Mid-Year Round-Up of 2021

Shocking, I’ve never done one of these before. However, I figured if there was any year to do one, it should be a Mid-Year Round-Up of 2021. Especially because travel is back and I can technically go where ever I want in the world (well.. okay, we can go a few places). Vacation days are saved, travel fund is built, and I pulled up google maps to really think about my big trip this year…

So, let’s break up this post into some sections. Checking-in with you guys, talking about what’s new, hopes and dreams and some fun things along the way.

Table of Contents

Mid-Year Round-Up of 2021

As avid readers know, I have a full-time 9-5 that I do every day. I like my job and I adore the people I get to work with everyday. The past year has had it’s ups and downs, as I work in retail, but my job has remained in tact and I actually received a promotion a few months ago.

You can probably tell that blogging has come second due to my job. I haven’t been keeping up with 3x a week posts. The struggle has been real. So, I switched to Monday & Thursday drop days but every so often slip up. I’m working on getting ahead now because I have SO much … content (ew – hate that word), to share with you.

Travel

So, what’s up with Travel? You might ask.

I have a few weekend trips coming up and all involve family. Which I am very very excited about. Let’s just jot these down in a list:

Road trip to see my brother
Best friend coming to town
Road trip camping with another best friend
Road trip to with my family
Then a trip to California, again. (I know, I can’t seem to get enough)

I’m hoping to make the best of summer and spend as much time outdoors as possible, so I hope your ready for sunshine photos. 😂 Cause they’re only on here from June to mid-September, per Seattle’s weather.

Wellness

I don’t really talk about diet and exercise on here too much because it’s personal. However, recently I took an Eldoncard blood kit test. I’ve never known my blood type because I’m often anemic and unable to donate blood. After my test, I’ve been researching about eating for your blood type. Strangely enough, I uncovered that my blood type doesn’t do well with dairy at all and almost everything else I have stomach issues with were on the list!

In short, I’m going to do a little experiment and see how I feel following the food guidelines for it. It might clear up some ugly stomach issues I’ve been having.

Fitness

I have yet to go back to my gym OR my yoga studio. I was doing Caroline Garvin’s Epic 1 on youtube, mixed in with my Alo Moves Yoga app. Lately, I’ve gone back to my daily walks and morning rows though. Sometimes I burn myself out or just need a change up. You know?

Anyway, I’m trying to get in a walk in the morning to start the day. I try and sneak in an hour exercise. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t though and, right now, I’m okay with that!

Recipes & Meals

Oh man, I am reallllllly loving strawberries! I cannot get enough of them. Those, and mini sunflower cups from trader joe’s.

Okay and for real meals, I’m back to soups! Chicken Tortilla-less soup, to be specific. No, I’m not tired of my instant pot yet.

Mental Health & Anxiety

Ooooph… my anxiety has been through the roof since, possibly, April. I have tried everything to keep in down but, like everything in life, it fluctuates. Somedays, I’m over the moon happy and proud of myself. Somedays, I’m down and think the worst of myself… even though I know I’m awesome! You just can’t help those days those.

One of the best things I’ve done for myself is focus on my support group. Friends who are true friends. Who give and take without keeping track. I have a core group of women who are my VIPs that just give me love and light everyday and I do my best to return that in every exchange. Keeping that group hyper small allows for that kind of interaction/attention and I’ve had a very blessed year with each one of them.

Avocado Toast with Side Salad — Avocado Toast with a side of greens

Lifestyle

Getting reorganized and deep cleaning is at the top of my list right now. Holy cow, my apartment…

Do you ever have weeks where everything is going beautifully. You work out, your apartment is in pristine condition, your skin is radiant, etc?

That is not my week. Fine – that is not my past 3 weeks. So, my goal is to write down two chores to do every day this week until I’m in a better place and can take care of myself 100% again. Somedays are good, somedays are bad (especially for those of us who cannot handle one more day of grey cloudy skies).

Reading

I’m loving my books & bottles series, if you guys can’t tell. It’s been helping me out so much with my evening routine. I set my tv to turn off everyday at 9:30pm. I get ready for bed and then hop under the covers and read for an hour. Then it’s lights out.

It’s been great… well, when it works out. Which is, surprisingly, most of the time!

This year’s goal was to read more books by black authors and books with POC as the main characters. I have been loving it. It’s been mind opening for me. I realized on my first book that I had literally only ever read books about white characters, excluding Imagining Argentina (in college).

In short, it’s going great and I’m loving it. I’ve been able to support local books stores and get books from my library.

Ethical & Sustainable

Currently obsessing over my reusable bags. I won’t lie, I’ve bought some new clothes but I plan to wear all of them for a very long time. I, surprisingly, don’t own a lot of summer clothes! Turns out, Fall & Winter are prominent in my wardrobe.

Saving & Budgeting

I’m always doing my best to save. I’m most recently obsessed with my AARP membership and all the places I can save my coins at. Especially while traveling. I’ve always had an emergency fund but now I’m realizing that I’m going to need to start a new account specifically for my travels/adventures. #Excitement for 2021 goals!

Supporting Local

I’ve been trying to do this a LOT more. Including going to the farmer’s markets in the ares (Ballard and QA). Along with our PCCs, Met Marketing and, of course, supporting our restaurants.

I’ve really never don’t a round up like this before. It’s very Alli 2014 of me. Haha! It was nice to touch on my focused categories though. Let me know how you felt about this. Maybe I’ll make it a bi-annual check-in. 💕