Welcome November / November Goals

I love the Fall. It's my favorite season. Maybe because my birthday is in Autumn.

This Summer and some of Fall has already passed by. But I'm excited that in Arizona "Fall" is just beginning.

I've missed blogging. I always have ideas for my blog, it's always evolving in my head, fear and time prevent me from executing them.

I'm sick of fear. I'm sick of not having enough time.

These past few months I've:
Tried online dating - I need help in this area... My poor, poor profiles.
Had my church, basically start over.
Fallen in love with YouTube makeup tutorials.
Learned I want to head towards a minimalist lifestyle.
Thrown a mini-surprise party for my not so little-little sister.
Found a local gym and working with a physical trainer.
Found a beagle who has been staying at our house.

I have so many dreams and goals - It's time to start walking in faith.

So, welcome Birthday Month! Welcome November, I'm so glad you're finally here.

My goals for November need to be simple, not stressful, and attainable.

5 Simple Goals

1. Finish at least 3 books.
2. Get into the routine of going to the gym.
3. Start planning a capsule wardrobe.
4. Have all my Christmas shopping done.
5. Keep my room clean.

These are all attainable -

1. I have some "overdue" books from friends that need to be read. 
2. My trainer and I are working on a schedule this upcoming week.
3. This upcoming weekend, which is the weekend before my birthday, I plan on going through my closet and getting rid of at least 60% of my closet.
4. Christmas always sneaks up on me. Not this year, I will not be shopping on Christmas Eve.
5. This is the hardest one, but as I continue to purge, I'll have less to keep track of!

What are your November goals? Have you been as busy as me?

july goals and other things

Work has been busy. Hard. But I can't complain. I have a job and am provided for.

Life has been busy. Hard. But I can't complain. I live in a country that allows me to worship my Jesus.

Church has been busy. Hard. But I can't complain. I love my church.

There are many things that are making my life miserable, but I don't really have control over those things, so I can't get upset.

I went on vacation (now two weeks ago). It was nice. It was the break I needed.

Re-started my fitness journey, you can read about it here.

Here are my July goals:

1. Contentment Challenge - Kate Monroe's blog challenges readers to live without. She says give up what's taking over.
1. I'm giving up shopping! I order so much stuff online it's ridiculous! Let's see how much I can save in July, August, and September.
2. Of course I have 3 exceptions:
1. Food and any other bills that are directly taking out of my account.
2. Anything to do with my new Lia Sophia business! (I'm selling jewelry, I'll share more soon!)
3. Any supplements - see #2 on the list, or She Reads Truth - see #3
2. LiveFit - I shared on my fitness blog that I'm starting a new fitness plan via bodybuilding.com (great website by the way). It's 12 weeks long with 3 phases. The first phase is 4 weeks long - thus Phase 1 is on my goal list! Each month I'll need to order supplements. I ordered my first batch, and they taste great!
3. She Reads Truth - I've been slacking w/ my Jesus time. I need to catch up on all missed reading plans and work on the current Sermon on the Mount Series! Besides the supplements, which I need, I'm allowing myself to spend money on these studies, because they have been beneficial - and the app comes out soon which I'm so excited about. Day 2 starts on July 2nd for the Sermon on the Mount - I'm starting it then. Join us!
4. Read 2 books - Insurgent and Allegiant (easypeasy lemon squeezy)

Do you have any July goals? What are they?

currently v7

watching: the mindy project - i caught up in less than a week. i think the show is pretty funny.

reading: finished the fault in our stars a few weeks ago.

listening: classical music (back on that kick)

wishing: for my vacation to start (next week)

thinking: i'm going to need a lot of caffeine this week!

loving: that the pool is not freezing anymore.

praying: survival of this week

what are you "currently" doing? 

want to see what i'm up to? 

check out my instagram and twitter!

hello, are you out there?

I'm back! Life has been so busy. But it's turning around - and I have some big news for you!

I'm starting an online advice blog!

I've already purchased the domain name! It's launching on the first day of summer. just working on all the wonderful content

Most of my time in the blogging world has been spent on working on the new layout! I'm pretty excited to share it!

Some other new things in my life:

• new work schedule - this new schedule will give me time in the afternoons to work on my writing and blogging
• I've currently been leading a small group at my church
• I finally got a new windshield  - rock chips in Arizona (inevitable)
• new ipad mini!
• going on vacation soon

What's new with you? 

summer tv

i don't watch a lot of tv in the fall, winter, and spring -
but summer is a different story, that's when i catch up on all the fall tv and the new summer dramas...

here's my summer tv list:

1. new girl (catching up)
2. modern family (catching up)
3. world cup (not a show but the best sports event in the world)
4. food network star (hello, best reality tv show ever)
5. suits
6. graceland
7. vampire diaries (catching up)
8. the originals (catching up)
9. hart of dixie (catching up)
10. parenthood (catching up)

what are you watching this summer? anything i should check out? do you watch any of these shows?

