Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts

3.19.2013

March Madness...

So about those March goals....

I know that God is not a God that would "make fun" of His children...but I can't help but wonder when I was making my list of goals for the month and writing that last blog post including the reference to Proverbs 16:9 if He was smiling and saying..."Wait and see, child...  wait and see.  What I have for you is not YOUR plan, but it is much better."

Since my last post (15 days ago, if anyone is counting), I have not read ANYTHING on my reading list...  My reading goals for the month were already a bit lofty unattainable impossible ridiculous unrealistic.

I have managed to make it to the walking track with friends a few times, and that has been great -- as soon as the weather gets warm I love to be outside!  We have been able to play outside some too, which has been good for EVERYONE.

I started out pretty good with the 31 in 31 pinterest projects, but I'm falling behind some now...click on that link to see what I HAVE managed to try...

I did manage to get all my items tagged and dropped off at the consignment sale and am pleased with my profits from that.  My closets, however, are still not clean as I had hoped.

Spring cleaning........yeah, no.

The "someone else" section of my goals...I haven't been able to think about that just yet... but there are still 2 weeks left in the month!

Limit media for C -- what else CAN you do when you're too sick to get OFF the couch?  I definitely have NOT been limiting media.  We did manage to make it to the park and the children's museum and have plans to go again, so we might actually make that goal for the month.  The gorgeous Spring weather ends today and we're looking at a high of 44* by the end of the week...ideal weather for playing outside LOTS, yes? 

And, then there's the whole topic of the photo-a-day in March and blogging 3x a week....  let's NOT go there.

So, by this point (if you're still reading...hello...?) you're wondering what HAVE you been doing for the past 15 days?!?!?

Well, my friends...laundry.

LOTS of laundry.

Praise the Lord for these two blessings!

It started with washing everything for the consignment sale, because let's face it -- if you pull the clothes out of a storage bin and hang them up, they are not as likely to sell as they are when they look and smell fresh and pressed.  FACT.

Then it was washing bedding to get the guest room ready for my mom who came to visit for a few days, and our own laundry for the week.

Then I found out that we had been (unintentionally) exposed to head lice.  ick.  Taking all precautions, I washed EVERYONE's bedding (all of it!) everyday for 3 days in a row, plus all of our clothes as soon as we took them off, plus towels, stuffed animals, jackets, etc.  Laundry nazi?  Oh yes, that's me!

That fiasco was barely over (btw, it seems we have escaped the lice for this time! PTL!), and I thought I could stand to do some more laundry so I started washing all of the new things that I purchased at the consignment sale...  While switching out the loads, my daughter walks in to the laundry room and says timidly, "Mommy, I'm NOT going to throw up."  Quizzically, I started to ask, "Do you feel like you're........."  And then I didn't need to finish.  Who knew so much could come out of such a small body?!?  OH, and did I mention she had eaten Nutella earlier in the day?  How's that mental picture for ya?!?!

Yay.  MORE laundry.  And, being the germophobe that I am and trying to keep the parents from getting the plague, the washing of the bedding began AGAIN.  (I'm starting to understand why I regularly put new sheets on my Christmas list...)

At present, C is recovering from the virus and I'm encouraging her to eat and drink just about anything that she will.  She's a pretty weak girl at this point, but she's starting to perk back up.  The parents have no symptoms of anything...  Oh, and my washing machine and dryer are enjoying a much needed respite.

I did manage to get my sewing area setup (still have a few changes/additions to make) before I started the laundromat, so here are a few pictures of that...

This is on one side of our bedroom.

Container storage for now...will adjust as my collection of sewing gadgets increases.

Hope to get large popsicle sticks to wrap the ribbon around for storage eventually.  That's my Great-Aunt, btw.

Every morning I wake up and dream of creating something with all of this...if I only had the time.

For my 31 in 31 Pinterest Projects, I gave myself 2 stipulations -- I could only count new pins, as in things I had not previously tried, and they could not be all recipes.  Here's one of the non-recipe projects I completed this month...

The top was the first one I made, so you can see the progression and improvements.

