February Recap & Mental Dumbbells

I’m not sure what happened to February. Things started out well but the month really got away from me in the end. All of a sudden I glance at a calendar and it’s March, how did that happen? I have a bunch of catching up to do, so please bear with me if I bombard you with posts for the next few days.

First up, a little February Recap.

In doing a little research for a project I lined up for March, more on that in a bit, I dug into two ‘green’ books in Feb. I was hoping to get through more than 2 but between work and the second book being so long, it just didn’t happen.

Green Made Easy – Chris Prelitz

I’ve read a lot of ‘going green’ books but this ranks as one of my top 3. It was easy to read and it’s chaptered in a great way which turns it into a perfect reference book. I originally rented it on a whim from the library, but I enjoyed it so much that I ended up buying it for my Kindle. I was shocked, and thrilled, to find out it only cost $.89 (and still does as of 3/2). SOLD!

Even after reading dozens of ‘green’ books, I still learned a lot from this one. 

 

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life

I’m a little torn on what to say about this book. On one had I loved the inside look of a family that was supporting themselves off food they grew or purchased locally. It was inspiring and led me to make some changes in my life as well. On the other had it was wordy. The story split in dozens of tangents which I ended up scanning and in some parts, flat out ignoring. I really enjoyed the personal story, but the ‘lecturing’ was tedious and it took me nearly the entire month to get through the book. That’s really saying something when I usually finish a book in less than a week.

I also rented this book via the library and I’m glad I did. You can read about both the book and their recipes on their website.

 

March Challenge

So what did these books inspire? A ‘green’ month. That’s right, March is going to be a test of ‘going green’ in my house. Each day I’m going to tackle a new thing to bring me one step closer to being an environmentally conscious, authentic person. I think it’s easy to get caught up in the day to day humdrum of life and forget that even our smallest actions have a big consequence on the earth, our immediate environment, and not to mention our health. I don’t know about you, but I want to try to leave this world a little better than when I came into it, and every little bit helps.

Who’s in?

February Recap

Not only was February a short month on the calendar, I also blogged much less than usual (or hoped for). However, there was still some fun going on throughout the month.

I started off the month by showing you some some progress in the garage, the large storage unit has made the world of difference. I’m even thinking of purchasing a second one soon to use as a workbench.

I also shared the finished spare bathroom with a Hawaiian style.

Since it’s the month of LOVE, there were plenty of Valentine themed projects. DIY Cork Heart Sign, Creating some fun planters for the front door, and my favorite, the DIY heart art. Oh, and I can’t forget my sweet Valentine!

 

This past month I also dealt with a few home projects, such as installing window films and organizing my photos. Later in the month I shared my somewhat crazy love for letterpress calendars and my DIY Calendar Journal.

Sadly I don’t yet have any information about whether layoffs will directly affect my job, but in preparation of tough times I imposed a $40 per week grocery budget. I started a new weekly feature on the blog sharing how I’m stretching that $40 and highlighting a few meals that I’m eating each week. Even though I made several new recipes this month, I only shared one, the Banana Mocha Smoothie. It’s delicious.

Lastly I had 4 ‘Inspired’ posts in addition to sharing my dream home.

I’m Feeling Inspired: Garden Style

I’m Feeling Inspired: Romantic L.O.V.E.

I’m Feeling Inspired: Kitchens

I’m Feeling Inspired: Beautiful Strength

So that’s February! I’ll be back with another post about a recent tribute concert I went to and my first ‘green’ challenge day. Let’s make it a great March!

January 2012 Recap

It’s been a busy busy month, but probably the greatest in a long time.

At the start of the month I wrote my Future Letter and celebrated my dad’s birthday with a homemade Golf Cake.

I also created a Gratitude Jar in an effort to start a new Thanksgiving Tradition. Now, everyday I add a slip of paper to the jar listing something for which I’m grateful. It’s already filling up which reminds me everyday that life is pretty great even when it doesn’t feel that way. These will be fun to read through over the Thanksgiving holiday.

I introduced you to my very messy garage, developed a whole house cleaning plan, signed up for a library card, and made a melt in your mouth Balsamic Pork Sandwich.

