A few of my favourite bloggers (Nora, Margarita, and Kapachino notably) either set goals each new month or recap the past month. I always want to do this but I always miss when I'm meant to kick it off because I'm easily distracted by wondering why other people aren't as OCD about their e-mail as I am, and by my dogs barking at the whole of the outside world.
But all my human resources management courses are pro-goal setting/saying things out loud and making them happen/doing school work instead of blogging, even when the dogs are barking. So, I present to you my November Type A-ery…
This November I will…
Decide between a laptop, a new camera lens, and a tattoo. I've been saving some money and I think that after Christmas I'll be able to make a fun personal purchase!! The arguments: a laptop would be great for working on school for the next year and a half. I currently have an almost 5 year old desktop and a 6 year old macbook that's slow & prone to freezing. A new camera lens could be a ton of fun, I would love an IS zoom that's light enough for walking around. And the tattoo – I got it 6 years ago when I was Being Alternative, it's an 8″ koi fish swimming down my back and I love her. I would like to get her friends & have it made into a finished piece eventually- that could be this year!
Verdict: I got a MacBook Pro! I'm still all weak at the knees over it.
Get Healthy! Over the last months, The Demoiselle's (my favourite website on body image & beauty!) did an amazing series called Get Healthy. Normal girls blogged their weekly journeys to getting healthy- whatever their definition of that was. I contacted Elle and begged her to e-mail me if they did another series…and Get Healthy: Chapter Two starts this November!! In a couple weeks I'll start writing with The Demoiselle's every Wednesday and I'm thrilled out of my mind! Except that I have to buy a scale again. But I can survive that, right?
Verdict: I'm surviving it, it's scary but I'm doing okay. I'm kind of worried about burning out my blog readers though, because this seems to mean I'm posting three times a week. We'll see…
Send out Christmas Cards because I geeked out and ordered them last weekend. I saw the ones I wanted, blacked out, and woke up wearing a Christmas sweater that was soaked in eggnog. Okay, not really, but you can imagine. It was intense and they're really pretty, is the point of my story.
Verdict: They'll be sent the first week of December, does that count?
Start writing in my paper journal again because there are things that I can't work out in my head, but if I keep demanding that Andrea respond immediately to everything that comes up in my life I'm going to need to subsidize her internet bill or wine consumption.
Verdict: This has been more fun than I thought it would be- I'm really enjoying it though, and it's keeping me more centred.
Start my first bible study because part of coming around to believing in God means I have to figure out what The Dude actually said. Not that Dude. But I think this one abides too. Maybe not? I'm new at this, don't quote me.
Verdict: I'm progressing through it nicely! Which is surprising, it's really intense but I feel like I'm getting my feet underneath me. The only part about it that sucks (a lot) is doing it alone, but I'm hoping I can revisit it later with friends so I can have someone to talk to about all this stuff. Maybe someday!
Keep my Jane Austin marathon going. I've read and watched Sense & Sensibility, I've started watching Emma, and I'm half way through reading Pride & Prejudice. I'd really like to finish P&P and watch the movie version of it so I can finally start on the ‘ultra violent' Jane books with sea monsters & such. My mother in law and I are majorly bonding over this, it's been very cute.
Verdict: Pride & Prejudice killed me. I had to stop reading it, I don't know what happened! But I have Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters now and I'm really excited to dig into it!
Get some new music because I haven't bought any in MONTHS and while listening to early Rolling Stones & Bob Dylan all the time is fun and moody, I need to expand out a little.
Verdict: Lady Gaga, 500 Days of Summer soundtrack, The Shins, Joshua Radin… it's enough to make me light headed! I love my new music. This has been a quality of life improvement.
Plan our Christmas budget around our dividend reward credit card. Has anyone else tried this? Last year our household credit card was changed over to one where you get a portion of what you spent back at the end of the year. We just checked our balance and we're going to be getting around $350 back in January, so we're going to try to use that as our Christmas budget! Isn't that quietly brilliant? I usually make everyone a care packages of foods & chocolates & small presents so it's affordable for us, but if we can swing it this year Christmas will be free! Or at least free-ish.
Verdict: So far so good, we're on track and I'm really excited. We'll see how January goes!
Current Obsessions…
Mason jars, willow branches, espresso, vanilla, my day timer, finishing my first semester of classes, Sharpie pens, fall movies, my city looking more like its self once it snows, taking bubble baths before work, doing yoga before work, reading books before work, being late to work, finally putting the flannel sheets on the bed and lusting after sweater dresses I can't afford.
