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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Nighttime Essentials and Routine

Nighttime Routine and Bedtime Essentials

Recently I’ve been working on establishing a solid nighttime routine to ensure I get the best night’s sleep possible while I can before our baby arrives.  I want to make sure I’m as comfortable as possible during my pregnancy, a goal I plan to carry on after baby as part of my self-care routine. I find that this bedtime routine has been working well so far and helps me wind down after some busy days lately. First I’m sharing my nighttime essentials, followed by the evening routine I’ve been loving. If you, too, have an established end-of-day routine please share it with me in the comments!

My nighttime essentials and bedtime routine:

  • Belly butter
  • Castor oil
  • Lip balm
  • Lip scrub
  • Body lotion
  • Water bottle
  • Diffuser
  • Cleanser and facial spray
  • Denture cleaner tablets (for my Invisalign)
  • Yoga mat
  • Bath bombs/bubble bath
  • Face masks
  • Massager
  • On my wish list: a pregnancy pillow

My get-ready-for-bed routine:

My nighttime essentials help me regain my clarity, balance and overall sense of well-being at the end of the day. I use them in my bedtime routine, which varies in terms of order, but in general consists of:

I often soak in the tub while listening to a self-improvement book on Audible. Lately it’s been “You Do You” by Sarah Knight. If I’m not taking a bath/soak, I like to shower after any sort of workout (or just because) while playing a book.

I then put on comfortable pajamas and apply my belly butter and lotion. I want to start using castor oil again for specific areas (cyst, stretch marks, eyelashes).

I take off my contacts and start wearing my glasses.

I take out my Invisalign and drop a denture cleaner tablet into warm water. I soak them for about 30 minutes before bed. I also brush my teeth and floss.

I wash my face and use my skin care products. Sometimes I use a face mask.

I use lip scrub and lip balm.

I fill my water bottle/glass and place it next to the bed.

I often take a look at my planner and see what I have going on in the morning. This helps me mentally prepare to get out of bed on time on days when it’s absolutely crucial and it lets me know when I can sneak in some extra Z’s. I don’t find this to be absolutely essential, though.

I write in a journal (or two). I am still experimenting to find what works for me.  One journal is a gift I want to give; the other is a sort-of bullet journal that I am figuring out how to use. In recent months I jotted down a daily gratitude but I stopped during the holidays. I know for sure I want a brain dump page for all my ideas and random thoughts, but the rest of my journal spreads are up in the air at the moment.

A goal this year is to also do some yoga poses before bed every night (if I didn’t already go to a class). I don’t always do this, but I also want to get back into using a meditation app or doing it on my own, perhaps after listening to my book. Lately I’ve been using our neck and shoulder massager on my lower back and neck if not already stretching or doing yoga.

Lastly, I add oils to my diffuser and turn it on.

Goodnight!

Why is a nighttime routine important to me?

I haven’t always followed a routine before bed, but I have found that an established nighttime ritual has helped me wind down, decompress and prepare for the next day. Relaxing has helped me achieve better quality sleep, which is important since I don’t always get the quantity of sleep I’d like, and that quantity is only going to go down when our baby girl is born. I’ve learned that a solid night routine is the basis for a productive and more zen morning as well. Do you agree?

What does your nighttime routine look like? What are your essentials?

Related posts:

New Routine: Working From Home

Owning Your Choices: Tips to Reprioritize to Achieve Your Goals in 2018

10 Ways to Feel Like You’re on Vacation

October Favorites | November Plans

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting Floradise.


October was a loooong month for me. It seemed to drag on forever, partly because I was having uncomfortable symptoms for most of the month. Luckily, the end of October brought some relief thanks to my focus on self-care and family. Here are my October favorites,  the items I loved last month because they helped me start feeling like myself again!

My October Favorites:

Bump Box: My friend surprised me with this first trimester box as soon as I told her we were expecting. She was the first friend I told, thus she was one of maybe two people who knew about my symptoms so early on. When I opened the box and saw a new package of Preggie Pops I was thrilled because I had just ran out of mine. Preggie Pops are the real favorite because they have been helpful in relieving my morning sickness (for the most part). The box also contained other goodies, like a water bottle, a bath bomb and an anti-nausea drink mix. I didn’t use the anti-nausea bracelet or the belly stickers, but I appreciated the gesture of sending a box.

