Hey lovelies!
Linking-up today with Anne – in Residence and Jess at Jess Gets Dressed Sometimes as well as some of their bloggin’ buds for this month’s “Currently” post. We are talking about:
accomplishing, feeling, needing, practicing, pinning.
Almost, but not quite in that order. Let me adjust them. Accomplishing, feeling, needing, pinning, practicing. There, that feels better.
And for good measure, throwing in a look at my spring goals, too, now that we are well into spring. Away we go!
Accomplishing
The first thing I thought of for this category was something work related. But not sure what I am really accomplishing at work. I have started subbing long-term at another elementary library. With only two days under my belt, I haven’t really accomplished all that much there. So instead, I think I’ll go with the 5K I ran on Saturday.
Run for the Fallen was held on Ft. Bliss along Officer’s Row where many of the very old (historic) officer’s quarters are located. I was late to the race because I showed up at the wrong place. When I finally figured out where the 5K was, and got my booty over there, I was 16 minutes late. But I jumped in behind all of the 1 mile walkers and ran the whole way. My best time yet. Just didn’t count toward placing in my age group because I was 19 minutes late when I actually started the run. Boo.
Feeling
Turns out this category can be work related. I started working at the library for my neighborhood elementary school, Tom Lea, on Monday. Got all dressed up for my first day and even combed my hair. Not that you could tell in this wind…60 mph gusts on the top of my head. What does it tell you that my hair looked better for a 5K than it did for work?
Walked in the front door to report to the office and was greeted by a friend who works at Tom Lea. Before lunch time, I had reconnected with eight teachers and paraprofessionals who I have worked with at one time or another during my career. It was crazy. One of my new colleagues was a former student! Talk about old home week. This is going to be a great sub stint.
Needing
I cannot think of one single thing I NEED. There are things I want, but nothing I really need that I don’t already have. So let’s change this from needing to kneading. Bread.
My mom used to make homemade bread regularly for our family using our hand-me-down 100+ year-old yeast. But once she moved into the retirement community she now calls home, her days of bread baking came to an end. She divided up the yeast starter between my sister and me. And then I divided my starter in thirds so each of my girls would have some. Life is so busy that there aren’t a lot of days when any of us have time for making and baking the bread. There are several time consuming steps that go into it, spread over about eighteen hours time. But I finally renewed my yeast and made bread a week ago.
Here I am kneading. And then baking my bread. Not sure what that hole is all about in the last pic. Maybe where there was an air bubble?
Or a woodpecker? Hope to write a homemade bread post in the near future so you can see all of the steps!
Pinning
Signed up for the spring 2017 “Get Your Pretty On” style challenge. One of the items on the shopping list is a floral bomber jacket (or kimono). I have several floral kimonos but keep seeing these darling floral bombers all over Pinterest and on everyone but me. So, I decided to start pinning them and, in the process, shopping for one. Check out my pins, here.
Really wanted a multi-colored bomber. Like this one. While I’m at it, can I have her great legs, too?
I followed this pin hoping it would take me to an online store where I could purchase this jacket but ran into a dead end. After ‘shopping’ from my recliner most of last night, I decided on this jacket from JCPenney.
Love all of the colors and possibilities with this little cutie. I used Ebates to get a coupon for $6.00 off and my $10 JCP rewards bringing the total for this $40.00 jacket down to $23.99. If you aren’t familiar with Ebates, you can sign up for free, here and begin earning money back on online purchases you make. I’ve earned $80 in less than year on purchases I was making anyway. Get paid to shop!!! Every little bit helps!
You might remember a recent post about the troubles I’ve had recently with JCP ship-to-store orders. If not, read it here. Bearing that in mind, I decided to splurge and have this jacket shipped to my home address.
Practicing
This one was tough. One of my spring bucket list activities is to start journaling in my Bible or gratitude journal. I have been following Bethany at Southern Couture. She is a Bible journaling extraordinaire. Bought all of the basic supplies and tried my hand at journaling one page in January. Epic fail. Won’t share a pic, but take my word for it, my page looks nothing like Bethany’s works of art. So I have been practicing. Nothing fancy. Just baby steps.
But this month is THE month. I am going to get very brave and give it a-go again. Stay tuned. If you would like to join us, here are the verses Bethany suggests we journal this month.
[source]
That’s what’s going on in my life “Currently”. But before I sign off, let’s take a quick look at how I did on my winter goals and what I am hoping to accomplish this spring.
Winter Goals
- Deliver scrapbook stuff to Texas Children’s Hospital. Nope! The boxes are so heavy that I really need help with this, hint, hint, PC. But take a look at my first item on my spring goals black board.
- Scrapbook Christmas. Yes, not finished yet back I am coming along.
- Get back to eating well. Ehhh, a work in progress.
- Exercise and train for 5K. Yup, started running more again and have been doing my BeachBody work outs, too, with weights at the gym.
- Finish two adult books. Oh, yeah. Thank you, TBB “Virtual Book Club”. Read reviews here, here, and here.
- Use agenda. Still struggle with this some but have done better in March and now in April.
- Blog 3X a week. Wrote 29 posts during the winter. So not quite 3 a week. Trying to do better now.
