Fall Bucket List

Last week I was asked when I was going to post my fall bucket list. Truth was, I wasn't going to write one, but why should summer have all the fun? This list is much shorter than the summer one, you know with me working and all. I also am not really sure when the fall season ends and the winter season begins. I mean, yes I could look at the calendar, but I feel that most of my Christmas stuff should be on a winter list. Any who, I present my fall bucket list.

Yes, almost half the list has something to do with food. Fall just seems like a season for food.

What did I miss on my bucket list? Are you planning anything fun for the fall season?

13 in '13- July Review

Oops! I totally missed doing a June review, which probably would have been an important one to do since June is the half way point of the year. Oh well. Let's see how I am doing...

As a teacher we get paid at the end of June with 3 paychecks. Last year I decided to transfer it all into my savings and then set up a funds transfer for the last day of each month for the rest of the summer. It worked really well (much better than the year that I went to Europe after my big payday and had to eat Ramen for all of September). I did it again this year and its working again!

Um... not good. Not good at all. Things are worse now that I brought more stuff home from my mom's.

Woo Hoo! Selling a house is a long process, but we closed on the 12th of July. Now I am dealing with my lawyer on closing up the estate.

In May I had finished 7 books. I have been on a library tear lately. I read the Abram's Daughter's series (5 books), the last of the Harper Connely series, 2 books by Caprice Crane, a YA book that was just OK, and currently I am reading "Frenemies." That makes 14+ the one I am currently reading.

This should not be this hard to do. Bleh. I am actually feeling pretty crummy about myself and I know that working out would help that. I am so lame.

The only time I have taken out my sewing machine was to sew up an apron for some cherry picking for my BFF. Clearly that is not more.

In June I volunteered at a 5K with several of my Leadership students. I did the same thing last year, and it was a ton of fun.

I haven't done very well with this one. I'm not working so I really don't have an excuse. I just need to try to make some plans with my girlfriends!

I shared how I went through my closet in June. I should tackle my bathroom next and organize/get rid of the crap ton of samples I have in there.

I don't know if this one is going to happen. I didn't plant a garden this year and my cherry tree didn't produce very much fruit this year :( I am still holding out hope for Salem Harvest posting a harvest I can go to (my favorite charity) Usually there is some good apple harvests, and I do love me some apple butter.

Craig and I have been doing some weekend trips. We stayed in Seaside and went up to Astoria where we saw the Goonies house and the school Kindergarten Cop was filmed at. We are also getting ready to spend a long weekend in San Francisco.

Here is another one that I have done absolutely zero on. Realistically I know painting our bedroom is a 2 day job at most, so why haven't I done it yet??

Are you keeping up with your resolutions?

In the Closet

6 months ago, I wrote out my 13 in '13. One of my goals was to "purge." The problem with purging my closet is that Iloveallmyclothesandineedthemall. So, at the beginning of January I did the "hanger trick." I'm sure I read about it on a blog or Pinterest, but I don't remember where. Basically for the "hanger trick" you turn all of your hangers backwards in your closet, and as you put wear clothes and put them away, you hang them back up the correct way. As I said, in January I turned all my hangers around and yesterday I pulled out everything on a backwards hanger.

I went through each piece, and I did keep some. It wasn't super warm at the end of the school year, so a few of my "warm weather" work tops didn't get worn. I ended up putting 10 things back into the closet, but I did get rid of a few of the other things, so I think it evened out. After I went through everything, I ended up taking out 2 big trash bags of clothes. Finally I turned all the hangers back around, and now I have a bunch of space for new things my closet is much more organized. In December, I will do it all over again!

Do you have any organizational tips? Have you ever done the hanger trick?

13 in '13: May Update

Good bye May! It's time to check out how I am doing on my 13 in '13.

After last month's snafu with the mortage payment, I am back to my normal savings schedule: 10% of my check goes into savings, and then 50% of what ever is left at the end of the month. It's not a perfect plan, but it is working so far. Maybe this summer I will look into a CD or something.

We are slowly going through the stuff in the garage. This is one goal that is going to take us awhile to accomplish.

I got mom's house officially listed with our real estate agent this month and within 24 hours we had a full priced offer! Yay! Then, they ended up backing out of the deal. Boo. Then we had another full priced offer. We are now waiting for an inspection etc. I am afraid to get my hopes up.

