Tag: monthly goals

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Hello December + Blogmas!

by Hazel VeeLeave a Comment on Hello December + Blogmas!

And just like that, it’s already December.

Happy Blogmas to those of you who plan on doing it this year. I’m still undecided if I am or not. I’m just really hoping this post goes up on the first tbh lol. Not sure if I’ll have the time to invest in keeping up with Blogmas since it somehow slipped my mind that December was even coming up; pregnancy brain. It’s real and it sucks.

I don’t want to over goal myself (there’s a word for this, I just can’t think of it at the moment) this month. Especially since I’m late on putting up my Christmas tree and the rest of the apartment decor. I don’t know how time just moved so fast past me.

| Put up the Christmas Tree

I usually have this up by October. This year that didn’t happen. October was a pretty emotionally draining month for me and a bit of November as well. Christmas was the last thing on my mind honestly. Despite knowing it would cheer me up a bit… I still didn’t feel too invested in it. Now it’s December and I feel like I’m late to my own important date. I’m hoping to get the tree up at least before the weekend is over! Unfortunately it’s not as well thought out or going to be as decorated as the previous tree’s we’ve had but this year itself has just been… weird.

| Christmasfy the apartment

Same thing along the lines with the tree thing; I need to update the fairy lights in my room as well as put down the fairy lights and garland by the TV (and someday upgrade that TV cause having a non smart TV is not the move).

| Bake something

I’ve had my kitchen aid for a year now and I’ve only baked one thing. Like?? Not cool. Plus I’ve always wanted to get in the holiday spirit by baking.

| Watch Christmas movies

I use to make it a point to watch a certain amount of Christmas movies… and I have a few that I watch every year. I think I skipped this tradition last year so I wanna make up for it this year.

| Go to 1 Christmas event

I hate the cold. And it doesn’t help that it’s started snowing here in TX in the winter. I’ve always wanted to do Enchantment or the Gaylord stuff but always decided against it since it’s just too cold for my liking.

Tums is old enough to remember/retain things now so maybe I should suck it up and go to something this year.

| Tidy for the New Year

I say this every December. And I always have high hopes I’ll really do it this time. Truthfully I get overwhelmed with how much stuff I do have.

I really want to minimize the stuff I do have… or have homes for them instead of just piling stuff up on a bookshelf or something…

Plus after all the fuckery of 2022, I want to go into 2023 at least with a tidy home.

| Read 3 books

My TBR has been suffering this year with all things considered… I’m def not going to hit my goal of 25 books read but I at least want to get through some of these books. I’ll try to do better next year… maybe lower my goal.

I’m sure I’m missing something important but I’ll get mad at myself when I remember lol.

What are your goals for December?

Wellness

Hello November

by Hazel VeeLeave a Comment on Hello November

I gave up on these posts awhile ago because I was getting discouraged about not even feeling like setting goals. But if I want to get back to my old self, I’m going to have to make a change myself. I feel like I spent most of 2022 just worried and upset. I’m not sure how much of the year I can salvage and at least get a few goals checked off. But doesn’t hurt to try!

| Set up the Christmas tree

This should had already been done but it’s not. I did get a tree, I just haven’t cleared space to put it up yet. I plan to before Thanksgiving at least… hopefully it’ll help my mental health.

| Catch up on October Reading Challenge TBR

I’m so sad I spent most of Oct depressed and didn’t even start on any of my October Reading Challenge books. This is my favorite tradition for myself and I get so bummed when I skip a year.

| Bake something festive

Planning on putting my KitchenAid to use this season. Not sure what I’m going to bake just yet… but I really want to bake something this year.

| Disney+ movie night

Disenchanted comes out this month and I still need to watch the live action Aladdin as well as Mulan. I know, I’m super behind.

| Enjoy family days

Family days are a lot more fun now that Tums is a full on child. I mean it’s not fun when she wants half the store but it is fun to have days out with her. We have some family days I’m looking forward to this month that I’m pretty excited about. And some Christmas stuff we have planned for Tums (and let’s be real, me as well).

| Catch up on gaining needed weight

Because I spent most of this pregnancy depressed, I’m wayyyy behind on the weight gain part of it all. I barely ate in October and as my tummy grows and stretches, it’s starting to become incredibly uncomfortable. I’m trying to do what I can to spend the rest of this pregnancy calm and not stressed out so that the baby won’t be stressed out and the labor will *hopefully* be as easy as it was with Tums. Though I guess that would be asking for a lot at this point.