- Write. I am pinning lots of good tips on writing that children’s book. Have had several people, including PC, ask how my book is coming. Even the gal who ran the Drink and Draw we attended last week asked about my progress. Have to make that happen.
- Work on winter bucket list. Check, check, check. Here.
Overall, pretty successful. It really helps me commit to these goals when I see them on my blackboard everyday.
Spring Goals
- Take scrapbook stuff to children’s hospital. Gotta happen.
- Start and finish spring cleaning by June 20th (which should say June 21st), the first day of summer.
- Swim 3 miles a week, 21 Day Fix (BeachBody) 3X a week, run-lift weights 3X a week.
- Cook 5 nights a week.
- Devotional 5X a week.
- Momma Love Fellowship.
I have my work cut out for me. But won’t I be svelte and healthy if I meet my goals? Hope you will follow along and cheer me on.
Your Turn
So what goals have you set for spring? Won’t you share in a comment below? You brighten my day with your messages. Thank you, sweet friends, for coming by.
Hugs and kisses,
Andrea Nine
Love to see you kneading that bread!! And can I say, you would look adorable in that bomber jacket, you must get one for spring pretty lady!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
My bomber arrived today. So excited to style it for next week. Or who knows, maybe tomorrow?? Need/Knead to make more bread again soon to keep my yeast rejuvenated.
Deena - Shoes to Shiraz (Dee)
This makes me want to get back in to making some yummy homemade bread.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Nothing smells better than freshly baked homemade bread. Bake some soon for your bunch! Easter’s a good time.
Nancy
Congrats on the 5K! I have yet to run…..or walk one! Subbing in the school library sounds like fun. I’m such a big reader. As much as I love to cook I’m not a big bread maker. But no worries, I love to eat it! The floral bomber looks perfect for spring!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for your comment and congratulations. Was so frustrated that this 5K didn’t allow me to place because I arrived too late. But will try another one again soon. I love to eat, too. And just about ate the entire loaf of bread myself. But don’t tell my PC!! Hope you will come back again. We are doing a spring bucket list series, if you are interested in joining us…yours could be food related!! We posted our bucket lists late in March but will post our first update on our progress April 27. Please consider joining!
Anne
Way to go on the 5k! Though arriving late for a race is so stressful, I know. LOVE the jacket – what a fun find!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you for your sweet comment. My bomber arrived today. Yay! It is going to be 90+ tomorrow so might not be the day to break it in but will do so very soon. Sure enjoying my centerpiece.
curlycraftymom
These are some of my favorite posts by you!! I am going to do a Summer Goal list, it’ll be a little more laid back than this Spring is! I love how you are Bible journaling and how Bethany inspires you! I have been wanting to Bible journal for awhile. Also, congrats on the 5k! My half is this Sunday and I am really nervous about it. I’ve trained hard and want to PR, but I know every race is different and can throw you some challenges. You should def. get a floral bomber!!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Will be thinking of you on Sunday. For some reason, I was thinking your half marathon was Saturday. I know you have trained hard and I bet your time will reflect that. I met Bethany and her Bible journaling through your Creative Corner posts, so you introduced us! Need to do my first week of April assignment in my journaling Bible. I need to quit worrying so much about it being perfect and just DO IT!
Lana
Love that floral bomber! So proud of you for your 5K. You’re inspiring me to set some spring goals!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Lana, if you create a few spring goals or a mini-bucket list, join us on April 27 when we talk about our progress on our lists. If not for spring, then please think about joining in for summer. We have had a great time doing these posts and I have a nice group of bloggers participating this time ’round. My bomber arrived today. Yay!!
Michael Ann
You’re a blogging machine these days, Leslie! Way to go! I love hearing about your goals and your subbing adventures! Good job on the 5K. I’m impressed! And hooray for finding a great bomber!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Michael Ann. Now that I am subbing again, it has been harder to post. I just get a rhythm going then start working and get all off track again. Super excited to try the bomber…it arrived today. Love the spring 2017 challenge outfits you are putting together. I haven’t even gone shopping for the items on the list yet. But that’s ok. I just like following Alison’s recommendations.
Daenel T.
Congratulations on your 5K! That’s such an accomplishment I used to run all the time then we moved to Georgia and I just quit. I really miss those 30 minutes that I had to myself.
That bread is amazing. What an incredible legacy for you and your family….
And
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, thank you for stopping by, reading and commenting. Maybe you could start running again before summer hits with its full Georgia humidity. I have a schedule I have followed for building back up to running 3 miles and it really works for getting me ready for my 5Ks. Wish I could try a longer run. But we’ll see.
I need to make a concerted effort to keep my yeast more lively. I had neglected it almost too long. Hoping to bake again for Easter.
Jess
I love your “kneading” take!! And I am not much of a baker, but I am such a sentimental person and think that’s so neat that it’s yeast that has been passed down through your family for so long!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey Jess! Thank you for coming by. Enjoyed linking-up with you and Anne. I am truly not much of a baker either but have miraculously kept this yeast alive. Need to get someone else in the family to keep a starter alive just in case I lose mine.
Sheila @ Making the Most of Every Day
Good for you, running a fast 5K! Looks like some good-for/you goals! And way to go on getting so much of your winter list accomplished!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
How far do you generally run when you are running (not for an event)? Wish we could run together!