October Love, Goals, + Updates

Happy October, sweet friends! I'm really baffled that October is already here, but I am also thrilled. It's my all-time favorite month and I definitely think it should be celebrated! Like, maybe there's no school, no work, and no responsibilities all month. We'll all just spend October huddled around a bonfire with pumpkin coffee and apple bread. Because that's realistic, right? 😋

I could spend the rest of the month just posting about why I love October. And other than the fact that it would get pretty old for you, I would.
But since that's not going to work, I decided to do an October goals post, September updates, and some things I am loving for October- all wrapped up into one. You're welcome 😉

September Update

September has been a strange month for me. Very strange. I finished up a nanny job that I was contracted on through the Summer. I got a VA job that I worked for two weeks, but turned out not to be the best fit. I gained another client that has been an awesome fit.
Then, my hip and back injury (which left me bedridden for 5 days last year) acted up again and still hasn't settled down. It's not as bad as the last time that I had problems, but I have been doing a whole lot of laying in bed with a heating pad the past few weeks. I'm really hoping that the steroid shot I'll be getting next week will do the trick!

And to end September, we spent last weekend of the month in the mountains with our family, friends, and our church family. We were celebrating our home church's 10 year anniversary.

I really didn't have that many goals listed for September, and I met 3 out of 4 of them. Taylor and I actually did much better at adulting (i.e. being responsible people who clean, cook, and go to bed at a decent hour 😂), I was able to see baby E three times, and I finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Woot woot!

However, I did not get ahead on my blogging goals, because of the hip flare-up, which causes a lot of pain that gets worse when I try to sit down for long periods of time. I'm trying to find creative, practical ways to still get things done this month to make up for last month.

October Goals

Get Ahead On the Blog

I am desperately wanting to get ahead on my blog posts, VA work, and social media scheduling. For October, I'm just going to try to get at least three blog posts ahead and to revamp two posts with new images.

Workout Four Times Per Week

A while back, my grandparents let us borrow their stationary bike that has some pre-made workouts built in. We finally started using it recently and I think it's going to be a really good workout without murdering my hip. My goal is to do four workouts on the bike per week.

Focus On What Matters

Guys, I am so bad about focusing on the wrong things when it comes to my goals. I spend so much time participating in threads and worrying about numbers, that I neglect the most important parts of blogging: namely, crafting blog posts and newsletters.

It's really easy to get priorities turned upside in anything we set our hands to, so I'm sure it's not just me who struggles with that. But this month, I want to focus on getting it right. It's hard, and I cringe when I have to choose between growing my social media numbers and creating new content, but it's clear to me what matters most.

October Love

Apple Pumpkin Bread

I know I mentioned this apple pumpkin bread in my roundup post, but my sweet friend Gracie came to Charlotte and made this recipe again and it was even better than I remembered. Seriously, you need this bread in your life!

Blue Bloods

I love Blue Bloods, and season 8 just premiered a few days ago. The first episode of the season was heart-breaking, but I am so excited that it's back on. I might be a smidge addicted!

Birthdays

October is birthday month for me, for Taylor, and for several of my awesome friends. Unfortunately, October and these birthdays always seem to come and go before I have a chance to blink, but I still enjoy it thoroughly. I have no idea what I am doing for my birthday, but I think Taylor's parents are coming down for his. It'll be awesome.

Pumpkin Patches

Last year, going to a pumpkin patch was one of the highlights of my Fall. I went twice with baby E and it was so fun! This year, I am hoping that Taylor and I can go together.


What fun things are you looking forward to during the month of October? Did you do anything noteworthy in September? Comment below!

September Goals + A Fall Playlist

If you're here for the Fall Playlist, it's at the bottom of the post, so just scroll down 😉

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Hey friends! When September hits, I start pretending it's Fall...despite the 90 degree weather where we live. I'm looking forward to decorating for Fall, cooking Fall recipes, and doing fun Fall community things - like having a pumpkin party. 

Those fun things are soon-approaching and I can't wait. But for now, let's talk about goals (both the ones I had for August and now the ones I have for September.

Goals For August

Grow my Blog Stats

PASS! Other than pageviews and Facebook likes, I met and exceeded my goals. Woot woot!

Secure One Virtual Assistant Client

YES! PASS!
I am now working part-time from home as a virtual assistant, and starting in October, I will fill the rest of my hours with a part-time nanny job. I will be caring for an infant.

Contact One Brand For a Collab

FAIL
I didn't even try you guys...

Continue My Workouts with Mr. T

PASS-Ish.
Mr. T and I got some good workouts in during our Summer together. However, the heat deterred us more than I wish it had.

Finish Reading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Ummm, I'm writing this post a few days before August is finished, so technically I have a couple of days left... but no, I have not finished. However, I am making headway and this weekend I am house sitting and will have plenty of time to read 😉

Goals for September

Stay Active

Now that I am working as a VA, one thing I'm a little nervous about is staying active. Mr. T kept me active, but now that he is in school, I won't have that extra push anymore. I really want to walk at least 3 times per week, and I would love to reach between 2-3 miles per week. That's really not much at all, so I feel like I have no excuse.

Adult

Taylor and I have been trying so hard to stay on top of everything. We aren't always the best at adulting when it comes to keeping our house spic-and-span and purging the things we don't need. For the past week or so, we've been trying to be better at adulting in every area: cleaning, healthy eating, organizing, money-saving, and spiritual health. It's a work in progress but we are in it to win it! 😉

Visit Baby E Twice

I knew I would miss baby E after being her nanny for nearly two years, but I had no idea how much I would miss her. That little girl completely stole my heart and I miss her every day. My goal this month is to visit her twice. I know it's hard to coordinate schedule's between two families, but I think that should be doable.

