1.\u00a0 Waste less time\/Create a posting schedule and stick to it<\/strong><\/p>\n Considering that it\u2019s summer and I\u2019ve had lots of time to waste, I feel like I\u2019ve done a pretty good job of making good use of my time.\u00a0 I taught summer school, worked hard on this website, finished a book, hung out with my husband, participated in some other work-related activities and got some good relaxing in.\u00a0 Unlike last summer, which I felt like didn\u2019t exist, I feel really good about July.<\/p>\n And, within the last week or so, I created a posting schedule and calendar and I\u2019m feeling really excited about it.\u00a0 I\u2019ll be posting on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, which is close to what I was posting previously.\u00a0 Now that I\u2019ve formally set my own deadlines and mapped out when I\u2019m writing about what, I\u2019m hoping more quality, consistency and clarity is on the way, plus less stress.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0 Read a chapter of the bible every day\/<\/strong>(no revised goal)<\/strong><\/p>\n July was definitely an improvement over June\u2019s almost non-existent reading, but there\u2019s still room to get even better.\u00a0 Hopefully the majority of August days will feature some bible reading.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0 Drink more water\/Drink at least one water bottle of water a day and drink something else with every meal<\/strong><\/p>\n I didn\u2019t really keep track, but I\u2019m pretty sure I made it on this one.\u00a0 As I\u2019ve mentioned, for some reason if I\u2019m teaching, I tend to carry my water bottle around the room with me and drink from it often.\u00a0 Teaching summer school, even though its not a full day, has once again increased my hydration.\u00a0 That, and the miserable hot weather.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0 Read at least one book a month\/Read at least 12 books this year<\/strong><\/p>\n During July, I read 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think<\/em><\/a> by Laura Vanderkam.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t agree 100% with what she said, but I did pick up a lot of really good tips and have started looking differently at how I spend my time. 5.\u00a0 Improve my fitness by going to the gym twice a week and doing sit ups and push ups on off days\/Do something physically active at least 3 times a week<\/strong><\/p>\n Again, I haven\u2019t really been keeping track, but I did well this month.\u00a0 I ran my second 5k<\/a> (and set an awesome PR) mid-month and have run a few more times since then.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t been sticking to the 3000 in 35 ab challenge too closely, but I have been doing more ab exercises than usual.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0 Open our home at least once a month\/Have at least 12 different groups of people over to the apartment<\/strong><\/p>\n At one point, I thought we were going to double up this month, but there was so much stuff going on it just didn\u2019t happen.\u00a0 We did have some friends over at the beginning of July and I made my mom\u2019s Spaghetti with Herbed Tomatoes and Cheese<\/a>, which was a hit.\u00a0 We\u2019re definitely going to get together with them again.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0 Give Relishments a makeover\/<\/strong>(no revised goal)<\/strong><\/p>\n The makeover was done this spring, but this month I discovered a new plugin that allows for easier printing of recipes.\u00a0 Maybe if I get the chance I\u2019ll edit some of my old posts to include it.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been feeling really good about what I\u2019ve been producing for the blog, as well as the feedback I\u2019ve been getting.\u00a0 Finally, my readers are giving up lurking and have begun leaving comments!\u00a0 I\u2019m sure I\u2019ll come back from HLS this month with a lot of ideas of how to keep making things better as well.<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0 See new things\/<\/strong>(no revised goal)<\/strong><\/p>\n Brian and I ventured to the Northampton\/Hadley area one afternoon, partially to attend at Kim O\u2019Donnel book signing, and had a lovely time walking around downtown.\u00a0 We also explored a local park I\u2019d never been to.\u00a0 We\u2019ve got some really great adventures coming up in August, so stay tuned.<\/p>\n![\"just](\"http:\/\/www.relishments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/just-dont-fall_thumb.jpg\" "\\"just")
<\/a><\/p>\nThere\u2019s a full review of the book coming, I promise.\u00a0 August\u2019s book is Just Don’t Fall: How I Grew Up, Conquered Illness, and Made It Down the Mountain<\/em><\/a>
by Josh Sundquist, which I\u2019m really looking forward to reading.\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen some of Josh\u2019s videos on YouTube<\/a> and they\u2019re hilarious.<\/p>\n
![\"me](\"http:\/\/www.relishments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/me-heather-and-liz_thumb.jpg\" "\\"me")
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![\"IMG_4716\"](\"http:\/\/www.relishments.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/IMG_4716_thumb.jpg\" "\\"IMG_4716\\"")
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