LAST UPDATED ON: November 6th, 2009
CATEGORY: All Business & Blogging Posts
My reader did something weird & I’m pretty disappointed that I didn’t see this one when you first posted it!
If you watch the P&P movie, make sure you watch the A&E one, it’s so much better! It’s one of my favorites, I read the book a long time ago when I was in 5th grade & then my mom would let me stay up late & watch it (it ran as a miniseries) with her. Ah, memories… ;)
I’ve been needing to get on the healthy train as well, thanks for the link! I consider the Bible study thing in the same vein, I need to get back into being active spiritually…
Anyway, this list is pretty similar to a lot of those things I’ve been thinking about! Love it…& you!
:)
.-= Alexis´s last blog ..Breaking the Pain Scale =-.
My vote for order of purchases:
1. Computer (one that supports a lot of photo editing fun)
2. Lens
3. Tattoo
.-= Allie´s last blog ..Collaborative Photo 6: Sommelier =-.
Confession: I adore you, your writing, and your life. I would love to be your shadow for a while. Can we make that happen? Get back to me on that…
Also:
1. I’m totally excited about you doing the Getting Healthy series! When you mentioned having to get a scale, I actually wondered if they’d chosen you for their next round. I’m so giddy! I rather want to do one of my own and kind of follow along unofficially. Would that be tacky?
2. I say get a new laptop! I want one like nobody’s business, but between our desktop, Jay’s laptop and everything else, it’s more of a want than a need. So, if you get one I’ll live vicariously through you. Deal? Deal.
3. Of course, your tattoo is gorgeous, and an additional tattoo would kind of be an awesome splurge.
4. Best of luck on the bible study! Are you doing a specific study or following a specific book? I’m looking for one, myself, so let me know if you find anything brilliant.
5. As for new music, you need to download everything ever recorded by Joshua Radin and Ray LaMontagne, if you haven’t already. LOVE!
.-= wishcake´s last blog ..on a little shop update… =-.
Good post, I need to make some goals for myself as well.
.-= Andrea´s last blog ..That One Every Minute =-.
Loving this list for you and this month! It sounds like you have a lot of exciting things on your plate, and I am looking forward to reading your Getting Healthy pieces. … I need to work on that. ;)
.-= E.P.´s last blog ..Not amused =-.
Bah, it’s horrible of me for not commenting sooner! (I haven’t been as involved in my Google Reader as I’d like to be.)
I really need to send out Christmas cards this year–to real-life friends and family and to blog friends/family. Every year, I buy cards, but I never end up sending them out. Procrastination. Husband and I did, however, put up our Christmas tree last night (!), so maybe I’ll be more in the spirit this year.
If I were you, I’d go with the … well, I can’t choose. A new laptop would be nice (school work, blogging, writing), but it’d be hard to pass up a new camera lense
.-= Megan´s last blog ..One Semester Closer =-.
You are my favourite. Did I ever tell you that? I love the fact that you’re getting your stuff together for this month. It’s a good time for planning. But it seems like everyone I know is so unsure of themselves. With the recent change in the weather, it seems as though people are getting colder.
My goals for November include: Potentially getting my wisdom teeth sucked out of my face, making curtains, working on Christmas presents and listening to more 70/80’s hair bands. Boston and Journey are on the top of that list.
ps. I’m putting together a care package for you, you sexy thing.
.-= Awmb´s last blog ..Iz Haz Influenza. Sad Face. =-.
I love the idea of setting goals for each month! Good luck accomplishing all you want to. :)
Everytime I see these “goal posts” (not to be confused with athletic goal posts…), I really, really want to make one of my own! But then I always think it’s too late so I am determined to do one in December!
I love your goals and I’m striving this Christmas to SPEND MONEY because last year, I wasn’t working and had, like, $30 to my name. It was so sad.
those are some great goals, i may have to steal some for myself like the whole healthy thing and christmas cards, yeah i can stick to those :)
.-= katelin´s last blog ..Still top secret. =-.
I nominated you for an award lovely lady.
http://ruminationread.blogspot.com/2009/11/award.html
.-= Moorea Seal´s last blog ..Get it Together Woman =-.
I am totally blushing here. Totally. Thanks. You are one of my favourite bloggers too. ;)
So, I say TATTOO. Tattoos are the best, I am waiting on getting my next one as well, I cannot wait. I have two already and this third one my bf and I are doing the same thing… silly.