Read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I'm finishing up book four and I hope to move on to this one by early September, and maybe even finish it. I'm so slow!


Friends, I'm excited. I'm so blessed and thankful to have found both a VA job and a nanny job that will work together well! I am thankful that I will have some down-time this weekend. I am thankful that Autumn is quickly on it's way. And I am thankful for strong, pumpkin coffee, which I have already consumed many cups of through August 😉☕

I'm excited for what the coming month holds. Are you looking forward to it, or do you feel like it's going to be a tough month? Comment below.

Click here for your Fall Spotify Playlist!

August Goals & Currently Loving

Happy August, my friend! I hope as you read this post you are filled with fun memories from July and exciting plans for the upcoming month. If July was rough, I hope you can put that behind you and enjoy August. And if August is going to hold a lot of challenges, I hope you can still push ahead, do your best, and hold on to joy.

July was a tough one for me. Not because it was bad, but because it was far busier than I am used to. I have had a hard time adjusting and I haven't done nearly as much as I had hoped with my blog this month. But, I am thankful that it was busy instead of bad, and that after one more moth of craziness, there is a potential for things to calm down a bit.

So today, I figured it was time I updated you on how I did with my July goals, and share my August goals and things I have been loving lately. Grab a nice big cup of joe (or beverage of preference), sit back, and enjoy!

July Update

Drink At Least 64oz. of Water Every Day

FAIL

Not gonna lie- this really didn't even cross my mind. I did drink a decent amount of water, but I know I didn't hit my goal.

Walk At Least 6 Miles Per Week

FAIL- But not exactly...
I did not hit my 6 miles/week goal. I ended up doing between 2-3 miles per week. However, the reason for this was because the heat would have been irresponsible to have Mr. T out in. So in addition to the 2-3 miles, we've been going swimming at least once per week (usually more).

Finish Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

FAIL
I haven't touched the book...

Blogging & Business

Increase All Stats

YES! PASS!I hit my Twitter, Facebook, and Email Newletter goals (and surpassed them).
I fell short on my Instagram, Pinterest, and page view goals (but still saw growth in all of them). However, even though I didn't hit my Pinterest follower goals, I have been getting more page views because of Pinterest than usual and that is at least partially due to my new, long pins! Yay for successes!

Update More Pins

PASS

Secure Another Virtual Assistant Client

FAIL-ish

I haven't landed another client, but I do have someone who seems interested.

Be Consistent

Meh. FAIL.

Goals For August

Grow my Blog Stats

Again, I have some numbers I want to hit, but consistent growth is my main focus.

Secure One Virtual Assistant Client

I really, really want to accomplish this so I have a better chance of working from home starting in September.

Contact One Brand For a Collab

I haven't been super brave about this yet, but this month I want to send my media kit to a brand I would like to work with and pitch to them.

Continue My Workouts with Mr. T

3 miles of walking and 2 trips to the pool per week is working out well.

What I'm Currently Loving

Lipsense

I have more coming on this in the future, but I finally tried Lipsense and I am a fan. Want to know more? Join my friend Summer's Facebook page: The Darling Lip Studio.

Hills and Valleys

One of my best friends introduced me to the song Hills and Valleys by Tauren Wells and I love it so much. If you haven't heard it but could use some encouragement, you should definitely check it out!

Pool Time

I mentioned that Mr. T and I have been going to the pool and it has been so nice to have a place to swim. I love it and it makes it feel way more like a true Summer.

Parks and Rec

Taylor and I have been re-watching Parks and Rec on Netflix and between Ron Swanson and Andy Dwyre, we just can't stop laughing.

Tips for Full-time and Side Hustle via Elle & Company

I read "How to Balance a Full-Time Job and a Side-Hustle" by Elle & Company  today and it is so helpful! If you are trying to manage a day-job and a side-hustle like me, this is a great resource!

Happy August, friends! What do you have coming up this August?

July Goals

Hiya friends! I hope all of my US readers had an awesome 4th of July, all my cool Canada readers had an amazing Canada Day, and that the rest of you are just doing fantabulously!

In the past month, I've finished my job with baby E (I miss that little booger more than I can say), started a new job, gotten my first tattoo, and spent as much time as possible with friends and family. I've also been working hard to expand my virtual assistant business, learning a lot about different ways to grow my blog and social media, and working towards a healthier lifestyle. Honestly, the month seemed to drag by for me in some ways, but in other ways it flew by. I feel like that often, but it was especially true of June.

But now it's officially July and it's time to refocus, get into the groove of my new job, and continue to work towards growth in all areas of life. Easier said than done? Yup. Worth it? Absolutely!

So if you'd like to know what my goals are for the month of July, keep reading!

Personal

Drink At Least 64oz. of Water Every Day

Here in Charlotte, it gets muy caliente (HOT). And not only has it been getting hotter and hotter, but I have also been exercising more. These things add up to mean that my body desperately needs me to up my water intake. So at the very least, 64 oz. is my goal, but I am going to try for between 80 and 100.

Walk At Least 6 Miles Per Week

Mr. T (my new nanny kid) is incredibly active. My first full week watching him, we walked over 6 miles together, which is a whole lot more than I am used to these days. I'm not gonna lie- it's been hard. But I am thankful to have something that is basically forcing me to follow up with my commitment to take better care of my body.

Finish Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

I have been loving the Harry Potter series so far, but I have gotten out of the habit of reading again so I haven't made much headway in the past month. I am halfway through this book and I would at least like to finish it by the end of July.

Blogging and Business

Increase All Stats

I know that sounds vague, but I am trying not to worry about numbers as much. I have my numbers logged and I have a goal number written down, and I'll check at the end of the month. But for the most part, I want to keep trucking along, keep learning, and keep being myself and being my own brand with God as the lead of it all.

