4 Simple Goals

So here we are, the end of summer. Ha! If you could call it that. It had it's moments admittedly, but they seemed few and far between. Today it was sunny, but there was a very noticeable chill in the air. It felt as though summer couldn't even be bothered to see it's last day through and had made way for autumn early. It was lovely.

It also reminded me that I'm overdue another simple goals post. I completed the last four a while ago, but I've been so busy with the dressmaking that there didn't seem any point in setting myself even more goals. I'm looking forward to completing these though.

-1-

Finish the dresses!

I'm very close to finishing now. Only one dress left to go and then I release them in to the wild of my poor, neglected and empty Etsy store. Eeep!

-2-

Go camping

We're going in just over a week and I CAN'T WAIT! I just hope the weather holds out.

Source

-3-

Make bread

I haven't done this in forever and I've recently got a hankering for hot bread rolls the way my dad used to make. I like the type of goals I can eat.

Source

-4-

Pick up Pip's baby blanket again. 

Remember this? It never got finished and I am determined to finish it before she leaves home.

Previous Goals

1. Take body measurements

Done and it wasn't as painful as I thought. Still can't fit into my pre-pregnancy skinny jeans though. Let's be honest, I may as well stick those babies on to eBay *sniff*.

2. Cut out dress patterns in different sizes

Done. It was boring.

3. Make test dress

It was only a basic t-shirt dress, but I made it in bright yellow fabric to add some sunshine to the grey summer days. It's now one of my favourites. 

4. Cut out pattern pieces for second dress

And again, done. This was a very dull set of goals.

Well would you look at that. I completed them all. Go me!

4 Simple Goals

-1-

Take body measurements

I'm a totally different shape and size than I was before I became pregnant. So it's time to get the old measuring tape out and see where I'm at size-wise. Not particularly looking forward to this one.

-2-

Cut out dress patterns in different sizes

I've bought a pattern, but I want to be able to make dresses in all sizes from it. So I'm going to  trace out a separate pattern in each size. A boring goal, but it will make life so much easier in the long run.

-3-

Make test dress 

This is just going to be a bog standard t-shirt dress with an elasticated waist for me to wear around the house. It's also a chance for me to practice sewing with this fabric and get a feel for it.

-4-

Cut out pattern pieces for second dress

This is the dress I want to make eventually, but without the sash and perhaps a little shorter. This pattern uses darts to shape the bodice which I may or may not leave out. Once I've made the t-shirt dress above, I'll then move on to this one, starting with cutting out the fabric pieces. Baby steps folks!

My first Simple Goals post since Pip was born. Needless to say I'm not going to try and set myself monthly goals any more. I'll get these done as and when I can, but as I'm finding it all to easy to fritter away my days without achieving anything dressmaking related, I'm hoping these posts will act as an incentive to get things moving again. And here's how I got on back in March..

Previous Goals

1. Make curtains for our room
I hated making these curtains. The blackout fabric is so thick they don't hang properly, but they work really well at keeping the light out so I guess they're a winner.

2. Make curtains for Pip's room
I didn't hate making these as much, but that's because I (happily) ran out of blackout material so didn't bother with it. As a result I was able to crank them out in about an hour, by which point as I was all curtained out. I never want to make curtains again.

3. Finish course
Words cannot explain how proud I am that I accomplished this. And the date on the certificate is the date Pip was born which makes it proper spesh. I'm giving myself major brownie points for this one.

4. Get garden ready for spring

Well. There always has to be one that I don't achieve!

4 Simple Goals - March

"Who knows, maybe I can make February the first month that I complete all four goals!"


Not. 
Even. 
Close. 


But more on that in a moment, first, here are my goals for the lovely month of March.

-1-

Make curtains for our bedroom

Yes this one is still here, shurrup. February just didn't happen. First I had no money to buy the fabric needed, then I got paid and finally bought more, only for there to be a mix up which delayed the delivery. By the time I got it, there were only two days of February left and I was too busy not reaching another of my "simple goals" to focus on the curtain. So here we go again. 

-2-

Curtains for Pip's room

I know right? I can't even get one set of curtains made in a month and yet in March I want to get two pairs made. Ha! We'll see. The nursery does need them though. There's nothing in there at the moment curtain-wise and as I intend to use it for night feeds, I'd like to put something up to stop the neighbours getting an eye full!

-3-

Finish course

Just two assignments and the final exam left and then I'm done. COME ON!

-4-

Get garden sorted for spring

I told myself that I'd leave the garden alone this year as there's just no way I'll have the energy to do anything with it. But it's March and I can't remember the last time I didn't do some kind of spring time prep at this time of year. Ignoring the urge to get out in the garden and dig something up just feels wrong. 

Obviously it's an urge I'm going to have to ignore, but there are some bits I can still do and I've never had a spring where sunflower seeds were not planted. Even when we lived in an attic flat and only had a window ledge. So that's happening. 

Ok. Let's get this over with..

Last month's goals - February

1. Make curtains for bedroom

Well as you've already seen from my March goals above, this one was a massive fail. Not even started. 

