Honestly, friends, November was a bit of a disappointment for goals. Not so much because I got nothing accomplished, but because for the one goal I really wanted to knock out of the park – my Advent calendar – I barely nudged the needle. November is usually my last chance to make big progress on yearly goals, because I mostly focus on reflection and fun in December, so it stings a bit to feel like I’m ending with a whimper instead of a bang. BUT – reminding myself of a truth I know – not reaching an expected finish line doesn’t negate the good stuff that came before it. It just means there’s a little more to roll over into 2021 :)
On my calendar this month: — Dinner out with John for our 2020 review and celebration. This might be a bit of a last-minute event, because we’re still not eating inside at restaurants — so fingers crossed for a warmer evening where we can sit outside (hopefully next to a heat lamp!). — An appetizer and Christmas movie night! (Planning to do family Christmas movie nights every Friday this month, and this will be a special edition.) We started with the original Grinch last week, and have The Star, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and Olaf’s Frozen Adventure also on the list! — Completing the Write the Word | Worship journal (a Cultivate collaboration with Proverbs31!) as an Advent devotion
What I’m loving right now: — My PowerSheets prep work! The best reset and chance to dream. — I’d never listened to an episode of the hugely-popular Armchair Expert podcast, but when I saw Lenore Skenazy (of COTAM fame) was a guest, I had to give it a listen. Worth the two hours. — These are not new, but I love my L.L. Bean slippers so very much, especially in the colder months. A perfect gift, too!
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What I read in November: — Save Me the Plums | A delightful read – and perfect for the month of Thanksgiving, as I expected. Ruth’s writing is simple but rich, and as a former magazine editor, it was so fun to get the behind-the-scenes details of her time at Gourmet. — God and Money | This was a thought-provoking read, and has already stimulated conversation between John and me. The authors focus a lot on wealth and consumption “finish lines,” ideas I both chafe against and want to embrace. I hope to write a Marvelous Money post sharing more!
A little update on my 2020 reading list: it’s been a joy! So far, I’ve read 15 of the 24 books on the list. Hoping to finish 3 more before December 31st!
Revisiting my November goals: Begin my 2021 PowerSheets prep Complete the Advent calendar backer Order and complete our 2010-2014 family album Hang mirrors in the bathroom Order our Christmas cards Make decisions about all gifts for all the people Clear the decks for holiday decor Make our holiday plans Hang our bikes in the garage
December goals: — Have fun with our Christmas reading calendar — Help June make/choose and wrap gifts for John and Shep — Set our 2020 budget — Finish culling and sorting our 2020 photos — Order and complete our 2010-2014 family album — Neaten the laundry room
Let’s talk appetizers. If you were planning an appetizer dinner, what would you make?? On my list: pizza rolls (!). Baked ham and cheese sliders. All the dips – onion dip and chips, cut veggies and ranch dip, queso and guacamole. Buffalo wings. And the delicious nuggets of goodness, famous in my family, called sausage stars… maybe I’ll have to share the recipe sometime :) Now tell me yours!!
With just two months left in the year, my mind is very much on how I can wrap up my 2020 goals well. For some of them, that might look like neatly checking a box to mark “complete!” (for example, my Advent calendar project); for others, it might look more like noticing how far I’ve come and considering how I might like to continue the work into 2021. Here are the little-by-little steps I have planned for this month!
A portrait of Halloween 2020: the happiest Aurora, the cutest doggie, our COVID candy distribution chalk art, and my favorite trick-or-treaters. I was so impressed with all of the creativity (candy zip lines, air cannons, chutes!) and care that went into making Halloween such a fun night in our neighborhood!
On my calendar this month: — Making chocolate chip shortbread cookies. For some reason I have been craving these, even though I’ve never made them in my life!! Does anyone have a good recipe to share? — Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping – I’m working on my list! Will be eyeing my favorite bra and these scalloped nesting baskets, among other things, for discounts. — Normally voting would be on my list, but this year (for the first time ever!), I voted early, in-person!
What I’m loving right now: — If you’re looking for a movie that will please a group over the holidays (even parents, sans cringe), may I suggest Knives Out? John and I thought it was clever and delightful, and the richly-ornamented house that serves as the backdrop to the action seems just right for colder weather. (Bonus: it’s included with Prime!) — I am a little embarrassed to admit this, since I’ve known Nancy for quite some time and therefore had less than six degrees of separation from Jess Ray for an equal amount of time, but I’ve only dived into her music this fall. It’s so good. Current favorite is the Mission House album, especially “Never See the End.” — Shep is a skinny dude, and many pants feel absurdly baggy on him. He’s worn this tan pair for two cold seasons in a row now (including in last year’s family photos!). I highly recommend (and you can’t beat the price!).
