challenges Archives - Food, Booze, & Baggage

December Monthly Goals

December 1, 2014 by Mariah 12 Comments

November flew by!!! Seriously, I’m sitting here scrambling because I thought I had one more week to write this post!? 🙂 Having more specific goals in November was definitely better, though I was not all that productive. So let’s see how I did:

Complete new about page for the blog
Yep, didn’t do that. I collected some good examples/ideas just need to figure out what I want to do for mine.

Complete category designs for the blog
Nope not this one either. I’ve played around with a few designs, my big hold up is what categories I want displayed.

Do two exercise classes a week either at home or elsewhere (1 hour)
2.5/4. Did nothing this last week of Thanksgiving..oops and another week I only did two 30 minute ones.

Take Sam for a mile or more walk at least once a week
3/4. Did much better about walking Sam. I’m not sure we went over a mile on a single walk the second week in November but I got him out more.

Take 2 photography classes
No. I read a number of posts/guides on photography and took one Skillshare class (this one), though it was not technical and I need technical.

Finish at least three Skillshare classes and two projects from past classes
No. I started two photo editing classes (but have not finished) and restarted this Illustrator course and the project that goes with it.

Do one off computer skill, either sewing, knitting, or drawing project/class

I started knitting, and just got supplies to start my first project. Here is Eddie enjoying some of my practice 🙂

A photo posted by @foodboozeandbaggage on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:09pm PST

I started (or restarted), “You Can Draw In 30 Days”

For the Choose Your Own Adventure Challenge, the theme was “Organize”.

I was able to complete this one! Ordered this chair (P put it together), hung pictures, and finished unpacking a few items…still not perfect but much better! Oh, that big box? It’s the the coffee table I’ve been waiting on since September, and it’s not what I ordered! I’m so upset over this and still waiting on the Etsy shop to reply about the problem. Other than the box, I think we could use some more pictures, and I need a bit more organization. Still, it is a much more useable space now!

Not the most successful November, but onto a new month.

December Goals

Finish one knitting project
Plan/book a trip
Renew passports
Finish 3 Skillshare classes
Start practicing with the camera in manual mode
Complete at least 5 more chapters in “You Can Draw In 30 Days”
Finish re-do of about page
Go to at least one yoga class and continue to do two one-hour classes a week

I’m linking-up with Melyssa at the Nectar Collective to share my monthly goals.

December’s Choose Your Own Adventure Challenge is “Simplify”. P and I don’t over do the whole Holiday thing so nothing really there. I’m going to choose to try to de-clutter my personal inbox and unsubscribe, unsubscribe, unsubscribe. It would be nice to start the new year with less electronic clutter.

What are your goals this month?

November Monthly Goals

November 3, 2014 by Mariah 16 Comments

It’s truth time! Let’s see how well I did on my October Goals:

Do yoga or run/bike at least 3 times a week
Not exactly. I made this a little too vague. Does it count as a run if I only run part of the way or bike a mile? I certainly was more mindful about getting up and moving but it was not all intentional exercise. My November goal in this area is a bit more specific. I want to be intentional about doing exercise.

Complete 5 design/code Skillshare classes
Yes, for this one. Even though I did not finish the Webmaking 101, I did do two classes in Codecademy plus the Webmaking 101 is really long.

***All of the links for Skillshare are referral links meaning if you sign up I get a free month and you can too, I do not have any affiliation with Skillshare, this is an offer to all users. I highly recommend both of Jenn’s classes for a great introduction into HTML and CSS.

Take at least one photography class
Fail, Fail, Fail 🙂 This is going back on the November goals.

Finish website redesign
Not finished but certainly made progress. I still have some work to do but I got it started. This also was too broad of a goal. Stupid, principle of SMART goals being right and all 🙂 I’m sharing specific items from my blog to-do list for November goals.

Choose Your Own Adventure Challenge~ Food

Try making chia seed pudding, this is something I’ve been wanting to try for ages
Tried it, here is a picture just to prove it 🙂 I’m not a huge fan. I think I’ll stick with overnight oatmeal. It tasted fine, it was a texture thing for me. The texture was a bit too jello like for my taste.

