April's Treat Yourself Right Challenge :: Days 17-23

Treat Yourself Right!

I can't believe we are in the last week of this challenge! April flew!

So, on the 17th, what movie did you watch? We ended up watching the newest Mission Impossible movie. I really enjoyed watching this one!

The 18th had me planning an evening event with my significant other and the 20th had me making a bucket list - being the creator of this challenge, I switched the two! With my bucket list made, my husband and I went to a wonderful wine bar called Vines & Friends. We enjoyed a nice Riesling and live music.

On the 19th, I took my boys to ArtsView to participate in a community event called "Raising Hope." The boys sung a song about hope in honor of child abuse awareness month.

On Saturday, the 21st, my husband and I went to a Funky Finds indie art show and I bought a swag bag full of goodies and a sign for my mother-in-law! What did you find?

Yesterday's goal was to pamper myself. I had a lovely morning and just took it easy. I'm going to do a bit more pampering on Tuesday of this week though (haircut and facial)!

Did you meet any of the challenges this week in a unique way? Today's goal is to make a random person smile - and keep count! Let's see how many folks smile at you today!

April's Treat Yourself Right Challenge :: Days 12 - 16

Treat Yourself Right!

Are you enjoying this challenge yet? I sure am! Did you turn up the music and dance on the 12th? I rocked out to Adele while cleaning the kitchen and working on laundry. Yes, I was busy on household chores, but I was having a good time too!

The 13th's challenge was to bake your favorite dessert. I cheated a little bit on this one. Right now, I'm really into this kitchy frozen yogurt bar, so instead of baking and heating the house and then cleaning it all up, we went for yogurt!

Saturday was the 14th and I definitely acted like a kid! Our day started out with waffles for breakfast. We then went to Dalton Days, an annual Wild West festival, where I volunteered and played! After Dalton days, we watched a live performance by Andrew Best, a children's musician, at Ellis Pottery. He was fantastic! We jammed out to his cd the entire way home.

Sunday's challenge goal was to be creative and make something for you. However, I had to make a trip to Shreveport, LA after church so this goal has not been completed just yet. You could say, "it's in the works!"

Which brings us to today: put your best face forward. I had a meeting at a university Tyler this morning regarding the non-profit organization I volunteer for. When I first wrote this challenge goal down, I was thinking more along the lines of get up, get dressed, and look great. I have since realized this could have meant something more. Definitely look your best today, but make sure you also project your best even if the situation doesn't yield a positive outcome. I'd like to think I did both.

Tomorrow's challenge is to watch a movie. It's very simple. It's also amusing I made this challenge for a Tuesday when new releases come out. I scheduled this goal completely unconscious of the fact until right now! That's my Type-A personality working overtime.

Treat Yourself Right Challenge :: Free Writing Submissions

Where are you now? You go and go and go. Sometimes, I feel like you're Waldo out on a great adventure; bringing or sending postcards of where you've been and what you've seen. Do you ever send any from places you haven't been just to trip me up? I'm expecting one from Yellowstone or maybe one with the Great Salt Lake. I'm ready to go too and explore with you. Hopefully soon! You know there is a girl in the Waldo books too - I can be Wenda! I found a shirt just like hers...

What's it like to go from the high eighties to the high twenties in a matter of hours; or travel due South, almost to the point of going North? What do you do in that tin can with wings? Do you talk to other people, watch movies, or play tiddly winks? Have you seen the same stewardess (are they still called that? what about the men?) from one flight on another? Do you ever get the urge to bring a parachute as your carry-on item?

When you rent a car do you secretly hope its a Camaro or Mustang or something else with American muscle? Does it smell different in other states like it does in other countries? Remember the peat fires in Ireland?

Do you talk with a strong Texas drawl? Do you stick out being so tall? What does it feel like to eat with people you've just met? Do you have a canned conversation you use for new people? Do you talk about me? Or do you all sit in silence once the food has been served?

My bags are packed...I'm ready to go...Just don't forget my postcard!

April's Treat Yourself Right Challenge :: Days 6 - 11

Treat Yourself Right!

I've definitely been treating myself right! Have you?

