Monthly Review of Goals for August 2016

I really worked hard this month on exercising and walking. It paid off because I lost 5 lbs. this month and 4 lbs. less than the beginning of the year. I’ve already met 2 of my 12 goals this year and everything is looking promising. I’m a little worried about my cooking goal though and may have to put more effort into that when we are home.

1.     Lose 10 lbs.

a.     As of 1/31/16 – lost 2 lbs. from initial weight

b.     As of 2/28/16 – lost .5 lbs. from initial weight

c.     As of 3/31/16 – gained 1 lb. from initial weight

d.     As of 4/29/16 – gained .5 from initial weight (I just can’t seem to lose weight even though I’m doing a lot of exercise!)

e.     As of 5/31/16 -  total loss/gain from initial weight – 0

f.      As of 6/30/16 – gained 2 lbs. from initial weight.

g.     As of 7/31/16 – still 2 lbs. above my initial weight

h.     As of 8/31/16 – lost 4 lbs. from initial weight.

2.     Spin 52 oz. of fiber 

a.     As of 8/31/16 – spun 32 oz.

3.     Use at least 5 skeins of my handspun 

a.     As of 8/31/16 – 4 skeins

4.     Use at least 3 skeins from my stash that was bought in 2015 or earlier. – Goal Met!

a.     As of 8/31/16 – one skein of Fishknits, one skein of Marigold Jen’s Zombie Invasion, two skeins of KnitPicks Stroll in the cupcake multi colorway.

5.     Knit 132 squares on my Mitered Square Sock Yarn blanket.

a.     January – knit 11 squares

b.     February – knit 10 squares

c.     March – knit 11 squares

d.     April - knit 12 squares

e.     May – knit 11 squares

f.      June – knit 10

g.     July – knit 11

h.     August – Knit 19 (total – 95)

6.     Walk at least 1320 miles. 

a.     January – 146.11 miles

b.     February -  133.7 miles

c.     March -  151.67 miles

d.     April – 164.3 miles (the most miles this year!)

e.     May – 154.2 miles

f.      June – 138.6 miles (total: 988.58)

g.     July – 108 miles

h.    August – 190 miles (total 1186.61)

7.     Name 3 things from the day before that I’m thankful for.

a.     Completed up to 8/31/16

8.     Write down one thing that my husband did the day before that I really appreciate.

a.     Completed up to 8/31/16

9.     Balance my checkbook, check credit card statements, and pay bills weekly.  

a.     Completed up to 8/31/16

10.  Try 12 new recipes. I have been making the same old stuff when we are at home and think I need to try to liven up our meals.  

a.     January – One Pot Mexican Skillet Pasta

b.     February – One Pan Black Beans Chicken and Rice (added kale)

c.     July – Garlic Mushroom Quinoa – added frozen spinach and sliced olives (It was a success!)

11.  Work in my yard/garden at least 12 times. – Goal met!

a.     January – 1 day - Picked up branches and limbs in the yard

b.     March – 3 days - Worked in the yard! I love Spring!

c.     April –5 days - Weeded front flower beds; spread 38 bales of pine needles,

d.     May – 6 days – weeds growing faster than I can clear them out.

e.     June – 4 days – the heat and humidity is killing me!

f.      July – 2 days – hard to do in the heat and while working

12.  Read 12 non-fiction books.

a.     Voices in the Ocean by Susan Casey

b.     The Words We Live By by Linda R. Monk

c.     Life by the Cup by Zhena Muzyka

d.     Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

e.     Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown

f.      Dancing Through Life: Steps of Courage and Conviction by Candace Cameron Bure

g.     Dirty Chick: Adventures of an Unlikely Farmer by Antonia Murphy

h.     The Empathy Exams by Leslie Jamison (I didn’t like this book but I struggled through to the end.)

i.      Better than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin

j.      The Boy Born Dead by David Ring

k.     Knit to Flatter by Amy Herzog