Update More Pins

I've been hearing from some awesome bloggers that long pins are where it's at these days, and I am slowly trying to update mine.

Secure Another Virtual Assistant Client

My new job is only for the Summer. And while I'll do what I have to do, my goal is to work from home as a full-time virtual assistant after my nanny job ends. So, I'd like to secure another client this month and continue to grow through the month of August.

Be Consistent

If you missed my newsletter, this month I am scaling back my posting schedule as I adjust to my new job. Even though posting twice a week is less than I typically try to do, I still want to make sure I am remaining consistent which is sometimes easier said than done.

July is going to hold a pretty big learning curve for me. I am nervous about how much adjusting there will be, but I know that it is possible with a good amount of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus!

What does your July look like? Are you having to learn new things and adjust your schedule too, or does July look like a breeze? I hope it's the latter, but either way, tell me about it in the comments! 😊

What Is A Virtual Assistant? (And 3 Signs You Might Need One)

Ask pretty much anyone on the street whether or not they feel like they have enough time in the day, and I guarantee you that a large majority of them will say "no".

We are busy people doing lots of busy things: we work, we tend to our family relationships, we cultivate friendships, we care for our home. In addition to that, many of us are pursuing dreams that are separate from our current careers.

But doing all of those things in a day while also actively taking care of your health (like getting enough sleep) is nearly impossible. So, when you inevitably have to choose which tasks get done and which one's don't, it's often our dreams and passions that get put on the back-burner.

And that's where a virtual assistant is helpful!

What is a Virtual Assistant?

A virtual assistant (VA) is someone you hire to do any online tasks that are important, but are distracting you from your main goals. This can be anything from checking your emails, answering them, and cleaning out your inbox, all the way to editing your new Ebook about why Poodles are the Bomb-Diggity. 🐩 

VA's can be hired to schedule out all your social media posts, or can be hired to manage specific accounts (i.e. a Pinterest VA, a Facebook VA). VA's can be hired to work every day, once a week- really whatever is most helpful to the client.

A virtual assistant's job is to make your life easier so that your dreams can become reality.

But how do you know if you REALLY need a VA? Should you really spend your money on one? Keep reading for 3 signs you might need a VA.

Your Social Media Pages Are Always Empty

If your Facebook page never has anything new being posted, if you go days on end without tweeting, or you always forget to pin anything strategically on Pinterest, your social media accounts are sure to suffer. If this is you, you are missing out on a lot of potential growth, and a lot of potential clients. People aren't going to stick around if there are metaphorical crickets chirping on your social pages.

A VA can be a huge asset in this area because you can hire them to manage and/or schedule out those accounts for you- giving you the ability to grow more quickly without you having to find more hours in your day. 

Hiring someone for 2-3 hours a week can be a very affordable, smart, and beneficial option.

If Your Ebook Has Been Sitting Around Unedited

If you've been wanting to publish a book, ebook, or another written product but it has been sitting around needing to be edited for a while, hiring a VA for a one-time project might be a good idea for you.

They can edit it in an agreed-upon amount of time, you get to move forward with your goals for you book/product, and you'll probably save money by hiring a VA rather than trying to find a seasoned editor. Look for people who have degrees in English, Literature, or Writing and I feel confident you will be happy with the results.

If You Frequently Find Yourself Thinking "I Need Help"

If you have big dreams and goals that you keep avoiding because you feel far too overwhelmed to accomplish them by yourself, a VA can help.

Whether you want someone by your side full-time, part-time, or just a few times per month, if it helps you get started on your dreams, it's going to be worth it.

Have them handle your social media, your graphics, email management or marketing, editing product descriptions, typing up your monthly newsletter- whatever! Let them help you so you can find the courage to pursue what matters most to you!

Hiring a VA might be just what you need to help your blog or business get to the next level. If you've found yourself falling into the descriptions above, it may be time for you to consider it. And if that's the case, I'd love to come along side of you as your virtual assistant. I offer competitive, affordable rates, and I take pride in doing a good job and truly helping my clients succeed. To learn more, take a look at my rates and my expertise or email me with any questions you have at thepeculiartreasureblog@gmail.com.

When Your Dreams Seem Unreachable ( + How to Keep Going)

Do you ever just feel tired? I mean really, truly, overwhelmingly tired? Tired of the struggle. Tired of the uphill battle. Tired of feeling like you are behind everyone else. Tired of unreached goals, unmet expectations, and the anxiety that comes with feeling like a failure?

Ask pretty much anyone and I guarantee you they'll tell you that they've felt these things before. Some may have only had a small time with these struggles, while for others, it's been a lifetime. But regardless of how long they are felt, these feelings cut deep and can become incredibly stifling if we let them.

I think a lot of people just stop once they feel this emotional exhaustion. They decide it's better to just settle in to "their lot in life", instead of continuing to fight against the exhaustion. And believe me- I get it. I get the tears, the frustration, and the seeming-hopelessness. I get what it's like to feel you'll never make it to your goals. I get what it's like to not know what to do next.

But friends, there is so much more to life than giving in, giving up, and succumbing to the exhaustion. And just because our dreams *feel* unattainable, doesn't mean they are. So if you want to know what to do when your dreams feel unreachable and you feel tired in every way imaginable, keep reading. Today's post is for you!

Remember Your Why

I've said it over and over again, but this first point will never be outdated! Remembering your why when you feel like giving up is a complete game-changer! It's one thing to work hard at something that we feel like we want at the time. It's another thing entirely to have a true purpose to what we are doing- a purpose that goes beyond taking the easy road or giving up after a few months.
Knowing our why is the thing that will give us momentum and keep us going even when we are at our weakest. When we truly know our "why", dreams that feel unreachable won't stop us from getting back up and continuing to work hard.

