10 Ways to Make September Stellar
Last month, I posted a little goal sheet of things to do for the month of August. I figured I’d made it a little monthly tradition over here, since it was so much fun and quite a few of ya participated along with me 🙂
Here’s the list for September:
1) Exercise… your brain! It’s so easy to get out of the habit of challenging your mind on a daily basis- pick up a book that’s a little more studious than your usual fare (if you’re in school, then you have this one taken care of already!) or do some crossword or Sodoku puzzles this month. I want to get back my college-day Sodoku skillz… things have gotten a little more slow over here 😉
2) Pick some apples, or another type of local, seasonal produce. Fall produce is on the way- I can’t wait to swim in pumpkin and butternut squash!! This month, I’m planning a little day trip to Annie’s Apple Orchard, about 45 minutes away from Tucson. You can pick apples off the tree and they also have incredible homemade apple delights, like apple pancakes and apple butter. We will be there 🙂
3) Find some hawt fall leggings. Leggings (and tights!) are autumn’s best transition pieces into cooler weather. I found that whenever I picked up a pair I wasn’t crazy about, they were super uncomfortable and fit kind of weird, and then last year discovered the glory of lululemon Wunder Unders. You can dress them up or down and I’ll be wearing them all fall and winter. Already have a legging lover? Pick up some textured tights 🙂
4) Host a girl’s night. Have a few of your friends over, order take-out or make something easy, and serve cocktails [or mocktails]. My all-time fave: the POMtini 🙂
5) Rock sparkly nailpolish. It’s a biotch to remove, but is so worth it. They’re already releasing amazing sparkly colors for winter, too 🙂 <—I get scary excited about these things. Tip: keep the nails short for sparkle.
6) Commit to a regular form of outdoor exercise. Since the weather is getting nicer –in other places, it’s still over 100* here- it’s a great reason to take your workout outside. Try riding your bike more often, going for outdoor runs or walks, or just longer outings with your dog (or cat? I saw a neighbor walking a cat the other night…).
7) Make pizza from scratch. Don’t be scared 😀 Yeast used to freak me out, and then I tried *this recipe* for pizza dough. Give it a whirl (using flour of choice- I’ve made it with brown rice flour, spelt, whole wheat, and white-wheat mix) and top it with *this sauce* and your fave toppings. You’ll never go back to store-bought 😉
8) Volunteer : one day, one place or cause of your choice. Many animal shelters and rescues need dog walkers, check out events at homeless shelters or food banks near you. I rarely volunteer and it’s something I’d like to get into, now that we’re settled and things are (kinda?) winding down.
9) Master a yoga pose. Crow pose used to make me so anxious! I used that time during class to get a sip of water and look around 😉 And then I practiced… and got it. Pick a pose that’s been giving you trouble and work on it this month (Yoga Journal has awesome tutorials). Don’t practice yoga? Pick one pose and learn it 😀 For me, I’m going to work on birds of paradise- I used to be able to do it with a slightly bent leg, but a pregger belly makes it more challenging 😉
My fave pose:
10) Download a power playlist. Pick some of your favorite songs, plus some new ones for a September cardio playlist. It’s amazing what fresh music will do for motivation 🙂 Here are some songs that will be on mine (I’ll post the full list with the September Schweaty Cardio workout): “Shake Senora” Pitbull, “Americano” Lady Gaga, and “Mr Know It All” Kelly Clarkson.
How are you going to make September Stellar? What’s something you’re excited for this month?
Congrats to the roon winner:
Send me your info, Lizzie and I’ll get your roons in the dehydrator 🙂
Thank you so much to everyone who entered- expect more giveaways in the not-too-distant future <3
xoxo
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This post has inspired me to work on plow pose! I’m not sure if it’s a mental barrier or a physical one, but I can never seem to get my legs all the way back to touch the floor or block. Here’s hoping that by the 30th I can do it and I can do it without going “errrr…ahhhhh” as I roll back. 🙂
Love these – and I already have some of them covered, yay! 😀
Great list! I too can’t wait to go picking fresh apples and late-season berries. There’s an adorable patch about 25 minutes out of town that we go to every year to stock up on oodles of Honeycrisps!
OPI has a GREAT sparkly nail polish for fall out already, I pinned it. Also, Anthro and Henri Bendel’s have the BEST textured tights!!!
ps me and mine are going apple picking next weekend, its a family tradition we started when I was preggers with my first. I think it’s a great one.
