My list of 37

Scroll down for my list of 36

My 37 things list (updated 3 Jan 2012)
God/ ministry
1. Finish blogging the Crazy Love book chapters
2. Have a “retreat” all by myself, one night a month
3. Spend time on a consistent basis reading the Bible. I have slacked big-time and only just started up again. Sadly, it’s because I need to hear from Him now. Slacked again and started in the new year
4. Continue to be faithful in my ministry at the church even when attendance is low. I am doing this unto the Lord and not unto men. Done for 2011 only

Family (D and babies)
1. Have fun summer family photoshoot – booked already – need ideas!
2. Have family holiday on KZN north coast
3. Make a decent-looking “family rules” printable
4. Get back to Cape Town – it has been too long. I think Dec 2007 was the last time, if not earlier.
5. Do a fun day for the babies’ half birthdays. It will probably involve some kind of fun tradition that I’ve yet to think up plus cake. Yes. Scheduled for Sat :)
6. Take the kids to Gillooly’s Farm – gosh, they haven’t been since they were about 7 – 8 months old and it is unacceptable as it’s right on my doorstep.
7. Find a preschool for the kids that we’re happy with emotionally and financially, and register them for July 2012. Changed mind. It will be either last quarter or Jan 2013
8. Do something different (for us) and fun as a family once a month (today counts for this month :)) Have managed at least two every month so far
9. Two dates with D a month plus movie night on the couch ;) Have managed so far except Oct (gall bladder month)
10. Get wedding, Australia and Singapore photos scanned and in jpg format all ready but the place is still on leave
11. Get that darn photo wall up!
12. Have a weekend away with D. If that goes well, book overseas trip if there’s a willing family member around. I fear this may never happen but not for lack of trying!
13. Take the kids to the zoo

Work
1. Have lunch/ tea at least once a week in our work coffee shop to increase my visibility. Going well
2. Bring in between R10 and R20 mil GWP in new business for my company (this is a new position so I’m still getting a feel for what’s realistic but will still be a stretch) Oh dear. A tad ambitious

Business
1. Have book published both in print and on the Kindle Working, working...
2. Write second book and maybe the third one too
3. Attend She Speaks conference
4. Market myself 10 times to church groups to share my story of hope and inspiration with women. That means sending out emails or talking to leaders saying, “I speak about _____. Do you think that would fit with your group?” - just so I don’t fluff it later… Just not feeling it at the moment

Personal
1. Have photoshoot in Newtown with cool, crazy coloured doors in the background – I can’t wait – thin or not!
2. Give away 37 notebooks as gifts 27 done to date :)
3. Work out 8 – 12 times a month, either by myself or with a personal trainer Not there yet but back with PT and managed 6 times in December!
4. Meet 5 bloggers Met Cat, Louisa, Hayley
5. Read 60 books, one of them The Happiness Project So far have read 25 books since 6 Aug (5 books a month on average, so dead on track)
6. Set a deadline for all my “thin” clothes and get rid of them if goal not achieved I've been doing them in bits and pieces - only have about 3 - 4 work suits (my power suits) that still don't fit but I'm hanging on...
7. Declutter and sell bags I no longer use (there are at least 10) I sold 8 and gave 2 away. Sadly, there are still about 10 more. I need to take more pics and sell some more
8. Continue to do at least 5 random acts of kindness every month Easy-peasy. Such a habit of mine now that I do at least double that 
9. Leave 4 anonymous notes/ send out cards every month with inspiring messages So far so good :)

Fun/ exploring my creativity
1. Do a photobook. Did one of beach photoshoot and two of Newtown photoshoot

2. Cook 12 new “main course” recipes - have done7 so far: pan pizza, chicken with peaches, honey chicken with pineapple, enchilada casserole, aromatic chicken, mince, noodles and sweetcorn, chickpea and pita bread salad
3. Cook 12 new recipes in the baking category Have already done 11 - fudge, apple cake, apple bars, pumpkin bread, sweet chex mix, savoury chex mix, peppermint bark, healthy pumpkin muffins, apple raisin oatmeal cookies, peanut butter chocolate oats drop cookies (tried two recipes)
4. Do 24 crafty/ creative projects (travel journals, mini scrapbooks, stuff for the kids, etc.), Pinterest-type stuff. Maybe organise a virtual craft night once a month? Amazing - have already done 29 different projects

5. Do a 2011 month in review mini book and then start 2012 with a new tradition of a mini review every month

NEW STUFF added 3 Jan

Do two Pinterest projects every month and link up with a crafty blog
Read camera manual and practise one different thing every month






My 36 things to do now I've turned 36 are:

1. Do LOTS more talks
2. Develop and keep up a system for my photos I have one but I keep slacking. As at today's date, I'm 1.5 months behind again.
3. Do a weekly review post   I can't even remember why I wanted this. Maybe because I wasn't blogging daily as I have been the last 9 months or so..
4. Have a family photo shoot when the babies can walk (I have very specific photos in mind and they need to be walking for that :))   My kids started walking a week after our beach photo shoot!
5. Take a beach holiday
6. Decide on a policy for attending kiddies birthday parties
7. Go to gym 8 times a month Yes, when I'm working with personal trainer but I skipped 7 weeks in April and May
8. Do at least 3 talks on my infertility story to church or other groups Have done one on 26 March
9. Learn how to make a halfway decent blog header with photos in under 30 minutes
10. Reconnect with a friend I truly love (she's moved to Pretoria so we never see each other any more) Done 9 Aug 2010
11. Learn to let go  I have gotten tons better but am by no means there.
12. Read 5 books a month
13. Weigh 57 kg   Am still 60.something
14. Hire a personal trainer to help me get to my goal weight
15. When I reach said goal weight, reward myself with a professional photo shoot
16. Use those photos to have a website redesign I went ahead and did the website redesign with the other photoshoot
17. Live a simpler life I have gotten tons better but am by no means there.
18. Simplify my business even more and do only really high-value work
19. Travel internationally with D for at least 5 days!
20. Do regular random acts of kindness
21. Pay for a stranger's meal/ groceries
22. Do my version of 29 gifts - 4 unexpected gifts a month
23. Get better with my skincare routine
24. Have lunch with a friend once a month. Definitely on this list - a friend I've recently connected with after we lost touch for years (we met at university and I haven't seen her for about 8 years)!
25. Get outside of house painted  trying to find a painter ....
26. Figure out how to generate income from my organising blog
27. Redesign organising blog (contrary to what you may think, I find it very hard to let people design things for me as I'm so clear on what I hate!)
28. Lower my expectations of myself and of others
29. Take a very basic photography class
30. Learn to cook a roast
31. Hire a life coach
32. Get at least one massage a month
33. Get hair done once a month
34. Have only clothes in my wardrobe that I love and that look good on me
35. Meet up with 3 blog friends (Cat, are you game?)
Done 1 so far
36. Get involved in some form of ministry again (I've stopped for the last 2 years and am feeling the itch to make a difference again) - could be those infertility talks otherwise even just mentoring people, etc.

If you have any ideas or you can help me in any way, I'd be very grateful. I believe by putting things out there, good things come back :)

What's on your list and how can I help you get there?

P.S. In this pic I was about 55 - 56 kg. This was taken in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland. Actually probably closer to 56 kg as I was having tea and scones a couple of times a day :)

36 things list updated 16 June 2011