november goals

December 2015 Goals

~ Stephanie Shaul ~ 1 Comment
Christmas
Image by Ally King Photography, candle from Parris Chic Boutique, styling by me

Why hello, blog! It’s been a long time – by far my longest break – since updating this blog. I always thought that I’d have more time than ever to update my blog once I was a full-time wedding planner, but that has not proven to be the case these days! As I shared in my November goals post, November was perhaps the busiest month of my life, and I was out of town (in DC, Ohio, Charleston, Chicago, and NYC) for almost the entire month. Whew! And now December, my favorite month of the year, is here!!! I simply adore Christmastime, and it’s so hard to believe than the last month of 2015 is upon us.

As I briefly recap November, it’s hard to even think back to the beginning of the month. I had the Making Things Happen conference in Chapel Hill and the Creative at Heart conference in Charleston this month, and I cannot wait to share (much!) more about these two experiences with you soon! I visited my grandparents in Ohio, traveled to DC for a long weekend with some of my best friends, celebrated the too-short life of my dear cousin in Chicago with my extended family, and then had a fabulous week in NYC for Thanksgiving (and doing all things Christmas, of course!) with the family. I’ll (hopefully) share many more details about some of these trips, travels, and adventures in the coming weeks. Needless, to say, I’m glad I kept my goals fairly brief this past month, as it was more about survival – ha! I still need to open a business bank account, and I haven’t even begun to think about Christmas cards… and this is from the girl who makes/does calligraphy for her own cards every year and mails them out promptly on December 1st! There’s time, though!!

December goals

  1. Fully savor this season and plan time to rest and soak up the true meaning of Christmas. I want to intentionally be still, to focus on Advent, and to not rush too much to enjoy this most wonderful season. My December calendar is so, so full already (lots of wonderful events!), and I want to savor it all.
  2. Create new holiday traditions here in Raleigh and have lots of fun with friends! I loved all of my DC Christmas traditions, and it’s time to create new ones. I need to create my annual Christmas to-do list!
  3. Send Christmas cards.
  4. I’m hosting lots of fun things this month, and I always hope, more than anything, that my home is welcoming and inviting and a reflection of my heart.
  5. Find several meaningful ways to volunteer locally. Any suggestions, friends?
  6. Begin using my 2016 PowerSheets.
  7. I have a NYE wedding, which I’m oh so excited about. It’s time to finalize all the plans, do her calligraphy, create all the florals, and make sure I serve my bride and groom well this month!
  8. Execute a fabulous styled shoot with Amber Hatley Photography at the Parlour at Manns Chapel

I feel like I could add so many more goals to this list, but I really don’t want to overwhelm myself and will leave it at that! November was really wonderful in a lot of ways, but it left me a little tired. And now I’m ready to dive back into work and life in Raleigh! There are lots of fun projects and activities on the horizon, and I’m so very thankful for them. And I cannot wait to enjoy my favorite season of all, Christmas!

What are you gearing up for in December? I’d love to encourage you this month, too!

“And they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.'” Matthew 1:23

November 2015 Goals

~ Stephanie Shaul ~ 4 Comments

november

Happy November, y’all! Where oh where has 2015 gone?! October was such a full and wonderful month, for the most part (minus some devastating family news), and it went by in the blink of an eye. I didn’t really have time to slow down (but we all know I thrive off of being busy!), and it was filled with so much progress, especially for Stephanie Scholl Events – and I’m so, so glad. I had a big wedding in Chapel Hill, traveled to Bald Head Island for a styled shoot, have received images back from a couple styled shoots (I.can’t.even!!!), hosted a baby shower, went to Ohio for several days to see family, and so much more. Whew!

My October goals are here, and while they were rather ambitious, I am proud to say that they are mostly complete! It was a busy, productive, and eventful month, especially for my business. I didn’t quite get to finishing four books (free time is harder to come by than I thought), and I’m postponing volunteering regularly (at a local elementary school!) til December, since I’m gone most of November. I feel especially accomplished because my business goals for October are all checked off, which might be a minor miracle!! I credit a lot of that productivity to having creative friends/accountability business groups who encourage me daily and really do hold me accountable. I’m pretty sure all of us had the most productive month! I was also asked to write an article for The School of Styling on tips for establishing yourself and your business in a new city, which was such an honor!

