Showing posts with label monthly goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label monthly goals. Show all posts
We are in the 4th month of the year. That's 2 months away from hitting mid-year. I recently learned that time indeed seems to pass faster the older you get because of the things you've already experienced. It's really interesting and also really scary in a mind fuck kind of way. Not at all comforting.
It's my birth month and usually I celebrate my birthday all week. Since moving to Texas, I have not and it's making my soul itch, if you know what I mean. The older I get, the more I want to move back into my "you can't tell me how to live my life" era because since I fund my own life, I should be in control of my own life and my own time. It would only make sense.
I'm not here to even attempt to romanticize April, as much as I want to. Because let's be real -- April means rain and rain anywhere other than Florida is miserable. April means the bugs are suddenly more comfortable coming outside. April means Spring which means allergens are ready to wreck yo face. As pretty and as girly it is to romanticize April, I'm not going to bother this year. Hop on Pinterest if you're looking for that. Or Threads, it's all over the place.
Instead, I'm going to give myself the low spoonie goal + hope guide for my 41st year. And goodness, has it been a long one already.
| celebrate your birthday your way
That means, fuck what anyone else has to say!! Do you boo, it's your day. Your week. YOUR MONTH. Be as loud as you use to be.
| declutter items not spaces
I read that decluttering items like clothes or shoes or like specific things like that instead of area's or rooms or drawers can be less overwhelming. And I kinda see how that's a thing.
| go back to eating more greens and adding more iron rich foods to your meals again
I hate that I lost sight of this. Depression does some weird shit but changing my diet was uncalled for lol. I'm usually really good about eating iron rich foods, whole foods, healthy fats, all that stuff. Texans don't believe in healthy eating and I don't know why I even let that get to me. Don't like it? Don't eat it. But leave me the fuck out of it. I know my body and I know what I stick to long before any of this, so step off, thanks.
| do what you can to create your cozy space
Walking into your room should feel like a deep breath. It should uplift your spirits every time you set foot. It should reflect who you are as far as fandoms, colors and scents. Do all the things you use to do to create your sanctuary of a room when you first moved out.
| figure out how to take 4k videos of Switch games
I really want to start making Pokopia and Mario videos but also Animal Crossing. I low key miss playing that but every time I get on I want to redo my entire island. But there are so many Pokopia videos I want to make! The base Switch capture isn't that great, which is sad since we're on the Switch2 now. Like? When did the image quality go down? I do stream and play on pc with my capture card that has a 4k setting. I'd just... have to figure out how to use it lol.
I'm also debating on installing Streamlabs on my MacBook Neo, but like... would that be a bit much?? It's not like I game heavy on it or anything. Or even at all. The games I usually play on my phone or iPad aren't optimized for the MacBook, does it stop me from trying? No. Is Steam installed on my MacBook? Yes.
| gentle self discipline
Do one thing for future you. Rebuild without guilt -- no matter how long it may take or how slow you may move.
Slow movement is better than no movement - Kai Cenat
The two can co-exist, why not? Rebuilding does seem scary, especially after everything that's happened but you were this sort of person before any of this happened, before anything. You even majored and graduated in social media, like, come on. Stop it! You're good at what you do, you need to stop acting otherwise.
It's your birth month and if you don't celebrate big for you then who will? We know this already, again stop acting like you don't know. Be you. The loud, unhinged, unapologetic you.
It's finally Fall.
Though here in Texas, you wouldn't be able to tell. I tend to dwell in states that don't exactly have a Fall, in Fall. But it's okay, because as long as I know in spirit that it's Fall, I'll be good.
I was looking back at my previous Fall Bucket Lists through out the years and it's kind of cool to see what I had planned in the years before. Wish I had one for every previous year, but I can also see why I didn't. Regardless, looking back at all your previous favorite things is kinda cool.
This year the list is going to be a bit simple, ending up sick the in ER early in October really pressed me for time for the things I wanted to do, but it's fine. Technically Fall is still a thing in November.
1. Drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte
I refuse to drink the Starbucks in stores one because I'm still mad they ruined my favorite drink a few years ago by changing the recipe. I did try the one at Krispy Kreme recently and liked it. I've also been making my own at home every morning while I make Winnie her pancakes. It's a nice little routine to myself that I've been looking forward to at 6am.
2. Bake something + make cozy soup
Tums has been asking to bake something with me and as a former pastry chef, I feel like I should. I haven't actually baked anything in forever and it's sad to see how much time has passed since, but I'm excited to share something I loved as a kid with her.
I also want to make my cozy soup -- well not mine, but one my mom made a lot when I was growing up on rainy days. It's one of my more simple ultimate comfort foods and one of the few things my mom makes that I know how to make, I owe it to myself and my inner child to make it more often this cozy season.
3. Go to a Pumpkin Patch
An actual like the ones you'd go to as a field trip in elementary school. I mean we have pumpkin patches here, but I want to go to like a field full of pumpkins just to see the excitement on Winnie's face. She loves pumpkins. I can't come up with any good OOTD outfits for this Fall, I remember when I had a ton of outfits. I wonder where half of them are. Cause I haven't seen anything I like in stores in the last few years.
Aerie use to be my go to, but even they haven't had anything good lately. Their sweats and lounge wear though? Still top notch.
4. Find crunchy leaves
Okay, this one is going to be harder to do I think. It's a bit harder to find crunchy leaves out here in actual Fall. It's a bit easier to find them in Jan and Feb, but I love taking crunchy leaves photos! I mean, honestly, who doesn't.
5. Read a cozy Fall book
I haven't made my annual Oct TBR post yet, but I've started reading a few titles. Right now I'm sucked into Wayward by Emilia Hart and The Girl with No Reflection by Keshe Chow. As much as I love multiple time lines in books, I hate when I have one character I'd rather know more about and find myself skimming the other pov's just to get back to the one I really want to know about.
TGWNR starts off questionable and a bit creepy. But it's so gripping that I just need to know what the fuckin hell is going on. I don't know why it took me so long to pick this one up -- probably because I forgot I bought it. Books tend to just get buried in my Kindle library.
I still need to finish House of Salt & Sorrow, I was creeped out by the younger sister drawing that disturbing picture but man, it was getting so good. Reading creepy books is the best in the Fall when the days are shorter and I swear the nights are darker.
