I almost feel a bit silly posting about any goals I might have this month seeing as how for the majority of it I’ll be away, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get things done in the next week or so and then at the tail end of the month!!
Even though I didn’t share any goals for January – I had one big to-do checked off – redesigning our event planning website!! It was quite the undertaking & I think I know more about coding than I ever thought possible and it’s still got a few minor tweaks we’re hoping to make, but it’s liveagain so feel free tocheck it out!
Now on to February goals…
1// Sample products – use them up! Between past beauty boxes and samples from stores I am (as is our bathroom) over run with samples! My goal this month is to use up as many of these as possible so that I can create some space! I think Gary is going to like this goal!
2// I’ve had my current site design for almost a year and it just never quite felt like it was what I truly wanted…so I’m hoping to go back to the pre-made blogger template route (you can’t beat the prices) from Etsy & I’ve used Eclair Designs before, so if you have a favorite Etsy shop let me know! Also, what are your thoughts on “read more” – I’ve been toying with the idea of doing this, but have heard that it deters people. Most of my blog readers are other bloggers coming from Bloglovin, so that isn’t really a factor, but just curious what you all think!
3// Make 2 meals from my new cookbook. I have never been led astray from Pinterest recipe’s being winners, but am sadly neglecting all of my cook books! This month I’m going to try to make at least two recipes out of Giada’s cook book – Happy Cooking!
4// Figure out birthday dinner & going out plans for my birthday in March. This might sound like a weird one, but my cousin and his wife are coming for an overdo trip to Boston and it happens to fall on my birthday weekend – so I’d like to make this a double win and plan something fun for all of us… perhaps even a fun night out! Also wouldn’t mind waking up to Happy Birthday balloons…cough cough!
Not too many goals, but it’ll definitely keep me occupied! What are some of your goals this month?
All great goals! Definitely sounds achievable, even being gone a majority of the month. I can't wait to hear about your travels!
I'm with you on the recipes….it's just so easy to get something from pinterest. I need to work on making at least one thing a month from a cookbook!
Sarah at MeetTheShaneyfelts
All great goals, especially for someone who is going to be away for most of the month! Yay for a little redesign! And yes to cook books! I haven't opened a cook book in way too long now! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
Hee Hee, you better get those birthday balloons!! 😉 I have met Giada and adore her recipes and flare! She is just the same in person as she is on TV!!! Have a most terrific Tuesday!!
lofty little list you got there… but most important is your birthday! Glad your cousins are popping in for visit; that should be so fun! Make today work, Rachel CubicleCouture
If you make any recipes out of that cookbook, totally post them! I love finding out if a cookbook is worth the purchase. My Feb goal is to get to yoga more often!
Christina :: Simple and Delish
I think these are great goals! Curious to see what you end up picking for your blog design. I personally don't love the Read More option, but it seems to be the way a lot of blog designs are going. Yay for your birthday month!!!
I purchased my design from Etsy from 'Carrie Loves Design Studio'… instant download and so easy to use and very responsive to questions if you need help with something, can't wait to see the new design!
I actually like the ‘read more’ tab so that if I’m reading a site I can get to posts I want to read/am looking for quicker! Excited to see your new design!
These are some good goals! I haven't used an Etsy shop for a blog design before, I've just used Designer Blogs. Let me know how the 'read more' works out… I've been thinking about making that jump as well! I think it makes things look a little more cleaner/stream lined.
I think those sound great! And congrats on the January goal- beautiful!
I love Giada's recipes – can't wait to see what you make from her cookbook! I have a WordPress theme but I got it off Creative Market and I would check there! There are TONS of affordable themes on there!!
Great list of goals for February! I like the idea of using up samples. I have a huge bag of them just sitting there in my bathroom! I might have to add this to my goals too! Thanks for the idea!
Xo, Rachel
A Blonde's Moment
I really need to use up my samples too. I have so many tiny little bottles of stuff. they are perfect for vacations though!
Can't wait to see the event website re-design, I'm sure it's amazing! I definitely need to get better about using or getting rid of samples that are overrunning our bathroom too. Sephora is just too good to us! And yayyyyy for birthday weekend, can't wait to hear what your plans are <3
Green Fashionista
My samples are just piling up too. I need to use them! Congrats on getting your events webpage done. Coding is so scary!
Xoxo,
Whitney & Blaire
Peaches In A Pod
The new site is amazing!!! Good job!!! I love how it all flows and the look is perfect. I am with you on trying to use up samples and cookbooks! I have so many and they just sit there collecting dust and take up space in our pantry!
Love the new event site, chickie!
love those balloons i can't help it. i'm kinda a child haha. i used to have the read more option on my blog and i kinda like it without. but hey – why not switch it up and see how it goes? 🙂 happy february!
xoxo cheshire kat
I really love reading people's goals. I'm not a huge fan of the read more, but it's all preference I think! I LOVE balloons on birthdays–they're so fun! I am toying with switching to WordPress this year, but the thought overwhelms me…eek!
