Finishing the Year Strong

In my December goals, I put a line under professional for finishing the year strong.  It was a little vague, but as it turns out, ended up being very true.  

Last week, I gave my notice at Daimler.  I had been employed there for six years. There were a bunch of contributing factors- I didn't believe the corporate culture was consistent with my own values, I was tired of the travel and being on call twenty-four hours a day to change powerpoint decks (not by-the-way saving the lives of orphan children, a suitable reason to be on call), and most of all, I felt like I was trading the sweetest pre-school years of Alex's life in exchange for Kate Spade purses and Starbucks.

This has been a huge decision for us, to trade a job with some extraordinary benefits for a single income, but we believe it is most important to focus on Alex and some of the special needs he will have in 2015 and to spend some time making sure that we are raising him- not the daycare and television.  

I am extremely fortunate to have this option, and this flexibility. I have been researching Pre-K homeschool curriculum and toddler activities to get him out and about. Alex has never been to the library- it is about time for that to change!  
Right now my sweet little boy is watching Frosty the Snowman and playing with Ninja Turtles.   It is the best Christmas present ever to know that after January 19th- I will never have to tell him he has to wait to talk to Mommy because she is changing all the fonts in a Powerpoint to match an executive's personal preference.

Since 2014 was 95% work and 5% life, I have made the decision that 2015 will be 100% life.

How is that for a New Year's Resolution?

December Goals

Here we go... goals for December!

Fitness

1. Work out three times per week.

2. Log MyFitnessPal.

Extracurricular

1. Finish 15,000 words of novel.

2. Read Anna Karenina.

2015 Prep

1. Complete 2015 budget.

2. Set master vision/action plan for 2015.

Alex

1. Take Alex to Christmas lights at the zoo.

2.  Plan Alex's birthday.

3. Finish one Shutterfly book.

Professional

1.  Read customer satisfaction book.

2.  Wrap up the year strong!

Goals for December not starting strong- I worked up two times this week- the first week- but then I fell down the stairs and have a wrapped ankle.  That event I have been predicting since 2009 has occurred- Ninja ran behind me down the stairs and knocked me down. 

I have, however, completed y 2015 budget :)

100 Reasons to be Thankful - 2014 Thanksgiving

I have been slack on the blog this month- but in honor of Thanksgiving - here are 50 reasons I am thankful this Thanksgiving.

1.  I have the best mom and dad on the planet. We have had a great week just hanging out in Florida and letting Alex play with his family.

2. Fried catfish.  There are those who think this is a dirty-bottom feeding fish- but let me tell you... SO GOOD.  Thank you David's Catfish House for my pre-Thanksgiving feast.

3. My OCD.  I initially intended for this to be a list of 25, but my OCD indicated that a true list needs to be 50.

4. That my little boy likes Christmas music.  He has wanted to kick off Christmas early.  Just don't turn on a slow song.

5. That I have a whole attic full of Christmas stuff that I will put up promptly after Thanksgiving and take down promptly on December 26th.  

6. Watching stuff with Alex- he loves the villians- the abominable snowman, the snow monster in Frozen, the big bad wolf.

7. Starbucks.  Thank you for keeping me hydrated and giving me a little break.  Every day.

8. For all the great trips I have been on this year- even though I was traveling for work, I have had some great food and some great company.

9. For my best team members ever - without Cynthia, Jean and Jennifer, I may not actually stay sane.  OR sane-ish.

10. For yard sale toys.  My mom stocks up Alex when he comes to visit.  Right now a giant plastic shark is attacking the ninja turtles in a horse barn.  I want my little boy to have a good imagination.

11. Netflix.  Sweet netflix.  You never require me to watch something at a particular time or plan ahead.  Or even hit play on the next episode.  No demands.  Just sweet mindless TV.

12. This morning my sweet little boy wanted to sit in my lap and watch Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas.  SWEETEST THING EVER!!!

13. My little boy has officially cleared all of his MRI milestones for the year.  GO ALEX!!!

14. That the idiot valet who took my car key off my housekey and kept it actually turned it in so the hotel could mail it to me.  And that it came in the mail yesterday so I have keys when I get home.

15. That if I actually put my mind to losing weight- I would actually lose weight.  I have sucked at meeting that particularly goal, but I am thankful there is always hope.

