May: Week 4 Check-In

MAY 2013 GOALS

Month is currently 87% over.
Overall: 100% complete

CAREER - 164% Complete

Hit target number of monthly illustrations. - 50% complete.
Number illustrations completed - 50% complete.

Make target income for the month. - 55% complete.

Draw one illustration for myself. - 500% complete
Some notes: So I scaled the illustrations back to 500%.  I'm also still counting it as 100% in Personal.  That should help level some things out.  I need to get caught up on work pretty badly, so that'll be my focus this week.  I honestly don't think I'm going to make any more money considering that I'll be going out of town at the end of this week.

FINANCIAL - 72% Complete

Make target income for the month. - 55% complete.

Keep budget. - 87% complete.
Switch/Reduce Car Insurance - 75% complete.
Some notes: Aaron finally produced a few quotes on car insurance.  We do have some leads, but we've found that we'd much rather switch at the end of our contract.  That means we won't be switching until late July/early August.  This week, I'd like Aaron to make some calls and actually talk with some representatives, as well as talk with our local agent at our current insurance.  After that, I'm going to call it complete for the month.

HEALTH - 90% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 87% complete.

Lose 5 pounds by completing eight Six-Week Slim Down courses. - 92% complete.
Dentist appointment. - 0% complete.
Some notes: Taking the dentist appointment off again.  I know this is the second month I've pushed it back. I just can't see me calling around this week when I'm trying to prep for moving Charli in.  Also, I still haven't lost anymore weight.  I could go on a long rant, but the short of it is that I'm doing everything right and it's not coming off.  Stupid hypothyroidism.  I don't know if I'm going to lose anything more honestly.

HOME - 87% Complete

Clear out the upstairs closet. - 100% complete.
Clear out the den. - 100% complete.
Organize the kitchen cabinets. - 60% complete.
Some notes:   I finally lit a fire under Aaron and he sorted his stuff and moved some boxes.  I admittedly caved and did some of the work myself before he came home Friday.  Sometimes I just get tired of things not getting done.

Addendum: Cleaning out the upstairs closed involves: Sorting all items, taking empty boxes to the garage and putting other items in their place.
Cleaning out the den involves: Cleaning out the den bookshelf, removing all donation boxes from the corner and finding a suitable place for them.
Organizing the kitchen cabinets involves: Cleaning out the food cupboards and fridge of expired or useless food, cleaning out the pots and pans by removing damaged items, cleaning out the dishes cabinets by removing damaged or useless items, and clearing all drawers of trash and other useless items and finding a place for items that don't belong in the kitchen.

KNOWLEDGE - 90% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 87% complete.

Continue taking supplements. - 87% complete.

Continue daily mental exercises. - 87% complete.

Read one book. - 100% complete.
Some notes: Nothing to report here.

PERSONAL - 93% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 87% complete.

Meditate three times in April. - 100% complete.

Draw one illustration for myself. - 100% complete.

Lose 5 pounds by completing eight Six-Week Slim Down courses. - 92% complete.

Adhere to my planner schedule. - 87% complete.

RELATIONSHIP - 100% Complete

Do one date night. - 100% complete.
Some notes: We watched a movie together.  It wasn't exactly a normal date night - it was on his laptop while eating dinner - but it was the best we could cram in this month.

SPIRITUAL - 100% Complete

Meditate three times in April. - 100% complete.
Volunteer for the local pet shelter once this month. - 100% complete.
Meet with my mentee four times this month. - 0% complete.
Some notes: Everything's complete here.

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Check List for May

1. Triple up on May's home cleaning chore so I can move Charli in at the end of the month. - Almost done!
2. Sort out May's home cleaning chores into weekly goals.
3. Be 162 by the end of May  - 162.6.  Very close, but it's just not budging any further.
4. Dentist appointment during May - I may not be able to attend the appointment, but I can at least make it.  Not happening.
5. Switch or reduce insurance during May - We're not going to switch until our insurance comes due, but we've at least got a start on the process.
6. Select a new book to read.
7. Decide on a date night this month.
8. Volunteer once this month.

