Spending 2019.

At the beginning of every month, I write a post with ideas of how to spend the days in that month. I started doing it a few years ago out of a desire to experience more joy in the day-to-day, not just in the planned ahead trips and adventures. 
Ready or not, 2019 graced us with her presence last week, and this was the first year in a long time that I didn't feel the urge to sit down and make a long list of resolutions. The reason for that is two-fold: One, the end of 2018 felt like it almost killed me, and two, the year as a whole shaped me into a person I'm actually pretty proud of. Why would I want to make a list of changes I hope to make to her disguised as goals? 
I have specific things I hope to accomplish this year, of course. But they all tie back to the same goal: I want to spend this year. 
I want to spend my talents, not just sit around and hope that someday I get the chance to. 
I want to spend the opportunities that come my way. 
I want to spend my time. I don't want to be so caught up in things I have to do or should be doing that my time rushes past me without me getting to choose how to spend it. 
Whether you're setting goals this year or not, I hope you decide that 2019 will be a year you spend. What an incredible thing a new year is. What a huge gift that, somehow, you made it through 2018. 2019 will be full of days with opportunities and hours and choices.
I hope you spend them all. 

Spending August: A To-Do List for Adventuring Through the Month.

Happy August! I already love today, because it's a brand new day in a brand new week in a brand new month. Fresh starts and clean slates all around! 

So, how will you be spending your August? As always, I have a few suggestions.

1. Start using your planner! One of my favorite things about August is starting a new planner!
2. Try a coffee shop or restaurant out that's near your house. Sometimes we drive by places every day but never get around to trying them out. You might be missing out on a favorite!
3. On your next grocery trip, buy every kind of fruit you can. Summer fruit is the best, enjoy it while it's here. 
4. Mail someone a letter.
5. Make s'mores.
6. Watch the Olympics.
7. Make a list of five big things you want to accomplish before 2017. There are five months left in this year, let's make them count.
8. Copycat your favorite Starbucks drink at home. 
9. Try Yoga. 
10. Make lemonade.
11. Have a backyard fire. If you live in an apartment, borrow someone else's backyard!
12. Clean out your closet. 
13. Make homemade donuts.
14. Replace on of your daily cups on coffee with tea. Just one!
15. Journal more in August. 
16. Start looking at coupons and deals that places you might shop for Christmas presents have. I know it's crazy early, but some places (Like Shutterfly) have monthly deals that give you free things. 
17. Have your coffee outside and watch the sunrise.
18. Plan an at-home date night. Put some thought into it! Buy a nicer bottle of wine, cook something delicious, and rent a movie. 
19. Make peach cobbler, or blueberry pie, or some other summer fruit dessert.
20. Read a book you know nothing about. 
21. Bake a cake from scratch.
22. Watch the Gilmore Girls mini-series trailer approximately ten thousand times. If you've never watched the show, now is the time! PS: If you think I won't rewatch the entire series by November 25th, YOU DON'T KNOW ME
23. Eat sno-cones.
24. Do something you had planned on doing this summer, but haven't gotten around to yet. 
25. Check out too many books from the library and spend a night reading instead of watching TV.
26. Go back-to-school shopping. It doesn't matter if you aren't actually going back to school, it matters that you take advantage of all the cute office supplies. 
27. Go a whole day with no to-do list. Take a vacation if necessary, but give yourself a little break!
28. Get out in the sunshine and soak up summer while it's still here.
29. Buy your favorite ice cream toppings to keep at home. Why is it that I cover my frozen yogurt in gummy bears and captain crunch when I buy it somewhere, but eat it plain at home?
30. Take more unstaged pictures. The best kind!
31. Take time to live slower. Summer can be so busy. Take time to slow things down. Enjoy your coffee, don't rush through dinner, take a longer shower, read a book. Enjoy August to the fullest by stretching it out. 
How will you be spending your August?

Spending April: A To-Do List for Adventuring Through the Month.

1. Happy April Fool's Day! Play a prank on someone.

2. Plant a garden.

3. Make a new playlist.

4. Go through an entire day without complaining. If you catch yourself complaining, try again the next day. And then the next. You've got thirty days, you're bound to be successful for at least one of them!

