keep it in our pantry.


Right now we have two boxes, one with a lid and an opening, another that is completely open. We put each in different rooms so that way our cats have less issues bothering each other while they are in the box. #rude We use pine litter, and we LOVE it. I have heard so many awful things about clumping/scented/chemical litters and cancer, etc. that we decided to go with pine. We love it!

Open Box
Lidded Box
Pine Litter - we get the one without clumping/scents
Aura Cacia Lavender Oil for deodorizing spray (see "recipe" below in tips)

Litter Tips:

-Spray the pine litter with a mist of water from a spray bottle when you replace the entire box's contents of litter. That way it's not too hard/sharp on their little paws.

-Also, sweep often!

 -Make a quick eco deodorizing room spray by filling an empty spray bottle (I use my old toner one! #reuse ) almost full with warm water, then add about 20 drops of lavender essential oil. Give it a shake and use as needed. It helps with kitty smells tremendously! I've been using this essential oil for years and I LOVE it.


A lot of people think that cats don't need toys, they just want to sleep and eat... but cats love toys, and they are super playful! They also tend to have better behavior the more they've been playing. However... toys are hit or miss. These are our cats' absolute favorites!!

The Cat Dancer - this toy is $2.99, buy like 4 of them. They're the simplest thing, but they love them so much! The metal wire and fun little paper rolls make them bug-like in movement and color. I am so surprised that our cardboard rolls are still intact after several years of use!! I know this doesn't *LOOK* cool, but I can promise you it's the coolest thing, the cats go crazy for it.

Da Bird - They go nuts for this one, I think it's the fishing-rod-like flexibility of the pole! I love that when the "bird" is looking sad, you can swap just the feather piece. I feel so wasteful throwing out the plastic one-piece items! DO NOT LEAVE THIS UNATTENDED! It will be in pieces!

Catit Circuit - This little track and ball kit is genius. You assemble the track, and the cats can chase the ball around (see, hear, touch it) and it seems reactive, because it's inside of the track. You can pull apart the track and put it into new shapes and designs (great husband toy! :P ) BE CAREFUL NOT TO PINCH YOUR FINGERS.. OUCH! We put this away and get it back out every now and then and they love it. Some friends have also tried this one with a lot of success!

Tunnels - Tunnels can be hit or miss, we love ones that are spring loaded! Scali just loves them. We sometimes make tiny obstacle courses across the living room. We have one from this brand (another color) and we just love it. It's holding up very well!

The Ripple Rug - we got this as a gift from my in-laws and the cats just love it. It's legitimately two sheets of thin carpet (the top one has velcro and holes in it). You can ripple up the top piece and the cats can form little tunnels. Ours love to play in it, and also when we hide toys in it or put a feather toy through it for them to chase or find. My only complaints about this one (because they love it SO SO SO SO SO SO SO much!) is that after a while the top layer of carpet loses some of it's stiffness, so it's more floppy, my cats don't like that quite as much. Also, it's kind of big... but it can be rolled up when company comes over.

Chewbacca "Mouse" - you guys... Scali is one of those cats that carries around babies... and you can throw them across the room and he'll go get them. He'll even throw them up in the air and catch them all by himself. He loooooves this Chewbacca. He couldn't care less about the Yoda though. LOL. We definitely bought like 3 of them! Gotta stock up on those favorites. His other favorite baby is this black cat (which we initially bought for Duchess to cuddle with...) he does the same with this as he does with Chewy.

Toy Tips:

-Cats get bored just like people. Put your toys on rotation. Hide them away, and exchange them every 2-3 weeks. That will make the toys seem "new". Seriously, Scali runs toward the toys when we bring them back out! :)

-Seriously... do not leave Da Bird unattended. It will not survive.

-If you have a krinkly tunnel, put it away at night, otherwise you'll be waking up to some serious noise.

-If your cat doesn't enjoy chasing or hunting toys, try making it more believable: cats like things that run horizontally across their line of vision, they also like things that vary speed (run fast, stop, run slow, stop, etc.). This really gets our cats excited to play. Even cats I know who aren't into playing love it!