I really need to find a way to stop feeling horrible about myself and my situation. It’s obviously not the best and it’s not ideal and I sure as hell hate spending the holidays pregnant but it is what it is, the most I can do is learn from it and be more aware of other people and their intentions. No matter who they are or how long I’ve known them.

| Get a prenatal massage

I don’t know if it’s just because I’m older this time around but my back has been killing me more than usual… but mostly in the mid back and not the lower back that usually bothers me. I’m sure getting a nice prenatal massage would be really relaxing and I love the spa I would go to to get massages. They have this aromatherapy thing going on as well and it was always so relaxing. I really want to get back into doing monthly massages like I use to.

I’m hoping November will be a better month for me than October was.

What are some of your November goals?

Wellness

Hello September

by Hazel VeeLeave a Comment on Hello September

It’s iced coffee, cold brew, leggings all day, oversized sweaters and beanie weather.

If you know… you didn’t live in TX or FL.

Is that going to stop me? Hewl nah it’s not. I wait all year for this time of the year!

I’ve been SUPER inconsistent with my blogging and managing my business this year. I’m trying to give myself some grace considering all the other things that happened this year… and it’s a lot. I wish I could write about it cause I could really use some shadow work on some of this shit. But that’s going to have to go somewhere a little more private. I feel like I went from finding a solid potential balance late last year to completely destroying that myself this year. I am thankful however — very thankful — that my soon to be ex husband is understanding in the fact that I really want my time to myself. I never have to explain why I do, he doesn’t question it, he just knows I need it from time to time. So I’m endlessly thankful that he’s trying to make this divorce work in my favor. Possibly more in mine than in his. He’s not a bad person, deep down, we just weren’t right for each other. And that too is okay. Tums is loved by so many people and she has more than one place to call home. That’s all that matters.

We’re in the last quarter of 2022. That’s insane to think about. But it also makes me think what do I want to accomplish in these last few months of 2022.

I don’t really know lolol. I mean I have some goals but like I don’t have some solid plan. I figure I winged this year, I’ll just wing the rest of it. Sometimes the best things happen when you don’t plan them.

Continue reading “Hello September” →
Life

Hello April~

by Hazel Vee2 Comments on Hello April~

Welcome to my birthday month and Aries season!

Aries season doesn’t seem to be the best season for my fellow Aries this year. I’ll try again in the Fall when everything dies I mean, preps for rebirth. Yeah, that’s what I meant.

Both my BFF and I have gotten into streaming this passed week and we’re trying to find ways to set up our Twitch channels. If you’re into Call of Duty and GTA go give him a follow even though he only streams SUPER late at night. I moderate it if I’m up. If you’re into cozy gaming and just chillen out give me a follow. I don’t have a set schedule just yet. So far I just stream FFXIV as I get use to it and the new changes they’ve made to the hot bars. So if you wanna watch me run around like an idiot for a bit, feel free to!

The depression from March prevented me from planning anything for my birthday this year so… that sucks. Maybe I should just stick to planning my birthday in Dec/Jan when I’m not hit with trauma and depression. I’m really hoping next year I’ll be in a much better head space when Tums birthday comes up. I’m hoping distance and being surrounded by my actual support system with help me heal.

| Figure out what to do with moving

The whole rent situation for April took a turn so having to figure out how to get the other half of rent was pretty stressful. I’m thankful for the friends I have who are always willing to help me.

| Set up the streaming

I pulled my ACNH Switch back out again and I need to reinstall my capture card. So far I’ve only been streaming FFXIV but I really want to stream Switch and PC games too.

| Get back to a healthy lifestyle [ better eating choices, meditation, yoga, working out ]