Later in the month I planted a lovely Succulent Terrarium (which is still alive!), shared how I store the  recipes I pull from magazines, and professed my love for Word Art & Chevron designs.

Perhaps the biggest accomplishment was that I finally finished the living room fireplace.

Before:

After:

After finishing the fireplace I slowed things down a bit and skipped a few days of blogging; however, things did not stop completely. I built my own photography light box, turned some soup cans into an herb garden, made some delicious biscotti, and shared my winter skincare routine.

In addition to the above I also reached a few weight loss milestones since I lost 25 lbs. However, I haven’t made any mention of it beyond this post because right after posting my scale broke. It told me I weighed 0 lbs. So I purchased a new scale at Costco that was a piece of crap. It worked only when it wanted to, and told me I gained 20 lbs overnight. I have purchased another new scale, but I’m still having trouble getting a consistent reading. So for now, I’m just going by how I feel and how my clothes fit (which is better than before).

Can you believe January is already over?

Top Ten Goals – December 2011

I realize that I sometimes get a little wordy when I list out my top ten, I just get so excited. However, I’ll try to reign myself in, especially since I have a few more posts going up today.

1. Finish Fireplace & Hope Chest

I have a dream of putting Christmas stockings on a mantle this year…and it’s going to happen!!

2. Christmas Ornament Challenge

I wanted something fun to do this year leading up to Christmas so I decided to come up with a new DIY ornament a day for 20 days. Beginning today, you’ll get at least one new ornament tutorial per day until 12/21.

(I will not be teaching you how to make the below ornament, it’s just a favorite of mine. Although, I do have an idea for a knock off.)

3. Lose 10 lbs

…of course I pick the hardest time of year to lose weight…but I can do it. Bring It On!!

4. New recipe every week

Last month I made a lot of old favorites at my house and stopped trying to cook something new. This month I want to get back into cooking something new every week. If they turn out, I’ll post them here.

5. Cookie Swap

I’m participating in a Blogger Cookie Swap which has been pretty hush-hush. I can’t tell you who I have [maybe it’s YOU!] but the cookies are being shipped out and the recipe will be up later this month.

6. Host Christmas Dinner at my house

I love hosting dinners at my house, but since I live quite far from my closest family/friends I rarely do them. However, this year I have the space and seating to host a dinner for my family on Christmas Day.

The last time I hosted dinner was a few years back in my little apartment and people had to sit on the floor, but it was so much fun.

7. Mental Dumbbells

Read at least 4 books…enough said.

Source: crushculdesac.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest

8. Los Angeles Weekend

I had so much fun spending a night in San Diego last month that I’m doing the same for LA this month. Thing I’m most looking forward to…The Getty.

Source

9. Get new eye glasses

I need to get new glasses. Ya know…

…so I look this sexy holding them in my hand.

Source: youlooklikesex.tumblr.com via Josh on Pinterest

 

 

10. Consistent posting through the whole month, including the holiday

Last month I dropped the ball on posting throughout the holidays. This month I want to make sure I have a post up everyday and that I take the time to make it something special.

November Monthly Recap

Usually I would write up two separate posts at the end of the month, one about my monthly goals and another recapping all the home projects that were completed. However, this month was a bit of a jumble on home projects so I’m combining the posts this month.

First up, the projects!

PINTEREST FALL CHALLENGE: CHALKBOARD THERMOSTAT FRAME

At the beginning of the month I participated in the Pinterest Challenge and created a unique and fun Chalkboard Frame for my thermostat. Now my thermostat is a piece of art instead of a boring, bland box on the wall.

SPARE BATHROOM REVEAL – 3RD FLOOR

I shared the final reveal of my Upstairs Spare Bathroom and my somewhat inappropriate love for some jewel colored striped towels.

KITCHEN LEDGE INSTALLATION

Sometimes in your home, the simplest fix will make a huge impact. That was the case with the kitchen ledge that was installed a while back. It was some simple primed MDF and moulding that kicked my kitchen up a notch.

FIREPLACE PROGRESS – TILE REMOVAL

Oh My Goodness, I have so much to show you regarding this project, but you’ll just have to wait a bit longer. Let’s just say, the tile removal was just the start I needed to get moving on this project.

