One of the things that has helped me through this time of pandemic and physical distancing is staying connected to my friends. I’ve been using Marco Polo to check in with my friends each day and see how they are doing. But I’ve also made it a priority to keep up with this blog and with my newsletter.
If you are new to this blog or been an avid reader for a while, I invite you to sign up for the newsletter using the link below. In the newsletter, you get a little more personal update along with some book updates as well (although, just for full transparency, the book has been put on hold for right now during this pandemic. But when the book is finished, the newsletter subscribers will have the option to become beta readers).
At the beginning of last year, I started a newsletter, which fizzled out with my blog last summer. I felt defeated, to be honest. But in only 8 short weeks, so many things fell into place that I couldn’t ignore that this blog and my writing were part of my calling. I may not get large followings or achieve success by worldly standards, but I know from comments and emails and private messages throughout the last 7 years especially that I am meant to write. It’s seeped into my blood and become a part of me.
When I decided to come back and write, I made a point to restructure the blog in such a way that I could maintain some amount of content on a regular basis. And it was a good bit of restructuring. And I’ve allocated some of the content to my newsletter that will come out at the beginning of each month on the first Friday beginning in February.
The newsletter content will be a behind the scenes of the blog. It will include more of stuff going on in my life that may not make it into a blog post or may go into more detail about something I mentioned in a blog post. It will also be a place that I will talk about the book that I’m writing (yes, I’m still writing that book), including even some beta reading opportunities.
Now, I don’t think I’m great at selling things. It’s probably because I don’t like being sold things. But this newsletter is going to have content that I’m not putting anywhere else. So if you want to be a part of this awesome community, there is a seat saved for you.
Here’s the link. If you sign up before next Friday, you will get the February newsletter which will talk about why I have more space in my life this year and why I made that choice. Hope to talk to you soon!
Other than those pesky allergies, we managed to stay pretty healthy this month!
As far as my plans, here is how April went:
I am going to be honest with you. I didn’t like doing the reading journal. It was hard to incorporate it into my day because I read literally whenever I have time. In a drive thru. At the gym. When I’m waiting for a timer to go off for dinner. And I just couldn’t keep up with the pages I was reading and the thoughts I had in a journal (besides, I’m actually already journaling in three journals this year, so I might be journaled out.). I haven’t yet really begun to write in my books (unless they are for a book club and nonfiction – I don’t know why I’m okay with only that), but I might look into other possible options (book darts, maybe?).
I did research on memoir writing. I still want to find Stephen King’s On Writing which I haven’t yet (I should just break down and get it on Amazon). But I think what has been most helpful is reading other people’s memoirs. I’m probably (definitely) going to go back to writing next month, but I want to incorporate more memoirs in my near future.
I did get the plants planted in the hydroponic jars. I just have to wait for them to sprout. Hopefully, they will, although they are a different brand than my mint (which is doing beautifully still!). I almost forgot to do them this month, but this blog post reminded me.
Here’s my plan for May thriving:
I only really have one goal or focus this month, and that is rest. I’m taking a break from blogging for the month of May. I did this last year when I had my son, but I’ve actually taken this month off for both blogging and social media for many years in the past. I think this is about the time when I need to step back and evaluate blogging and, really social media in general (although I will still probably post on my Instagram @katyslifestory). But also, we have a lot of family time this month (hello, celebrating my son this week is bringing in both of our parents!) and I want to take the time to enjoy it.
So I hope you all have a wonderful month of May and I will talk to you again in June. (By the way, I do have some blog posts still going up to finish this week. Friday will be my last post. I will also take a break from my newsletter, Saturday will be the last one until next month).
Do you have any goals you are trying to reach this month?
The illnesses continues this month in our household. I feel like we are playing Sicky Bingo this year. So far we have experienced RSV, the Flu, Pink Eye, and a Double Ear Infection. But Spring is here, and with it is sunshine and warmer weather, so hopefully it also signifies the end to all this sick business.
As far as my plans, here is how March went:
Work up to reading 50 pages in a day. I don’t know if I will actually accomplish this, but any excuse to read is definitely something that fits into my definition of thriving.
Continue writing the second chapter, and add a few things to the first chapter. Hopefully, complete both and beginning writing on the third chapter.
Start my garden! I already have the setup done, I just need to plant the seeds at the right time, or ahead of time in the house.
I did accomplish reading 50 pages a day by the last two weeks of the month. Honestly, it took a lot of dedication. I was lucky that I could find Jane Eyre in audio, E-book, and traditional book form so that I could read the story wherever I was – while nursing, before bed, in the early morning, working out. My library was an excellent resource for this. I even got up to 162 pages in a day (I used the traditional book to keep up with the page amount).
I completed the second and third chapters of my book. I’ve written about 7500 words so far. Right now, I’m basically writing chronologically, but I know that I will be going back through and adding memories or little things that I want to include. Plus, I want to figure out the complete purpose of this book. Of course, it’s to tell the story of the last five years, but there are so many directions that story can take, depending on the audience.
The garden is planted! In fact, I just transplanted my watermelon plant that I grew from seed inside. I have posted a few pictures on Instagram, and a few more plants have sprouted since then. I’m still waiting on a few more, however.
Here’s my plan for April thriving:
Begin a reading journal. I kind of started doing this last month to keep track of pages, but I would love to have something that includes notes on what I’m reading to help me when I write my reviews (up until this point, I’ve been doing my reviews mostly from memory). Plus, I would like to continue keeping track of my page count (by the way, April 1st, I only read 12 pages. It was a long, tiring day).
Research more on memoir writing. I am getting to a point in my writing where I need to decide what direction I want to take (as I mentioned above). I got some books out of the library, and I will probably do some research online, but I think I will take a small break from my writing to make sure I’m headed where I want to go.