Make fresh pasta
Didn’t happen. I’m going to blame it on the weather. Hello, 80°F in October, that is beach time not making pasta time. Maybe this month! I would really like to make some raviolis to freeze.

Make something with pumpkin (to at least acknowledge the season)
Another total fail. We did make some yummy butternut squash lasagna and that is almost like pumpkin 😉 Right, right? Partial credit??

You can check back Thursday to see some of the other reasons I did not complete my food challenge 🙂

November Goals

My November Goals are less vague and more specific. We will see how I do with that.

Complete new about page for the blog
Complete category designs for the blog
Do two exercise classes a week either at home or elsewhere (1 hour)
Take Sam for a mile or more walk at least once a week
Take 2 photography classes, I’m doubling down on this one
Finish at least three Skillshare classes and two projects from past classes
Do one off computer skill, either sewing, knitting, or drawing project/class

I’m linking-up with Melyssa at the Nectar Collective to share my monthly goals

I’m going to join in the Choose Your Own Adventure Challenge again with this month’s theme of organize. Who doesn’t need more organization in their life?

To be better organized I want to finish setting up the office:

Order desk chair
Finish hanging pictures
Finish unpacking items

What goals do you have for November?

October Monthly Goals

October 1, 2014 by Mariah 15 Comments

I’m taking the plunge, I’m going to start sharing monthly goals on the blog. I’ve mentioned before how I feel like putting things on here makes me feel more accountable and it makes ideas more concrete. Since I’m in a bit of a transition, and don’t have a lot of structure to my days, I feel this will be really good for me. Time continues to be a tricky lady – my days seem to fly by even more now. When working 8-5 sometimes I could swear it was 3pm and it would only be 11, but now it’s 8am and I’m saying goodbye to P, and in a blink it’s already 3 and I’m wondering what I managed to get done. It will be good to look back at what I get done with all my “free” time.

My big picture goals during my time off are:

Get into a fitness routine

I really want to make exercise a more focused part of my daily life. I’m not sure I will ever be one of those super into fitness people. I think I like drinking and eating too much for all that jazz, but I can do better. P and I are healthy, and we are lucky for that. We need to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep it that way. From what I hear exercise is an important part of that. Are we sure it’s not a ploy by the yoga pant industry? No, oh, ok, just checking 😉

Develop new skills

I’m working on what direction I want to go in job-wise. I’m still trying to figure it all out, but I think exploring new skills is a good start.

Grow this blog

I really want to put myself back into this space. I have a whole list of things I want to do with the blog and now is the time to make that happen.

This month I want to:

Do yoga or run/bike at least 3 times a week
Complete 5 design/code Skillshare classes
Take at least one photography class
Finish website redesign

I’m linking-up with Melyssa at the Nectar Collective to share my monthly goals

I’m also joining in the Choose Your Own Adventure link-up. The October theme is food…I can’t pass up a food theme 🙂

My food related goals are:

Try making chia seed pudding, this is something I’ve been wanting to try for ages
Make fresh pasta
Make something with pumpkin (to at least acknowledge the season)

I’m keeping my food list short, mainly because my real goal is to try as many new restaurants as I can 🙂 Check out my Discovering San Diego posts where I let you in on all my new adventures!

101 in 1001

November 18, 2013 by Mariah 4 Comments

I was inspired to do this list after seeing Shannon’s list (101 things in 1001 days) on Brass Honey. Let me just tell you, coming up with 101 items is WAY harder than it seems. It took me all weekend to develop, but I love a challenge and I feel really motivated. P has even started his own list! I tried to think of things that I’m always saying I should do or we should do. Of course if I had unlimited funds/time at least half this list would be travel, travel, travel but alas I do live in the real world and have yet to win the lottery. 🙂 I worry that I may have too many “buy” items on my list….maybe I was just channeling Madonna.

I will update the list as I complete it. Please check out the list on my 101 in 1001 page to make me accountable. 🙂 If you start your list I would love to hear about it!