We're on the same page today! I love it. Such a good idea to actually use up some samples. And plan a birthday!!!! Love a good celebration 🙂
Annie Reeves
I'm so bad to not use of my samples and holding them out for a rainy day. I will join in on this goal!
random, but i almost used that graphic for tomorrow's post! hehe. i love canva. AND i love your goals for the month. i can't wait to hear what your final bday plans are!
Happy birthday month!! xoxo
It is never too late to share your goals. 🙂 Love Giada's recipes because they always turn out well. I'll have to look for her latest cookbook too!! Love those birthday balloons and you should take some of those samples on your trip!! 🙂
The Bespoke site looks great! I can't believe you're doing so much of that yourself, I am SO impressed!
I need to work on my sample box, too! My birthday is this month too! When is yours?
You have a great month planned ahead yeaay. And it is your birthday month, too. I love those birthday balloons like in the photo. It is good and more realistic to have month by month goals and I think you will achieve yours.
I have so much makeup both full size and sample sizes that they are keeping me away from ordering an Ipsy or a Birchbox subscription. And I too debate whether I should put the "read more" part on each of my posts. Decisions. Decisions!
You're event planning site is looking fab! Learning more web coding is on my to-do list this year. If I could just find the time to sit down and let it all soak in! 🙂
Merrissa
Monthly goals are such a good idea seeing that January goal wise was terrible. Hahaha new start!!! I love cook books 🙂
Your site looks great!! Monthly goals are always a good idea even if they seem not to happen (um … me … haha). I love those Happy Birthday balloons!!!
I love lettered balloons – so fun! I may have to get some for Valentine's Day.
That's one of my goals – to cook at least twice a week from my weekly recipe that I subscribe to.
Those blogger templates are gorgeous! I wish I knew about them before I started to redesign my space. I'm still not done and have someone working on a header for me but I'll definitely keep those in mind for the future. So exciting your trip is coming up soon!
February goal: have a baby! I also feel a weird guilt sometimes from neglecting cookbooks–especially because I hate trying to follow a pinterest recipe on my phone because I end up having to unlock my phone and pull it up again a thousand times. I just ordered the Mix and Match Meal planner from Amazon and I'm super excited to try those recipes!
Excited for the new design! I use "read more" on my blog and like it. You can see more posts on the home page that way. I ended getting rid of a ton of cookbooks bc I never used them. I think I have 5 or 6 left. Make sure you share the recipes with us!
I have a ton of samples I need to use up + try out! I need to to do this! 🙂
-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
My sister suggested I do the read more so that more posts would show up on one page, but I get annoyed when I read my own post and there's a read more. I am still in decision mode about it too. Good luck with your goals!
Your wedding site looks great! And I think using up samples is a wonderful goal…I'm doing quite well so far.
I got my design from Lovely Paris Designs on Etsy, she is wonderful and extremely helpful. She has quite a few designs up as well. All very pretty. I don't mind the "read more" I actually kind of like it. I don't use Bloglovin or GFC to follow my blogs…that could be why.
xo, Lily
beautywithlily.com
Those are great goals; short and sweet! As much pinterest for quick reference recipes, I love opening up a good cookbook, especially an old one. You should totally fill us in with what you cook from it. 🙂
Great goals!! Waking up to those birthday balloons would be fun!!
Kisses,
Sarah
EverydayStarlet
Ugh #1 I am so guilty of not doing. I get so excited about the samples and then I just hoard them/forget about them. Such a great goal.
xo,
Sara Kate Styling
Great goals! I'm trying to use all of my samples up too. I feel bad throwing things away, but if I don't use them, they aren't making the move into storage.
I think these are great February goals and definitely ones you can accomplish on the road. I have been meaning to cook more from my favorite cookbooks as well. Can't wait to see which ones you pick out! XO
Anna
A Lily Love Affair
Such an awesome roundup!! Love it! xo
publiclivessecretrecipes.com/2016/02/valentines-day-recipe-roundup.html
I like your idea of setting monthly goals. I feel like I tend to live day-to-day, moment-to-moment, which sounds all lovely and free-spirited, but I actually end of feeling like I haven't accomplished anything.
Cheers, E
waltzmetoheaven.com
I have felt the same way about my design too hence why I have pulled the plug and getting it redesigned exactly how I want it. Super excited! Cant wait to see how yours comes out and I definitely need to check out that cookbook!
<3 Shannon
Upbeat Soles
Congrats on the redesign of your event planning website – that's a big one! I just switched to the Read More on my blog, and I honestly love it – it makes things look a lot cleaner on the homepage (in my opinion). Can't wait to see what new design you choose!
I've been thinking the same thing about grabbing a pre-made template until I can nail down what I really want on my blog! I feel ya for sure!
Love your commitment to use up your samples- I'm the same way with buying travel size products and never finishing them!
definitely reasonable goals for a busy month! good luck with all of them, i really need to use my cookbooks, i neglect them so much because it's easier to get on pinterest sometimes but i bought the books, so i should use them!
