Hello September! Goals and Knitting Updates

Hello Friends,

I hope you are doing well. Happy September! This week has been so busy at work and just in life. I was cross-training at work on a new task and it has been my main focus for the past two weeks. My Sister's wedding is next weekend so I have been preparing for that by working on my Maid of Honor speech and getting some things ready. I have also been going to the gym four times each week and this week, two times a week being with my personal trainer.  My trainer has continued to deliver on workouts that keep challenging me, so I really appreciate that and it has been keeping me motivated. I am feeling stronger and the workouts are getting easier, and I am also losing weight which I am so thrilled about!

Since it is now September and it has been getting a bit cooler outside finally, it makes me think of the start of things and new beginnings. I am thinking more about my goals and where I want to be in life lately and it always happens this time of year. I will revisit the resolutions that I made in January, and also add some more to focus on for the rest of the year.

New Year's Resolutions Update:

1. Get a job ✅

I got a full time position in June this year! I started off on a contract and worked hard hoping to secure a full time position. I let my team leader know I was interested in working there, and enjoyed the work. I was not sure for awhile if I would get it because my contract got extended along with some other people on contract and they said it would be extended on a month-to-month basis so I figured I would be done in the Fall. I was very surprised and happy when my team lead pulled me aside one day and offered me the position there in the same role. I love my work and feel it is the perfect fit for me!

2. Get in shape and eat healthy 
I have been working out with my trainer at the gym twice each week and working out twice on my own. I have also been trying to eat cleaner. This has been more recent and I am feeling more positive that I can achieve my fitness and health goals. I hope to continue losing weight and getting more toned and feel my best!

3. Read 20 books
I have read 5 books so far this year. I have started some and stopped as well that I will pick up again. Currently I am reading Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella and hope to finish this one soon and start up another one to add to my list of finished books.

4. Knit different projects 
I have knitted fingerless mittens as a new project and would like to also take on knitting another new project or some smaller knits before the end of the year. I am thinking it would be fun to knit a shawl this fall.

5. Try cooking new vegetarian and vegan dishes
Because I am vegetarian (but eat fish once and awhile) I wanted to come up with some more delicious recipes this year which would be fun to try. I haven't been as experimental in my cooking lately and have not cooked a new vegetarian or vegan recipe in awhile. I am thinking of getting some new recipe books soon to get some more inspiration and ideas on what to make. I am going to Veg fest in Toronto this weekend so I hope to get more ideas and inspiration.

I hope to make more progress in these goals by the end of the year. It really helps me to review my goals at this time of the year so I still have time to work on them and feel more successful at the end of the year by making more progress.

Some more goals I would like to work on for the rest of the year are:

• Learn to play an instrument - Maybe ukele? Any ukele players out there to give me advice on buying one?
• Learn a new skill - I love the look of cross-stitch, it would be fun to give it a try

Knitting Progress and Reading Updates:

I have been working on knitting fingerless mittens and have made some progress and finished the first mitten. I will be starting the second one this week to finish them soon in time to wear for cooler weather. 

Ravelry Pattern: Ribbed Fingerless Mitts by Kathy North

I haven't been working on the decadent socks lately. I was having problems with it and had to keep frogging it. Below is a photo of what it looked like where I left off. I love the colors and the pattern is interesting. I will pick it back up once I am finished the mittens and sewing up the Wool and the Gang top then I can devote more time to figuring it out.

I am currently reading Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella and it is a good read so far. I just haven't been reading as much lately and want to get back into the routine of reading before I go to bed and setting time aside to do that. 

Joining along with Ginny over at her blog Small Things for Yarn Along and Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Crafting On.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Let me know in the comments below what you want to focus on as goals for the rest of the year, or how you are doing in your resolutions. I would love to hear about your goals too!

Have a great day!