Recap: Mission - November

I certainly sucked at keeping the blog rolling this month. Let's have a peek at how my missions did.
Celebrate Kamila's Baptism. You bet we did. It was perfect. Beautiful. Fantastic.
Plan the next camera investment. I'm really trying here! I know the one that I want. I'm trying to find a "deal" and I'm trying to wait hoping the price might come down just a slice.
Print pictures. Print pics I did! Organized, semi-distributed, boxed, framed. Sweetness!
Prepare Christmas cards...WOO HOO! 50% here. I have the cards and the pics that go in the cards. The ones that need to be sent to Europe are stamped and ready for mailing (before the Dec 8 deadline...WOO HOO!).
Start the decorating. 'Tis the season! I absolutely have. The tree is up and twinkling in the window. The Father Christmas is out of the box and looking pretty right where I put him. Presents are already wrapped and arranged under the tree. Sugar cookie candles, manicure scrubs, pedicure scents, cinnamon pine cones, stockings...the list could keep going on this one.
Swap around the shoes and jackets to fit the season. Flip flops and strappy sandals need to go away for a while. Hmmm, I haven't worn any flip flops or strappy sandals this month. I haven't put them away either. Tackle this first thing in the morning.
Cycle through my clothes. If it's not being worn and not going to be worn again, thanks for being mine for a while but it's time to move out. OK, sort of. There are a few very nice pieces that I've passed along to people who I know really appreciate them. There is a whole bag full that still needs to be reviewed again. Am I really going to wear the stuff? Do I really need the stuff?
Bike for a minimum of 30 minutes every day. I will say Adios to at least 15 lbs before the calendar shows me another "30". 30 minutes every day was a stretch but I did get my tail up onto that seat a few times every week. 15 is a closer number to the lbs that are still attached to my ass rather than ones that I've said Adios to. I'm working on it. Slow and steady...remember the tortoise...
Holiday baking. Sugar cookies. Dream cookies. I'm going to see about snapping up Grandma Kay's recipe. Maybe I'm going to try butter tarts again. Marshmallow kisses. Google, watch out. I'm on this mission. Poop. I missed this one. It's all right, though. December is upon us.
Organize my course strategy. 20 hrs per week is essential. 'nuff said here.
Organize a 2009 calendar. Get those important dates up there. You bet I have. Cathedrals will showcase the important dates throughout the year. Important, of course, being birthdays, anniversaries, etc. NOT bills, pay days, etc.
Celebrate birthdays!!! Fantastic ones were had. Our niece, both our fathers, my sweet and wonderful friend. Birthdays are so much fun.

So that's the scoop. I think I've done well. Lots of fun, tonnes of beauty, a larger space in my heart is filled. Thanks November! I had a great time with you.

Meh

That's about how it's going lately. There are piles and piles of stuff that need attention. There are plans to be made, things to be mailed, computers to set up. Meh.

There are two beautiful children that are being loved wholly and I'm enjoying that more than any stuff that I could be busy with. They are at the top of my priority list right now and they are what matters most.

KNOCK! KNOCK! That's what I keep hearing at the door in my mind. I've peeked through the peephole and it's Christmas waiting to come in. I feel it coming. The sounds, scents, family, fun, and beauty of the season is coming to our house. Feel it. Live it. Be it. With the new addition this year, I've really been thinking about traditions. What are some of yours? I'm working on ours. I want these children growing knowing what they are. I want to know what they are. I'm not talking about the standard cranberry sauce and turkey kind. But rather, the special things, the little things that just add that extra little bit of special to the season. One of ours is Santa arriving and leaving a trail of little presents from the bedroom all the way down the hall leading up to the tree. Score one for Mommy and Daddy sneaking a few extra minutes in bed that morning. Score ten for sweet Steven who joyfully screams with each new discovery while rallying an elephant herd to bring it to our room and bounce on the bed while ripping the wrapping paper apart. Shake awake on Christmas day. Yes, love it all!

This weekend is creeping up on me. Tomorrow should include an adventure to pick up a print from this artist. LOVE her work. Brake pads are on the needed list. The installer is coming out this Saturday so I'd best move fast on this. There are just a few more must-gets for this Christmas on the gift list and I'd like to snap them up this weekend, too.

Ready? Meh.

Scatterbrain

That right about sums it up for me right now. I've been all over the place.
I'm getting ready for the coming festive season and pouring my heart and soul into it all. The rest of this week will go to picking things for special surprises, collecting and assembling artwork, and sorting out what is for who and where it needs to be. Throw into the mix a bit of grocery shopping and we've got a party over here.
Decluttering is on the agenda, too. There is too much JUNK that has found it's way into my living space. By Saturday night, it will find its way to a new home. Oh yes, I'm on a minimission with this one.
Anyone know how to make couch cushions? Mine have really bit the dust and I'm trying to figure out what I want to do.

