We’re almost half-way through the year (where did the time go?), and I’ve decided that I’m going to start posting monthly reviews on my blog to help me count the hours, one by one, for the remaining months.
Life can be pretty crazy, especially with an adorable, energetic, curious, insistent toddler underfoot. It’s so easy to run on the daily treadmill of tasks, to-dos, and routines without taking time to step back and remember the wonderful moments, and look forward to the things I am planning for the future.
I recently
saying that I refused to use the word “busy.” It’s so easy to glorify being “busy” for the sake of it.
It can become the reflex answer for almost every question.
How was May?
Oh, it was
busy.
Of course it was.
But busy doesn’t explain anything. Busy belittles the accomplishments and undermines the real, valuable work we’ve been doing.
So, rather than busy, let's say May has been a full, rich month....
Top 5 Highlights for May:
1. Cycling with my husband and daughter to admire the thousands of rhododendron bushes in the Isabella Plantation in Richmond Park. (see photo above)
2. Having coffee with a wonderful friend at the British Library.
3. Sending out my first “Studio Friends” mailing list email. Every two months I’m going to share studio updates and links to free printable I’ve designed. (Feel free to sign up in the sidebar! I’m planning to design a series of
yoga cards
for the next instalment.)
4. Starting to edit a novel that I had put aside for a few years. Now that I’m looking at it with fresh eyes I can see its strengths, but also where it needs to improve.
5. Designing our garden.
Books read:
1. A notable woman — the journals of Jean Lucy Pratt.
2. Diary of a wimpy kid by Jeff Kinney
3. Madam will you talk by Mary Stewart.
4.
by Erin Boyle.
By the numbers:
2: Museums visited (National Gallery and British Library)
1: Birthday party attended.
2: runs through Richmond Park (more like run, walk, run, walk, walk…
walk…....
walk.....
)
11: illustrations painted for the Mattie’s Magic Dreamworld series
4: sketches in my moleskine sketchbook (check my Instagram to follow along as I fill the pages.)
{My progress chart for the Mattie books}
Yoga Pose for the month:
Every morning I do a sun salutation to get my body moving, and prepare my mind for the day.
If I have time and energy I often add other favourite yoga stretches into the routine to push my mind and body in different directions. However, I've started to get into a groove (not quite a rut) with the poses I choose. So, I've decided that I want to focus on a new pose each month for the rest of the year.
This month’s pose is:
or Ustrasana. When I do it I can feel my chest expanding, and my heart opening up to the world.
May Stats:
: 472
139
Bloglovin: 894
: 942
: 507
Mailing List: 412 (sign-up in sidebar for bi-monthly updates and freebies!)
(Please pick your favourite platform and come follow along!)
Blog Posts:
How to make work easy OR six necessary things
Get your hands on some free printables
Goals for June:
June is a month I’ve been joyfully anticipating for a while. We’re flying to Manitoba to spend time with my mom and my extended family. It is my goal to enjoy every minute. Even the jet lag. Even flying with a toddler.
Other than that, I want to:
+ finish the first draft of my current writing project before I fly.
+ have a good portion of “Mattie” painted so that I can take three weeks off work without feeling panicky about it.
+ re-invorgate my daily drawing habit while I’m on holiday. Stay tuned for lots of sketches of the great Canadian prairies.
I keep my intentions and goals on track by having a double-page spread dedicated to lists and brain-storming at the beginning of each month in my planner. It’s like my landing page. Every time I open my planner I check back with my monthly page to see how I’m doing with my goals and plans.
Are you writing a monthly review post? Feel free to share a link below in the comments. Let’s celebrate our accomplishments!