If you don't know your "why", now is the time to re-evaluate. Are you on the path you are on for a reason? Do your dreams and goals have a higher, more important core? Or is this just a whim that you could easily replace with something else and be just as happy?
If the answer is the former, I think you will realize why you need to keep pushing forward. If it's the latter, then maybe you should take the time to find your something that does have a higher purpose.

Stay Disciplined

My friend Marsha of Faith and Fitness with Marsha Apsley said it well in her Instagram post a few days ago, that the truth of the matter is, knowing our "why" is only half of the puzzle. Knowing our why is the reason we should keep going, but we still have to take action and actually move forward. Knowing our why but not taking action will mean staying right where we are- in a hopeless, "I can't reach my dreams" state- for the rest of our lives.

In order to reach those dreams and goals that mean so much to us, we have to put in the effort. We have to take the next step, even if the next step is small. We have to put one foot forward and keep taking action on top of our why.

Maybe you haven't been taking action for a while because everything was feeling oh-so-very-pointless. But if you really want to reach your dreams, and your "why" really matters, then it's time to get back up off your butt and start taking action again. You will only reach your dreams if you work for them.

Don't Conform

The truth of the matter is, everyone's dreams look a little different.
I want to be a blogger like millions of others do, and yet my "why" is very specific and requires me to be myself and to utilize the gifts and quirks that God has given me. No matter how many people out there want to blog full-time, I still have to be me.

Conforming to other people's goals will not get us where we want to be. We can (and should) take advice now and then, and we should always be willing to learn, but at the end of the day, we have to stay true to our calling- not someone else's.

It can be tempting to cut corners, do what everyone else is doing, or try to find a "quick-fix", but when we know our "why" and decide to take action, it will often be very clear what directions, methods, and tactics we should and should not use.

Do not conform to how everyone else thinks you should be achieving your dreams. Be open to wise advice, but don't let advice from others be the only thing that matters. Stay true to your dreams and your why, and take action in ways that align with that purpose.

Friends, I know it is so tough to keep moving when all your goals and dreams feel like they are standing still. And I know that it would be easier in a lot of ways to just quit. But guess what: if you love what you do, have a deep passion for your goals, and have a clear "why" attached to them, it's going to be really tough to get those dreams off your mind. And personally, I would rather work hard for what I love than spend my time fighting off and trying to stifle a passion for the dreams I've chased for so long. But you have to choose for yourself- no one can do it for you.

Coffee Sips and Lovely Links: FREE Resources to Help You Stay Healthy and Get in Shape!

I am so happy that today is Friday, I might just break out a Rebecca Black music video... Actually, I'm not quite that happy about it 😝. This week has felt so long to me and I am excited about sleeping in tomorrow and hanging out with my brother for the weekend. I sense that Mario Kart: Double Dash is in my near future! Woot woot!

But one thing I have really been trying to work on this week is staying healthy even when I want to drown all of my emotions in food. I am not going to sit here and tell you that I did excellently- because that'd be a lie. I ate bad things multiple times this week. BUT, what I did do was eat less overall and made sure that about 60% of what I ate was healthy. That may not sound so great, but that's about 20% better than I was doing a few weeks ago, so I am pleased.

Losing weight and getting healthy is so hard, guys! It drives me nuts! But I know that it is worth it, and I know it's what I want to do. Thankfully though, I don't have to do it alone, because I have found some awesome bloggers who encourage me to stay strong through their blogs, their email newsletters, and through chatting with them on Facebook.

So today, I am going to share three of my favorite, free resources to help you get in shape and stay healthy.

Why Taking Baby Steps is the Key to Success (Mug-spiration Monday)

Welcome back, friends! And Happy Monday! We really haven't had a Mug-spiration Monday in about a month, so I am very excited to get back into the swing of things! So to get us back on track, today is all about goal setting and how to set ourselves up for success!

Have you ever set a goal or resolution that you immediately jumped headfirst into? You went full-force for a few days (maybe even weeks) before finding yourself worn out and over-done. At that point, all you wanted to do was quit, because the progress wasn't worth the burnout. Have you ever been there before? Well I sure have!

Many people tend to think that if they go hard for days/weeks at the time, they will win the race quicker than those who take baby steps towards their goals. I know people who haven't exercised in months who suddenly decide that they are going to go to the gym and lift weights at the highest weight they can, for as long as they can.

At that point, they are not only treating their poor muscles horribly, but they will also wake up the next morning so sore that they never want to lift weights again.

Trust me when I say that, for most people, taking baby steps is much more effective when it comes to achieving our goals.

New Year, Fresh Start

Everyone always thinks of the new year as a fresh start. Most people set resolutions and goals, or at least attempt a new diet or exercise plan. I have been known to set the same new years resolutions year-after-year, only to fail. There's a reason for that, ya know... the thing about a fresh start is that we have to keep working at it every day. Fresh starts happen every day, even when it doesn't feel so fresh anymore.

The problem is, we tend to look at fresh starts as a yearly occurrence. But depending on your level of self-discipline, the feeling of a fresh start may dwindle pretty dang quickly! Some people have more will-power than I do. However, it's well know that many people give up on their resolutions far before the end of the following year.

So what do we do when the motivation we had yesterday is gone today? What do we do when we are tired, weary, frustrated, or hopeless?

Fresh Starts are a Choice

Here's the thing about fresh starts- they are a daily choice! They don't come once a year or once a month. They don't even come once a week. Fresh Starts come every day, every hour, and every minute.

We all make mistakes. We all fall short, and we all have moments of weakness. We are going to fail on our resolutions, goals, and dreams at least a little bit and at least for a short time. But if we failed an hour ago, that doesn't change the fact that we can still do a good job for the rest of the day.

