2025 Goals Update: July

Dear Adventure Avenue,

Every year, I like to write out my goals on this blog as a way to keep track of each goal. Every month I update my progress on here and provide commentary on how I’m doing on that goal.

1. Read 50 books this year. Of those 50 books, I want to read 4 French books. Two goals in one.

In July, I finished reading Everything I Want to do is Illegal by Joel Salatin and finished reading Damn Delicious Meal Prepby Chungah Rhee. I finished reading The English Understand Wool by Helen Dewitt on my kindle. I finished reading George Washington’s Secret Six which I got from the library.

I finished listening to Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (so good!! She’s one of my favorite authors). I also finished listening to The Thursday Murder Club. This was a good book, but you have to love old people quirks to get full enjoyment.

I listened to Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood. Enjoyed the setting, but not so much the trope (big age gap) and this was book #2 in the series.

I’m currently reading Antimatter Blues by Edward Ashton. I’m reading Dune on my kindle. I’m also reading Cabin which I got from the library.

This year I have read:

  1.  Reconnected by Carlos Whittaker 
  2.  Eragon by Christopher Paolini
  3. Taming 7 by Chloe Walsh
  4. Rich AF by Vivian Tu
  5. The Royal Librarian by Daisy Wood
  6.  Mickey7 by Edward Ashton
  7. Thank You for Listening by Julia Whelan
  8. The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. 
  9. The Blue Zones Secrets for Living Longer by Dan Buettner
  10. The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry 
  11. Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
  12.  Icebreaker by Hannah Grace
  13. Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood 
  14. The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan 
  15.  The Day the World Stopped Shopping by JB MacKinnon
  16.  Home and Hand Made by Melissa K. Norris
  17. Magnolia Table, Volume 2: A Collection of Recipes for Gathering
  18.  A Healthier Home
  19. Accidental Shepard by Elise Greensfelder
  20. When In Rome by Sarah Adams
  21. Becoming Trader Joe by Joe Coulombe and Patty Civalleri
  22. How to Win at Travel by Brian Kelly
  23.  Until the Streetlights Come On by Ginny Yurich.

2. Go to one new Coffee Shop a month. I’m doing this one with a friend and am so excited to complete this one!

In January, I went to Restoration Hardware’s rooftop cafe. The views were great!

In February, I went to Lulu’s Cafe in Fullerton, California.

In March, I went to Rendez-Vous Cafe in Corona Del Mar, California.

In April, I went to Tru Bru Organic Coffee Roasters in Orange, California.

In May, I went to Coffee Dose in Costa Mesa, California.

In June, I went to MoonGoat Coffee in Costa Mesa, California. 

In July, I went to Cafe the Scoop in Long Beach, California.

3. Exercise 2025 minutes. (That’s about 169 minutes a month).

In January, I did 40 minutes of strength training with weights, 22 minutes on the bike, and I did 70 minutes of yoga. In January, I did 132 minutes.

In February, I did 40 minutes of strength training with weights, 22 minutes on the bike, and 73 minutes of yoga. In total, I did 135 minutes in February. 

In March, I did 42 minutes of strength training, 238 minutes of riding the peloton bike, 113 minutes of yoga, and one (free) 45 minute Purple Pedal class. In total, I did 438 minutes.

In April, I did 40 minutes of strength training, 232 minutes of riding the Peloton bike, and 61 minutes of yoga. I also did a 3 hour long hike in Big Bear, but I don’t think I’m going to count that in here.

In May, I did 25 minutes of strength training, 31 minutes of riding the Peloton bike, 80 minutes of yoga, and 30 minutes of swimming.

In June, I did 60 minutes of swimming, 22 minutes on the bike, 90 minutes of strength training. 

In July, I did 18 minutes of strength training, 23 minutes of Yoga, and 32 minutes of riding the peloton bike.

In 2025, I have done 1,376 minutes of exercise. 

4. Strength train with weights 40 minutes a month. (This goal counts towards goal #3)

In January, I did exactly 40 minutes!

In February, I did exactly 40 minutes!

In March, I did 42 minutes.

In April, I did 40 minutes!

In May, I didn’t quite meet my goal this month and did 25 minutes.

In June, I helped my friend move and did a ton of lifting. I estimate I did about 80 minutes of active lifting. Plus, I also did 10 minutes of strength training. 

In July, I did 18 minutes of strength training.

5. Decrease number of photos on phone from 11,124 down to under 8,000 by posting travel pictures 3 times a month (and then deleting them afterwards).

In January, I was down to 11,094 pictures and videos. I posted one blog post this month for this goal – My Restoration Hardware Cafe Post.

I’m at 11,364 photos. I posted two blog posts in February – Star Wars at the Frida Theatre and Paseo in Downtown Disney

In March, I had 11,635 photos. I did post two new blog posts in March: LuLu Coffee and Los Rios Tea House.

In April, I had 11,751 photos. I did post a few blog posts: Rendez-vous cafeGrand Prairie Home2 SuitesHard Eight BBQ, one about a German restaurantDisneyland Star Wars Nite, and Tru Bru Organic Coffee Roasters.

By the end of May, I was up to 11,917 photos and videos with no new blog posts.

By the end of June, I had 11,805 photos and videos on my phone. I posted the Irvine Regional Park & OC Zoo, my MoonGoat Coffee review, and my visit to Historic Main Street District Grapevine Texas.

My end of July, I had 11,991 photos with two new blog posts: Cafe the Scoop and El Dorado Regional Park.

6. TOP Secret Goal

Phase 1 is RESEARCH.

I’m almost out of the research phase!!

7. Make my Disney pass “worth it”

I have the Enchant Key which is the second tier and means I can go on some Sundays and most weekdays (but due to work, I’ll only be spending weeknights). This means I need to spend 82 hours at Disneyland, and it is assuming a 1day ticket is $119, the cheapest option outside of any specials they run. Based on a 10-hour day spent at Disney and that ticket price, I calculated that one hour at Disneyland is equal to $11.90.

In January, I went to Disneyland 4 times and was there for 18.25 hours and I spent $36.25 on parking.

In February, I went to Disneyland 2 times and spent 10 hours there. I spent $10 on parking. 

In March, I went to Disneyland 1 time and spent 4.5 hours there.

In April, I went to Disneyland 1 time and spent 8.5 hours there.

In May, I went to Disneyland 3 times and spent 18.25 hours there. I also spent $26.25 on parking.

In June, I didn’t go to Disneyland. 

In July, I didn’t go to Disney because my pass was blocked out.

In total, I spent 59.5 hours at Disney! 

Until next time,

A

PS

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