February has been a busier than expected month and while I wasn't able to cross off all of my goals on my tending list I am pleased with the progress.  Like I did in January's review I am going to share my progress against the yearly goals that I set.

Here is a recap of my yearly goals and what progress I have made against them this month:

01| Waste less time in front of the TV and spend that time doing something that fires me up
This continues to be one of my most favorite goals that I set for myself and while I have removed it from my Spring goals, I plan to continue using my evenings to make progress and refresh my body and soul. This month I have used my evenings to work on my project life album, read I don't want to wait anymore and I joined a netball team who train every Wednesday evening.

02 | Impact my wider community by raising £4053 for A21 to use to help set someone free from human trafficking while continuing with my local volunteering
I continue to volunteer as a counselor but haven't made any progress on raising money for A21. I am going to make some serious progress on this one in March.

03 | Learn and explore what it means for me to truly live a life that is whole
This month I focused on learning to listen to my body. Every day I took the time to ask myself what my body needed and then I did that. It has been an amazing experience and I plan to share more of it in a separate post next month.

04 | Dive deeper into my relationship with God and remember that is is about relationship and not about performing, tasks or legalism
I have continued with my daily devotional and prayer but didn't make a whole load of progress with the bible study.  I have some good plans in place for this next month and am looking forward to seeing how this grows.

05 | Figure out what it means to care for myself mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually and how to do it more often.
I have touched on this one above already but it is worth adding that this is going to have to be an ongoing focus for me. This took me being intentional every single day but it was worth the effort I had to put in.

06 | Nourish my body well more consistently and focus on building strength and flexibility in my body
I am glad to say that I have been pretty consistent with exercise this month. Its only been two or three sessions each week but they have been consistent.  Food on the other hand.....the first two weeks were totally on point but the last two weeks not so much.

07| Share meaningful content and impact others by purposefully using my blog and any platform God gives me
I have managed to share about one post a week but it hasn't been the meaningful content that I had planned.

08 | Research and create a plan for my long term/retirement needs
This month I have continue to set a budget and track my weekly spending against that budget. I have also found an online tool to help me begin assessing my needs and requirements for my financial future.

09 | Cultivate richer relationships while taking the time to make new ones
The plan was to meet up with two separate group of friends this month but the second get together got cancelled at the last minute.  I have however begun making some new friends at my new netball group and I am looking forward to continue working on those.

10 | Preparing myself to be a wife and mother while trusting and waiting on God's timing for this area of my life
This goal has changed slightly for me this month and while the core of this goal hasn't changed, my perspective on it has.

As part of the spring refresh section in the powersheets, I have changed my yearly goals to quarterly goals. This means that I will share my refreshed goals in my next post.  

Today I am sharing my Project Life spread for week four of 2017.

The one thing that I have been intentional about so far this year is getting in a good mix of pictures and stories. I am challenging myself to take a photo every day and before I go to bed at night I ask myself what story from that day I would want to share with someone.  I then write down that short story using keywords or a phrase and that way when it comes time to pull my spread together I have some story options ready.

I'm sticking with my title card from Pink Paislee and most of the items in this spread are from Ali Edwards Story kits.

For the first 3x4 card I used some of Ali Edwards stamps as jumping off points, capturing four little stories from this week.  The third 3x4 card I made using the Elle's Studio Jordan Alpha stamps to stamp out the word Netball.  The writing next to that just captures how I felt about myself and the game after training that night. The last card is a photo of me relaxing with an at home mud mask one evening.
 

• Ali Edwards Tough Story Kit
• Ali Edwards Go Story Kit
• Pink Paislee's Pictures + Words No 9 digital collection
• Tim Holtz Small Talk and Chit Chat Stickers
• Elle's Studio Alpa Stamp
• Black Slick Writer Pen
• Tracy Larsen White 1 Square
• HP Envy 4523 Printer

For the top right hand card I used one of Ali Edwards stamps as a jumping off point - What I know to be true - and captured four things from the week that fit the thought. They included how important it is for me to be with people and not try to do life alone, how a little time spent preparing at the end of the week makes a huge difference to the week ahead, the importance of listening to inspiring and uplifting messages and finally a reminder of how when strangers come together to fight for a cause, to stand up for injustice, to raise their voices that it creates a community and allows people to be heard.

The next three 3x4 cards are all in relation to Obama leaving the White House.  I have never really followed politics all that much but I really do love these two.  I love how they love each other, how they treat people and how down to earth they seem.  The journaling captures my thoughts and feelings on these two more than on the politics of it all.

• Ali Edwards Story Kits
• Pink Paislee's Pcitures + Words No 9 digital collection
• Tracy Larsen White 1 Square
• HP Envy 4523 Printer
• Tim Holtz Tiny Word Stickers
• Studio Calico Phrase Stickers

January honestly truly gave me an opportunity to be BRAVE.... four opportunities to be exact. I have been terrified of the dentist my entire life. When I tell people that the dentist frightens me most people chalk up my comment to something along the lines of "isn't everyone?". They aren't being mean; they just don't realise how much of a fear it is for me. Sleepless nights for a week before the appointment, a racing heart, not being able to catch my breath, trembling, feeling physically sick.  My blood pressure actually sky rockets. Once I am there, i have to sit on my hands in the waiting room to stop myself running out and even once I am in the room, my dentist has to coax me into the chair.