A Late Week 3 Check-In

It still feels like this month has just started and it's almost over.  I don't know how that happens.  I also have been incredibly lazy, I won't lie.  Here goes nothing.

MAY 2013 GOALS

Month is currently 71% over.
Overall: 97% complete (52% without other illustrations)
See why below.

CAREER - 258% Complete (58% without other illustrations)

Hit target number of monthly illustrations. - 50% complete.
Number illustrations completed - 25% complete.

Make target income for the month. - 55% complete.

>>>Draw one illustration for myself. - 900% complete (Yes, 900%.)
Some notes: Yes, you're seeing that last number accurately.  I drew a bunch of famous internet cats the other day.  They've been crazy popular.  That almost cancels out the rest of the year in personal drawings.  It also gives me a whole set of work.  Crazy stuff.  I... I don't even know how to add those in.  900% seems a little crazy.

FINANCIAL - 42% Complete

Make target income for the month. - 55% complete.

Keep budget. - 71% complete.
Switch/Reduce Car Insurance - 0% complete.
Some notes: Aaron has gotten absolutely nowhere on getting our insurance swapped or lowered.  I guess I'm just going to have to do it myself as usual.

HEALTH - 54% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 71% complete.

Lose 5 pounds by completing eight Six-Week Slim Down courses. - 92% complete.
Dentist appointment. - 0% complete.
Some notes: I finally dropped another pound.  I need to get over my fear of dentists and finally make the call about getting my teeth cleaned and my upper right tooth filled.  I can't keep doing this to myself.

HOME - 33% Complete

Clear out the upstairs closet. - 50% complete.
Clear out the den. - 50% complete.
Organize the kitchen cabinets. - 0% complete.
Some notes:   I need Aaron to move the boxes from upstairs.  He still hasn't done it.  I guess I'm going to be doing that too.  Typical.  They have to be out of there by the end of the month or where will Charli and Eric stay?  Seriously.  If I've been lazy, so has he.

Addendum: Cleaning out the upstairs closed involves: Sorting all items, taking empty boxes to the garage and putting other items in their place.
Cleaning out the den involves: Cleaning out the den bookshelf, removing all donation boxes from the corner and finding a suitable place for them.
Organizing the kitchen cabinets involves: Cleaning out the food cupboards and fridge of expired or useless food, cleaning out the pots and pans by removing damaged items, cleaning out the dishes cabinets by removing damaged or useless items, and clearing all drawers of trash and other useless items and finding a place for items that don't belong in the kitchen.

KNOWLEDGE - 66% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 71% complete.

Continue taking supplements. - 71% complete.

Continue daily mental exercises. - 71% complete.

Read one book. - 50% complete.
Some notes: Nothing to report here.

PERSONAL - 240% Complete  (80% without other illustrations)

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 71% complete.

Meditate three times in April. - 66% complete.

Draw one illustration for myself. - 900% complete. (Seriously, I've got to find another way to calculate this.)

Lose 5 pounds by completing eight Six-Week Slim Down courses. - 92% complete.

Adhere to my planner schedule. - 71% complete.

RELATIONSHIP - 0% Complete

Do one date night. - 0% complete.
Some notes: We need to plan this still. ... Still. ... STILL.

SPIRITUAL - 83% Complete

Meditate three times in April. - 66% complete.
Volunteer for the local pet shelter once this month. - 100% complete.
Meet with my mentee four times this month. - 0% complete.
Some notes: Seems my mentee dropped all contact with me.  To be fair, I have a lot of other stuff to do anyway.

