Happy Friday!
This week I was reading posts from my usual bloggers and all of a sudden I felt so sad that I live so far away from most of y’all. Seriously, though. As an adult it’s pretty tough to make friends out of the blue but there are so many bloggers that I follow and communicate with that I know we’d get along and wander through Target together every weekend in real life. If any of you want to move to Ohio I will absolutely help you find a house/apartment. Ha.
Alright, so that was a little off topic.
Today I figured I’d look back on my goals that I made in this beginning-of-the-year post. October kicks off the last quarter of the year so hopefully I’ve at least scratched the surface of these goals….. ha.
(I also did a quick goals update in July!)
Start running.
Nooooooope. I was feeling confident in July but eff that shizz. Honestly, I think I’ve found my groove with yoga. I’m good with that. Bye for now, running shoes.
Learn to cook more (vegetarian) meals.
Yeah, dude! I made wings for the first time this week! I actually texted K on Monday and told him I was planning to cook every night this week. He was pumped and offered to make his chili one night, too. (And it made for a yummy Wednesday!) Still working on the vegetarian part, but at least there’s some progress in the kitchen!
Find a word for 2016.
Most of y’all probably know I picked “embrace.” I’d say things are going alright. Haha.
Read, read, read. And write.
So many people read WAY more than I do, but I’m feeling good because last year I barely touched a book. Most of what I’ve read this year can be found here. My writing has taken a backseat lately, but I’ve made progress this year so I’m still crossing it off.
Volunteer.
Ok, I’ll finally talk about it! 🙂
I’ve been volunteering at a wilderness rescue and rehabilitation center on Saturdays. So far I’ve syringe-fed baby squirrels and cuddled a duckling and tossed meat to vultures. They also have a resident fox and I swear my heart bursts each time I see her ❤︎
So in conclusion, I’m feeling pretty good 🙂
These past two weeks of sinus-crude have knocked me off my social game, but just looking back on what I’ve done this year recharges my battery! And I’m working on these Fall Goals, too, but I’ll talk about that when the season ends. How are you doing with your 2016 goals/resolutions?
**In other news, the pit bull ban in Montreal was suspended 🙂 There’s still a battle against breed discrimination, but it’s a good start!
Life as Louise 
Way to go on those goals!! Better than mine usually end up. Happy weekend!
LikeLike
Better than mine usually end up, too! Haha!
LikeLike
Woohoo! This seems like fabulous progress to me! I always feel like making goals helps me realize them, even in the sense of realizing that goal isn’t something I want. Like your running vs. yoga. 🙂 I really like to eat veggie, but it can be hard sometimes to think of a full meal, or to plan LOTS of veggie meals. For me at least. I have lots of veggie or near veggie friends. So, I do try to focus on that from time to time. 🙂 Also, any progress is good! I see my goodreads friends having met their goals of 100 and 200 books already and I’m like… woah, I’m slacking! But I’m not, I’m reading lots more than I did last year and MILES more than years before that! Woohoo for reading more in any amount. 😉 Good luck as the year goes on! XO – Alexandra
Also, so much yes about bloggy friends and wishing they were in person friends too. 🙂
Simply Alexandra: My Favorite Things
LikeLike
K isn’t really on board with all-veggie meals. I was also raised in a meat+carb+veggie= a meal household, so it’s a tough mindset to break… ha.
I’m really happy with all the reading progress. I’m definitely not going to hit 100 books this year but I’m doing SO much better than I did last year! Yay to you, too!!
LikeLike
You have been rocking it! Nicely done. I didn’t set any specifically for 2016, but I’m already thinking about what to do for 2017.
LikeLike
Thank you! I’ve never written down yearly goals before so I’m pretty happy 🙂 I’ve been thinking about 2017, too! Haha!
LikeLike
That gif is always the classic to use for this post.
OHHHH – I want to syringe feed a small critter!!!!
Good for you getting in your yoga groove. I am the runner who needs to do more of that so you are inspiring me.
Wishing you luck on more vegetarian meals… I’m off to find a good crockpot veggie chili for the weekend!
LikeLike
I’m a yoga girl who needs to do more cardio 😉
I think I’m going to have to transition to meatless meals before K, then I’ll perfect some recipes and get him on board! You and Ricky are an inspiration 😉
LikeLike
great job lady! I’m very impressed with this progress considering my goals have been limited to keeping myself and my children alive. that’s literally it.
LikeLike
Um, I think that’s a VERY good goal! You’re so close to meeting baby #2! I’m so excited for you and Amelia and the mister!!
LikeLike
straight up, i hate running. i do it because i’m trying out this whole “cardio training” with an end goal to last more than 5 rounds of muay thai but i hate running. if you’ve found your groove with yoga, stick with that!
LikeLike
I have these big day dreams of running a 5K but then I hop on the treadmill and die after 0.2 miles. Hahaha. I know it takes time and patience- maybe some day I’ll get there! For now yoga feels good 🙂
LikeLike
WHAT I WANT TO VOLUNTEER THERE! I WANT TO FEED BABY SQUIRRELS AND SEE A CUTE FOX AND OMG I AM CRYING!!!! Hahaha I need to calm down. I was sooo happy to see that the pit ban was suspended! Also, amazing gif choice.
