Progress Over Perfection—My Mid-Year Check-In

Yesterday I turned 42 and got to spend the day doing all of my favorite things, shopping and pedicures with my daughter, dinner at my favorite restaurant with my husband, and relaxing outside with a good book (which I finished, of course!).

Just like the New Year, birthdays have a way of making you pause and reflect on what you've accomplished and what you still hope to achieve. Since we're a little over halfway through the year, I decided to revisit the goals I set back in January:

• 📚 Read 72 books – I'm currently at 54!

• 👨‍👩‍👧 Start a monthly family book club – Not yet, but maybe once we settle into our fall homeschool routine.

• 🏋️‍♀️ Lose 20 pounds – Still in progress.

• ⛺ Camp in 3 new states – 1 down, 2 to go.

• 💳 Improve credit score – ✅ Done.

• 🧾 Pay off credit card debt – All but one.

• 🌲 Purchase a campground or property to build on – Still working on it, but making big moves.

As part of my women’s mastermind group, I joined a “100 Goals in 100 Days” challenge on July 7th. My big goal? Get under contract on a campground property within those 100 days. I'm 12 days in and already submitted my first offer. It wasn't accepted but that’s okay. I'm taking massive action, and that’s what matters.

Here are a few tips I’m reminding myself (and now you!) as I push toward big goals:

1. Reflect, Reset, and Refocus

Now’s the perfect time to look at the goals you set earlier this year. Celebrate what you’ve already done and recommit to the ones that matter most.

2. Don’t Chase All the Goals

Pick one to go all in on. The rest can wait. When your focus is scattered, your progress slows.

3. Take Action Daily—Even Small Steps Count

Not every action has to be huge. But forward momentum, even in tiny doses, adds up quickly.

4. Track Your Progress

Nothing feels better than crossing things off a list. Whether it’s books read or offers submitted, seeing the progress keeps you motivated.

If you’re looking for an easy way to stay on track, I highly recommend apps like Book Tracker and Habit Tracker. They’ve helped me stay focused on both my reading goals and personal milestones.

Now I want to hear from you, what’s one goal you’re committing to for the rest of the year? Hit reply and let me know. I’d love to cheer you on!

📚 Books on Board

This week, I wrapped up two books.

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell is her latest domestic thriller. It features multiple points of view, and while it takes a bit to figure out how everything connects, I really loved how it all came together in the end.

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood completely surprised me, in the best way. I wasn’t sure at first (the first 50 pages were a bit slow), but once it hit its stride, I couldn’t put it down. I devoured it in two days and lost sleep over it... zero regrets. The chemistry between the characters? Absolute fire. If you’re into steamy reads with tension that sizzles off the page, this one’s a must.

By the way, I found a new app I’m loving, PangoBooks. It’s like Poshmark but for books. You can buy gently used books from other readers or list your own. You can even shop my past reads here.

Not sure which book I’ll grab next from my TBR pile, there are so many good ones waiting. Check back next week to see what I end up choosing!

📍 Worth the Stop

I recently came across a post about unusual places to visit, and it reminded me of one of our own quirky road trip stops. While traveling through Oklahoma, we visited the Museum of Osteology, a place filled with real animal and human skeletons. It was definitely one of our more unique homeschool field trips! The kids were fascinated (and a little freaked out) by the human and child bones, but it sparked some great conversations and turned out to be an unforgettable learning experience.

🛒 What’s in My Amazon Cart

Being in an RV, I am always looking for ways to organize, this week, I cleaned out my bathroom cupboard and purchased this hair tool organizer that mounts on the wall, great for making the most out of small spaces.

📬 Before You Go…

If you enjoyed this week’s edition of Roadtrips & Reading, you’re going to love what I have to offer in The RV Mom’s Club, upgrade to paid now, to get access to a full year for only $40!!!

What’s Included:

🚐 RV Trip Routing & Itineraries

• Pre-planned monthly routes with campground recommendations, must-see stops, and activity ideas

• Options for both weekend warriors and full-timers

📖 Book Club for RV Moms

• A curated monthly book pick (fiction or non-fiction)

• Fun extras: themed recipes, decor ideas, or crafts tied to the book

💬 Private Community Access

• Community of RVing moms just like you!

• Live Q&A and Fireside Chats to talk about life on the road (RV biz, mom life, education, etc.)

Upgrade to Paid to get access to the RV Moms Club (only $40 for a whole year!)publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.