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Check List for May

1. Triple up on May's home cleaning chore so I can move Charli in at the end of the month.
2. Sort out May's home cleaning chores into weekly goals.
3. Be 162 by the end of May  - 162.6!  Very close!
4. Dentist appointment during May - I may not be able to attend the appointment, but I can at least make it.
5. Switch or reduce insurance during May - I need to push Aaron to do this.  Light a fire under him until he does it or something.
6. Select a new book to read.
7. Decide on a date night this month - This may not actually be happening.
8. Volunteer once this month.

Ugh, hypothyroidism.

Over the past three months, I've been very stagnant on my weight loss.  That's why I decided to take an exercise class this month.  I wanted to catch up.  I thought it was my fault for not losing it.  In the first week, I lost three pounds and I was very excited!

Then I stepped on the scale this week.

Those three pounds are back and the scale reads the same old number I've been seeing for months.  And it's not just my weight.  I measured myself and found that I not only didn't lose any inches anywhere, but I actually gained in some places.  I'm so god damn frustrated.  I've tried all sorts of diet adjustments.  Various exercise levels.  It just isn't coming off. The worst part is that I was warned about this from my primary - that I would hit a weight plateau.  I just thought it'd be closer to my target weight.  And, even worse, my target weight is still 15 pounds more than what I should weigh.  And I'm 26 pounds from my target weight.

Not to sound like a whiny teenager, but it just seems so unfair.  Losing weight is hard enough.  Hypothyroidism takes that difficulty and multiplies it by 100.  I have to fight for every pound I lose - and every pound I don't lose.  I gain for absolutely no reason.  And don't even get me started on motivation.

Even worse, I did some research.  I'm already on a restrictive diet.  It seems like, in order to lose any more weight, I'm going to have to restrict myself even more.  No more high-sugar fruits or dairy.  Absolutely no breads, not even low-cal, low-carb ones.  I'd be limited to certain proteins and certain vegetables.  If I wanted any kind of diversity, I'd have to give up my pescetarian diet.  And, when and if I do lose the weight, I'd never be able to go back or I'd gain it all back.

I understand restricting yourself to a healthy diet, but where does it cross the line?  When is it no longer worth it?  To never eat another slice of bread again?  Or maybe only once a month and then have to bust rear to get it off?

I'm starting to wonder if I should give up my weight goals for this year.  But it was one of my big three.  I seriously feel like curling up in a ball and crying.  What's the point in having goals when I can't even meet them?

May: Week 2 Check-In

I feel like this month's just started, yet it's half over.  I guess that's how taking time off feels?  If my numbers are a little low, forgive me.  I've been running my rear off at the park... or doing calisthenics or using an elliptical.  You know, relaxing.

MAY 2013 GOALS

Month is currently 45% over.
Overall: 33% complete.

CAREER - 51% Complete

Hit target number of monthly illustrations. - 50% complete.
Number illustrations completed - 0% complete.

Make target income for the month. - 55% complete.

Draw one illustration for myself. - 100% complete.
Some notes: I'm starting work again tomorrow.  I went ahead and sent out e-mails tonight and got some responses, so some of my income is starting to be met.  I halved my target income and number of illustrations for the month because I took two weeks off.

FINANCIAL - 33% Complete

Make target income for the month. - 55% complete.

Keep budget. - 45% complete.
Switch/Reduce Car Insurance - 0% complete.
Some notes: I don't know where Aaron's at on switching insurance.  I'll need to check in with him on that tomorrow.  In the end, that will probably be a 0% or 100% thing.

HEALTH - 39% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 45% complete.

Lose 5 pounds by completing eight Six-Week Slim Down courses. - 72% complete.
Dentist appointment. - 0% complete.
Some notes: The Six-Week Slim Down course has been freaking amazing.  Already down 3.6 pounds since the beginning of last week!  Had some issues with my scale.  In the end it needed new batteries.  Technically, it says I'm down over 4 pounds, but I'm counting it a little differently knowing that the scale was part of the problem.