16. Elf and Home Alone.  Hooray that the Christmas movie season has begun.  It's Santa!  I know him!  I know him!"

17. I literally have the BEST NEIGHBORS EVER.  They have three beautiful, sweet little girls for Alex to play with.  We all try to take care of each other.  We drink a LOT of beer.

18. Ms Deborah, who cleans my house.  Thank you for coming over on Friday so when I get home on Saturday it will be clean and smell like lemon-fresh goodness.

19.  For my flash of inspiration mid-year to start setting monthly goals and keep a blog.  I have really enjoyed it this year.

20. For Coursera.  I have taken a class on digital storytelling and learning how to learn.  For free.  January kicks off Buddhist Meditation.

21. For my friend Sarah.  She is truly one of the kindest, most generous people I have ever met.  I don't think she will ever know how much her friendship has meant over the years.  And, oh by the way, three months until the Farmer's Market opens!

22. For Shutterfly.  I am finally knocking off documenting some of Alex's milestones.  Without stacks of scrapbooking stuff everywhere.

23. For books.  Hard books to read- like the 1000 books to read before you die and for easy quick reads.  I have been losing myself in books since I was old enough to read.  I'm so glad that my parents raised me to love to read.

24. For music.  How the hell else do you get through car trips, bad days, or the gym?

25.  Slide.  Because the Goo Goo Dolls just deserve their own list item.

26. Amazon.  Because of you, a significant portion of my Christmas shopping is complete.  And I have new Hunter Green boots.

27. Painting with a Twist.  I am so glad to have found a creative outlet this year.  I am NOT a great artist.  But I do love painting.

28.  Dollar-bin projects from Michael's. You occupy my child and his friends without the TV.  You are the best.

29. The Thanksgiving kiddie table.  I had one when I was little- now Alex and Jax are there and happy as can be.

30. Jennifer, Heather and Kristen- we don't get to see each other often, but when we do, it is like we had never even been apart.  The definition of best friends.

31. NaNoWriMo Month - I didn't actually finish the 50,000 words-  I was at 22,000 words, but at least I know that I have a story to tell.

32. I went on a four mile walk this morning around Spencer Field in Milton.  Thank you for the fact that I live in a country that invests in places to walk and places for kids to play.

33. While on my walk I passed a Mennonite family.  The children were practicing riding unicycles.  Truthfully, it is the little things.

34. All over the news there is a bunch of shit-talking about our police.  As someone with several close friends who are police officers- I appreciate all the things that you do.  You risk your lives and sacrifice your time with your families, and do it all to keep me safe.  Thank you.

35.  For Sunday football.  Not because I like Sunday football, but it does give me an afternoon off to do whatever I want!

36. Shopping.  I love shopping.  Purses, shoes, clothes, toys for Alex.  Retail therapy = bliss.

37. Massage envy.  Thank you for inexpensive massages to get the knots out of my shoulders caused by hunching over my computer.  Holla.

38. Luke Bryan.  He provides me happiness to look at and to listen to.  His concerts are both an excellent venue for drinking beer and for spending some time saying "That's My Kind of Night."

39. Afternoon naps. People keep telling me that Alex is going to get tired of naps. I certainly hope not.

40. For living in Charlotte where there are always things to do - like now - after I ate a ton of Thanksgiving food- I am looking at my 5K options.

41. Pinterest and Etsy.  Because what else do people do who are having trouble sleeping :)

42. The simplicity of Alex.  I asked him what his favorite part of Thanksgiving was- his answer was biscuits.

43. Sonda, Stacey, and Keri- It doesn't matter what is going down in my personal life- you guys always know when to swoop in with wine and happiness!

44. Lists.  If you can't figure out how to say something in a top ten list- then maybe it can't be said.

45. My phone.  How else could I google whatever randomess pops into my mind wherever I am.

46.  Heated seats.  Only I would use my heated seats to drive to take a four mile walk outside.  Or turn up my air conditioner so I can have my heated seats on.

47. Thursdays.  Such a good day of the week.

48. The sweet way that my little boy sometimes just walks up to me and gives me a hug and a kiss.  What better thing is there in the entire world?  NOTHING!

