I’m so sad to see October go. It’s my favorite month of the year and even with the chaos and pregnancy I’m still sitting here slow clapping it away. Those leaves! That weather! The days off! My birthday! Halloween! It was just fantastic. How can November even try to compete?

Now that October is gone it feels like I actually have to DEAL with all the boring and less-than-fun crap in my life.

-Like this stupid cold that neither improves nor worsens, just lingers enough to remind me that I’m completely vulnerable and at its mercy when it DOES strike.

-Like this pain that doesn’t go away and is making me waddle much, MUCH earlier than I theoretically should waddle. My OB says I have SPD (not an STD, thank goodness, although doesn’t it kind of sound like that?) which basically means my pelvis just hurts all the time and there’s really nothing I can do but tylenol, heat and the stretches my physical therapist dad showed me. Yet still I curse and waddle on.

-Like the fact that no matter how big my bump gets, my boobs are still bigger. Essentially I’m just ballo
oning. I tweeted yesterday that I finally accept that this will be a Kim Karda shian pregnancy, NOT a Nicole Richie pregnancy and it appears many of you empathize with that.

-Like the lack of Diet Coke in my life because it’s giving me insane heartburn and I’m tired and I want it but it burn and it sucks and maybe I should just drive off a cliff instead?

-Like the three solid weeks of teaching ahead of me, without a day off. I know, I know. Most people work normal 5 day weeks every week, every month. I get that. But most people don’t have to deal with 200 sweaty, horny, cabin-fever-y teens as the weather gets colder and more dismal. It’s a different animal, as they say.

-Like the baby nursery which has a crib and…. that’s it.

-Like November being a super boring month with a holiday I care not for – Thanksgiving. I know. I’m weird.

I realized I was focusing so much on what I DIDN’T want. “I hate this.” “That sucks.” “Ugh I’m not looking forward to that.” “I wish this wasn’t…” The book I’m reading, much like The Secret or pretty much any self-help book, countered that if we want true results we need to focus on POSITIVE outcomes. What DO I want? What will I see? What will it look like? There’s not a lot I can do for my heartburn, SPD pain, dull November weather. But I can focus on things WITHIN my sphere of influence – the things I DO want. So here goes, universe. Here’s what I want and visualize and shoot for in November, an inspiration board and bucket list:

+Remember what is important. Remember why I am doing what I’m doing.

+Get a professional moody fall manicure – I’m thinking deep green, oxblood, rich chocolate…

+Throw my best friend E a super fun friend shower for Baby Girl Fin!

+Decorate early for Christmas because why not? November sucks and I’m way too excited to wait until after Thanksgiving!

+Nest in the nursery!

+Rock so much plaid I’ll be an honorary member of a 90s grunge band

+Keep listening to TSwift because I don’t care how basic white girl I am – I am loving this album.

+Bake an apple pie that would make Uncle Sam proud.

+Finish Game of Thrones book 2, then binge-watch the companion season 2!

+Don’t give up on makeup. Wait, these are supposed to be action-oriented and positive. Soooooo… try new stuff? Contouring my chubby face. Deep lip color, finally?

+BE GRATEFUL. My life is awesome and I’m just so lucky to have it.

Alright, November, you useless month. Let’s do this.