HOME - 33% Complete

Clear out the upstairs closet. - 50% complete.
Clear out the den. - 50% complete.
Organize the kitchen cabinets. - 0% complete.
Some notes:   Aaron and I cleared unwanted books from our bookshelf in the den and I donated about half of my jewelry.  Now I just need to grab the donation boxes and some miscellaneous things and move it elsewhere to call the den officially clean and sorted.  Upstairs, I pulled everything out of the closet and sorted it.  A lot of it was empty boxes Aaron and I are storing for our move.  They can be put in the garage for now. I asked Aaron to do the moving, but I might do it.  If nothing else, running up and down two flights of stairs should be a calorie burner.

Addendum: Cleaning out the upstairs closed involves: Sorting all items, taking empty boxes to the garage and putting other items in their place.
Cleaning out the den involves: Cleaning out the den bookshelf, removing all donation boxes from the corner and finding a suitable place for them.
Organizing the kitchen cabinets involves: Cleaning out the food cupboards and fridge of expired or useless food, cleaning out the pots and pans by removing damaged items, cleaning out the dishes cabinets by removing damaged or useless items, and clearing all drawers of trash and other useless items and finding a place for items that don't belong in the kitchen.

KNOWLEDGE - 34% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 45% complete.

Continue taking supplements. - 45% complete.

Continue daily mental exercises. - 45% complete.

Read one book. - 0% complete.
Some notes: I have selected a book.  I just haven't gotten around to it quite yet.

PERSONAL - 59% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 45% complete.

Meditate three times in April. - 33% complete.

Draw one illustration for myself. - 100% complete.

Lose 5 pounds by completing eight Six-Week Slim Down courses. - 72% complete.

Adhere to my planner schedule. - 45% complete.

RELATIONSHIP - 0% Complete

Do one date night. - 0% complete.
Some notes: We need to plan this still. ... Still.

SPIRITUAL - 11% Complete

Meditate three times in April. - 33% complete.
Volunteer for the local pet shelter once this month. - 0% complete.
Meet with my mentee four times this month. - 0% complete.
Some notes: My mentee cancelled last week on the first day we were supposed to meet.  As far as I'm aware, we're supposed to meet this upcoming Wednesday.  Also, I confirmed for volunteering this upcoming Saturday, so that's a go.

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Check List for May

1. Triple up on May's home cleaning chore so I can move Charli in at the end of the month.
2. Sort out May's home cleaning chores into weekly goals.
3. Be 162 by the end of May :(
4. Dentist appointment during May.
5. Switch or reduce insurance during May.
6. Select a new book to read.
7. Decide on a date night this month.
8. Volunteer once this month.

So I Updated my Goals Sidebar...

Holy crap, what am I doing to myself?  I am a workaholic!  So much crazy.

To give you an idea of what you should be seeing on the right-hand side, this year is roughly 33% over.  Home through Spiritual aligns with that.  I'm right on target there.

But Career through Health... I just... I don't even.

Look at that number - 61% for Career.  That's almost double where I should be.  And Financial's not too far behind at 45%.  Why am I pushing myself so hard when I'm so far ahead?  And Health... poor Health.  It's suffering at a mere 25%.

It's nothing that I didn't already know: I've been sacrificing exercise and diet to produce.  I guess I just didn't realize how much until now.  Out of all of that, I found out that I've made 53% of my target income for the year.  While that sounds spectacular, the fact that I haven't lost weight in two months is the result.

To be fair, I haven't worked since the 1st.  I'm probably going to go ahead and take the upcoming week off as well.  I need some time.  It's one thing to be invested in your job.  It's another thing to live and breathe it 24/7.  That's what I've been doing.  At this point, the only way to keep myself from bending over backwards to overshoot those numbers is to sabotage my chances.  I don't want to think that there's any way possible to get even 100%.  Then I'll just do what I can.  And that's enough at this point.

