Designing Your Summer

I have heard a lot about the importance of Designing Your Summer. This is the idea of planning your summer before it actually begins (or at least planning at the beginning of summer). The reasoning behind this is that summer flies by! It's easy to have great intentions of everything you want to get done, but you blink and summer has ended.

Here's How I Am Designing My Summer:

1. First, I am thinking about my overall categories for summer - work, travel, errands, day trip activities, and projects. These categories contain the main areas which I would like to focus my attention on this summer.

2. Next, in each category I listed a variety of items I wanted to accomplish (without going to crazy - I can't do EVERYTHING this summer). For example, day trip activities (for me) include a visit to Navy Pier to see Macbeth, at least 2 zoo visits, going to the Little Red Schoolhouse, go to at least 2 different farmer's markets, and going to see one or more movies.

3. Finally, I filled my planner with actual dates for each of these events. Actually scheduling them forces me not to put off an event too long. If by some chance something does come up, I can always make changes as needed.

Action Steps For You:

1. Think about the large areas you would like to focus on this summer.

2. Under each category think of specific items that you would like to accomplish.

3. Place these items onto your calendar. Making an actual plan on them makes you more likely to accomplish them.

How are you designing your summer?

Cleaning Tip - Oven Grates

Let me start off by saying that I HATE cleaning! I do almost anything to avoid it. When I do clean, I always look for shortcuts. I want it done fast, so I can move on to anything else. 

One of my all time favorite tips has to do with cleaning the grates on the oven. Since I enjoy cooking, they tend to fill with gunk and other residue. No matter how much I tried to clean it off, it never felt truly clean. Then I came I across the ammonia trick. 

How to Clean Oven Grates:

1. Place the grates into a Ziploc bag (find the size that will fit your grates). 

2. Add in 1-2 tablespoons of ammonia to the bag and seal. 

3. Let the bag sit overnight.

4. Rinse the grates.

That's it! The first time I did this, I called my mom and let her know how will this worked! It was like the built on gunk dissolved away! I wanted her to try it right away with her oven! This has become my go to trick when I went to clean with zero effort.

What is your favorite cleaning tip?

Exercise and Workout Tips - Getting Started

I have always been one unmotivated by exercise. Throughout the years, this would change, usually in January, when I would be ultra-motivated, at least for a couple of weeks. My problem was that I had grandiose plans that could not be maintained. I should say, they could not be maintained by someone so out of shape like me.

All this changed a few years ago. I got an elliptical like I always wanted. Anytime I joined a gym, this was my go to piece of equipment. The problem was I rarely went to the gym. I didn't want my elliptical to become the cliched piece of workout equipment that became a glorified closet. I also was out of the habit of using it. There was no way I could work out for a 30 minute period like I thought was the ideal amount of time. After a few minutes, I would need a break!

This lack of physical endurance made me rethink my workout routine. There were two things I knew for sure: 

1. If I didn't use the elliptical on a regular basis, I would always look for an excuse as to why I couldn't use it.

2. It would be awhile before I could manage 30 minutes without stopping!

This caused me to make a commitment to myself. I would use the elliptical everyday, no matter what happened! This way tough! There were some days I wouldn't get home until late at night and would have to get on the elliptical. I knew that if I used the excuse of being too tired, I would soon give up exercising altogether because I would always be too tired!

The other thing I did was starting small. I started with 5 minutes each day. Each week I increased the amount of time by 1 minute until I reached my 30 minute goal. Even when I was really sick I got on the elliptical - only this time, I gave myself permission to stay on for only 1 minute. I didn't want to get out of the daily routine of getting my exercise. After recovering from an illness, I would start back at the 5 minutes and work my way up to 30 minutes again.

Starting off at a lower level definitely let me start at a reasonable pace. I know it's important to vary your exercise routines. I also know my own body and the excuses I would use not to workout. I vary other forms of exercise but keep my time on the elliptical consistent. Now, I wake up early enough in the morning to get my 30 minutes in before starting my days. There are no excuses.

How do you get and keep yourself motivated to exercise?

Lazy Saturday

After a long week, I am exhausted and find that I have trouble functioning on the weekends. I have trouble sleeping during the week and find that I can only truly relax and sleep when I do not have to work the next day. 