What are some things this season you want to do or see? I'd love to know in the comments below!
I wonder how many of these Hello June blog posts exist on this blog. I do wish I had continued to consistently blog here... but between getting distracted from other blogs on different platforms and being a highly emotional driven person... that just wasn't happening. And I can't beat myself up for that, life is life and consistency in the things we like to do isn't always going to happen. And that is totally okay. Especially when it comes to creating content; content creating is already hard and emotionally taxing as it is, doing it when you're depressed or in a bad place in your life feels impossible.
Granting myself grace has never been easy, and I honestly have never done it. I always expect the most from myself because I know what I'm capable of... but in the moments where I just can't, I shouldn't punish myself.
This blog generates its own traction of thousands of views a month, I assume because it's been here for over ten years. But whatever it is, I'm glad for the views I do get, especially in the months I don't post anything.
I've told myself for the last 2 years I was going to work on healing and each time those plans didn't happen because I have too big of a heart. I can feel myself reverting back to that person who just didn't care as much as she did, and that's not really who I want to be. I care, naturally. That's just who I am. I'm trying to learn to not let other people's deflections, or their demons define me. I'm trying to learn that people act the way they act because of who they are. There's no reasoning or hoping for change, and change that isn't done for yourself is just a show.
This month I want to focus on healing my nervous system as much as I can. Learn how to move forward without still being angry about what's behind me. I want to laugh more. I want to find more things I love. I want to discover new snacks and foods, because that's what makes me happy. I want to share those or taste test them with my kiddo or my husband because that too makes me happy.
I want to go back to falling in love with books, stories that move and change me. I want to go back to writing like I'm running out of time. I want to discover more music. Play more games that I find myself searching their hashtags for on IG in the middle of the night.
I want to open a new shop, one that no one really knows or will know about. I want to create art for myself and the people who find and resonate with it.
I want to keep more about myself, to myself. I've always been a pretty open book and on my blogs, I don't exactly regret that... you don't heal from shutting yourself away, you heal by being more mindful of who deserves your trust and energy. But when it comes to people who know me in real life, I want to keep more of myself and struggles to myself. They've been weaponized by so many people I know in real life that it became extremely discouraging. My husband gave me advice that I still think about today after I had left for the second time: "it doesn't matter how much you cry, beg or bleed, some people just don't care." I don't talk about my husband as much as I should, I use to have him all over this blog. But for someone who's had zero experience with ocd, anxiety and depression... he's good at sensing when something is wrong and he's quick to apologize if he knows it's something he did on accident. I get endless cuddles, hugs and tickles from him and the babies when I'm sad. He's taught them how to be gentle with me and my heart as well. I'm truly thankful.
I would say I want to start cooking, but I always say that and it doesn't happen. I use to be really into Hello Fresh when I'd get Sunday's to myself and I would cook. Or I'd have my husband cook them. And we've discovered so many good ones through Hello Fresh.
I want to start blogging my weekend recaps and my monthly favs again. Along with some of the girls favs as well. I want to revamp my motherhood blog and motherhood accounts.
I want to go back to streaming and talking about video games I love. I shouldn't let someone else's opinion define what brings me joy, especially if that person themselves have no idea what the heck I'm doing or even talking about.
This month I want to work on reclaiming my joys and the things I love doing. I'm honestly excited for myself and I can't wait to see where this will take me.
What are your goals for June?
We are now five months into 2025, where has the time gone? But also, what is taking Fall so long to get here?!
I am thankfully feeling less sick, the maintenance needed to keep me feeling normal sucks. But it is what it is and I don't think fixing this earlier would had made much of a difference, it was going to catch up to me sooner or later. I write it off as part of getting older. It has forced me to focus my life in places that should had taken priority the last few years, and didn't.
I have also been back on working on my usual hustle, it's much more challenging this time around for sure... mostly because the excitement of starting has faded, obviously, and because I now have 2 kids instead of 1 to keep track of while working... or struggling to work.
While it can be challenging, it is also very rewarding.
May Goals;
| Prep for May The Fourth
May The Fourth is something me and my husband celebrate every year since we got together in 2016. Sometimes we go all out and other times we just spend the day watching Star Wars movies and eating pizza. Now with 2 kiddos, we tend to go all out. I do appreciate that he takes this day seriously for me since I've had some horrible memories associated with it in the past.
But it's a day I look forward to every year.
| Add 4 new products to each shop
I have a habit of working on things and just... never posting them lol. I know that makes zero sense, and honestly I can't figure out why I do this either, but I do and I need to stop. I miss the days I would just post/go for it and not even think twice. It's like the perfection of things matters when it really shouldn't.
People won't find you if you don't make yourself known.
| Work on getting Shopify up & running
Me and Shopify have a very long and complicated relationship. There is so much flexibility with Shopify and so much more control over your business... but you're on your own to market without the help of Etsy's search bar. And because there is so much more freedom with how you design your Shopify shop, it can get overwhelming really fast.
However, at this point, I'd like to have that freedom and flexibility.
| Write. More. Gaming. Posts
Again with the taking content and not posting lol. I demo and play a lot of games, especially ones that are in Early Release with the intention of making content and writing about it. It's just... the posting I struggle with lol! A recent trauma has played a part in that for sure, but I'm trying to push passed it.
I started writing for me, and I started long before I met people who discouraged and put me down about it. I started long before they could even learn to type. My audience does not include them, so why let something so small and insignificant stop me from doing something I love?
People who hate on you for your hobbies and interests when they could never even understand what you do is diabolical and says more about their own lack of hobbies and interests than it does about yours. Creators and creatives don't sit around and bash other creatives, that's what sets us apart from the rest.
| Purge kids outgrown clothes
My husband found some newborn clothes mixed into our stuff. Not sure how or why they were there, but they were and it made us wonder what else is lurking in the clothing piles lol. I know I have some of Tums older stuff in one of my hampers from the last place, so I plan on going through that this month and purging the stuff that doesn't fit me or the girls anymore.
At 40, I feel the need to purge different areas of my space and my life. I think every 10 to 20 years it's good to take a look at your life and see how far you've come, where you want to go and who you want to be and adjust accordingly.
I miss doing the things I use to do effortlessly, like reading and blogging. Taking amazing product shots and working with companies. However I want to add create my own company to the list of things I've done and accomplished as well. And while my main shop has been down for some years now, I'm not done with it just yet.