Taking time off right now is a great idea too, since I've been diving head-first into my exercise and diet regimen.  I hit the elliptical yesterday and pumped out 500 calories there.  And, while I didn't exercise today, I did walk all over four different stores with my mom.  I didn't log it, but I'm sure it registered some calories.  I've also been keeping with a steady diet and logging with MyFitnessPal.com.  Great site by-the-by for keeping track of your calories.  I've went through a lot of online food loggers and MFP has, by far, the largest food database.  Just about anything you could possibly eat has been added at one point or another.  And, if not, you can always add it yourself, though I've maybe only had to do that two or three times during my year's worth of logging.

I also have to give my mom credit.  She had a knee replacement surgery in early December 2012.  The doctors told her at that time that she needed to lose weight, particularly for the health of the replacement knee.  My mom went from weighing 320 lbs to 243 (weigh-in today!).  That's 77 pounds and she's still working it off!  Super proud, Mom.  Keep up the good work!

If my mom can lose 77 lbs+ with a gimp knee, I can work this last 20-something off, surely.

Exercise Class and Running

I am sore.

I mentioned in a few of my previous posts that I signed up for an exercise class.  Because I wasn't seeing the weight loss I had in mind, I wanted to get back into the swing of things.  I nabbed the same twice-a-week Six Week Slim Down course that I took last year.  In six weeks, I lost 13 pounds and kept it off.  I want to see those results again.

Last night was the first night of the course and I've come to a shocking realization: I haven't been pushing myself hard enough.  In part, it's because I haven't really worked out in the past month or two.  Nearly all of my exercise buddies got too busy and I'm not very good at committing to things without some kind of socialization.  So that went down the pipe.

But my confusion began long before that happened.  I'd been doing two to four separate nights of exercise in the past several months.  How was I not losing the same kind of weight?  Turns out, I haven't been pushing myself hard enough. When I began with the exercise group, it was just shortly after completing the six week course.  I was in the best shape I'd been since shortly after high school, but I was starting to work out with many of my friends who had never really exercised.  I tried to keep the workouts high pace, but it wore many of them out.  I know the girl who joined most recently was unnerved by how hard TurboFire was.  She confronted me that, if the exercises were going to be that difficult every time, she might not be able to continue.  For me, by that point, it was a necessity for it to be that strenuous.  My heart rate just didn't get up as far as it needed to otherwise.

Two things happened over the course of six months.  First, the exercises got much more lax to accommodate my friends who were turned off by how hard it was at the beginning.  Second, I stopped wearing my heart rate monitor because I was tired of seeing little to no movement in calories.  I was still of the mindset that at least I was doing something.  Any exercise is better than no exercise, I thought.  And that's probably true. I may have not been able to maintain my weight without the exercises we did.  I might have gained it all back.

But I certainly wasn't going to lose any of it either.

What last night reminded me of was this: If I don't see my heart rate monitor hit the high notes, if I don't come out looking like a tomato (the side effects of exercise on pale skin), if I don't have sweat marks all over my shirt, I haven't worked out hard enough.

With that in mind, I went to meet my friend Nic for our Wednesday run.  We've been doing this for a couple weeks now.  Despite it raining, we did three miles today.  And I made sure my heart rate stayed up, that my face got red.  In the end, I burned something like 650 calories for the day.  That's only a hundred calories less than yesterday.  Bam.

I'm not the kind of person to make excuses.  I absolutely hated looking at my end weight last month and not being able to sign a proper reason.  I wanted to take fault, but I wasn't sure how.  Now I know.

Official May Checklist

MAY 2013 GOALS

Month is currently 19% over.
Overall: 11% complete.

CAREER - 25% Complete

Hit target number of monthly illustrations. - 0% complete.
Number illustrations completed - 0% complete.

Make target income for the month. - 0% complete.

Draw one illustration for myself. - 100% complete.
Some notes: I'm taking a few weeks off on this one.  I'm lowering my target number of monthly illustrations and income to compensate.  Also, I drew something for myself pretty much right at the beginning of the month.  So that's already done.

