Goals...

My friend Amy over at Sew Adorable recently celebrated her birthday and made a list of goals that she hopes to reach before her next birthday (one for each year of her life so far.)  Since my birthday isn't even 5 months away... and because I'm headed into old age (just kidding) I wont be making a goal for each year I've lived, but I've been inspired to make a list of goals I hope to reach (as well as a bit of a to-do list) before the end of the year (my birthday is only days after that.) 

Goals:

-Finish unpacking

-Fill etsy shop and get it really up and running

-Fill a few more boxes to donate/get rid of (I did a huge chunk of this after getting interrupted while writing this post.  My closet is starting to look so much better!  Unfortunately it was several pairs of self destructed shoes that had to go into the trash and only a few good pairs for the donation pile and some purses.)

-Take donations to donation centers/thrift stores

-Purge all of my papers

-Learn 3 new stitch patterns (knit or crochet)

-Finish making all my old t-shirts into t-shirt yarn and find a pattern for a rag rug that fits the space I want it for.

-Have that dreaded conversation about the future (kids, me going back to work/or not, moving, money, etc.) with the hubby... After we get admission responses.... wait.. that one will probably not happen until next May (at which point our savings may be gone already...) giving us yet again only a few weeks to pack up and move.  Maybe I should add packing up in preparation to my list...

-Work to get myself out of this depression

-Participate in yarn along every week that we are home (and I have a knit/crocheted item to show.)

-Do some bread baking

*There isn't anything on this portion of the list that costs anything right?  Please tell me there's not*

To Do's by Month:

September

-Decorate for Fall

-Make and send birthday gifts to my parents

-Make orthopedist appointment for Dec

-Find a pediatric dentist and doctor and make dentist appointment for Oct and 3 year appointment for Nov

October

-Pumpkin picking!/Hayride

-Decorate a pumpkin (a first for Alex!)

-Halloween decorations

-Trick-or-Treating or small Halloween celebration (not sure what our new complex's/community's rules are for trick-or-treating

November

-Birthday/Thanksgiving celebration

-Birthday trip

-Decorate for Christmas

-Finish making Christmas gifts

-Send birthday gift and card to FIL

December

-Wrap Christmas gifts

-PA trip/Orthopedist appointment for Alex

-Make and take birthday gift to MIL

All in all it doesn't seem like that long or difficult of a list...the depression is kicking my butt though.  It's all I can do just to drag myself through my daily housework and taking care of my son most days. 

Yarn Along

Joining Small Thing's Yarn Along again this week!

I forced myself to attempt to be social with the moms in my mom's group outside of playdates this past week.  That's really not a normal thing for me... I HATE leaving my little guy at home.. even when I know he's just having fun playing with daddy and barely missing me!  Anyway, I chose to go to a crafting and coupon swap.  I got a LOT of work done on one of my projects... mostly because I was so anxious I barely spoke and just concentrated on what I was doing and speaking when spoken to.  I finished the body of the large gnome I started last week.  

The giant gnome came out "ok".. I think I like the smaller ones better.  He still needs arms and unfortunately I need longer needles to manage the hat..  A mom at the craft night said she has some circular needles that were willed to her that she was planning on donating since she already has too many.  She said she would bring to the next craft night for me.  I was so surprised by her generosity and am very thankful to her.  I wonder if she knows she's fueling my knitting addiction :-)  It will be so nice to be able to finish projects that I don't have the right size/length needle for!  My mom also mentioned my aunt sent her old straight needles that she used to make socks for her late husband with that she no longer needs...  At this rate I'm going to have more needles than yarn!  

I had another nice surprise when I went to organize my remaining yarn.  I was pleasantly surprised by 2 (and a partial) skeins of cotton yarn. I'm down to about 1 and a half at this point.  I love cotton yarn!!!  I started knitting up some more child wash cloths for my etsy shop (no, I haven't listed anything yet.. hoping to by the end of next week!)  The first two came out quite well.. I don't remember liking this yarn as much when I made things for Knit for Japan but I really like the way it came out this time.  I love aqua and green/blues. 

I don't even know where my book got to... Between the craft night, company, mall walking with a new friend and a couple of "THOSE" days with my little guy and our one dog having (spiteful) "accidents".. I've barely had a chance to keep on top of my laundry (it didn't help with Pip relieving himself on a big stack of clean laundry.)  Yet somehow I find time to knit...... hmm..  My priorities are a little backwards sometimes. 

For those of you following my weight updates...  I'm about equal with last week.. maybe a pound down but since weight fluctuates so much during one day.. I don't really consider that a loss.  I went on my first mall walk with a friend today (and we're planning on going a few times a week) to get in some exercise with free AC and I have started swimming a few days a week.  Diet is still about the same.. though I'm pretty sure I went a little over my goal a few different days.  Why do cashews have to be so addictive (and high in calorie)???!  I also made vegetarian taco salad ... darn cheese and sour cream!  Since we nearly always eat vegan I know it's just a once-in-a-while meal but it's still guilt inducing (and delicious!)