Update on my 36 things list

Well, September was crazy but that's no excuse.

LauraC commented on my first post and said I should categorise the list and then tackle a few every month.

Brilliant idea but I haven't done it yet :)

I will do, sooooooooon.

Things going well

1. reading 5 books a month. I must confess, I'm cheating slightly because I find that to get number 5 in, I have to pick something half-read just to make my quota :)
2. developing my photo system - it's still a huge schlep and I've realised the only thing that will change this is either to take fewer photos or delete more so the process can go faster. this is taking a full evening every 2 weeks and in my view, that's too much.
3. beach holiday is booked
4. as are the photoshoots
5. 29 gifts - this is going fantastic
6. getting hair done - pure necessity!
7. decluttering clothes
   
8. lunch with friends - I am being really intentional about this and it's paying off. I'm able to connect properly (in a gaggle of girls, it's near impossible :))
9. I've done a roast chicken again and this time it was good. Next up... meat.
10. I had two sessions with a life coach which were really illuminating. It's crazy - I coach people and coach them well and yet I still have some blinkers on about my own life.
    

Things that need a lot more work

1. living a simpler life - there are so many pretty things out there and it's taking real self-control to (sometimes) restrain myself. E.g. I don't need any more bags, certainly no more red bags, but this beautiful red bag called out to me on Saturday and you know what? I don't actually regret buying it. It's not only about material things but the other stuff deserves a whole separate post.
   
2. lowering expectations of myself and others - it seems I still think I'm Superwoman and can do everything I want to. I really have to limit my computer time to a maximum of 2 hours at night otherwise nothing else gets done, like the reading thing and spending time with D thing :)

Things going badly

1. massage - I have skipped my massage for two months now but I have a discount voucher so will definitely go in October
2. the weight thing. I am 0.5 kg heavier than I was when I started this weight loss thing 7 weeks ago.
   
3. the gym thing. I really can only make it to gym two nights a week because I have a business to run too and D also needs to go to gym some nights.
4. making money from business blogging. I worked it out and my BlogHer earnings are absolutely pathetic. I make something like R30 an hour spent on blogging. Crazy - if i didn't get so much traffic, I'd self-coach myself to stop that blog. So I booked a coaching session with a blog coach for my business blog to see how I can make more money from it.

Main lesson learned

Stop getting on computer so much!

Do you have monthly and weekly lists? How do you make sure you get them done? Do you also think you're Superwoman?

I think I'm getting old...and list of 36 update

I find myself incredulous at how quickly this month has gone by.

It's always older people who say "time is just flying" so I think I'm getting old :)

My one friend (the one I wrote about before) and I have successfully transitioned to girlfriends again and she is taking me out for supper next week so we've been email-chatting a lot.


The supper is an experience gift for my birthday earlier this month - I love it when the goodness just stretches and stretches, don't you? Anyway, she is turning 40 and is going on a lovely island holiday to Zanzibar as a gift to herself. FABULOUS!

Which got me thinking about my list of 36...