DIY: CREATING A FALL SIGN WITH YARN

Craft projects were clearly lacking in November, so I quickly wrapped up some letters for my front door to represent the last few days of the ‘Fall’ Season.

So what happened with the monthly goals?

1. Complete NaNoWriMo

I already shared my goal of ‘winning’ NaNoWriMo this month. This means I’ll be writing every chance I get for the next month which may take away from time typically spent on home and craft projects; however I still have some things up my sleeve for November.

I’m bummed to say that I did not ‘win’ NaNoWriMo this year. However, I made significant progress on my novel and I can truly say that I love the story. I plan to continue working on it and hopefully :::fingers crossed::: get it published in the future.

2. Run a 10K

There is good news and bad news with this goal. A few months back I shared that I would be running the Iron Girl Del Mar 10K; however, due to various personal reasons I will not be attending the race. However, I will still be running a 10K this weekend, even though I won’t be part of the official race. My original goal was to run a 10K, Iron Girl was just a place.

I DID IT! I finished a 10K and am so proud!

3. Local Adventure/Shopping

I have a Mom & Daughter day planned for this weekend in place of my original Del Mar adventure. I have big plans on hitting my absolute favorite stores this weekend and I’ll let you know about a ‘secret’ shopping center in San Diego that is my favorite of all times.

November was full of shopping, in all honesty, my credit cards need a serious break. However, I will never pass up a trip to the Forum in San Diego.

4. Get back to reading (Mental Dumbbells)

I know I had this as a goal last month and didn’t achieve it because all my reading was focused on the BYW course (well worth it). However, this month I really want to get back into reading and since I’ll be writing a lot this month, I’m setting the goal of finishing only 2 books.

The goal was to read 2 books and I ended up finishing 4 and found my love for relaxing with a good book again.

5. Penny Donation for Toys for Tots

This is probably the most exciting goal I have set for this month, and I’ll be sharing the specific details later today. In short, I am planning a donation program on the blog this month and I’ll be making a donation to Toys for Tots at the end of the month. Check back later for the details (hint: I need your help, but it will cost you absolutely nothing!)

This is one of my favorite goals this month and I am so excited to share the final number with you. It was an incredibly busy month in November and nearly 14,000 of you stopped by the site. At a penny per visit, this means that I made a $140 donation to Toys for Tots today!

I can’t thank you all enough for stopping by, please know that each and every visit you made in November contributed to this donation.

THANK YOU!

6. Thanksgiving Traditions

My family is small, and there is usually only 3 of us celebrating Thanksgiving each year. Therefore, we don’t really have any traditions for Thanksgiving other than dinner. I want to start some official traditions this year that can be passed down to my kids someday.

I had an incredibly relaxing Thanksgiving which involved a lot of time with my family and puppy. I couldn’t have asked for a better holiday.

Source: thepinkinkdoodle.blogspot.com via Addison on Pinterest

7. Take a Vacation

Maybe this should be considered the best thing this month. I finally have some time off planned for the week after Thanksgiving. I usually take this week off instead of the weeks surrounding Christmas because I don’t have kids. Why does that matter?

Well, most of my coworkers do have kids or family out of state/country. Since I don’t have kids and my family is an hour away, it’s easier for me to cover their workload during the holidays so they can take the time off to be with their family. It’s a win win for me since that time of year is typically very quite anyway.

So I’ll be taking the first week of December off instead and I’m thinking of going to San Francisco for a few days. Even if I don’t travel, I can’t wait to have some time off because I’m seriously burned out right now.

I am currently enjoying the last few days of my vacation and can’t say how much I needed this time off. I have slept in, read, worked on house projects, visited with friends, spent time with family, got a lot of writing done, shopped until I dropped on Black Friday, and enjoyed a mini vacation to San Diego where I saw the most amazing sunset.

8. Lose 10 lbs

After I run the 10K this weekend, I’ll be shifting my exercise goals a bit. While training for the 10K I haven’t spent much time on weight loss and I want to shift the focus back in that direction. I will be setting aside running for a bit and starting a dance related program since I am a dancer at heart. The goal for this month will be to begin focusing more on nutrition and building a regular exercise routine.