I really want to achieve this this year. It’s so hard to start though. But once you do, and you get a routine going, it’s effortless. It’s just getting there. I mostly want to stop pulling my lower back and work on my mental health starting with fitness.

| Find something fun or chill to do for my birthday day

I really have no plans for my birthday this year. The whole depression of March took over my mind space. I did try to book a trip to Disney but it’s all booked up since my birthday falls on Easter week (at least it’s not ON Easter this year) and honestly it was too expensive to even fly anywhere from TX. A friend of mine from home is coming out here though so I may hang out with them. I miss my friends and I wish I could had at least just flown out to NorCal.

| Schedule a trip to Disney World before Flower & Garden ends

This kinda falls in the same as the last — Flower & Garden ends in July so I’m really hoping to make it there before then! F&G is one of my favorite events at Disney World, period!

| Revamp this blog

I want to do some blog post updates, SEO updates, change the subjects/topics and sort of just find a stable niche for this blog. I feel like I’m all over the place sometimes.

| Revamp + add new products to the shop

I def need a new logo and banner design and I need to design more clothing. I also need to start doing monthly themes or something… just something new to add to the whole feed if anything. My shop can’t grow if I don’t give it something to grow into.

| Don’t be afraid to ask friends for help when the hard days come

I hate when people hear or see me cry. It’s the trauma from exes tbh. I tend to forget that my friends don’t think I’m weak for crying and they wouldn’t gaslight me or make me feel bad for crying on the phone especially if it’s about something that really bothers me. I know my friends love me but sometimes it’s still hard to turn to someone when the days feel dark and heavy. I’m trying to be better about that!

I decided against doing a March recap; there wasn’t much of anything other than depression spells in March. So there’s no reason to go and rehash on that. I’m really hoping April will be much kinder.

What are some of your goals for this month?

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Hello March

by Hazel VeeLeave a Comment on Hello March

I can’t believe how fast 2022 is moving. Then again I’ve been traveling (and it feels so good to be able to again) so that might also be why it feels like it’s going super fast for me.

Feb was full of trying places I had on my foodie wish list for way too long. Road trips with my BFF’s and being spoiled by my BFF’s and my cousin (for once lol). I was reminded of how loved I am back home and I wonder why I even left… I mean I don’t wonder but I do wonder why I stayed away for so long.

Never let a relationship get in the way of your life and who you are.

I have no idea how March would be able to top Feb, honestly. But here are a few things I hope to achieve;

| Take Tums to Disneyland for her birthday
As much as I would love to go to Disney World, there really isn’t much there for toddlers like there is at Disneyland. She hasn’t been to Disneyland yet and she’s been to WDW twice already lol. I can’t believe I’ll have a 3 year old soon. She’s already like a whole ass human being. I just assume the smarter she gets, the more she will talk back. She’s already started lol.

| Hit Vegas with my cousin
This is the year of doing things I miss and getting back to my roots. It’s been a decade since I’ve been back to Vegas and I miss it so much. I’m hoping to squeeze in a weekend trip to Vegas this month with my cousin or my BFF Dru; even if he’s next level on some shit lol.

| Read 2 books
I just picked up 2 new audiobooks while I was on my trip; they’re both autobiographies. One is by Leslie Odom Jr and his time doing Aaron Burr in Hamilton. I have no excuse to be so far behind on my TBR for this year but here I am. So hopefully I can at least read 2 books this month.

| Take 30 mins every day to do Yoga or some kind of ab work out
I need to be better at my health. And I really need to start being better. It’s hard to set aside time to just do certain things. Obviously working out and reading seems to be it for me this year. But I really want to work on getting my abs back and I really want to get back into eating right again. Even just setting aside 30 mins every day can make a difference.

| Start a skincare routine
My BFF and cousin are begging me to do this. It makes me feel old lol. I admit though, my skin could use some help. So at the advice of my cousin, I picked up a few things that were a lot more than I expected. Shit better do something.

| Work on shop things
My shop needs a huge refresh. I really want to put up more apparel and new sticker designs. I also want to be more active on social media and marketing. I always say I’ll work on some stuff while I’m in Cali but I get so caught up with hanging out with my friends that it doesn’t happen lol. I’m not sure when I’m jetting off next this month so I might as well work on my shop until I figure that out!

| Jump start on Spring cleaning
Spring cleaning has always been the bane of my existence. My mom made it look so effortless. But as I’m low key kind of on the quest to live a more minimalistic life, I figure this is going to be an even bigger task. Let’s hope I start this in the Spring and finish it in the Spring as well lol.