Behavioral Resources:



This book, has been a lifesaver. Some of the ideas related to how to feed them, how to play with them, etc. have been so so good for us. Cats are essentially wild animals, and they need to do things like hunt, be challenged, be in high places, etc. This book has given us a lot of ideas to include in our home and to make our kittens happier! (including some of the toys above!) This book is also great for beginners and long-time cat owners alike when it comes to things like cat proofing, health info, etc.


Bonus Tip!

If your cats like to crawl around in your box springs at night... get another fitted sheet and put it on the bottom of the bed. Blew. My. Mind. :O


There you have it, lots of cat photos and our entire list of things we and our furry ones love!

Do you have pets? Do they have foods/toys/etc. that they just LOVE?!

Any cat tips?!

XO,

Alexandra

*this post does contain affiliate links, but these are, as always 100% my opinion. I am not posting about anything that we don't own and legitimately love!*

Monday, July 24, 2017

Getting Started With Project Life // Why You Should Try It! // Yes, You Can!

Happy Monday Friends! I hope that you had a great weekend!

If you read my last post, I explained the basic supplies you'll need to start Project Life, so check that out if you're ready to shop! Today I am talking about excuses and motivation!

There are so many reasons you should try project life, and also so many reasons you might think you shouldn't! Here are a few thoughts I have (or had) as I started and continue with PL!

What's Your Excuse?!

Believe me, I had them too! But once I started, I loved it, and got into a rhythm with documenting. I worked my way "up" through the levels of documenting as I had time and supplies to do so. Sometimes all you need to do is debunk your own excuses! So, what's yours?


"I'm not creative enough!"

Yes you are! The best thing about project life is that you can start with the basics and work your way up, or not! You can decide how much work you want to put in, and how creative you "need" to be. Project Life is about documenting your memories and your life! It's not about creating stunning art. You should make it how you like it, and at the level you are comfortable with! :) I personally found that using the project life method has made it easier for me! It's so much easier to fill each small pocket than to make a 12x12 page look coordinated. I think that many people find it "easier".


"I don't have time!"

Project Life does not need to be time consuming! Like I said before, it only takes as much time/creativity as you want to put into it. There is no need to spend hours on your album, unless you are able and/or WANT to. With the basic supplies ready (photos printed, etc.) all you have to do is place your items in pockets. Seriously, you can stop there. That can take as little as 5 minutes! Even if you add embellishments, it can take as little time as you need! I like to multi-task by working on it while we watch Netflix. The biggest hurdle with time, might be making sure that you do what's easiest for you in terms of photos! For some it will be easier to order them online and have them shipped. For others, you may want to pick them up 24-hour photo style. For me, I needed to be able to print them at home. Think about what will work best for you, having those photos ready is the key to success!

"... but I'm seriously busy!"

Oh boy, guys! This was me. 100%. What I found out is that when I spent a bit of time working on it, even when I "didn't have time"... the more I found that I did have time! I also found that unlike other plans and hobbies, project life, and working with my hands reduced my stress. That stress that comes from being so busy! It's a win win guys!


"I don't have anything exciting to document!"

Some of my very favorite moments are the tiny ones, and I find that when I'm photographing them, and documenting them, it's an exercise in gratitude. I love looking back at those little cuddly cat moments, when KC does something small but comforting for me (shelling my peanuts at restaurants), etc. it can be so nice to look back on those moments! What you are reading, what you are working on goal-wise, your daily struggles and triumphs ARE part of your life. Don't feel like they aren't worth documenting! Your story is worth telling, no matter what you are doing.

"I don't have enough money to scrapbook!" / "I don't know where to start!"

These are kind of related thoughts in my mind. it is easy to imagine that you need a ton of supplies and therefore money to start project life. If you haven't seen my last video, that should clear up a few things as to what you "need" to get started. In all actuality, it's really not that many supplies. You can also start stocking up bit by bit. You can purchase items one by one at your craft stores with coupons as you go. Both Michael's and Hobby Lobby have weekly coupons in their apps. Going back to some of the topics above, you really can start with just a binder, page protectors, some photos, and some type of paper or cards. Getting a starter kit like a Becky Higgins kit at a craft store will include everything you really need. Plus if you REALLY want to add more later, you can do it later! As you get more supplies you can go back to "finished" pages and embellish more!

"I don't have enough photos!"

I've actually noticed that some of my favorite PL pages are ones that include less photos! You can use filler cards, paper, mementos like tickets, and other supplies to round out your pages and albums!