With having to attend so many appointments in such a short space of time, I knew that I needed to find a way to better deal with this fear. Previously I have used a combination of calming herbal remedies and a scripture or two but I needed more.  If you have read my January review, you will know that one of the books I started reading in January was The Power of I Am. At the moment I am only about half way through  but the book is all about how we think and the impact of what we say to ourselves has on us.  I realized that by continuously going over in my head how scared I am, that I am giving those thoughts more power, like I am reinforcing them and my fears.


I began rewording my thoughts. When fear started to creep in I intentionally acknowledged the thought and rephrased the wording. I am so scared became I feel scared but I know that I can ask the dentist to stop whenever I need him to.  This took practice and consistency and it didn't stop the fear but it did make a difference.

On the 9th of March I am booked in to have my wisdom tooth out so this practice will be an ongoing one for me...but retraining my thoughts has a larger application and is something that I will continue to do in all areas of my life as we move through the year and most likely, for all my years ahead.

Have you been in any situations where you have had to focus on changing how you think? I would love to hear more about it.

Today I am sharing my Project Life spread for week 02 of 2017.  I had a few more stories than normal to tell this week so in addition to a design A page protector I also used a design I page.

The front of my insert holds my title card, a cute transparent filler pocket and a photo to capture the first snow of the year.  Where I live we either get a lot of snow (by UK standards) or none at all.  I love the first snow fall, it makes everything seem so fresh and new.

• Ali Edwards Story Kits
• Pink Paislee's Pcitures + Words No 9 digital collection
• Tracy Larsen White 1 Square
• HP Envy 4523 Printer
• We R American Crafts Clearly Posh Confetti dot gold

Yesterday was the halfway point for winter so I thought it would be fun to take part in Anne's invite to share what things - big or small - are currently saving my life in this long, cold wintery season.

Home cooking | This one depends on how tired I am feeling but I tend to enjoy cooking in the winter months. The heat from the cooking, the warm spices, that lovely feeling when you sit down to eat. I love all of that.

Reading in bed | With one of my goals this year being to watch less TV at night, I have started enjoying climbing into bed with a good book an hour or two before lights out.  So far I have read two and bit books and I am looking forward to starting a new kindle book I purchased today.

Fresh flowers | Fresh flowers make everything feel nicer. It doesn't matter if it is a cheap £5 bunch or the more expensive £15 bunch.  My gran always had fresh flowers in her house and they remind me of her.



Costa visits | When my mom and I are looking for something nice to do on a Saturday we tend to head to Costa for a medium half shot latte. Last week we decided to share a slice of walnut and coffee cake and it was delicious.

Weekend walks in the park | With my work schedule I don't get much time to workout during the week. Because of that I try to get out for a long walk every weekend, weather permitting. The fresh air and gorgeous scenery does wonders for my body, soul and spirit.

Project Life | I love this project so very much. Spending time every few days working on my album makes me feel oh so happy.



Trying new hair tutorials | All of a sudden my hair seems to have had a growth spurt and I am loving the length that it is at the moment. Part of what I am enjoying about my long hair are all the Game of Throne inspired hair tutorials I am able to practice and wear.

My new steam cleaner | I am not a huge fan of house chores but I find that steaming my floors leaves my house smelling and feeling oh so fresh. This definitely helps brighten my house and my day.

My diffuser | A winter staple for me are my candles in the lounge and my diffuser up in my bedroom.  Both of them make me feel relaxed, cozy and happy.


Face masks | Fridays are my pampering session time...even more so in winter.  I have three that I rotate through, a detox mask you can see above, an all natural moisturizing one from Australia and a gorgeous polish and cleansing mask.

What things are saving your life?

Hello February, so nice to have you arrive. I love, love, love January with all its new starts and fresh pages but I must admit, January feels a little pressured to me. There is that expectation to change myself and my world with a snap of the finger and it leaves me feeling like I am holding my breath the entire month.  February just seems more gentle, more forgiving, more room to breath.

On Monday I had a day off work and spent a few hours this morning finishing off January and deciding on February's goals.  Here is what I will be focusing on:

• Read I don't wait anymore | I have heard such good things about this book and am looking forward to diving in. 
• Spend time with two different sets of friends | This is already planned in. On the 2nd I am going for dinner with Julie, Veronica and Lisa and around the 26th I am going to a new Japanese restaurant with LeAndra. 
• Follow up on volunteering with UAVA | In January I emailed UAVA but havent yet heard back from them so need to do some follow up. 
• Complete the One Little Word prompt | I am really excited about what my word will bring this year.
• Choose a focus for Whole | Listen to this months prompt and pick an area to focus on. 
• Research fundraising ideas | I want to make a start on my fundraising but need some inspiration and ideas as I have never really done any sort of fundraising before. Something new to learn! 
• Gather all my financial documents, terms and balances | This feels like the first step towards looking at my long term financial needs. 
• Set a budget | I made good progress with this in January and hope to continue with it.