I'm up to 7 books for the year. That really isn't all that impressive, but summer is here!

I have done so bad at this! I even gave myself a little reward if I were to meet my 12 hours a month goal and I can say I did nothing for the month of may except for maybe a walk. Here's hoping that June goes better!

In May I helped out at a second track meet for my school.

As we are going through the garage, we are also starting to take quite a few trips over to the Goodwill drop off. It's good to get rid of stuff.

These monthly check-ins are keeping my 13 goals for the year at the forefront of my mind. It's so easy to forget about  resolutions after January 3rd. I am not doing too bad so far, although there are still quite a few that I haven't done anything for yet. How are you doing on your resolutions?

Summer 2013

It's Memorial Day. First of all, I have a deep respect and appreciation for our military members, and their families. Thank you all for what you do everyday for our country.

Memorial day is also the unofficial start to summer. Of course, the summer "officially" starts at 2:45 June 13th. I am taking a cue from my friend Erika and I created my own Pinterest inspired, fancy-pants looking summer bucket list.

Just like Erika said in her post, many summer bucket lists out there are focused on parents. I took some ideas from Erika's list, added in some things from my 13 in '13 list and some of our summer plans. After thinking about some other things that I always love in the summer I narrowed it down to 20 things I would love to do this summer.
Some highlights:

• There are only like 2 drive-ins in Oregon, and we live about 15 minutes from one, yet I don't think we have ever gone together. 
• There are tons of local breweries in Oregon, including one just about 6 miles away from my house: the Rogue Farm/hop yard which is probably one of my favorite places ever. 
• My town also puts on weekly concerts in the park (usually for free) and hosts a ton of festivals. Festivals, as you all know, include some of the yummiest food on the planet. 
• We already have one camping trip planned and we have plans to head down to San Francisco to visit my Aunt.

What's on your summer bucket list?

5 for 5 week 13!

Let's take a look at last week's goals...
1. Confirm with our DJ for the last two dances of the year.
2. Give the pets their flea medication.
3. Finish reading Undead and Unreturnable
4. Go to one class at the gym. (baby steps people, baby steps)
5. Paint my nails.

Four outta five aint bad, but I really do need to make it back to the gym or out for a run or something! On Saturday we were at the beach and I was struggling walking up a little dune. The last two months I didn't meet my 12 hour a month workout goal, and so I have challenged myself: if I work out 12 hours this month, I get to buy new workout shoes.

So this week's 5 Goals:
1. Workout 3 hours. Any combo of classes, runs whatever. I just need to get moving again! (and I really want to buy some new Nikes!)
2. Don't eat a meal out this work week. (We kind of indulged this weekend...)
3. Have all papers graded before I leave on Friday.
4. Have all materials for the next day ready before I leave work each day.
5. Start organizing my garage...

5 for 5 week 12, and my weekend

This weekend I Sunday we...

went took advantage of the great weather and had a little picnic at the fishing hole. It is actually a little out of the way county park right on the river that isn't well known. We packed up a lunch and headed out there. After lunch, we played some bocce, and then took some time to read by the river.  Fantastic.

Now let's take a look at something not so fantastic...

My goals from last week.

1. Drink a full water bottle at work everyday.
2. Have everything ready for the next day before I leave work.
3. 2 classes at the gym.
4. Go to Ulta.
5. Go to the bank.

Erika called me out for putting "Go to Ulta" on my list. What can I say, I wanted a win :) I seem to have forgotten where my gym is, that must be why I haven't been there in a while.

Here are this week's 5...
1. Confirm with our DJ for the last two dances of the year.
2. Give the pets their flea medication.
3. Finish reading Undead and Unreturnable
4. Go to one class at the gym. (baby steps people, baby steps)
5. Paint my nails.

Yes, these don't seem like the most challenging of goals this week. This week is the last week of the grading period, so I will be spending quite a bit of time at school grading and listening to kids' excuses on why they shouldn't be failing. (but seriously, my class is super easy. You shouldn't have an F any way.)

Have a great week! What are your goals for the week?

5 for 5 week 11

So I missed a week with my 5 for 5... oops. Here were my goals 2 weeks ago and how I did...

1. Drink a full water bottle at work everyday. 

2. Have everything ready for the next week before I leave on Friday.
3. Clear out the sink/counters every night before bed.
4.Go to at least 2 classes at the gym.
5. Eat something for breakfast everyday.

