Planner: Before the Pen

     Every Saturday or Sunday, I sit down with my planner.  I plan out what color scheme or theme I want each week to look like.  Then I go through my sticker books and my printed sticker kits to see what works based on what I have going on each week.

There are 3 main sections I create in my planner: work, personal, fitness.

• Work is anything related to what I need to get done at work each week and what day.  It's where I keep up with staff meetings, when lesson plans are due, documentation, etc.
• Personal is anything that relates to me outside of work.  I keep up with what days I go to the chiropractor, making time out for podcasts/reading/cleaning/etc, and anything else that pertains to my everyday life.
• Fitness is where I keep up with what workouts I plan to do each day (I plan them, but don't always get to them lately >.<) and my water intake.  I try to drink AT LEAST 80 oz. of water a day.  I also keep up with my steps each day so that I can see what days I was more active.  Even though I can keep track on my phone through my activity app, I like to have it written down so that I can just flip right through it.

On the weekends, I don't really separate into sections unless you count the fitness section.  That section stays throughout the week.  The top 2 areas all become what needs to be down around the house or any errands I need to run, or even if I'm meeting up with friends.

Below is a picture of my planner for next week before I add in the pen and write everything in:

I used stickers from multiple Happy Planner sticker books.  I try to add stickers for things that happen weekly, and then I go back with a pen and write in what the items are.  If I need to add other bullet points, I either write them myself or just add another dot sticker if I'm at home.

Lots of Love,

Samantha <3

Currently.....

     Each Friday, I want to sit down and write a quick post to you guys on things that I am currently interested in.  I'm a reader,  but I also like from time to time to listen to podcasts, all types of music, etc.  Some of you may share these interests, or some of you may be able to broaden your horizons with these!

Things I am currently loving:

• Reading - "Go Set a Watchman" by Harper Lee
• Watching - The Mandalorian and throwback tv shows on Disney+
• Listening to - a mix of the Frozen 2 soundtrack and Christmas music

     It's a pretty short list this week.  Once I get back into some podcasts I can add more.  I'm open to any suggestions for books, podcasts, music, and shows!  Just a heads up on books though....I have a shelf full of books that I am working my way through before I'm allowed to let myself buy more.  Then I also have a long list on my phone of ones I want to buy, but haven't been able to because of my personal ban HA!  Though I can still add titles to that list, so send suggestions anyway :)

Lots of Love,

Samantha

5 Things I Want to Accomplish By the End of 2019

     I cannot believe it has been 2 years+ since I first attempted to create this new blog! Wow life moves fast.  It was not intentional, and speaking of intentional I'm ready to be more intentional about this blog and other aspects of my life.

     So...this leads me to this post.  The five things that I want to accomplish by the end of 2019.  I have a goal for the end of 2020, and to get there I need to start NOW.  Here are my five things:

1)  Get a regular posting schedule for this blog.  Lots of exciting things happening in my life in the year coming up, and I would like to share my trial and errors that help me get there.  Maybe by doing so I can help one of you out there from what I learn in the process.

2)  Get a plan to get fit.  YES! I know it's the holidays.  Sure, I'm crazy for wanting to start this now instead of waiting until after the holidays and the new year.  If you want something bad enough, you need to start yesterday!

3)  Have some more debt paid off.  My biggest goal is to finally buy a house, and the only way I can get there is to tackle the debt strategically and fiercely.  It's not a ton (minus my student loans, but that's a whole other story!) and it's got to go.

4)  Have the majority of my Disney World trip planned.  By April I want to be able to sit down and just reserve my dining smoothly.  Same with my Fast Passes in August.  So time to narrow down some choices from maybes to definites!

5)  Get back to church regularly.  I'm ready to work towards finding a home church again, and make it a priority to go.

     I've become a regular planner in the last few months, and this so far has really been helping me stay on the ball with bills, trip planning, and things going on at work.  Thanks to the Happy Planner, I'm a happy planning camper!  

     Let's go into the new year with these goals completed and more goals set!  I want to know what your number one goal is to complete by the end of the year, or am I crazy for trying to complete these goals in just a few weeks?  Maybe I'm just an over achiever, maybe I AM crazy!  I do teach preschool HA!

Lots of love,

Samantha <3