So here's to a productive May and achieving the goals I set out for myself at 40.
It's November.
November.
Meaning the year is pretty much over. That is insane. I hate how the holidays are so close together, like there's all this time to prep for Halloween but then it comes to Thanksgiving then Christmas. So when exactly is the window of time to prep for Christmas?!
I normally start Nov 1st, but with the girls more aware of time, we don't want to confuse them. We have made some moves towards prepping for Christmas but we also still have a long way to go. Hell this post is way later than it usually is.
I would say that I'm not going to pack my November with an insane amount of goals, but it's November, let's be real. My November's are usually crazy.
Plus, it's Wicked movie month and this family has already gotten their Wicked wardrobe's together thanks to Bubba. Literally so excited.
| Christmas prep
Obviously. This includes the girl's room and all the TV stands. I really want to get Nutcrackers at the door, but with these kids? Not possible. Sadly. I do plan on having fairy lights literally all over the place. The ones with timers cause fuck electric bills in Texas with its clueless weather. Plus with daylight saving being what it is, and how it takes me forever to adjust to it, I figure this would be a fun way to do that.
Bubba lined the under part of the counter with an LED strip that we keep on at night, it's super pretty.
| Find something to bake
I really want to attempt macarons but that's going to take some time. And maybe a day to myself. I also want to find something to bake with Tums, she's been asking to bake something with me. She's been in such a helpful mood lately, I have no idea how I got so lucky with her. But I'm glad I did. She's an awesome big sister and she definitely makes everything much easier.
The least I can do is find something fun for us to bake on the weekends.
| Find Thanksgiving outfits
I usually just stay home on Thanksgiving and let the girls and Bubba go to his family's. But this year I've been trying to make it a point to be around more. I appreciate everything his family has done for me the last year and all they ever ask is that I share my time with them, esp on the holidays.
Bubba is usually in charge of finding the girls their Thanksgiving outfits. But since we're skipping Disney World this year (me and Tums are very sad about this) I figure it gives more room to spend that money elsewhere, especially for the holidays.
As for me, I think I already have my outfit.
| Work on Christmas stickers
To be honest, Christmas doesn't really make my list of favorite holidays. So when it comes to designing things for the shop, I typically skip the holiday themed stuff. If anything, I only have Filipino holiday themed products. Only because it helps me feel a little closer to home, I guess. I do need to do a better job of exposing the girls to Filipino holiday traditions, just not sure where to start.
I do plan on working on some Final Fantasy holiday stickers... mostly because I want Final Fantasy holiday stickers for myself lol.
| Work on shop 2
Shop 2 and I have a very complicated relationship right now. It is doing a great job of highlighting the things I still have yet to learn about everything. And while that is helpful, it's also very... frustrating. As is everything you're learning for the first time. I enjoy learning new things and I actually enjoy the frustration that comes with it.
So far I'm having a lot of fun with putting together Shop 2, it's just when I run out of idea's that I start to feel like an ant who's lost its colony and has no idea where to even go.
| Launch shop 3
Shop 3 is almost ready for launch. Actually, no, no it's not. But I really do want to launch it this month.
| Reorganize closet
This one is gonna take awhile. There's a lot to go through. And while my closet now has more open space, I don't feel it has... space. If that makes sense. I'm trying to find ways to make my stuff easier to find while still looking nice. The bigger problem is that I don't have anywhere to display my Loungefly bags the way this closet is set up. I'll figure out a way, somehow.
| Launch social's for new blog.. launch new blog
Due to some fucked drama that happened earlier this year, I've been finding less and less interest in Facebook and Instagram. I lost interest in IG a few years ago, but this event just made it so much worse. I actually lost access to the hazearella IG account, like, foreal. So there goes 14 years of work and building relationships and networks and... sigh. I take it as a sign that I needed to start over anyway, move on to something else.
I launched social media accounts for this blog elsewhere. On other platforms that encourage more engagement without being filtered.
The recent drama also forced me to start new blogs; I still hold on to this one because there's a lot here to look back on. But I've also launched a new review blog that I want to build, the 2024 way. It's been 10 years since I started hazearella and social media and blogging has changed a lot since then. I'm excited to start this new blog with the changes that the internet has made since starting hazearella.
| Read 3 books... please
I wasn't able to do my annual October reading challenge this year, and that's fine. I wasn't going to stress myself about it. This year has been Hell. Not as much as 2023 was, but a fraction of it. I'm set on taking the healing process more seriously from now until 2025, the girls deserve to have the best version of me and I deserve to find the control of my emotions again and the joy of the things I love.
With that said, I want to read at least 3 books this month. At least enough to complete my 2024 reading challenge. Without the restriction of sticking to a certain genre.
| All the recaps
I didn't have very many favorites this year, sadly. But I still want to get a start on getting my recap posts done and catching up on my Yelp, NetGalley and Amazon reviews.
| WATCH WICKED
I watched Wicked for the first time in 2009. Wizard of Oz has always had a special place in my life. Since then I've watched it a total of 14 times across 3 different states. I'm still friends with both the Fiyero's who played in the SF production from 2009-2010. Wicked changed my life for good. And I am so excited for seeing Wicked in a new way. And I love Ariana Grande! I'm so happy she landed the role of Glinda.
I met Bubba 8 years ago, what caught my attention was he was singing Defying Gravity in the voice chat. Since then he's built me a Wizard of Oz and Wicked shrine in every apartment we've had. And as I mentioned earlier, he's built me and both the girls a Wicked wardrobe since Wicked merch has released.
I actually have not bought one Wicked themed merch since they started coming out. Bubba has bought them all for me. From the makeup to the clothes to the pj's to my Emerald City hairbrush. At this point, I'm about to defy gravity myself.
Oh he also got me cupcake mix where it'll either turn pink or green. I'm super excited to get into those!
Hopefully I can get through most of these this month. Here's to a hopeful chill, cozy and relaxing November.
Do you have any goals for this month?
Oh wow, it's March already?
Anyone else feel like Feb was both the longest and shortest month? It's kinda weird. A lot happened in Feb which is probably what made it feel so long for me. Thankfully we're one step closer to summer. After that weird random snow storm here in Texas I'm MORE than ready for hot humid weather. Or well, as humid as Texas can get, I guess.
