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Personal & Life Updates

November Update & December Intentions.

Filed Under: Personal & Life Updates 21 Comments

goodbyeFall

[November Goals Revisited]

Keep my house clean with the daily 6 ( make beds right away, keep your kitchen sink empty, do a load of laundry most days, clean up after yourself, bathroom wipe-down, before bed 10-minute clean up)  |  Medium check! I did most of these many of the days, but I think the habit that stuck most is cleaning my bathroom every single day. Instead of having to tackle a nasty toilet every few weeks (or…months), wiping down the toilet every single day is much easier, and much less gross. My life is forever changed, you guys. Also, the ten-minute pre-bed clean up is also so very effective with so little effort. Must remember this.

Go to bed by 10 each night  |  Massive fail. While I generally got into bed within the ten o’clock hour, I was most certainly not in bed by ten. Much to my chagrin, since I love the book I’m reading. It’s just so hard to get it all done! 9:30 is  my new cut-off computer and screen time – I might not stick with it 100% of the time, but I’ll try.

Stock my Etsy shop with TONS of stuff for the holidays  | Check! Well, I did make a few dozen coffee sleeves, but wanted to sew more. It’s difficult – I have so many ideas for items to create, but so little time to make it happen. Alas. This is my new reality: sewing time is hard to come by. Or rather, I cannot do everything all the time.

coffeeSleevesBefore + after.

Photograph someone or something new to me  |  Nope. I certainly photographed a lot of Gabe…but I didn’t have any photo sessions this month. While this is a bit disappointing, I also felt quite busy this month and am not sure how I would have squeezed anything else in. But still, sucks. Photography is like a muscle – I need to exercise it to keep myself in shape. Or something like that.

Update my Little Leaf portfolio and gallery  |  Check! But not my photo gallery.

. . . . . .

Well, November was not a wild success in terms of my goals – but I *did* buy more than half my Christmas presents, designed and ordered Christmas cards, and ran farther than I have in two years. So, all is not lost. I would like to explain how busy I am, how much still did not get done, and how maybe I just want to give up on everything sometimes. But I’m going to make more goals for this month. Because I’m wild and crazy like that. Though, I’m going to simplify with just four goals for the month:

[December Goals]

Do the 30 Day Shred  |  I don’t have to do it every day, but most days. I don’t need to lose any weight, but I would like to get that baby six-pack back that emerged for a few weeks this summer. When we did it in May, I could tell a difference in my muscles – I want that again! The 30 Day Shred made me sweat, yell at Jillian, and get stronger. It was rewarding and I WANT MORE.

Finish a big custom order  |  See also: make someone watch Gabe so I can cut, pin, and sew in peace. Amen.

Intentionally spend lots of time with Gabe and Mike  |   I long for a simple holiday season full of the people who matter most. Mike and I both have a few weeks off – and though I plan to fill much of that time with design work, I don’t want to forget to take time these boys.

Earn our rent through design, Etsy, and advertising   |  I did it two months ago. I can do it again. It was such an amazing feeling to be able to tell Mike I earned enough to pay our rent! Putting it in writing is one step towards making it happen, right?

Sign up for the Nashville Half Marathon  |  One giant step towards actually running the half marathon!

I’m looking forward to a month full of love, joy, and family. And lots of warm, fuzzy feelings. YAY DECEMBER.

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December 1, 2011 · Tagged With: photos, plastic 21 Comments

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Comments

  1. Carrie says

    December 1, 2011 at 6:25 am

    Making your rent through your sewing etc is awesome! I have just started sewing and wish I could make amazing things already. I made cushion covers, which I am insanely proud of. I really want to make a quilt. That’s my next project.

    Reply
    • Ashley // Our Little Apartment says

      December 1, 2011 at 6:14 pm

      Oh, my sewing is a VERY small part of my income. ;) It’s not very lucrative for the amount of time that goes into it, unfortunately!

      Reply
      • Carrie says

        December 2, 2011 at 9:21 am

        Well making anything from it is great, I think. And as long as you love doing it too.

        Reply
  2. Becky says

    December 1, 2011 at 9:24 am

    That first picture of Gabe KILLS me! The cuteness! Ahhh!