The 6th's goal was to be as unproductive as possible - I think I managed this one quite nicely. Although, I did go out to lunch with family and take pictures for my blog; but overall, I was pretty unproductive and it felt wonderful!

On the 7th, my goal was to say "yes" to just about everything. Mission accomplished! I think the only thing I did say "no" to was ice cream twice that day on top of all the candy and sweet treats the boys had already consumed. For our safety, I said no! : )

The 8th was all about enjoying time with family. Since the 8th was Easter Sunday, it was quite easy to do. We had a lovely Easter.

The 9th had me taking a candle lit bath. I hope you got to enjoy yours! I missed this one as I was in Shreveport. I think I'll make it up tonight though.

Yesterday was a day of spontaneity. We were pretty spontaneous. The morning definitely started off interesting. We had lunch out and bought gifts for baby showers and birthdays. We made chocolate covered strawberries. We even enjoyed a water fight in the backyard!

Today's challenge has me free writing for ten minutes and sharing it with the world. I'll have to carve out some time later this afternoon...so keep an eye out for an update!

I hope your challenge goals are finding you making more time for yourself in your busy homemaker life! Let me know what challenges you've enjoyed so far!

April's Treat Yourself Right Challenge :: Day 4 & 5

Treat Yourself Right!

Yesterday's goal was to read a few chapters of a favorite book.

Choosing a favorite book is no easy affair. It has taken me years to make my final selection, but I think I've made a good choice. Thomas Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles is my one go-to book. It is filled with life's prettiness and ugliness; and I adore Hardy's writing style. I think I finishing re-reading this classic over the weekend!

Today, I'm suppose to do something unexpected. I'm not sure what that entails, but I will give it my best! I'll let you know how the day goes!

Update:: Last night, my sis-in-law, my husband, and I went to a FFA and 4H County Animal Sale. I even got a bidding paddle. As much as I wanted to bid, I'm not one to buy rabbits for $1,300! I was hoping to bid on the cakes as they came across the stage, but they wouldn't sell until later in the evening. I will, however, being making an add-on for a special girl's steer!

April's Treat Yourself Right Challenge :: Day 2 & 3

Treat Yourself Right!

Yesterday's Treat Yourself Right goal was to plant something to become beautiful.

A month ago, my friend's daughter was fundraising for a mission trip. She was selling bulbs and plants. I purchased Begonias and a Bleeding Heart. They arrived last week and I took the time yesterday to put them in the ground.

Today's goal is to enjoy time with friends.

I have two special ladies coming over later this afternoon. I'm going to show them how simple it is to make chocolate bunnies for Easter baskets. And if I remember to put my SD card back into my camera, I'll share that with you all too!

Treat Yourself Right :: A Fun Challenge for the Month of April

Treat Yourself Right!

As homemakers, we can sometimes forget home to treat ourselves right, so this month I’ve set a challenge for myself and you!  Below are challenges for each day in April; see how many you can accomplish! Let me know what you’ve done to Treat Yourself Right and I’ll share what I’ve done as well! Have fun!

1.       Indulge in a favorite beverage

2.       Plant something to become beautiful

3.       Enjoy time with friends

4.       Read a few chapters of a favorite book

5.       Do something unexpected

6.       Be as unproductive as possible

7.       Say “yes” to most of the day

8.       Enjoy time with the family

9.       Take a candle lit bubble bath

10.   Be spontaneous

11.   Free write for 10 minutes and share with the world

12.   Turn on the music and dance

13.   Bake your favorite dessert

14.   Act like a kid

15.   Be creative and make something for you

16.   Put your best face forward

17.   Watch a movie – one that you will like

18.   Plan an evening with your significant other

19.   Do something for your community (b/c when you do you do something for yourself)

20.   Make a bucket list

21.   Buy something that you like

22.   Pamper yourself

23.   Make a random person smile – keep count

24.   Get dirty : )

25.   Be kind to someone else

26.   Chocolate! need I say more?

27.   Spend the day outside – meals, chores, schoolwork, etc.

28.    Promote your favorite non-profit

29.   Try something new

30.   Indulge in a favorite beverage – you are awesome!

Since today is April 1^st, I’ve already completed my first challenge – I made a chai tea latte this morning! Hope your month starts off great!