Goals – September 2015

In my mind summer has two parts: regular summer (June, July and August) and extended summer (September and October). Extended summer is the hardest to endure. Maybe calling it “bonus summer” would make it seem more like a positive? It’s just not supposed to be over 90 degrees (let alone 108!) after August.

I’m so ready for cooler weather and to spend time outdoors during the day. I’m so ready to join the rest of the country in pulling out scarves and long sleeves, snapping photos of colorful foliage and simmering soup. But, alas! We live in the desert.

I’m trying to remember that we are in the home stretch and our reward is seven months of being outdoors every day. And it does help that there are other signs of fall around including the ubiquitous pumpkin spice latte (which I refuse to call a PSL), a flood of pumpkin and fall crafts on my Pinterest and blog feeds.

Big things happening this month:

+ Celebrate Chris’s birthday on September 9th! 

+ Double day date with our dear friends! We’re all taking a Tuesday off of work and hanging out sans kids for the first time in…over two years?? So overdue.

+ Toilet training for Dashiell. He’s doing really well at home and at school, I think this month we could transition to underwear during the day and diapers at night.

September goals:

+ Go through boys’ and my clothes. As I’m (beginning) to fit into some pre-pregnancy clothes I need another assessment of my wardrobe and can give away/donate/recycle several items. The boys have outgrown lots of their clothes and their two drawers need some organization. 

Recurring monthly goals:

+ Exercise at least two times per week. I’ve been hitting this goal consistently and go to two Orange Theory classes each week (usually one evening after bedtime and on Friday afternoons after work). 

+ Publish to my blog on Mondays and Wednesdays. The more I plan and work ahead and use my editorial calendar the easier this is to accomplish. 

+ Maintain podcast recording/production schedule necessary to air a new Girl Next Door Podcast episode every other week. Even though the podcast is really fun it still takes work to coordinate a time Erica and I can get together and then to edit and publish the episode.

+ Download photos off of phone and sort them into folders for Cedric’s baby photo book and our 2015 Team Wharton family album. Still doing well on this and getting excited to finally put the album together at the end of the year.

+ Maintain podcast recording/production schedule needed to air Matrimoney every other week. I keep adding new recurring monthly goals to my list, this should probably be the last one!

Happy September! Please don’t take offense if I block your fall-filled Instagram feed until November 🙂 

September goals from the archives:

September 2013

September 2012

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8 responses to “Goals – September 2015”

  1. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    Extended summer, ugh. My first summer in Austin (2011) was the summer that broke records for the number of days over a hundred and number of days in a row over a hundred. I remember being a great sport about it all through Labor Day, and then I was over it. It’s not supposed to be hot in October! I also remember working on a farm Labor Day weekend and thinking, “Hey! It doesn’t feel so bad today; it’s only 101!” It was then that I realized how my perspective had changed since moving to Texas…

    Also, our husbands share a birthday. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      Hey how fun, have fun celebrating on September 9! Yes, last week I had a conversations with colleagues that “It’s not so bad outside, it’s only 100 degrees!” And then I felt so sad 🙁 We’ve had a couple of nice big storms so at least that breaks up the endless sun and heat but so ready for some change. Although I do think I’m acclimating or adjusting my attitude as this summer hasn’t felt quite as bad, hooray!

      Reply
  2. Anna Avatar
    Anna

    What do you think of Orange Theory? There’s one opening up right behind my office building and I’m curious to try it!

    Reply
    1. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      I cannot emphasize enough how much I LOVE Orange Theory. I also have quite a few friends who are members and also love it! Depending on your fitness level starting at once a week for the first month or two is great and then going twice a week. I am definitely seeing noticeable changes in my cardio fitness and strength and I always look forward to going to class. I think the trainer that you have can make a big difference so try out many and find the ones that really motivate you. I hope you’ll try it!

      Reply
  3. Kristy Avatar
    Kristy

    Yay for starting to get back into your pre-pregnancy clothes and sticking to your exercise plan! We had a cooler weekend last weekend around 20C(68F) which was a big reminder that Fall and colder temperatures are just around the corner. I actually saw a possible heat warning alert today for this weekend and got excited thinking about all the fun we’ll have soaking up the sun out on the lake. Trying to hang onto summer as long as possible up here!

    Reply
    1. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      Thank you, Kristy! The cooler weather sounds so nice but the grass is always greener I suppose! It was a high of 93 today and it really felt like, fall is on the way! haha!

      Reply
  4. Mara Avatar
    Mara

    I love your blog and podcasts, Kelsey! For about the past year, my husband and I have really been trying to purge the excess from our home and lives and it’s always very inspiring to hear how you and your family are doing that as well! One question I have is regarding your maternity and baby clothes. We’ve got a toddler and are hoping to have at least one other child in the future. As you know, little ones grow out of their clothing so quickly and kids items seem to accumulate quickly so I’m wondering how you handle those items? Do you save the baby items for future kids or just get rid of them once they outgrow and then plan to buy new if needed? And maternity clothes? Just curious how you all handle this!

    Reply
    1. Kelsey Avatar
      Kelsey

      Thank you so much, Mara! Great questions, I have a few thoughts on this. To start I’ve tried not to over-buy clothes, which can be a challenge, I know, especially for kids because clothes are so cute and at $5/shirt, why not buy a few extras? But as you said, they do outgrow them quickly and I think really need so much less than we usually think we need.

      We did save back Dashiell’s clothes as we knew we wanted to have another baby. For each age range, 0 – 3m, 3 – 6m, etc. we have one small plastic bin (about the size of two shoe boxes) stored in the nursery closet. Also, as Dash outgrows things I evaluate if an item is still is good working use and if it fit/functioned well before storing it. If it is worn out or too stained it gets donated or recycled (at a local textile recycling center).

      But as Cedric outgrows clothes we are donating or giving away, we feel that our family is complete with our two boys. (By giving everything away I feel that I am tempting fate and will surely find myself pregnant next year! Ha!). Same with maternity clothes, I have been giving them to pregnant friends as I fit back into my pre-pregnancy wardrobe. But if we had plans for more kids I would definitely be storing to re-use. But I think the tactic of not buying too much in the first place so that you aren’t storing huge amounts of unused stuff is really key.

      Reply

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