5. Freehand a new smoothie recipe.

6. Buy some cheap flowers and dress them up. Like this.

7. Go on a bike ride.

8. Get some outdoor furniture. Whether you can afford actual patio furniture, or just a chair from a thrift store that you spray paint pink-get something for outside!

9. Switch up your routine with a new face wash or toothpaste. It's the little things.

10. Have a wine tasting party. Buy 3-4 new wines in your price range that you've never tried...you might find a new favorite!

11. Start a new habit. 

12. Cook a new recipe every night for a week. 

13. Make a list of your favorite things that have happened so far this year. 

14. Get all of your laundry done. All of it. Enjoy a day few hours with no dirty towels or socks anywhere.

15. Go on a breakfast date. Dinner dates are cool, but have you ever tasted pancakes?

16. Pick something you don't like about your life and change it.

17. Deep clean one room in your house. Spring cleaning!

18. Start a new series on Netflix.

19. Go through all your pens/sharpies/writing utensils and throw out the ones that don't work. Then buy new, prettier pens.

20. Go for a walk every day for a week. Soak up that spring weather.

21. Bake homemade cookies.

22. Go through your computer and delete old files. 

23. Make mimosas with something other than orange juice!

24. Clean out your car.

25. Start making a summer bucket-list. 

26. Make a dinner with no meat. Eat your veggies!

27. Make pizza at home. With extra meat, to make up for the meatless dinner.

28. Throw out any chipped/cracked/broken dishes that your holding onto just because. 

29. Try your hand at overnight oats. Anything to save time in the morning!

30. Have a picnic in the park. 

How are you spending this month?

Celebrating The Leap Year.

Earlier in the year, I wrote a post about how 2016 had 365 fresh starts and new chances to be whoever we wanted to be, and someone commented and said, "I have good news for you: We get 366 of those this year." It's true! We get an entire extra day this year, one that you probably weren't planning on. So I have some suggestions for how you should spend it!

Revisit one of your New Years goals.  Did you make a goal to go to the gym more, but you've really only been twice? Go to the gym on Monday! 

Have a party you would never have otherwise. Looking for a reason to throw that obscurely themed party? Here you go! 

Catch up on something you fell behind on this month. Whether it's something boring like spreadsheets at work or something fun like an instagram challenge-whatever you're behind in, use Monday to catch up and get back on schedule!

Start a new tradition. From now on, celebrate each leap year by watching a certain type of movie or eating a certain type of food. 

Do something you keep saying you would do if you had the time. Try out that new coffee shop or donate your old clothes to Goodwill or get your oil changed or whatever it is you keep procrastinating on. Warning: If you actually do this, you will have to find some other project to keep you busy procrastinating for the rest of the year. 

Or, come home from work and go to bed early and get way more sleep than you did last year. Hey, it's your extra day. Do whatever you want. 

Happy Friday! 

Spending February: A To-Do List for Adventuring Through the Month.

There are two types of people in February: Those who acknowledge that Valentine's Day is a date on the calendar in February, and those who try their best to make the entire month about Valentine's Day. Clearly, I am the latter. 

There are 29 days this month! I hope you spend them well. As always, I have some suggestions for how to do that. 

1. Take a look at your New Years goals. It's been a month...how are you doing?

2. Make chocolate covered strawberries. 

3. Sit down with your planner and calendar and get organized. Just because it didn't happen in January doesn't mean the whole year is a wash!

4. Buy yourself flowers. 

5. Go through your closet. The stores are starting to fill up with spring clothes, but before you spend any money, go through what you already have. You never know what forgotten treasures you'll find hidden in the back of your closet!

6. Go check out the dollar spot at Target, filled with pink V-day goodness.

7. Distance yourself from your phone. You should be able to set your phone down (or even better, turn it off) for a few minutes or hours without it ruining your day. Especially if you're spending time with other people. 

8. Make Valentine's crafts. 

9. Get outside! Chances are, you spent most of January indoors, so treat yourself to some fresh air. 

10. Celebrate Valentine's Day at home. 

11. Find an at-home workout you love. 

12. Mail some Valentine's cards. 

13. Wish your lady friends a happy Galentine's Day. 

14. Celebrate Valentine's Day! Make it an all-day affair!

15. Clean out your bathroom drawers. Throw away the lipgloss you bought four years ago and are saving just in case you ever get tan enough to be able to pull off that shade of pink. 

