Err, the month is well underway and I’m just starting to think about it.
[August Updates]
Finish summer bucket list: We picnicked in a park, we ate at Tommy’s in Coventry, we ate outside several times, we went camping this weekend, and I will run a race in a month. Almost all finished! (Just haven’t eaten nearly enough watermelon this summer.)
Share my energy/waste audit: I did. I am having a bear of a time (is that even a thing to say? I am completely weird?) with the worm compost (they all crawled out and killed themselves. I feel so guilty for driving them to their death), but I’m hoping to keep up my commitment to everything even with both jobs gearing up for a busy season.
Go to a MOMs Club Meeting: Done. And I loved it. I also went to a girls’ night out and breakfast at a tasty spot with the group. They are down-to-earth, welcoming women and I’m so glad to have found this group. I’m really excited about giving Gabe the chance to play with more kids, but the focus of the group is really supporting each other as moms and women. Who knew there were this many awesome women in my neighborhood? Also, they have a book club and a running group. HOW FANTASTIC, right? Every event, I get a little nervous before going since there are 40 members and I never remember names, but they always are kind and sweet and I leave so glad I stepped outside my comfort zone. (Several people have asked me how I found the group – check out this site. Note: Some of the groups are for stay-at-home moms only, but mine welcomes working moms as well.)
Cold Call Email Two Dream Clients: Done. Not successfully, but you can’t win ’em all. I don’t think cold calling is my thing – even though there are some websites I’d love to get my hands on, I haven’t found an effective way to say, “I could make your website better!” without insulting them.
Update my Etsy shop: I did update it a bit – and added a few jewelry supplies, but I didn’t get a chance to sew anything. Bummer.
Work on My Site: I updated my services page and am working on two other pages, including a FAQ page (any FAQ?) . It’s always hardest to find the time to update your own site.
Learn More about My Canon 5D: Sigh. No. Not at all. It’s so much heavier and clunkier and has a shorter battery life than my Rebel so I’ve hardly used it. Plus, the focus issue. (Any advice is welcome!)
[September Intentions]
Train for a half marathon. My coworker, a fellow parent of a toddler, asked when Mike and I find the time to train for our races yesterday. EXACTLY. We don’t. I am filled with the teensiest bit of regret over signing up for my half, but that’s just the Lazy Ashley speaking. In reality, it’s good for me to get out there, to set goals, to stick with something (my super basic training plan, and to find a reason to listen to the Joy the Baker Podcast. Plus, it’s only an hour on the weekends and then I’m back in my yoga pants after a hot shower. Mmm.
Meditate a few times. Mindfulness meditation is awesome. Or so Mike has tried to tell me for three years now. I just need to take the time and…do it. (What really convinced me? This picture book of Gabe’s. I have no shame. Peaceful Piggy Makes me want to meditate.)
Create fall traditions. Make a massive amount of applesauce from orchard apples. Make pumpkin pie from scratch (we’re talking from a whole pumpkin). Swap out our summer clothes. Drink warm apple cider. Rituals and routines create a sense of anticipation and familiarity (pumpkin spice lattes, anyone?). Also, I wore a t-shirt infinity scarf this morning.
Clean the essentials. It’s a busy month, work-wise. I’m launching both an author and a preschool’s site this week and am working on several other sites. An exciting time! But it means our house is regularly a mess. I’ll be in maintenance mode this month, but I want to maintain the daily seven, well, six: make the bed, do a load of laundry, keep the kitchen sink clean, wipe down the bathroom and toilet, 10-minute clean up before bed, and clean up after myself (THE HARDEST).
Wake up by 6:30 during the week. Hoping this gets me back on the early bedtime track. Amen.
Hope you all are having a wonderful September so far!
You totally kicked butt on your August goals & have great plans for the (remainder of) September. Good luck! :)
oh oh! I totally have some FAQ that I always wonder when I see photographer’s pages. So!
1. Can I bring family and friends to the shoot? (
2. How many changes of clothes should I bring for a portrait session?
3. Will you find a location or should I?
4. If I plan on having you take my engagement AND wedding photos, can I have a discount?
Hope these helped!
Don’t be shy about cold calling. Seriously! A few weeks ago, I got an email from a designer my company worked with years ago (5+). Her email said something along the lines of, “I took a look at your website and was wondering if you have any plans to upgrade it … I’d love to talk with you about it, if you have plans in that area.” Super simple message and there was no offense taken on my side (even though we did just do a major overhaul of our website, I realize it’s deficient in a lot of areas). Plus, if you’ve targeted these blogs/websites for specific reasons (as in, you love their message, their purpose, their product, etc.), then you have easy material to make them feel good about what they’re doing before you nail them for some business. =)
I love that you’re creating traditions with your family and that they don’t necessarily have to align with specific holidays. I think we’re trying to do the same, keeping in mind we’d like to keep them around for a while. Also, getting more sleep is on my list of things I must do. I haven’t done a very good job … but, one week from Saturday, we are having family portraits and I refuse to have massive bags under my eyes … so, I’m making a pact with myself that I will get one extra hour of sleep a night for the week leading up to the photo shoot. And, maybe then it will be easier to make it become habit.
Those are great intentions! I did intentions this year until March, I think … then I just forgot. Oops. I’m trying to create fall traditions for my little family this year – apple picking, pie baking, making pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and coming up with fall-ish crafts that we can do with Topher. Oh, and getting more sleep is always (always, always, ALWAYS!) on my to-do list. If only Topher would cooperate …
You should upgrade the MOMs club website. :)