2. Take time out to relax

Unfortunately nope. I was still working until nearly the end of the month and instead of it getting easier, I found it actually got busier and more stressful. I'm SO glad to be on maternity leave now. Although I'm still making myself daily to do lists as I just don't feel organised yet. I just want to feel that I'm ready for her and then I will stop and do sweet bog all..honest. So with regards to this goal, fail, fail, fail.

3. Complete 2 assignments

I completed and passed one, but I'm still in the process of doing the second. I just find it really hard to stay motivated as this one is all about fashion design and I'm just not in to it. I even tried to distract myself earlier by taking a random pic for you. Total fail.

4. Download more music on to iPod

Nope. I got as far as making a list of the music I want to put on there, but kept telling myself it was something I'd do later..and then never did. Yet another complete fail.

So there you have it. Instead of getting better and reaching all of my goals (shouldn't be hard considering there's only four and they're supposed to be "simple"), I failed to reach any of them. Come of folks, say it with me..

FAIL!

4 Simple Goals - February

-1-

Make curtains for bedroom

Yes, this is back on the list. I hate these curtains. Read below to find out why.

-2-

Take regular time out to just relax

I've got five weeks until Pip's due so I need to take advantage of this quiet time while I can! 

-3-

Complete at least two assignments

I took some time off from my dressmaking course time over Christmas and have managed to forget all about it since then. I was only supposed to take off two weeks and yet here we are in February!  I

 desperately need to get back in to the swing this.

-4-

Download more music on my iPod

Yes I know this is boring, but there's so much music I want to get on there and I just never get around to it. I want to sort out some playlists too and get busy listening to some toones.

Last month's goals - January

1. Fix the kitchen wall I destroyed

Done! It still needs painting, but the wall now has it's hole filled in and is all papered up again. I have to admit, I have the husband to thank for this. He has been nothing short of awesome.

2. Make a curtain for our bedroom

Nope, no where near. Not even close. We got some lovely fabric, I got my scissors out and then it all went wrong. I realised I hadn't ordered enough, I cut the fabric the wrong way into the pattern, had to make the curtains smaller than I wanted and forgot to add the lining to one of them to boot. It did not go well and there was a lot of swearing. A LOT.

3. Put up a door curtain in the hallway to keep out the draughts

Done and just in time because the weather dropped and it really has made a difference.

4. Make a draft excluder, again to keep out those bloody draughts!

And yet again, done! It sits in the hallway with the curtain and now instead of having the North Pole as our hallway, it's just a bloody cold hallway instead. It may not sound it, but it's an instant improvement.

All in all then, not bad. I think I would've completed them all too if I hadn't stupidly ordered too little fabric for the damned curtains. Who knows, maybe I can make February the first month that I complete all four goals!

4 Simple Goals - January

-1-

Fix the kitchen wall I destroyed

It wasn't until I went through this blog for my last post that I realised that it's been nearly a year since I originally botched this job up. We've been living with a crappy looking kitchen wall since February last year. Good grief. 

-2-

Make a curtain for our bedroom

We have a curtain pole and have been getting by with a bed cover, thrown over it. It's not ideal. This goal was also on my Winter List, but Dan caved and bought a cheap pair of curtains from Argos. They're AWFUL. The best way I can describe the fabric is tent fabric. It feels and sounds like plastic and I hate, hate, hate them. That's enough of an incentive to get some decent homemade curtains up in there pronto.

-3-

Put up a door curtain in the hallway to keep out the draughts

I actually bought one online ages ago. Unfortunately I totally ballsed up the measurements and it's too short! So I need to come lengthen it before we can put it up - it's all about the curtains this month!

-4-

Make a draft excluder, again to keep out those bloody draughts!

To go with the above door curtain. I hope to have a nice and toasty house after all this.

December's Goals

1. Finish all the sewing assignments in my course. 

Done and I even had the last one marked and returned to me before Christmas. Now I only have two more to go and the final examination before it's all done and dusted. I seriously cannot wait!

2. Finish re-vamping my crafting corner

Damn it I am SO close with this one..but not close enough.  It looks so much better already though and I got loads done last month. Just not enough to be able to count this goal as completed unfortunately. I cannot wait to share the before and after photos with you all. I just need to paint and varnish the sewing table, finish the chair cushion and put up the curtain. Then, I will be done. 

Honest.

3. Start exercising regularly

Done. I pulled out my Davina pregnancy exercise video and got marching, stretching and what not. I'm actually genuinely surprised as I felt that I had done a work out afterwards, but all without even the slightest bit of pressure being put on my stomach or pelvis area. It left me feeling pretty good too, even if Davina's personal trainer kind of annoys me.

4. Make a bigger shelter for the chickens

Done..I guess. Sort of. They still don't have a permanent or in my words "pretty" shelter yet which is why I'm not completely happy claiming that this goal has been achieved, there's still work to be done. However with Dan's help we put together something bigger to tide them over and just in time too as the weather has become a little wet and wild here lately. 

The important thing is that they now have a shelter that they actually use when it's raining. So it's not a complete fail either. I guess. Sort of.

4 Simple Goals

-1-

Finish all the sewing assignments in my course.

