A New Year, A New Beginning.

Happy New Years Everyone!  Hope everyone had a wonderful night however you celebrated!  I am excited for all the new beginnings that lie ahead in 2018.  Am I the only one who felt a ton of excitement when I found out that the year started on a Monday? My non-diagnosed inner OCD girl in me was overjoyed. 

I'm hoping in 2018 to commit to accomplishing plenty of goals/resolutions if you will.  I just wanted to dedicate a post to lay out what I'm out to tackle and interesting in hearing where everyone else is planning to do for your new year!! 

When I make my goals, I tend to categorize them and the categories I place them are either things I'm passionate about like fitness/crafts, etc. or general knowledge such as financial/health,etc. 

So my list is pretty cliche and basic but I think the easier or more general they are - the more attainable they are. 

Read the Bible Entirely

In the last few months, I've found myself really craving growth in my faith. I'm finding some peace in attending church. I really want to read the Bible to educate myself on more of what faith has to offer me. I think it'll help me on multiple levels in regards to my faith. I'm excited to learn and also to finish a book that I've been wanting to for a few years. 

Read 5 Books

Something similar clearly to the one before this one, but if you know me- I'm not a reader really at all. I enjoy a good magazine, some newspaper articles but something about reading never "excites" me. But I feel I rely too heavily on technology for entertainment and I need a break away from that. So if reading will help me- two birds, one stone right? 

Lose 30 Pounds.

This is one of those er, der kind of cliche resolutions but I really have let myself go. I know it's a high number to shoot for but it's where I think would get me back to my "happy" weight/body. Also this would hopefully be a result of me achieving other goals which is kind of a positive domino affect.

Run 500 Miles.

I'm not even sure what to say about this other than I just want to run. I wanted a number that I felt was achievable. I know that its kind of a small number? Maybe not. But that would be around 40 miles a month give and take. I'm hoping as I build my mileage back up again and run races, they'll add up quicker some months than others. 

Run 10 Races.

This past year , I ran no races. Like what?  That needs to change. So I set a goal for 10 races of some shape. I think it's pretty achievable. 

Stay Debt Free/ Pay Off Bills.

I think this isn't rocket science, probably another one of those typical goals. In my head, I think?- I'm pretty decent with my money but I could be off base. I am not too deep in any debts but I want to cut my spending down more and make sure that my bills are just paid off.   

Build Up My Savings

Kind of like above, I just want to be more realistic with my spending and my savings. I want to be able to have a nice pillow to fall upon when I move out on my own. Granted, I've should have done it a while ago but I do end up having scenarios that come in my way that have prevented it. I've had conversations with people and in my best interest, having a smarter savings would help me in a more positive direction to have a more safer savings.

Make 100 Scrap Pages.

I think its a pretty hefty goal but it's definitely something I can knock out. I am still working hard on stash busting. This is something that hopefully will end up letting me make a lot of pages as well as save money although it's so tempting to buy all these new lines that are coming out. Damn, CHA why must you do this?  

Whew, so sorry about that being drug out but I just feel if I talk about it- if I throw it out there, more people will hold me accountable. It's public information- no big secrets. I can't say - I have no idea what you're talking about - *shoves a donut in my mouth*. I'm excited to see where this journey leads me and hopefully I can keep myself going to the right destination even if I derail a little bit. 

Let me know what you guys are thinking, what are your goals? I am all about supporting others and their goals. Lets do this together!! 

xo. Renee

Project Life Fitness Style @ Paper Issues.

I'm up on the Paper Issue's blog with my first post! How exciting right?!?!  I'm going to do basically the same post over here, I hope you all don't mind reading it twice. ( Assuming you read both blogs right?!?! - If you don't , go subscribe to their blog .. or subscribe to mine, of course!) 

Well if you've been following me at all in the recent months, you know I've decided to do a 6 x 12 project life this year- starting at the summer before my 30th birthday.  I've shown a few of my pages but I know I'm drastically behind on that. I'll have to throw some of those post up for you! 

I wanted to make a page documenting my fitness that I've been reboosting. I know you've been kept up the loop with my planner pages and photos already but now I've thrown the photos into scrapbook form.  I used the #Whatever line by Simple Stories, I just think it's so me. The hashtags, crazy sayings and the colors are perfect!  I also think it works so well with the photos I jazzed up on the PicArt app.

I'm just so excited on so many levels. I'm excited to be part of a great team of girls that I've admired from afar - they're so helpful and kind. And representing a store that I couldn't be more obsessed with makes me proud. Also with my fitness, I've done so well omitting the holidays as well as the random snowstorms. I can't wait to get outside but I'm having a blast getting in shape and actually look forward to it each day. 

I hope you enjoyed my page as well as the close ups. Inspire you to bust out your supplies and start up a Project Life. It doesn't need a kit club or famous names- it just needs a few cut apart sheets of paper or not even. It just needs photos of your everyday life moments you want to capture! 