What are some things you’re hoping to start, finish or attempt this month?

Life

Hello February

by Hazel Vee4 Comments on Hello February

February always reminds me of when I really started to write in this blog. I had originally called it Places & Peonies and it was suppose to be a safe place for me to blog. I needed somewhere I could be transparent and unfiltered. I had just suffered a miscarriage and everyone around me (minus my BFF Xyl) was telling me that “it’s not something to blog/post about” but blogging has always been my therapy. Since 1999. So to tell me I can’t talk about this life event that hurt me so deeply?

I created this as a secret blog. With the hopes it would help me heal. With the hopes I could fill it with pretty pictures, adventures and be a place I can look back on and remind myself of how hard the journey was, but how I survived it. That was 5 years ago. It’s crazy to see how this blog has shifted and changed since then. I still don’t know wtf my niche for it is. And sometimes I stop myself from posting because I think “is that blog post even helpful?”

And while I do love writing the *insert number here* ways to stay calm or whatever; I also love writing my brain dumps. Because sometimes I just need to write some shit out. And we relate through experiences others share. It helps us feel less alone. So I hate the times when I stop myself from writing how I feel just because I don’t think it’s what blogging is about anymore. I’m trying to be better at it.

Here are a few things I want to accomplish this month;

Continue reading “Hello February” →
Life

Hello December

by Hazel VeeLeave a Comment on Hello December

Happy. Freaking. BlogMAS!

It’s finally the last month of 2021 and I’m sure I’m not the only one who is just so ready for 2022 at this point!

I had so many goals for 2021 and I’m happy that I took the steps to make those goals happen. I might not had known what I was doing half the time but half of learning how to do something is to just do it. The last half of 2021 was something else. I would have high expectations for this month since it’s the last month of the year but honestly, I’m just tired. I’m hoping that it doesn’t snow. That it doesn’t get TOO cold. There are fun holiday photos I want to take and holiday things I want to see. But if it’s too cold that’s a pass. Which sucks. Plus I don’t really have friends here who will take photos of me like that so. There’s also that.

There are a few things this month I do want to get done, that have to get done;

| Start cleaning things out and prep for packing/moving

I’m horrible at this one! I always tell myself I’ll purge before a move and I never do. Then I get irritated that I didn’t because then it’s just so much more stuff to pack that I don’t even need. I don’t like the feeling of bringing extra energy you don’t need with you so I’m goig to try really hard to do a way better job with that this move!

| Apple for the new place & put in my 30 day notice

I always forget to do the 30 day notice thing even though I’ve had ONE bad accident with it in the past. But it’s also why I’m a bit iffy about apartment management but I def need to put in my 30 days and apply for the new place. Which I low key also hate doing lol.

| Get rid of more books

I feel like this is a never ending task of mine. I’m forever going to be getting rid of books. I’ve already stopped doing OwlCrate. But with a move coming up, I don’t really want to pack all these books all over again.

| Read 16 books or 6 books or just 1… JUST READ

I’m 16 books behind on my GoodReads challenge and I doubt I’ll be able to finish it this year. Which this is fine. But I do want to at least try and hit as close to my goal as I can.

| Use or toss ALL snacks before the move

I have a problem with hoarding snacks. I need to take pics of the holiday ones I have, but I haven’t yet. I’m trying to be better at hoarding snacks this month and next month before the move. I’m not planning on taking any of this stuff with me.

| Purge clothes… realistically

I have a HUGE problem with this one. But I need to realistically get rid of clothes I don’t even remember I have. I don’t know why I hold on to clothes like that. It’s the weirdest thing to me.

| Eat better

I need to start eating better just because eating fast food as much as I do is starting to catch up to me. I really want to get my health back on track. I need to start going to the gym again too.

| Prep for 2022

This means manage my bills/autopay shit. Purge things (and people) I don’t want to bring with me into 2022 and making clear goals.