Sweater Weather three-wick candle: To be honest I am not obsessed with every Bath and Body Works three-wick candle scent. Sweater Weather (sage, juniper berry, eucalyptus, fresh woods) is one of the few I actually enjoy. I am also currently burning Tis the Season, which smells like rich red apple, sweet cinnamon and cedarwood. (Too soon?)

IZZE Sparkling Juice Clementine drinks: I recently rediscovered this drink and have since craved it constantly, though I’m trying to stick to water as much as possible. It’s refreshing and sweet and so good!

Lush Mint Julips Lip Scrub: I just picked this up but it’s already a favorite. It tastes so good and leaves my lips soft. Plus, it has that gentle tingle I enjoy in my lip balms.

Lush Rosy Cheeks Mask: This, too, is a new addition but I already love it. It smells amazing and left my face feeling ridiculously soft and moisturized. It wasn’t really exfoliating or anything, just a treat to use.  It has a nice cooling and soothing effect since it’s supposed to be kept in the fridge.

What products have you been loving?

What I’m excited about in November:

I’m really hoping this month brings more relief and a lot more fun!

I’m looking forward to:

  • Sharing the gender of our baby!
  • Seeing Johnnyswim perform in Chicago.
  • Visiting my friend Charlsy in Alexandria.
  • Celebrating Thanksgiving in Louisville.
  • Doing some Christmas shopping!

What are you excited about this month? What are your goals?

September Updates and Favorites

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I just can’t seem to catch up with life. Again.
September has been a huge month for us. Graham and I celebrated our third anniversary, we made plans for the winter and next year (and then life forced us to rework those plans), and we cheered on the Chicago Cubs as they made their way into the postseason again. I can’t wait to see what October and the rest of the year have in store for us, and I’m excited to share it all!
A few updates:

  • We received our family photos from Abigail Joyce Photography and I love them! We chose Montrose Harbor in Chicago for our location because we could get different types of shots there, and I was happy with how they turned out. Family sessions are a blur and it seemed like V was moving constantly, but somehow Abigail was able to capture beautiful photos. 
Abigail Joyce Photography

  • Graham and I took advantage of another warm weekend in Chicago to go on a stand-up paddleboarding date. We had purchased rentals from Chicago Paddle Co. in July but never used them. The rentals had since expired, but when we saw the company would be open one more weekend we simply walked up and asked if we could use our passes. It was a much-needed day date. We plan to keep up with our date nights/days as much as possible after going months without ever really making time for dates without Victoria. We’ve been reminded recently that we need time to ourselves as a couple. Need date ideas? Check out my list.
  • I teamed up with four bloggers to give away a $50 Lush gift certificate over on Instagram. I’ve been all about self-care recently, so I wanted to help others focus on the same. All you need to do is follow us and tag two friends in the comments. Head over to my profile to enter. 

Favorites:

While I’m sharing updates, I also wanted to talk about some recent cruelty-free favorites. I don’t have that many new items because I’ve been focusing on using up what I already have before trying more products.

  • Essence Lash Princess False Lash Effect Mascara: I’ve been using and loving this for almost two months. I was previously using Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara, but I find this to be better and much less expensive! 
  • Ciaté London Fierce Flicks eyeliner. I received this complimentary product from Influenster recently and was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. I had been using NYX matte eyeliner, but I find this much easier to use because it’s a felt tip. I feel like I have much more control. (The Fierce Flicks is currently sold out at Sephora but I linked to another Ciaté eyeliner.)
  • Not Your Mother’s Beach Babe Sea Salt Texture Spray: I recently cut my hair, so I wanted to go back to using a texture spray to style my layered, short locks. I loved the way my hair looked when I have used this lately. I feel like my hair held the curls (using flat iron) until the next day, which is rare with my straight hair. It’s an affordable product, too.

What’s going on in your life lately? Share something fun with me in the comments!