The next couple months are going to (hopefully) be exciting (if nothing gets prematurely cancelled). And I really really need a break from chores, life and the mundane.
I'm also convinced that Texas pissed off someone somewhere because all this bad juju coming to TX is not it. First the snow storm, then people losing power FOR DAYS and clean water. Then now this; them lifting the mandatory mask and now allowing businesses to operate at 100%. Like really? Some people are still trying to recover from the dang snow storm but sure, I guess this is more important. What makes it worse is that TX barely took it seriously to begin with. The amount of Texans I know who GOT covid is unreal. Seriously.
AINT SHIT TO DO OUT HERE, STAY HOME. Dang.
Lemme get into my goals before I go on a full blown rant lol;
Hellooooooooooo last month of 2020.
Anyone else feel like 2020 was like 5 freakin years long? I know it's not just me. And at this point the whole lock down and up and down is starting to weigh on my subconscious. Not so much the whole not being able to go out-ish but more like the inability to travel, to feel like breathing fresh air is safe anymore, the closure of the activities we look forward to the most during this time of year. The constant paranoia every time I cough or sneeze or don't feel well. The constant worry if the people in my husband's family have been staying safe and won't pass something to the baby.
It's more of the feeling more trapped than usual.
I have a bunch of goals for this month that may seem over the top... but if you've been here for awhile, you know that all my monthly goals are usually super over the top lol.
And before you ask, I'm not sure if I'm going to do the traditional blogmas but I will try to post more this month. There's a bunch of recaps, food posts and reviews I need to post that I somehow just never got around to. I miss the days I'd be super inspired and psyched to do VLOGmas, that feels like forever ago. I don't know what happened since those days... oh yeah I moved to TX and struggled with Postpartum Depression. This shit just won't let go.
December Goals;
It's finally Fall!
Bring on the pumpkins, warm Starbucks drinks, spooky (or if you're like me, spoopy) reads and movie marathons, and orange everything! And if you're lucky enough to live somewhere where the leaves actually change colors this month, just know, I'll be scrolling the hashtag on IG.
Texas doesn't get a change of color until PROBABLY mid to late November. I guess I shouldn't complain since Florida never changed colors lol. Cali is still hands down one of my favorite places to be in the Fall. It's beautiful. But you know what's not? That cost of living tho. That traffic tho. That high ass gas prices tho. I've grown to love seeing gas under $2 lol.
Meanwhile, Tums whos name is actually Autumn, isn't into flashing pumpkins or Wheelers from Return to Oz. I'm going to chalk it up as she's a baby. She's new to this world and its workings. Yup, that's what I'm going with.
We moved.
Cause you know, that's a thing I do every year too. And the first night at the new place was rough. It seemed like nothing was really going right. Then we discover, right before our nightly shower before bed at like 3am we had no hot water. Guys. I have OCD, I HAVE to shower but I just couldn't do it. I was crying at how cold the shower was. But the weird thing is even though cold showers can HURT like 10 mins after you're out you're good. Like what cold shower?! Tums was loving it. She showered with her dad cause I was just not having it and she was laughing and trying to run back to the water even though she was shivering. Crazy child. Then you know, our microwave was missing the rotating disk. And just a bunch of other stuff that should had been ready by the time we got here.
Anyway, it's October which means Blogtober so let's get started!
October Goals;
I know I'm not the only one who can't believe it's already August so I'm not even gonna say it! But what I will say is: I can't believe this pandemic has been going on for about 4-5 months in the US now and we're still nowhere near getting better. If anything we're getting worse and that's insane. But then I run my weekly errands and I see WHY we're getting worse.
Everything is bigger in Texas.
Even the bullshit.
For the first time in ever I managed to wait until the end of July to start Fall. I usually start mid July but I really want to get the Spring/Summer content I missed out on out of the way before I go on full Fall mode. I know it doesn't matter in reality but I just like things to be in chronological order. So let's hope I get all of that other stuff up before August is over, yeah?
It's mostly for me and my archive purposes tbh.
Things I hope to get done in August;
Why yes, this was meant to be a monthly goals post but uh, I tend to talk too much. I wish there was a check list option for bullet points. Come on Blogspot it's 2020!

I love Tulips.
I'd love if I could afford them right now too, but since I can't. Picture taking will have to do.
It's five days into the new month. Five D A Y S and bills are already fucking me. Ya'll I'm so tired of paying bills. Like it's not even funny how tired I am! I guess that falls back to me and past me and all the dumb shit past me was doing but then again I'm extra mad at past me for not telling those other dudes who were using me to get they own shit!
It's my birth month and I'm never excited about my birthday. I mean I was pretty excited last year since Bubba was spending the week with me at Disney World but generally speaking, I'm never really excited.
I can't do my usual traditions cause I'm not in Florida anymore. Also Bubba started a new job (which I'm really happy about) but he's working on my birthday. I'm trying to be somewhat not a poopy pants about it but let's be real, after I turned 25 without a BA in sight I was just like LORT ANOTHER YEAR OLDER. ANOTHER YEAR FAILED.
And that's definitely NOT the way you should be viewing life.
Granted there's nothing exciting about turning 33, still trying to rebuild your shit and yourself and thinking godammit I should get off FB with all these people and their careers and vacations. Which is why I'm never really on FB anymore. I post what I need to post, stalk who I need to stalk and get off!
This blog post wasn't suppose to be about me, it was suppose to be about my goals for April.
⇢ Read 3 books (and not on the last day of the month)
⇢ Blog more // I know shit can be hard but girl it's your release SO QUIT IT
⇢ EXPLORE more, spend LESS
⇢ Apartment hunting
⇢ Tidy room & closet / purge shit you really don't need
⇢ Sort digital stuff / back up laptop (since it's been like years since you did)
⇢ Get RDM and AST to 60 on FFXIV
⇢ Find something that calms you
⇢ Practice better time management
⇢ Catch up on reviews that need to be written
⇢ Celebrate your birthday... the best you can
I know Bubba puts a lot of effort into everything. And I know it might be killing him that he can't go all out on the day of my birthday this year and that the only thing I asked for was food adventures but I guess when you get older the experiences matter more than getting things. And normally I go on vacation for my birthday --- which I was excited moving closer to the West Coast cause I really wanted to celebrate my birthday in Vegas & Disneyland like I use to when I lived in CA 7 years ago but that didn't work out.