Not good. Maybe that's why I didn't update last week. I have been in such a funk lately, especially when it comes to working out. I just don't feel like it. I even have my gym bag packed, but when I leave work nothing is motivating me to go. Even the last time I went to Zumba, I was just bleh about it. And don't even ask me when the last time I ran was. I really wish I was able to take a workout class before work. I am also just bleh at work too. I am just dragging there as well. Probably because I am not working out. It's a cycle and I need to jump off.

This weeks goals:
1. Drink a full water bottle at work everyday.
2. Have everything ready for the next day before I leave work.
3. 2 classes at the gym.
4. Go to Ulta.
5. Go to the bank.

Any tips for getting out of my funk?

5 for 5 week & my week in review

I'll be honest, I didn't do to well this week. Don't judge.


1. Drink a full water bottle at work everyday.
I brought my water bottle one day, and then left it at work. And didn't touch it for the rest of the week. Oops.
2. Do all 3 days of week 6 in the Couch to 5K program. 
2 out of 3 days isn't bad, but it isn't finishing it.
3. Have everything ready for the next week before I leave work on Friday.
Nope. I mean, I pretty much know what I am doing everyday, but I it's not laid out they way I wanted to.
4. Cook with something out of the freezer.
Nope. I did use up some chicken Sunday night for a crockpot meal.
5. Clear out the sink/counters every night before bed.
For the most part we did it but not everything, every night.

So what did I do this week??

I wore my TOMS everyday to work. They are seriously the most comfortable shoes ever, even if they aren't the most professional.

I started my sex ed unit. I was almost able to keep a straight face during this conversation:

            Question from the anonymous question box: What's a wet dream?

            Me: When a boy releases semen in his sleep. It's normal and natural and does not mean he is  

                    having "sexy" dreams.

            BOY 1: So you wake up with wet sheets?

            Me: It's not like peeing the bed or anything.

            BOY 2: Haven't you woken up with the sheets stuck to your leg?

I got caught up on laundry.

Listened to some guy quote us $21,000 for a new roof (after him being in my house for almost 3 hours and making me miss my Zumba class.) I pretty much laughed in his face.

I was on Pinterest like it was my job.

I dealt with some not fun family stuff with my mom's estate. I'll leave it at that.

Most importantly, I finally passed level 70 on Candy Crush Saga. (If you don't play that game, don't start. It will drive you insane.)

Here are my 5 goals for this week. I am going to give myself another try on a few of these.

1. Drink a full water bottle at work everyday. 

2. Have everything ready for the next week before I leave on Friday.
3. Clear out the sink/counters every night before bed.
4.Go to at least 2 classes at the gym.
5. Eat something for breakfast everyday.

How was your week? What goals are you setting for the week.

5 for 5 week 9!

Spring break is coming to a close. At the end of the school breaks, I always look back at all the stuff I didn't end up doing. Trust me, I know I am blessed to have these breaks within my job, so I am not complaining, I just really don't know where the time goes! Here are my goals from last week:

1. Clean out the freezers. 

There really wasn't that much stuff to get rid of. This just means I need to take advantage of my freezers when I meal plan.

2. Go to the library.

I'm giving myself a green, but I went on my library's website and checked out some e-books for my Nook.

3. Make this:

Source

Nope. I got out my fabric stash and I even ironed some fabric, but that is as far as I got.

4. Work out every weekday.
4/5 days. Not too bad. Monday & Tuesday I took Zumba and Wednesday I went for a run. Thursday I was lazy, but Friday I actually went on two pretty long walks.

5.Weed the back yard flower beds. 
I worked on it twice but I didn't finish. I just really hate yard work.

Goals for this week...
1. Drink a full water bottle at work everyday (I think my water bottle is 32 ounces.)
2. Do all 3 days of week 6 in the Couch to 5K program. (Hear that one Kimberly???)
It has taken us 3 months to do five weeks of this program. Sickness+yucky weather+being lazy= not getting it done!
3. Have everything ready for the next week before I leave work on Friday.
4. Cook with something out of the freezer.
5. Clear out the sink/counters every night before bed.

5 for 5: Spring Break Edition

A look at last week's goals:

1. Have everything ready for the first week of April before I leave on Thursday night.

Done and done. 