49. Headed to the movies with my husband tonight- we used to go to the movies all the time, but now it is a real treat.

50. That I have such a great family both here for Thanksgiving and in other states.  Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

October Goals Summary

Fitness

1. Lose 5 pounds during the month of October.  Not so much- but I did lose 3 pounds and go visit the nutritionist toward the end of the month- so hoping for a good November!

2. Start a photo-journal of weight loss.  Nope.  I did take all my measurements thought.  I decided that was a better method of documentation.  The last thing I want is more pictures of me at 30 pounds overweight! 

3. Interview Jennifer Thruman regarding her weight-loss journey.  So this was totally lame.  I can't even claim that I called and talked to Jennifer this month to interview.  Really made me think about how terrible I am at keeping up with my friends.  Maybe a future goal :)

Literary

1. Read two 1,001 Books to Read Prior to Death.  Check.  Read Alice and Wonderland and Dracula.  I was down to the wire on Dracula.  I finished it about 10 p.m. on October 31.  But I made it.

2. Read the 3D Personal Branding book.  Check.  This was a great read with a lot of good ideas for developing a personal brand.  It was also a very quick read.  Awesome!

3. Write outline for nanowrimo book.  No outline. I decided to wing it once November 1 rolls around.  

Alex

1. Take Alex on weekend outing.  I tried. We booked a trip to Great Wolf Lodge, but then a case of poison oak got in the way.  We have the reservation still for sometime before May though.  In the meantime, however, Alex didn't suffer this month.  He went to Trick or Treat at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.  He went to the Renaissance Festival.  He got to go to Family Day at my work.  Alex had a very busy October.

2. Complete another Shutterfly book.  1/2 complete.  Truthfully I forgot about this goal halfway through the month, but the book is started!

3. Host a Halloween party. Check!  We had friends over for Halloween for Trick-or-Treating and Nacho night.  I would like to say Alex had a great time, but unfortuantely, I am pretty sure he was so tired from his school party and eating candy all day he was pretty cranky!

Professional

1. Take personable professional headshots.  Nope.  Wasn't ever able to get a date together with my favorite photography, Jamie Shook.  She runs Vintage Daisy Photography.  At this point, my hair needs to be cut prior to any photo session.  Goal on hold for now.

2. Finish digital storytelling class. Done! Still waiting for my grade to post, but I did create a digital storytelling video that is posted to WeVideo.

3. Create goal collage.  Nope!  THis was another one that I just forgot about.  Oops...

Next months goals will probably be pretty abbreviated since I am now committed to write 50,000 words in 30 days as part of NanaWriMo month.  Need to work those out next!

New Beginnings

October has been a month of new beginnings for a lot of people in my life- some were by choice, and some were not- but no matter how you look at it- change is coming.

I have several friends who have started therapy.  One who is now back on the job market.  I am getting a new boss.  My dad had knee surgery. I am starting with a nutritionist tomorrow.  Another friend who got married over the weekend.

Change is inevitable.

I have a confession- I love the show Iyanla Fix My Life.  There was an episode last season about a woman who gained more than 500 pounds over a couple of years- a six hundred pound woman.  She didn't even get out of bed anymore to go to the bathroom.  Iyanla came to see her and she asked the obvious question- how do you get to this point?  The woman's response really touched me.  "One day, I just couldn't see how to move forward." 

There are so many days that I feel the same way.  I want to lose weight, but the start date for the diet is always tomorrow.  I want to develop a personal brand, but today it is just too much trouble to update my LinkedIn or iron my dress pants for work.  I want to save money, but the French Connection coat on Amazon is so cute.  There is always an excuse and a reason to not move forward.

October is a month for change.  Some changes were good.  Some changes will be hard. But sometimes you just need to find that something to keep you moving forward.

Good luck all!

Observations Since Last Post

I have been busy busy busy and haven't had much of a chance to post lately- so as a quick update, here is what has been going on in October:

1. Fall has had a couple of false starts here in Charlotte.  One day it is crisp and cool, and the next day we are powering up the air conditioner again.  Come on, weather, bring on the coldness!

2. I have been pinning mustard colored pants on Pinterest like crazy.  Unfortunately, there aren't any to be found in stores.  Seems like if something is trending on Pinterest- someone should want to sell it.  Just saying.

3. October has been a stressful month.  It has been super busy at work.  There has been substantial drama.  People just aren't acting right.  What's a girl to do?