Now, November… goodness. My goals for the month are going to be simple, as it’s maybe the busiest month ever. I’m traveling something like 20 days this month – I have the Making Things Happen Conference, a wedding in Washington DC + visiting friends there, the Southern Weddings launch party, a Christmas styled shoot, several days in Charleston for the Creative at Heart Conference, a trip to Chicago, and then seven days in NYC with my family for Thanksgiving!! So, needless to say, the ten or so days I’m in town will be catching up and prepping for the next thing. I’m glad I’m organized and love having a full calendar + travels! I’m so grateful for all of this.

robynfaithstyledshoot

November Goals

  1. Go into both Making Things Happen and Creative at Heart with an open mind & open heart; ready to soak up and learn so much. Connect with others, refine my business, and set actionable goals for its direction and growth. And have fun!
  2. Enjoy a long weekend in DC with some of my best friends & spend much-needed time with them (and at a winery, hooray!).
  3. Continue connecting with new friends (in the wedding industry and outside of it) in the Triangle, including hosting Articles Club with Emily!
  4. Have a blast at the Southern Weddings V8 Launch Party – hooray!
  5. Pull off a fabulous, festive, and meaningful Christmas styled shoot with the wonderful Ally King Photography.
  6. Open a business bank account & continue working with my (newly hired!) bookkeeper + accountant.
  7. Travel to Chicago and be fully present with my family during a difficult time, and enjoy time together despite hard circumstances.
  8. Fully embrace and live out this month of thanksgiving and gratitude, and intentionally show others how I’m grateful for them.
  9. Begin working on Christmas cards!
  10. Have a blast in NYC for a week with my family! I love NYC at the holidays, and I can’t wait to spend time there for Thanksgiving with my sister, brother in law, and parents!
  11. “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

What about you, friends? What are you up to in November? I’d love to hear your goals and how I can encourage you with them!

November Goals

~ Stephanie Shaul ~ 5 Comments

novembergoalsa recap of my October Goals

 1. cross many items off of my Fall to-do list & thoroughly enjoy the season [Let’s see – I went apple & pumpkin picking again, went to Charlottesville & enjoyed the gorgeous fall leaves, hosted a fall dinner party, went to the Mount Vernon wine festival, hiked Great Falls, baked a recipe from Southern Living.. yep, I definitely crossed tons off of my to-do list!]
2. calligraphy envelopes for a dear bride’s wedding [Yes!! And loved it!]
3. take a weekend trip to Ohio to visit my four fabulous grandparents [Done! And went back again this past weekend!]
4. be content with where I am in life right now [Affirmative.]
5. finish reading the New Testament (!!) [YES!]
6. volunteer on the creative team for my church’s Holiday Show & Expo [Volunteering away! More here.]
7. buy flowers for a friend or family member, just because [Yes! Simple but so fun and rewarding. I love doing this!]
8. begin shopping for Christmas gifts [I’ve at least begun compiling lists & deciding how/where my money is spent. More to come on this!]
9. spray paint something [Done! I’ll have to share pictures soon – I had a ton of fun with my gold and navy spray paint this month!]
November goals
1. Start doing calligraphy for my Christmas cards (I make them each year!)
2. Thoroughly enjoy the Holiday Show & Expo & serve selflessly as much as possible with it.
3. Begin planning several more ways to volunteer in the Thanksgiving and Christmas season.
4. Bake treats for friends and neighbors as an act of gratitude.
5. Host our first Article Club get-together.
6. Budget for Christmas/giving back during the holidays.
7. Find one evening this month to fully rest – candles lit, a good book, and a glass of wine.
8. Have a blast with friends and family in North Carolina for Thanksgiving – and be truly grateful!
Did you make monthly goals? If so, I would love to hear what yours are, and please share!