I’m happy to say that the shift in workout perspective was the right course for me. I have loved dancing everyday and I lost just under 9 lbs in November. Not quite the 10 lbs that I had hoped for, but I’m thrilled with the progress so far.

Source: thanks-to-dance.tumblr.com via Addison on Pinterest

9. Refinish a family heirloom

My grandmother passed away a few years ago and I inherited her hope chest. It’s a beautiful piece of furniture and I hope to restore it a bit and refinish it to work with my decor. I really love working on pieces like this because of the history behind them. I have so many great memories of chest and my grandmother.

I have not yet finished the hope chest, but I have picked out the fabric which is BEAUTIFUL and the stain which is a rich Kona coffee color. I can’t wait to jump into this project soon.

10. Black Friday

Yes, I am one of the crazy people that shops in the middle of the night on Black Friday. It’s been a mother/daughter tradition that started a few years back with the same grandmother that left me the hope chest. We have a great time every year and I can’t wait to share my tips and bargain deals this year too.

WOW, Black Friday rocked this year. The stores are opening earlier and earlier and we were out for nearly 11 hours. It was a rockin’ night and I loved spending time with my mom. Can’t wait until next year!

Here is this years haul, you can read the full details, here.

 

Whew, lots going on last month, and even more coming up in December. I LOVE December and Christmas, I’m so thrilled for this time of year.

10K: Crushed!

That’s right, it’s done! I have officially finished a 10K this weekend!

Yesterday I was sitting on the couch, enjoying the reactivation of my cable and internet again, when I realized that I’m only 6 months to my 30th birthday. Not only do I have ‘Finish a 10K’ on my goal for this month, but it’s also on my 30 before 30 list (which needs to be revamped a bit). The original plan was to complete the Iron Girl 10K in Del Mar last weekend. However, while the training went well, I just wasn’t running fast enough to finish in the designated time. I never claimed to be a fast runner, my goal has always been to FINISH a 10K.

At first I was discouraged and felt a bit like a failure for not being able to complete the race. Then I had a second thought, I can still finish this 10K. I trained too hard to just give up or let the race get the better of me. So I decided to bypass the race and complete the 10K at home.

Yesterday I laced up my shoes, jumped on my treadmill and completed my 10K. I finished in 1:49:20. The treadmill reset when it hit 100 minutes so you can only see the last 9 minutes in the image.

Source: happyfitness.tumblr.com via Addison on Pinterest

 

 

I’m proud that I finished, even though I didn’t have a race course cheering me on. I’m proud that I made the decision to bypass the race when I knew I would miss the course limit.

I’m not letting anyone take this away from me. Because even though some people may think I copped out by skipping the race. I did it, and that’s more than most can say.

Source: squareone1226.blogspot.com via Kimberly on Pinterest

 

 

I’m still taking a break from running right now, but after a lengthy text conversation with my brother, I may be considering a Half Marathon next year. It would be fun to see them on the sidelines cheering me on.

Healthy Lifestyle Goal – Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis

*Today has been rough, and technology really hates me. Here’s hoping this post even goes up since my internet/phone/cable has been out for several hours. I’m running off of an air card which can be a little spotty at times.

In the journey of weight loss (which has been life long for me), my problem has never really been the workout side of things. Once I get into a rhythm of working out regularly I can often stick with it, and even look forward to it. However,I’ve been struggling lately with the type of exercise that I enjoy doing. For the past few months I was training for the 10K and even though I saw significant progress, I can’t really say that I truly liked it all the time. So as I ended my training, I decided to step back from the running and try out some other activities.

No matter how long I sit here, thinking about what I should do, the only thing I want to do is Dance.

Source: thanks-to-dance.tumblr.com via Addison on Pinterest

Dancing is a constant for me, it’s a passion, it’s a pivotal as breathing. I’ve danced in one way or another my entire life, covering all types of styles, but my own insecurities held me back from really pursuing my passion of being a dancer when I was younger.

