Marcia Francois's Blog, page 54

[Goals] my January review

Well, that was January.

It feels like the month passed so quickly but it may be due to me being on holiday for half of it

Pringle Bay, place for your soul to breathe

Here were the highlights:

We went on a holiday to Cape Town. Ah, best ever. I’m very, very thankful for the first four peaceful and calm days in Pringle Bay before a flurry of doing, friending and sightseeing in Cape Town proper.

I went on a fabulous free walking tour of the Bo-Kaap in Cape Town. It was such a hot day but well w...

Popular posts this month and a few weekend links

If you’re not already signed up to my new newsletter, you might want to do that. On Monday we’re sending out a monthly goals review form.

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Peek inside my gorgeous new handbag

Things that worked for my year-long photo project

My word of the year for 2016

I know how she does it – a great insight from the book, and then 5 things where I didn’t agree with the author

Our favourite kids’ stationery items – and I will do part 2 and my favourites in Feb. Pinky pr...

3 things I’m doing differently with my goals this year

This year I decided to be a bit more intentional about my word of the year. My monthly goals night is already a solid habit in my life and if I incorporate the word of the year business into that process, it should make the whole thing seamless and easy.

In terms of goals themselves, I have three main areas I’m focussing on this year:

God Relationships – Dion and kids, extended family and friends, and me Health and fitness

Here’s what I’m doing differently this year:

1. Adding an additiona...

It’s not too late for your goals

There are two schools of thought on starting goals on 1 January.

One group says things like 1 January is just a day; if I want to change something, I’ll just do it. The other group gets ready for 1 January and dives in. Which group are you in?

Someone at work actually asked me what the big deal is about the day?

I thought about it for a few days and came back to her.

There is nothing special about the chronological day; after all any day is much the same and all have 24 hours. BUT there is...

Our 5 favourite items of kids’ stationery – part 1

A friend once joked that visiting my house was like visiting a stationery shop. It’s kind of true – the kids even ask if they can “shop in my cupboard”

I’ve always loved stationery and they love it too.

I think because of that I like to buy new things “for the kids”

How to not be annoyed – A Rising Strong review

While we’re on thesubject of stories we’re telling ourselves, I also listened to Brene Brown’sRising Strongrecently.

To my mind, one of the key points is this: what is the story I’m telling myself about such-and-such situation?

For instance, a colleague could continually do their work late which means that you have to work late to complete a report. The story you tell yourself is that they’re doing this just to annoy you. The idea is that you have a conversation with them and say “the story...

How to successfully do a year-long photo project

Last year, aside from my usual goals, I had two new projects:

The 52 Project (a photo of my kids once a week) 52 walks in 2015 (with a camera, either Canon or iphone)

Both of these photo projects were very successful and as I’m starting this new year, I wanted to reflect back and share what made them so successful for us:

1. Think about what really is doable for you

I’ve tried to do a daily, 365-day project and that was a disaster for me. I ended up taking photos of my book in bed for far...

Konmari tweaks

I’ve blogged a lot about how I love the Konmari method of “tidying up”. I’ve also lived with the method for about 5months so I can now see what’s still working and what’s not.

By the way, this tweaking is a normal part of organising.

1. While I love the uprightness of my clothes, when you take things out to wear, some of the clothes “collapse” and I’m really not into the untidiness that presents.

Am Iwilling to use up more space just for the sake of 2 – 3 t-shirts that now are a bit more wri...

I know how she does it – part 2

I hate it when people assume that a book meant for a particular audience is “not good” because they are not that target audience.

Like how people with kids or who live in huge houses freaked out about the Konmari book

The power of the story you’re telling yourself

I listened to Laura Vanderkam‘s I know how she does it a few months ago and I mostly loved it.

There were a few things that I completely disagreed with, but we’ll get to those in another post