November 2020 goals

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 Money and 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!

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