Image Credit: LoveThisPic

I’ve been saying for days and weeks that it’s hard to believe it’s December, that it’s the last month of 2017. Now, today is New Year’s Eve. Wow!

Here’s the link to my December Goals post:

• Getting Personal #97: December Goals

Ready?

Here we go!

1. Decorate for Christmas. — Accomplished!
2. Enjoy Al’s company Christmas party. — Accomplished!
3. See Star Wars: The Last Jedi. — Accomplished!
4. Celebrate Lyndsey’s birthday! — Accomplished!
5. Host Christmas Breakfast for the first time. — Accomplished!
6. Make chocolate mousse for Christmas dinner. — Accomplished!
7. Get back into reading. — Accomplished!
8. Make at least one thrift store donation run. — Accomplished!

Here’s the breakdown:

Decorate for Christmas. — Accomplished!

• We put up our Christmas tree in our living room on December 10th, and I set out the wooden Jingle Bells blocks. I also changed out the Halloween ribbon on our monogrammed “V” wreath. It’s not super fancy, but it’s pretty.

Enjoy Al’s company Christmas party. — Accomplished!

• We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on December 8th. So many people got into the theme and really liked it. Plus, Al, Frances, and Kathryn actually got to relax a little and enjoy the cocktail hour and the party. We all had fun!
• Al and I even won one of the door prizes – A weekend getaway to the Williamsburg Winery!

See Star Wars: The Last Jedi. — Accomplished!

• We saw the movie on Thursday, December 14th. It was SO GOOD. Al’s seen it twice now. We received several generous gift cards to the movies for Christmas, so we’ll definitely be seeing it a few more times!

Celebrate Lyndsey’s birthday! — Accomplished!

• We drove up to Lynchburg, Virginia on Saturday, December 16th. We met Lyndsey and many friends at O’Charleys for dinner, games, photos, and gifts. We had a lot of fun.

Lyndsey had awesome photo booth props!

Host Christmas Breakfast for the first time. — Accomplished!

• On Christmas morning, we hosted Al’s parents, my parents, Nick, Savy, and Mia. Between Al’s mom, Savy, and me, we had waffles, egg casserole, goat cheese and tomato tarts, kielbasa, coffee, mimosas, and more! Everything was delicious!

Make chocolate mousse for Christmas dinner. — Accomplished!

• It was the consistency of chocolate pudding when dessert time rolled around, but everyone really liked it. We even had leftovers!

Get back into reading. — Accomplished!

• Finally! I’m almost finished with my current book. Look for a new Book Review soon, hopefully this week!

Make at least one thrift store donation run. — Accomplished!

• Earlier in December, Al and I loaded up my car to the gills (full trunk, full backseat), and went out in the cold and drizzle to the local CHKD thrift store. More to come, but we got our dining room back!

Final Thoughts:

• I was able to put Accomplished next to ALL EIGHT THINGS!!!!!! YAY!!!!!

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of December?

Come back tomorrow to see my January Goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: Pinterest

I’m just stunned that we’re one day into the last month of 2017. I can’t believe it!

Here are my goals for the month of December:

1. Decorate for Christmas.
2. Enjoy Al’s company Christmas party.
3. See Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
4. Celebrate Lyndsey’s birthday!
5. Host Christmas Breakfast for the first time.
6. Make chocolate mousse for Christmas dinner.
7. Get back into reading.
8. Make at least one thrift store donation run.

Here’s the breakdown:

Decorate for Christmas.

• We’re already planning to put up the tree, hopefully this weekend!
• I’m excited to go to Michael’s and switch out the Halloween ribbon on our monogrammed wreath.

Enjoy Al’s company Christmas party.

• This year’s theme is the roaring ’20s / The Great Gatsby. I’m so excited!!

See Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

• We have tickets for December 14th, but I’m pretty positive we will see this more than once before the month ends.
• I was excited for The Force Awakens and Rogue One, but my enthusiasm for this one is at an all-time high.
• I know I will cry every time I see or hear Carrie Fisher. May she rest in peace.

Celebrate Lyndsey’s birthday!

• Lyndsey’s turning 30! We can’t wait to celebrate at Wintergreen Resort!

Host Christmas Breakfast for the first time.

