When I made this list at the beginning of March,  I knew the month was going to jam-packed, but I really thought that I could make it happen.  Here's what I was working towards-

•               go look at (and hopefully) buy the area rug from West Elm - April is the month I can feel it....

•               celebrate my sister's big 30 with all sorts of fun all month - success!!

•               eat breakfast every day - I'm half crossing this off because I've gotten better, but definitely still need to work on making this happen every day

•               read 2 books - YES! I read Bitterblue and Divergent. I loved Divergent (way better than the movie in my opinion)

•               try a Yoga class 

•               work on project for dad's work 

All in all, 3 out of 6 isn't terrible, but not my best work.  As far as April goes, I don't think making a to-do list full of tasks/must do's, is the motivation that I am looking for this month [and yes I realize we are already halfway through the month- yikes].

Lately, I have felt like I've been in a bit of a slump.  Some days I'll be totally fine, and dominate the day and its craziness... and then the next, I'm dragggggging myself through the day, fighting off insecurities and anxieties.  It's difficult and tiring to keep up with that swing of emotions!  So, what I'd really like to do this month, instead of task oriented goals, is make somewhat of an attitude adjustment and be more intentional about being a happier, more joyful version of myself.

•            fight off feelings of insecurity & take advantage of a freer schedule - As a 27 year old housewife, sometimes I feel like a misfit in this world due to society's lame way of judging each other based on what we "do" as a career.  I want to fight against this insecurity and be content with where the Lord has me right now.  And I want to make the best of it by taking the opportunity to help others out/spend some quality time [ways to do this: take mom out to lunch over her spring break from her bible study responsibilities, continue volunteering in Steph's classroom twice a week, be intentional about spending time with my dear friend Tara before she moves]

 •            be content with the weather................. - ugh.  Even writing that, I struggle not to roll my eyes.  I really really really need Spring to come and STAY.  I can feel my body's lack of Vitamin D, I really need the sun.  But I also really need to be content with what the Lord has provided- even in the cold in April.  I need to adjust this attitude.

 •            write two letters of appreciation - A big part of being joyful is being thankful, is it not?  This month I want to think less about myself and the concerns, worries, and whatever, and think more about those around me- letting them know that they are loved and appreciated.

•            pray over anxious feelings as soon as they pop into my head - for some reason, my prayer life has been seriously lacking lately.  I know that this plays a significant role in seeking joy and peace.


I honestly am really looking forward to working on these things during the last few weeks of April!  My prayer is that it has a significant impact on the level of joy and peace in my life.  Hope your month is off to a great start.

xoxo

I must say that I love Milwaukee in the summertime.  I love it in the other seasons too, but there is just so much happening here in the summer!  Taking a photography class this summer, I have had a lot of practicing to do.  Each week I was required to go out and shoot for 1-2 hours and continue honing the craft of operating my camera in the manual mode.  I am so thankful not just for the lessons on how to use the camera, but the challenge that it gave me to explore and appreciate my city a bit more.  From Alterra on the Lakefront, to the Mckinley Marina, to a ski show/competition in Veteran's Park, and then on to the many beautiful gems in the Third Ward- I was reminded of how truly beautiful Milwaukee is.  It's crazy how much we bypass during our regular day to day activities, not taking the time to take a minute and soak in all the beauty surrounding us.

One of my favorite things to do over summer is spend as many meals as possible on a patio or a rooftop somewhere.  The one pictured below is a great spot in the Third Ward- Cafe Benelux.  On the corner of Broadway, across from the Wicked Hop, this is the place to be. Not only is it one of the only restaurants with rooftop seating, but they have great food and a ginormous beer list, much better described as a beer book.  As I sat at our table with the warm breeze blowing, the sun shining on my face, and a beer in my hand, I couldn't help but think about how great my city is.

As I take more steps to learn how to capture beautiful images from behind my camera, I am so excited to be able to appreciate the amazing creations in front of it.  I'm excited to go out again this next week and try to explore new territory and see some of the beauty I've yet to discover.  What about you, have you found some hidden gems in your city?

Thanks for tagging along with me in this adventure.  If you've never been to MKE, I hope you get to check it out someday.  xoxo