10 Things to Make Happen in March
1) Buy some fresh flowers. This is a tradition that I’ve managed to keep up since college and have always looked forward to picking up flowers for the week. Now Livi helps me pick out the bouquet and gives them a theatrical sniff before we place them in the Trader Joe’s basket.
2) Evaluate spring and summer fitness goals + amp up your fitness routine. Need some help? Join in for this month’s workout plan! Don’t let yourself get stuck in a rut. See which parts of your fitness routine are lacking (do you need more rest days? Slacking on strength training?) and shuffle things as needed. By making sure you have a balanced fitness plan (strength, cardio, balance and flexibility) not only will you help prevent injury, it will also keep things exciting.
3) Join in for March greens! I’ve received quite a few requests for a salad post (how I build them) so stay tuned for that this week, along with some new recipes.
In the meantime, here are a few of my all-time favorite salads:
If you’re not feeling the salad thing, remember you can also get in greens by sautéing with some olive oil/butter/coconut oil and spices, or by enjoying a fresh green juice.
4) Make a special St. Patrick’s Day cocktail or dessert. We’re having St. Patrick’s Day dinner at our house -it’s one of my favorite holidays!- and I’m excited to try out a new dessert. I’m also pretty stoked to make some of this:
Oh soda bread, you are the best ever. (If you like soda bread, try it toasted with butter. <– life-changing)
5) Test your luck with a March Madness bracket. [Extra credit for Wildcat love, even though I sadly don’t think my beloved Cats are going all the way this year.]
Nick Johnson, you are verrrrryyyy nice….
6) Rock something green. My nails have been naked for the past month for the first time since who-knows-when, but they’ll soon be green in honor of the upcoming holiday. As much as I like having painted nails, it’s been refreshing to keep them short and maintenance-free.
7) Plan a small vacation or staycation. Many students are gearing up for spring break, so enjoy a little spring break of your own. If you’re unable to get away, spend a night at a local hotel or resort, or book a spa treatment. I’m really hoping we can sneak away to the beach sometime soon!
8) Spring clean your to-do list. I’ve learned since having Liv that a lot of so-called business is self-imposed. It’s really easy to become more efficient with all of the things you have to do, especially if you cut out small wastes of time (like checking Facebook every 5 minutes.. When I eliminated that, I learned what a time-suck it can be). Prioritize, if you can do it quickly, do it instead of agonizing over it, and focus on the present.
9) Assess your fitness shoe situation. Are you in need of some new sneaks?? If it’s been 6 months or you’ve logged a lot of miles, venture into a local running store to get your stride checked out.
10) Make something you’ve Pinned. After I pin something, I get this small sense of accomplishment like I did that certain craft, made that recipe, or worked out.. and then I eat some chocolate to beat the massive sweet tooth that’s popped up. Anyone else? Also, I have SO many boards filled with things I’d love to do and haven’t even started to attempt them. This month is the month!
What are you going to accomplish this month?
Anyone else have naked nails right now?
If you were to make or do something you’ve pinned, what would be first?
Here’s to an amazing month!
xoxo
Gina
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Love these ideas!! I can’t wait to rock the green nail polish! I also have a few races coming up and yeah that little thing they call the CrossFit Open!! ahhh
My nails have been naked since November and I can’t wait to find my spring color! My goals for this month are closing on our new house, painting our new house, and organizing it for the start. I am going to be using my organizing board to help me out! It’s going to be a win win all around! My fitness is going GREAT! I am on week 4 of Les Mills Combat and LOVING every workout! Thank you for helping me discover TurboFire, it was my first at home DVD workout plan that I stuck to for more than 2 weeks!
We actually have planned a mini-vacation to Nashville and then we’re heading to my family’s over Easter Weekend – it’s so gray and blah this time of year where I live that I am SO looking forward to this mini-break!! ….and yes, I totally have naked nails right now! I’m thinking a nice shellac manicure might be in order before we fly off 🙂
I’m trying a new workout routine this month so we will see how that goes! My nails are only painted when I have acrylic nails on, otherwise it’s plain Jane for me. My toes however are NEVER not painted!! I kept them plain to let them breath for a week this winter and couldn’t even handle it! My family thinks I’m crazy!!!