• I’m looking forward to having Al’s parents, Nick, Savy, Mia, and hopefully my parents to our house on Christmas morning. We’re already planning sausage casserole, cinnamon rolls, coffee, and more!

Make chocolate mousse for Christmas dinner.

• Al and I were successful in making this for Thanksgiving, so we’re looking forward to making it again for Christmas dinner at my parents’ house.

Get back into reading.

• I have been in such a slump. I can’t explain it. I want to dive back in, but nothing on my bookshelf has peaked my interests. Suggestions are welcomed!

Make at least one thrift store donation run.

• There’s already two gigantic piles of things to be donated. It all needs to go!

Do you have any goals for the month of December?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: Mathnasium

November felt like a long month, but it was full of excitement!

Here’s the link to my November Goals post:

• Getting Personal #94: November Goals

Ready?

Here we go!

1. Celebrate our second wedding anniversary! — Accomplished!
2. Keep our kitchen table clean. — Did not accomplish.
3. Write some snail mail! — Did not accomplish.
4. Start organizing my “Lady Lounge.” — Accomplished!
5. Enjoy Thanksgiving! — Accomplished!

Here’s the breakdown!

Celebrate our second wedding anniversary! — Accomplished!

• We celebrated our anniversary with a wonderful dinner at River Stone Chophouse in Suffolk. Al had their biggest steak, and I enjoyed their Colorado Lamb Chops. Everything we ate was fabulous. We didn’t have room for dessert, but we will be returning. They just started brunch service on Sundays, too!

Keep our kitchen table clean. — Did not accomplish.

• I de-cluttered some of our old mail, but I don’t feel satisfied with my progress.

Write some snail mail! — Did not accomplish.

• This didn’t happen. I even forgot to mail several birthday cards!

Start organizing my “Lady Lounge.” — Accomplished!

• Every weekend, piece by piece, I’ve hauled boxes from the garage and started organizing. My biggest success has been my bookshelf. I’ve already filled three boxes of books and DVDs to donate to the local library!

Enjoy Thanksgiving! — Accomplished!

• We took nearly a week off of work, and headed to the farm. Al’s mom fed us so well every single day!
• We spent Thanksgiving Day with about 40 members of the Chambers family (Al’s mom side). We drove about 2 1/2 hours toward the mountains. There were four tables full of food, and one full table of desserts. Delicious!
• When we weren’t eating, we relaxed. We went on several drives through the countryside, built a bonfire, and saw the International Space Station fly by!
• We saw Justice League with Al’s dad. It was a good movie!
• We also went bowling, and played about 20 rounds of UNO over two different nights.
• It was so nice to get away!

Final Thoughts:

• I was able to put Accomplished next to three out of five goals: Yippee!
• The two goals that I did not accomplish: It was slightly disappointing, but I just need to dedicate more time and effort to these.

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of November?

Come back tomorrow to see my December Goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: Jen Russum

Welcome to November! It’s hard to believe we’re in the home stretch for 2017!

Here are my goals for the month of November:

1. Celebrate our second wedding anniversary!
2. Keep our kitchen table clean.
3. Write some snail mail!
4. Start organizing my “Lady Lounge.”
5. Enjoy Thanksgiving!

Here’s the breakdown:

Celebrate our second wedding anniversary!

• It’s hard to believe two years have gone by.
• Since our anniversary falls on a Tuesday this year, we’re headed to a really nice chop house in Suffolk to celebrate!

Keep our kitchen table clean.

• I’m so mad at myself from last month. I’m tired of the clutter. I’m committed to making this happen!

Write some snail mail!

• I’m determined to mail out many cards and letters this month!

Start organizing my “Lady Lounge.”

• With moving the rest of my things from Mom and Dad’s, our garage has many more boxes that need to be emptied!
• I want to start with my bookshelf, and then my dolls.

Enjoy Thanksgiving!

• We’re excited to take a few days off from work and spend the holiday with Al’s parents and some of their family!

Do you have any goals for the month of November?

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂

Image Credit: Vibe Shifting

October was really busy, but fun and awesome. Fall has arrived!

Here’s the link to my October Goals post:

• Getting Personal #88: October Goals

Ready?

Here we go!