You can do this!! 🙂 I love my cookbooks but often let them go untouched too long, too- Pinterest is so convenient when I'm looking for something last minute sometimes 😉
I posted a master list of my 2016 goals and just did a progress report. This month, I have to focus on tackling some of my fitness goals. I haven't run outdoors all year and I miss it like crazy. Hoping to get back to that in February. I'm also working on a debt snowball to become debt free by the end of May. I am tired of worrying about finances al the time. runwright.net/2016/02/02/january-2016-goal-check-in/
The site looks fab! Nice job!
My read mores never seem to align with the post that they pop up on. LOL
Love the new site!
First of all, great job on the new site! It looks great!
As far as the "read more" goes, I find it to be a bit of a turn off and I tend to not read as much on blogs that are set up that way. However, it does give the website a bit more of a professional touch, so that could be a good thing! I guess it's kind of a toss up!
Biana, you did fantastic on your event planning site, wow girl, is there anything you can't do? It truly looks amazing and I know how much work goes into something like that so kudos to you. Good luck on your goals, being accountable to your blog defintiely helps push the goals forward! My birthday is also in March so YAY for March bdays 😀 Hope you're having a great week so far! XO -Kim
U have some great resolutions! Cooking more is mine too!
Thestyletune.blogspot.com
Yes to using up sample products!! Yes, yes and yes. That's so funny. they override my life!! And I love the cooking goal!
I've been thinking about a blog re-design too, not sure which way to go yet. I love those balloons, I always order balloons for my kids and put them in their rooms when they are asleep, so when they wake on their birthday morning they get a big surprise! Have a great day!
I always love reading monthly goals-It gets me motivated to think about mine! And those birthday balloons are wonderful!!!
I'm totally on the same page with you as far as using up those beauty samples and trying new cookbook recipes! I got a few new cookbooks for Christmas so I'm trying to incorporate them more into meal planning, and my sample stash has gotten seriously out of control…I cleaned it out a bit during the blizzard weekend, so now it's time to start using the ones that are still around!
Good call on using up all the sample products – I have a whole bathroom drawer devoted to them!! And off to read the comments because I've also been thinking about installing a 'read more' button, it just makes the home page look so much cleaner!
Every birthday girl needs those balloons! I need to try new cookbook recipes as well, I've been in the same meals on repeat rut for a while.
Brooke
Pumps and Push-Ups
I hear you re:the samples. I've begun tossing them in my gym bag and car now to use them up!! LOVE those balloons!!!
Yay! I love this! I am actually putting up some February goals tomorrow. Such a great way to hold ourselves accountable. I definitely need it lately. I have been slacking. I love your new website! It came out great! As for BLoved and the read more – I actually like that. This way readers see more posts than just the most recent (especially if it is a long picture heavy post).
I think putting your goals out there is great, because it puts a little more pressure on you to complete them 🙂 Your website looks great!
Paula
Thirteen Thoughts
I think the tons of samples are the only negative part about getting sample boxes like Birchbox or the Sephora Box. I bet that you'll be able to use a lot of them this month, and if not you could always try and use them when you have to pack a carry on. We're notorious for not cooking out of our cookbooks either because of all of our Pinterest recipes are so good. That sounds like another great goal to try and utilize them more!
Those balloons are so freaking cute! I hope you wake up to them, too, so I can see a photo 😉
I so need to go through my samples too! They are everywhere and my husband is so over it!
Heidi || Wishes & Reality
My samples are out of control too, and I get mad at myself for wanting to "save" some of them for some weird reason and then I never use them which ends up just making them pointless! haha. I like the read more option on my own blog because I don't like when it looks too crowded, but I don't really notice it on other blogs. Can't wait to see your new design!
Ive had a "read more" for almost a year now and I wont go back. I love that on the front page i just see snippets of each post!
Nice goals…I need to start cooking more. Have a great week!
Ty
toastandgrits.com
I love getting back to the cookbooks! I have so many on the shelf that I mean to flip through each month!
omg your #1 is my high priority right now. i have SO many samples laying around!!! it's getting out of hand! it would be fun to swap with each other too!
I like your site. Clean and easy to follow, but I know what you mean about the pre-made blogger templates. You really can't beat those prices. I got the Whole 30 cookbook so I hope to start cooking from it soon. I need time to sit down and make my grocery list. I personally like the read more buttons. I like that if someone is on my blog, it's not cluttered by long posts, so it's easier to scroll and see a variety of posts.
Goals are never silly!! I also need to start using up more sample products. They can get so overwhelming so fast!
elainea
toast the girl almighty
Nice post, great goals. I need to learn a lot for you
Alice missydressesau.com
I love seeing in someone's goals that they want to use up products! You can do a lot in a week or so! You'll do great. (: Very excited for your trip and to read about your travels.
I love trying out samples but I have a ton that I haven't used, too… I might have to steal that goal from you!
Guilty of having a jar of sample products. A BIG JAR. I can't wait to follow along on your trip this month!!
I really love getting to explore some new recipes from cookbooks, I am doing the same with a new Paleo book I got. I am not a fan of the read more in general.
I'm in the same boat with my design. I've been itching for a new design but not willing to fork over all that money for a custom WordPress design. Checking out that Etsy shop now!