It doesn’t have to be in a class or a social setting, just dancing in my living room gives me the same happiness. When I’m dancing, I feel the most like me. The me that isn’t silenced by insecurities. The me that isn’t afraid of being judged by others. The me that isn’t worried about tomorrow.

I feel like the strong, sexy, beautiful, smart woman that I know I am deep inside.

Source: bippityboppityboo.tumblr.com via Felecia on Pinterest

I enjoy running…I LOVE dancing.

Source: lalunemacherie.tumblr.com via Addison on Pinterest

So for this reason, I’m setting running aside for now (although I do plan to keep up with my promise of completing the 10K this month). In place of the recent training I’m starting a new workout program, Tracy Anderson Metamorphosis.

Source

Per the website…

In the newly released Metamorphosis by Tracy, you will transform your body, defy your genetics, and create the body that you never thought possible.  Prepare to be challenged throughout this 90-day program that includes 9 discs of transforming muscular structure work, designed for your specific body types,  a cardio component, and a dynamic eating plan. Experience this total transformation through your own Metamorphosis!

The program is offered for several different body types, I chose Omnicentric, as it focuses on the whole body. The other options were Abcentric, Hipcentric, or Glutecentric. You can find out more about each program on her site.

Why did I choose this program?

I’ve tried out Tracy’s Method before and I liked the mix of dance and muscle work, it was easy enough to follow once you’ve done it a few times, yet incredibly challenging. I also know several others who have used Meta and saw amazing results. So after much thought I purchased the 90 day program which included the Cardio Dance sequence as well as Muscle work DVDs for the next 90 days. The workout takes only an hour a day, which is perfect for my schedule.

What about the included Food Plan?

The food plan for Meta is by far the most controversial part of the method, and I agree with a lot of the concerns. The plan, for the most part, is incredibly low calorie. However, the lowest calorie days are meant as a reset, they are not meant to be used long term as your primary eating lifestyle. Tracy is very honest that her plan is a lot of work and takes dedication, you get out what you put in. This is not a justification, I don’t agree with the low calorie diet included in the program, but I think a lot of people generalize that the eating plan included in the plan is meant to be eaten for the rest of your life. It’s not.

With that said, I’m not following the eating plan. I agree that I would probably see faster results by following the included diet, but it’s not how I want to live. I will be following my own eating plan and using the BodyBugg to keep track of my calorie burn, so that I can refuel appropriately. I feel that this would be the right course of action for me since I’m trying to get in a healthy lifestyle, not fit into a certain dress in 90 days. Based on the past few days, my calorie burn has been so high that I could eat up to 2000 calories still lose weight, so right now I’m on track.

Source: shredesign.com via Rae on Pinterest

I started this plan several days ago and I’m already seeing incredible progress. I feel stronger and I’m seeing an increase in my endurance everyday. I feel the burn…quite literally. My abs hurt so bad after day 2 that I nearly cried when I had to sneeze.

I’m also down 5 lbs already!!!

Now, this is almost 100% water weight, but I’ll take it anyway. It brings me halfway to my monthly goal of losing 10lbs and I’m officially down 20 lbs from my highest weight. (cue the happy dance!)

Progress/Rewards

I’m all about motivation and, let’s face it, that nice “I’m healthy” feeling just doesn’t do it all the time. So in an effort to keep myself motivated I’ve created a reward plan that would ‘give’ me a reward for every 5 lb weight loss. For every 5lbs lost, I get something. It could be a pedicure, new shoes, trip to the movies, a new book, mini shopping spree at Sephora…etc.

The program works off 10 day intervals, so I’ll be posting updates every 10 days for the next 90 days. During the 10 Day updates, I will also share any rewards I have earned and any new goals.

I’m excited about this new venture. If anyone is curious, I’ll be happy to share my honest opinions of the program along the way and answer any questions you may have. If you’re doing the program already I’d love to know that too.

I’m also looking for reward suggestions…What would be on your reward list??

November Penny Donation Campaign – Toys for Tots

While we should be practicing gratitude all year-long, November is the official month for giving thanks. It’s also a time when we need to reach out and help those around us that are experiencing a less fortunate holiday season. There are many ways you can contribute during this time.