I love all of these! Especially the make your own pizza. I am on it this weekend for sure! I serioulsy HATE summer, I am so excited it’s almost over. I can already feel the crispness in the air in the mornings. Yay! I’ve never had a *real* fall since I grew up in socal, but now that I am in Utah, I am excited to experience one 🙂
My boyfriend and I finally signed up for our first yoga class after months of hemming and hawing over it! I’m so excited to learn how to do the poses correctly! Plus this means a trip (or two) to Lululemon…for both me and him!
Love love love your list for September! It’s fun and exciting and makes me want to make it mine 🙂 Working out outdoors, volunteering and exercising your brain are three that I really love.
Looking forward to your September Schweaty workout!!
Great post! Thanks, I might make a 10-item personal challenge for September.
Thought I will judge you, slightly, for supporting leggings as pants. Not pants! 🙂
i fully support leggings as pants 🙂
Wunder Unders are thick enough to be pants, trust me!!
I NEED to try to master an inversion pose like headstand, shoulderstand, etc. I’ve always been a little scared. 🙂
I love Fall, so bring it on, September! Time to work on my Halloween costume!
Jealous of the macaroon winner, but I do hope she finds her Pilot! I’m lucky enough to have my own lovie that I met in the gym of all places.
Is lulelemon really worth the price? I’ve heard so many good things, but $68 for crops is a bit pricey…
YES. i wore them so many times, and they never faded or looked worn. a way better investment than $20 target leggings that would have fallen apart after washing a few times
Good to know! I think I’ll take the plunge for my first pair! 🙂
Thanks!
This is a fun list :)) Though, I wouldn’t reccomend walking a cat… they like to just lay down when they’re done walking.
You’ve inspired me though and I think I’ll make a list of things I’d like to accomplish in September for my own blog… thanks! 😀
i plan to ride my bike tons more this month, the weather is cool but perfect for riding. The leaves will be changing colours so it will be very beautiful scenery to ride through.
I will also be running my FIRST ever race this month! Sept 24th 5K!! woohoo so excited
I do plan on making homemade pizza soon because it is delicious.
I LOVE dancer’s pose as well. I’ve been trying to master crow and headstand pose since january! this month is the month!!! :)) i’m already a fan of wunder unders. they’re sooo warm and versatile. Mine has those little furry balls though. ugh.
do you put them in the dryer? i air dry mine
I love my under wonders, but have never thought about wearing them as regular clothes! That would justify a second pair I think! I love the guys face in the background of your jumping picture!
Great list Gina!!! I agree on the committing to outdoor exercise – one of my goals is to go for a post-work walk at least once each week to de-stress and clear my head. I also love the idea of hosting a girl’s night! Volunteering is something I’d really like to do as well, I just need to find a cause and the time. It’s certainly on my list of to-dos!
Hi Gina, What are your thoughts on the pizza dough from TJ’s? Obviously, it’s not gluten-free, but do you ever use? 🙂
Hi Gina, What are your thoughts on the pizza dough from TJ’s? Obviously, it’s not gluten-free, but do you ever use? 🙂
i haven’t, but i’m sure it’s good!
I totally tried to walk my cat when I lived in an apt. I even bought her a pink sparkly harness and leash. She would have none of it.
I’m gonna make it stellar by getting some cider donuts at the nearby farm/apple orchard!
whoa YUM
I love Sudoku!!! I used to do it all the time and then quit for some reason. I just remembered that I have that game on my Nook — no excuses to not do them more often 🙂
These are some great ideas, Gina– especially the yoga & volunteering ones. I really need to make more of an effort to reach out to others in need. Volunteering is so rewarding and I haven’t done it since high school!
I love your list!
I too feel ya on the leggings and challenging the brain just a little bit more, time to put that muscle to more use!! I am also going to switch up my fitness routine… a row class!
Love this post. 🙂
Love this list!
I live in Chandler, so I might have to go and take my niece & nephew to check out Apple Annie’s Orchard once the pumpkins are out. Another thing to make my September stellar: Be more involved in my niece & nephews lives. They are (almost) 3 and (almost) 6, and since moving to Chandler I have found so many kid-friendly options over here to get to spend some time with them. Before I lived in Old town Scottsdale, and that was definitely not so much younger kid friendly. I also plan on getting back into ballet, ballet has always eased my stress and kept me in awesome shape growing up.
gaaah, I’ve had my EYE on those wunder unders! would you say they’re the best lululemon leggings?
This is such an awesome list! <3 Love it, and am definitely going to be putting these things into practice! 🙂 Well…except the Suduko one…I'm baaaad at those suckers, lol! 😛 xyx
I love that guy in the background of your picture! He is not even reacting to your crazy antics! Picking apples in the fall has got to be one of my favorite things to do. Some Fall foody favorites… my mom’s butternut squash soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin pie (sensing a theme?)
