Since I’ve been making a more concerted effort to do more intentional monthly planning this year, I really think I’m seeing some benefits!
I know I would still do “things” without specifically setting aside time to do an actual planning session, but I feel a bit more centered and in control this way. A little less reactive, perhaps?
Here are a few things I put on my March list that I’ve done so far, as a result of said planning:
1. I used my Lululemon gift card! Technically, this was a goal from January, but hey. I migrated it a couple times and the 3rd time was the charm in March. 🙂 Got a new short sleeved tee (black) and a new long sleeved shirt (tan). I was in the need of some basics refresh so this was good.
2. We’d been thinking that we should go out for ramen with the boys (they are BIG FANS and we had the best ramen in Copenhagen and they still talk about that), yet we rarely eat it. I had put that on the list for March, and we ended up penciling it in for Ivan’s birthday on March 11th. ✅
3. We celebrated St. Patrick’s Day! I had posted the following in my February recap, thinking ahead to upcoming events in March:
And I did indeed wear my shamrock scarf and we went out to the great Irish pub which is exactly 6 miles from our house and we had a beer!
We didn’t eat there but went later- around 8:00- and it was still PACKED. The restaurant side still had a waiting list and the bar (where we went) was standing room only! We ended up with a nice little perch though near the live music (and we caught the tail end of the “Whiskey in the Jar” being played when we arrived, which is a great song).
This sign made us laugh:
Oh, and I even dug out my old Irish Claddagh ring that I bought when I was ~20 and visited my sister in Ireland (before she lived there permanently and was just studying abroad for a semester).
It was a fun night! And there’s a good chance if I hadn’t paused to think about it in advance, the evening may have just slipped by us. 🙂
4. Speaking of Ireland, I wrote my final Ireland trip recap (here).
5. We have been out shopping twice and got the boys pretty squared away on some refreshed summer clothes for our spring break. (I had not bought a single item of clothing so far this year/ since the holidays.)
I also ordered a few new sundresses (this was a quarterly goal which I filtered down to March).
And they have pockets! I looked high and low for casual sundresses and found NONE in stores (or any I liked at most typical online stores I check). (Seems the long maxi style is popular- I definitely saw a few of those out and about- they can be cute, but I am not a huge fan of how they look on me, honestly, and Ivan doesn’t like the full length dresses, either….)
I was ready to give up and just take my old, tired dresses on the trip I’ve worn on all our past beach trips, when an online search pointed me to- get this- Walmart.com! 16 bucks!
SUPER comfy, a nice weight (not super flimsy or see through at all but still lightweight and packable), just the right amount of fitted vs flowy, perfect length on me…. Score. Again, did I mention they have pockets?! There’s a bunch of patterns + some solid color options.
I think these blue and white ones would be super cute for a beach trip, too, but I already have a navy blue and white dress so decided to mix it up with some fun prints in earthy tones (which are my best colors, anyway, and I think work well for a tropical island?).
6. Also on my March list – continue the (annual goal) of some room by room decluttering of trouble spots (my actual goal was 26 minutes at least 2x/ month).
February was kind of a bust with all the swimming, so I migrated the “kitchen” to March. Progress has been slow, but not zero!! I did a big pantry clean out early on, and this week I successfully tackled our two big junk drawers.
The boys also did drawer and closet clean outs, which helped identify summer clothes wardrobe gaps.
7. I had “research senior picture options” for Ethan on my Q1 list. Well, this week I reached out to 2 friends/ acquaintances who had seniors recently and had posted their very nice and attractive senior pics on Facebook. Got the info and looked up one of the photographers, the prices seem reasonable, I looked at my friend’s daughters’ pics online one more time for reference…. I think I’m just going to reach out and book her! Why belabor a decision that Ethan (and Ivan) couldn’t care less about.
8. I carved out a specific chunk of time on Sunday- and told Ivan in advance I was going to do this- and sat down and spent several hours finalizing research for our trip. (Nothing crazy, but just researching beaches/ restaurant ideas/ possible hikes or overlooks, adding things to my Google Maps, etc.). This was on my MUST DO list for March, because, well, we leave next week.
9. Continue workout schedule + eat extra well leading up to trip! I have been crushing my workouts this month and feeling really great about them. I’ve been steadily increasing weight I’m lifting (progressive overloading, baby!!) and feeling strong. I am just really enjoying both my 3x/ week full body lifting workouts and my 3x/ week home Heather Robertson YouTube workouts (cardio + supplemental strength) and just feel like I’m in such a great place with workouts right now. 🎉🎉(This had NOT been the case consistently really since like, covid times- I spent a few years floundering/being wayyyyy less consistent than ideal, and I finally feel back in a GROOVE for real, with both a realistic workout schedule and the actual workouts.)
I’ve been kinda killing the protein game too. I will not lie- I’m partially motivated by my impending beach trip. 🤷♀️ Sorry, not sorry but I do want to look/ feel my best when I’ll be in a bikini/shorts/tank tops for a week and a half straight.
I’m not eating “perfectly”- most definitely ate 2 big gooey slices of pepperoni pizza last night at my volleyball party (mmm it was such good pizza….), I had a beer on St. Patty’s Day, I ate a bowl of ice cream Sunday night, I’ve continued my (more moderated) soda intake when out to eat, have had chips + salsa and quesadillas etc. But I have been very mindful of balance right now. If I’m having things from the fun list above at a given meal, my other meals that day are probably chicken + veggies or a protein shake or an egg/ egg white scramble, etc. You can have it all- just not all at the same time. 😉
Also, key, I have been watching total macro + calorie intake (SHU and I have been kinda accountability partners, I’d say- both sorta on a little low-key mission to just look and feel our best this year! Similar goals. She posted about it today, too.)
I will say, I have been feeling very energetic, more focused and dialed in mentally at work, and just really good all around – could it be at least partially related to better fueling my body + the increased protein + consistent workouts + movement, perhaps?? Not sure, but I hope so!
There are some other things on my March list that I have not done and probably won’t (the 8,000 steps thing (among others)… just not consistently making that happen, but I keep working at it at least, so that’s fine).
Total random side note:
I saw this meme the other day and it made me laugh so hard. I am not sure what it says about me that I am so easily amused. I think(?) it’s a good thing… I’d rather laugh easily than the other way around. 💕 lol.
Daily Gratitude:
After a busy social week so far with St. Patrick’s Day out + VB party last night, I am grateful that Ivan has a work event thing tonight. This means I have a “free night” to myself- am planning to go to Target to pick up some toiletry things I need for our trip. Will be glad to check a to-do item off the list before the weekend!
GRATEFUL KAE 