First things first: did you all have a great Halloween?! Ours panned out perfectly. I came home and rocked a little over 4.5 miles of speedwork on the treadmill, showered, and then grabbed a glass of wine and Sean and I sat outside passing out candy to the kids until it got a little too chilly out and we had to move inside. Then we started in on the American Horror Story marathon that was playing because Sean had never seen it before.
Necessary:
I do have one complaint though: We had multiple kids and teenagers *ahem, you are too old!* come trick-or-treating to our door with no costume on. I’m sorry but I don’t think you deserve my candy if you can’t even dress up. Am I alone in this thought?!
In an effort to stay focused on the things in life that I am truly thankful for and to stay organized and on track, I’ve decided that each month I need to identify and focus on some goals. This month I am really focusing on getting healthy in every aspect of my life. In November I am really narrowing in on:
1. Improving my overall strength: I mentioned it last week, but Britt and I decided to make a valiant return to strength training by doing at least 2 sessions a week. What I didn’t mention was that we are aiming for a total of 40 minutes twice a week of overall strength training, with a focus on core strength. The thought behind this is twofold: (one) to get stronger and leaner and (two) to become better runners.
2. Becoming a faster, smarter runner: That’s pretty self explanatory. I want to be faster, who doesn’t? But I also want to be smart about approaching my running. I want to focus on really listening to what my body tells me… Specifically I want to enter into December feeling strong and confident when Britt and I tackle our 30k (which we both signed up for last night!!) I think I’m pretty smart about running right now, but there is always room for improvement.
3. Managing money better: After I quit my last job and started my new one I realized that I drastically cut down on my during the week spending. I can only assume it’s because I eat lunch at the office now vs. at my old job I would leave during lunch and shop. However, I was really good at keeping our weekly grocery budget hovering around $75 and in the past few weeks I’ve let that slip. I want to find a good budget for us and really work towards sticking to it.
4. Improving the quality of the blog: I love this little blog here a ridiculous amount so I’m constantly trying to tweak it so that it embodies me better while still catering to you. So, if there’s anything you are interested in seeing on here, please tell me!
5. Stress less: I am a control freak, no lie. My brain moves 100 miles a minute every second of every day and I am constantly worrying about getting things done. I spend Monday mornings updating my planner with things I have going on all week and then I go crazy every day adding more things to it. I want to focus on spending time with those that I care about more (myself included, I’m pretty important to myself… just sayin’) and worrying less about if the laundry is done rightthisverysecond or if the dishes are put up. They will be there tomorrow, the time I have with friends and family will not. I need to learn to prioritize what is truly important and what can wait.
I have a few other things that I am shooting for this month, but they don’t make the cut on the blog 
And now I’ll take credit for all the pretty fall pictures (nope, Morgue File gets the credit).
Oh and Melissa, I’m listening to Defying Gravity right now 
What are you doing to make November a better month?
I’m so with you on the trick-or-treaters. I never mind handing out candy to anyone of any age (except obvious parents) so long as they are dressed up.
Excellent goals! You have inspired me to create my own goal list!!!
dressing up is the best part of Halloween (ok, other than the candy, who am I kidding?) how do people not want to?! majorly disappointed in some of our neighborhood kiddos!
I love reading goal posts, so you should post yours!!
“JUST YOU AND IIIIIIIIII DEFYING GRAVITYYYYYYYY!!!”"”"
I loveee your goals! I am a super control freak, too, and we both need to cut that shiz out and be like normal people. Also, the strength training is making me faster. That, or divine intervention. I’ve heard several times that plyometrics will help, too. But I hate jumping even more than I hate lifting things. So there.
I was a halloween grinch and didn’t pass out candy, but no costume = no treat. Not cool. Even I dressed myself up, so the kids have to do SOMETHING for that candy!
THAT’S WHAT I’M SAYING!! I can’t say I dressed up, but I did have on my Halloween shirt and socks.
I’ve heard plyometrics will help too but I can’t add any more workouts into my weeks – I am stretching myself to my limit as it is and any more will only result in a massive burnout so it’s gonna have to be running, strength and yoga. I noticed you’re getting faster too and that makes me jealous
Hopefully I’ll start seeing some speedier results too!
I keep wanting to sing out loud and then I remember I’m in an office… whoops!
We had a lot of older trick or treaters that were not dressed too. They were even collecting candy int backpacks! I even had a mom that was dressed up and collecting too but at least she dressed up.. Love your goals and they should be mine too! I am always on the same page as you and I am always trying to do something to make improvements in my life.
yeah at least she dressed up – maybe she was trick or treating for her kid? it just totally throws me for a loop that Halloween isn’t a big deal anymore – our whole neighborhood would get into Halloween growing up…. now hardly anyone (at least in my neighborhood now) puts out decorations!
makes me sad!
there’s definitely always room for improvement – i can’t wait to see what your next races bring, i know you’re gonna rock them!
My brain is right there running your with brain.. They keep up with each other!
i know you love a good to do list just as much as i do
Now that sounds like an awesome Halloween! OK, anything involving wine is pretty awesome to me.
I totally agree. Kids need to dress up to get candy. Isn’t that the fun part of Halloween? I think so!
that’s what I thought… who doesn’t love getting dressed up?! kids these days…
I noticed one of your goals isn’t to drink more wine. I’m hoping that one just didn’t make your blog.
We live out in the country, so we don’t even get trick or treaters, but yeah, at least dress up!
I need to let go of stress in my life too. I wish it could be easier!
HAHA I can ALWAYS drink more wine!
You make me want to listen to Defying Gravity too! Just added it to my “must download before the half marathon” list.
I’m with you on so many of those goals. I want to stress less, find more balance, and really up the fitness ante. Guess I’m kicking it off right with my first half this weekend!
it puts me in the best mood!! you’re gonna rock your half this weekend, no doubt!
Halloween was so fun in our ‘hood. We did have our few teenagers looking for candy without doing their “work” (aka dressing up) but mostly we had little kids.
I’m cranky today because I want to tweak workouts and do new things but I can’t do anything because I need to be “rested” for the race. Blah. I wish I could strength train. (I just want to do it cause I can’t.)
HAHA well the race is almost here – you can tweak after that!!
Good goals sister!
I love that everyone is posting goals for November! I should try that as well. I, too, suffer from control-freak-disorder. My 109380238 page planner looks like it was involved in a head on collision with an ink pen (because if it isn’t written in my planner, there’s no way I’m going to remember it), and I don’t know what to do when things don’t go precisely according to plan. I like to think that graduating will mellow me out some, though.
when do you graduate? i freak out when things don’t go according to plan too – and i definitely don’t remember things if they aren’t written down which is why i usually have multiple lists going on. sigh.
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Dude I gotta say, if there is any blog that is consistently getting more and more awesome, it’s yours. It’s def not “amateur”, it’s the big time
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HAHA I don’t know about that, but I appreciate it anyway!!
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