Why do we so often feel that if we mess up once, we might as well give up and start again next year. Geesh! That is a terrible idea, guys! Just because you ate an entire pizza last night doesn't mean that the rest of your year is blown. Just because you smoked a cigarette after weeks of being clean doesn't mean that you should just quit. Whatever it is that you've failed at in the moment, dust yourself off, repent/make amends if need be, and make the rest of the day (and the next day, and the next) count!

Find Some Accountability 

Plain and simple- going it alone is just not as effective for most people. We all need someone to verbally "slap us in the face" when we get off track. We need someone who will tell it like it is and who truly cares about our goals and well-being.

Oh, and your accountability partner needs to be someone who is self-disciplined on their own.
What's the point in asking someone to keep you accountable who is undisciplined and probably won't even remember to check up on you? Answer- there is no point at all.

Forgive Yourself

Fresh starts require a lot of grace. They require that we forgive ourselves for our failures and that we give ourselves the benefit of the doubt. Fresh starts can only exist if we believe in ourselves, and we aren't going to believe in ourselves if we cannot let go of our past failures.

Seriously, guys! Let it go. We have got to give ourselves grace, forgive ourselves, trust God for his help, and believe that we can accomplish what we have set out to do.

Friends, mistakes are inevitable. But fresh starts are all about making the choice to move forward and do well NOW. Forget what you did yesterday, or even an hour ago. Your fresh start begins as soon as you decide that it does!

I'm here cheering you on. And I wish you a wonderful, goal-achieving new year!

What are your goals for the new year? Do you need to improve in any of the areas I talked about today? Comment below.

Cheers to a New Year (Goals for 2017)

Is anyone else struggling HARD with the fact that Christmas is already over?! I just really can't believe it. Part of me has the after-Christmas blues. The other part of me is so excited about all that the new year has to offer.

2016 wasn't a bad year, but I know that I could have made more out of it than I did. I know I could have grown more in every aspect of my life. There are some components of 2016 that I am proud of. Others, however, need reforming.

There are so many things I want to accomplish, and so much hope that I can do it! I know most of us will have a resolution or two, and I'd like to share mine with you, friends.

Personal Goals

Lose Weight

Last year, I followed the whole idea that I have to have a specific, concrete goal. I thought I needed to name a certain amount of weight that I wanted to lose. But I failed miserably and gained weight. I was so focused on all the weight I needed to lose that I didn't take little steps.

So this year, I want to work extremely hard to lose a little bit each week (even if it's .5 pounds) and be happy- no, excited- about that. I want to celebrate the baby steps.

Practice Saving Money

Guys, I've talked about this before, but I am the world's worst with money. I want to be a good steward of what I have, yet I am constantly buying junk that I don't need, or feeding my serious addiction to Chick-Fil-A (which doesn't help with weight loss either...).

Again, I am not going to set a specific goal, but I would like to add a little bit to savings every week, along with making sure we are tithing (more on that to come).

Live by my Word(s) of the Year

I actually have two words of the year. I will be sharing one on Wednesday and one on Friday- so get ready peeps!

Blog Goals

Create a Devotional Product

I already have a freebie planned to launch during the first week of January (So be on the watch) but I would also like to launch another freebie along with a paid product by this time next year.

I actually had planned to accomplish that already, but I kept avoiding it. This year, I WILL do it!

Create an Email Newsletter

I want to bring REAL encouragement and REAL value to your inbox each week. I want to create a newsletter that you genuinely look forward to receiving and that doesn't just feel like something else to take up space.
Again, that is coming very, very soon!

Grow Each Social Media Platform by 1,000

I don't really know if this is realistic in my niche or not, but I'm going to try. And if we aren't social media friends yet, let's fix that now. You can find me on:

• Pinterest
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter

I'd love to be friends, so don't be shy!

2016 Most Popular Posts

1.) 3 Ways Anxiety Affects Marriage

2.) 5 Reasons We Should Avoid Being Nosy

3.) 5 Things You Inevitably Do When You Miss Your Friends

4.) 4 Creative Ways to Treat Yo' Self On a Budget

5.) Why I Start Celebrating Christmas Before Thanksgiving

6.) Identifying the Lies of Marriage

7.) Why We Can Rest Easy About This Presidential Election

8.) How to Make Your Home Feel Cozy

9.) Let It Go (Learning to Release Annoyances and Frustrations)

10.) 5 Reasons You Should Explore Your Own Town

The New Year is almost here, friends! Let's welcome in 2017 with a productive, creative, thoughtful BANG! I have so many new things coming for The Peculiar Treasure, and I am thankful for each of you who have come along on this journey with me! May God bless you, help you, grow you, and draw you near to him in 2017!

A Contented Hustle: November Goals

November? Really? How is it already November? In Charlotte, the weather is still in the low 80s, the leaves keep dancing back and forth between remaining green and going ahead and throwing themselves off the trees prematurely. I've got to tell you, it's turning me into a crazy person. Every day I wake up hoping the weather man was wrong, and that today will finally be the day that North Carolina wakes up and smells the Pumpkin Lattes. Maybe today it will be Fall.

But as much as I wish the weather would turn crisp and the leaves would change colors, I've still had a very good Fall. October was birthday month for me and Taylor and we both managed to surprise each other with the birthday festivities we planned for one another. And I actually made myself proud because I have already checked off half of the items on my Fall Bucket List!

What's left on the list?

• Roast pumpkin seeds
• Go to a bonfire
• Carve or Decorate a Pumpkin (I may not do this one- I'm enjoying my plain pumpkins. #fulldisclosure ;)
• Take lots of pictures (I will once the leaves change)
• Take a walk in the park (I've already done this but I'd like to do it a few more times).