But any supplies you need- I hope you go to Paper Issues to pick them up! Their service is one -of-a-kind and with my name Renee- you can save 20%. 

xo. Renee

Fitness Planning for Jan 1-8

I'm so behind on showing you my fitness and planning! But I'm so excited about all my Paper Issues pages and challenges. I swear even with all that going on, I've been on top of my fitness game and I'm so proud of myself!! 

With the new year, I've changed it up just a little though. Instead of random Pinterest workouts, I decided to whip out my Women's Health Big Book of Exercises and do one of the workouts from the back of the book. Right now I'm doing the 8 weeks til Wedding Body. Yep, no wedding here but I want to look like a fabulous bride! HAHA! Weeks 1-4  has an A or B work out that you alternate 3 days a week.  I've also been doing my own warm up cardio as well as still fitting in my runs before or after the work out. 

This is what I did in my planner! I love the big fitness sticker pack from MAMBI, so many bright colors and fun stickers to use. I also actually had washi already that matched :D I'm finally able to use up my washi haul maybe??  

Monday - 15 minutes on the bike ; Wk1 D1 of the Wedding Workout from the Fitness Book as well as a 2 mile run! 

Tuesday-  15 minutes on the elliptical and a 2 mile run.

Wednesday- 15 minutes on the bike; Wk1 D2 of the Wedding WO and a 2 mile run.

Thursday- REST

Friday- 15 minutes on the elliptical and 3 mile run! So proud of myself!!

Saturday- 15 minute on the bike; Wk1 D3 of the Wedding WO and a 2.5 mile run. 

Sunday- REST ( went out of town so I just didn't work out)

Total Miles : 11.5!! How awesome!!

I know I'm a little behind showing you the work outs but I will be back with this past week's workout! They aren't as exciting as I've been sick with some flu-ish virus going around, and even though I feel a little better- I'm afraid to do a lot of motion that may cause something to turn ugly.  

xo. Renee

Fitness Planning for Dec. 12- 25.

So I have missed a week of showing you my fitness for the week, but you didn't miss much on either week. Seems the cold weather and tons of snow liked to take a hold of my plans! But I did manage to get some work outs in even with it all plus the holidays! 

Still keeping the same routine so it's not too exciting but alternating arm/leg work outs with a run and cardio warm up! :) I just like decorating each week so at least something looks different even if it isn't the work out! Ha!  

I also have been posting some pictures of my work out on Instagram ( Welcome new followers! ) - loving playing with the photo editing apps. I think this new one I've been trying is called PicsArt. Awesome fun filters- makes my work out photos look more exciting, bahaha. 

Don't ask about the face, I have no idea! It's hard to plank and take timer selfies :) But I love the photo, just makes me smile for some ungodly reason! I end each work out with planks and other core work outs.  This week I ran a total of 7 miles, which I thought wasn't too bad with missing a few days due to weather. 

We won't talk much about this week, a whole lot of not feeling good, and Christmas got me some itty bitty work outs. I just ran a total of 4.25 miles but it's better than nothing. I'm hoping to step it up more this week but I still have been having some tummy issues and so I've been doing small work outs.  Hopefully by time the New Years comes, I'll be feeling fresh and rejuvenated.  

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday!  This is also my 100th entry!! Too bad it wasn't more exciting but I have great news and plans for the new years coming up soon so stay tuned!! :)

xo. Renee

Fitness Planning from Dec.5-11

Well I'm a couple days late then I wanted to be with this post! But with the weather blistering cold and my car not starting-my trip to the gym was cancelled so blogging it will be!  I have been doing a great job keeping up with my work outs- and thankful for my new Happy Planner Mini to log all my work outs in!  I think the mini is more my style - it's small, to the point. Also not going to lie- I've been kind of obsessed with decorating it :) I'm a nerd.

This week was very similar to last week- in which I started each day- alternating between riding the bike or elliptical for 15 minutes for a warm up.   

Monday - I did an arm work out that I found on Pinterest, I think I touched base on that last week. I'm a Pinterest stalker and find random work outs and save them to a folder to try later.  Followed by a 1.5 mile run. 

Tuesday - Leg work out (Again, the Pinterest thing.) with a 1.25 run afterwards.

Wednesday - I just did my cardio warm up and 1.75 mile run.

Thursday - Arm work out and a two mile run. It's been so long since I've ran 2 miles straight, it felt so needed.  I'm taking things slow- trying to not to injure myself and find my running again. Sometimes it sucks to take time off, but sometimes it just makes things exciting again. 

Friday- took a rest day :)

Saturday-  did a leg work out  along with a 1.25 mile run.

Sunday- 1.5 run and an arm work out.

Also each day, I do 30 second planks- side, elbow, and full plank. Sometimes also some russian twist with a kettlebell. I'm working it up slowly with the planks, I've always been horrible with them!! But momma needs some abs. 

Total miles : 9.25 miles

I love using the bright color stickers as well as all the fitness stickers! I 'm also trying to keep track of various things I need to do also- but that part is somewhat hard. Don't ask why. I'm a huge list person- I make them all the time at work to take home. (Always remember stuff when I'm doing something else, logical.) I'm just so excited that so far it's been working really well on both the fitness and planner front! This week has been a bit of a hassle but I'll tell you about it next post!!

xo. Renee