Finish planting indoors. I have a few hydroponic herbs that Michael got me for Christmas. I need to plant them and get them all set up on my window. I finally have room because I’ve moved the watermelon plant outside.
I will try to post updates
throughout the month on these on my Instagram, and of course, have an overview
at the end of the month.
Do you have any goals you are trying to reach this month?
February flew by, but I guess that’s what to expect from the shortest month of the year. Unfortunately, we had some illness again this month. Ugh, I’m so ready for the sicky season to be over and the sun to come out again! Although, I’m also game for a good snow day if it decides to visit Texas this year (a girl can dream!).
As far as my plans, here is how February went:
I have set up a workout rhythm at home, including the trips to the gym on the weekend. It wasn’t perfect this month. We had another visit from the illness fairy, but the rhythm is something I can stop if I need to and pick right back up the next day.
I didn’t complete the second chapter of the book in February because I got inspired to add things to my first chapter. But I’m really happy with that chapter, and I’m using that momentum into this month.
I did bake twice this month, though! I made a strawberry lemon cheesecake around Valentine’s Day. And I made cookies and cream cupcakes towards the end of the month. Both were delicious and fun to get back into baking. I put up pictures of both of these on my Instagram.
Here’s my plan for March thriving:
Work up to reading 50 pages in a day. I don’t know if I will actually accomplish this, but any excuse to read is definitely something that fits into my definition of thriving.
Continue writing the second chapter, and add a few things to the first chapter. Hopefully, complete both and beginning writing on the third chapter.
Start my garden! I already have the setup done, I just need to plant the seeds at the right time, or ahead of time in the house.
I will try to post updates
throughout the month on these on my Instagram, and of course, have an overview
at the end of the month.
Do you have any goals you are trying to reach this month?
Whew. January was incredibly insane for my family. I can’t help but wonder if it is an indication of crazy things to come for this year. Our family was out for about half of the month with at least one of us sick. But still, there were definite moments of thriving, even if there were about the same amount of moments surviving.
As far as my plans, here is how January went:
I went to the gym probably once a week on average. Between coordinating with Michael and being sick or Sam being sick, I had to miss a few of my intended visits. Still, I enjoyed the times I did go, and my plan is still to go at least twice a week in the month of February.
I did begin writing my book. I got a bit of outline done for most of the chapters, and according to my document, I’ve written a little over 2000 words. It’s not much, but I am getting into the rhythm of writing each week.
I did bake twice in the month of January! I made cookies out of a mason jar mix that I received for Christmas. I didn’t anticipate them becoming so big in the oven, so they didn’t come out perfectly. But they were the best cookie crumbles! I also baked chocolate chip cookies from a British recipe so I got to use my kitchen scale. They were very good!
Here’s my plan for February thriving:
Incorporate some at-home smaller workouts. While I still intend on going to the gym at least twice a week, I am starting to feel the need to do some more strength work at home. And maybe some more yoga outside of the class. I used to do this all the time, but with a baby, it can be a bit of a challenge.
Try to complete two chapters in the book. I started getting some momentum with my book, so I want to finish up the first chapter I’m writing and hopefully finish another one before the end of the month. This is a shorter month so this will also be a bit of a challenge.
Bake two things with the word “cake” in it. Last month I baked cookies, so this month I want to try my hand at some kind of cake. I know cheesecake is going to be one of them, but I don’t yet know if I will try a cupcake or some other kind of cake for the other.
So, it is going to be a lot like January, but I’m actually working through each of the seasons in rhythms. I might share more about this later. Hope everyone had a great start to the new year, and if you didn’t meet your goals, that’s okay. February can be your new start!
Happy New Year everyone! What an incredible, crazy, and amazing year 2018 was for me and my family. It ended with wonderful time with family and friends. I am so grateful for the year, and I’m ready to take on this new one.
Last year, I used the word Anticipation as my focus for the year. It was the perfect word and worked so well considering we were anticipating the arrival of our son and all of the firsts that come after that. I almost couldn’t decide on a new word for this year because it wouldn’t top last year’s word.
So, I want to change my mindset this year. While I want to continue to live in the present and take one day at a time, I want to do more than just survive. I want to thrive.
To thrive means to flourish. It’s not staying in my comfort zone. It’s challenging myself to grow vigorously.
Honestly, I’m slightly afraid that I will fail. That I will find out that I’m not good enough to accomplish the things I want to do. But I can’t remain in fear. I know that my default is to stay where it’s comfortable (any fellow nines out there?). But I also know that while comfort is good when healing, it’s not the best for growing. And I want to grow.
So, while I have many plans in the coming months, here are a few things I’m going to try in January to help me get into the mindset of thriving.
Start going to a gym regularly. This is a pretty typical new year resolution, isn’t it? However, I have already tried out this particular gym’s yoga class and absolutely loved it. I’m hoping to go at least twice a week this month, including a few more of these yoga classes.
Start writing my book. This is probably the biggest and scariest goal for me this year. But I feel like last year was a chapter in my life closing and a new one beginning. So before I get too far into this new chapter of my life, I thought writing down my experiences of the last five years or so into a book would help me reflect on all of it.
Try to bake two things this month. Michael and I love to watch the Great British Baking Show on Netflix. And I want to try my hand at baking a couple of things this month. I got a new kitchen scale, so I’m excited to try it out.
There are a few more things that will be a bit different this year, particularly on the blog, but I will talk about that later this week. I am a ball of anxiety and excitement at what this new year will bring. I might have to incorporate some more stillness and meditation to counteract all the excitement. I hope you have had a great start to the new year!
Katy's Life Story 