Monthly Goals : September 2026

I always say that I can't believe it's [insert month here] already, but it does feel like time flies, and I really CAN'T believe it's already September! At least I'm consistent with my disbelief? 😂

Let's do a quick recap of my April Goals (the last month of goals I've posted...oops!). My goals were:

1. Put away winter clothes and shoes - I've kind of done this. We are in consignment prep mode for a big sale coming up, so I've been getting the winter clothes and shoes that she's outgrown together. That's been helping clear out her closet, but I'm embarrassed to say that she has piles of clothes everywhere in the house - winter and summer gear - we're a hot mess! I pulled most of my winter clothes out of my closet and put in a bin, but that bin has been living in our bedroom floor all summer. I really, really, really need a better system for switching over our clothes...or fewer clothes, like my husband!

2. Declutter and deep clean kitchen - I didn't do this. I cleared out our pantry over the summer, and the kitchen was next on the list, but I never quite made it there. Plus, now the pantry is a mess again! Ugh!

3. Work on daughter's room makeover - I worked on this a little bit but not nearly to the extent I thought I would. Just riding the struggle bus lately!

4. Put together daughter's trampoline - We did this! Okay, my husband did it, and he did it in August instead of April, but it's still done, minus the safety net around it, but we'll count this one as a win!

5. Read 12 books - I read 6, which isn't terrible but not quite enough to keep me on track for that month!

Now, onto this month's goals!

1. Clear off dining room table

Every flat surface in this house has piles on it, but the dining room table is particularly bad. I need to excavate it and get it cleared off and cleaned off so that we can actually start eating at it again and so Char can do her homework there if I don't get her desk put together this month, which bring me to goal number 2...

2. Work on daughter's room makeover

She has been so patient with us, but I feel bad that we haven't made much progress on this. If I can get it cleaned out and the unused furniture moved out this month, that would be good progress. Bonus goal - get her desk put together!

3. Do one of my craft or art projects

I have a diamond painting my husband got me for my birthday, Lego plants he got me for another occasion (Valentine's maybe?), bracelet making supplies, coloring and puzzle books, sticker by number books, and bedazzling supplies, and yet my screen time is abysmal. I really want to spend less time scrolling and wasting time online and stretch some of my creative muscles. So in September, I want to complete one of the projects or spend significant time working on one of the other projects. 

4. Find a cleaning schedule or cleaning inspiration that works for my brain

I know that some people don't need a cleaning schedule or suggestions for when to do certain tasks, but that's not how my brain works! I need at least a loose schedule of when certain things need to be done so that I can check tasks off a list and not wonder when the last time I've done something was. We also need to majorly declutter, so I hope that having cleaning inspiration will help on that side too. I'm looking into the index card system that's going around social media right now. I actually have the book it was inspired by (Sidetracked Home Executives) somewhere and need to find it!

5. Spend at least an hour per week working on courses

I have purchased some courses to help with gaining some new skills and changing career paths, but I have a bad habit of buying them and letting them gather dust (virtual dust of course, since they're online courses). Along with pursuing some creative outlets, I'm going to carve out at least an hour per week to work on these courses and see if I can get some trajectory making some long overdue changes!

6. Read at least 18 books

My reading goal this year is 150 books, and I've read 80 books so far. 70 books divided by the 4 months left this year is 17.5 books per month, so I went ahead and rounded it up to 18 books. I'm currently juggling a couple of audiobooks, a book with our daughter every night, and a couple that I'm reading, so I'm off to a good start for the month, and once again, if I spend less time scrolling, that's more reading time! Plus, I can listen to books while I do creative stuff - two goals in one! 

7. Decorate for fall

I used to decorate for different seasons/holidays, but I got out of that habit at some point. I miss it because it always gave me a little extra joy to switch the decor and see the things that I only get to see once a year. Plus, I feel like it makes use of things we've bought in the past, rather than letting them gather dust in the garage and basement, so this month, I'm busting the fall decor back out and bringing some fall whimsy into our home!

I have some fitness, finance, and other reading goals, but I'll put those on my other blogs and platforms (that I should share here at some point but one thing at a time!). What are your September goals? Share them below so I can cheer you on! 

Monthly Goals : April 2026

Somehow I blinked and it's already April! I'm trying to get into the habit of blogging regularly, so let's kick things off this month with some monthly goals!

1. Put away winter clothes and shoes

Even though we have some chilly mornings in the forecast, I'm hopeful that winter is over around here (especially after the ice storm we had in January...that was rough!!). Our daughter and I have a ton of winter clothes and shoes - both things that fit and things we've outgrown - so I need to clear up the winter stuff so that we're not sifting through those things this spring and summer!

