2023 Goals Update: December

Dear Adventure Avenue,

I have 6 goals this year. Follow along to see my progress throughout the year!

1. Finish my shawl DONE!

I started a shawl inspired by Claire’s rent shawl from Outlander, and it is finally finished!

It’s this shawl, but I only had brown yarn and my knitting skills are not at the multiple color level. Picture source and pattern for more experienced knitters here.

This is what it looked like at the start of the year:

January, it looked like this:

I figured a tape measure might be useful for showing progress.

This is what it looks like:

I used this yarn (Dark Taupe) in case you’re interested!

2. Read or listen to 23 books Done! I read 37 books this year!

  1. Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K. White
  2. Seven by Jen Hatmaker
  3. Agatha Christie’s They Do It With Mirrors
  4.  The Sum of Small Things by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett
  5. Outlander, Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
  6.  For the Love by Jen Hatmaker.
  7. The Rival Queens by Nancy Goldstone
  8. Nora Goes off Script by Annabel Monaghan
  9. Carcassonne
  10. Caroline by Sarah Miller
  11. La Fille de Puisatier (The Well-digger’s Daughter) 
  12. On Brassard’s Farm by Daniel Hecht
  13. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
  14. Outlander, Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
  15. Moodtopia by Sara Chana Silverstein
  16. The Paris Library by Janey Skeslien Charles
  17. Just My Type by Falon Ballard
  18. Capital Gaines by Chip Gaines 
  19. Murder Simply Brewed by Vanessa Chapman 
  20. Star Wars: Princess and the Scoundrel by Beth Revis
  21. Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan
  22. The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal
  23. Beach Read by Emily Henry
  24.  It’s Your Universe, You Have the Power to Make it Happen by Ashley Eckstein
  25. Book Lovers by Emily Henry
  26. Arsenic and Adobo by Mia Manansala
  27. Happy Place by Emily Henry.
  28.  Rodale’s 21st Century Herbal
  29. Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
  30. You, With a View by Jessica Joyce
  31. Steeped in Secrets by Lauren Elliott
  32. The People We Meet on Vacation
  33.  Transforming the Irvine Ranch by H. Pike Oliver and C. Michael Stockstill
  34. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
  35. Transforming the Irvine Ranch by H. Pike Oliver and C. Michael Stockstill
  36.  I’ll Be Home for Christmas by Lori Wilde

I am still reading the fifth Outlander book, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon. I stopped listening to Momfluenced by Sara Petersen because it was a bit long and repetitive.

I read Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein as part of a library challenge. I also started reading Killer Cruise by Laura Levine (one of my favorite mystery writers) on my new kindle! So far I love my kindle – I got this one for Christmas! I think I will primarily use it for travelling as I love a physical book.

3. Read more in French

As a French major, I want to continuously improve my French.

I finished reading La Fille de Puisatier (The Well-digger’s Daughterfor school.

I have a Marie Antoinette book that I picked up when I went to France last year that I started reading. It’s called Marie-Antoinette – Reine de la mode et du bon goût.

I am still about halfway through. This goal was a fail, but I’m not surprised because it wasn’t a SMART goal (Specific, measurable, attainable/achievable, relevant/realistic, and time-bound). I think I will carry this goal over but use SMART goals in order to structure it better.

4. Practice yoga for 2023 minutes DONE!

I like yoga, but sometimes I only have 5 minutes to practice yoga. I don’t feel right counting that one 5-minute practice as one time, so that’s why I decided to make my goal in minutes.

In January, I practiced 341 minutes.

In February, I practiced 82 minutes.

In March, I practiced 150 minutes.

In April, I practiced 118 minutes.

In May, I practiced 221 minutes!

In June, I practiced 184 minutes.

In July, I practiced 64 minutes.

In August, I practiced 170 minutes.

In September, I practiced 304 minutes!

In October, I practiced 176 minutes.

In November, I practiced 133 minutes.

In December, I practiced 82 minutes.

So far this year I have practiced yoga for 2025 minutes!

I’m happy with this goal, but throughout the year, I learned that I actually really enjoy riding our Peloton bike and going on morning and evening walks, so at times this goal felt a little bit limiting in terms of physical activity.

5. Track how many items come in

This goal was inspired by Let’s Live and Learn and how if you “don’t watch what is coming IN, the clutter problem is never ending.” This is particularly pertinent given the fact that I resell on Poshmark.

In January, 28 things came in.

In February, 47 things came in.

In March, 58 things came in.

In April, 34 things came in.

In May, 85 things came in. I had a lot of inventory come in for my Poshmark store.

In June, 18 items came in.

In July, 54 items came in.

In August, 6 items came in.

In September, 50 items came in.

In October, 5 things came in.

In November, 5 things came in.

In December, 46 items came in which isn’t surprising considering this includes Christmas gifts.

In total, 431 things have come in.

6. Declutter 1000 items

This goal goes with number 5. Less clutter means more time for fun things like reading!

In January, I decluttered 66 items.

In February, I decluttered 34 items.

In March, I decluttered 36 items.

In April, I decluttered 51 items.

In May, I decluttered 39 items.

In June, I decluttered 28 items.

In July, I decluttered 38 items.

In August, I decluttered 25 items.

In September, I decluttered 32 items.

In October, I decluttered 11 items!

In November, I decluttered 12 items!

In December, I decluttered 17 items

In total, I decluttered 389 items!

I found goals 5 and 6 to be particularly eye opening from a consumeristic perspective. I had a surplus of things entering of 42 items, which I think is pretty good as far a one in, one out rule. I probably won’t track this again next year, but will continue to declutter as needed as sell on Poshmark. Check out this blog post to learn more about Poshmark.

Stay tuned for a post about 2024 goals.

Sincerely,

A

PS

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