I say this every month, but this time I mean it, where did this month go? I'm ready for someone to invent a "time stand still contraption" that will make everything just slooooow down! I guess I will just have to wait... *sigh*
Anyway, this month was pretty great, since I was finally out of school for the summer (first full month of being out) I was really able to focus on myself + my goals, my family, and my blog and I really think it has paid off!
Goal #1
Goal #2
Drink 8 ounces of water before every meal. Completed! This was a super easy goal for me to accomplish. Since I work a desk job I always have my water bottle with me + am constantly refilling it. I definitely noticed a difference in my appetite if I chugged my 8 ounces before and let myself sit before stuffing myself with my lunch or dinner. I also noticed that days that the first thing I put into my body was water, that I felt lighter, happier + more awake throughout the entire day! Everyone should definitely try this -- I promise you will feel a difference!
Goal #3
Read at least 1 chapter of my book a night. Somewhat completed! - The beginning of the month started off with following this religiously, but towards the middle/end of the month I started to get busy and would end up not getting to bed until late, and reading for another 30-45 minutes was the last thing I wanted to do. It makes me sad because I loved reading something uplifting and light before bed [I am currently on the Happiness Project + loving it!] it puts my mind at ease and helps me wake up happier, so I definitely am striving to get back to this.
Goal #4
Run 3 days a week. - Did not complete! Uhh.... every. darn. month... I think I found the problem. It's the heat -- I hate the heat. I can't do it, it gives me anxiety thinking about running around in 90+ degree weather after work. Yep, don't like it. I think subconsciously my brain will not let me "remember" to run because it knows I'll die [have I mentioned I'm a tad overdramatic?]. Yup, uh huh, that's it. Fun fact about me -- I absolutely love running in the cold, mid to late December and early January are my favorite times to run because it is so dreadfully cold that I cannot feel any of my limbs. And that's the way I like it. When I was training for my Half Marathon in January I ran 8 miles one day and when I was done, I was barely sweating and felt completely fine. That's the kind of running I like! Maybe I will have to accept that this goal will not get accomplished until its less deadly outside...
Goal #5
Practice Yoga every Sunday. - Somewhat Completed! For the first 2 weeks I did this flawlessly, + loved it + started to see a difference in my flexibility. But then, my Sundays got busy, and I didn't get back until late. This Sunday I was on the road for 7 hours then had meetings, so... this is a somewhat completed goal.
Goal #6
Work on extending my blog + photographs. - Completed! I'm going to give myself a good ol' pat on le back. I completely crushed this goal this month. I posted 16 times [more than I've ever posted in 1 month] and last week posted 5 days in a row + this week I plan on posting everyday as well! Also, this month I was able to host 2 giveaways on my blog that I think went off amazingly + I hope you guys liked them! I am also super proud of my food photography skills and recipes I've created lately -- I have learned so much throughout these past few months of blogging and I cannot wait to learn even more as the months progress! Things are really starting to roll and I cannot explain how excited I am -- thank you for all of your support + kind words, they mean the world to me! [Oh, and to Peter, Madison and my Mom and Dad, thanks for being my guinea pigs ; ) ] 
Now -- let's start off the month of patriotism with some goals! ; )
Goal #2
Listen more intently. I like to think of myself as a good listener. I also know myself to be a bad listener. I like to think of myself as the friend people go to when they have a problem and just want someone to listen to them + give them advice. But I find myself focusing too often on myself + what I am trying to say/do rather than what they are trying to tell me. I also am completely useless if I have my phone in my hand. If I am looking at something on my phone and you are talking to me, 9/10 times I have no clue what you said, and I do not like that. My goal for this month is to focus on other's before myself + to stop thinking that what I am currently doing on my phone [usually Instagram, Facebook or checking emails] or thinking about is more important than what this person has to say. [This is going to be challenging...]
Goal #3
Drink 5 water bottles a day. When I was studying for my Nutritional Science Final last Fall Semester one of the things we had to know was how to calculate someone's fluid needs. I decided to do mine and found that I need about 75 ounces of water/day. Normally I drink about 3 of my water bottles a day [pink Camelbak bottle in picture] that is 24 ounces per bottle [which equals 72 total ounces if I drink 3 a day]. My goal for this month is to strive to drink 5, 24 ounce, bottles of water/day to help keep my body hydrated and fit during this extremely hot summer. I should start counting how many times I go to the bathroom... because that'll be interesting.
Goal #4
Complete all CHAARG Booty Camp workouts. With the CHAARG Booty Camp into Week 2 [6 workouts a week] I am already starting to feel fitter + stronger. I will admit, yesterday I was not able to complete the workout because of a family event. And today I am helping Peter move into his new apartment... but when I get home tonight I WILL complete at least one of the workouts I missed and make up the other one this weekend.
Goal #5
Read some of my current book each day. Like I said early, I loved getting into the habit of getting to bed early and reading some of the current book I am on. I halfway completed this last month, but this time I definitely want to demolish it. This just means I will have to start getting to bed a little earlier and reading a little less if I am tired, for me it doesn't matter as to how much I read but to if I read or not.
Goal #6
Track myself everyday. I am currently reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. In it she mentions Benjamin Franklin and how he had a list of 13 Virtues he followed everyday. Each day he would check off whether he completed each one for that day or not. I love this idea, and decided I am going to do this, but with my monthly goals instead of virtues. I made a calendar with each goal listed on each day [picture below]. My goal is to before I go to bed check off whether I completed each goal or not and then at the end of the month tally up how many times out of 31 I completed it. Here's what the calendar looks like -- I made this using Microsoft Publisher and it took me all of 3 minutes [ahh the beauty of copy and paste].
And, I'll leave you with a little inspiration for the month.
Have a fit + fantastic day everyone!
And GO USA!