2. Go to Zumba twice this week (Monday and Friday)

I went Friday morning, but Monday, I just wasn't feeling it. 

3. Drink water everyday.

I brought water everyday, and I was drinking it! It was no where near the 64 ounces you are supposed to drink in a day, but baby steps. 

4. Make my lunch the night before.

Why is this so hard for me???

5. Blow dry my hair each night. 

I did it 2/4 work nights. Eh.

I didn't do too bad, but I could have been better. This week is spring break, so I have some free time. Hopefully these goals this week will keep me somewhat productive. I mean, I will enjoy my lazy time too.

1. Clean out the freezers. 

We have a chest freezer in the garage, plus our freezer that is attached to our fridge. Both of them are full. I need to go through and get rid of open packages of whatever. I want to do some freezer meals, but there is literally no room in there.  How long can stuff last in the freezer anyway? 

2. Go to the library.

I want to get some nice fluffy chick lit for spring break.

3. Make this:

Source

She just posted this super easy tutorial for this tote bag. I have a ton of fabric that I can use for it already, so the project will be essentially free. (well, I wouldn't be spending any more money.)

4. Work out every weekday.
This is a big goal. But I have found that I end up working out less during breaks. Boo for that.

5.Weed the back yard flower beds. 
I did the front yard already. I really hate yard work, but I know it needs to get done.

5 for 5 week 7

As always, a look back at last week...

1. Finish week 4 of Couch to 5K.

2. Only eat out one meal all week.

The Mister and I had planned to go out Saturday night with a gift card. Saturday morning he surprised me with a breakfast bagel when I got home from my run. I also had lunch out twice since I was on a weird schedule at school. 

3. Go to the bank.

4. Mail off my grandfathers flag.

5. Go to ULTA to replace my foundation powder.

It may seem lame to have put this on here as a weekly goal, but it needed to get done. And I did it. So there. :)

4/5 ain't bad! This week is the last work week before spring break, which means we have 2-12 hour work days for conferences. Boo. That also means we have Friday off completely, and there are no kids on Thursday. 

1. Have everything ready for the first week of April before I leave on Thursday night.

That means having all my materials ready for the first day back and for the rest of the week so I don't even think about work during break.

2. Go to Zumba twice this week (Monday and Friday)

Working late 2 times this week means I really do need to schedule in my work outs. I love having Friday off so I can get my workout done in the morning. 

3. Drink water everyday.

I am so bad about this. I need to be bringing my water bottle to work and drinking out of it. Especially with my two long days this week.

4. Make my lunch the night before.

I have pretty much failed at this goal the few times I have written it on here. Hopefully this is the week I succeed. (I mean I don't have to make my lunch for Friday, so there is even less days I need to do this!)

5. Blow dry my hair each night. 

I take my showers at night, but more often than not, I don't dry my hair. My husband hates it and it takes longer to get ready in the morning. 

Have you been setting goals? I'd love to see your 5 for 5 posts!

5 for 5 week 6

I can't believe it has been a whole week since I last posted. Did you miss me??? Let's see how I did with my 5 goals from last week:

This week is pretty crazy at work. Here's hoping I can get these 5 things done:

1. Work out 2 times outside of the Zumba class I teach. 

I got two runs in. I wanted to make it to a class at the gym, but I just couldn't fit it in.

2. Go to the bank.

I did it. I hated it. I have to go again this week. 

3. Have everything ready for the next day before I leave work for the day. 

Honestly, I don't remember, but I am sure I did it some days...

4.  Buy a phone charger. 

5. Pay the bills on my mom's estate. 

My goals were kind of lame last week, but I accomplished them. Now for this week:

1. Finish week 4 of Couch to 5K.

Yes, we started this in January and we still are just on week 4. 

2. Only eat out one meal all week.

We get lazy and end up going out usually 2 or 3 times a week. We both know we should be cutting this way down. 

3. Go to the bank.

I wish I could just do all this banking stuff through the ATM or online. 

4. Mail off my grandfathers flag.

While going through my mom (and grandmother's) things, I found the flag that was presented at my grandfather's funeral. He died before I was born, and I know my aunt would love to have it.

5. Go to ULTA to replace my foundation powder.

I actually have been out for a couple weeks now, but I need some new Bare Minerals. 

What are your goals for the week? What do you do when you are in a blog funk?