My nails were naked for months until last night! I finally broke out my spring colors and painted my toe nails a mint green for March 🙂 It’s amazing how a little polish can make you feel better!
My goals for March our to swap out spring/winter clothes, donate what I don’t wear anymore, and clean up my closet. I’d also like to get some real spring cleaning started once the warmer weather kicks in. Can’t wait for the days to get longer too.
Gina! This is so random, but I’m 29 weeks pregnant and I have been loving all of your pregnancy posts from the past. You have some great wisdom and I’m enjoying reading through your ideas and experiences. I read your review on the Baby K’tan and my husband and I are planning to get one. It seems like you need to order to fit the ‘wearer’s size’. Did you just order one for both your Pilot and yourself? If I go by the sizing chart I would be a size small (5’7 145lbs pre pregnancy weight) and my husband would be a large based on his suit jacket. What did you guys do?! Also did you get the organic one?
Would love your insight as always!
haha and by ‘your pilot’ I mean pilot. I was going to write your husband. 🙂
My main goal this month is to stay sane, haha! Our BIG move to Korea is about a month away, you know what that means…fini flight, organization, movers, storage, travel logistics, and stress! I am trying to focus on getting good, strong workouts in while I can this first half of the month since I know the second half will be insane!
My nails are currently a blank slate, however, CJ’s fini flight is Wednesday. Of course, I will be painting them red in honor of being in the 75th of course :).
Ohhh you’ve just inspired me to pain my nails mint green!
Trying to get a massive research paper done, and then sprig break involves visiting friends in Atlanta and backpacking with my boyfriend!
I think green would be a little too bright for me, but I am thinking of doing a light pastel pink.
I have not joined Pinterest because my productivity would go waaaay down, and as a senior in college, I need all the focus I can get! 🙂
I’m totally going to make that soda bread! I’m Irish and proud, I can’t wait to celebrate St Patrick’s day!
My nails are always naked. I am terrible at painting them, and if they are painted as soon as I get a chip, I pick it all off. As for Pinterest…yesterday I made some homemade dog treats I found on Pinterest. I got in my need to accomplish something and managed to not eat the product (even though I could have sampled it as it was all natural) ! And my dogs love the treats!
Love all of these ideas! I will definitely be making tons of recipes I have pinned, wearing green and eating greens!
Such a great list of things to do in March! I’m a huge fan of the fresh flowers from TJ’s too, so reasonably priced and pretty. I also want to make a green-themed cocktail for St. Patty’s and shop for some fun green clothes to wear!
Love these ideas!
I never paint my nails, because I find then you need to fix them every day or so, and I just don’t care enough to keep up with it. Though I do love going for pedicures.
I definitely waste a lot of time on Facebook and blogs! Though my strategy has just been to accept that I need that time. So rather than take an hour for lunch, I work through lunch and take mini 5 minute breaks throughout the day to play. It works for me to increase my productivity 🙂
My nails have been naked for a month now. I remember writing that I would paint my nails at the beginning of February, but it’s such a hassle sometimes to have to repaint once it chips!
Gina,
What kind of gluten free tortillas do you use? I just bought the la tortilla factory ones and they are horrible!
Food For Life has a pretty good brown rice tortilla. I find mine at Whole Foods.
I love pinterest and make things I pin almost weekly and sometimes more often than that. I make dinners, snacks, quilts, crafts, ect. If I make something and don’t like it I even delete it from my board.
For March I plan on painting my nails green for St. Patricks day and completing my Les Mills Combat DVDs I find them fun but they’re only two rest days a week meaning I am constantly sore all week long. We are going to Hawaii in April so I have to get my butt in gear and just do them!
wow that salad looks delicious! Totally need to try it!
Nice, my favorite salad combo is kale, avocado and jalapeño! So much flavor and healthy at the same time!
Love wearing green for St Pat’s! I’ve been on a nail painting kick recently, my toes are green right now 🙂 I need to try some new salad combos, I’ve been avoiding salads because I got bored with the same old mix. I’ve also been into hot veggies, but when the weather gets warmer I’ll be craving some raw veggies.