So this year I hope I find a new birthday tradition and I hope I find some enlightenment or motivation to get up and do something MORE. I mean I always want to do more but it's actually doing it lately that's the problem (which was never a problem before, so I'm confused as to why it is now).
So here's to April; my personal restart button.
Is it Spring yet?
I mean I'm sneezing like crazy like it's Spring. It's not 11* every night anymore (thank goodness) and all the pinks and reds of Valentine's Day is definitely coming together.
I'm pretty excited for this time of year! I love Spring and despite my past depressing Valentine's Day's and Easter's they're still some of my favorite holidays. It's hard to be upset when the weather can be damn near perfect and there's so many happy and pretty colors everywhere!
I don't have that many goals to complete this month as I already feel overwhelmed as it is with all the goals I'm trying to complete on a week to week basis; I think I'm going to cut some down and try to pace myself instead of trying to "make up for lost time" because then I just get stressed and I push things off even further which in turn ends up just depressing me.
So here are some things I do hope to accomplish this month;
⇢ Read 3 books (to stay on track with my Goodreads goal)
⇢ Film/write reviews for the 2 books I finished in December
⇢ Post some sort of blog entry from now until Valentine's Day
⇢ Prep posts/videos for Easter and Spring
⇢ Attempt to cook ONE new thing
⇢ Catch up on animes
⇢ Start watching a new TV show
⇢ Organize clothes and bins
⇢ Organize closet
⇢ Organize bookshelf
February isn't a very long month either so, whomp! Hopefully my shorter list will inspire me to attempt to get more things done this month, we'll see!
What are some things you're looking forward to this month?
Holy crap where did the YEAR GO?!
I can't believe it's already DECEMBER!
I also can't believe how long I've actually been away from blogging; I have no real excuse either. Same goes for why I haven't been gaming. I don't know to be completely honest. I feel like days just zip by.
I had plans to do vlogmas (as I do every year) and blogmas this year both of just... didn't really happen. I mean jumping in on the 6th day is better than just NOT jumping in... right?!
I had hoped to be more prepared for Christmasy and Winter videos and blog posts and I've come to realize... my productivity and my drive to be the awesome blogger I know I CAN be just isn't there anymore! I don't know how or why... I do know I had hoped to revamp my social media once I moved and I was so stressed out with how the thing with the movers (I still need to write about) and everything had turned out that I just felt so defeated.
I think that's the problem with anxiety and seasonal depression --- is fighting through that epic defeated feeling in order to get the things done that you want done. And some days can just feel so endless and dark. AND THAT'S OKAY. I'm not gonna beat myself up for it anymore. I didn't FAIL at anything this month, everything is still fine. There's still time.
Even if I am battling a cold and all I wanna do is sleep --- this weekend in particular is going to be devoted to catching up on blogging, taking product shots, vlogging as much of my boring life as I can to put up a video on Sunday and sleeping. Cause I mean, I need sleep.
I don't have very many goals for myself this month and I DON'T WANT goals for myself this month really but I do have a few things I want to make sure is done before this year is over ---
- Figure out a direction for my blog and social media
- Come up with my [ onelittleword ] for 2018
- Come up with a SHORT list of SPECIFIC additional resolutions for 2018
- Research remote control jobs
- GO TO THE DAMN DOCTOR
- Upgrade my glasses (or early next year)
- Get back into meditation
- Get back into night time routine yoga
- Get back into Duolingo
- Get back into making healthier eating choices
- (Basically get back into the mentally healthy plan on things I fell off on)
- TIDY THE APARTMENT
- PUT THE SHIT AWAY
- Go into 2018 a little more ORGANIZED and TIDY
- Read as many books as you can
- Take holiday photos
- Figure out what to bake for Christmas Eve
That kinda seems like a lot but some of them can be clumped together/are things I do together. My anxiety and OCD have been nagging the hell outta me for weeks and it's getting hard to cope with. Things are a little stressful right now but nothing too bad if I'm being honest with myself so I'm confused as to why my anxiety and OCD have been acting up. I've been skipping bubble baths as well in hopes to get to bed earlier/giving myself time to read but I've just been so unmotivated which stinks cause it's December! I feel like I should be inspired like crazy!
Sigh, I guess you can't have everything.
One step and one day at a time.
What are some of your goals this month or goals before the year ends?
It's really no secret that I SUCK AT GOALS this year.
BUT that won't stop me from making them! Cause at SOME POINT on this journey I'll get my driven, busy, GET EVERYTHING DONE --- TODAY attitude back. And until then, the most I can do is give myself something to encourage myself to get up and make a difference.
⇢ Clean out fridge
⇢ Sort kitchen
⇢ Put up Fall stuff
⇢ Organize closet
⇢ Organize bedroom (more)
⇢ Properly re-set up zen corner
⇢ Mop living room
⇢ Exchange unwanted B&BW Fall scents/products
⇢ Do returns/exchanges for Kohls, Macys, etc...
⇢ Work on buying Christmas gifts
⇢ BAKE SOMETHING
⇢ Finish October TBR (FINISH WINTER FOR THE LOVE OF GOD)
⇢ Prep Christmas/Dec posts/videos
⇢ Work on NaNoWriMo
⇢ Try 3 new places
I'm not going to overachieve and try to do things I know probably won't happen but instead do things that SHOULD be happening REGARDLESS that I know my OCD will find reasons to NOT do.
I can't believe how fast Sept and Oct flew by and that I technically have to put up my Halloween/Fall stuff now!
I wish I could blog more about my feelings or my day. I don't know what stops me all the time... it use to be my jam! And it's not like this blog has any particular purpose besides me recording my life. I noticed I stopped blogging on hazearella because I guess I've outgrown the blogger layout. I wish it was on Wordpress but I don't want to go through the headache of switching everything over --- especially the domain. I'm thinking of starting over with a new name, I'm just not sure what! The pressures of Instagram can be very influencing though, I'll admit that. And the fear of starting over completely is scary AND THIS IS WHY I DONT HAVE A SUCCESSFUL BLOG OR CHANNEL CAUSE I KEEP STARTING OVER! Even though I don't have THAT many followers on that blog itself. SIGH. I don't know.
But here's to hopefully a month of catching up, finishing up and getting ready for Christmas and a brand new year.

