It’s a Jungle
Hiiiii 😀 How are ya doing?? Hope you’ve had a great day so far <3
*Last chance to hit up the awesome Sun Warrior deal!
The pups know something is up.
Meet Goodwill Mountain.
Many have climbed it. Few have survived. 😉
Ya’ll would be proud of me- I’m getting rid of SO much stuff! A lot is going to charity, and the designer stuff is going to consignment (I have two huge trash bags full in my car).
I spent the morning going through the closet because half of the clothes I’m taking to Orlando will go with us this weekend, the rest will go when I drive there in a few weeks.
It’s amazing what treasures you can find whilst digging through a closet…
like this:
It looks like a bag full of trash at first glance, but it contains every card and note that the Pilot and I have given to each other over the past five years.
Funny pictures, cards from delivery flowers…
I just keep adding to it, and it’s fun to look through every now and again. 🙂
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Fall Changes
Growing up, fall always brought a sense of *newness* and a chance to start fresh. I’d be going back to school and along with the new pens, notebooks and back-to-school clothes, I always took autumn as an opportunity to set goals for myself and begin the school year with a clean slate. My most recent method of goal-setting has been with the inspiration board, which is an incredible daily visual reminder of what you’ve set out to do over the next year. Fall is the perfect time of year to re-evaluate your goals and see where your priorities lie before year ends.
I’m keeping my inspiration board up until we totally move out and will probably take it to Orlando with me, where I’ll make a new one in January.
When I originally posted my inspiration board, I had blacked out and blurred out a lot of it for fear of jinxing myself…
Well today, I’m just going to put [almost all of it] out there.
Here we go:
At the top, I wrote “In 2010, I will…”
These are all things that I fully intended to do this year, but now that I’m taking a second to re-evaluate my vision board, I can prioritize the realistic goals and postpone the others until a better time (ie when I’ll know where we’ll be living this time next year)
Launch bakery: As you guys know, this was supposed to happen with the failed cafe. It wasn’t the right time for me to manage a restaurant, but that’s not to say that it won’t happen in the future. I still fully intend on opening my high-raw vegan bakery, but am going to wait until I can rent a commercial kitchen when we move. We *should* find out where we’re PCSing to in October-ish, so that’s when I’ll start researching bakery options. Until then, I’ll just have to keep doing macaroon giveaways 😉
Sign a book contract: This is something I haven’t written about much on the blog. I didn’t want it to seem like I wanted to write a book because so many amazing bloggers have written books or are in the process of getting their books published—it’s really something I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do. I’m so fortunate to share the word about food and fitness with all of you wonderful, lovely friends but would love to have a consolidated version of info and shenanigans together.
I wrote a book proposal for a quasitarian cookbook (whole foods, high protein, goat dairy, fish, no meat) with fitness tips and personal stories throughout. I’ve re-written it three times and have sent it out to quite a few agents…. no bites yet. I’m not going to quit, even if I have to re-write it 10 more times (it’s 35 pages) and send it out again and again.
I promised myself that I’d stress less, practice yoga, pray and meditate more and judge less. These are things that could always use improvement but I’m proud to say that I’ve worked extremely hard at these this past year and will continue to stop myself from being a perpetual stress ball 😉
Another goal was to create my own luck by working hard to accomplish the things that I want. Things don’t happen by accident- they’re always the result of hard work and the most meaningful goals are the ones that are not-so-easy to attain. I also worked a little on the personal chef thang (remember when I made raw lunches and desserts for my clients for a few weeks?), but again am going to wait until I can get a commercial kitchen.
The last goal on here was to increase blog traffic by 50%. That happened within a couple of months of writing the inspiration post (thank you, bloggies!) and hopefully our little Fitnessista community will continue to grow <3
The white square area is something that I’m not going to write about yet, but I’m pretty sure many of you can guess what it is. Time will tell, eh? 🙂
So tell me (those of you that are left… long post!)- how many of you have inspiration boards? What are your goals for fall??
Mine are:
-Continue to work on the book proposal
-Keep practicing yoga and try to yoga it up on a more regular basis
-Work on the interior design for our next place
-Find a fun job in Orlando. I’m auditioning to teach Zumba and also for a Disney dancer position- not even joking 😉
xoxo,
Gina
Coming tomorrow: Recipe for vegan soy-free and nut-free tuna salad
109 Comments
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I don’t have a vision board but I love the idea. Maybe I’ll make my own. Thank you so much sharing your hopes and dreams with us. It’s inspiring to see someone put themselves out there like that. I struggle with being more vulnerable on my blog. It’s something I’m going to have to learn to do from other bloggers like you. 🙂
I NEED an Inspiration Board! My life is nearly directionless right now because I am too afraid to create goals that I might not achieve. Lame.