I love all of these and am looking forward to filling my apartment with fresh flowers – I can’t wait for spring to get here already. Fresh air and breeze through the apartment…longer days…anxiously awaiting!
This month kicks of Spring race season for me. Starting this weekend I have a race 10 out of the the next 12 weeks! Crazy. I have a couple of goal races so just want to continue to keep my training on point and give them my all.
On a more personal front I want to continue to work on my finances and saving plan. Building up a stash slowly but surely and boy is it safisfying!
Yes! I just bought 2 new pairs of running shoes yesterday (they are last year’s version so clearance!) and my mom bought me tulips last week – it TOTALLY made my entire week! When it was blizzarding outside, I was looking at purple tulips inside. 🙂 I also re-evaluated my workout routine and created a new training plan for March 3-30th. So excited and I’ve hit both days so far (harder than planned)! I love March. So much.
I neeeeever wear nail polish. It drives me crazy when it chips. I have some that I used to put on my toenails in the summer but then two of my toenails got mangled in 1/2 marathon training and a random toe-stubbing-three-times-in-one-week incident and now it just seems pointless. 🙁
Irish soda bread is my hevean on earth, whole wheat, and dense… Right up my ally!!
I love love love having fresh flowers but have a hard time justifying the expense, when I do get them it is such a sunshiny treat 🙂
Thanks for the reminder, my sneakers are getting OLD! I love the feel of a new pair. I always feel a little strange wearing bright green nail polish so I’ve been painting them mint-green for spring!
I love having naked nails! They look a lot nicer than the half chipped nails I usually have when I do polish them. I do want to paint mine green this month though!!
i plan to officially become a personal trainer this month! so thats kind of a big deal.
I haven’t painted my names in hmmm.. a few YEARS!
My focus for March is trying to be more aware, compassionate and caring towards others. Less focused on all the nit picky details and more focused on living in the moment and looking at the big picture once in a while. I have felt like Ive been on auto pilot for too long and need a break of routine. I added some spontaneity to my Sunday this week and it felt WONDERFUL!!
I plan to try hot yoga for the first time this month…TBD. Count me on the salad train. Easiest meals ever. I have never had soda bread before….shocking! I did purchase cabbage this week, so who knows, maybe I’ll make some kind of Irish feast. 🙂
So funny about the nails! I ALWAYS have my nails painted, like always but went the whole month of February with naked nails and there was something refreshing about it – but nonetheless – I will be painting this week! Here a a few cute options I pinned for St. Pats Day nails 🙂
http://pinterest.com/ncapp22/hair-nails-beauty/
Hehe I pinned the waterfall braid ages ago but still have yet to learn how to do it! I love this list, Gina. I can’t wait until the weather starts warming up so I can start training outdoors for my upcoming half marathons. I posted my goals for this month on my blog today, but they include investigating glycolic peels to help improve my skin condition, write my next e-book, and focus on strengthening my core before outdoor running season hits!
i’m a vet student on clincs. we are not allowed to have painted fingernails in the operating room, so on the chance that i will be doing surgery (and sometimes its when you least expect it!), they stay naked. toes, however, are always a fun wild color that makes me smile.
I love these ideas! I need to make some green juice sooooon… it sounds so good right now! I also want to make some of that soda bread, it looks delicious!
We are going on a quickie vacation this weekend and I am so psyched! It will be my last vacation until graduation, so pretty much the last vacation EVER D:
And the Pinterest idea is fantastic! I need to plan to make one of my pins… how about this one? It’s directions to make a dog hammock for the backseat of your car. http://ex-scapes.com/2011/11/09/sewing-tutorial-car-seat-cover-for-your-dog/
Naked nails here, but I have no issues with it. Until I see a slight sign of spring!
I love the fresh flowers tradition — and we need trader joes here in Orlando!!
Oooooh, good idea on the green nails!
Hi Gina,
I love your blog and read it regularly! I enjoy your “Focus On” posts and I was hoping you’d do one on “rest” days. I have been trying to find information on how much rest one needs from workouts. I noticed you take 2 days while lots of others only take one. How can I decide how much rest I need while still getting great results from my workouts?
Thanks!
You have an amazing figure Gina! Very envious 🙂