This was outstanding at the start of the month, but I actually completed this last week so I'm already on track!  

-2-

Finish re-vamping my crafting corner

This task has been on my list since forever, it's time to get it done and I'm so close!

-3-

Start exercising regularly  

I'm currently suffering from pelvic pain due the pregnancy so some gentle exercise is needed to help keep the worst at bay.

-4-

Make a bigger shelter for the chickens

Poor chooks. The one Dan made for them a couple of months ago is too small so they don't use it. It's time for an upgrade.

And for those who are curious, this is how I got on with last month's goals..

1. Drink more 

I failed miserably at this. I'm really trying for Pip's sake, but I've never been very good at drinking enough water at the best of times so it's proving to be something of a challenge. I had been doing well with fruity teas, but then they started giving me heartburn which has made things more difficult. I'm not giving up though!

2. Complete 3 assignments

Almost completed. I completed two, but got hopelessly confused with the last one so I was still struggling with it by the end of November. Still, it was a good effort.

3. Start making Christmas cards

I did! However, I didn't actually, finish any of them! The idea was to crochet a snowflake to stick on the front of each card that could then be removed to use as a tree decoration. I got as far as making the snowflakes before stumbling across an old pack of cards from last year in amongst a box of other tree decorations and deciding to use those instead. 

The snowflakes will now be used to make a Christmas garland which I will be posting about shortly.

4. Start making Christmas presents

Nope. I didn't even make a start on this one. I thought about it a couple of times. But that's it.

So in short, November's goals were a complete flop. However I am determined to do better this month. DETERMINED.

Just you wait and see..

4 Simple Goals, the return!

So I think the last time I did one of these was in October last year..some time ago!

I really enjoyed having these smaller goals to aim towards, but what killed it for me was having a deadline that was too far away. I either forgot what my goals were or forgot to do them. So this time, I'm going for monthly goals. Much easier to keep track of. And the goals above will also help me complete my Winter List so even better!

4 Simple Goals Update # 2

So, it's been over a month since my last 'Me Day' so I booked today off work and decided to have a lazy one. I did a few bits here and there in between all the laziness. One those "bits" was to organise my granny squares so that I could finally start sewing them into a blanket. I think it's going to look good!

There's 104 squares there. 

And then into the garden where I am growing/have grown strawberries, sweet peppers, garlic and check out my parsnips!

And then I decided to make myself a little insect nest. We had a lot of ladybirds in the garden this summer and since I've taken down all the sunflowers I was worried they wouldn't have any where to hibernate for the winter. So hey presto, now they have this!

Ok, so it doesn't look like much, but I'm assured the bugs will love it. 

I wedged it under the decking to keep it dry and sheltered from frosts and winds. 

And those folks, were the highlights of my second Me Day. S'cuse the waffling, it's actually quite late and I'm tired, but wanted to finish this post because I go to bed. 

And I'm done, night! x

4 Simple Goals Update # 1

Earlier this month I set myself a little challenge, 4 Simple Goals. Today I killed two birds with one stone. I got my hair cut and had my 'Me Day'. Lovely, very, very lovely. Of course some shopping was called for..

And of course, the hair cut. This is the before shot.

And here's the after shot. I freaking love it!

So haircut? Check! Regular me days? On track. Photos? On track....increase my water intake?

Well three out of four isn't bad!

4 Simple Goals

I meant to post this last week, but totally forgot.

The author of one of the gorgeous blogs I regularly read (A Beautiful Mess) set herself a challenge recently. The concept was easy, she set herself four simple goals to reach by the end of the year and she invited her readers to join in.

I like this idea and it's simplicity so I've decided to take part..albeit a week late. Here girls and boys, are my four things;

1) Photos, photos, photos!

This is always something I tell myself to do more often. I'm not a great photographer by any stretch of the imagination, but I do want to document this period of my life more. And how does anyone improve a skill without practice anyway? So my first goal is to take more pictures of my life whether I intend to use them on this blog or not. And whether they're in focus or not.

Ring by Dainty Squid

2) Drink more water

Headaches, bad skin, dark eye circles, lethargy..these are things I get due to never drinking anything more than coffee in an average day. I'm dreadful and I need to get more H2O in my diet in the worst way. I'm not going to make a goal to drink a certain amount, so long as I drink more then I currently do, that will be enough for me.

3) Get the hair cut I've secretly wanted for ages.

I can't even begin to explain just how ridiculously excited I am about this goal and it's probably the simplest of all! I want to get my fringe cut, I'm taking Natasha Khan as my inspiration here. Fingers crossed I will look even a fraction as cute as she does. Although she can keep the antlers.

4) Take one day out of every month and make it 'Me Day'.

This is something I used to do when I ran my Etsy shop. I found that I was so busy that I used to spend all my spare time working on it. That's when I invented Me Days. As the oh so creative name implies, it's a day when I'm given the green light to be 100% selfish and self indulgent. Lie-ins, bubble baths, favourite foods, wine, films, shopping and general slobbing on the sofa . These were things that could feature in my day and now that I'm remembering how great they were, I'm wondering why I ever stopped??

I declare that my next Me Day is scheduled for Tuesday, 31 August.