LikeLike
Nah, girl. When they were like, “We have an education fox named Jade” I was like I AM DYING OH MY GOSH SHE’S BEAUTIFUL GIVE HER TO ME. But actually she’s a rabies vector species so I have to be properly trained to handle her 😦 So right now I just have to watch from the other side of a fence. Sigh.
LikeLike
It would be nice to be able to teleport to visit people. I was sure that would be a thing by now.
I love your volunteering choice. That sounds awesome.
LikeLike
Yes to teleportation. So often I think about places I want to go and then roll my eyes because I know the travel will take so much time. Ugh. Haha!
Thank you! It’s definitely been an interesting experience so far!
LikeLike
Great job with your goals! Your volunteer opportunity sounds awesome!
LikeLike
MOVE TO FLORIDA OKAY THANKS BYE.
LikeLike
Hahahahahaha- we need a spring house there. I’d say winter house, but I love Ohio winters. And I’d say summer house, but Florida is too hot in the summer 😀 Haha!
LikeLike
Your volunteer opportunity sounds amazing! My husband did a stint with an animal shelter for about six months and really liked it, but I think yours would even trump that! I’m now going to go tell him to go find a wilderness rescue now and sign us both up 🙂
And I’d say you’re doing a pretty great job at your resolutions, lady! I’m only doing about half of mine…
LikeLike
I volunteered at a dog/cat shelter in college but it took a while to get back in the volunteering habit once I graduated. It’s nice to be back doing something with critters 🙂
LikeLike
I wish Ohio was closer to London too!
LikeLike
Me too! I would definitely join you for ALLLL the brunches! 😀
LikeLike
That gif makes me laugh so hard. Volunteering at the wilderness place sounds awesome!
LikeLike
I feel like Jen and I really connect 😉 Volunteering is so fun- I was shocked when they handed me my first squirrel. Haha!
LikeLike
Aw, that’s awesome that you’re volunteering with the animals. I love it! Good for you!
I have that same thought about bloggers at least once a week – ha! I’d love to have you all as friends in real life and I feel kind of sad that we aren’t. 😦
LikeLike
I think my husband thinks I’m crazy when I tell him stories about other bloggers- but I honestly feel a friendship and connection with so many folks via blog-world! Haha!
LikeLike
Haha, so of the best conversations and friends I’ve made in the last few years have come through blogging. I feel like it’s easier because you already have this common ground of things you enjoy, so the friendship is just a lot smoother.
Meeting blogger friends in real life is a lot of fun! I need to meet some more people, but it’s just me in little ol’ Belgium… Although, I am planning a long trip to the UK at some point in the future so who knows, I might get me meet some friends!
I fully believe that you have to find the exercise you like the most and do that. Lots of people want to run but they actually hate running so to me, it’s a waste of time. Why do exercise if you don’t like it when there are so many other options to choose from. Stick with yoga since you’re having a good time. I’ll stick with the running haha! Although, I’m cycling rather than running because I enjoy that more, but I’m thinking of starting running again maybe in the middle of the day just to break it up.
If I gave a little advice for making more veggie meals I’d go with this: make it easy, just go for simply not including the meat in the meal and having extra of all the other bits. You could make stew, but just not include the meat chunks and you’d still have stew, go for extra potatoes or carrots to keep the chunky-ness. Also things like mince for bolognese, you can switch the mince meat for lentil (although that can be a bit stodgy if you over do it), I like to add beans instead (that would be good for chilli, add extra kidney/white/black beans to pad it out). In my opinion, I think it’s the super complicated, extra fancy recipes that put people off (I’m talking more about vegan meals here, rather than vegetarian) when life doesn’t need to be that complicated. Pasta is nice and easy to make veggie, or pasta bake, just go for a tasty sauce, a nice marinara or cheesy sauce. Herbs and spices, that’s the way forward 🙂
You probably didn’t need an essay about veggie food there, my apologies.
Leaving now. Bye.
LikeLike
I’ve never met a blogger in real life, but I’d love to!
I should start biking. I really enjoy it and K actually likes to do it, too! He just needs a bike… maybe a Christmas gift this year!
Thank you for the meatless advice! That sounds easy enough! I need to figure out a way to slip the meat out without K noticing 😉 Haha!
LikeLike
I’d say you are doing good!!! EEEEE syringe-fed baby squirrels and cuddled a duckling!!!! I wanna do that! So cute! I totally am with you on feeling sad sometimes that I don’t live closer to blogger friends because they are so much better than some people that are more geographically desirable around here! We need to get on floo powder.
LikeLike
YES TO FLOO POWDER. Hell, I’d even ride a broom! Haha!
I usually suck at my goals/to-do list, but something weird happened this year and I made them attainable. Ha. I actually think I’m doing pretty well with my seasonal goals, too, but I’m not going to jinx it and check. Ha.
LikeLike