Summer Goals - How I Did

Summer goals were AW-FUL!  Especially considering I nailed all of my spring goals.  I only completed 2/10 of my summer goals...  Here is how close, or how far off, I was on my goals.

1. Have 3600 IG followers (3571/3600)
July 3: 3119
Aug 1: 3247
Aug 31: 3571

2. Write 45 blog posts (46/45)
June: 16
July: 16
August: 14

3. Read 3 books (1/3)
a. Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America's Greatest Troublemakers - Nick Offerman

4. Send 3 postcards via post crossing

5. Try 10 new bars/restaurants (completed in June) 
a. Turning Point Brewery
b. Anna's Mexican Grill

c. Legal Draft Brewing Company

d. The Grease Monkey

e. Buddy's BBQ

f. Zushimaki

g. The Row

h. Rock Creek Cafe

i. Northwoods Family Grill

j. Caribou Restaurant & Wine Bar

6. Make 10 pinterest food recipes (7/10)

a. Green Chili Pork
b. 7UP Chicken

c. Buffalo Chicken Sweet Potatoes

d. Lemon Garlic Shrimp & Zucchini

e. Twice Baked Breakfast Potatoes

f. Three Cheese Penne

g. Pizza Stuffed Peppers

7. Have a treat yoself day

8. Attend 3 concerts (1/3)
a. Kip Moore - 8/11

9. Go to brunch 3 times (1/3)
a. Mash'd - Frisco 7/22

10. Complete 9 101 in 1001 items (6/9)

a. Visit a brewery

b. Go at least a year without starting a new job

c. Visit a distillery

d. Buy new boots

e. Use my passport

f. Leave 100% tip

Summer Goals July Recap

I did a pretty poor job with my goals in July, especially considering what I got done in June & how well I did on my spring goals.  With that being said, it is very unlikely that I complete all, or even most, of these goals by the end of August.  With softball & volleyball all this week, teachers returning to work in the middle of next week, & students returning on the 20th I'm aiming for 50% this time... 

1. Have 3600 IG followers
July 3: 3119
Aug 1: 3247

2. Write 45 blog posts
June: 16
July: 16
August:

3. Read 3 books
a.
b.
c.

4. Send 3 postcards via post crossing
a.

b.

c.

5. Try 10 new bars/restaurants (completed in June) 
a. Turning Point Brewery
b. Anna's Mexican Grill

c. Legal Draft Brewing Company

d. The Grease Monkey

e. Buddy's BBQ

f. Zushimaki

g. The Row

h. Rock Creek Cafe

i. Northwoods Family Grill

j. Caribou Restaurant & Wine Bar

6. Make 10 pinterest food recipes

a. Green Chili Pork
b. 7UP Chicken

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

j.

7. Have a treat yoself day

8. Attend 3 concerts
a.
b.
c.

9. Go to brunch 3 times
a. Mash'd - Frisco 7/22

b.

c.

10. Complete 9 101 in 1001 items (6/9)
(These could change... just what I'm thinking on focusing on)

a. Read at least 30 minutes before bed for a week

b. Attend DFW Restaurant Week

c. Visit a winery

d. Visit a brewery

e. Go at least a year without starting a new job

f. Visit a distillery

g. Buy new boots

h. Use my passport

i. Leave 100% tip

Summer Goals June Recap

June flew by!  Let's be honest though, what month doesn't at this point?  As far as summer goals go, I did very poorly.  I only completed 1, the food one go figure.  I did get quite a few 101 in 1001 goals completed though which is a part of one of my summer goals so there's that!  This month is when I'm going to have to hit it hard if I want to stand any chance of doing well since school starts again August 10.  Today I'm on the second half of my journey back to Texas so I'll be able to catch up on blogs when I get back as well as hopefully get to work on some of these goals!

1. Have 3600 IG followers
July 3: 3119

2. Write 45 blog posts
June: 16
July:
August:

3. Read 3 books
a.
b.
c.

4. Send 3 postcards via post crossing
a.

b.

c.

5. Try 10 new bars/restaurants (completed in June) 
a. Turning Point Brewery
b. Anna's Mexican Grill

c. Legal Draft Brewing Company

d. The Grease Monkey

e. Buddy's BBQ

f. Zushimaki

g. The Row

h. Rock Creek Cafe

i. Northwoods Family Grill

j. Caribou Restaurant & Wine Bar

6. Make 10 pinterest food recipes

a.
b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

j.

7. Have a treat yoself day

8. Attend 3 concerts
a.
b.
c.

9. Go to brunch 3 times
a.

b.

c.

