What's New With You? Linkup #16

Can you believe it's May already?  I'm definitely a summer person and I could just feel myself busting with happiness as the days get longer, the sun shines brighter, and the air warms up.  There were days when I would literally skip around the house, singing to myself and twirling around (Dan might think there's something wrong with me but I can't help myself- evidence below).  Does anyone else suffer from SAD that can relate?

Since it's a new month, you know what that means!  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!

Monthly Goals

Last month I mentioned that I wanted to switch things up and make some new goals for myself.  Here's what I plan on working on for the next few months:

Do Something Crafty.  I've mentioned this a lot of times before, but I love being creative and doing something crafty.  I'm not going to make specifics for myself, but I want to make something every month.  In April, I did a new cross stitch project to fix up the first version of my coffee project, and I love how it turned out!

Be Musical.  I'm still working on playing/learning the piano, but I also want to start playing the saxophone and violin again!  I've been playing the violin since I was in 2nd grade and saxophone since high school.  I've always loved to play but have gotten out of the habit recently.  I'm planning on joining a local symphonic band in the fall so I need to practice again.

Stay Active.  I decided that this summer is going to be my Strong and Speed Summer (more details on that soon!).  Part of my new "program" that I'm making up for myself is actually running less, and adding more cross training to my routine.  I've always felt my best when I was lifting weights, so I want to start that up again.  The weather is also turning beautiful in Pittsburgh, which means that I want to spend more time outdoors while also getting a workout.  This means going on hikes, kayaking, SUPing, doing yard work...basically anything that gets me sweating and being outside!

Drink Beer!  There are so many new breweries and old ones that I haven't visited in the area, so another goal is to try out more beer.  Let's just call it research since I have to start a new batch of my own homebrew soon!  I have a huge list that I want to get through, so if anyone wants to help me with this very important goal let me know (or if you have a favorite that I need to visit first let me know that too!)  Tour de Beer is ON!

Random Updates from April

I ran in the Gettysburg Marathon....and didn't finish.  Whoops!  You can read all about it here.  I appreciate everyone's support and understanding.  I'm feeling great and actually have a race coming up this weekend (the Pittsburgh Half! Who else is running?).  I'm not sure how it's going to go, but I have plans to run it and have fun with Jessie, so I'm looking forward to it.  I also have to give a big thank you and shout out to one of my favorite bloggers who gave me a free bib to the race!!

Dan finished grad school!  He started about three years ago and has been taking one or two classes every semester while working full time.  His program was a masters in Mechanical Engineering, which meant that he's been very busy pretty much all the time.  I'm proud of him for finishing, and happy that I get to see him more now.  To celebrate, we went to K Asian Bistro for sushi which was amazing.  I have to admit that sushi is my one non-vegan vice, so I try to save it for special occasions like this.

We joined a CSA!  If you've never heard of a CSA, it's Community Supported Agriculture.  You pay for a share in a farm's harvest for the season (for us, that's May to November) and receive weekly boxes of produce.  I've been wanting to get into this for years, and happened to talk to my neighbor who is a member of the Kretschmann Farm CSA. I like this one because the farm grows organic produce, there's a pickup site within walking distance of my house, and they donate any unused food (or your box if you go on vacation) to a Food Bank.  My shipment starts the last week of May and I can't wait!

My one year anniversary is on Saturday.  I can't believe it's already been a year, and at this time last year we were in Belize.  It's been an amazing 12 months and I couldn't be happier.  I'm not going to do a sappy post about 12 reasons why I love Dan or the lessons I've learned (the main one I've learned is to let some things go, aka compromise is key!).  We don't even have plans, but our relationship has always been low-key and non-traditional, so I wouldn't have it any other way!  P.S. you can read about our trip to Belize here and our wedding here.

That's all I've got for today- let me know what's new by linking up below!

An InLinkz Link-up