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What I read in October: — Lilac Girls | I don’t believe I’ve ever read fiction told from the perspective of a Nazi, which made this novel set in World War II an interesting addition to the genre. If you enjoy stories from this era (The Nightingale, anyone?) you’ll eat up this weaving together of three distinct, yet entwined, narratives. — My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry | Highly recommended by a dear friend, this novel felt jangly, chaotic, and a little too self-aware at first, but I ended up loving it (though I did find the idea of classmates writing such horrible notes to a fellow 7-year-old – and no grown-up stepping in – hard to stomach). The way it weaves together and unveils the house residents and Miamas kingdoms is magic!
A little update on my 2020 reading list: it’s trucking along! So far, I’ve read 13 of the 24 books on the list. It doesn’t seem like I’ll get to all of them before the end of the year, but I hope to finish 7-8 more before December 31st! Next up: God and Moneyand Save Me the Plums(doesn’t it seem just right for the month of Thanksgiving?).
Revisiting my October goals: Design our family Christmas newsletter and order Christmas cards (newsletter is underway!) Edit Sheptember, Volume 2 Complete four more Advent ornaments (completed the holly, the crown, and the ice skate!) Ride 50 miles (36!) Wallpaper the upstairs bathroom Switch out lighting in the upstairs bathroom(we chose these lights – can’t wait to show you an update!) Finalize family mission statement Finish garage reboot, including hanging our bikes
November goals: — Begin my 2021 PowerSheets prep — Complete the Advent calendar backer (!!). My thought is that if I have this completed by the end of the month, then we might actually be able to use it this year – I can finish up the last few ornaments before we get to those dates in December! :) — Order and complete our 2010-2014 family album. Does anyone know of an option that includes a customizable fabric cover that’s at least 8×8, without layflat pages? Artifact Uprising’s is 7×7… — Hang mirrors in the bathroom — Order our Christmas cards — Make decisions about all gifts for all the people — Clear the decks for holiday decor (I’m looking specifically at you, laundry room and master bedroom hot spots!) — Make our holiday plans — Hang our bikes in the garage
I have an ambitious slate of posts planned for November, including a Highlands recap, a camping recap, gift guides, an investing 101 series, and, tomorrow, a holiday prep post. I know gift guides can be contentious – some people love them, some skip right over – but I enjoy putting them together (and reading the guides of others!) and providing some realistic and delightful ideas you may not have come across yet. Any requests for me to include this year? I’ll take them as specific or as broad as you’d like!
Happy October, friends! Though the pandemic has canceled several of our fall favorites, we’re still feeling the cozy vibes over here. Pumpkin chocolate chip muffins, apple cider scones, new soup recipes, hiking through colorful leaves, crisp afternoons playing outside with neighborhood friends, and this weekend – a bit of decorating inside and out! My tiny sidekick is pumped :)
On my calendar this month: — Decorating for fall, including making ghosts with June per her request — The fifth (fifth!) anniversary gathering of Articles Club — Our family fall trip to the mountains
What I’m loving right now: — John and I recently watched the first two seasons of Cobra Kai, and I have complicated feelings about it. The first 8 episodes of season 1 were THOROUGHLY enjoyable and refreshing – surprisingly, the characters kept making the right decisions. Things took a turn from there, though, and for some reason I took it very personally, ha! In honor of Johnny and Mr. LaRusso, we’ve been listening to this playlist and it is deliciously 80’s – great for cleaning or bopping around the house. — My parents-in-law gave me this Gathre tablecloth in the Stars print recently, and I am in love. Made from leather, they are not inexpensive, but the ease of clean-up after meals is amazing with little kids. Maybe a good thing to put on a Christmas list or to scout on Black Friday! — This set of 20 linen hair bows is a steal of a deal. We’ve been having fun adding them to the ends of June’s braids!
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What I read in September: — Adopted for Life | I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this book wasn’t it. I enjoyed the Biblical depth he offered for the underpinnings of adoption, but I think I was hoping for something more practical. — 12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You | I have read many books on our digital lives at this point, and so far this one is middle of the pack. Similar to Adopted for Life, he’s less focused on the practical and more on the big picture… and I guess I like the nitty gritty :) The “change” that has stuck with me the most, though, has really stuck with me: “we ignore our flesh and blood.” I think about it every time I’m tempted to pick up my phone while driving.