2. Declutter and deep clean kitchen

Quite frankly, our entire house needs to be decluttered and deep cleaned. We are drowning in stuff!! I thought starting with the kitchen would be a quicker win than some of the bigger rooms. It will also make our house look so much better because our kitchen is tiny and the counters are so full! Hopefully I'll document the process and share here!

3. Work on our daughter's room makeover

Our daughter turns 10 this month, and we've decided instead of more toys or things to clutter the house, we're going to give her a bedroom and playroom makeover. The playroom makeover will just be decluttering and rearranging some things, but the bedroom makeover will be a little more detailed. She wants to repaint her room, get a new desk chair, and get a rug. We also need to move some unused furniture out of her room. She has some posters she's gotten at various Book Fairs, so we need to hang those in one of the rooms too - probably the playroom. We may not finish everything this month, but I think we can make good progress!

4. Put together our daughter's trampoline

I hate to admit this, but we got it for her birthday last year. My husband and I have been procrastinating on putting it together (understatement of the century), and she has been really patient, so it's time for us to get our act together and get this done!

5. Read 12 books

I want to read 150 books this year. I've read 46 so far, so to stay on track to finish my goal, I need to read 11.5 books this month. I'm just going to round it up to 12! 

I have a few other goals related to finances and fitness, but this is a good number for my personal goals this month. What are your April goals? Share them below so I can cheer you on!

Let's Look - February 2026

I am a big fan of linkups and always enjoy finding new ones. I don't remember how I stumbled across this one, but it looks (pun intended) like a fun one to join!

This month, the Let's Look Linkup is talking about Ways We've Turned Into Our Parents and oh boy, this is a good one!

My mom and I talk daily and hang out on Friday nights during my daughter's gymnastics class and afterwards. Since my husband works Friday nights, that has become our time to watch TV and decompress from the week. At least one time on those nights, my mom and I will say the exact same thing at the exact same time! It's usually something pretty random too! We don't just do that on the Friday nights either; it happens pretty frequently!

I've noticed that I've started singing along with music in the grocery store. My mom did that when I was growing up, and it usually embarrassed me! Now that the grocery stores are playing music from my high school and college days, even though there's no possible way that music is considered "classic," I completely understand why she sings along with it!

Even though my dad has been gone almost five years, I've noticed a big way I'm turning into him - my love of Crocs! We used to make fun of him because he wore them all of the time, but the man was onto something! They're comfortable!

I'm sure as soon as I publish this, I will think of another 50 ways I'm turning into my parents! 

Linking up with Erika and Shay!

Wednesday Hodgepodge - 02.11.26

I haven't done a Wednesday Hodgepodge since November 2024, so I thought I'd finally rejoin!

1. What's something recent that had you 'tickled pink'? 

We had snow and ice a couple of weeks ago, and we got an extra, unexpected day off of work/school. I love when we get those random days off, especially since I'm so burned out from my job and will take all the time I can!

2. A bed of roses, everything's coming up roses, every rose has it's thorn, stop and smell the roses, rose-colored glasses, a rose among thorns...which rosy expression might currently be applied to your life in some way? 

The one I need to apply to my life is "stop and smell the roses." Things feel so busy right now, and I feel really frazzled. I don't know if I'm trying to do too much or what, but I need to slow down and do intentional things to help me recharge. I'm guilty of too much scrolling, staying up too late, etc., which I know doesn't help the feelings of being frazzled and overwhelmed, so it's time to make some changes!

3. What makes you feel loved and appreciated? 

I like random surprises, but they don't have to be big or expensive. My husband got me a coffee drink for work recently just because he knew it would make me happy. Things like that to show me someone is thinking of me make me feel so loved and appreciated!

4. A box of chocolates or a bouquet of fresh flowers-what's your pleasure? Any special plans for Valentine's Day? 

Since I kill flowers, and I'm a chocoholic, I have to go with a box of chocolates on this one! Valentine's Day is the 15th(!) anniversary of the first date my husband and I went on. He has to work that day, so I think he and I may go to dinner another night. On Valentine's Day, my mom, brother, and daughter are talking about taking a day trip since we have a long weekend!

5. Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song lyric relating to love. 

I'm not the best at this. My husband fusses at me a lot for negative self-talk and not taking good care of myself. There are a lot of things I can improve in this area. I think I'm going to print out the graphic below and put it somewhere I'll see it regularly!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Thank you for taking the time to read! I appreciate the love! 😍

Linking up with Joyce!