Shop my favorites**:

Fitness Favorites and Ways to Find Low-Cost Workouts

Lately I’ve been all about finding ways to sweat at home, whether it’s trying a workout I found on YouTube or practicing yoga on my own when I can’t make it to class. Life has been crazy lately, which means running has taken a backseat. My most recent long run was almost 12 miles a couple of weeks ago, and it will likely be my last major distance for a while. My plan is to instead focus strength training and yoga, and to be kinder to my body.

My current fitness favorites:

Whitney Simmons’ YouTube channel: I like that her videos are short and sweet, and she often shares workouts that can be done at home. I appreciate at-home workouts for days when I can’t make it to the gym during child care hours or days when I just don’t feel like running but want to sweat a bit.

Resistance bands: I bought these because I’ve been doing the workouts on Whitney Simmons’ channel. She often incorporates these into her training. I bought the red and purple bands, but I have been mostly using the red. I underestimated the resistance and probably didn’t need the purple yet. I like that they enhance simple movements such as squats and lunges.

90 Degree by Reflex clothing: I recently became an ambassador for 90 Degree by Reflex, which means I was provided complimentary outfits. I already owned some yoga leggings, but I was excited to try more of their athletic clothing. It came at a perfect time, because I want to transition into focusing on yoga over running in the months ahead.

Carb Boom! Energy Gels: I first used these energy gels to train for the Chicago Marathon in 2016. I loved that they taste so much better than other gels I used to purchase. They never upset my stomach, a major win! They don’t contain artificial sweeteners or flavors and are made from real fruit purees/concentrates. My favorite flavors: Grape Pomegranate, Raspberry and Strawberry Kiwi. I stay away from the Banana Peach, Vanilla Orange and Apple Cinnamon because those flavors tend to gross me out during runs. I prefer fruity flavors. I typically order a sampler pack; you can select your flavors. While I won’t be running long distances much, I wanted to mention these because they have helped me through multiple rounds of half-marathon and marathon training.

Sources of free or low-cost workouts:

I love finding workouts for free or at a lower cost, especially now that I often have to pay for child care to work out. I find that in a city like Chicago it’s easy to find free classes or events.

Some methods I’ve used to find free/affordable workouts:

  • Many fitness YouTubers include their workouts in the description bar or on their Instagram captions. I screenshot them and see if I can do any of them at home.
  • Search for free community yoga classes in your area. Many studios offer at least a free class per month or week. Other studios offer a pay-what-you-can class each week. I recently bought a Groupon for a yoga package at a nice discount.
  • Other fitness studios also offer a free first class. Search EventBrite or Facebook events for free fitness classes. On EventBrite, enter your location and fitness (or bootcamp, running, yoga, etc.) in the description and then narrow results by Price (Free vs. Paid).
  • Search Pinterest for at-home workout ideas.
  • Join a running group for meetups or track workouts.

What’s your favorite workout right now?

Toddler Favorites

 

** This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small commission for purchases through these links.

I regularly share my beauty, fitness and travel favorites, so I thought it would also be fun to share Victoria’s current toddler favorites. As a new parent I am constantly learning so much about what works and what doesn’t, and what toys are ideal for toddlers. (I also learned what toys are not so fun to constantly pick up, so I won’t be giving those as gifts anytime soon!) I find that Victoria consistently plays with certain toys and books, and sometimes her favorites are unexpected. V’s current loves would make great gifts for toddlers in your life!

Toddler favorites

  • ABC Yoga by Christiane Engel. This was a Christmas gift from family and she loves it. It illustrates a yoga pose from A to Z, each resembling an animal. Victoria loves to mimic what she sees.
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  • Yvolution Y Velo Balance Bike and Bell Pint Toddler Helmet: We bought this for Victoria’s birthday thanks to gift cards from friends and family. She rides her bike every single day. I took her to Target to select her own helmet, and she loved this pink Bell Pint one.

 

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  • Melissa and Doug Bugs Floor Puzzle: Victoria has done this puzzle so much that she can pretty much complete it all by herself now. It was a birthday gift from family in Louisville. We love these floor puzzles! (We also have a dinosaur one that she loves.)