10. Complete 9 101 in 1001 items (6/9)
(These could change... just what I'm thinking on focusing on)

a. Read at least 30 minutes before bed for a week

b. Attend DFW Restaurant Week

c. Pay for someone behind me

d. Visit a brewery

e. Go at least a year without starting a new job

f. Visit a distillery

g. Buy new boots

h. Use my passport

i. Leave 100% tip

Summer Goals

Happy Friday & happy June everyone!  As yesterday was the last day of the school year, today is my first day of freedom!  This is also the first time in my teaching career that the staff hasn't had to show up the day after students for a work day.  I must admit, it's pretty nice.  Even better, the volleyball clinics the coaching staff were originally going to attend this weekend were cancelled so I really am free of all work obligations until July.  Yippee!!  

Anyway, moving on.  June means that summer is here which means it's time for my summer goals.

1. Have 3600 IG followers
June 30:
July 31:
August 31:

2. Write 45 blog posts
June:
July:
August:

3. Read 3 books
a.
b.
c.

4. Send 3 postcards via post crossing
a.

b.

c.

5. Try 10 new bars/reastaurants
a.
b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

j.

6. Make 10 pinterest food recipes

a.
b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

j.

7. Have a treat yoself day

8. Attend 3 concerts
a.
b.
c.

9. Go to brunch 3 times
a.

b.

c.

10. Complete 9 101 in 1001 items
(These could change... just what I'm thinking on focusing on)

a. Read at least 30 minutes before bed for a week

b. Attend DFW Restaurant Week

c. Pay for someone behind me

d. Adopt a soldier

e. Go at least a year without starting a new job

f. Go to a movie by myself

g. Buy new boots

h. Use my passport

i. Leave 100% tip

Another School Year Comes To An End

Today marks the end of another school year.  My 6th as a teacher & my 25th overall.  At 1 PM Central Time the last bell of the 2017-2018 school year will ring & summer vacation will FINALLY begin.  Bring on the freedom!  

This will be my first summer since moving to the Dallas-Fort Worth area that I can also fully relax knowing I have a job next year.  This will be my first summer since graduating college that I'm not applying for teaching jobs in general.  Even though I stayed in Houston teaching at the same school district for 3 years, I still applied every year in hopes of getting out.  When I did finally get out, I moved up to the DFW area.  And in my 3 years up here I have worked in 3 different school districts.

But no more!  While my drive sucks, and there are certain aspects of my job I wish were different, for the most part I genuinely like where I work, who I work with, & who I work for.  So rather than spending my summer filling out countless applications, crossing my fingers for interviews, & praying that I get a new teaching job, this summer I just get to sit back & relax.

Final Recap On My Summer Goals

Turns out I never did a recap on my summer goals in August.  When I checked in back in July though I had 3 completed & 3 in progress.  Here's how my summer goals turned out.

1. Donate Blood [#3 29 by 29 & #42 101 in 1001]

2. Finish 4 shows on my Netflix watch list [#17 29 by 29 & #99 101 in 1001]

3. Read 12 Books [#18 29 by 29 & #10 101 in 1001]
I read 2.5...

4. Attend 2 MLB games [#23 29 by 29 & #63 101 in 1001 & #63 101 in 1001]

I went to 1

5. Watch 2 movies in a theater in 1 day [#26 29 by 29 & #71 101 in 1001]

6. Visit 2 museums [#29 29 by 29 & #31 101 in 1001]

I went to none

7. Run a 5k [#24 101 in 1001]

8. Visit a new MLB ballpark [#62 101 in 1001]

9. Finish 1000 piece puzzle [#95 101 in 1001]

I didn't even start one

10. Visit 6 new places in DFW [Fun in DFW/Dining in Dallas/Fort Worth Food]

I went to 3

Completed: 4
Failed: 7

Summer is normally a really productive time for me.  Years in the past I've had all summer free to get stuff done & have fun.  However, this summer I had grad school into June & then volleyball season started at the end of July.  I'd like to say that fall will be better but I honestly don't know that it will be.  I'll still have volleyball until October-November on top of teaching & living 45+ minutes away from work.

Summer Goals Check In #1

One month of summer is already here & gone!  Here's a look at how I did the first month with my summer goals.

1. Donate Blood [#3 29 by 29 & #42 101 in 1001]
a)

2. Finish 4 shows on my Netflix watch list [#17 29 by 29 & #99 101 in 1001]

a) Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (6.12.17)
b) Dear White People (6.13.17)

c) The Ranch (6.17.17)

d) Scandal (6.19.17)

3. Read 12 Books [#18 29 by 29 & #10 101 in 1001]

a) The Mark

b) Scrappy Little Nobody

c) Yes Please!

d)

e)

f)

g)

h)

i)

j)

k)

l)

4. Attend 2 MLB games [#23 29 by 29 & #63 101 in 1001 & #63 101 in 1001]

a) Rockies vs Indians (6.7.17)

b)

5. Watch 2 movies in a theater in 1 day [#26 29 by 29 & #71 101 in 1001]

a) The Mummy (6.15.17)

b) Wonder Woman (6.15.17)