I’ve been getting rid of lots of clothing too! I’m doing the 100 Thing Challenge, in which you give away/throw away all but one hundred of your personal possessions. So far, I have four Costco-sized (giant) trash bags full of giveaway clothing…and that’s only the beginning.
What a great post! You are an inspiration fo all of us, putting your goals/dreams out there allows all of us (your devoted readers!) to reflect on our goals/dreams and become better, stronger, happier, healthier men & women. You should feel very happy about that and know how much it means to all of us!
Got me to thinking about my goals…I definitely want to practice more yoga, be more relaxed with “myself”, finish up a big work project, start a new business/career and hopefully one more goal which is similar to your whited out goal…I think!?
good luck with all of those! <3
hmmm, maybe 🙂
<3 Thanks for sharing with us!
I had to comment though because being a Disney dancer would be SOO cool!
I don’t have an inspiration board, but I love the idea!
My goals for fall is to focus hard on school, stay healthy, but still make sure I have a balance of fun in there.
you could totally get disney – you have the disney look!
You should check out a lululemon store! Discounts, plus a great environment to work in 🙂
That’s a crazy mountain of clothes! Doesn’t it feel good to get rid of stuff?? 🙂
I love your inspirational board! Such a good idea!
Thanks for sharing your goals! I think it is a great idea to put it out there in a creative way. Good luck with the book! You have some great ideas here on the blog so I’m excited to see it out there published one day.
Good job with the giveaway pile! I need to take note. 🙂
Your inspirations are great, and you will achieve them all!!!
You are an amazing person ; )
Hi, I love your blog. I haven’t been reading for a bit cause I have just packed up my family and moved to ORLANDO!!! I’m so excited you will be moving here. Anyway, I have been meaning to make an inspiration board but didn’t get around to it. My ultimate goal is to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well and exercising.
i love the : stress less, practice yoga, pray and meditate more and judge less- I could need to do all the of above. funny how it talks someone else to write it about themselves to remind you
Amen to your “stress less, practice yoga, pray and meditate more and judge less” I think that’s something that everyone should try and do–especially me…I’ve never made an inspiration board, but you just inspired me (as your wonderful blog usually tends to do ;)) Best of luck on meeting all your goals the rest of the year!
No goals as of yet, but I will definitely start thinking about them…
“Things don’t happen by accident- they’re always the result of hard work and the most meaningful goals are the ones that are not-so-easy to attain.” I could not agree with you more. Achieving goals is much more rewarding when you worked hard to obtain them. You inspired me to create my own inspiration board 🙂
I haven’t the foggiest idea what’s under those white squares. 😉
You are so brave to share all your dreams and goals. Believe in yourself, sweetie. I believe in YOU!
Thanks so much for sharing. I’m happy for you! Congratulations on everything you’ve achieved thus far, and best wishes for everything that lies ahead. 🙂 I love the idea of inspiration boards. I started working with Shaklee a few months ago and that’s one of the tools they really encourage their distributors to use. I think that’s one of the major things that attracted me to them. It’s amazing how things seem to fall right into place when you trust your intuition and remember the big picture!
Good luck with the packing! (yuck!) I hope the military takes care of the move!? I still think the pilot and you would love being at the pentagon or andrews afb. 😉
” every card and note that the Pilot and I have given to each other over the past five years.”–OMG I have 12 years of those cards from Scott in a couple gift bags…I found them on our last move and packed them up again, this time with more cards in the bags from the last move, and one day I plan to sit down and open alot of them up and read them. But it will take me DAYS to do it and I need to be in the right frame of mind to sit back and savor them!
This was a phenomenal post Gina!
the bakery and raw cheffing, yes wait til your commercial kitchen
your book, it will happen when the time is right
your yoga, judge less, meditate more..totally REMEMBER that post. Feels like yesterday!
“create my own luck by working hard to accomplish the things that I want. Things don’t happen by accident- they’re always the result of hard work and the most meaningful goals are the ones that are not-so-easy to attain.”–GIRL I have always said, if it is up to be, it is up to me. We are not lucky. We have what we have b/c we work our ass off, period. Just posted that I bought our plane tix for our monthlong trip to Aruba this winter. That’s not luck, that’s hard freakin work. I could tell you some stories off the blog, but yeah, I love this one.
Here’s to you achieving everything you have your heart set on!! and more!! 🙂
This doesn’t really relate to your posting but I need some help with my mom’s blog. She has been wanting me to try to figure out how to reply to other peoples comments and them being notified through email. She loves your blog and I noticed that you reply to your comments and I just need to help my mom figure this out. It there a special HTML code or something? Could you please help??!! 🙂
hey girl,
i wish i could help but i’m not technologically capable in any way. my web guy handles the html stuff for me. sorry!!!
To get notified via email she needs to install the “WP Threaded Comment” plugin and check off that option.