1. Do LOTS more talks
2. Develop and keep up a system for my photos I now have the system; I just need to do it :) I seriously suck at Project 365 - I am going to do better and hopefully make the last 4 months count. If I get this going, I think I'll make it...
3. Do a weekly review post
4. Have a family photo shoot when the babies can walk (I have very specific photos in mind and they need to be walking for that :)) Photo shoot is booked!
5. Take a beach holiday
6. Decide on a policy for attending kiddies birthday parties
7. Go to gym 8 times a month - only managed twice the whole of August
8. Do at least 3 talks on my infertility story to church or other groups See number 36
9. Learn how to make a halfway decent blog header with photos in under 30 minutes
10. Reconnect with a friend I truly love (she's moved to Pretoria so we never see each other any more) Done and it was fantastic
11. Learn to let go A work in progress :) Looks like I'm doing good with the kids :)
12. Read 5 books a month - Done for August
13. Weigh 57 kg - have put on 0.5 kg!
14. Hire a personal trainer to help me get to my goal weight - all costs factored in, need to just start
15. When I reach said goal weight, reward myself with a professional photo shoot
16. Use those photos to have a website redesign - have selected designer - in questionnaire process and then good to go. Decided not to use my photo in header so I don't have to keep paying design fees when I get bored :)
17. Live a simpler life - trying...
18. Simplify my business even more and do only really high-value work Have decided what high-value work means for me - speaking and coaching
19. Travel internationally with D for at least 5 days! Our passports expire in December - just checked out places that don't need lots of time left on your passport. So far France, Spain and Portugal are looking good!
20. Do regular random acts of kindness
21. Pay for a stranger's meal/ groceries
22. Do my version of 29 gifts - 4 unexpected gifts a month this is the one thing that is going really well. It seems I have developed focus because I see gifts everywhere I want to give to others and am loving surprising people. Look out - you may be next :)
23. Get better with my skincare routine
24. Have lunch with a friend once a month. Definitely on this list - a friend I've recently connected with after we lost touch for years (we met at university and I haven't seen her for about 8 years)! We've arranged a lunch date for November :)
25. Get outside of house painted
26. Figure out how to generate income from my organising blog Have session with blog coach end Sept...
27. Redesign organising blog (contrary to what you may think, I find it very hard to let people design things for me as I'm so clear on what I hate!) - Hoping to get a different banner but same look and feel with person who is doing my website
28. Lower my expectations of myself and of others I'm making HUGE strides in this area - but it's a process
29. Take a very basic photography class
30. Learn to cook a roast Thanks to MandyE and Natalie for mailing me recipes - happy to report I've now roasted a chicken. Not 100% happy with results so will do again and again until I am satisfied. Once that's sorted, will attempt meat :)
31. Hire a life coach Had two sessions and am booking more - gained SUCH clarity, it was fabulous :)
32. Get at least one massage a month massage was booked but the therapist cancelled (gran was very sick and whole family was summoned)
33. Get hair done once a month - done for August
34. Have only clothes in my wardrobe that I love and that look good on me Working on it... have decluttered winter clothes about 60%
35. Meet up with 3 blog friends (Cat, are you game?) Does it count that I was with two bloggers at the birthday party on Saturday? No, that's cheating. I intended a proper meet-up.
36. Get involved in some form of ministry again (I've stopped for the last 2 years and am feeling the itch to make a difference again) - could be those infertility talks otherwise even just mentoring people, etc. I've reached out to one church who has booked me before to tell them I'm available and willing to talk to their ladies. If you're in the area and have a group at your church who would love a dynamic, inspiring speaker, I'm your gal :)

And that's where I am - all the green makes me think I've actually made some good progress :)

As always, if you have any ideas for me, let me know - I truly welcome the feedback and input. Of course, if I can help you in any way, I'm very happy to do so.

How was your August?

P.S. Deanne, did that organising comment help the other day?

P.P.S. Tomorrow is D-day to let them know about the job - eeek.

36 candles

I said to D last week, "this year (meaning once I turn 36), I'm not taking anymore cr*p". He said, "oh boy, you already don't" :)

My 36 things to do now I've turned 36 are:

1. Do LOTS more talks
2. Develop and keep up a system for my photos
3. Do a weekly review post
4. Have a family photo shoot when the babies can walk (I have very specific photos in mind and they need to be walking for that :))
5. Take a beach holiday
6. Decide on a policy for attending kiddies birthday parties
7. Go to gym 8 times a month
8. Do at least 3 talks on my infertility story to church or other groups
9. Learn how to make a halfway decent blog header with photos in under 30 minutes
10. Reconnect with a friend I truly love (she's moved to Pretoria so we never see each other any more)
11. Learn to let go
12. Read 5 books a month
13. Weigh 57 kg
14. Hire a personal trainer to help me get to my goal weight
15. When I reach said goal weight, reward myself with a professional photo shoot
16. Use those photos to have a website redesign
17. Live a simpler life
18. Simplify my business even more and do only really high-value work
19. Travel internationally with D for at least 5 days!
20. Do regular random acts of kindness
21. Pay for a stranger's meal/ groceries
22. Do my version of 29 gifts - 4 unexpected gifts a month
23. Get better with my skincare routine
24. Have lunch with a friend once a month. Definitely on this list - a friend I've recently connected with after we lost touch for years (we met at university and I haven't seen her for about 8 years)!
25. Get outside of house painted
26. Figure out how to generate income from my organising blog
27. Redesign organising blog (contrary to what you may think, I find it very hard to let people design things for me as I'm so clear on what I hate!)
28. Lower my expectations of myself and of others
29. Take a very basic photography class
30. Learn to cook a roast
31. Hire a life coach
32. Get at least one massage a month
33. Get hair done once a month
34. Have only clothes in my wardrobe that I love and that look good on me
35. Meet up with 3 blog friends (Cat, are you game?)
36. Get involved in some form of ministry again (I've stopped for the last 2 years and am feeling the itch to make a difference again) - could be those infertility talks otherwise even just mentoring people, etc.