"I don't want to start until I have everything!" / "I don't want to make an album that I won't like!"

When I started my first album, I used a very very small stash of supplies. Basically my album, page protectors, photos, an old kit, a washi tape, and one stamp set. It was enough. As I got more into the process, I added new supplies here and there. When I went back through my first pages, I could easily add more to them with my new supplies. You don't ever have to be "done" if you aren't ready to. Chances are, you'll love seeing anything printed and created by yourself, it doesn't really matter exactly what it looks like. It won't need to be perfect.

So there you have it, a few excuses de-bunked and therefore a few more reasons you should start your Project Life album!

In all actuality, Project Life is probably not for everyone, but I DO think that preserving your memories and telling your story is important. Whether you do that in a journal, a photo book, videos, traditional scrapbooks, etc. Tell your stories folks, they're so important!

I'm planning more of these posts, but let me know what thoughts and questions you have! What do you want to know?

I'd love to help you get back on the documenting journey. (Or start one!) I think that it can be fun and easy for EVERYONE!

I shared my first five PL videos recently: Houston & GalvestonSan FranciscoGeorgiaNashville, and Las Vegas. Check those out! To learn about the process, supplies, etc. for my other sections, you can watch my videos. :)

XO,

Alexandra

Friday, July 21, 2017

Have You Heard? // Band of Horses - "Casual Party"

Happy weekend friends! We're kicking ours off with no plans whatsoever tonight!!! :) So excited! Maybe I'll work some more on my Project Life Album! :) 


This song has been around for quite a while and it just grows and grows on me. It's pretty mellow, but also upbeat and not boring. A good combination if you ask me. :) 


I also just like that it's called "casual party". It just makes me laugh, as opposed to a formal party? hehe 

What are you guys up to this weekend?!

We so far, only have plans to do a bonfire for s'mores with my mom, Olivia, grandma, Jess, and her family. :) It's a very belated Christmas and Mother's Day celebration. :) Otherwise I hope to read, clean, and work on project life. #partyhard

XO,

Alexandra

PS - I know my profile image is gone... boo on you photobucket. Eventually I'll get that fixed... : / 

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

2017 Goal Update // Halfway Through!

Wow, we are over half way through 2017. That's crazypants!




I thought I should do a quick recap of my goals, progress made, and strategies for the months ahead. Thanks for the reminder Torrie! :) Updates are in bold. :) 

Reflections & Goal Planning/Explanation: 

I did some reflecting on 2016 and a lot of what I realized about my anxiety is that it often stems from a lack of space. Whether that is physical space, mental space, or a sense of freedom. So a lot of my goals are centered around those ideas. :) This may seem like a giant list, but a lot of it is written to accommodate specific ideas, and *trying* things... even if I don't end up implementing them longer-term. Some of them are also things that I am currently doing, that I want to continue with. I've been thinking hard about all of my goals and issues I want to work on, and what those big and small moving pieces are. So, I am choosing the word "space" this year for obvious reasons. I don't usually pick a word, but I think it will really help me focus this year! :)

Health 

Work out 3x's per normal week (at least)
Put Healthy Meals on Rotation
Try 25 New Healthy Recipes (add them to rotation if we like them enough!)
Get new mattress = sleep better
Continue to take stairs and walks at work
Try out at least one active hobby (ideas: SUP, kayaking, boxing, etc.)
Get dental work done - not sure I can finish this year, just financially... but making really good progress on this!
Visit a dermatologist
Attempt grazing - I'm the WORST snacker...
Focus on healthy breakfasts & caffeine sources

Stress

Limit & be intentional with plans that we make - doing well with this so far!
Do one de-stressing activity per day (yoga, coloring, reading, meditating, etc.)
De-clutter (physical clutter = mental clutter)
     -sort through boxes and tubs in storage at KC's parent's house - ALREADY STARTED!
     -coat closet
     -wall hanging items
     -kitchen cabinets/kitchen craziness...
     -under bathroom sink
     -bathroom linen closet
     -jewelry box
     -vanity!!
     -boxes of un-homed junk...
     -things I hide in the closet....
     -filing paperwork....
Reduce amount of technology that I have to deal with
     -limit notifications
     -unsubscribe from email lists
     -delete drobox from laptop...
     -have "un-reachable" times?
     -etc.
Check long-standing items off my to-be-done list. I love Gretchen Rubin's 1 hour per week idea!
     -being healthy (folded in above)
     -dentist (same) - doing really well so far!
     -DSLR skills -re-thinking this... my phone has a better camera than my current DSLR.
     -sewing skills
     -reading classics - 2 so far!
Make a point to listen to music!
Purchase an essential oil diffuser
Look into getting a weighted blanket