Revisiting my September goals: Film Sheptember, Volume 2 Read a marriage book in honor of our anniversary (didn’t get to this, but I think I’m going to choose How to Fall in Love with Anyone on the recommendation of reader Sarah!) Complete our upstairs bathroom renovation (“complete” was a little ambitious, but we definitely made progress! Walls painted, mirror down, new bathmats and shower curtain installed!) Complete four more Advent ornaments(tree, candy cane, heart, and present!) Ride 50 miles on our stationary bike or out in the wild (48!! So close!) Add plants to the master bathroom Begin family “by-laws” in a Google Doc Adjust the styling of EFM’s H1 headers so I can use them! (sent an email to my web folks, so this is underway!) Send a care package to a former babysitter who’s a college freshman
October goals: — Design our family Christmas newsletter and order Christmas cards — Edit Sheptember, Volume 2 — Complete four more Advent ornaments — Ride 50 miles — Wallpaper the upstairs bathroom — Switch out lighting in the upstairs bathroom — Finalize family mission statement — Finish garage reboot, including hanging our bikes
Also fun to note: 2021 PowerSheets launch this month! Even in a really unusual year, I’m so grateful for the progress I’ve made on the goals I share here each month – things that really matter to me – and my PowerSheets are a big part of that. If you’re ready for a fresh start next year, I hope you’ll take a peek at the collection on October 14th!
Hello to my favorite month, September! It’s when we got married, that back-to-school freshness is thick in the air, and the weather in New England is my absolute favorite (it’s not too shabby in NC, either!). August was wonderful to our family, and there’s so much to look forward to this month, too.
On my calendar this month: — The first day of fall! We’ll bake apple cider scones for our family and June’s teachers, a tradition we started four years ago. — Our annual camping trip with the Rays — Our eighth wedding anniversary!
What I’m loving right now: — I don’t have a ton of seasonal decor (even for Christmas!), but these wicker pumpkins (one more size here) were too good to pass up. — I’m late to the party, but John and I watched The Last Dance (on Netflix) while on vacation in Connecticut and it was excellent. It might be my Enneagram 5 showing, but give me a well-done look at almost any subject and I’m hooked. Michael Jordan is a FASCINATING human, the storylines are compelling, and the editing is so good. I’ll dock a few points for strong language but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed it. — We aren’t beyond the realm of full-on parental supervision yet with the ages of our kids, but I’m glad that there are a growing number of options to help facilitate the kind of “free-range childhood” many of us grew up with. This article lays out several of them.
As a reminder, you can find allll the things I’ve loved over the last few years neatly organized right here!
What I read in August: — The Giver of Stars | This came highly recommended (and was my August EFM book club pick!) but I thought it was good, not great. The characters felt a little two-dimensional all the way through, and Alice’s husband and father-in-law were so awful that the first half of the book was kind of hard to read for me. — The Paris Wife | This novel was enjoyable, but knowing only a little about Hemingway and his first wife, I felt a general sense of dread hanging over me the whole time I was reading, knowing that I didn’t know what was going to happen but that things wouldn’t end well. If I had known Hadley’s life turns out in the end, I think I would have perked up a little :) Also, I assume the more Hemingway you’ve read, the more interesting you’d find this book! (I’ve read very little.)
Revisiting my August goals: Begin reading Mark with John Book our camping trip for this fall(Now just praying for good weather!) Sort through my SCC secretary responsibilities and make an easy-to-follow yearly checklist Watch Just Mercy with John now that I’ve finished the book(The movie was great – but the book is 1000 times better. I think I’m going to write a post about both to convince any of you who haven’t dipped your toe in yet to do so! :)) Buy a new handbag(Done! Went with alllllmost the same thing, just with a longer strap and in navy.) Edit June in June, Volume 5(Done! Worldwide premier coming soon!) Complete four more Advent ornaments(FIVE! The ball ornament, mitten, stocking, tree, and star!) Post all three parts of my photo organization guide(Parts one and two are live; part three will post later this week!) Clean out downstairs craft supplies once kids go back to preschool(Oooh I am SO HAPPY to have this done! Here’s a before and after.) Do something fun with at least one friend couple(With two, actually! :)) Mock up a design board for our upstairs bathroom(Not only mocked up, but progress is underway!) Ride our stationary bike Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays (This experiment helped me ride more than last month, but sometimes I used the excuse of it not being a M, W, or F to not ride, which was counterproductive. Trying something new this month!)
September goals: — Film Sheptember, Volume 2 — Read a marriage book in honor of our anniversary — Complete our upstairs bathroom renovation — Complete four more Advent ornaments — Ride 50 miles on our stationary bike or out in the wild — Add plants to the master bathroom — Begin family “by-laws” in a Google Doc (more to come on this!) — Adjust the styling of EFM’s H1 headers so I can use them! — Send a care package to a former babysitter who’s a college freshman (ideas for that here!)
Alright, let’s hear it: who wants to fight me on The Giver of Stars? :) Otherwise, I’d love to hear your favorite month of the year (and why!)! OR your favorite marriage book!