Thanks for sharing your goals and dreams. You were SO close to many of them and success will come. Safe to say we will ALL be happy with Macaroon giveaways 😉
I always have a lot of new energy to make in things happen in the fall too! Love your inspiration board and am confident that it will all come into fruition for you. The disney dancer job would be amazing!
You are very inspirational, Gina. And you pursue life and go for your goals with a kind heart – so important! Great goals:)
I love all your goals and can certainly relate to many of them. I too would love to write a book one day and it has always been a dream of mine. The topics I’m passionate about have changed some but I know its still something I would LOVE to do one day.
I also really believe in focusing on reflection, meditation, prayer, and the positive messages they bring to my day and life. In fact, I started a 30 days of self-love reflection on my blog today. Check it out if you like. 🙂 http://www.faithfitnessfun.com/3855/30-days-of-self-love-confidence/
Good luck on your move! 🙂 Now you’ll be able to practice more Bikram!
Those are really cute pics of the doggies, too! 🙂
My goals for autumn are to also practice more Bikram (but to be consistent with it in conjuction with my weight lifting and cardio workouts), read more books, visit my brother and his wife at their new place (and new state), and to send my grandparents cards saying how much I love them (because life isn’t forever).
Girl I love your inspiration board! Keep pounding away at that book proposal – someone will bite soon. I think you would write an AWESOME book. Yes, many other bloggers have written books, but you are completely different from them and I know you’d have something worthwhile and unique to write about. 😀 Good luck!!!
I have a fitness related inspiration board. My goals on it are to sign up for a race, practice more yoga, and challenge myself with new exercises.
I don’t think my comment posted. I just wnated to say thank you for sharing your inspiration board on the blog. All your goals look really interesting and good luck with the book proposal. 🙂
*wanted, sorry for the typo!
Thanks for the inspiration! It’s funny, I did a vision board at the beginning of the year (January) and kinda forgot about it (I don’t even see it anymore even though I face it every day). Revisiting those goals is a great idea – I found myself an activity for the weekend! Great fun post – as always!
Thank you for sharing! Have you ever considered cooking/baking and selling at a farmers market or flea market? Maybe when you are researching your location and narrowing it down, this would be a good idea to get your products out there!
We still have all the letters we exchanged while my husband was in the Navy! So funny to look back and read now! We were so young!
that’s a great idea! i’ll look into that for sure
I’m glad you reminded us about the inspiration board. I’ve been lazy about it lately and get caught up in everyday life. Thanks for the motivation!
Thanks for sharing your vision board. You have inspired me to do one. Perfect timing as I am pregnant and due in a couple weeks. It will be great to have inspiration to get back into shape and create a healthy new lifestyle with a baby.
that’s awesome- congratulations on your bundle of joy 🙂
Great post! My goals are always divided into 3 categories – weekly, seasonal, and lifetime. I’m usually pretty good about plowing through the immediate tasks and planning for the lifetime ones, but it’s always a challenge to get any of the seasonal goals accomplished – like giving away/consigning clothes! Thanks for the motivation to work on this! Good luck with the book proposal!
thanks for the post! I’m going to start looking through magazines as soon as I’m done with this comment. I’ve decided to make my own inspiration board to hang in front of my computer.
Hi Gina!
I love your vision board idea…and I appreciate you sharing some of your dreams with us! I know sometimes you hesitate to get too personal on here, but I know for me, your thoughts and ideas are a source of motivation. You really make me think about what my own dream are, and how I can start putting them into fruition. Not to mention, you have totally changed the way I think about food. I have many blog subscriptions, but yours is the one I ALWAYS read regularly (as opposed to catching up on during my down time)…you are a really special person, so thanks again!
PS, you can count on me being on the top of the list for pre-orders of your book (shoooot, I’d be happy with ANY of the 10 revisions!) 🙂 🙂
thank you so much, erin! <3
xoxo
Hi Gina!
Thank you so much for sharing your personal goals through your inspiration board. YOU are such an inspiration. I wish you the best of luck & can’t wait to stay tuned to hear about it all 🙂
Also, I can not wait to hear more about your book. I will be a MUST to add to my collection. I can’t wait!
~Evita
Oh man that’s not a real Louis Vuitton wallet you’re giving away is it?! Lol.
omg, totally coming to Disney if you get a role there!!
Best wishes with your goals! I would love a cookbook like you describe ~ keep going 🙂
thank you <3
I don’t have an inspirational board but I think it’s a great idea. I think I’ll not only do one for myself, but have my kid’s create smaller versions for themselves…
I love reading your uplifting posts! Thanks to you, I made my own inspiration board. I haven’t done that since high school! I’m hoping that looking at it cheers me up during the long, dark, cold Midwestern winter that’s sure to come.
Great post. I think the inspiration board is a great idea. I was led to this page because of the adorable dog photo (who looks like a little fox.) What type of dog is that? Thanks for sharing.
shiba inu 🙂