 

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  • Dear Zoo, A Lift-the-Flap Book by Rod Campbell: My friend Megan bought this gift for Victoria for her birthday, and she has frequently requested that I read it to her before bed since then. It’s a lift-the-flap book, so that makes it fun for toddlers. She has it memorized by now. Super cute!

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What are you or your kiddos loving right now?

 

May Favorites & a Miss

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Milani Prime Perfection primer; Thayers Witch Hazel toner; Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel

I hope your May was full of fun, food and favorites! I have five recent beauty favorites to share that I’ve been using and loving this month. Bonus: They are all cruelty-free and affordable. Also, I am almost completely cruelty-free with my makeup! I only have one non-cruelty-free mascara, brow product and lipstick to use up before my (small) makeup collection is entirely composed of products not tested on animals. I have been working toward this goal for more than a year now, and I am excited to finally get there.


And now, May’s favorites:

Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel ($21.97 for two pack): This shave gel doesn’t require water, so you can shave wherever! This is especially handy when you’re in a hurry, hence the name Busy Beauty. You simply rub in the excess gel as you would a moisturizer. It’s also cruelty-free and vegan. It has eucalyptus, tea tree, clove, ginger and oat essential oils in it, and it’s also paraben- and alcohol-free. (This was sent to me by Busy Beauty to try out.)

Busy Beauty Showerless Shave Gel and Preserve Shave 5 razor.

Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner Rose Petal ($10.95): I’ve tried and loved the Lavender toner, so I wanted to try the rose-scented one. I love it just as much and it’s a regular staple in my skin-care routine. I like that it’s gentle and never harsh. Also, one bottle lasts me several months.

Not Your Mother’s Way to Grow Long & Strong Shampoo (about $5): I was looking for a new shampoo after trying several cruelty-free products that had scents I didn’t enjoy. I knew after the first use that I would like this. Scent is super important to me along with cleaning my hair.

Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Refreshing Conditioner (about $5): I like the scent of this NYM product as well. It does the job it claims to do. Also, it doesn’t weigh down my long hair.

Milani Prime Perfection Primer ($9.99): This primer is both hydrating and slightly pore minimizing, in my experience. It feels like a moisturizer in that it hydrates as you rub it in. I have compared this to the Wet ‘n Wild Coverall primer in my past; they are extremely similar, except this Milani primer has a better scent.

A miss:

Alba Botanica Hawaiian Detox Cleanser: I wanted to like this. It was an affordable Marshalls find that drew me in with the Hawaiian reference. It does the job of cleansing and it is gentle, but I simply hate the scent. It reminds me of the mildew smell of clothes left in the washer for too long. I’m using it up because I hate wasting products, but I’ll be repurchasing my trusted Pacifica face wash soon.


What products are you using and loving? Share them with me in the comments!

April Favorites

**This post contains affiliate links, but these are my honest opinions about the products. I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.
I’m also loving this palm tree print makeup bag I found at Marshall’s.

April was a bit exhausting, but in a good way. Graham fulfilled a lifelong career dream, we celebrated Victoria’s birthday early and I did my best to balance an overwhelming workload with my fitness and personal goals. I also tested some new beauty products and accumulated more empties, which I’ll be sharing soon. (One recent purchase was the LA Girl luminous foundation, which I like so far. ) I am still making my mind up about recent buys, but I do have some favorites to share:

KL Polish in Miss Honey: Kathleen Lights described the color (pictured above on the left) as something Miss Honey from “Matilda” would wear, and I agree. It’s become my everyday nail polish color since I bought it last month. I was looking for the perfect spring color, and this is it for me. It’s cruelty-free as well. KL’s website describes it as a warm, melon hue. This polish is long-wearing for me, which is saying a lot.

Photo by KL Polish

The Big One Gel Memory Foam Pillow (Side Contour): I don’t know what I have been doing with my life, except not sleeping well. I switched to this pillow recently and have been sleeping much better. My head and neck rest comfortably on the pillow, which is contoured, so I don’t need to constantly adjust the pillow during the night. I am getting much better sleep, minus the sinus issues I’ve been having. These are normally about $50, but I found them on sale recently for $15 and $25, both good deals.

