What's New With You? Linkup #15
Let's just say that March was not my month. It seemed like everything was going wrong, starting with injuring my shoulder. Nothing terrible happened (which makes me feel like a spoiled/privileged brat) but I was just in a funk all month. April is already off to a much better start and I'm just putting March behind me. Today I'm not going to complain, but I'm going to talk about what's new! That's right...it's already
time for the monthly linkup with Kristen and
me. Make sure you link down below and tell me what's going on!
Break 4 hours in the marathon. I skipped my race in March (Rock n Roll DC) because I tore/injured my rotator cuff. Luckily I seemed to recover really quickly thanks to completely stopping running and yoga, and doing physical therapy religiously. I'm feeling completely healed, but still am working on my endurance!! I'm nervous about the race but I'm going to do it no matter what, even if I can't reach my goal. I still have the rest of the year ;)
Buy lunch less than 2 times per month. I think I went out three or four times in March. I was in training for two weeks and got a little lazy with bringing a lunch, so I just joined my team in the cafeteria a few days. I've been doing really well with this so far this year though, so I'm not worried!
Learn a song on piano. No real progress on this. I kind of stopped playing in March..definitely have to get back into it this month! I also want to pick out some sheet music to learn, so that will be my goal for April.
No-buy until the marathon. Definitely didn't do well with this goal. I bought a few pairs of shoes to try out for training, got a pair of leggings for my race, and replaced my bluetooth headphones that I somehow lost. I didn't buy anything non-running-related this month though, so I think that's an improvement!
Disconnect daily. I've been doing so well with this lately! I turn off my phone when I get home, or if I keep it on I don't use it at all. I also stopped being as connected to my computer and have spent more time with Dan and Selma outside.
Save $$$!!! March was a bad month for saving because all of our annual bills came due (taxes, insurance, registration, etc etc etc). On the plus side, Dan finished paying off his student loans, so we're going to have a lot more money to save!
Start home brewing. We bottled our second batch of beer this week! It'll be ready in about two weeks and I'm really excited to try it. I want to try something different for our next batch and I'm thinking either hard cider or kombucha. Any suggestions?
I changed offices! I'm still in the same building, but my group moved to a new "hoteling" floor. Basically that means that I don't have my own desk and "check in" to one every day. I didn't think that I would like it, and at first I didn't, but I have to admit now that I absolutely LOVE it. I'm on on a mobile application development team and used to be in different buildings from my development and QA team, but now we all sit together. It makes doing work so much easier and faster, so I feel like I'm getting a lot more done at work. I feel so much more inspired and enthusiastic about work which is amazing...every day now I'm looking forward to going to work and pretty much don't stop until I go home. Even the space itself is inspiring to me:
I won't lie..my favorite part is that we now get free coffee:
On the down side, I don't have as much free time as I used to during the day, and feel pretty much tapped out creatively at the end of the day, so I haven't really felt inspired to blog a lot lately. I'm still going to be sharing my marathon training and Friday Favorites, but for now my priority is work and my home life, so things might get a little quiet around here.
I also have lots of outdoor projects to do! The weather is getting nicer, which means I'm spending most of my time outside and have some fun projects to get done. I'm sure I'll share some of them (once they're finished). In the mean time, I'll be sharing mini updates and stories on Instagram and Snapchat (my name is gretchxo!)
That's all I've got for today- let me know what's new by linking up below!
2017 Goals and Resolutions
Break 4 hours in the marathon. I skipped my race in March (Rock n Roll DC) because I tore/injured my rotator cuff. Luckily I seemed to recover really quickly thanks to completely stopping running and yoga, and doing physical therapy religiously. I'm feeling completely healed, but still am working on my endurance!! I'm nervous about the race but I'm going to do it no matter what, even if I can't reach my goal. I still have the rest of the year ;)
Buy lunch less than 2 times per month. I think I went out three or four times in March. I was in training for two weeks and got a little lazy with bringing a lunch, so I just joined my team in the cafeteria a few days. I've been doing really well with this so far this year though, so I'm not worried!
Learn a song on piano. No real progress on this. I kind of stopped playing in March..definitely have to get back into it this month! I also want to pick out some sheet music to learn, so that will be my goal for April.
No-buy until the marathon. Definitely didn't do well with this goal. I bought a few pairs of shoes to try out for training, got a pair of leggings for my race, and replaced my bluetooth headphones that I somehow lost. I didn't buy anything non-running-related this month though, so I think that's an improvement!
Disconnect daily. I've been doing so well with this lately! I turn off my phone when I get home, or if I keep it on I don't use it at all. I also stopped being as connected to my computer and have spent more time with Dan and Selma outside.
Save $$$!!! March was a bad month for saving because all of our annual bills came due (taxes, insurance, registration, etc etc etc). On the plus side, Dan finished paying off his student loans, so we're going to have a lot more money to save!