And I bought Christmas Cards too!! I found amazing ones on etsy… I love stationary. That’s awesome about the credit card… I wish I had thought of that!
.-= Margarita´s last blog ..A Week in Bullets =-.
I love this idea of setting monthly goals! Oh and I love Sense & Sensibility, that is my favorite Austen story.
.-= Jessica´s last blog ..Weekend recap: No sense of direction =-.
Heh that bit about Christmas cards made me laugh out loud! You’ll show us what they look like?
.-= Erin´s last blog ..Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it =-.
I love this post! I think I’ll steal it in my blog as well, lol I need a written reminder :) good luck for your goals, as for new songs to listen to, how would you feel about listening to some tiny and loud indonesian rapper?:P
Your posts are always so inspirational!! I enjoy reading your blog with every single post! I hope you have a fantastic November :)
.-= Jennifer – Somewhere In Between´s last blog ..No-Waste November =-.
I want to see your Christmas cards! I should order or make ours soon… I hope it won’t be too late.
You definitely should get an iMac!
.-= steph anne´s last blog ..The Green Pill on The School Bus =-.
I love the Bible study idea!!! Do you know what you are going to start with?
Also, I need to start writing in my paper journal as well. It is so hard to get caught up in technology…
And I also need to start doing monthly wrap ups. They are fun.
=D
I’ve been thinking of holiday cards too – like, do I want to make Moo cards with a photo of Moira on them b/c I know that is all people want or do I go for style (and can I do both? and how much is it going to cost?) Oh Christmas, you can be fun but so much work sometimes. :)
I loved this whole post!
.-= melanie´s last blog ..meli-mello logo contest! =-.
I’ve been wanting a new tattoo for so long. I have a little sparrow on my back. I would love to finally take the plunge and do it all over again! This time around I’d like to give it some more thought and pick something that is truly meaningful for me.
.-= Sara´s last blog ..First Post =-.
I was choosing between a laptop and tattoo as well. I chose the laptop since my old one is on the verge of death, but a tattoo is still on my long-term to-do list. I would have *totally* gone for the tattoo if my laptop didn’t decide to start dying.
I’m glad to read that you’re enjoying yoga!
.-= Maddy´s last blog ..A Beautiful Mess =-.
I just started thinking about holiday cards too! How is it already that time again? And, um, please take me with you on the path to getting healthy.
.-= nicoleantoinette´s last blog ..daylight savings time, regrets, and the search for the country’s best mac & cheese =-.
I mentioned to a co-worker that I need to think about my Christmas cards and she gave me an odd look and said – ‘you send out Christmas cards?’ Um, yes. Yes, I do. I even sent out a photo one last year, even though single people usually don’t send out photo cards. But I thought – what the hell. And alot of people told me they loved it (maybe they were lying to make me feel better, but I kind of doubt it).
Anyways. That is really cool that you’ll be writing the posts about getting healthy!! I don’t own a scale either!!
.-= Lisa from Lisa’s Yarns´s last blog ..Four Things Friday =-.
Oh this is a great idea! I’m gonna have to get on my goal list as well. I have a few things I really need to start on, but haven’t quite found the motivation. Maybe putting it out there would help? I think so.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..it wasn’t supposed to work out this way.. =-.
Goal making sounds like a really good idea right about now, because I feel like I don’t know where I am going this month…
P.S. Go for the laptop. DEFINITELY the laptop!
Goal making sounds like a really good idea right about now, because I feel like I don’t know where I am going this month…
PS! If you decide on the tattoo, can I come too? We can be back-pain-but-Must-Get-More-Tattoos buddies :)
.-= Emily Jane´s last blog ..Future Nostalgia, or Why I Hate Louis Walsh =-.
Such a great post!! I love your list, and now I am thinking about my own…
.-= Habbala´s last blog ..OMG Yay. =-.
Delurking to put in my two cents on the debate to buy expensive stuff: in the order of descending priority, I would say computer, camera lens, tattoo. Tattoos are expensive and I have been saving for half a year to finish my sleeve — and you don’t want to skimp on it for good artwork.
.-= nicopolitan´s last blog ..No One Left Behind =-.
Your blog is so inspiring! Thank you! ♥
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..Rant then rave… =-.
I’m geeking out about Christmas cards, too! My husband and I just took our Christmas pic … now I have to find photo cards I actually like. Where did you buy yours? I’d love to take a look at their offerings.
Also, my feeling is that the laptop is more practical (because you are in school), but tattoos last forever! And are awesome!
I gotta look into those cashback cards. We just have a regular credit card.