If you have any ideas or you can help me in any way, I'd be very grateful. I believe by putting things out there, good things come back :)

What's on your list and how can I help you get there?

P.S. In this pic I was about 55 - 56 kg. This was taken in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. Actually probably closer to 56 kg as I was having tea and scones a couple of times a day :)

29 gifts & gift-giving

I read about 29 gifts on Dee's blog and LOVED the idea.

Basically, you give a gift to someone every day for 29 days. My take on the concept is that it stops you focussing on just your own problems which, as we all know, makes you feel worse.

I'm enjoying thinking up how to surprise people because even though I hate surprises (typical control freak!), I do love surprising others.

I started on Friday 26th and am still going strong.

So far the gifts I've given away include:

1. milk tart (do you have milk tart in your side of the world?)
2. handbags - I still get the rush but get to give them away so no clutter for me LOL
3. pencil lead
4. long, chatty phone calls with friends
5. actual birthday gifts
6. salary increase to Nanny V (that was brilliant and on cue, while I was doing the "we appreciate you" bit, Connor gave her a gorgeous, BIG smile so I said, "see, V, even Connor agrees")
7. baby gifts to people I barely know (this has been fabulous - the GENUINE surprise is amazing)
8. magazines
9. CDs with pictures of the babies for everyone in my family - no one's expecting so that will be a nice surprise
10. pregnancy journal

My approach has been

• block out the 29 days on calendar
• write in birthdays - those I would already be getting gifts for so less to think about :)
• make a list of other possibles
• get to it

The gifts don't have to be new, store-bought gifts - they can be gifts of time, gifts of yourself like baking and cooking, a thoughtful note, etc.

I've also received three lovely gifts recently:

I like to send pics of the babies wearing clothes to the people who gave them those clothes. E.g. I'll send a pic and say "hi Edith. See how snug Kendra is in the blanket you gave her" or "hi Bipin, do you see how useful your bibs are? Connor drools like crazy."

If I write a blog post and use one of those pics, I mention the people (like in this one and this one).

I have received feedback that people get a kick out of it. I also get a kick out of using things lovingly chosen by friends and honestly, those emails take literally a minute extra while I'm downloading but they show that we appreciate our friends' generosity.

Recently we received a used walker from a colleague at work whose wife wanted to throw it out. He rescued it for me so when it had been cleaned, I plopped Connor in there and he loved it. I quickly took a pic with my phone and texted it to him saying, "R, the walker's a HIT. Look how much he's enjoying it. Thanks again to you and J."

Well, one friend said to me yesterday that my little email MADE HER DAY. She could NOT stop gushing about how she loved it. Which, in turn, made MY day. Who knew that a simple thing I do without even thinking would have such an impact on a person?

I also received a lovely note from another friend that was attached to a magazine. I LOVED the note and it is propped up on my desk so I can glance at it and smile ;)

And the third thing was oh so practical but so very welcome - 2 bottles of ViDaylin :) (baby vitamins)

I'm loving this 29 gifts project so much I may just carry it over and do one gift a week forever....

Anyone else doing 29 gifts? Do you have any other good ideas?