4. I received my Frequent Painter apron at Painting with a Twist!  Super excited that I have found such a great, relaxing hobby.

5. Spoke at the NTEA Executive Leadership Conference.  Most tiring day EVER. I flew out to Vegas in the morning, took the red-eye back that night, and then worked all day the next day.  Ain't nobody got time for that.

Alex is eating donut holes right now and going "Mommy. Mommy, Mommy..." so I better get to him!  Have a great day!

October Goals

October is off to such an amazing start!  My house is decorated for Halloween and we have a full month of activities planned at our house to celebrate the season and spend time as a family.  Today is a lazy Sunday at our house- Alex is playing with his "Treat Train", we are hatching an alligator I brought back from New Orleans, and the crockpot is stocked with some delicious pot roast.

Did I mention... FALL IS HERE!!!!  I woke up this morning and it was chilly in my house with the windows open.  YAY!

Here are the fall goals:

Fitness

1. Lose 5 pounds during the month of October.  For my readers- I am starting at 167- which means 162 by the end of the month.  Good news- I am actually in town this month, which means I can control my eating a lot better.  I have the meal plan already in place for the week and healthy lunches.

2. Start a photo-journal of weight loss.  My friend Jennifer has done an amazing job of documenting her weight loss- I want to do the same thing.

3. Interview Jennifer Thruman regarding her weight-loss journey.  My friend Jennifer has undergone an amazing transformation over the last year.  I want to interview her this month for her tips and tricks.

Literary

1. Read two 1,001 Books to Read Prior to Death.  Off to a good start here- I read Alice in Wonderland yesterday.  Apparently it is quite short.  Dracula is next in honor of Halloween.

2. Read the 3D Personal Branding book.  

3. Write outline for nanowrimo book.  I have signed up to write a 50,000 word novel during the month of November, through National Novel Writer's Month (NaNoWriMo).  October is official preparation month.

Alex

1. Take Alex on weekend outing.

2. Complete another Shutterfly book.

3. Host a Halloween party.

Professional

1. Take personable professional headshots.  My current headshot looks terrible.  I wouldn't hire me. 

2. Finish digital storytelling class. 

3. Create goal collage.

September Goals Recap

September was NOT a good month for goal attainment.  I had a great month for sure, but in terms of getting to where I wanted to be- not so much.  I have some excuses, but as my boss's boss's boss likes to say - "Losers have excuses, winners have a plan."  Here's to a better October.

Here's the September rundown.

Fitness

1. No fast food during September.  NOPE.

2. Exercise 3 times per week.  I am ashamed to say I didn't exercise ONE TIME the entire month of September.  My Fitbit wasn't even on.  I got a horrible rash from it- so I have been sedentary.  My only savior was that I now have a standing desk at work.

Professional

1. Post one article to LinkedIn and Twitter per week.  I did post a few articles, but it was like two, not one per week.  I believe I am going to cancel my Twitter account and focus my social presence on Facebook and LinkedIn.  I did, however, spend three hours updating my LinkedIn profile- so now it freaking rocks.

2. Design a Research Plan for my department. Nope.  There has been a lot of transition this month since my boss has left the company.  Waiting to see where things shake out.

Literary

1. Read Creative Confidence.  Yep!  This one was good- it got a little slow towards the end, but overall, a great message.  Anyone can be creative, we are built for it, but society has limited its view of what it means to be creative and we need to bring it back!

2. Read one book from the 1,001 List of Books to Read Before you Die. I read two- Lady Chatterley's Lover and The Woman in White. I am now reading a "junk book."  A little light reading on serial killers.  Will be back to the list in October though.

3. Write one blog entry that has to be researched.  Ehhh... depends on your definition of research. My blog has been maintained at least.

Alex

1. Decorate for Halloween.  Yes!  Check out pics in my previous posts!

2. Take Alex to pumpkin farm.  We did it right this year- pumpkins, hayrides and all.  We even have already painted a pumpkin- carving the rest of coming u this weekend!

3. Finish another Shutterfly book.  Sure did! Our New York trip book is in transit and I started a "Birth O' Alex" book.

Learning

1. Take first four weeks of Human Physiology course.  Nope. I dropped the course and started taking digital storytelling which I have found much more engaging.  See more on my digital story soon!