Brand

Populate my Etsy with invite templates
Do a bridal show (maybe)
Make Flyers and put up around town #oldschool
Re-brand blog
Continue/improve with Youtube - getting better! Need to work on lighting and sound...
Scheduling items (see scheduling section below)
Learn more about what y'all like reading about in this space!

Creative

Take a cooking class
Pick up (try) either: sewing, knitting, crochet, embroidery... something NON-paper! - working on it, but have not "picked one up".
Do a 2017 PL/scrapbook album (monthly highlights, as the year goes on) - keep sharing the progress! - working on it! Check out my Youtube to see! :) 
Attend more non-concert live performances - 2 so far!
Do some type of photo challenge (even a short one)
Apply to be on 2018 creative teams with documenting brands! - 1 so far, and I did not get it.
Take a DSLR course - re-thinking this...
Food in Jars challenge with Rachel (flexibly!) - 2 so far.
Make a new dessert - pavlova
Get a better/more versatile printer for documenting

Scheduling

Set up a rough guideline for using my Tuesdays well (or a rigid schedule)
Make a social media posting schedule (because I forget and it stresses me out!) - working on this for IG, and it's going well so far!
Make a cleaning schedule
Try some meal-prepping schedules - find something that works pretty well

Cozy Family - inspired by the ideas of hygge and minimalism

Learn about Hygge and apply some ideas from it to our day-to-day life
Create more traditions with KC as our own little family (seasonal, holiday, weekend, little things, etc.)
Make a point to enjoy and experience each season
Be at home more - so far, doing well, much better nearly every month!
Take our time and be slow

Books

Read 50 total books - 29 so far!
Read at least one book from each category:
     -biography/memoir
     -poetry
     -graphic novel
     -horror
     -science fiction
     -thriller
     -mystery
     -historical fiction
     -short story
     -essay
Complete a reading challenge - it's looking good for Erin's 7.0
Read 5 Non-fiction books, not including cookbooks/craft books that are just skimmed
Read 5 Classics - 2 so far!
Continue with book ban - I've only sold a few so far, but I've read a lot that I own (including Netgalley!)! Definitely more of each than this time last year! :)

Travel

Go back to NOLA
Plan out NYC!
Visit at least two other new places (even if they are close-by)
Travel with friends
Try a new food


Entertaining

Find a dress for SIL's wedding
Plan bachelorette/shower night for Juliet

Continue having game nights - 2 so far!
Epic KC bday week
Have a "Galantine's Party"! - I MISS THIS EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. 
Give 6 little gifts - 2 so far!
Spoil the heck outta Jess's baby - yes, so far! :P
Swap GG nights for Movie nights with close friends - this isn't probably going to happen
Generally plan more things with my girlfriends (because they're pretty amazing)

Bottom Line: I think I am doing pretty well with my goals so far. All of my reading ones are more or less on track, travel is nearly done, and I have a lot of things that have been started. Some of the ones related to stress/organizing may have to change.... I didn't plan on us moving when I made the list... and now our living/storage situation is quite different! Pleased with the dental progress I've made, but not sure if I will be able to finish it this year. It gets so expensive. I think we've been doing ok at seasonal things, but summer is really tough because it's just too hot for me, and KC doesn't like it much either.  We did pretty well at seasonal things for St. Patrick's Day and springtime. :) Hoping for more hygge/cozy/traditions this fall and winter. It's about time that we buckle down budget-wise, so that should mean being home more and also cooking more. We've not been cooking anything new, if at all, for most of the year. Hoping to improve on health, cooking, and organizational goals before the end of the year! :) 

How are you doing on your 2017 goals so far? 

Are you slacking on any? What are your plans to make them a priority?

Have to checked any off? What are you most proud of so far?

XO,

Alexandra

Monday, July 17, 2017

Six Ways to Make Your Own Project Life Cards // Documenting

Happy Monday Friends! I hope you had a great weekend and got to watch GoT. How sweet is Ed Sheeran's angel voice?! How icky were those bed pans... ewww.