This entry is a few days later than I had planned for it to be up, and even now I haven't really spent much time thinking about what I'm actually trying to say lol so we're gonna wing it!
My anxiety has been on and off kicking my ass lately, some days it's not as bad as others and other days I just don't want to do anything but curl into a ball. I want to attempt to challenge myself this month. I read that the only way to ease anxiety such as OCD is to practice something I absolutely hate and scares the crap outta me --- exposure therapy. Though not at very high extreme's.
At the moment my apartment is damn near done with everything being unpacked, I just have to wash a few more blankets and find a home for certain things, then my whole living room needs to me mopped so I can stop wearing shoes inside my apartment and walk around in slippers like I've always wanted to. I personally hate wearing my shoes in my apartment but I didn't figure that there was a reason to go through a shit ton of cleaning if moving in, building stuff and all that wasn't even done yet. But now that all of that is, I don't have an excuse as to why I haven't mopped besides that I have 3 boxes left to be sorted though.
So one of my goals this month is to finish unpacking those 3 boxes and mop my floor.
October is very very close from now and I normally make an October/Halloween reading challenge list. I somewhat failed that last year so I'm hoping to do better this year. Along with that I want to be better at bookstagramming and being more active on my bookish social media accounts because I do really miss that world.
I have a few creative goals I'm hoping to start this Fall as well; all in all I have high hopes that my restart will begin. Now.
- Tidy and mop the apartment
- Read 4 books in preparation for October
- Pactice bookstagramming and flat lays
- Research social media tips
- Practice mindfulness
- Organize emails
- Play with makeup more
- Get 2 of Axelyn's main classes to 50
- Make 1 candle
- Learn to duel (as Bubba's request)
There are other things like find a job in my field which is going to take some time. But I would like to get a jump start on everything I moved here to do and accomplish.
My anxiety has a tendency to make me not want to move or make me afraid of certain things and I'm tired of being afraid. I try to push myself out of those moments as much as I can but sometimes I just feel like I can't. When in reality I need to push harder. I need to stop thinking things are so hard cause yeah maybe they are. Maybe they're beyond my current strength. But how can I get stronger or be better if I don't try?
I need to learn how to have more faith in myself. To trust myself more. I use to think I was this amazing person who could accomplish everything and then anxiety came around and I lost that mindset. I need to find it, work on it and bring it back. Because if you're not hyped about your own projects and idea's how can you expect anyone else to be?
Here's to a productive month full of adventures, new favorites and starting new goals.
[ credit: Google Images ]
Okay... I kinda failed in terms of updating through April like I had planned to. But it's okay, it happens. Life happens. I managed to do more in my life in April that I had been holding back on so I mean, every little accomplishment counts even if that means something else falls behind, right? We'll work on getting things balanced in time.
But just because everything you have planned in that month doesn't go as planned doesn't make it a hard fail either.
The next few months I'll have to try and find a way to balance most things together. I may have to go back to setting certain days for certain things --- which can be a challenge when you have a roommate who hogs the washer and dryer for FOUR FUCKIN DAYS (and also claims things but doesn't come through but we're not talking about that). But whatever, I'll figure it out.
Moving month is coming up and it's coming up FAST so NOW would be a good time to get my ass in gear considering there's A LOT to be done!
- Go to UHAUL and get boxes and a mattress sleeve (for the move)UHAUL has the most useful boxes when it comes to moving and they're not super expensive either. Also the mattress sleeve is a god send for someone with OCD like me. I also need to find a screwdriver to take apart the bed. I'll probably end up taking it apart a day or two early so the moving company can take it and just sleep on a pile of blankets.
- PACK
- PACK SOME MORE
- DO MORE PACKINGCause you know me, I need way more than just 3 reminders. Anxiety hinders this a lot. It's hard for me to pack when I have OCD about everything; it's hard to explain but it requires me to wash my hands --- a lot. So yeah. But with as many days as I have, if I start now, I should be fine. If I just get it done.
- Set up move with a moving companyI'm already in the process of getting estimates from different moving companies. I literally don't know wtf I'm doing, at all. I'm just Googling as I go.
- Start cleaning apartmentTHIS is going to be the toughest part for me. Especially if I get started on this before my roommate leaves --- which she better clean her room and bathroom on her way out cause if I lose my deposit again I SWEAR TO GOD. But this is one I usually don't have much of a problem with, especially if everything is already out. I'll do as much cleaning as I can, then that day that the moving company takes everything I'll finish up the rest of the cleaning. I just gotta figure out how I'm gonna do most of this... I may just take everything out of my room beforehand and vacuum the room then they can take the stuff + the vacuum and I won't have to worry about cleaning my room cause it'll already be clean! Yes! Good plan!
- Take Sophie to the vetThis is already in the process of happening, though I can't find her records that I got when I adopted her.. I need to look for those soon somehow. Or give the place I took her to last year a call.
- Buy plane ticketThis I would like to get done as soon as I can, though I know I can't book it until I'm confirmed of a few dates beforehand.
- Blog once a week
I won't pressure myself too much on this one.
- Post a video once a weekIn April I managed to post more videos than usual, I'm going to see about keeping that up since I'm in the process of reorganizing my YouTube channel (which is HERE in case you were wondering).
- Get classes to 60 on FFXIVStormblood is coming up fairly soon and somehow the months crept up on me. I'm in the process of getting 2 more crafting classes, 2 more gathering classes and 3 more job classes to 60. I NEED TO GET TO WORK!
- Try not to hate your roommateSmh. I'm normally a nice person, as long as you don't make the same repeat mistakes every single week.
- Reaccess food blog
I don't know why this didn't happen last month...
- Go to Flower & Garden Festival one more timeI need to find out when this exactly ends so I can go one more time before it's all over. Esp considering I'm moving out of state soon so next year it won't be as easy to get to T____T.
- Ship mom's Mother's Day gift
THIS. IS. SO. IMPORTANT.
- Read
It doesn't matter how many books, JUST. READ.
I know that's A LOT of stuff to cover in one month but I'm hoping my will to be accomplished and productive will kick in super fast and I'll get everything I need to get done --- done! Still I may be too ambitious but hey, whatever! Let's see how many things we can get done this month!
Here's to May... and getting ready to move to a new place with new adventures!
In the month of March I posted 7 posts; which isn't bad. It's certainly more than usual but I feel like I can do a little better.