Start home brewing. We bottled our second batch of beer this week! It'll be ready in about two weeks and I'm really excited to try it. I want to try something different for our next batch and I'm thinking either hard cider or kombucha. Any suggestions?
Random Updates
I need new goals! The first quarter of the year ended, and I'm already tired of my monthly goals. I want to come up with some new ones to work towards, so I'll share them in my next What's New With You post.I changed offices! I'm still in the same building, but my group moved to a new "hoteling" floor. Basically that means that I don't have my own desk and "check in" to one every day. I didn't think that I would like it, and at first I didn't, but I have to admit now that I absolutely LOVE it. I'm on on a mobile application development team and used to be in different buildings from my development and QA team, but now we all sit together. It makes doing work so much easier and faster, so I feel like I'm getting a lot more done at work. I feel so much more inspired and enthusiastic about work which is amazing...every day now I'm looking forward to going to work and pretty much don't stop until I go home. Even the space itself is inspiring to me:
I won't lie..my favorite part is that we now get free coffee:
On the down side, I don't have as much free time as I used to during the day, and feel pretty much tapped out creatively at the end of the day, so I haven't really felt inspired to blog a lot lately. I'm still going to be sharing my marathon training and Friday Favorites, but for now my priority is work and my home life, so things might get a little quiet around here.
I also have lots of outdoor projects to do! The weather is getting nicer, which means I'm spending most of my time outside and have some fun projects to get done. I'm sure I'll share some of them (once they're finished). In the mean time, I'll be sharing mini updates and stories on Instagram and Snapchat (my name is gretchxo!)
That's all I've got for today- let me know what's new by linking up below!
Hoteling sounds pretty interesting! I don't know how I would feel about not having my snack drawer... I'm ready for March to move along as well! GET OUT
ReplyDeleteI am intrigued by the hoteling concept!
ReplyDeleteVery understandable that home, work, and training come before blogging. That has pretty much been my life for the past 8 months.
ReplyDeleteHopefully some new goals and the start of a new month will give you a fresh start.
Hope this month is better for you! I bet more time outside and more family time will help with your moods...it does for me very often!
ReplyDeleteThat new work space idea sounds so different--I guess it would be nice and the free coffee is always a good thing!
Aw, man. I'm sorry March was such a rough month. Injuries are the worst when you live such an active lifestyle. Your "disconnect" goal is a good one and something I really need to work on. Glad the hoteling situation is working out so well for you and can't wait to see what new goals you come up with next month! And glad to hear you'll still be doing Friday Favorites! I love your favorites posts!
ReplyDeleteHoteling, as you're calling it, sounds AWFUL. My desk has so many things on it that I use on a daily basis. Not to mention a calendar, maps, a white board for notes, pens, PLUS SNACKS. And random other shit. I can't even imagine having to start over EVERY DAY. I don't tend to lose things, ever, but this sounds like a recipe for things getting lost.
ReplyDeleteALSO, I would like to put down 2 votes for cider! One for each arm. I've heard it's actually fairly simple! You could probably get great natural cider from the Soergals market to get started!
I've always wanted to try brewing our own beer but we have never gotten around to it. My coworker does it and has made some awesome batches! I dont think I would like not having my own same workspace every day. I dont have my own office, just a cube. But it at least has a little privacy. The space does look fun though!!! And free coffee is always awesome!
ReplyDeleteWe're looking at hoteling here! I'm not sure if we'll do it or not.
ReplyDeleteOur corporate office has neighborhood seating where you can sit somewhere different everyday that sounds similar to the hoteling, I've always wondered how I would like that...but I would be happy with pretty much anything for good free coffee!
ReplyDeleteOh that's so cool about your job! Look at that view! The windows!!! The free coffee looks like a sweet gig too.
ReplyDeleteI love the layout of your new office!
ReplyDeleteMy previous employer had a hoteling system and it was both good and bad, but really great for being able to collaborate with others.
March was a pretty bad month for me too. Don't know what's up with that but here's to a better April! And having student loans paid off sounds like a big plus; hopefully you'll be able to meet that money saving goal easier now.
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of hoteling, but the idea is kind of cool :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm, your desk situation intrigues me. I would love a post on it! Is it hard to hide what you're doing, or are there privacy screens? Does it feel... I don't know, almost dirty? Like other people's mouses always feel weird to me (and I'm sure mine to them) but I guess if none is yours, it's different? My company's offices are open like that, but I choose to home office. I had a private office at my old job so I was worried about that adjustment!
ReplyDeletesorry march was such a bummer of a month, glad april is looking up already. your desk/new office situation is SO interesting. congrats to dan and paying off his student loans! that is awesome! extra money is always fabulous.
ReplyDelete