1. Donate blood. — Did not accomplish.
2. Celebrate several birthdays! — Accomplished!
3. Celebrate Mary Lauren & Jeremy’s wedding! — Accomplished!
4. Celebrate Nick & Savy’s wedding!! — Accomplished!
5. Write at least 400 new words for my 2012 NaNoWriMo attempt. — Did not accomplish.
6. Write at least two blog posts on home improvements. — Semi-Achieved.
7. Make / purchase photo canvases. — Did not accomplish.
8. Attend Hampton Comicon! — Did not accomplish.
9. Finally start moving items from my parents’ house to ours. — Accomplished!
10. Keep our kitchen table clean! — Did not accomplish.
11. Update my TBR. — Accomplished!
12. Be a successful co-hostess for the October PEO meeting. — Accomplished!
13. Write some snail mail! — Did not accomplish.
14. Celebrate Halloween! — Accomplished!
15. Enjoy Little (Lane) when she visits for a week! — Accomplished!
16. Order the Desert Mist Diffuser, and more Savvy Minerals makeup! — Semi-Achieved.

Here’s the breakdown!

Donate blood. — Did not accomplish.

• My iron level was just 0.1 away from qualifying. Needless to say, I’ve been taking my liquid iron supplement with breakfast every single day since!

Celebrate several birthdays! — Accomplished!

• We celebrated my mom’s birthday at the beginning of the month with a big party – Dad, Al, me, Debbie D., Karen, Michaela, Kathy, Perry, and Lucy!
• We pulled off the most epic surprise for Mia at Nick and Savy’s rehearsal dinner – She had no clue until we got halfway through singing “Happy Birthday.” It was awesome!

Celebrate Mary Lauren & Jeremy’s wedding! — Accomplished!

• Mary Lauren and Jeremy tied the knot on Saturday, October 7th. It was a beautiful ceremony!

Celebrate Nick & Savy’s wedding!! — Accomplished!

• Here’s the Adventure Time post I wrote about our fantastic weekend at the Vardaro Farm: Adventure Time: Scottsburg, VA Edition (Round 6 – The Bengdaro Wedding!)

Write at least 400 new words for my 2012 NaNoWriMo attempt. — Did not accomplish.

• There were too many other things going on this month!

Write at least two blog posts on home improvements. — Semi-Achieved.

• Here’s the Getting Personal post I wrote about our home improvements: Getting Personal #90: Home Improvement, Part 1.

Make / purchase photo canvases. — Did not accomplish.

• One of these days, hopefully before the end of the year, this will happen!

Attend Hampton Comicon! — Did not accomplish.

• We decided not to go – We’re waiting for Tidewater Comicon 2018!

Finally start moving items from my parents’ house to ours. — Accomplished!

• This finally happened on Saturday the 21st. My mom was so happy, she was dancing!

Keep our kitchen table clean! — Did not accomplish.

• This just didn’t happen.

Update my TBR. — Accomplished!

• Here’s the post I wrote about my updated TBR: Getting Personal #89: Fourth TBR Recap.

Be a successful co-hostess for the October PEO meeting. — Accomplished!

• I co-hosted the meeting at Susan’s house in Virginia Beach. The grapes I brought were the biggest hit!

Write some snail mail! — Did not accomplish.

• Again, too many things going on this month.

Celebrate Halloween! — Accomplished!

• We celebrated Halloween at Kathryn & Tim’s “Stranger things are coming” party on the 21st!
• We’re passing out candy to the neighborhood kids tonight!

Enjoy Little (Lane) when she visits for a week! — Accomplished!

• We thoroughly enjoyed the party at Tim’s house last Friday night. You can’t go wrong with good food, a roaring fire pit, and s’mores!
• Last night, I went to a wooden door hanger painting party at Mrs. Cindy’s house. We had a blast! I didn’t get home until after 10:00 p.m. Mine is three pumpkins with fall leaves. The best part – I can paint a snowman on the reverse side later!

Order the Desert Mist Diffuser, and more Savvy Minerals makeup! — Semi-Achieved.

• This is going in my November order. I can’t wait!

Final Thoughts:

• I was able to put Accomplished next to eight out of 16 goals! Woohoo! Since this month was really busy, I’ll take it!
• The two goals that were Semi-Achieved: I’m happy about these.
• The six goals that I did not accomplish: This was slightly disappointing. But, I knew that I was being extremely ambitious with 16 goals! More to do in November!

What about you? Did you have any goals for the month of October?

Come back tomorrow to see my November Goals!

Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