Some common ways you can help…

• Making financial donation to a charity of your choice
• Donate your time to a local soup kitchen or hospital
• Have your kids help you pick a toy to be donated to Toys for Tots or local family shelter (Get the entire family involved!)

If you live in a county that has a 211 help line then you can simply dial 211 from any landline (some counties support cell phone 211 calls) and be connected to social service resources in your area. Meaning you can call this line if you need help and also if you want to offer help. I used to work for a local 211 line and it is an amazing service. I can’t tell you how many people would call needing help with food, toys, child care, shelter, utility payments, etc. This resource, if offered in your county, is available year round. However, I point this out now, because these call centers should also have a list of locations that need donations and volunteers during the holidays.

If you need help at this time of year, please consider 211 a resource. There are amazing services out there that can help you and your family and asking for help is never something to be ashamed of. It takes a lot of courage to ask for help, and I applaud those that take action to help themselves and their families. There are even resources that can help you with obtaining a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving.

I strongly believe that a building a tradition of giving back during the holidays (and year round) is an amazing legacy you can leave. If you have the time or resources, please consider giving back this year. It doesn’t need to cost you a cent, your time can be a great help as well.

November Penny Donation Campaign

In fact, you can help me on the blog to give back, and it won’t cost you a cent. Consider your ‘visit’ a donation. In addition to other donations that I’ll be making, I am officially launching the November Penny Donation Campaign.

For every visit to this blog during the month of November, I will donate one penny to Toys for Tots. At the end of the month, I’ll take the final visit count and calculate the donation.

Only a penny?

Granted a penny doesn’t seem like much, but it adds up, and together I think we can gather a nice sum for them. I figured this would be an interactive way that others can give back without breaking into the bank, while also building my blog.

Every Visit Equals One Penny!

It’s as simple as that! Just visit the blog once a day and your visit will count toward a donation to Toys for Tots.

I would love to hear any stories about how you give back during the holidays. You can leave your story in the comments or feel free to email me. I’d love to put together a post near the end of the month with a collection of ways people help in their communities. Please feel free to tell your story anonymously as well.

*Based on current visit counts I don’t plan on setting a maximum amount that I will donate for this campaign; however, if the visit counter increases to an amazing number, I may need to put a maximum donation limit in place. I’ll let you know where we’re at as we approach the middle of the month. Also, at this time I do not employ any type of advertising on the site. I will not be financially profiting from an increase in visits, just in case anyone was wondering.

Top Ten Goals – November 2011

Fall is finally upon us and we’re entering my absolute favorite time of year. I love, LOVE the holiday season, November in particular. Not only am I excited about the cooler weather, but I have so many great things on deck for this month.

1. Complete NaNoWriMo

I already shared my goal of ‘winning’ NaNoWriMo this month. This means I’ll be writing every chance I get for the next month which may take away from time typically spent on home and craft projects; however I still have some things up my sleeve for November.

2. Run a 10K

There is good news and bad news with this goal. A few months back I shared that I would be running the Iron Girl Del Mar 10K; however, due to various personal reasons I will not be attending the race. However, I will still be running a 10K this weekend, even though I won’t be part of the official race. My original goal was to run a 10K, Iron Girl was just a place.

Source: happyfitness.tumblr.com via Addison on Pinterest

3. Local Adventure/Shopping

I have a Mom & Daughter day planned for this weekend in place of my original Del Mar adventure. I have big plans on hitting my absolute favorite stores this weekend and I’ll let you know about a ‘secret’ shopping center in San Diego that is my favorite of all times.

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Kelly on Pinterest

4. Get back to reading (Mental Dumbbells)

I know I had this as a goal last month and didn’t achieve it because all my reading was focused on the BYW course (well worth it). However, this month I really want to get back into reading and since I’ll be writing a lot this month, I’m setting the goal of finishing only 2 books.

5. Penny Donation for Toys for Tots

This is probably the most exciting goal I have set for this month, and I’ll be sharing the specific details later today. In short, I am planning a donation program on the blog this month and I’ll be making a donation to Toys for Tots at the end of the month. Check back later for the details (hint: I need your help, but it will cost you absolutely nothing!)