In retrospect- I got 7 of 11 - with some half points for goals that changed directions.

Business Casual: A Woman's Dilemma

I am going to start this post by stating a full confession:  I was not the most appropriately dressed woman at the American Marketing Association today.  I wore jeans, a cardigan, and flats.  I also had to wear my hair in a ponytail because the Louisiana humidity refused me the bliss of a good hair day.

That being said, I have to say I was not the worst dressed.  

I am a big fan of the blog "The Classy Cubicle".  The blog writer states:

"With no clear-cut female equivalent to men’s suit and tie (“the dude uniform”), women’s professional appearances all too often fall into one of two tragic, career-busting categories: sloppy or slutty."

Amen, sister.  I tend to sway towards sloppy.  It's my curse.  I would rather wear an old t-shirt, jeans and flops.  Let's be honest.

But as a woman in the workforce, we do, in fact have an image problem.  The majority of the men at the conference today were wearing button down shirts with either slacks or jeans.  Business casual by any person's standard.  The women in the audience, however, range everywhere to Mad Men-era tweed suits to floral sundresses and sandals.  

Here were some offenders:

I'm not going to harp further on some of the atrocities I experienced today, including the woman who made my mind echo Shirley McClaine in Steel Magnolias (You know, "Her dress looks like two pigs fighting under a blanket"), but I do have to say that if women want to be treated as equals to men in the workplace we, myself included, have to start dressing the part.

Voice of the Industry

It all started with the DTNA six pillars that are supposed to form our strategy. One little line that said "Voice of the Industry." I think that pillar has created a monster.

It started small- I presented at the FTR Associates on the Reputation of the Trucking Industry.  I tripped coming off the stage.  The sound was bad on my video.  But my presentation was just different enough that people came up to me afterward and wanted to talk a little bit about what I had presented.

Then, our HR department asked me to develop a training course called Truckonomics.  I developed the course and teach it several times a year.  (The irony is not lost on me that I did not do as well in economics as the rest of my classes and now I teach it.)

Then came the Corporate Researcher's Conference last year.  I submitted a speaker proposal to present on 'Starting a Market Research Department - What I wish I had known".  I was selected and gave my Friday morning presentation and had a line of people who wanted more insights FROM ME on what I thought about their growing marketing departments.  We got kicked out of the room because the next speaker had to go on.

This past August, a good friend of mine, Chris Kemmer, asked me to be on a panel on truck specc'ing.  A topic I am not an expert on, but you get your questions in advance, so I went for it.  I was told by my boss that I took a boring topic and made it witty and insightful.

Two weeks ago, it was the Corporate Researcher's Conference again.  My topic was "Using Market Research to Drive Internal Innovation and Collaboration"  After this session, someone walked up and told me they were a fan.

In two weeks, I am presenting at the NTEA on data driven decision making.  I am also preparing a submission to a well-known marketing magazine to become a published author.

Bottom line:  I am a natural introvert who for some reason doesn't mind talking in front of an audience.  Apparently I have a lot to say.  People have faith in me and are giving me a forum to express my opinions.

I don't know how this has happened outside of I just have a natural passion for what I do and where I work, but it is amazing where life can take you if you just show up and work hard to be in the right place where opportunities are available. 

(P.S.  I'm sorry if this blog entry was a little self-aggrandizing.  I didn't mean for it to be.  I'm kind of amazed and grateful at the direction this is going and wanted to share.)

New York City Photobook - Done!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Build your own high-quality photo books at Shutterfly.com.

More Halloween Decorations

Baby boy is out of town this weekend- so of course in the absence of baby boy- I continued to decorate the house for baby boy. I also went and bought him some more books for his Halloween book bucket.  He comes home on Friday- probably best for my wallet.

Here's the rundown:

• I bought a giant Halloween dog for the front porch.  Accompanied by Fall mums.
• Made a Halloween wreath since I hated the $100 ones at Michael's.  I am not a professional wreath maker, but it does have creepy spiders.
• Decorated the table upstairs.  This is the first time this particular table has been decorated for the holidays- and I think it is going to be a permanent installation.

Bucket List Prequel

I was encouraged to write a bucket list prequel to pay homage to the things I have already done that might have been on another person's bucket list.  Some of these are silly- but they are all true!