6. Visit 2 museums [#29 29 by 29 & #31 101 in 1001]

a)

b)

7. Run a 5k [#24 101 in 1001]

8. Visit a new MLB ballpark [#62 101 in 1001]
a) Coors Field - Denver, CO (6.7.17)

9. Finish 1000 piece puzzle [#95 101 in 1001]

10. Visit 6 new places in DFW [Fun in DFW/Dining in Dallas/Fort Worth Food]

a) Taco Heads (6.3.17)

b) Tacodeli (6.13.17)

c) Melt (6.15.17)

d)

e)

f)

Completed: 3
In Progress: 3

I'm going to have to step up my game or a lot of these aren't going to get finished.  I may have 2 months left technically but volleyball starts July 24 & I got back to work in addition to volleyball August 4.  Fingers crossed I get at least a couple more crossed off!

Summer Goals

Today is my last day of real work!  *Insert comment here about how fast time is flying*  Technically I still have to go to work tomorrow but the kids are done today & tomorrow will just be spent cleaning out my classroom & probably watching some Netflix.

Since a new season is beginning, it's time for me to share my next goal list!  Here is what I would like to accomplish between today & August 31.  A little later I'll be recapping how I did on my spring goals.

1. Donate Blood [#3 29 by 29 & #42 101 in 1001]

2. Finish 4 shows on my Netflix watch list [#17 29 by 29 & #99 101 in 1001]

3. Read 12 Books [#18 29 by 29 & #10 101 in 1001]

4. Attend 2 MLB games [#23 29 by 29 & #63 101 in 1001 & #63 101 in 1001]

5. Watch 2 movies in a theater in 1 day [#26 29 by 29 & #71 101 in 1001]

6. Visit 2 museums [#29 29 by 29 & #31 101 in 1001]

7. Run a 5k [#24 101 in 1001]

8. Visit a new MLB ballpark [#62 101 in 1001]

9. Finish 1000 piece puzzle [#95 101 in 1001]

10. Visit 6 new places in DFW [Fun in DFW/Dining in Dallas/Fort Worth Food]

Summer Goals - How Did I Do

1. Attend 2 concerts [#5 on 28 by 28] PASS!

Maiden Dixie

Whiskey Myers

2. Don't use credit card for 1 month [#8 & #26 on 28 by 28/#69 & 92 on 101 in 1001] PASS!

**I actually didn't use it for like 2.5 months.  Then I used it while my friend Bridgette was in town.  I haven't used it since then so I'm at almost 2 weeks without using it again**

3. Read 6 books [# 10 on 28 by 28/#9 on 101 in 1001] FAIL!

**I think had I chosen a different book to be my 3rd book I would have passed.  I still haven't finished that 3rd one by the way.  Instead I went to the library & got 2 different books.  I read 4**

4. Get to goal weight [#12 on 28 by 28] FAIL!

**I'm so close that I almost called it a pass.  I wanted to get down to 150-155 & I'm at 158.  Considering I started at 166 I'm basically there**

5. Have tarot read [#18 on 28 by 28] FAIL!

**Didn't happen.  It just didn't**

6. Average 10k steps a day for a month [personal goal] FAIL!

**Probably a fail.  My fitbit started acting up almost daily so I stopped wearing it.  I can almost guarantee I didn't hit my steps though**

7. Start learning Spanish [#27 on 28 by 28] PASS!

**I'm at like 3% fluent**

8. Start learning guitar [#21 on 28 by 28] PASS!

**I learned a chord...so not much of a pass but all I said was start learning...**

9. Finish 1000 piece puzzle [#28 on 28 by 28/#95 on 101 in 1001] FAIL!
**I gave up.  The puzzle had too many missing pieces & then I never bought a new one**

10. Outdoor movie [#50 on 101 in 1001] PASS!

End results: 5/10.  Basically I failed.  I did come close on a couple though & I came close/passed the ones I really cared about so I'm still happy with my results.  

Last Thursday I talked about my Fall Goals.  If you missed them you can find them here.

Summer Goals Check In

1. Attend 2 concerts [#5 on 28 by 28]: DONE!

2. Don't use credit card for 1 month [#8 & #26 on 28 by 28/#69 & 92 on 101 in 1001]: DONE!

As of right now I still haven't used my credit card since June 4th...so over 2 months.

3. Read 6 books [# 10 on 28 by 28/#9 on 101 in 1001] IN PROGRESS!

I'm at 2 right now... still the same 2 that I read my very first week of summer vacation...I have one month to read 4 books.  (Well 3.5 because I'm still halfway through a book)

4. Get to goal weight [#12 on 28 by 28] IN PROGRESS!

I don't actually know what I'm at because I refuse to use my parents' scale because it always seems to read the exact same thing.  I'll weigh myself when I get moved into my new place on Saturday & go from there.