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DV Bailey Slide Sandals: I found these at Target (it wins again!) and when I saw the price tag of about $16, I had to get them. I was in need of new everyday, neutral sandals to throw on with many of my late spring and summer outfits. They come with yellow and black straps as well.

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Army Green Criss Cross Front V Back Short Sleeve Top: I was hesitant to order this because I was unsure of the quality for the affordable price, but I was not disappointed. It’s a thicker material than you’d expect for $10 and it’s comfortable and cute. I’ve worn it many times already. (I’m actually wearing it as I type this, too.) It comes in maroon, black, blue and yellow, too. 
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Wrappily: I love the fabulous prints offered by this eco-friendly and reversible gift wrap company, which is based in Hawaii. I shared more about it in my last post, so I won’t go into too much detail here. P.S. There’s still time to enter the Wrappily giveaway!


What have you been loving lately?


5 Beauty Products YouTube Made Me Buy

 

** This post contains affiliate links. I am compensated for purchases through these links at no additional cost to you. Sites may use cookies. 
5 Beauty Products YouTube Made Me Buy

This post was inspired by the popular tag on YouTube about products YouTubers made us all buy. These are just five of the makeup products I wanted to buy after hearing rave reviews about them on YouTube. Of course, there are countless makeup products I’ve heard about that sound amazing, but when it comes to beauty products, I stick to cruelty-free and mostly affordable. Check out some of the makeup I was compelled to buy and what I think about each:

  • Wet ‘n Wild Megalast Liquid Catsuit Lipstick ($4.99): I recently saw several YouTubers rave about these affordable liquid lipsticks while searching for new lip colors to wear. I have a recent goal of wearing lipstick more often, and these seemed like a great option. I invested in a few shades and so far I love them. They last a decent amount of time on the lips and they are easy to apply.
  • Milani Luminoso blush (about $8): Jaclyn Hill, Kathleen Lights and many others have called this blush a favorite  and I can see why. First, the packaging is lovely. It also applies nicely and looks good on a variety of skin tones. It is my go-to blush.
  • Milani Make It Last Setting Spray (about $10): This is a recent purchase, so I don’t have too many thoughts on it yet besides it smells nice and the spray isn’t too forceful.
  • Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer (about $13): I bought this because of Kathleen Lights, but I purchased it online before swatching it. Had I tried it in person I would have seen that it’s a bit too light for me most of the year. I am able to use it when my tan has faded, though. It smells like a tropical paradise, as I’m sure you’ve heard, and the packaging is cute.
  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance eyeshadow palette ($42): Pretty much every single YouTuber I’ve ever watched has given this palette positive reviews. I kept seeing it and admiring the beautiful shades, so I added it to my Christmas wish list and Santa brought it to me! I used it exclusively during a recent vacation and loved how I could do a variety of looks with the eyeshadows. The packaging gets easily dirty, but it’s still lovely.


Have you purchased anything specifically because you heard about it from a YouTuber? What was it and what did you think?

Shop the products**

 

Cruelty-Free Skin Care Products | Current Favorites

** This post contains affiliate links. 

Last year I made the switch to cruelty-free skin-care, makeup and hair products. I am currently happy with the skin-care products I’m using, though I am still mixing up my routine to see if there’s something I love even more. One of my goals this year is to learn to make some of my own skin-care items, but right now the products below are working well for me. Do you make your own products? Any tips?

My skin-care favorites at the moment:

 

  • Pacifica Sea Foam Complete Face Wash: I enjoy the gentle lather and coconut scent of this face wash. It’s my go-to facial cleanser! It claims to also tone the skin as well as remove makeup.
  • Thayers Witch Hazel Alcohol Free Toner – Lavender: I enjoy the gentle toner and its scent. I don’t really feel like I need to try others, but I am interested in the rose-scented toner from Thayers as well.
  • Miss Spa masks: I use these affordable sheet masks once a week. I have tried several varieties, and my favorites so far are the Age Defy and Brightening masks. These are affordable; they are $2.99 each at Target. I also liked the eye masks, but those I have only seen at Walgreens.
  • It Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream: I’ve been using this for a few months now and will continue to purchase it. My skin feels and looks smoother. It contains hyaluronic acid, among other ingredients, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Mario Badescu Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream: It’s too soon to review this eye cream, but of all the Mario Badescu eye creams I tested in the store, I liked this the most. I liked the scent and texture and it has kept my under eyes hydrated.
  • It Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Cream: I meant to purchase this again after testing it in December, but I’ll wait until I have used up my Mario Badescu cream. I really enjoyed this cream and saw results. (I am talking about the regular It Cosmetics eye cream, not the color-correcting eye cream.)