I'd like to use November as the time to check those items off the list. It would make me feel really good if I was able to do them all. But even if I can't, at least I know that I have already had a very full Fall filled with pumpkin patches, pumpkin parties, and apple orchard fun (see full list).

Focusing on One Main Thing

November is going to be a ridiculously busy month for Taylor and I. He will be coming into crunch time for his school work, and I will be making a really large candle order (praise God!) on top of work and blogging. I also have several guest post deadlines and some posts I would love to create for the upcoming holiday seasons. It will be a month of hustling for sure.

But something I want to focus on this month is being content in the season I'm in. The Bible says that godliness with contentment is of great gain ( 1 Timothy 6:6) but I often (like, very often) find myself waiting for "that thing" that I feel will make me happy. I put so much focus on what I hope will one day be, that I forget to enjoy today.

Don't misunderstand- there's nothing wrong with a good goal, and you should work really hard for your dreams and what you are called to, but when hustle replaces our ability to be content, we've got a problem.

So in November, I want to learn to "hustle contentedly". I want to learn the art of being completely happy with this day, even if the leaves don't change color, and even if it's 85 degrees. I want to be so thankful and joyful about the blessings of this day, that I don't complain, I don't focus on "one day", but instead I live well TODAY. And yet, I want to learn how to do all those things, and still be working persistently, wisely, and passionately towards my dreams and goals-towards the "tomorrow" I look forward to.

I Need Help

Honestly, that sounds impossible to me right now. I have no idea how to do both. I tend to be a woman of extremes. I can either focus on contentedness OR I can focus on passionately pursuing my dreams... I don't know how to focus on both. But since I believe that the two being combined is actually what's best, what's ideal, and what's intended, there must be a way. This is where the prayer and trusting God part comes in. I cannot- no way, no how- do this on my own. 

I know though, that God is pleased with my wanting to learn to do both of these things. It's really just a matter of kicking my own butt into gear. God will help me on this journey, but I have to make sure that I am also willing to put in the work. I can't sit around thinking about how sad I am that I haven't met ______ goal yet. But I also can't sit around all day sighing happy sighs because I am just so dang content. I still have to hustle- just in the right way.

Do you have any goals for the month, my friend? Do you find balance to be hard for you in the areas of contentment and pursuing your goals? Comment below- I'd love to hear about it!

It's Never Too Late to Follow Your Dreams

Hi guys! It's Monday and I am coming off of another very busy weekend. And though being tired is worth it when you have a good time, I still need #allofthecoffee today, and I imagine I will the rest of this week too. The busy never ends.

Honestly, when the busy never ends, it's hard to feel accomplished.  It's hard to look at everything I have going on with clear sight when I too tired to see straight in the first place. But I know that working hard as a Christian, a nanny, a blogger, a VA, a wife, and whatever else I do will be worth it.

It'll be worth it because I am living and working towards what really matters to me. And I never want to lose that focus, because I am very thankful to have found what I am passionate about. Some people never quite figure out their passion. And some people know exactly what they would like to do, but they never do it because of fear. Some people have a lot of passions and they don't know which one to pursue, so they don't pursue any of them.

I know at least one person in each of those scenarios and it makes me so sad. I understand that life is harder for some people than it is for others. Life isn't always rainbows and unicorns, and I never want to be naive' or unrealistic. And yes, if I am honest, I actually have a pretty cushy life. But I still have to work long and hard on my dreams. They haven't just fallen in my lap and I have not "arrived" yet. But I know what I want to do, and as long as God continues to give me that passion, I am going to embrace it and run with it.

Do You Create Your Own Limitations? | Embracing that God Makes Your Capable

God has a plan for your life. For this plan, He makes you capable to accomplish what you have been called to do. Do you create your own limitations and set roadblocks up in your own paths? Learn how to embrace your calling, chase your God-given dreams, and recognize the limitations you've been putting in your own way today. 

Hello, September (Goals)

You guys! It's September! That means that there's only one month left until October (which is factually the best month ever, of course). It also means that everything goes back to a "school schedule". I can take baby E to the park without it being ridiculously crowded, which also makes Barbour the dog a happy camper. Lots of kids + doggie anxiety = no bueno.

But what I'm really looking forward to this month is officially decorating for Fall. I have been sipping pumpkin coffee and eating pumpkin baked goods for weeks now, but I forced myself to wait until September to decorate. That was NOT an easy task for this girl!

With all the fun stuff coming up though, it would be easy to overlook the things that I need to get done, and that I hope to accomplish. And while I'd love to just live in Autumn-land from now until Thanksgiving, life is more than pumpkin muffins and coffee (bummer).

August Self-Control (Goals)

So, it's August...already. I cannot believe how quickly the Summer has come and gone. But I have officially hit that point where I am excited for Summer to leave and Autumn to come, so it's the perfect time for August to sneak up on us ;)

The problem with new months though, is that I look back and realize that I never (like ever) accomplish my goals. I have a major self-control problem, which is why I have titled this post "August Self-Control".

Revisit Your Goals (July Goals)

As I looked at the date on my phone, I felt somewhat panicked. How could it already be July 1st? I haven't accomplished any of my goals yet (not the big ones anyway), and I am running out of time!

Do you find yourself feeling similar emotions lately? Have you realized that you have slacked on the things that are important to you, and now you want to play catch up?

I don't do goal posts very often, but since I have so many things I need to get back on track with (and some things I'm just dying to do), I figured now would be a good time to revisit my goals.

Read the first half of "You and Me Forever" with Taylor

Taylor and I are very blessed, but I've really been struggling with the fact that we don't see each other enough to really do something significant together. By the time we hang out, we are exhausted and just want to watch Netflix or take a nap together (yes, my husband and I are secretly 60 years old).
But even in this season of busyness, I want us to spend our time together in a way that will glorify God and further His kingdom.

