new year's all year 2012: february reflections and march goals

Source: godlysouthern.tumblr.com via Kelly on Pinterest

In January I introduced the 2012 New Year's, All Year Challenge, in which I made broad "endpoints" goals for the year and explained that each month I will make specific small goals that are stepping stones to my endpoint aims. Each month I will also reflect on the previous month's goals and efforts.

My goals for February were:

• Health: track food daily; do yoga at least once a week
• Finances: save specific percentage of each paycheck; open separate wedding fund account
• Relationships: cook dinner for Grandma; plan presents and cards for birthdays in March
• Wedding: set a date for engagement photos; research vendors
• Career: sub 3-4 times a week; reflect on swim season and start prepping for swim team award night
• Self-enrichment: Cook and bake more

Reflections on February:

I did well with my goals for career (subbing is going well and swimming ended nicely), wedding (we might have our reception venue chosen!), saving money, and planning out gifts. While I continued to eat decently the majority of the time and attend Zumba when I was able to, I did not do much yoga in February. Also, while I did spend time with my grandma, I was not able to cook a nice dinner for her last month. Similarly, I wasn't able to bake as much as I would have liked. I hope that I will be able to do more (or all!) of these activities in March, as it seems there will be more time since swim season and all post-season work (except for awards night!) is complete now. All that being said...

My goals for March are:

• Health: get enough sleep; stay hydrated
• Finances: keep saving money
• Relationships: complete as many little acts of kindness as possible - like cooking dinner for my grandma, for instance ; )
• Wedding: continue researching and meeting with vendors and start booking them
• Career: read more articles and books related to my content area (social studies)
• Self-enrichment: volunteer - hopefully at the local animal shelter

Do you have any goals for 2012? How are they going? Any for last month? What are your goals for March? It's not too late to become part of the challenge!! : ) Shoot me an email if you decide to join in.

weekly gems

Source: littleg.tumblr.com via Kelly on Pinterest

• Recipes I want to try: mac and cheese cups, beignets, peanut butter and jelly bars, dirty brown rice with shrimp, mini chicken meatball soup, orange spiced cashews
• I LOVE the Oscars and I can't wait for this Sunday evening! In anticipation of the amazing fashion always featured, I enjoyed looking through this slideshow of Oscar's best looks.
• This post by Emily made me feel so relieved. I'm glad to hear other brides who feel overwhelmed at a big wedding ultimately are thankful they are doing/did it!
• Check out this post if you need a smile!
• Adored Jess's inspiring and relatable post on "smurgging." This MML post on "the abs situation" is also a must-read.
• If I was offered the chance to live either here or here, I'd take it!
• How much it would actually cost to build the Death Star.
• Interesting: how the recession is affecting young adults, how marriage is becoming an economic privilege, wedding statistics, and the most loved states.
• Favorite Hello Giggles posts as of late: one, two, three
• Four ways to volunteer and help animals
• It's true, I actually am addicted to ice cream.
• Great tips for planning a vacation.
• Favorite weddings of the week: one, two, three

weekly gems

Source: photopoly.net via Kelly on Pinterest

• A few simple ways to save money.
• Adore this collection of super cute teal items.
• Coffee ice cream? Yes, please!
• Just in case you need some reasons to go on vacation.
• Photos of Laura's trip to the top of Rockefeller Center took my breath away. I need a trip to NYC, stat.
• Love people who love their pets.
• Tips on how to green your kitchen.
• I've officially added Edinburgh to my list of places to visit in my lifetime.
• The best time of day to do different activities.
• Help out a little girl named Violet!

Happy weekend : )

stay focused

That quote has been getting me through this week.

(thanks Ashley for the quote and story, and Mary for writing this post I just found but made me remember my life is so blessed)

dr. martin luther king, jr.

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Mine was okay, busy with family visiting and planning for student teaching. I was super excited to hear all the results of the Golden Globes - totally pumped about Glee's wins and The Social Network getting Best Drama!

I'm a huge fan of three-day weekends. I'm also a huge fan of history, and as a future social studies teacher, I would be remiss if I didn't take some time today to reflect on the life of the man this day is honoring - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Today is the 25th anniversary of this federal holiday!)

I've always thought MLK was an amazing man. In History Club in high school (yes, I was in History Club...or may have co-founded it...), I nominated him for the most influential American who was never president. I would still argue that claim today. He was an extraordinary man who did extraordinary things. Yes, there are some allegations regarding MLK's personal life that are disappointing/negative in nature, but I don't feel they should deter people from recognizing and honoring MLK for his astounding and important legacy.

At my college, the office of service learning organizes the MLK Day of Service every year. The motto is usually something like, "Make it a day on instead of a day off." I think it's a wonderful example of how MLK inspires people to take initiative and make a difference in their communities.

I'm going to wrap up with a favorite MLK quote: "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

I hope you have a great day today : )

Photo credit

new year's, all year

source

Hello, lovelies! I hope you all had a fantastic New Year's celebration. Mine was wonderful! : ) I had fun watching a movie and playing games with close friends.

Have you made any New Year's Resolutions? I usually start brainstorming mine a few weeks in advance, but I have always believed there's a week's leeway in making and starting them : ) The past few years I've made resolutions, but never totally kept them (as I'm sure many people can relate to). Well, I'm at a point in my life where I am satisfied with how things are going (at least, the things under my control) but would like to continue to challenge myself, grow as an individual, and make my life richer.

As a result, I have made some New Year's Resolutions and intend to keep them all for of 2011. As a college senior majoring in education, I have learned a lot about writing objectives for lessons and units - in other words, specific goals for learning that can be measured. I've realized most of my old New Year's Resolutions were too vague to motivate me or hold me accountable. As a result, I have tried to make my goals as specific as possible. I will record my journey of keeping my resolutions in a new beagle & bear series New Year's, All Year. On the first Monday of every month I will provide an overall update on my resolution keeping, as well as mini-updates throughout the year/when appropriate.

I would LOVE for the readers of beagle & bear to join in the 2011 New Year's, All Year Challenge, whether it be with one resolution or twenty. We may or may not achieve all of our goals, but we will strive to do so and gain much in the process! : ) If you are joining in the challenge, leave a comment saying so, and I'll add your name to the list of challenge participants.


Here are my 2011 New Year resolutions:

• Complete a 5K race
  
• Develop blog further through establishing fixed features, engaging series, and gaining followers/building a community
  
• Get a full-time job teaching social studies grades 7-12 and/or apply to graduate school
• Read 25 books of my choosing
  
• Make a perfect omelet
• Go camping
• Bake one new recipe a month
• Cook one new recipe a month
• Create and wear wardrobe with intention by purchasing and wearing items that match my identified style, can be dressed up and down, and can easily be mixed in with items I already own, as well as donating/selling items I no longer wear
  
• Reach a healthy BMI
  
• Eat at least two servings of both fruits and veggies every day
  
• Work out at least 3 times a week
• Go to mass once a week
• Teach Madison how to stay and give paw
• Save substantial amount of money
• Give loved ones thoughtful and fun gifts that have meaning to our relationship or that feed their loves/hobbies
  
• Decorate/design home with intention by identifying a decorating style/theme and actively pursuing ways to execute said theme
  
• Complete at least 40 service/volunteer hours
• Learn to knit and make at least one scarf

Check back here later today for tips on writing measurable and reasonable New Year's Resolutions. I hope you decide to join the challenge! I am super excited to start it and share my journey with all of you!

Happy New Year!