What are some things you’re hoping to accomplish this month? Are you ready for 2021 to be over?

Life

Hello November

by Hazel VeeLeave a Comment on Hello November

Welp, just like that 2021 is almost over. It’s actually cold af here in Texas today. It’s raining and 48*. Crazy. I’ll be mad if we get snow soon. Like, can you not. This month is sort of busy, but I always feel like November usually is. If I don’t brick my time right I won’t get anything done this month so I have to be very careful. But I’m sure it’ll get away from me as always lol.

November is when my seasonal depression really kicks in. And this year feels like it’s gonna be intense. I’m already curled up blogging and listening to my old AOL jams, that’s where the feels come from.

I don’t have much on my goals list for this month since I have a few things happening this month.

| Get in the Christmas spirit

I have this love/hate history with Christmas. I love getting ready for Christmas but I’m not a fan of Christmas itself too much. I did skip Halloween this year, I just wasn’t feeling it. I managed to get the little tree’s up in the office and my room before Halloween even came around, just not the bigger tree. But I really want to try and do more Christmasy things this year. Esp since T is a lot more aware of her surroundings.

| Get started on Christmas shopping

I don’t really struggle with this one but I like to stay on top of it and mail my gifts out before December. Thankfully I don’t have many people to buy gifts for, perks of being part of a smaller family. My focus is usually on my kid and my childhood friends. Sometimes my mom cause she doesn’t like much and I’m finding my brother is probably my fav to shop for cause he likes cooking so I spend loads of time at Williams Sonoma… for you know… research…. lol

| Design holiday products for the shop

I’ve been struggling with this since October. You’d think Winter/Christmas themed stuff would be super easy to come up with. But they’re really not. And a lot of my product ideas are Tagalog ones lol. Fml.

| Purge/sell books

I skipped both Owlcrate subscriptions this month and it’s the first year I’ll be missing out on the reading planner — but I really can’t justify a box every single month. Most of the time the book is one I wouldn’t be interested in. I know the whole idea is that it’s a surprise, but sometimes it would be nice to know.

That said; I’ve decided to let go of the books I literally don’t intend to pick up/read. I’m trying to minimize my stuff and this is a really good place to start.

| Do/see as much as I can at Disney

I’m excited to be able to see Disney this holiday season. I didn’t spend too much time at the parks at night during the holidays when I was there.

I’m also going to be staying at Universal, which a few of my good friends work there now — but it also is already giving me flashbacks of what was the most fun date I’ve ever had in my life with a guy who turned out to be a huge jerk. But the memory was still really good. We’d spend late nights at City Walk and running around all the resorts doing the dumbest shit.

I’m also hoping this trip will bring back my inspo cause TX ain’t the place for it. Super excited to be home for awhile ❤️.

What are some things you’re hoping to achieve this month?

Life

Hello Blogtober!

by Hazel Vee2 Comments on Hello Blogtober!
I’m so obsessed with Procreate

How the hell is it October already?! That’s so crazy. This whole year has been crazy!

Although I had said I was going to take a step back from blogging this year, I did want to try doing blogtober as I do every year. I don’t expect to do the whole 31 days, but it would be nice if I did. I do have a trip planner later this month, I’m hoping to get my posts pre-written before then.

OCTOBER GOALS;

— Release October shop update (that’s today)!
— Release small Etsy shop update!
— Keep up with Blogtober
— Complete annual Halloween Reading Challenge
— Get a Halloween costume
— RELAX as much as possible on trip
— Organize office (esp the closet)
— Prep desk so that I can fit small biz stuff on it
— Stop by the State Fair

I’m not trying to give myself too much to do this month since there’s already a lot to focus on. But I’m really excited for this month!