FINANCIAL - 13% Complete

Make target income for the month. - 19% complete.

Keep budget. - 19% complete.
Switch/Reduce Car Insurance - 0% complete.
Some notes: We have full coverage on our more-than-a-decade old cars.  I'd either like to drop down to liability or maybe even find a new insurance company for cheaper.  I'd at least like to shave a good $500 off our yearly bill.  We'll see how this goes.  Aaron purchased a phone right at the beginning of the month for $250 and killed his spending budget immediately.  I told him the trade-off, given that I don't know if I can trust him to not go over, was that he was charged with switching insurance companies.  So that's all on him now.

HEALTH - 6% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 19% complete.

Lose 5 pounds by completing eight Six-Week Slim Down courses. - 0% complete.
Dentist appointment. - 0% complete.
Some notes: I'm probably under-judging for the weight loss, but I don't want to be overzealous.  I start the exercise class today.  This is the class that changed my life last year - I lost 13 pounds and have kept it off.  To me, this is the key to getting back on track.  In addition, I now have a PDF list of dentists available for my insurance in the area.  So now, that's on me.

HOME - 0% Complete

Clear out the upstairs closet. - 0% complete.
Clear out the den. - 0% complete.
Organize the kitchen cabinets. - 0% complete.
Some notes: A lot going on here.  There's a reason why: my best friend is moving down at the end of the month!  I'M SO EXCITED! That being said, I need to clear a space for her, which means no more upstairs closet if she decides to move upstairs, and cleaning out the den should she decide to move down here on the main floor.  It also means getting the kitchen prepped to withstand her utensils, boxed food and other things she may move down.  

KNOWLEDGE - 14% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 19% complete.

Continue taking supplements. - 19% complete.

Continue daily mental exercises. - 19% complete.

Read one book. - 0% complete.
Some notes: Nothing to report.

PERSONAL - 28% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 19% complete.

Meditate three times in April. - 0% complete.

Draw one illustration for myself. - 100% complete.

Lose 5 pounds by completing eight Six-Week Slim Down courses. - 0% complete.

Adhere to my planner schedule. - 19% complete.

RELATIONSHIP - 0% Complete

Do one date night. - 0% complete.
Some notes: We need to plan this still.

SPIRITUAL - 0% Complete

Meditate three times in April. - 0% complete.
Volunteer for the local pet shelter once this month. - 0% complete.
Meet with my mentee four times this month. - 0% complete.
Some notes: Earlier this month, on May 2nd, I came out as a pagan (specifically eclectic Wiccan).  The reaction was mixed with indifference and admiration, which is far, far more than I anticipated.  On top of it, I've been asked to mentor a new Wiccan from Moberly, MO.  We'll meet over Skype four times and keep correspondence through e-mail the rest of the week.  I'm very excited to get started.  In fact, developing our first week's topic is what my plans are for right after completing this list.

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Check List for May

1. Triple up on May's home cleaning chore so I can move Charli in at the end of the month.
2. Sort out May's home cleaning chores into weekly goals.
3. Be 162 by the end of May :(
4. Dentist appointment during May.
5. Switch or reduce insurance during May.
6. Select a new book to read.
7. Decide on a date night this month.
8. Volunteer once this month.

Final April Check-In

Well, some things happened and other things didn't.  Let's give it a shot.

APRIL 2013 GOALS

Month is currently 100% over.
Overall: 107% complete.

CAREER - 126% Complete!

Hit target number of monthly illustrations. - 143% complete.
Number of illustrations completed - 143% complete.

Make target income for the month. - 167% complete.

Draw one illustration for myself. - 100% complete.
Finish February's illustration. - 75% complete.

The Good: Always seeing over 100% in this category makes me incredibly giddy.  I'm always drawing, always collecting the dough.

