Wow. Summer came much faster than we expected. As much as we’re trying to stay positive, we’re dreading our very first Vegas summer. I am trying to keep myself distracted by setting personal goals for June that are motivating (and mostly indoors). I am excited that we will be taking lots of smaller trips throughout the summer to escape the heat though. This week we are heading to LA, SF, Napa Valley, and Big Sur… and the week after that a national park (we haven’t decided which one yet!). Which is your favorite?
Last month’s highlights on instagram:
As you can see… there was a lot of food involved. If you want to follow along daily on instagram (esther’s & jacob).
- 5 Ways to Save and Travel More
- Summer Reading Challenge
- 10 Day Hiking Essentials
- Las Tintoreras Bay Tour of Isabela Island
- Adopting a Growth Mindset
- Lovely Letters Snail Mail Exchange (sign up for June)
- Get back to health. I got so used to being sick that one day I woke up and realized “hey, I’m not coughing!”
- Bake two new recipes. yeah… no. I did make a Lemon Citrus Spinach Salad though. So good!
- Read 3 books. I read none of the books I said I was going to read, BUT I did read one, two, three. Check!
- Do two new pinterest projects. I did one! The easiest one! (see below)
- Fill gratitude jar with four strips. check!
- Schedule blog posts two weeks in advance I did not, but I managed just fine with all my downtime in SF.
- Continue Couch to 5k let’s just say I did not feel any better. haha
- Go on 7 Dates We did 6! See some of our dates here.
Pinterest Project #1: Painting keys with cheap nail polish instead of key identification caps / covers. Easy Peezy.
- Bake one new recipe.
- Do two new pinterest projects. Which are your favorites?
- Go on four creative dates.
- Read 4 books. For the summer reading challenge, I am finishing this (FINALLY), and starting this in the children’s category.
- Fill gratitude jar with four strips.
- Schedule blog posts one week in advance.
- Start Up Couch to 5k or walk 10,000 steps a day. Thank God our gym has AC!
- Play one hour of piano a day. Perfect the UP song, and start on page 1 & 2 of Chopin’s Ballade 4.
Any DIY pinterest projects you’ve seen lately that seem worthwhile?
Every month I’ve been doing monthly goals. See how we’re doing on our 14 in 2014 resolutions or my previous monthly goals by clicking the banner below:
i’m so glad you’re feeling better!! :)
and oh my gosh that last picture with the water? i literally drooled. LITERALLY DROOLED!
and girl i understand heat :) today is 94 with 100% humidity (i would take dry heat any day!) i’m so used to it though haha.
loving your new list! (i run outside…last night it was 89 at 730 when i ran haha)
Thanks so much! :) Yes.. you must go visit Big Sur! It’s seriously one of my favorite places in the world. I love it so much. I guess that is true. I used to live in GA and the humidity was pretty ridiculous. Still, it’s hard to believe people recommend you carry 5 gallons of water in case your car overheats and you’re stuck on the side of the road. I’ve never heard of that before.
Ooooooh I love those keys!!!! I am totally stealing that!
Let me know when you end up doing it! :) i got impatient and didn’t let it dry so they got messed up.. Might have ot do them again! It always happens when I do my nails too. lol
I am the ExACT same way with nail polish. I’ve finally just settled on clear/hardener. I love the colors but I’m just way too impatient!
maybe we need to save up for those LED nail dryers. hahaha!
woo hoo your disqus is working again! i love the painted keys – great idea!
It is!! FINALLY!!!! :D It was SO frustrating. & thanks girl! :)
Those keys are so great and good luck on your goals!
xx Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes
Thanks Kelly! It was definitely a pinterest idea. :)
you’re practicing an hour of piano a day? that’s awesome! =D
Yes I am!! :) I gotta catch up if I am ever going to play the music I want to play.
Love your photos, love your goals! Can’t wait to see which national park you visit next. I was so happy to finally visit Joshua Tree a couple of weeks ago, and I distinctly remembered your photos from your trip there! It lived up to my expectations.
Thanks Cassie! We’re still trying to decide. Joshua Tree is so beautiful! Did you camp overnight? I think the views of the stars are supposed to be amazing. I know the sunsets sure are. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
I always want to schedule blog posts, and then never end up doing it! Perhaps that should be my goal for June as well. Good luck with the desert heat this summer. X Jane http://janeheinrichs.blogspot.com
I say that to myself every time too! Can’t say that I’ve ever managed to get ahead… haha BUT one can hope! :) Thanks Jane!
I love how the keys turned out! Also, please have Jacob record you performing the UP song. I REALLY want to hear it! :)
Thanks girl!! :) Oh man.. I already get pretty weird about Jacob listening to me play. haha I don’t know if I’m quite ready for anyone else to hear yet.
Ohh, I am interested in seeing how the heat affects you guys over the summer for a more prolonged amount of time. In some ways, I guess summer in Las Vegas is kind of like its “winter” — meaning its extreme season. But at least it’ll only last about 3-4 months?
ANYWAY, it looks like May was a really productive month for you! I love your collages and hearing about your goals!
Thank you! :) IT IS BRUTAL ERIKA…. IT IS BRUTAL. I am saying this from my air conditioned apartment though. haha we stepped outside to check the mail it was a difficult process. I may be over exaggerating a bit. ;) I think I still prefer this over cold winters for sure.
Ahhh…you have such good goals! I’m actually just starting to get back into piano as well! Doesn’t it feel so nice? Thanks for hooking me up with the Summer Reading Challenge…I’m a huge book nerd. Have a wonderful June :)
Thank you Jordan! What are you playing at the moment? It is nice to know that I haven’t completely forgotten everything! :D You’re so welcome! I’m so glad that you are participating. The more the merrier. Which book are you reading now?
Good luck on your June goals! You sound like you have some exciting little trips planned! I love the cherry picture. I really want to try making jam and canning some.
Thanks Mariah! :) We originally wanted to go to Sedona, but found out there were huge wildfires going on that they can’t seem to control… so now we actually have no idea which park to go to. I’ve been wanting to try that too! Maybe I’ll let you try it first.. hehe :)
Those nail polish painted keys look so cute! I think I am going to steal this idea from you since I have so many nail polish bottles that is not being used! Good luck on your goals this month. I know you can kick ass! :-)
Thanks Jasam. :) You should do it! I want to see a finished photo when you do!!
Totally! I’ll tag you…you know, I am searching for your social media buttons, and I can’t find them. Where can I follow you?
Good question! I have them on the home page in the about section.. but I guess it never shows up for blog posts. I’ll have to work on them being more visible for each post! Thanks for pointing that out!
All my usernames are the same: estherjulee for pinterest, instagram, twitter, and facebook. :)
Congrats on your goals for May! I especially love the decorated keys. Such a good idea. :) Good luck with June’s goals! I’m also going to try to work on my summer reading and try working out more often. Happy June!
xo, gina
Thank you Gina! :) I used to always fumble with my keys at the door and considered buying key identification caps .. but thanks to pinterest, I found a much cheaper option. Pinterest has everything! Happy June!