Are you doing blogtober this year?

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Well, hello June

by Hazel Vee3 Comments on Well, hello June
Well, hello June

How are we 6 months into 2021 already? How the heck is time just flying so dang fast?? Kinda sus if you ask me. So here I am again, in June. The literal worst freakin month of the year for me. It’s the anniversary of a once was very special date, the anniversary of my Lolo’s (grandpa) death, the anniversary of my first pregnancy that ended pretty tragically and the anniversary of my divorce. Awesome, right? But it’s also the anniversary of Penny and Axelyn’s first date. Man I miss those (literal) cat’s. But not enough to spend $22/month to see her face. At least, not right now (she also lost her beach house sooo, I’m a little afraid to see her right now).

I spent a lot of June spacing out. Staying in bed and like… binge watching shows. Which I would LOVE to continue my annual pity party tradition but it’s a bit hard with a overly bubbly toddler pulling you around. All day. So, instead, I decided to literally pack my calendar with millions of things to do. Including getting my first massage. I went in for an adjustment last weekend after WEEKS of not getting one; and she said most of what was tense was from muscle tension. Say less; I’ve been telling myself to start doing spa days back in Jan anyway.

Here are a few things I hope to get done in June;

| Work on designing shirts & launching Etsy store
This is one I’m really really hoping I get done this month. I’m telling myself to come up with 2 designs for each fandom to launch with. It’s mostly finding the right combo of elements that’s really setting me back. I might be overthinking this. But I mean, overthinking something isn’t always a bad thing!

| Work on wax melts
This is another I hope to get to; I’ve been wanting to work with making wax melts since 2015 and just never had the GO to do it. I got a candle kit for review and I figured that was a sign from the universe to get on it.

| Work on selling and unhauling books
I have a ton of books from Owlcrate that I didn’t really care for when they came out or I didn’t even unwrap out of the plastic. From like, 2 years ago. If I haven’t read them yet, I probably won’t. So. They’re gonna go. I typically sell the ones I can at Half Priced Books and the ones I can’t or that get a low return I donate them.

| Refresh kitchen pantry & snack box
This is one B gets on me about literally all the time and I’m tired of hearing it lol. I’m a sucker for all snacks new and seasonal. And I need to start putting those snacks up on review on my food blog that really really needs to be built up already. SoPleaseReadMyFoodBlog. I’m doing better with clearing out the panty but I haven’t touched the snack box in the office yet. And I need to, because I think some of the stuff in the way bottom are expired.

| Work on typography
I’ve been working on this for the last week. I’ve always been in love with typography, quotes and fonts. So I decided to make some of my own. But for some reason now that I’m putting this in front of me, I can’t come up with any good quotes. Most of my “good” quotes came from word vomit blog posts in the past which brings me to…

| Keep up with journaling
I’m obsessed with the Noteshelf app on my Galaxy Tab. I literally write everything in there and it has so many pages to keep you SUPER organized. What I like the most is that the planner I have has a page under the daily stuff where you can write down notes and stuff. I use it to journal my day. And it’s become a habit that I’ve really been enjoying. I get to reunite with working on my hand writing and actually writing.

| Play 2 new games
Since getting my Galaxy Tab I’ve been downloading a bunch of really cute games and since I don’t have to worry about it deciding to not charge like my iPad sometimes does (more on that later) I feel a bit more comfortable playing games on it more. There are a few iOS games that I do want to play on my iPad and try out, so I’m hoping I can try a few more of these games I’ve downloaded this month. Also a few demo’s on the Nintendo Switch and start Stories of Seasons!

Normally I’d have “read x amount of books” but reading has taken a bit of a back seat lately and that’s fine. I don’t typically like reading unless I know I’ll have uninterrupted time to do so. I’m currently reading Jessica Simpson’s new e/audiobook and I’m still working on Dante Basco’s Rufio to Zuko. They’re both fairly short reads and I’m still struggling to get them read. Let’s not even begin on my NetGalley TBR, I’ve stopped logging on so I can finish the books I already have.

What are some things you hope to get to this month?