Busy Busy Busy

I looked through some pictures that I took this summer and I'm all about this one here. Since I'm the one behind the lens more than not, I've realized how much I like shadow shots and reflections. This was me and the kidlets on a walk to the park. The day was beautiful. Bright, sunny, warm, a mild breeze, I can almost feel it just thinking about the moment. Steven and I played a lot with our shadows. We had fun and I love that.
I'm gearing up for major Christmas mode. Christmas cards are bought. I'm looking for my stamps. I'm on a roll with present purchases. Gifts are waiting to be wrapped. I've bought a new table which may be morphed into a psycho wrapping station if I can pick it up in time. I LOVE wrapping presents. For me, wrapping sets the stage. Anything goes. I remember being young and looking at beautifully wrapped gifts, miles of curled ribbon, sparkles, beautiful bows and I'd wonder if I was the lucky one to be getting that one.
This morning I woke to a curve balling being thrown my way and that was all right. It made for an interesting start and a slightly desperate stop at Starbucks for a keep-going-kick. I ran errands, got things done, made some pretty super decisions, mini-golfed with the boys, and am kickin' back now. I'm going to be jumping into gear again very soon because I am on a roll.
Here we go, I'm ready.

Not quite 30 but...

So being that I read about 50 blogs regularily, they often bring to light some pretty awesome links to articles, pictures, other blogs of note, etc.
Today, exactly this has happened. Go look here. I haven't checked out the whole site yet but what I have seen I like. It's definitely got potential.
I've scanned the list and realized I've done all but one of these things. That realization opens doors for many many many more thoughts that I just don't want to think right now.

Beautiful Light

This picture gives me so much inspiration. It was a simple moment where I grabbed the camera looked up and just saw it. Click. I'm getting it.

Mission: November

Hey November! So glad it's you today. My vision this month is slow and transitional. I want to feel the Now. Be the Here.
Missions:

1. Celebrate Kamila's Baptism.
2. Plan the next camera investment.
3. Print pictures.
4. Prepare Christmas cards...WOO HOO!
5. Start the decorating. 'Tis the season!
6. Swap around the shoes and jackets to fit the season. Flip flops and strappy sandals need to go away for a while.
7. Cycle through my clothes. If it's not being worn and not going to be worn again, thanks for being mine for a while but it's time to move out.
8. Bike for a minimum of 30 minutes every day. I will say Adios to at least 15 lbs before the calendar shows me another "30".
9. Holiday baking. Sugar cookies. Dream cookies. I'm going to see about snapping up Grandma Kay's recipe. Maybe I'm going to try butter tarts again. Marshmallow kisses. Google, watch out. I'm on this mission.
10. Organize my course strategy.
11. Organize a 2009 calendar. Get those important dates up there.
12. Celebrate birthdays!!!

Let's do this together, November. I know I'm ready.

Recap: Mission - October

Talk about a month of flunk. Here's the recap which sure doesn't show too much.
Get back on track with my course. It's interesting and fun and informative and I want to. This task has shown me that procrastination is NOT going to work. Not now, not ever at all. I am going to devise a plan for the exam on this one. It's sure looking like a deferral is appropriate.
Finish the Baptism stuff. Invites, favours, decor, attire. All accomplished except for the invites. The printer I bought to print the invites is a dud. I've contacted the company and am waiting for my replacement to be shipped. 5-7 working days prior to arrival. ACK! Plan B or C: find another printer, start spreading the word.
Read The Road. I read the first 50 pages and then put the book away. This is going to be a long winter read.
Complete knitting the remain purple yarn. Assess the size of the blanket and make a decision about what to do. Right, well, it sat on my bedside table and never got knitted. Tonight is a good night to pick it up and rock it out.
Plan and place the stamp club order. YES! I was hostess this month, too. Always a pleasant surprise for a bunch of awesome freebies. It also meant more decisions which were a snap. I pick the order up at the end of the week. YES! Scrapbooks and picture frames, here I come!
Kick off BE ME, organized and ready! Ultra success here. It's beyond cool. Fun group of girls. Great evening with my sister.
Hang the pics in the living room and the bedroom. If I knew how to hang a picture so that it looks leveled, this would've been a go. Since I don't, it was a no. Any tips...anyone?
Clean up the dreaded sock basket. UGH! 35% on this one. I've picked from the top. The rest are going to be swallowed by the dryer or whatever unknown monster lives in the laundry and eats sock matches.
Get to the mantle and the misc. basket. Nope, too many things. But it is in progress. That is what matters to me right now. By Christmas...maybe.
Put the tools away in the tool box where they belong. Every thing has its place and every place has its thing. Since the tools are on the mantle, this is a nope.
Keep planning Christmas. My gift bin is rolling and I'm happy about that. KaCHING!! I love Christmas. Love. It. LOVE. IT. I put so much thought into the gifts, the decor, the moments, the memories. Yes.
Hang my to do board. It's in the kitchen. For now, that's good for me.
Get Halloween in order. Costumes, candy, fun fun fun! It was a game time decision but Master Steven rocked out the fireman get up. The night was perfect. Crisp and cool with no snow. Just the way Halloween should be.

So long October! You were fun. See you again next year. Same time. Right here.