5. Have tarot read [#18 on 28 by 28] NOT YET!

Hasn't happened yet.  I might try to find a Groupon & do it when I get back.

6. Average 10k steps a day for a month [personal goal]: NOPE!

My Fitbit was being too much of a pain for me to keep wearing it.  It wasn't always tracking so I just stopped caring.

7. Start learning Spanish [#27 on 28 by 28]: IN PROGRESS!

I've been using Duolingo off & on.  I was doing great for awhile but between getting ready for a family reunion & Wefest this past week, I haven't done it in awhile

8. Start learning guitar [#21 on 28 by 28]: IN PROGRESS!

And by in progress I mean I've learned one chord...

9. Finish 1000 piece puzzle [#28 on 28 by 28/#95 on 101 in 1001] NOT YET!

I had started one.  I realized I was missing multiple pieces though so I chucked it in the trash.

10. Outdoor movie [#50 on 101 in 1001] DONE!

With 1 month to go I'm at:

3/10 complete

4/10 in progress

2/10 not started

1/10 failed

Summer Playlist

In all reality I'm listening to the Maren Morris album Hero on repeat a lot of the time.  You can read my post about her & the album here.  But here are 10 fun songs I'm loving for summer.

Summer is 1/3 Over

A month ago I posted my 10 goals for the summer.  In order to keep myself more accountable (you saw how I was doing with my 101 in 1001) I wanted to check in with how I'm doing on the blog.

1. Attend 2 concerts (1/2) -- On June 23 I went to the Whiskey Myers concert with Alicia

2. Don't use credit card for 1 month (Done!) -- I want it to be known that this is the first time this has ever happened since probably August 2012.  My new plan is to see just how long I can go without using it because the balance on my card is no joke.

3. Read 6 books (3/6) -- I've read Me Before You, My Life Next Door, & Just Kids

4. Get to goal weight -- I'm just not even going to check this until I get back to Texas.  I hate my parents' scale.

5. Have tarot read -- Not yet.

6. Average 10k steps over a month (Fail) -- I know I know it could still happen but my fitbit started being a little brat & wouldn't always sync, or would stop reading steps even though it wasn't dead, so I just stopped wearing it.  Therefore I have no true way of knowing.  I do know though that while I was wearing it I was averaging between 5-6k steps a day soo I wasn't really close anyway.

7. Start learning Spanish -- Yes.  I haven't been doing it every single day like I planned but I am doing it most days.  I never go more than a day without doing it & I've probably only missed a 2-3 all summer.

8. Start learning guitar -- I don't know why I haven't started this.  When summer started my plan was going to be do a Duolingo lesson everyday as well as devote a bit of time to learning guitar.

9. Finish 1000 piece puzzle -- I've started one, & I know already it's missing pieces.  I got it used for 50 cents.  I'm debating if I want to finish this one (not only is it missing pieces but it's a hard picture y'all) or if I want to go get a different one.

10. Outdoor movie -- Not yet

Summer Fun

My summer vacation technically started Friday morning.  However I spent almost all day Saturday & Sunday in the car driving from Texas to Minnesota.  Yesterday is where I would say my vacation really started.  I had no plans exactly like I wanted.  I was asked to drive down to the cities to hang out with a friend, but after 18+ hours in the car over the weekend I wasn't having it.  I told her we needed to make plans but I needed a couple of days to not be in the car.  Monday morning I decided to pull out my 28 by 28 & 101 in 1001 3.0 lists to help create my summer bucket/goals list.

1. Attend 2 concerts

2. Don't use my credit card for at least a month

3. Read 6 books

4. Get to my goal weight

5. Have my tarot read again

6. Average 10k steps a day for at least a month (Add me on fitbit briannemcc)

7. Start learning Spanish (Duolingo App)

8 Start learning guitar (Learn Chords App)

9. Complete 1000 piece puzzle

10. Attend outdoor movie

I already have fun things planned that aren't listed on the bucket list, and other things that have been discussed but aren't planned, but those are the 10 things I want to focus on.  My new fitbit band should be arriving in the mail sometime this week!

Where Has Summer Gone

I can't believe it's already July 1st!  This summer has flown by.  I'm sure most people are thinking "but summer has just started!"  I know that's the reaction when I say summer is almost over to anyone around here.  But for me, it's not.  My summer started back on Apr 28 & it's over Aug 12 so I'm definitely on the back end of it.

These last 6 weeks are going to fly by too I just know it.  I work this next weekend, have a bachlorette & bridal shower the following weekend, the county fair the next, a family reunion, WeFest, & then I move!  I am officially busy every weekend and the best part?! Only one of them is work.  I'm so happy to say that hopefully, in 26 days I will never have to have a part-time job again.