I bought "You and Me Forever" a year and a half ago. We read two chapters and haven't touched it since. It may seem like a small thing, but reading that book together and growing in our faith and in our relationship is something that I would really like to do this month.

I want things in our lives to become more fruitful- because when your life is go-go-go, it's easy to throw important things to the way-side.

I know it's totally unrealistic to think we will finish the book in July, but I would at least like us to read the first half together.

Listen to Audio Bible 4 times/week

It's pretty embarrassing that every time I do a "goals" post, my Bible reading/listening hasn't gotten any better. I just can't seem to make myself, which is awful. I'm really going to make a concerted effort to listen to the Bible at least 4 times a week throughout July.

Increase my walking distance to (at least) 8 miles per/week

It probably doesn't seem like a lot, but right now I am walking between 4-6 miles per week. Between my hip injury and the Charlotte heat, that's all I've been able to muster (especially since I have a baby and her dog with me while I'm walking). But if I am going to lose weight, I have to keep growing my distances. 8 Miles/week is doable. It's challenging me to step it up, without being overly tough on myself.

Finish Wild and Free

If you haven't heard about Wild and Free, you really should check it out! Though I am only on the third chapter, I highly recommend it so far. It's all about letting go of the expectations that others place on us, as well as those we place on ourselves. It's about seeing ourselves through God's eyes and living a life of freedom- the way He intended.

I am reading through this book with The Mountainside Gathering- a Christian Facebook group filled with some amazing ladies!

Go to the pool as much as possible

I haven't found a good place to go to the pool in Charlotte, which is sad because I was so determined to do a lot of swimming in these stiflingly hot months! I am going to look into a place near work that has month-to-month sign-ups, and if the price is good, I'm going to try to get a pass. I am really tired of longing for the water, but never getting to be in it!

GO TO THE BEACH

No joke, people- I am getting to the beach. It will happen. Nuff' said!

Create my opt-in freebie

Back in the winter, I started on this project and got a whole 3 paragraphs written...I haven't touched it since. I really want to provide encouraging material for those who opt-in to my mailing list, but I just haven't gotten around to it. 

My original goal was to have launched this by June 1st, but that obviously didn't happen. I wanted to get it launched by September 1st at the very, very latest, so keep your eyes peeled!

My goals are pretty simple this month. Some are important, while others are simply recreational. And that's ok. I've been struggling to keep up with life lately, I and don't want to put so many expectations on myself that I feel like a failure if I don't reach those goals. 

Sometimes, we just have to give ourselves time and grace- no matter how tempting it is not to.

What are your goals this month? Are you having trouble staying on top of everything this summer? Comment below :)

Goals for the New Year

Happy New Year, you guys!

Hopefully you didn't stay out tooooo late last night, and hopefully you aren't "feelin' it" today.

Last night, Taylor and I went over to our friend's house and hung out with her and her husband and a couple other friends. Being that we are old people (especially me), we headed home before the New Year came into existence.

I know everyone and their brother is going to be posting a resolutions post today, but that's ok. Hopefully something I say will inspire you differently than the way someone else inspires you. We can all help each other in different ways.

First of all, let me say that resolutions are really just goals. It's good to have goals. But if you only create goals because it's a New Year and you "just should", then there's no point. Within a month you'll have given up. Only create goals that you really are passionate about accomplishing.

So first off, here are the personal goals I am passionate about accomplishing this year.

Personal Goals

Tithe- I really believe in the importance of obeying God by tithing, but Taylor and I have barely tithed since we've gotten married. Our funds are so slim that we don't tithe, but I truly believe that we should trust God to provide for us. He will honor the fact that we are giving our "first fruits" to Him.

My relationship with God- Ever since I went to college (gosh, that was 6 years ago!) my time spent with God has been ridiculously minimal. I still live for him. I still pray daily. But my prayers tend to be very Kristin-focused, and my Bible reading is sparse (and that's being generous).
Part of this is because of my anxiety and some spiritual and mental battles I face. Some of this is selfishness with my time. And some of this is just down-right laziness. I mean, I can binge-watch and entire series on Netflix before I decide to read my Bible...wow, Kristin...just wow.

Weight/Health- I've gained 110 pounds since my Freshman year of college. I hate the way I look and I hate the way I feel. I've tried and tried to lose weight, but I always give up. I love french fries and I hate discipline. But I want to be healthy. I want to glorify God through taking care of my body. And I want to feel pretty again. I want to feel like I look nice for my husband, instead of feeling like a blob. He doesn't feel that way about me, but I feel that way about myself.

I don't want to just tell you guys what I want or wish for. I want to have a plan and goal. So here is my plan and my goals for my personal resolutions.

January
By the end of January, I want to have lost five pounds. I plan to do this by cooking at home, cooking with less grease and fat and adding in more vegetable, and by exercising (walking or doing Just Dance on Wii) at least three times/week.

As far as tithing goes, by the end of January, I want us to have decided on our church (we have it narrowed down to two) and pull out 10% off the top of every paycheck we receive. I desire to continue this through the year.

For Bible reading, by the end of January I want to be listening to Audio Bible
2 times per week and physically reading my Bible 1 time per week.

February
By the end of February, I want to have lost another 3 pounds (8 total). I plan to increase my exercise to 4 times/week.

For Bible reading, by the end of February I want to be listening to Audio Bible
3 times per week and physically reading my Bible 1 time per week.

March
By the end of March, I want to have lost another 5 pounds (13 total). I plan to keep my exercise at 4 times/week.

For Bible reading, by the end of March I want to be listening to Audio Bible
3 times per week and physically reading my Bible 2 time per week.