6. Thanksgiving Traditions

My family is small, and there is usually only 3 of us celebrating Thanksgiving each year. Therefore, we don’t really have any traditions for Thanksgiving other than dinner. I want to start some official traditions this year that can be passed down to my kids someday.

Source: thepinkinkdoodle.blogspot.com via Addison on Pinterest

7. Take a Vacation

Maybe this should be considered the best thing this month. I finally have some time off planned for the week after Thanksgiving. I usually take this week off instead of the weeks surrounding Christmas because I don’t have kids. Why does that matter?

Well, most of my coworkers do have kids or family out of state/country. Since I don’t have kids and my family is an hour away, it’s easier for me to cover their workload during the holidays so they can take the time off to be with their family. It’s a win win for me since that time of year is typically very quite anyway.

So I’ll be taking the first week of December off instead and I’m thinking of going to San Francisco for a few days. Even if I don’t travel, I can’t wait to have some time off because I’m seriously burned out right now.

8. Lose 10 lbs

After I run the 10K this weekend, I’ll be shifting my exercise goals a bit. While training for the 10K I haven’t spent much time on weight loss and I want to shift the focus back in that direction. I will be setting aside running for a bit and starting a dance related program since I am a dancer at heart. The goal for this month will be to begin focusing more on nutrition and building a regular exercise routine.

Source: thanks-to-dance.tumblr.com via Addison on Pinterest

9. Refinish a family heirloom

My grandmother passed away a few years ago and I inherited her hope chest. It’s a beautiful piece of furniture and I hope to restore it a bit and refinish it to work with my decor. I really love working on pieces like this because of the history behind them. I have so many great memories of chest and my grandmother.

10. Black Friday

Yes, I am one of the crazy people that shops in the middle of the night on Black Friday. It’s been a mother/daughter tradition that started a few years back with the same grandmother that left me the hope chest. We have a great time every year and I can’t wait to share my tips and bargain deals this year too.

This was last years haul…and it took care of several Christmas gifts too.

What are your goals/plans for November?

October Monthly Goal Recap

1. Education

• I’ve signed up for the Blogging Your Way e-course hosted by Holly Becker of Decor8 & Leslie Shewring of A Creative Mint, and I’m so excited! They are going to cover all the topics I have questions about as a new blogger. I also want to create an experience on this site, and I think this will help me further develop my voice/style.

We’re entering the last week of the course and I’m so inspired by the information that has been shared so far. I find myself referencing the documents on a daily basis. The instructors have covered nearly everything that I could think of and have inspired me to make some major (and not so major) changes around here. I’m even considering a complete re-design of the site in the new year. If you are a new blogger or an established blogger looking to learn a few new things, I would definitely recommend this course. I believe they will be hosting another session in the Spring.

2. Finish Training for the Del Mar 10K

• We’re one month into training with just about one month left to go. I need to make lots of progress in this area or I won’t be ready on November 6th.

I have one week until the ‘race’ and I’m as ready as I’m going to be. I will be running my 10K this coming weekend; although some things have changed. I may not be running in the actual race, but I will still be completing a 10K. I’ll share more about where I will be running the race as we get closer to the weekend.

Source: happyfitness.tumblr.com via Addison on Pinterest

3. Local Adventure

• Visit a Real Pumpkin Patch (not one set up in a grocery store parking lot)
• Jury Duty – Can I count this as a local adventure since it’s the first time I’ve done Jury Duty in this county?

I visited Bates Pumpkin Patch this year.

I also bought a pumpkin and attempted to carve it. I really liked how it turned out, he makes me smile.

I also did Jury Duty, but it was long and boring so we’ll just move right past that day in history.

4. Finish Phases in the Backyard and Dining Room

• Install Dining Room Wainscoting & Curtains (this did not happen as I still need to obtain additional supplies)
• Install Sprinklers and finish Sod in outdoor planters (I have finished the sprinkler system and the larger planter is done. Flowers have even been planted, but the post has not yet gone up. I still have to finish the smaller planter, which I hope to have done in November)

5. Craftiness

• Fun Fall/Halloween Crafts. So many lined up for this month, like this adorable little mummy pumpkin.

