2011 Priority List and Goals – February Check-in

I thought it might be a good idea to review my goals at the end of each month and see if I am still making sure to prioritize them. I also thought this would be a good time to shift, adjust, add, take away as needed. So here we go. This is the list I posted on January 1 with status updates for February.

Family
1. Read and do workbooks with David daily (Project A Book A Week with David).
Still doing well here. Even though David sometimes whines and fidgets a whole bunch, I think he’s really enjoying this project and now he hears references to things we’ve read and I can see how he’s excited. Like he heard “Emerald City” in a commercial recently and also saw a reference to Aslan and picked up on both.

2. Take photo of full-family and write updates weekly (Project Us Right Now).
This is also still going great. I bought a second remote since the first was not working and this one is great and we’re having a ton of fun. I can’t wait until the weather is warmer so we can try more outdoor shots.

3. Write a daily diary of us + gratitude (Project Daily Diary)
Still on a roll on this one.

4. Start a family night where we all play games or watch movies together (Scheduled for Sunday nights 6pm)
This, too, is going strong. We skipped a few weeks due to visitors and birthdays but we’re back on track now.

5. Sign up for a mommy/me class with Nathaniel (this still needs to be scheduled)
I haven’t done this though I do still think it’s a great idea. I need to work on it.

6. Schedule minimum bimonthly date nights with Jake
We’ve gone out on two date nights in February and have another one coming up. We’ve also had some date nights at home sitting together and cuddling.

Health (Project Healthy For Life)
1. Do a combination of walking and running daily, work your way up to 5K a day
So far, so good on this one, too. I’ve exercised at least 2.7 miles every single day in February for a total of 75.72 miles.

2. Complete the 100 pushups schedule
well this is off the list.

3. Do strength exercises 3x a week
I haven’t started this. Still not sure on this one. But won’t start in March. Likely April.

4. Track exercise+food+sleep+water using the fitbit
I am still tracking sleep and exercise.

5. Get minimum 7hours of sleep every night and 8 on the weekends
I am doing relatively well on this still. 7-8 hours most nights!

6. Eat at least one serving of vegetables daily and chicken/fish 3 times a week
Doing well on the veggies. Need to do better on the chicken.

7. Walk at least 8500 steps a day and work your way up to 10,000
According to the fitbit, my February average is pretty good. I am doing ok here. I should walk more and will try to add a 15-20 min walk a few times a week.

8. Walk/Run a 10K
This is more like a November goal 🙂

9. I also want to work on the coffee+graham crackers intake but not sure of the plan here yet.
Bleh. Still drinking 2-3 coffees but I am working on the graham crackers. I did not do so well in February, however.

Art + Photography
1. Draw and paint a portrait six days a week (Project Six Portraits a Week)
Drew them six a week all February. Likely changing direction for March.

2. Art journal weekly (Project Weekly Art Journal)
So far, so good. All Soul Restoration in February.

3. Sketch something small daily (15-30mins)
I am working on this. This is what might take #1’s space. I have sketched about 6 pages in February. I have plans for March too.

4. Go on a Monthly photo excursion alone or with a photo buddy
I did this but not with a buddy. Just as part of my trip with my inlaws.

5. Write weekly extended photo articles on my blog
Ugh. No work done on this one.

6. Figure out for once and all if I want an etsy shop and what will go in it
no progress here either.

Scrapbooking
1. Create one layout a week just for me
I’ve been doing this. Sort of…

2. Do monthly The Girls’ Paperie layouts
Done here, too.

3. Do monthly Pink Paislee layouts
And here. I am all over this.

4. Do monthly Creative Therapy layout
Did the layout for February and the one for March even.

5. Do monthly Write.Click.Scrapbook layout + write one more week during 2011
Did all of them up until May.

6. Successfully teach all four scheduled 2011 classes at Big Picture Classes and the one I am a part of in Masterful Scrapbook Design
So far so good! Both MSD classes are finished. So is Embrace Imperfection. In the middle of Finding Your Way now.

7. Aim to do 5-6 guest design spots or classes (that I teach) this year
I guested on Scrapbook and Cards Today blog in February and also on Making Memories. I have one more coming up in March. So far, so good.

8. Submit to one magazine a month (maybe, I can’t decide if I want to do this just yet.)
I submitted in January and one of my layouts got picked up for Scrapbook Trends. I also submitted a few in February. Let’s see.

Reading
1. Read a book a week (Project A Book a Week)
2. Read one book with David each week (Project A Book a Week with David)
3. Regularly attend both book clubs
All three of these are going great and right on schedule.

Writing
1. Write at least one long thought/idea oriented blog post a week
I’ve been working on these. I think I did relatively well with this in February.

2. Write one new class (if you have requests, please share)
3. Write one downloadable pdf for my site or etsy (if you have requests, please share)
I haven’t done either of these yet.

4. Write+email a newsletter each month
Doing this so far! Next one goes out in a few hours 🙂

5. Possibly do NaNoWriMo (not sure of this one…)
We still have quite some time till November thankfully!!

I decided to add one more here mostly because it’s been so beneficial during January.
6. Journal at least 5 times a day. Even if just for 15 minutes a day.
I am still working on this. I didn’t do as well in February as I did in January but I am still journaling and trying to make time for it each day. I’ve also begun a daily art journal in February and did it every single day. More on this coming soon.

Learning
1. Learn to draw and paint portraits (Project Six Portraits a Week)
Working on this one, see above.

2. Take 5-6 online classes this year
I’ve already taken 8 this year. I believe I have no problem meeting this goal!

3. Learn to write an iPhone/iPad application (sort of out there but achievable – let me know if you have an app you want)
Ah. Didn’t make any progress here.

4. Learn how to make a stop-motion movie
No progress here either. Though I have an idea.

For March, I am going to try to make a sketch a day. Let’s see if it works.

Community (This is a particularly hard one for me.)
So this area was a struggle for me last month and I decided it might be best to revamp it. Here’s what’s left now:
1. Do a weekly-open house for Nathaniel’s moms group
I just sent the email for this. So none in February but looking good for March.

2. Invite guests over for dinner at least once a month
We didn’t have anyone over but we did go into the city to have dinner with friends so that counts.

3. Go out to breakfast/lunch once a month (to work or elsewhere)
I did this in February and will aim for it in March as well.

4. Reach out to people I admire more often (leave more comments/send emails)
I’ve sort of been doing this in the form of offering help and will continue to do so.

And that’s it for February. Overall, I think I did pretty okay. Let’s see how productive March is.