16. Write your significant other a love letter. The cheesier, the better. 

17. Go through your emails and unsubscribe from all of the lists you mysteriously ended up on. 

18. Surprise someone with chocolates. 

19. Start thinking about who you might be voting for in November. 

20. Make an effort to smile at everyone you come in contact with for a whole day. 

21. Go the month without buying coffee outside of your house. Learn to make a really good cup at home, it's life-changing.

22. Spend some time thinking about what's really important to you. Being at home with Jack for the past two weeks has taught me that life is short, but we also do get so much time...we just have to decide how to spend it. So think about the most important things to you, and make sure the way you're spending your time reflects that. 

23. Laugh more. Lose the self-imposed pressure to be serious all the time. 

24. Think about your words. They're important and should be treated like they are. A good rule to use when you're not sure if you should speak up is to ask yourself: Does this need to be said? Does this need to be said by me? Does this need to be said by me right now? 

25. Make a workout playlist. 

26. Throw away your mugs. Do you find yourself reaching for the same few mugs every morning, but keeping 20 others "just in case you need them?" Toss 'em.

27. Re-watch the pilot (or finale!) of your favorite show.

28. Throw a "favorite things" party. Like Oprah, but better. PS: this would be a really fun date night. 

29. Spend your extra day! We have an extra day we won't get again for four years...spend it doing something fun!

How will you be spending your February? 

Spending Your November: A To-Do List for Adventuring Through the Month.

Happy November! November is such a magical month because at the beginning of it, we get full-blown fall, and by the end of it, it's time to celebrate Christmas. If that isn't a good month, I don't know what is.

There are 30 amazing days in November, and you get to decide how to spend them. Here are my suggestions:

1. Drink a Caramel Apple Spice Cider.

2. Participate in NaNoWriMo. 

3. Swing by Trader Joe's and pick up some fall goodness. I especially recommend the pumpkin butter, the pumpkin chai latte mix, and the pumpkin roobios tea.

5. Make a list of soups, hot drinks, and other November goodness you want to make. If there was ever a month to make soup for almost every meal, it's November.

6. Practice Thankfulness all month long. It's not just for Thanksgiving!

7. Remember that sometimes, the best part of the holidays is just being. We can get so caught up in making holiday plans and wanting to make sure we get to do everything we love about a certain season, but sometimes the best part is just relaxing, soaking up all the best parts of fall and Thanksgiving.

8. Get a fall picnic blanket. I realize that in some places, it's starting to get too cold for picnics, but here in Florida, we're just hitting prime picnic blanket weather. Even if it's too cold where you are, get a picnic blanket, light some candles, and have an indoor picnic--it's just as fun!

9. Make apple-cider sangria. Perfect for your picnic! Also, please drink a glass for me. I love this baby, but I miss fall drinks.

10. Plan a Thanksgiving date. A thanksgiving celebration for just you and your boo!

11. Plan your Thanksgiving. Are you traveling? Having company? Cooking something? Make your game plan!

12. Take some time for yourself and reflect on everything you're thankful for about 2015. Every November, I sit outside with a cup of pumpkin coffee and my journal, and write down the biggest things I'm thankful for since last Thanksgiving.

13. Watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.

14. Light some fall candles in the morning before turning all the lights on. I've been doing this in the mornings while I drink my coffee and it is so cozy. Second best thing to having a fire place!

15. Check your fall list-anything you really wanted to do that didn't happen? Don't pressure yourself to get everything done, but was there something you were really looking forward to that just hasn't happened yet? Do it!

16. Make a list of everyone you need to buy Christmas gifts for. 

17. Pick up a winter candy apple lotion from Bath & Body Works. 

18. Make a Thanksgiving craft. Place cards for Thanksgiving dinner, or a banner that says thankful, or whatever you want!

19. Bundle up and go for a walk. Walks during chilly weather just make you feel alive.

20. Go crazy and really clean your house before the holidays. You'll be so happy you did!

21. Make a list of Black Friday things to be on the lookout for. 

22. Write Thanksgiving letters or cards to the people you love. 

23. Spend an afternoon with your significant other and talk about what you're thankful for. Go to a park or a coffee shop and talk about why you're thankful for each other.

