Time to Pay the Piper

So with Summer ending and Fall beginning I am realizing that the year is almost over. Just a few more weeks and my 30th birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are gonna hit like a 1-2 punch to the face. 2008 will be over soon and as usual I'm sure I won't know where the time went. Since I made some lofty resolutions at the beginning of the year, I'm doing a quick end of Summer check-in of where I am at with respect to some of those goals.

Daily Life
Consistently dress professionally at work (including hair, makeup, and all those details -- and even on casual Friday) This has been actually pretty easy to maintain, my boss has been all over "Professional Dress" lately.
See more movies by myself
Floss nightly
Pack lighter on trips I have totally done this consciously on numerous occasions, but you know what -- it's overrated. I ended up borrowing from other people and forgetting pertinent things in my effort to pack light.
Swear less Yeah, but "less than" a holy shitload of swearing isn't really that much now, is it?
Stretch Daily
Be more diligent and timely about Thank You Notes
Get back to my old more "creative" habits (I hate the word crafty, but basically get my craft on!) This year I have consciously chosen to focus my hobbies on things that get me 'creating' -- cooking, knitting, blogging, taking photographs, reading related stuff. It's been fun!
Home
Organize a crafting space
Print out more of my photos
Throw out old clothes
FINALLY find a closet organization system that works
Grow an herb garden OMG -- please go out and purchase the AeroGarden. I didn't think it would work, but it TOTALLY does. Next stop, an herb garden in my yard.
Get a dog

Health and Wellness
Exercise for at least 30 minutes, 3x per week (outside as much as possible!)
Do yoga once per week
Get back to my free weight loving self
Use sunscreen more vigilantly (especially on face -- SPF make up is not enough! Do you want to look like a leather face?) I have been more committed to this. Consequently, my paleness has blinded people. Was it worth it? Undecided.
Do the Couch to 5k program
Run 5k
Go hiking (preferably with Garrett) at least once a month
Get teeth cleaned twice My new dentist is so cute!

Family and Friends
Acknowledge all birthdays at least with a phone call Ok so like 90%
Give presents and send cards on time
Host at least one party/bbq/soiree My 30th birthday is coming up -- and I will be a-hostin!
Make and send more mix CDs
Send a care package for no reason
Be a better e-mailer
Keep address book updated
Send Christmas cards with non-obnoxious update letter

Cooking and Baking
Go to Farmers Market at least once per month
Make Jam
Use crock pot more Pulled pork in the crock pot is so flippin' good!
Try Pickling peppers and veggies
Make an infused Olive Oil
Make at least one meal from one of my MANY cookbooks per week
Make chicken stock from scratch
Plan meals I have been so good at this, it's just become habit. I am stoked!
Purchase and wear apron I bought this one...and it's so cute!
Take a cooking class
Go wine tasting twice this year (even if that just means to pick up your wine club shippment and have a glass you have never tasted) Yum, good resolution!
Try at least one new restaurant per month (hello, entertainment book!)
Go out for dinner with friends at least once per month
Bake something every other week (but take to work so it doesn't sit around the house forcing me against my will to eat the whole thing) This morning I brought in brownies to work -- Frankly, I was fine keeping them at home and eating them out of the pan with the fork, but Garrett kept me honest.
Brain
Read at least 30 books
Start learning a new language
Blog about books that I read See my profile on goodreads.
Learn to knit again (see: get craft on) I did it! I learned again by taking a class, I have multiple projects in the works and some fun new knitting books! Also, I joined ravelry.com which is a great inspiration.
Blog 2-3 times per week
Make the move to typepad
Take a photography class
Purse freelance writing opportunities more diligently

Money
Get student loans under control Score!
Continue with debt reduction plan Score!
Start saving 10%
Purchase a bookkeeping program for computer Check out www.wesabe.com

Love
Make something for Garrett
Listen more, talk less
Plan at least 2 weekends out of town just for the two of us (not for weddings, not for holidays, not for parties) Los Angeles in July and Portland before the year is through.
Think before I speak when I'm angry
Commit his small daily gestures to memory and keep in mind during the "thinking before speaking when angry"
Go on more McKinley picnics

Career
Fret not, I do have a multitude of career goals, though I won't be posting them here. I did, however, get into an awesome program this year at my job called Emerging Leaders which is definitely going to help me fine tune some of my long term career goals which I am really excited about. I may post a bit about that, but I'm pretty much sticking to my No Talking About Work rule.

UPDATE: Emerging Leaders has been great -- though incredibly time consuming. I have a huge presentation on September 11th that is like my culminating experience in the program so think good thoughts for me, k?

Consumption
Buy a car
Buy a new computer
Buy a brown coat
Buy an SLR
Buy photoshop

Well I'm clearly FAILING in the consumption department, but you know what -- I'm okay with that. See my checked off Financial Goals because accomplishing those have cushioned the consumption blow!

All in all I feel pretty good, but there are still a few things I should really make some time for (Health and Wellness: I'm looking at you). So let's see what happens in the last few months of the year, shall we?