It's my birthday month \o/
And we're halfway through the beginning of the year. This time of year kinda always sort of stresses me out since I move every July which means I need to get started on purging and getting things tidy and together. I say this every year and I never really do it then I get mad at myself for all the shit I have to pack when I move. I don't even have that much stuff, it's just all random.... stuff. Like how does someone end up with so much stuff?! I've been here in Florida for 5 years now and SO much has happened and changed and just... it's just been so much. I guess the amount of stuff I've gathered kind of reflects that to a point, yeah?
As for goals, I'm not really sure what I hope to accomplish this month... I haven't really thought of it either.
- Post 2 videos a weekThat would equal up to 8 videos. I'm taking a vacation for my birthday so I'm hoping that I'll vlog at least some of it! I've been awful about vlogging lately and I'm not sure why. Or how. As much as I'm use to or want my life to be out there, I also don't. I don't know how else to explain it but as someone like me, it's freakin weird. I've always wanted to be a YouTuber since I started posting videos in 2009 but it's always been an on and off thing. I'm hoping for the day it'll just be on.
- Enjoy the vacationEnjoy everything that this vacation has to offer. Enjoy and take in all the happiness and "yoooooooo" moments that Penny will do, Play. Laugh. Don't be so caught up in stress or time or bills or life or tomorrow or anxiety. Be you. Be Zel again, if at least for just a week.
- ReadBecause this always has to be written down.
- Drink more waterEspecially since most of this vacation is going to take place outdoors, drink. more. water. Though I'm sure Penny will be reminding you.
- Start purgingClothes. Papers. Stuff. Makeup. Whatever! Anything that doesn't hold enough of a feeling or whatever, get rid of it!
- Stop buying so much stuff you don't needWe were off to a good start in March due to saving up for the trip, LET'S KEEP THAT GOING.
- Clean your roomThis should had been a March goal, shit.
- GET OUT MOREStaying home is nice and all, but 3 weeks straight? Girl get some damn air.
- Burn 8 candlesAmbitious? Yes. Doable? Totally.
- Reacess food blogBecause what the fuck, I thought we did this already and nope. Nope. NOPE. Locked out again!
- Get gathering mentorshipBecause you're so damn close anyway.
- Figure out things for the moveI understand you hate it and shit, but it's gotta be done!
And the usual --- post more blog posts, post 2-3 times on Instagram. Blah blah blah. BLAHHH.
DON'T LET ME DOWN APRIL!
credit: google images
Third month into the year and.... I feel like I haven't really accomplished much. Ever feel like your life is just going at SUCH A SLOW PACE? Yeah, I don't know what my end game is or what I'm looking for in life I just know it's going so slowly. Yeah, that doesn't make sense. Roll with me here.
February was such a shit month that it makes me almost not want to even bother with goals this month... almost.
Maybe instead I'll try to keep things simple.
- Find an apartment
This one is kind of important for various reasons. I'm so afraid I won't find a place I like and it's stressing me out! But even if I don't, I'm sure I'll figure something out... - Drink more water
This is one Penny has been getting on to me about a lot lately. The stress from recently has been making me sick and giving me headaches so I can see why he's so worried. - Make videos
Notice I didn't say "vlog" this time, though I do want to vlog more as well... but I really do need to make more videos, period. - Post 2-3 times a day on Instagram
I've been trying to (as always) up my followers (if you'd like to follow me you can do so here #shamelessplug) and I'm finding posting throughout the day helps... kinda. - Meditate
Because I literally need to do start doing this again. - KEEP READING
Don't stop... believing... HOLD ON TO THAT FEELING. - Cancel subscription boxes
Because let's be real Hazel, you don't need all of those. - Pay more attention to Penny
Because we get that stress and shit gets in the way but that doesn't mean the poor guy has to be second in line to social media and thangs. Just... give him your undivided attention sometimes, yeah? - Blog more
Stop letting stress and dumb people/situations stop you from doing you. You've got reviews to write, things to say, anger to let out! Blog it out! - Put more of ME in my blog posts, videos and social media
I'm always scared of letting ME show too much. Like you have to be this type of blogger for people to like you and this is something I've struggled with since I started YouTubeing in 2009. But if I'm not ME on my own platforms then... who am I? People will love me or not like me regardless, it's better to be not liked for who I completely am than liked for someone I'm not. - DO. SOMETHING. WITH. YOUR. HAIR. AND. FACE
Really. I usually throw my hair in a bun when I wake up and bum around which is fine, but how can I FEEL good if I don't LOOK good? Yeah I stole that from Penny, though he doesn't say that much anymore. - Prep for Easter/Spring posts and videos
Because things like this seem to always get away from you... plan these things ahead of time.
So here's to March!
If I had to describe February in one word it would definitely be distracted.
It didn't turn out the way I had wanted and once again I let my emotions take over and make me lose sight on some goals I had this month (as you can see I didn't post any blog posts or videos this month which yes, I am kicking myself about... I'm hoping to do better for Easter/Spring). The reason being... remember how I said I was going to Texas this month to go apartment hunting? Well, it seems as though I had booked my flight one day earlier than I was suppose to and because of all the stressors going on it slipped my mind to check before the departure date like I normally would so I didn't realize I was a no show for my flight until THAT NIGHT meaning all that packing and preparing I was doing that day was for nothing. So yeah, I missed my flight, wasn't refunded the money and I had to pay a $100 penalty for cancelling my hotel reservation "too late". I was pretty disappointed with myself for a LONG time. I still kinda am but what can you do. I was suppose to spend my Valentine's Day with Bubba but since I wasn't able to get to Texas I went online shopping at home by myself instead.
In the same week my ex came and got my phone and PS4 which I didn't mind giving either things back as long as it meant he would stop trying to contact me. He was pretty much abusive our whole relationship and I'd rather not have him contact me, ever again. Though he's the type to pretend like things were all good and "be nice" as long as it benefits him. One of those people. I'd rather just stay away from all of that and him.
So yeah, that's how my optimistic February went down hill --- fast.
Let's take a look at the goals I had for February in this post.