    Overall I think you did pretty awesome in November and your December goals look great! I really like your idea of a cut-off time for screen/computer time – I might try that myself!

    Reply
    • Ashley // Our Little Apartment says

      December 1, 2011 at 6:12 pm

      Ha. I know. Doesn’t he look like a LITTLE BOY!?

      Reply
  3. Holly says

    December 1, 2011 at 11:10 am

    The Shred is one of my goals for this month, too. I’ve never been able to get past about Day 6 …

    Reply
    • Ashley // Our Little Apartment says

      December 1, 2011 at 6:11 pm

      It’s so tough! I get soooo very sore. But I suppose that’s why it works so well!

      Reply
  4. Becca says

    December 1, 2011 at 11:37 am

    I just opened up my Etsy store and I agree, I have so many great ideas, but actually getting them accomplished takes time. I always seem to have motivation when there is no time, heh.

    I want to run that marathon too! I’ve been saying I would for like three years now, but it always happens during the week of finals or just before. Maybe I can do it this time, and we should totally meet up if you come to Nashville!

    Reply
    • Ashley // Our Little Apartment says

      December 1, 2011 at 6:11 pm

      We would totally have to do that! I’ll be coming for sure – Mike’s brother and my college roommate living in Nashville!

      Reply
  5. Kathleen says

    December 1, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    The 30-day shred is my plan to start exercising again. I *think* I can make it happen a few times a week. Here’s hoping!

    Reply
    • Ashley // Our Little Apartment says

      December 1, 2011 at 6:10 pm

      Have you done it before? It’s so tough! But so effective!

      Reply
  6. Stephany says

    December 1, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    Such an impressive goal to earn your rent through your designs and Etsy shop and I love it. I totally think you can do it! How awesome must it feel to be able to do that!!

    Reply
    • Ashley // Our Little Apartment says

      December 1, 2011 at 6:10 pm

      Thanks, Steph!

      Reply
  7. özge bayrak says

    December 1, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    thank you so much that sharing -daily 6- i love it :)
    by the way coffee sleeves are what a creative idea, they are so cute and useful from your hands.
    i love your blog and your style. so following you, i visit the page regularly.
    thank you for sharings.
    have a wonderful day.
    love

    Reply
    • Ashley // Our Little Apartment says

      December 1, 2011 at 6:10 pm

      Thanks for your sweet words. :) I really like the coffee sleeves, too! I use them whenever I get Starbucks. :)

      Reply
  8. Ashlie says

    December 1, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    Can I just say your post inspired me to go clean my apartment today? My bf thanks you! lol Gabe is getting so big! The cuteness just keeps growing with him!

    I was going strong on my Ripped in 30 until my last week of classes and now final papers and exams have hit. But tomorrow after my last class, it’s pick up time again! I do find it helpful if I don’t make myself work out every single day, but try my hardest to make it a priority 5-6x a week. When I’m lucky, I get 3 days out of that. After finals, I’m aiming to make that 5!

    So awesome to hear your business is doing so well!

    Reply
    • Ashley // Our Little Apartment says

      December 2, 2011 at 1:19 pm

      Ha! That is awesome.

      And 3 days a week isn’t too shabby at ALL, Ash!

      Reply
  9. Rachael says

    December 1, 2011 at 10:03 pm

    Those coffee sleeves are adorable! Good luck with your December goals. I am trying to get more into running so I can run the Cleveland half marathon. I have completed a few 5K’s with a program that I help coach called Girls on the Run, but I’d like to make it my goal to complete a half marathon. Hopefully we will both be successful with this goal!

    Reply
    • Ashley // Our Little Apartment says

      December 2, 2011 at 1:21 pm

      Girls on the Run is an awesome program! :)

      Reply
  10. Michelle @ To mother with dignity says

    December 2, 2011 at 12:53 pm

    I’m loving these posts from you. Setting more defined intentions has really helped me keep up with house-stuff more. I need to set more intentions regarding my creative endeavors.

    Reply

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Hey, I'm Ashley & this is my blog

web designer · vegetarian · coffee addict · obsessed with goal-setting · imperfect mother · wife to an academic · wannabe minimalist

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