I love this post. Maybe I should start one of these. Goals are great and I need some too. :)
Btw, did I hear christmas cards? I WANT ONE TOO!!! haha!
.-= Stefanie´s last blog ..That beloved waiting game. =-.
Have you read Pride & Prejudice & Zombies? It’s a fun read.
.-= hillary´s last blog ..Idiot Wind Blowing Through The Buttons Of Our Coats =-.
Such a good idea for Christmas! I’m doing that also with my Chase rewards points. Mine won’t be totally free but $100 off is pretty spectacular.
.-= bFlat´s last blog ..Latest Etsy Obsession: LBD Accessories =-.
i am also lusting after sweater dresses i cannot afford right now….
and i LOVEEEEEEE shapie pens! i love, love, love them!
please post pics if you decide on the tattoo!
.-= erin´s last blog ..the misery is gonna end and will religion enter? =-.
Great list! I’ve read almost everything Jane Austin wrote…such good stuff. Funny how relevant her characters have stayed throughout the years. Love it.
.-= Vanessa (Last Night’s Leftovers)´s last blog ..Ginger Fried Tofu =-.
what a good list. i am awful at making goals and keeping at them. hope this works for you!
as for what you should get. i say the laptop. i just purchased one and i loove it. or that tattoo.. yours sounds lovely!
.-= missy.´s last blog ..blogginess. =-.
What a brilliant little glimpse into your life. I love that you’re going to be economical (and strategic) about your Christmas gifting this year. And personally, while I think the lens and tattoo would both be awesome in their own ways, I think you should get a new laptop. Otherwise, you might wind up getting two things off that list should one or both of your computers crap out on you!
.-= SoMi’s Nilsa´s last blog ..Replay =-.
Shaba – I think the key for us is probably that we put the dog’s vet bills on the credit card! lol
.-= Kyla Roma´s last blog ..November Type A-ery =-.
I use my cashback as my christmas budget too!
Unfortunately mine is not nearly as large as yours (usually around $100) but I cash it in for the double cash back gift cards and buy people items that way.
That’s a lot of goals! All good ones though. I hope you’ll show us your Christmas cards!
I love Jesus… and The Big Lebowski. But not Jesus from The Big Lebowski. Just so we’re clear… :)
.-= Chelsea´s last blog ..Seven Quick Takes (vol.14) =-.
1) I want a Christmas card!
2) I love how you managed a Big Lebowski reference when talking about a Bible study.
I’m super interested in your Bible study, by the way.
.-= Doniree´s last blog ..Can’t Live Without =-.
I’m trying to get in shape, get the budget under control, and start cooking more homecooked meals.
Sane people would attempt one at a time. NOT ME.
(sigh)
.-= Ben´s last blog ..Final Destination: Full Frontal =-.
i love your november goals. those are great! it makes me think i could benefit from jotting down some monthly goals myself.
please tell me more about this credit card!
I love this post – I miiiiiight steal it?
Recently I’ve been crafting multiple to-do lists in Excel, adding colors and strikethrough.
Kyla, your posts make my day. For realz.
.-= Ashley´s last blog ..Remember, Remember… =-.
Girl after my own heart! These are all wonderful goals and I love that you’re as organized (and likely as fond of lists) as I!
P.S. My vote goes to the tats. :)
.-= Natalie Cottrell´s last blog ..Ms. Type A Goes to the Spa =-.
Gosh I love your posts! You’ve got me all excited about Christmas cards now :) I’d splurge on the laptop, although the tattoo and lens sound pretty awesome as well. I’m going to reward myself with a new laptop when I graduate, I think – of course, that’s not until 2011…*sigh*. You’ve got me in the mood for goal making! Oh no, I feel a blog coming on!
And if you ever need someone else to vent to or demand instant replies from, I don’t have a life and I’m basically always at my computer, so if you get desperate and want the help of someone who is basically a complete stranger, well, I think you’re lovely and I’d always be happy to hear from you :)
.-= Janie´s last blog ..And the award goes to…Monster Girl! =-.
1. Is it time for a new mix cd?
2. We should just make an evening of scouting out cheap sweater dresses at Urban Planet, followed by watching the (Keira Knightley and Matthew McFadyen version of) Pride and Prejudice ’cause I haven’t seen it yet either, and it’s somehow now on David’s list of must-sees
3. Okay these Christmas cards better be good, it’s the second time I’ve heard about them in the first week of November lol :)
.-= Emily Jane´s last blog ..Advocation for Self-Education =-.