April
By the end of April, I want to have lost another 5 pounds (18 total). I plan to keep my exercise at 4 times/week, but start looking for different types of workouts I can do through the hot, Charlotte Summer.

For Bible reading, by the end of April I want to be listening to Audio Bible
3 times per week and physically reading my Bible 2 time per week.

May
By the end of May, I want to have lost another 8 pounds (26 total). I plan to keep my exercise at 4 times/week, and start swapping in those summer workouts.

For Bible reading, by the end of May I want to be listening to Audio Bible
2 times per week and physically reading my Bible 3 time per week.

June
By the end of June, I want to have lost another 8 pounds (34 total). I plan to reduce my workouts to 3/week, because of the heat. However, I want to make sure that those workouts are slightly longer/more intense.

For Bible reading, by the end of June I want to be listening to Audio Bible
2 times per week and physically reading my Bible 3 time per week.

July-August
Lose another 16 pounds (50 total) while staying at 3 workouts/week.

Stay with listening to Audio Bible 2 times per week and physically reading my Bible 3 time per week.

September-November
Lose another 15 pounds (65 total). Increase my workouts back to 4 times/week and do as many of them outside as possible.

Stick with same Bible routine, adding in more when possible.

December
Lose 5 more pounds, but allow myself to enjoy holiday treats (in moderation). Continue to exercise 4 times/week.


Now for my blog and business goals.

Blog and Business Goals

Blog- I want to grow my readership and monetize my blog.

Add Items to Etsy- I want to add jewelry, wax melts, headbands, and more candle scents to my Etsy shop.

Buy a camera- I want to put away $10 every month towards a camera (which may mean it takes me well over a year to save up, but that's ok).



These goals are going to take a lot of hard work, perseverance, and dedication, but I believe that I can do it.

What about you? Do you have lofty goals? Good for you. Go after them!

Welcome to the New Year: 5 Ways to Accomplish New Years Resolutions

I'm 25 years old. I've lived for 25 years. But guess what: I have never fully accomplished a "New Years Resolution". It's incredibly frustrating that every year I say "this is the year I will do it", only to fail miserably just as I did the year before.

We have a problem. We tend to have no self-control. Sure, some people do, but most of us don't. We set goals- good, ambitious goals- but we only stick to them for a month or so. We make excuses today, tomorrow, and the next day as to why it's ok to break our commitments "just this once". But "just this once" turns into "one last time", and "one last time" turns into un-achieved dreams and un-reached goals. In turn, un-achieved dreams and un-reached goals become an unsatisfied life and a disappointing existence. Our little compromises have a big impact.

I have a lot that I would like to accomplish this year. I said that last year.

I want this year to be different. I said that last year too.

So what can I do to make my goals stick this time? Honestly, I'm not sure. I don't know all the "secrets to success", if there really is such a thing.  But I do know there are a few things that may aid in my attempts to reach the goals that I haven't been able to attain in past years.

Plead for Self-control

The first and most important thing I need is commitment- resolve. I know that if I utilize self-control, I will be on track for success.

Self-control is Biblical- it's actually a fruit of the Spirit. Unfortunately, patience and self-control are two fruits that I severely lack. I know the Lord can cultivate those fruits in me, and I know that I need to ask Him to give me those things.

God wants us to be self-controlled because He knows that we need it in order to become the people He calls us to be- people who love without selfishness, people who don't lash out in anger, people who take good care of their spiritual and physical health, and people who don't give in to temptation. Success in these things come from having self-control. 

Since self-control comes from God, I need to carve out time to go before Him and ask Him to grant me those fruits. I have faith that He will answer that plea.

Take an E-course

I recently found a free E-course by Ruth over at Living Well, Spending Less. Ruth is a well-known blogger who has created a course and work book that focuses on helping us live out a great year. Ruth's course teaches how to be a good goal setter and goal achiever. The course offers videos and "homework" that are designed to help us dig deeper to figure out what really matters and what we really want to make happen in the coming year.

I am really excited to start Ruth's course and I think that she will be a great person to take a course from. She is very successful, yet seems down-to-earth. But whether you take her course or a different one, I recommend finding an E-course that is geared towards helping you set and attain your goals, dreams, and resolutions this year. What could it hurt?

Start a Planner

I love the idea of weekly and monthly planners. They are so organized. They make me feel like I am being more productive just by owning one. Unfortunately though, having one on my bookshelf or somewhere under my bed doesn't help me achieve anything at all. I actually have to use a planner in order to reap it's benefits. Go figure...

I tend to go through phases with my planner. I will use it for a week or so, feel better about myself, and then get lazy and stop using it again. Ooopps.

This year, I ordered a planner online. It wasn't super expensive (I can't afford that), but it is a little nicer than the one's I usually but. It offers daily, monthly, and yearly goals and "to-do" lists, and I am hoping to really utilize those features. 

If you want to accomplish your resolutions this year, start and use a planner.

Get Some Sleep

No matter how hard you work to accomplish your goals, you will fall off the wagon if you don't get enough sleep. 

You cannot and will not get where you want to go if you are too tired to function. If you are lacking sleep, you will get overwhelmed and frustrated, and you will eventually give up. Sleep deprivation and ambitious resolutions just don't mix.

Find Your Exit Buddy

Remember in Finding Nemo when Crush the turtle asks of the younger turtles "do you have your exit buddy"? Well, that's exactly what we should do- find our buddy.

We cannot achieve goals nearly as easily on our own. We need people on board. We need to include our spouse, our best friend, our mom- whoever- on this journey of ours. Ask for accountability. Ask for encouragement. Ask your buddy to be there for you.

We can do this, guys! Let's make this year different. Forget about last year. Focus on each day as it comes.

Do you have any tips for accomplishing resolutions? Comment below.