December Goals + Updates

Happy December!! Hard to believe isn't it? All of 2014 has officially flown by and I, for one, am totally okay with that.

This is the time of year that goals sorta' seem to go out the window, don't they? We all get caught up in the holiday partying, eating, shopping... and everything else just gets put aside. I feel that way a little bit about November. I was just so-so on my goals, but also I don't want to fall sooo behind on everything this month that I feel like I'm starting 2015 in a rut, you know? While I'm keeping things simple for December, I wanted to still recap my November goals- even if I failed at a few of them ;)
1. Finish as much Christmas shopping as I can. I did a lot!!! We still have people to buy for, but I'm happy with our progress on this. Plus, all the gifts we have bought are already wrapped and under the tree. That counts for extra ;)
2. Host Friendsgiving. Done and done! A lot of people bailed on us again this year (I'm beginning to wonder if you have to have more friends to have a Friendsgiving?) But all the awesome people who WERE there made the night an absolute blast!
3. Celebrate Jared's birthday. You KNOW we did it big in Louisville :)
4. Participate in Nanowrimo. This is where I hang my head in shame. I worked on my book for all of about an hour this entire month of November I think. How do you creatives out there do it? How do you come home from a long day at the office, cook or clean, or take care of pets and kids and still find time to do something you love? My creative juices just don't flow when I get home from work.
5. Make a delicious, bad-for-you meal. This is up for debate. I made TONS of unhealthy food for Friendsgiving which was fun and delicious. I meant to make something bad just for Jared and I to enjoy one night, but hey- the more the merrier, right? I am now officially obsessed with this corn casserole I made.
6. Book a vacation. This one is a yes! Jared and I are doing things a little differently this year and planned/booked two long weekend away for the coming year. They aren't huge trips by any means, so we may still add another destination if it works out, but I give us a thumbs up for the plans we did make! :) And you know me, I probably won't share until I'm back from said weekends.
7. REALLY Limit Spending. I'd say we rocked this one! Other than our Christmas shopping and Jared's birthday which we budgeted for in advance, we really kept our wallets closed. I'm getting excited to make a FINAL DEBT PAYMENT reallllly really soon!!!

8. Shave 3-5 minutes off my 5k time. Another MAJOR fail on this one for me. Ready for some hard truth? I think I ran maybe twice ALL of November. Goodness... things can only go up from here, right? Jared and I did sign up for another half-marathon a couple weeks ago though and we started training for it together- so watch out world. Erin's running again!!!
So 5 successes, 2.5 fails! Not as bad as I thought, I guess ;) I've decided not to make any official goals this month- other than just to have as much fun as possible.

This month is going to get busy at work and I just want to do my best not to let it overwhelm me. I want to enjoy the holidays as much as I can, even if it means cramming things in when it seems my calendar can't possibly find room for it, and maybe giving up a few hours of relaxing for some festive fun. So far on the calendar we've got:

- My work Christmas party
- Trans-Siberian Orchestra date night
- Celebrating one of my dear college friend's at her baby shower
- A day of holiday baking with some wonderful women I know
- Celebrating my Mom's birthday
- Festival of Lights at our local zoo
- Hosting Christmas round 1
- Celebrating Christmas rounds 2, 3 and 4
-Watching my Bengals go 4-0 this month ;)

Sooo CHEERS to a crazy month of fun and festivities... and not a lot of sleep ;)