24. Start a Thanksgiving tradition. 

25. Watch the Macy's Day Parade. 

26. Celebrate Thanksgiving! 

27. Watch Elf! My family always watched this Thanksgiving night to celebrate the start of Christmas!

28. Break out the Christmas decorations! The day after Thanksgiving, of course.

29. Get your first red cup of the season! White chocolate peppermint mocha! It's Christmastime, people!

30. Catch up on the sleep you lost over Black Friday by laying in bed, drinking hot chocolate, and watching Christmas movies. Hello, perfect day.

How will you be spending your November?

Remember: You are Spending Your Life.

At the start of every month, I share a monthly to-do list called Spending Your Month. It's my way of remembering that we get to spend our lives.

One thing I keep hearing about having a baby is that "The days are long, but the years fly by." I can't help but think this is true in most areas of life. We all of seasons that feel never-ending, weeks where we wish the universe would just cut us a break already, months where no matter how hard we try, we just can't seem to make ourselves believe that life is good. But then once those seasons are over, we comment on how time is flying by, how we've grown so old out of nowhere. 

This summer seemed to last forever. I was so sick for most of it, Chris was working all the time, and it just wasn't full of the things I love about summer. It seemed like the never-ending season of meh, and I was pretty sure that I was going to be stuck at 3 months pregnant, throwing up everything I ate, while home alone forever. But at the same time, where did the summer even go? Because now we're in the last week of September, and this baby will be here in just a little over three months. 

Time passes at the rate it passes. No matter how badly we may want to reach out and freeze some moments forever, or use a fast-forward pass and skip over some moments, we can't change the rate at which time moves. What we can do, though, is choose how to spend it. 

We really have to remember that we are spending our lives. Whether it feels like it or not. No matter how much free time you have or how much of a choice it feels like you have about your life, you're still spending it. From what you do on your commute to work, to your lunch break, to before bed, to your day off...whatever you do, you're spending your life. And you're choosing how to spend it. Whether you're making good choices or not, they're still your choices about how to spend however much of life you may have left. 

So with that in mind, let's spend our lives for good things this week. Let's spend it on the things that make us happy. On things that are productive and will make our future-selves thank us. Let's spend it on the things that matter and on the silly things that don't matter at all. Let's spend it working on what's important, and relaxing with people who are even more important. Let's spend it on the things that make us feel alive. 

Most importantly, let's just remember that we are spending it. So stop and get a milkshake on your way home from work. Wake up a little early so you can watch the sunrise. Write a letter. Binge-watch your favorite show. Buy some flowers. 

It's your life. So spend it, and spend it well. 

Drink Your Wine & Leave a Wake.

“Drink your wine. Laugh from your gut. Burden your moments with thankfulness. Be as empty as you can be when that clock winds down. Spend your life. And if time is a river, may you leave a wake.” 

So often we're always looking ahead to something, or trying to catch up, or worrying about if what we're doing is worthwhile. We're very rarely just living. 

Amanda had recommended this book, Death by Living, on her blog a little while ago. I feel like this quote sums up everything in my head that I'm always trying to figure out. Because sometimes, in the middle of life, we can get so bogged down with is this it? Is this what I'm supposed to be doing? Should I be feeling more significant? 

And to that I say: Drink your wine and laugh from your gut. Life is meant to be spent, it is meant to be enjoyed. 

I think that we hear the words "don't waste your life" and immediately think it means we should be doing more important, worthwhile things. We should be working harder or finding a better job or making more money or contributing more to society. Not that any of those things are bad things, but I think it's possible to do all of that and still waste your life. 

You waste your life when you choose to not spend it. Time can either be stolen from you or you can spend it. It's going to pass either way. So why not use it up for all it's worth? When you go to bed each night, be completely empty of all the life you had to give that day. Let every breath you take scream thankfulness. 

Spending your life can look big and significant and planned out. Or, it can look like Chick-fil-a runs and pool days and phone dates. The important thing is that you're spending your life. All of it. That you're empty when the clock runs out. 

If time is a river, may you leave a wake.