• Held a python
• Got a Master’s degree.
• Gave a valedictorian speech.
• Was a syndicated columnist.
• Wrote obituaries for money.
• Rode in a Class 8 truck to a truck show.
• Drank coconut milk out of a coconut.
• Was in the Wall Street Journal
• Wrote a front page newspaper article
• Attended Oktoberfest.
• Watched the sunset over the Materhorn.
• Spent the day at a Turkish bath.
• Walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.
• Held an alligator.
• Took honey from a live beehive.
• Bought real legit cowboy boots.
• Did a police ride-along.
• Slid down a fireman’s pole.
• Kissed someone I don’t know.
• Received a lap dance from a transvestite.
• Ride in a limo.
• Fly first class to Europe.
• Shop in Milan.
• Ride in a double decker bus.
• Get a massage on a beach in Barcelona.
• Sing a karaoke duet.
• Hold an elected office.
• Start a non-profit.
• Help the homeless in Washington, DC.
• Build a Habitat for Humanity House in Miami.
• Work with AIDS patients in New York City.
• See the Rockefeller Christmas Tree.
• Drive a NASCAR.
• Ride in a helicopter.
• Ride an elephant.
• Ride on a train.
• Be captain of a sports team.
• Receive a love letter.
• Ride in a hydrofoil.
• Hitchhike to see Old Faithful.
• Sew a quilt.
• Give a speech in front of more than a 1000 people.
• Dance on a bar.
• Ride a mechanical bull.
• Get a piercing someone other than in ears.
• Dress up a like a Playboy bunny.
• Complete a 10K.
• Work out with a personal trainer.
• Shop on Rodeo Drive.
• Visit Ellis Island.
• See an acoustic Dave Matthews only concert.
• Be a camp counselor.
• Go to a Swiss hot springs.
• Go to the spy museum.
• Have a little boy named Alex.
• Have beignets in New Orleans.
• Stay at Atlantis resort in the Bahamas.
• Take an ATV ride through the jungle.
• Watch an entire TV series back to back to back.
• Go to the Salvador Dali museum.
• Make my own Christmas cards.
• Learn how to paint.
• Complete a thesis project.
• Be a bridesmaid (twice).
• Do a scavenger hunt in a cemetery.
• Take a picture in Time Square
• Attend a Broadway show
• Act in a play (Little Women and Grease)
• Host a raclette dinner
• Walk from the white house to the Washington monument to the Lincoln Memorial.
• Wear camo and go hunting.
• Take piano lessons.
• Take gymnastics lessons.
• Remodel my closet.
• Play hide and seek in Walmart.
• Be in a fashion show.
• Take a vacation in an RV
• Stay in a haunted hotel.
• Go to a strip club.
• Work in an ER.
• Go sledding on cafeteria trays.
• Eat seafood in Hong Kong.
• Eat maccarons in Paris.
• Win an award for fearlessness.
• Be “Most Likely to Succeed”
• Visit the Grand Canyon.
• Go on a cruise.
• Read all of the Dark Tower Series.
• Buy a house.
• Own a beagle.
• Design a custom closet.
• Take a yoga class.
• Take Alex to Disney.
• Pay off student loans.
• Get a full scholarship.
• Stay in a hostel.
• Hike to a waterfall.
• Write a secret on a wall in a bar.
• Weave a Longeberger basket.
• See a major league baseball game.

Halloween Decorating

Another Kristen OCD-ism- I have very specific rules about when holiday decorations can go up, they don't make sense to anyone but me- but they are the rules.

So, as of September 1, I am allowed to put up Halloween decorations, so today that is what we did.

(Side note:  If you are curious about the decoration rules here they are:  September 1 through November 1:  Halloween; November 1 - Black Friday: Thanksgiving; Black Friday - December 26:  Christmas.)  I get a lot of crap about the day after Christmas tear down- but you know what- Christmas is OVER!

Back to Halloween.

Since the new Michaels opened up next to my house, I went and hit up their grand opening sale and now have an awesome Halloween village.  I am going to need another freaking attic for my holiday decorations, but Alex loves it and I love putting them up with him.  Our mantle also scored some new decorations.

I am waiting for everything to go on sale at Hobby Lobby because I need some yard stuff.  I might work on that while Alex is at Grandma's so he has a spooky surprise when he gets home.