G O A L S R E C A P
--- I did read 4 books this month \o/ I'm pretty obsessed with The Lunar Chronicles right now
--- I managed to finish a bit of products and hadn't even noticed
--- I found maybe one or two favorites this month
--- Cancelled a bit of subscription services I didn't really want/need anymore
--- Got over 550 Instagram followers.... FINALLY (I've been sitting at 550 for a year with all the following/unfollowing people do)
--- Tried 2 new restaurants; Planet Hollywood (since they revamped the menu we're calling this "new") and Paddlefish (again another revamp so we're calling it "new")
I'm seriously struggling right now to come up with goals I had achieved this month. Oh bother! Ah well, you can't fit too much into a short month anyway, I suppose.
That said I will be re-attempting to go apartment hunting some time in the following month (don't worry I'll MAKE SURE to book the RIGHT day this time), the little break away from Orlando will be nice. Spring is coming up and the weather here is reflecting that which is always nice, I love Spring and Fall in Orlando the most. Easter is one of my favorite holidays and I'm so ready to deck out as much of my apartment and room in pretty pastel colors as I can. I'm so lucky my roommate doesn't care about the crazy decorations or whatever I put up. She kinda just rolls with it. So yeah.
While I did get my Canon S90 camera back (finally) I've grown pretty attached to my Sony WX300. And I'm thinking of upgrading the Canon to a G9 instead.
Can we talk about how it's the second month of the year already?
I'm creeping up closer to seeing Penny again and I swear I just saw him but no, that was the beginning of December! I feel like this stretch of time went by SO MUCH FASTER than the last time. Crazy how that works!
I use to write monthly goals and sometimes they would help. Other times I would completely forget about them. I'm trying to be more realistic this year so I haven't decided if I'll still be doing monthly goals. Maybe on some months when I really want to accomplish/get things done that month.
With that said; I can't think of anything I REALLY want to accomplish in February beyond what I'm hoping with the goals for this year, you know?
So let's just go with a few notes to make about this month instead.
>> I'll be apartment hunting this month (because it's never too early to start; but the whole process is already stressing me out --- gah)
>> I'm really hoping I get my Weaver and Botnist on FFXIV to 60 by the end of the month
>> I'm really hoping to START leveling a tank class on FFXIV --- but I don't have high hopes for it
>> I'm hoping to read 3-4 books this month (I only read 2 last month so I'm "one behind")
>> I'm really hoping to finish Scarlet this month
>> I'm excited to see what my favorite things this month will be
>> That said, I'm excited to see what new things I'll find and discover this month
>> I'm excited to see what products/things I'll finish this month too
>> Wait, if there's only 28 days does that mean that Penny and I don't have a monthaversary this month since there's no 30th? D:
>> I'm HOPING I'll be able to put out videos on my YouTube channel twice a week this month
>> I'm also hoping that I'll remember to vlog while I'm out of state this time too
>> I'm hoping to get a little more tidy this month since I'm sure moving month is going to come up quick
Then there's a few personal goals.
But also, I started playing with my Sony WX300 last month and I've been trying to learn how to use it a bit more since I probably won't be seeing my Canon S90 any time soon. I'm actually really enjoying learning more about this camera and how it works. So here's to hoping I can take more and better product shots \o/.
What are some of your goals for this month?
I'm going to be doing a series of Monthly Recap on this blog every month to document the things I loved, the things I hated and the things I stumbled across. I love looking back at the end of the year to see the progress I've made and the things I loved and hated. I don't know, it's always been a favorite thing of mine to do!
G O A L S R E C A P
>> I read 2 books
>> I completed my goal of finishing 5 candles
>> I managed to compile an empties list
>> Finished my MSQ on FFXIV \o/
G O A L S R E C A P
>> I read 2 books
>> I completed my goal of finishing 5 candles
>> I managed to compile an empties list
>> Finished my MSQ on FFXIV \o/
>> Found a few favorites
>> Making sure to make lists when I go to the store
>> Started using my Sony WX300 to take product shots
>> I re-caught the attention of the Yelp Elite staff and crossing fingers for my badge back
>> Posted two videos; Unboxing | #SanrioSmallCrate and Unboxing | December 2016 Owlcrate
>> Posted two videos; Unboxing | #SanrioSmallCrate and Unboxing | December 2016 Owlcrate
As far as goals, I didn't meet too many in the month of January.
My gathering classes on FFXIV are leveling faster than I expected them to but none are capped out at 60 just yet. My Summoner is missing one last il260 piece of gear \o/ then I can work on upgrading it to il270 every week and working on upgrading the gear for either my Bard or my Scholar to il260 next. I'm also working on getting one of the PVP mounts, just the first silver one. I already got a complete gear set for my Bard and my title. Now I just have to win 10 matches.
My apartment has been invaded by house flies so if I've been posting anxiety filled posts it's because of that making my OCD and anxiety sky rocket. We did manage to find the source and clean it up (it was SO DISGUSTING) and I'm going to try to be better at letting my roommate know to keep tidy now that this happened. So now all we can do is wait and hope that the rest of the flies die off. There won't be any new ones --- thank God. But that has been eating up a lot of my mind space, my time and my energy as of late. And I hate it.
A COUPLE OF MY FAVORITE JANUARY MOMENTS
Going back to BurgerFi in my favorite plaza
All the pretty pinks and reds in Target isles for Valentines Day!
Being able to order delicious Gators via UberEats!
Coming across this --- not 100% sure what I think just yet but it sure is pretty!
Trips to Disney is always my favorite --- but seeing pink everywhere? Even better!
SOME OF MY FAVORITE JANUARY FFXIV MOMENTS
I'm in love with my culinary glamour!
He was /embrace-ing me but it looks like he's biting my head lol
Everyone hates the new raid dungeon but I really like this entry way!
A cute photo Penny snapped of us hugging his Chocobo Kickenwang between PvP matches
I'm incredibly excited for February!
* I really always do forget to mention my relationship in my posts... not that you can really recap a relationship or anything but just for future Hazel who I know will be looking back on these posts some day --- your relationship, though long distance is probably the easiest relationship you've been in. You've hit 7 months together and still going very strong. You changed Axelyn Lockser's name to Lady Axelyn'puss which did surprise Penny and his reaction was amazing. Through your heaviest nights of anxiety this month because of the flies he's called before bed and waited for you to word vomit your heart out until you gained enough ease to fall asleep. He doesn't think your anxiety or OCD is crazy, at all and he's really down to help you through it all. You got lucky with this one zellie!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)





Social Icons