Well, today is November 5, 2011 which means I am officially 29 and one month. I’ve decided that on the fifth of every month until my 30th birthday I’m going to do an update about how I’m doing in tackling my 30-before-30 list. You can see the full list here. In these monthly updates, I’m only going to mention the items I’ve worked on this month. So here goes…

Item 1: Start project the rest of my life

Oh. Is it ever started. Details forthcoming. November 15.
Wait for it.

Item 3: Book and shoot at least 10 weddings

I thought I would expand a bit more on this one, I want to shoot at least 10 weddings as the primary photographer while I’m 29. And I’m well on my way! Nine weddings booked, starting next weekend in Inverness, CA with wedding number 1.

Inquiries and bookings were way (way) up throughout late September and early October but have slowed down a bit. So, I’m going to need your help! Tell your friends! Tell your family! Help me get that 10th wedding booked! And since it is only November 5th, I’m going to extend my goal to a real goal of 15 and a super stretch goal of 20. Who knows what you can do when you put your mind too it? So, if you know anyone that is getting married, I’m offering a super deal for Alberta weddings in June or July or Vancouver weddings in May, August, September or October, or San Francisco or Toronto weddings pretty much any month of the year!

Item 7: Dance like no one is watching

In case you didn’t figure it out, that one was a filler. I dance like no one is watching all.the.time. Including several times in October 2011.

Item 9: Get back out to the mountains in the winter

Canmore condos booked for December 27 and 28 with the hubs, my parents, my brother and his partner Paul! Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise… here we come!

Item 10: Learn basic (or not so basic) web-development skills

I’ve certainly started this one, at least as far as front-end (i.e., html and css development) are concerned. I didn’t start from scratch, as you know, I built my new “home” on the web, without a template, in September. This month I worked on this goal by redesigning both this site (I’m so in love with it now) and my photography site (again…).

I also started reading more about CSS3 and learning how to make things rotate, better understand text-shadows, and animate transitions. In fact, when all the hoopla was happening over Google’s “Do a Barrel Roll” this week, I was all like “I know how they did that… CSS3”. So, yeah, serious skills…

Item 11. Improve my Spanish skills

I’ve been reading lots of Spanish websites. Status: Still needs work.
Lots and lots of work.

Item 15: Clean my oven.

Ok. This is clearly a filler. And I totally intended on doing it in the first month. But I didn’t.
Filler fail.

Item 16: Learn how to use stumble upon

I haven’t really started this yet. But on October 31 I did pin this blog post from The Planet D. Again, baby steps.

Item 17: Master the art (and the focus) of my new film camera

Hmm… I guess I knew even before I got my first roll back that focus was going to be a struggle. I’ve shot and developed two rolls. She the post on the color roll from last week. I’ve got a post about the B&W roll [thoughts on B&W roll]

Item 20: Figure out a workout regime (hopefully running)

Status of ankle recovery: Pretty good. I was supposed to do a trial run last week, but my strength exercises caused so much stiffness in my calves that I hobbled for (this is embarrassing) 5 days. Working on it.

I also bought a TRX system and over the door anchor, it arrived Tuesday. This was my favorite thing at the gym, so lets see how incorporating it into my home life will go!

Item 21: Do a 365 project

I’m posting my “daily” images over on my tumblr. I’ve missed 10 days so far. Status: Not great. Not terrible. OK.

Item 26: Get new business cards

Status: Complete! And so good!
Post on these babies is forthcoming!

Item 29: Post at least one new food post each week

So far, so good. I probably technically failed by not posting a food related post in week 1, but it’s been four and a half weeks since my birthday and I’ve posted five (one, two, three, four, five) food related posts so I’m back in business!

So there you have it folks. Month 1 progress.

Sure, I’ve not made any strides on items 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28, or 30, but it’s month one. And I’m brewing some actions plans. Brewing them in this super cute little notebook that I bought myself for my birthday on Etsy (because no post is complete without an image).