Here are some shots of the decorations thus far:

Hard to see with the blinking lights, but the one on the left is a coffin
factory and the one on the right is a witch nightclub.

Please no judgement because I haven't put pictures in the frames yet.

Alex for the first time is excited about Halloween and is psyched to go pick out his Spiderman costume.  I also can't wait!

September Goals

I have found that with the exception of Fitness goals- which in general I suck at... I have been doing really well at setting goals for the month and getting them done.  It has given me some degree of purpose + given me some motivation to actually get some of the things accomplished. I highly encourage the process!  

Fitness

1. No fast food during September.  Going for a year without fast food is one of my bucket list goals, but I figured that September is as good a month as any to give it a shot.  I'm traveling A LOT during September so this goal will be especially hard to accomplish. 

2. Exercise 3 times per week.  I am broadening my scope a little for exercise since two months running I have NOT done Couch25K.  During my trip to Indianapolis for instance, the group I am with does a morning two mile walk... that counts.  Going to yoga... that counts.  Etc. Etc.

Professional

1. Post one article to LinkedIn and Twitter per week.  First this means that I have to read articles.  Second, I do a terrible job at managing my social presence.  I downloaded HootSuite to maybe give myself a headstart.  Check it out- it allows you to create and schedule posts so you don't have to actually remember, plus you can add it to your Google toolbar.

2. Design a Research Plan for my department.  I am going to the Corporate Researchers Conference and the American Marketing Association conference this month.  Hoping to cash in on some fresh inspiration to jazz up my work planning.

Literary

1. Read Creative Confidence.  Bought this book at Powell's City of Books in Portland and it has lived on my side table since then.  This month is the month.

2. Read one book from the 1,001 List of Books to Read Before you Die. I'm going to have to read more than one a month to make it before my death, but this is as good a start as any!

3. Write one blog entry that has to be researched.  My blog right now is mostly impressions of things that have happened in my actual life.  I want to pick a topic, research it, and then blog about it.  Just to add a little bit of meat to it!

Alex

1. Decorate for Halloween.  Last year, I may have waited until the last minute.  This year, Halloween starts early!

2. Take Alex to pumpkin farm.  Last year we took the easy way out and got a "quick pumpkin."  This year we have made arrangements with our amazing neighbors to go to the pumpkin farm, do the hay rides, and pick out a pumpkin the old fashioned way.  I love fall.

3. Finish another Shutterfly book.  This goal might be on the list for a while... there are three whole years of Alex pictures to catch up on!

Learning

1. Take first four weeks of Human Physiology course.  This is a 12 week course offered through Duke University.  First, I find it kind of embarrassing that I know so little about how Kristen works.  Second, hopefully I will learn a few things about how to stay healthy.  Win. Win.

Happy September all!

August Goals Update

Fitness

1.  Couch to 5K.  Nope.

2. Track MyFitness Pal - Nope.

3. Drink two 32 ounce Tervis's per day of water. I actually did start drinking no water.  The cutting down the Starbucks definitely helped here and since I packed my lunch every day this was easier.  The trick next month will be since my travel schedule will kick back up whether I can keep up the pace with the water.

Extracurricular

1. Complete Coursera Course "Learning to Learn"  I struggled during week three with motivation to watch the videos, but I am six hours away from getting my final grade and I am fairly confident it will be good.  All A's so far and I really enjoyed the class- plus to did the extra reading.

2. Read Two Books - Done!  See previous blog post.  Already started on a new book!  This actually ended up getting me in some good habits- instead of mindlessly cruising Pinterest for several hours prior to bed, I started reading and it has also helped me sleep!

Financial

1. Buy only one drink from Starbucks daily. There were a couple of cheats- but less than 5, and there were several days that were Starbucks free.  Since I was up to almost 3 a day-  I consider this a success.

2. Put money in savings monthly.  One thing I didn't consider with this goal was that last month's spending means this months credit card bill- so this was harder than I thought- but I did put money into savings and since September is a three paycheck month, I have set the goal to put my "extra" into savings.

