The Revival of "Adventures in Grooming"

Several years ago, when I was a much more regular blogger, I had several categories of blog posts. (Yeah! That's how often I posted. I needed separate categories) But today, for some reason, I was thinking about a category of posts I had long ago called "Adventures in Grooming".

The general gist of it was that I am an absolute slob and have no idea how to doll myself up or even how to complete everyday personal grooming tasks that other people do on  daily basis. (really? full makeup every single morning? ) And though the other general gist of the posts was that I was going to try to be a normal person who engaged in activities like waxing my eyebrows, I quickly decided that I enjoyed running around like she-wolf and dropped both the home spa experiments and the blog post category.

I somehow was able to blend in with normal people in society without changing my ways.

But now, I'm closing in on a BIG birthday in 2019. And I'm setting some big time goals (even bigger than my monthly blog goals). I'm striving to feel good and look good and be the picture of health. I've kind of wrapped my head around the idea that maybe part of looking good is putting a bit of effort into it. And though I still kind of like the idea that I put zero effort into my appearance. I'm willing to try some changes.

And so it begins.....

Christmas Cards

As this weekend comes rolling in with the cold weather, I have only one big thing to accomplish: sending out Christmas cards.

I know, exciting, right? For me, well, yeah. I love sending Christmas cards. 

This is not the case for everyone. I have many friends, colleagues, and clients who dread the thought of sending out cards. For them, it's a tedious task that takes way too long. It makes them frustrated and agitated and frankly doesn't have that much of a payoff. And to those people, I say- "Don't send cards anymore." Cards are certainly not mandatory. If they cause you stress, you should certainly eliminate them from your life.

For me, Christmas cards are a joy. I put on a movie (extra points if it's a Christmas movie), pull out the address book and let the fun begin. 

The time I spend writing a little personal note, addressing the envelope, stuffing and stamping is the time I spend reflecting back on all the good times I've have with the recipient. Which is nice. Especially since there are many names in that address book who I haven't seen face to face in years. It happens.  Some people I've drifted away from as life got busy and we moved in different directions. Some people it was a more intentional break. That happens, too. 

Yet even when I specifically decided that I could no longer have somebody in my life in order to guard my own sanity, I can still send them a Christmas card.

For 3 or so minutes, I can remember this person fondly. I can laugh at little jokes we used to have. I can reminisce about things we did. And I can send out the card with good vibes and long distance loving thoughts. Maybe we're not in each other's lives anymore. But for one brief moment each year, we are in one another's hearts. 

So this weekend, I'll be laughing and smiling to myself, sending out friendly wishes to distant friends. And wrapping it all up with a Santa Claus stamp. 

Merry merry and happy happy

December Goals

Last month of the year, and I'm only 5 days behind!  Actually, I'm not behind. I just had to have a couple horizontal days to stave off really getting sick. It worked, thankfully. And now I can sit down in front of a keyboard without feeling like I'm drifting off into space.

So now I need to get down to earth.

December Goals: 

1) At least 8 glasses of water a day: This really should be automatic by this point in my life. But sometimes when I get stressed, I drink Diet Coke like a meth addict inhaling fumes. Time to start chugging more healthy.

2) All State Licenses Renewed: A must complete goal!

3) 3 Books Read and Passed Along: I was successful with 2 books last month, upping it to 3 now.

4) Once Again, Girl's Nite: Gonna try to include some more people this time!

5) Continue with the Marathon Training and Stretching: Keep up the momentum

6) 30 Day Burpee Challenge: I somehow let somebody convince me to do 1000 burpees this month for some kind of challenge. Doable, but those two horizontal days already messed up my numbers!

7) 2 Group Hikes

8) Start Selling Decluttered Items

9) All Xmas Cards sent out!

10)  Kids Day over their Xmas Vacation

Looking Back at November

November was a humbling experience. It taught me quite a bit about overcommitting and prioritizing.  My big, ambitious goal for November was to declutter the storage area over my parents garage. It turned out to be a much bigger endeavor than I expected.

An entire month to declutter  a storage area seems reasonable, doesn't it? I thought so. But I failed to take into account that the storage area hasn't been cleaned or organized in over 20 years. Once I started, the job just seemed to get bigger and bigger. Boxes piled on boxes piled on even more boxes. I went through them all! I divided all the contents into keeps, throw aways, donates, and gift.  (there were lots of things that had never been used) There's a big pile of "sell" items.

The storage unit is now divided into different zones, instead of all just cluttered together.  The boxes are neatly stacked within the zones. Everything is labeled. Anyone looking for well, anything, can find it easily now.

And I'm exhausted.

The good news is that I did accomplish my big, ambitious goal.

The not so good news is that some of my other goals had to take a back seat.

November Goals:

1) Healthy Eating Plan:  About half credit. I kept up with a good eating plan for about 2 weeks. And then the decluttering took all my free time. BOO!

2) Daily Writing Practice: Big Fat Fail on this one.  December's another chance, though.

3) BIG DECLUTTER: Success. Thank goodness! So many trips to the thrift store. So much tossed in the garbage. And a big pile to sell.

4) Side Hustle in Place: No go on this one.  Sigh.

5) Outdoor Activities: Partial credit. Did two hikes. No runs or family thing. But it did rain a lot this month.

6) Read and Pass Along 2 Books: SUCCESS!  I finished Walking to Listen and The Mother Tongue and gave them to two friends.

7) Marathon Training and Daily Stretching: SUCCESS!  I'm actually on track with this one. And I decided upon a spring marathon that looks pretty fun.

8) Continuing Ed Completed: DONE! Yay! Three in a row is making me feel a little better.

9) Xmas Gifts Purchased: Half done. Gonna finish up this weekend.

10) Another Girl's Night: Success. Or a girl's day, rather. Went to the movies with my besties and Shell's daughter.

So about half completed. Not as bad as I thought.  Feeling a little better and looking forward to December goals.