I would love to see a fashion post focusing on leggings. I am so intimidated by leggings and would love to see your ideas! 🙂
I posted my goals for September on my blog this morning too! I want to commit to making healthier choices (exercising and eating nutritious foods!), keeping my house tidy-er, staying on budget this month, and making sure to go on date nights with my hubby (ill ace this one 😉 )
I need to make a list! I usually do a Sudoku puzzle every day, so that one is covered! I definitely need to get some form of exercise in every day! The summers in FL just kill me!
I haven’t picked apples in YEARS. That might have to be at the top of my to-do list this month!
I know it is totally random, but I LOVE the comment that won the roon giveaway!! It is so nice and sweet! I am glad that they won!!
I love this new thing with a new list of things to try out each month. They are stuff I wouldn’t normally think of but are so fun!!
not related to this post,how do you make sure you’re getting enough calories in for both you and the cute lil’ nugget?
I want a pair of Wunder Unders soooo bad!! Perhaps those will be my September splurge!
I’m definitely hitting up an apple orchard or at least a pumpkin patch this fall. Always say I’m going to go, but never do. This is the year. PS. Just got some Lululemon crops with the zipper up the back. I’m in love.
I may incorporate some of these stellar Septembers into my goal list =D So many great ideas! Thank you for sharing!
This is fantastic – I’m making a list of September ‘must do’s’ right now. I tend to be a chronic To Do lister but the lists are always heavy on the practical and professional things I need to accomplish – I think crafting a list of fun goals is a fabulous idea 🙂
I’m excited for camping, apples, cider, pumpkin beer, bonfires(basically everything about fall) ,and now Wunder Unders!
I’m going to say YES to all of those, other than 3 (Leggings as pants aren’t my thing, personally!). I am however in need of great pairs of full length and cropped workout pants. Sadly, shipping for Lululemon is $30+shipping duties to the UK (!) so I will be looking elsewhere. I’m also going to add in starting an extra curricular activity at uni, I am going into second year now and don’t do any. I figure its the best way to meet new people, so need to get over my shyness and *just do it*.
PS The picture of the cat being walked reminds me when we used to walk our guinea pigs as kids….
My September will be stellar because….
We will be going camping
Even more Fall clothes shopping
Apple Picking
Fall Scents are arriving everywhere!
Seasonal Drinks at Starbucks are coming!
I will no longer be schweating with the triple digit temps
can i just say how much I *love* the post of you jumping in the lululemon. Not just you, personally, but I love the guys’ face behind you! His expression is priceless : )
Uhh, I love these “tips”!!! I just created my September goals, and now I want to add each one of your ideas to it!!! I especially want to rock some sparkly nail polish!!!
love sparkly polish! what are your fave brands and shades?!
anything by opi or chanel- right now, i’m looking at this one: http://www.chanel.com/en_US/fragrance-beauty/Makeup-Nails-LE-VERNIS-89314?WT.srch=1 and your royal shine-ness by opi
Texas doesn’t get much of a fall… Tear. I’m making a list of all the typical fall activities I want to do when I head back to PA to visit family. Apple picking… Going to the annual scarecrow fest…wearing a sweater!
I love that you included exercising outdoors and volunteering. Meals on wheels is a great organization to volunteer for if you are looking for ideas. You deliver meals to senior citizens. It’s so great to hear their stories and they are so appreciative for the food.
Forgot the link!
http://www.mowaa.org/
I’m going to make September STELLAR by rocking all my exams, mixing up and increasing the frequency of my workouts, and by making creative and delicious food. 🙂
I also may pop by Lululemon– you know new workout clothes make everyone’s day amazing.
I just practiced two hours of Forrest Yoga this morning and thought to myself “I need to focus on bird of paradise, this pose is rocking.” That’s definitely going to be my pose of the month! 🙂
Awesome advice! I already walk to and from work outside everyday, and going to be a part of a yoga retreat on an apple orchard at the end of the month, and am working on scorpion posture in yoga! But what I really want? The sparkly nails. Toats going to be going for that!
I noticed Lizzie mentioned something earlier about meeting your husband at a Starbucks?! That sounds awfully cute. Can you post a link to that post? I tried to find it everywhere.
Thanks!
PJ – it’s the cutest story ever! 🙂
😀 http://fitnessista.com/2010/02/an-officer-and-a-gentleman/
That was so beautiful! You guys are an adorable couple!
I’m relatively new to reading your blog and I’m dying to know how you and the Pilot met, since the winners comment mentione that. Where can newbies find the story?
Great post, btw!
here ya go 🙂 http://fitnessista.com/2010/02/an-officer-and-a-gentleman/