Alexander

1. Draft a will.  Done.  Will needs an edit, which I am sure Legal Zoom will take care off, but it is in good shape!

2. Take Alex to the zoo.  Done!

3. Create one Shutterfly book.  Done!  I did Alex's first Christmas.

House

1. Kitchen Overhaul - Kitchen overhaul was actually pretty much every room in the house.  We ended up with two carloads for the Goodwill and no urge on my part for further shopping.

2. Cook one new recipe per week.   Kind of... some of the "new" recipes were cheats.  I need to get more prepared for this kind of thing.

Personal

1. Get up on weekdays at 5:30 and on weekends at 6:30.  Nope. Not at all. Not even remotely.  Lazy.  Lazy.  Lazy.

2. Create a 100 item bucket list.  I did a bucket list- which I posted, and I bucket list "prequel" which is yet to be posted.  Had a great time doing this, but fair warning- it takes longer than you think!

New York City and New Jersey Greatest Hits

I try in my blog not to brag too much about my baby boy- but we have been in New York City and New Jersey for the Labor Day holiday and Alex has had the best time and has some VERY cute pictures.

Here are some for his fans!

Alex and Mommy in Central Park

Alex got an arm painting by an artist in Central Park.

Alex and Daddy went mountain climbing.

Alex went digging for fossils at Jurassic Jersey.

Central Park carousel.

Alex learned from tricks from Spiderman.

We checked out the piano at FAO Schwartz.

Spiderman popsicle!

Jurassic Jersey selfie! 

Basketball Pro!

We have had a great time so far and I am so proud of how good Alex has been and all the new experiences he has had!

A Month of Books!

For the month of August, I set a literary goal- to read two books, one for personal development and one for fun.  A sub-requirements of the fun book was that it had to have some literary value- it couldn't be smut of the 50 Shades variety that I am so fond of.

I think this was the best goal of my month.  I read two books that I really did enjoy and, interestingly enough, enjoyed them both more than the junk I had been reading to just pass time on airplanes.  

Prior to this month, I would have said that I didn't have enough time to read at home while doing things with Alex, but I did find that I do have time.  Here is where I worked it in:

1. Post-nap Alex tends to want to watch a movie, this ended up being great reading time, but I had to let go of what I would usually do- the lunch kitchen clean up.  As it turns out, it doesn't matter at all if I just let the lunch dishes sit until dinner.  Plus, I wash them while things are cooking so I don't have to look at them while I eat.  Win-win.

2.  Pool time.  Our neighborhood pool doesn't open until 11 and Alex typically wakes up before 7.  I blew up the little pool and have been sitting under the tree watching him and the neighborhood girls swim while reading.  Win.

3. Pinterest.  I look at Pinterest for the last 30 minutes before I go to bed.  Epic win- just read instead.  Don't worry I still spend plenty of time on Pinterest.

So here is what I read:

The Valley of Amazement:  I have heard for years that Amy Tan is an amazing author- but I always kind of assumed she was an amazing author in that her writing is deep and hard to understand, but as it turns out The Valley of Amazement was one of the best books I have every read.  It isn't easy reading in that there is a neat happy ending in the book- too much happens to the characters throughout the book to truly have them walk away into a happy fairy land at the end- but throughout the book you are rooting for these characters so deeply that at every turn, when they have bad things happen, or make bad choices you just want to scream for them.  One of the other excellent elements of this book was that it took place in China during the early 1900s and was told from the perspective of a courtesan.  This was something that I knew nothing about and Amy Tan filled in so much rich detail and you forget your preconceptions about being a courtesan and just fall into the experiences of these women's lives, no differently than if they worked in an office building. Overall rating:  A+

A Mind for Numbers:  This book is the companion book to the class I am taking on Coursera called Learning how to Learn.  The one struggle that I had with it was that it followed the course videos so closely that at times the script for the professor's lectures were almost word for word, but overall, I have done very well on my quizzes because I have heard it from the professor and then read it in the book.  There were some great strategies for learning in there and it really is a book for everyone, not just people who want to get better at math and science. This is also a very short read and very good at breaking down complex topics into easy concepts.  Overall rating: B+

I put on my bucket list that I want to read the "1001 Books to Read Before you Die".  I'm only at 33.  Plus, I marked the pages of books I had read with my llama post-its and they look kind of creepy staring at me - thank you Sarah!  But here's what it looks like!  It's open to Heart of Darkness- which I read, for the full llama experience.  

Good luck and good reading!