This is why I love Saturdays. This day of the week is my salvation, offering me the rest I so greatly need. I know that studies show how bad it is for your body to catch up on sleep over the weekend. Yet, it feels incredible to me.

During the week, I have tried meditation, stretching at night, journaling, and creating a bedtime routine for naught. My mind will not shut off until the weekend. 

Today was definitely a lazy Saturday. I got nothing accomplished apart from napping and reading. Although, I did manage to wash the dishes and get in 13,000 steps (including 30 minutes on the elliptical). Maybe a lazy Saturday is all just in my head. It's a chance to go at a slower pace. This is my time to refresh myself from a long work week so I can be human again.

Forgive my ramblings tonight. I guess my brain is having a lazy Saturday as well.

How do you refresh after a long week?

Walking for a Cause

I am so excited that the weather has warmed up enough for me to take lots of long walks. I find them refreshing. During my walks, I listen to podcasts, take pictures of sights that appeal to me (I love the trees when they are covered with flowers - see below), and spend time thinking. 

 

One of the benefits of my walk is done through an app I use called Charity Miles. This is a free app for users. When you walk, run, or ride your bike, you let it run in the background. It tracks your mileage and the sponsor of your walk (usually a big name like Johnson and Johnson) donates to the charity of your choice. They have a bunch to choose from. My current favorite in Pencils of Promise. I feel even better when I walk because even though it is a small way, I am helping others. 

I used to spend a lot of time and effort with various charities until life happened. Now I don't get to volunteer like I would like, but this feels like I am still making a difference.

What are some small ways you can help your favorite cause?

Motivate Yourself

Motivation - This simple word can cause such frustration and drama. Can someone truly motivate them-self? How come what motivates you doesn't work for me? These questions are definitely complex ones, but I think they can be answered.

I think that anyone can be motivated. The problem is that most people do not have the proper motivation that will work for them. You may be motivated by a tangible item like a new outfit or an ice cream treat while another person may be motivated by money or just recognition. If you are working for the wrong motivation incentive, you may give up part way through a task. 

How can you find out what motivates you? Look back at your successes and failures. Do you notice a pattern or theme in them? This is the key to figuring your motivation. For example, sometimes I just need to see a record of my successes in order to continue to be motivated. This is demonstrated in the use of my Fitbit. I made a goal for myself to walk at least 10,000 everyday for a year. Seeing the progress tracked for me helped motivate me to meet that goal. Three years later, I still am motivated to meet this goal (only now it's 13,000 steps). This also worked for my dad. He was very lethargic for years. Then I gave him a Fitbit too. He sets weekly step goals that for surpass mine. All he needed was a little motivation. This, however, has not worked for my mom. The only time she was motivated to meet her step goal was during Lent (spiritual motivation) when she made the commitment. The moment Lent ended, she lost her motivation.

The things that drives each person differs so greatly. This is why our motivation also differs. The important thing is to try new forms of motivation to find what works for you. Somethings that you can try include checklists, accountability partners, mini rewards, etc. When you have the proper motivation, you can achieve anything!

What motivates you?

Book Picks - The Royal Treatment

The royal wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle is fast approaching. I am a little excited about it. Although I must subconsciously be super excited because I found myself buying  a bunch of Kindle books with a royal theme. My absolute favorite of all of them is The Royal Treatment by Melanie Summers.

Disclaimer: I have links to Amazon in here that will cost nothing for you to click on but will earn me a few cents.

The book focuses on Tessa Sharpe. She starts a blog that's anti-monarchy. Prince Arthur needs some positive publicity. He gives Tessa the keys to the palace. While living in the palace, her views on the monarchy begin to change. It doesn't help that the prince is incredible!

I love books that are considered romantic comedies. This one definitely had me laughing out loud numerous times. I appreciate authors that can mix the two genres together so seamlessly. A nice bonus for me was how each chapter was told in the point of view of either Tessa or Prince Arthur. It's nice to get into the heads of multiple characters.

This book reminds me of the Shop-a-holic series. The protagonist in both is a down on her luck girl with a string of bad luck. Everything always turns out well in the end, and you get your happy ever after. Now if only real life went the same way...

Like this book or hate it. What's your verdict?

What books would you recommend?