[I started this post then saved it and now I'm continuing it, but in the spirit of iteration I'll just cross out the pieces that have changed]
Soo I know it's the 18th of Jan 1st of Feb already, but I don't think I've done any goals posts yet. And I have goals!
As mentioned, I am turning just turned the big 4-0 this year, so I've crammed in all the personal goals because hey, why not?
Personal Goals:
- Improve accessory situation. Wear earrings?
A long time ago I read Putting Me Together and I even bought a style guide and I sometimes looked put together. I bought some necklaces and they really do make an outfit look awesome. I have had my ears pierced and I always wear small gold balls. I don't actually own any earrings at the moment. This year I would like to start wearing earrings. This is a bit tricky with babies around but I love how put together earrings make people, so I am on the hunt for earrings that I will actually wear. - Paint my nails Monthly
Last year my goal was to paint my nails more. I painted my nails a few times. I bought nail polish. This year I am going to get my nails painted once a month by a trainee at the local nail place. It's £10 and will mean that at least I'll have nice nails once a month. Hopefully I will also learn to do my nails myself in between. - Train for a half marathon
I entered the Cardiff Half in October and I am super excited. But I will need to train. My half marathon times are fairly consistant in the 2hr 25min to 2hr 35min. Although my goal is to train for and run a half marathon, by secondary goal is to run it in 2hr 10 min or less. - Strength train 100 times this year.
Right after I made this goal I listened to multiple podcasts where this was someone elses goal. I guess it's a good goal? I usually go to the gym once a week with my gym buddy (though we miss holiday and childcare-free weeks) SO with some focus I should be able to do twice a week. - Ride 50 Miles in one weekend.
This will probably be on Peloton. There was a time I rode 50ish miles every Sunday. That time is not now. - Buy a blazer or a jacket to classy up work clothes
Honestly I'm not super psyched about this goal BUT I think it would be good to own a nice blazer someday or a jacket. I often put on a nice dress and then wear a Patagonia jacket over it. Perhaps a blazer would be a better option? - Take a skills class at Bike Park Wales
I want to be a better mountain biker. - Go To Paris
I have been to paris a few times. I have generlaly not enjoyed France. my gym buddy loves Paris and he works in the travel industry and I think that I should give Paris one more chance with him. Maybe being in Paris with a french speaker who loves Paris will make Paris better? Also, the logistics of this are BIG because I would need to go without any kids which feels... crazy - Take a makeup course
I am really interested in learning how to do my own makeup better. Has anyone done this? I think it would be so cool to have someone teach me how to do makeup - Do 15 in person yoga classes
I love working out at home but in person yoga is great because they actually fix my positions and I realize how not level any part of my body is all the time. There are multiple good yoga studios by my house and 1+ times a month should be very doable - Take a bread making course
I think I'm just into paying people to teach me things this year! I would love to do a bread making course. There are some interesting lamination courses here to make croissants and other delicious breads and rolls. I would love to learn how to make Bagels if that was an option somewhere? - Learn how to style my hair, buy a new hairbrush and potentially new hair drier
I don't know what to do with my hair. Is it my cut? I have really thick wavy hair. I'm already growing it out to brown (I dyed it red for 15 years) and seeing how grey it is. So far, it's not as grey as I thought. But the only thing I know how to do with my hair is dry it and straighten it. My hairbrush is from a gift set my Grandma got me when I was 15 and it's missing half the bristles. This year I want to learn how to blow dry my hair. My hairdresser has offered to teach me - YAY! I also need to buy a new brush. But what brush? how does one decide what hairbrush to buy? Hair is complicated
I realize lots of my goals are about paying people to teach me things or do things or acquire things, however I think this fits into a larger goal of "pay people (often women) for the rare and valuable skills they have acquired, even if those skills don't fit into society's standard of what is "valued".
I know I could buy a new sofa from a department store (new sofa goal will make the list someday) but in the price of that sofa is every overhead cost of the department store, the wage of the CEO, the (probably male) executive board, and then the labourers etc. While I feel like lots of things on this list should be "Free" I'm trying to be more attentive to when "free" means "as a woman you should just know this". As a woman, I should just know how to do makeup and make bread and paint my nails?
I'm looking forward to year of forty. This is a fun and busy time in my family life, personal live & professional life. I'm excited to add a more fun and adventure into this year, and lay the groundwork for more fun years ahead.
Have you ever taken a course for hair or makeup or bread? What's the best course you've ever done?
Bravo for goals that are about "paying people to teach me things"! That's how it's done==>you want knowledge, you go to a teacher!
ReplyDeleteI've never taken a course on hair, makeup, or bread, though I've watched my share of Youtube videos on hair and makeup. Probably the best thing that I've done for self learning was to go through some books on photography and photoshop where I took the time to work through the exercises.
Oh well done on working through the exercises in the photography books rather than just reading them! That takes a lot of focus.
DeleteI really need to take some ski lessons. I know enough to get from the top of the hill to the bottom, but I think a few targeted lessons would really help.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Birchie that I go to YouTube for makeup and hair ideas, although I'm admittedly not very good at either.
I've only been to Paris once but LOVED it, and we're heading there as a family this spring. I'm curious what the kids will think...?!
Oh of course you're headed to Paris too! Maybe I will get more excited after your trip - although from your blog I would go ANYWHERE you've been!
DeleteI totally lack the ability to focus on youtube videos. Maybe I need to get better at this. Video is so not my learning format. Which is weird because I spend all day on Teams and doing calls but when it comes to watching pre-recorded things I just... can't focus. Maybe video learning should be a self improvement goal?
I'm so excited for your trip to Paris and I hope you LOVE IT. I LOVE PARIS, and I hope that going with someone who loves it will help you enjoy that vibe.
ReplyDeleteI'm doing strength training 5 days a week this year...so I guess I'll be doing it a lot of days. But I only do 20 minutes each day, at home not the gym.
Wow 5 days a week of strength is great! And I mostly train at home (once once a week or less at the gym). 20 minutes 5 days a week sounds like such a great routine.
DeleteThere is so much free material out there on YouTube, I would be hard-pressed to pay someone to teach me to do my makeup. BUT!! Listen, I paid for someone to do my makeup on my wedding day and it was amazing. I was like a brand new person. So maybe I should pay a professional!
ReplyDeleteI've taken some super helpful sewing classes in the past. I should probably get on that again.
I did my own makeup on my wedding day and I so wish I had paid someone to do it for me. It was fine, but I think good wedding makeup looks AMAZING in a way that makes me look like myself but better. My make-up currently makes me look like myself but 10% less tired.
DeleteSewing classes sound very cool!
Those are some goals, I love them all! many fun things (reminds me that I need/want to have more fun). Classes... I am too cheap to take classes, with so much free stuff available online... I didn't take a class per se but I did go to the makeup counter at a nice department store and they gave me a nice tutorial and boy, were they good. I looked better lol!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should do a makeup counter sometime? Every time I've done that I look great and I buy like £30 of makeup and then I don't remember what to do with it. I have a medium amount of makeup but I need someone to show me how to use what I have, because at the counters they do so many things and I forget what each does. Maybe one of the makeup sales people can come to my house and just show me how to use what I already have?
DeleteYes to FUN goals! I feel like committing money to fun will hopefully make me value it more?