Extras:

These products I don’t consider necessities, but I purchase them every once in a while. All of them are cruelty-free as well:

 

  • Lush Cup O’ Coffee Mask: The coffee-scent mask is a nice way to wake up. I enjoyed the exfoliation, but not the mess. (It leaves mini coffee grinds in the sink when you wash it off.)
  • Yes To Coconut sheet mask: I enjoy the scent and hydration of this sheet mask.
  • Burt’s Bees grapefruit facial wipes: I don’t always use wipes because I like to reduce my waste, but I enjoyed the scent of these. I pick them up when I will be traveling and for days when I wear more makeup than usual.
  • Mario Badescu facial spray: I didn’t think this is a necessity at all, but I loved spraying my face throughout the day as a pick-me-up. The scent is lovely as well.
  • Desert Essence Jojoba Oil: Jojoba oil has many benefits. I used this to help remove makeup and as a moisturizer, among other uses.

 

Shop my products**:

February Favorites & Goals

** This post contains affiliate links.

Amid vacationing, family leave and taking care of business around our home, I haven’t had a chance to set solid February goals or write about my recent favorites. Have I mentioned it’s also my birthday month? The theme for me lately has been self-care and getting things done. It’s been a month so far of catching up on things I’ve been meaning to do and preparing for a new season that will bring about change for our family. In the spirit of inspiration and helping others, I’m sharing this month’s favorites and goals.

Shein Burgundy Glasses Print Top: I’ve been wearing this as much as I can. I absolutely love the color and print. I originally purchased the top to wear to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but I didn’t make it there. I will save that for our next trip to Florida to visit close friends.

Get this Harry Potter-inspired tee for only $10 here.


Wet ‘n Wild Megalist Liquid Catsuit Lipsticks in Nice to Fuchsia and Mocha: These are comfortable and pigmented liquid lipsticks that stay put. Best of all: They are only $4.99. I even paid less than that. They were three for $10 at Walgreens recently. Get you some!

Mocha and Fuchsia

Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette: I am about a year late to this bandwagon. Everyone I follow raves about this palette, and I finally know why. It’s beautiful and the shade selection is great for both everyday looks and date-night makeup. I brought this with me on vacation and used it every single day. I love it. I notice a bit of kickback when I touch my brush to the pans but it’s nothing major.

Too Faced Perfect Eyes Eyeliner: This eyeliner glides on and has great pigmentation. I am wearing it almost every day. Plus, Too Faced is cruelty-free.

February Goals:

Family:
  • Enjoy my remaining family leave. I have less than a week left of time off and I want to make sure I am as present as possible with my family. I want to relax, take care of myself (and my family) and make plans (and moves) for our future.
  • Find family-friendly activities in Chicago.
Fitness:
  • Get back into a fitness routine. My training for the Chicago Spring Half Marathon begins on March 1, so I need to prepare myself by working out at least three times a week. I just tried kickboxing and I am still an Orangetheory member, so this goal shouldn’t be too difficult. We also just joined the local YMCA, which offers day care. Yay!
  • Make it to one group run and one yoga class. I’ve been neglecting my running group because it’s been so cold for this Arizonan’s taste. I’ve also been neglecting my yoga practice. I want to get back into a consistent practice. My body and mind need it.
Career/blog:
  • Pursue more freelance writing and editing opportunities. I just finished editing a book and I was selected for what I hope will be an ongoing writing opportunity. I would love to add more opportunities to the list.
  • Search for a photo-editing course. 


What are your goals and favorites this month?

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