October Goals

Photo Credit: Will’s mom

Happy October! My mom was in town this weekend, and it was the best. We went shopping for my birthday on Saturday, and it was like old times! We haven’t been able to devote a whole day to wandering around the mall in a very long time, and it reminded me of so many fun mother-daughter days when I was a kid. We even went into the American Girl store and got mad that the redheaded doll of today has a better color of red hair than they made in the early 2000s. But more on that on Friday. 🙂

October is undoubtedly one of the best months of the year. It’s going to be a super busy one for us, but I am really excited about it nonetheless. There are so many things I want to accomplish, so let’s get to listing:

1. Do the Whole 30. For real. No cheating. No wedding cake. This is not a drill. As one of my dear friends texted me after reading my 30 before 30 list, this one is maybe the hardest goal on my list. I figure I might as well eat that frog. I do, however, still want to fire up that Crock Pot and make very fall-like paleo meals. I think beans in chili at our Halloween party will be my break-fast.
2. Go Leaf Peeping and Stay in a Cozy Lodge in Upstate New York. I’m so excited about this! Even when I lived in New York, I never made it upstate. We have a very fall-like wedding there this month (complete with bonfire), and I just know it will be the perfect leaf-peeping locale.
3. Switch Closets from Spring/Summer to Fall/Winter. I hate this project and have no idea when it will get done. Unfortunately it’s in the 60s in DC, and some of the clothes I need are buried behind Pippa’s crate in the guest closet, so it’s necessary.
4. Post my First Outfit Post. I’m honestly not even sure about this, but I have some outfits that I think are cute so I might as well share! I’m not any kind of cutting edge fashion authority, but if you are a normal person who wears normal clothes, I’m happy to show you what I picked up at J.Crew.
5. Teach Myself How to Do a Blow Out. I’ve discussed this at length and will share more when I try it, but my hair has changed texture, and it’s time to learn how to use a brush and blowdryer.
6. Go See a Play. I am getting back on the wagon and cheating a little, because we already have tickets to see Sense and Sensibility at the Folger with the Junior League. But I’m so excited!
7. Order Christmas Cards. This may sound crazy right now, and I am a post-Thanksgiving Christmas celebrator. But with all the decorating, gift-shopping, and holiday parties that start in early November, Thanksgiving will be over before we know it. This will help preserve my sanity in the busiest two months of the year (Nov. and Dec.).
8. Throw our Best Halloween Party Ever! I am so stinking into our annual Halloween party we started back in Nashville. Plus I spent way too much on some ridiculous and adorable skull mugs from Pottery Barn not to throw a party every year.  The goal is for our third annual pumpkin-carving, football-watching, chili-eating Halloween fest to be the most fun yet.

 September Goals Update:

1. Month Three of the Contentment Challenge.  I’m not going to sugarcoat this: this was an utter failure this month. Two months was better than no months, though! 
2. Plant Mums and Decorate for Fall.  See the results here!
3. Go to Charlottesville Wineries.  This was even better than expected! See it here. 
4. Go See a Play. Does Cirque du Soleil count? Our budget and calendar are always so tight Oct.-Dec., but theater makes me so excited about life, that it still needs to be a priority. I wish my hobbies weren’t so inconvenient! 
5. Throw a Football Party. This gets a half check. We did have friends over to watch football, but we ordered take out, and no themed appetizers were made. I will try to make my Halloween party compensate with pre-planned adorableness. 
6. Try Top Golf or Do the Escape Game with Friends. Will and I did the Escape Game, and it was one of our favorite date nights ever! We’re still talking about it. 
7. Make a 30 before 30 List! It’s here! And I’m taking it on starting this month! 
8. Drink Cider from Last Year and Go Apple Picking.  I was supposed to go apple picking with my church, but life got in the way. If it happens in October with friends, I’ll be thrilled, but I am not going to put to much pressure on this this year. SO. MANY. WEDDINGS. TO. ATTEND. I did, however, drink that cider. 

You can see all my goal posts here.