Lot of fun craftiness this month. You can see the project recap here for links.

6. 31 day dance challenge

• I don’t care if it’s while cooking dinner or in a club. I will dance for 30 minutes everyday.

 I didn’t really keep track of this, but I did make a point of using my ipod while cooking/cleaning and that always makes me dance. However, I have a November goal that will revolve around dancing as exercise. I’m very excited about this!

7. Stop Biting & Grow My Nails

If I actually accomplish this, it will be a miracle. Especially since I’ve been trying to stop biting my nails since the beginning of time. Breaking a lifetime habit is not easy.

I DID IT! It will be an ongoing battle, but I stopped biting my nails this month. I was also was able to do my first French manicure on my own nails in nearly a decade. You can see my nail recap here, as well as some tips on how to kick the habit yourself.

8. Keep reading

• I would like to get through at least 4 books this month. I have so many good ones to go through.

I skipped the Mental Dumbbells post this month since all my reading was directed toward the Blogging Your Way course. I’ll need to pick back up with the books next month.

9. Keep Writing

• I got more into the blog last month than I expected and my other writing took a bit of a back seat. Time to step that up and brainstorm freelance opportunities.
• I’d also like to submit at least one article as a contributor on another design site

The contributor article didn’t happen this month but I do have several freelance ideas drafted which I hope will pan out over the next few months. I also used my planned efforts for writing toward the blogging e-course and I have created a big list of improvements to the website.

10. Routine

• Get into a routine that allows me enough sleep, and time for everything else that I want to do. I have a fancy pants planner that I rarely use. I should really dig that out of my junk drawer.

For the most part this was successful. I have been using my planner which has contributed to my increased productivity and organization. I still haven’t decided if I’m going to stick with the paper planner or if I’m going to begin using my phone as my primary electronic planner. Any recommendations??

I’ll be back later this afternoon to share the November goals, as well as a donation based goal that you can help me with. (…and it will cost you nothing!)

Project Recap – October

It was a busy, busy project month and I didn’t even finish everything that I was hoping to. I was hoping to get the tile removed from the fireplace this month and the beadboard installed in the dining room. Both projects have been temporarily put on hold while I obtain some additional supplies. However, that didn’t spoil my fun this month. In all, I completed 9 projects/crafts around the house.

The Big Reveal – Laundry Room ReDesign

After the remodel, the laundry became one of my favorite rooms. Unfortunately by the months end the washing machine was broken and I’ve had to temporarily begin using a Laundromat. Even though, I’m not really using the room right now, I still feel happy every time I walk past it.

Boo! DIY Mummy Pumpkin

Unexpectedly one of the most popular posts on the site, and one of the easiest crafts. It’s absolutely adorable and the fabric stiffener makes it durable for packing to use next year.

DIY Glitter Skull

My fun knock off of the more expensive glitter skulls being sold out there.

DIY – Slip Proof Rug

I used a $2 tube of caulking to give some traction to my kitchen rug.

Candy Corn Vase & Holiday ‘Mantle’

Using the vase-in-vase technique and a bag of Candy Corn, I made a simple and pretty floral decor piece. I also shared my Halloween inspired ‘mantle’.

DIY – How To Use a Hurricane Candle Holder for Kitchen Utensils

This was one of those projects that has been on my list for a while and was free since I had everything on hand. I turned a West Elm candle Hurricane into a functional utensil holder.

Crafty DIY: Halloween Sign

I needed a Halloween sign for my new Front Door Post (below) and this was a fun craft project made out of scraps from the Door Post.

DIY – Front Door Sign Post

I made a post for the front door to hold decorative signs for the seasons. It was fairly simple to build and has made a huge difference to the look of the front door.

DIY: Installing Sprinklers When Growing Grass on Concrete

Out of everything I did this month, this was the biggest accomplishment. Last month I installed a way to grow grass on concrete and this month I installed sprinklers for those grass planters. Along with the water timer, this has been the best functional project so far.

Lots of fun stuff this month, but I have even bigger ideas for next month. Keep an eye out at the beginning of November for a very cool project involving my home’s thermostat as part of the Pinterst Challenge.