The Struggles: I think it's official: I am a severe workaholic.  I took a week off in April and didn't even see the effects of it.  Even if I hadn't had some gigs, I would have still made over 100%.  So now, I'm taking a couple weeks off.  I want to get back into exercising.  I want to get a bit more spiritual.  I want to get some me time in.  There's no coming back from a couple weeks, so I literally can't overwork myself.

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FINANCIAL - 100% Complete! 

Make target income for the month. - 100% complete.

Keep budget. - 100% complete.

The Good: Honestly, nothing really to say here.  We kept the budget. I made more than my target income.  Nothing really interesting to report.

The Struggles:  See above.

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HEALTH - 50% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 100% complete.

Lose 4 pounds with short daily exercises and walking one mile a week. - 0% complete.

The Good: I uh, took my meds?

The Struggles:  If I felt comfortable cursing on this blog, that's what this part would be filled with.  So, for one, I was on the diet all month and freaking NOTHING.  Then, to make matters worse, I went out of town this weekend and ate out a lot (family event, very, very little choice when the MIL keeps saying "I'll pay.").  So I weighed myself this morning and... we're just not even going to talk about it.  I took a giant step backwards.  If I could put a negative up there, it would be terrible.  Absolutely freaking terrible.  All because I ate out for one weekend.  ONE WEEKEND.

I really, really, really, REALLY HATE HAVING HYPOTHYROIDISM.

Alright, enough with the italics and caps.

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HOME - 100% Complete

Organize the den closet. - 100% complete.
Organize the entrance closet. - 100% complete.

The Good: It's all done! Both closest fully cleaned out.

The Struggles:  I struggled to get Aaron motivated for the den closet, but he completely made up for it by doing the entrance closet all by himself.  That's why I don't have a before and after photo.  I didn't even touch the closet.  He did it all.  Super proud of my husband.

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KNOWLEDGE - 100% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 100% complete.

Continue taking supplements. - 100% complete.

Continue daily mental exercises. - 100% complete.

Read one book. - 100% complete.

The Good: Everything was a-okay here. Nothing to really report.

The Struggles:  See above.

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PERSONAL - 80% Complete

Continue taking thyroid meds. - 100% complete.

Meditate three times in April. - 100% complete.

Draw one illustration for myself. - 100% complete.

Lose 4 pounds with short daily exercises and walking one mile a week. - 0% complete.

Adhere to my planner schedule. - 100% complete.

No notes here, as most of these come from other sections.

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RELATIONSHIP - 200% Complete

Do one date night. - 200% complete.

The Good: We got two date-nights in this month.  Of course the first one was camping.  Technically, the second date night extended into May, but I'm counting it as April since I'm just now updating.  We went up to watch his sister graduate about three states away.  We had a hotel room though and I couldn't even touch work.  It was definitely a vacation in my mind.

The Struggles:  Nothing to report.

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SPIRITUAL - 100% Complete

Meditate three times in April. - 100% complete.
Volunteer for the local pet shelter once this month. - 100% complete.

The Good: Everything went smooth here.

The Struggles:  I wish I could say that I volunteered twice this month, but a gig got in the way.  My sister-in-law's graduation overtook a volunteer day for this month, but I also have something new on my plate.  We'll get there in a moment.

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OVER ALL FOR APRIL: 107% Complete.

Biggest success so far? That I'm a workaholic?  Is that a success?  I need to curb my working a bit.

What I need to work on the most? Weight loss. Here's the problem with this month: all the girls officially backed out of workout nights.  I actually gained a new workout day with a friend of mine, but I lost Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  And that's probably why I'm struggling with my weight.  Nothing worked like working out.  Fortunately, I have that problem solved this month.

What I'm the most worried about? Weight loss.  Though I may have that solved, as I said.

What am I the least worried about? Volunteering.  I've gained a whole new volunteering job on top of my original, so things are going great!


Note: I'm moving next month's checklist to the next entry.

Out of Town

I've been unable to update for the end of April because I've been out of town. I will do so soon. Sorry for the delay!