We had such a great time celebrating my SIL's wedding this weekend, but today I don't have anything ready to show you for that. HAHA

Sooo, how about a quick tutorial on making your own Project Life cards? If you're still trying to figure out how to start PL or needing motivation, check out this post first! There are TONS of ways that you could do this, in this video I'll show you some ideas I had by starting with a stamped background, and you can watch me speed through the process and then see the finished cards. Making your own PL cards is a great way to use up items in your stash and to save money on documenting supplies!

I'm happy to share more methods in the future as well, let me know if you are interested!



Here's a closer up image of the final cards (I definitely forgot to trim the top off of the one on the top right! - whoops!):




Supplies:

Scraps of light colored paper/project life cards
Paper Trimmer (this one is on my wish list!)
Word stamps (here I used Kelly Purkey and Heidi Swapp)
Acrylic Stamping Block (I want this value pack so badly!)
Ink (Black)
Washi Tape
Ephemera, Stickers, and Tags from your stash
Scissors
Adhesive Roller

Which card is your favorite? 

How do you use up supplies that you have in your stash?

How do you save money on documenting?

I'd love to hear how you document (photo books, scrapbooks, apps, etc.)! Let me know!

What other types of videos are you interested in seeing? (process videos, DIYs, flip throughs, etc.) I'd love to know!

Other Project Life Posts: How to Start a Project Life Album // YES You Can!, and my Travel Mini Album Flip Throughs: Houston & GalvestonSan FranciscoGeorgiaNashville, and Las Vegas.

XO,

Alexandra

Friday, July 14, 2017

Have You Heard? // Vance Joy - "Lay It On Me"

Happy Friday Friends! I am still playing catch up on reading blogs since our road trip, but I can't wait to see what you've been up to. :)



This week was a funny one for us, a two day work week for me... lots of external stress related to my parent's divorce and not being able to catch a break from social obligations and constant contact, etc. But I think things are looking up. Wednesday and Thursday gave me a small change to calm down and work on my own projects. :) What I really need after this week is several weeks with exactly zero plans in them. I hope I can manage to get it. Cross your fingers for me! :)

One piece of good news is that my sister in law gets married tomorrow! Hooray! :)

A second piece of good news is that Vance Joy has released a new single. Yayyy!



I have only listened to it a few times, but I can't wait to hear the rest of the album. Vance Joy is just a favorite of mine. (as you, I'm sure know!)

What do you guys have planned this weekend?

For us it will be wedding and wedding-related plans. But next week is nearly completely free and I'm so excited about it!! :) 

Other Posts This Week: June Reads & A Weekend at the Farm.

XO,

Alexandra

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Father's Day Weekend at the Farm // June 2017

Hello everyone! We are back from our road trip, but I'm not quite ready to write a post yet... so... I'm sharing something from last month! :)

Back in mid-June we spent Father's Day weekend at KC's grandparent's farm. It was such a blast to spend time with his family and just take it easy.

I don't know about you, but I have a hard time relaxing or taking it easy. Pretty much ever. When we travel I like to keep busy, and see a lot. That's just my preference, so it's rare that I fully relax and take it slow. The weekends at the farm are perfect for that!

I also mentioned a few weeks ago, that this is where KC popped the question back in 2011. So it holds a lot of special memories even for a relative newbie like me! We are the BABIEST of BABIES in this post! hehe
















We spent time at the "lake" fishing and talking, we fed the catfish in the pond, we checked out the garden. We shared meals, played Taboo, watched golf (not me..), and read. My FIL helped Papa with projects around the farm. We watched birds, bunnies, and squirrels. Sometimes we get lucky and see deer or turkeys. We fell asleep to the sounds of Midwest storms every night, and it was perfect.

We always manage to stop at the antique store on the highway too, which is fun to sift through for treasures. This time I found one die, from an old casino in Reno. It had character. So $1 later I have a super random treasure. One of these days I'm going to buy a pie there! :) (because of course they make pies and jams too...)

So grateful for our slow weekend together! :)

What about you? Are you good at relaxing and/or unplugging? Or do you find it difficult like me? Any tips?!

Does your family have a special place to spend family time?

XO,

Alexandra