2014: february in review

no instagram pictures this month... didn't take many.
how did february fly by so fast??

how did my february goals go?

let's recap:

1. start running again - i did, it's not as consistent but i at least ran 5-6 times and have started strong in MARCH!
2. use my camera more - i'm currently working on a nicole's workshop class that i'll have time to finish after my work exam
3. read 2 books (i got halfway to my goal - i finally finished the catcher in the rye)
4. have $45 in my house of rose challenge - i promise to blog on this soon!

february's goals were a lot better than january's. how did your february go? did you accomplish everything you wanted to?

2014: March Goals

My march goals are simple.

1. lose 5 lbs
2. finish at least one book
3. pass my test
4. start creating again

2014: February Goals

january goals were a bit sad and i know it's already the eleventh, but it's not ever too late for monthly goals!

1. start running again
2. use my camera more
3. read 2 books (already finished with 1)
4. have $45 in my house of rose challenge (i promise to blog about this soon)

2014: january in review

launched the new blog / had a giveaway / shared a few currently's 1 2 3 / made some goals for the year and january / started a new feature - saturday devotions / shared my 27 before 28 goals

how did my january goals work out?
recap:

1. Have at least 25 granny squares completed (I'm writing a CHALLENGE post soon.) (epic fail, but not all is lost!)
2. $15 in my new savings account (another challenge)
3. Read 2 books (my goal on goodreads is 24 books). I actually accomplished my goal of 13 last year! (read one -almost done w/ book #2)
4. Send "happy mail" to some close friends. (yeah, this didn't happen either)

1 out of 4? that's not too great! but again, i'm not worried. i still completed a lot of stuff this month. february will have a different focus! how did your january go? i'd love to hear about it!

2014: Goals

i shared my my jan goals a few days ago. it's a good read. i promise.
ok, maybe just to me. but it could be the push you need to write yours.

i've been waiting for the perfect time to share my goals and the process i used to prepare for 2014.

i used the process called #2014goalsetting by lara casey shared on her beautiful blog. have you visited her space? here's a link. i'll wait.

she shared a six part series about vision casting and everything. she even has #powersheets, which mine just came in the mail to keep the vision going.

there are 6 parts with many steps: i'll not bore you with all the particulars but with my goals, my songs, my #olw or one little word (i combined ali edwards and lara casey's philosophy on having a word for 2014), and my vision for 2014!

vision -

i will not be silent

say "yes" when He asks

not be afraid of the unknown

and FOCUS on what matters

let creativity flow

songs -

"oceans" by hillsong united

"i surrender" by hillsong

"best day of my life" by american authors

word - 

FOCUS

goals - 

stop procrastinating and do the things i love

spend time daily with Jesus

read the bible in a year

grow and cultivate "simply lauren"

take the time to learn

take the time to create

take time to read

prepare myself for marriage (i see an upcoming blog post)

not waste money

travel

save $

continue to purge

i know i'll expand on all of these topics throughout the year. and share with you my growth. i'm working on a master list of projects i need/want to work on. i will also share you some recent book hauls. i can't stop buying books. it's an addiction. no, seriously. along with sugar, magazines, and starbucks coffee. none of them i need, just want.

do you have a vision for 2014? do you set goals? if you could choose one word for 2014, what would it be? what's does your 2014 soundtrack sound like? 

if you want to see my pinterest board that will inspire my vision, click here.

if you want to check out my 2104 songs on spotify, click here.

if you want to see what i do on a (mostly) daily basis, check out my instagram. 

2014: January Goals

I spent a lot of prayer and time coming up with goals for 2014. I will share them this weekend.  Today I'm linking up with one of my top ten favorite bloggers! (I'll share my list soon!) Hayley Morgan from THE TINY TWIG. She is a woman of God and inspirational blogger.

She posted earlier this month about goals and how it's not about striving. That's so good! I'm definitely a striver. I strive at everything I do, but I've become burned out in so many areas! My list isn't like lists of the past. Where I write 10 things and not even accomplish any of them...

1. Have at least 25 granny squares completed (I'm writing a CHALLENGE post soon.) 
2. $15 in my new savings account (another challenge)
3. Read 2 books (my goal on goodreads is 24 books). I actually accomplished my goal of 13 last year!
4. Send "happy mail" to some close friends.

Do you set goals each month? What are your January goals? I'd love to hear from you! 

There's still time to win the $50 Amazon Gift Card!

Let's be friends on Goodreads!