And, I have started my spring decorating....
Hey!  It's something, right?!?

I'm mid-project for a pinterest craft for Spring decor, so I will get back to it, but I wanted you all to know that I am still alive and that I hadn't gotten buried under all those March goals....  or March Madness...  :)





3.04.2013

March Goals...

It is a beautiful morning...it's deceiving to look outside, because the sun is shining, the sky is bright, and it looks like a beautiful day to be outside...but it's currently 30* out there...  Later today it will be nice to be out...

Y'all.  It's MARCH!  Seriously, WHERE did January and February go?!?  The slowest months of the year are GONE and boy did they fly by!  March is definitely coming "in like a lion" for me, as I'm full of inspiration, energy, and excitement.  Spring fever much?  

I decided to switch to monthly goals instead of weekly to see if I like that any better or differently.  And, let me tell you -- I have some LOFTY goals for March.  This is a continual reminder...

source

As a planner, I struggle constantly to give up MY plans for GOD'S plans.  I'm continually learning how to balance the tension that is planning and living an "orderly" life, and letting go of those plans that I made to fulfill God's calling to me when it is different.  It's easy for me to get very discouraged and feel like a failure when I don't get EVERYTHING crossed off of my list.  But at the same time, it is good for me to have some direction and structure to keep me focused.  So...balance...

Here's the recap of my goals for the end of last week...

Reading
+ Complete 5 days of Luke study
+ Read Chapter 1 & answer study guide questions for A Woman's Wisdom
Read Chapter 2 & watch video/read blogpost for Desperate
+ Read Intro and Chapter 1 of Jesus + Nothing = Everything
Read Chapter 3 of Leadership for Women in the Church
+ Look through Joy the Baker cookbook

Health & Well Being
+ Eat Clean
+ Drink Water
+ Move More

Home Project Completion
+ Make list of basic sewing supplies needed and supplies for a few projects
+ Make list of goals for March, including 31 Pinterest Projects in 31 Days (blog post coming soon!)

Organization
+ Planning for next week and for month of March
+ Make menu for next 2 weeks, grocery list, and coupons/deals list

For Someone Else
+ Childcare for Community family
+ Visit church member shut-in

For G & C
+ call to see about places/prices for professional framing for G's diploma
+ coffee date with G
+ research swim lessons & new carseat for C
+ play board game, play outside, and make fish craft with C

Blog
+ 3 posts

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March Goals

Reading (complete the following)
+ A Woman's Wisdom
+ Jesus+Nothing=Everything
+ Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood
+ Getting to NO
+ Proverbs 31 Women
+ Beyond Ordinary
+ Sacred Influence
+ Desperate

Health & Well Being
+ Eat Clean, WATER WATER WATER
+ Walk 2x weekly with friends
+ Walk 2x weekly on own
+ Play/work outside (garden ready, landscaping, clean off fence, etc)

Home Projects
+ 31 Pinterest projects in 31 Days
+ All items ready and tagged for consignment sale = clean closets!! :)
+ Sewing area set-up + dedicated sewing time 1x per week

Organization/Cleaning
+ Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures
+ Spring Cleaning - at least 1 item per weekday

Someone Else
+ Visit shut-in from church
+ Make meals for church freezer
+ Coffee/playdate with at least 2 friends

Family
+ G -- 2 dates, birthday planning, read/pray together
+ C -- pinterest crafts, limit media, play outside LOTS, park 2x, library, children's museum 2x, read lots and lots of books!

Blog
+ 3 posts per week...topics to include:

menu plans

book reviews

pinterest projects

recipes


garden planning


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Alrighty then....time to get off this computer and GET BUSY!  Looking forward to a great month!  Hope you are too! :)

2.28.2013

Goals for this week...

And yes, I know it's Thursday and I'm posting my goals for the week...  it's really more like my goals for the end of the week as I just got them down on paper yesterday and hope to accomplish them all by end of the day Saturday.  My goals and the use of the goals worksheet continue to morph and I'm trying to decide what kind of limits to set to keep them as goals and to keep them from becoming a glorified to-do list...  10 seems to be a good number....  If I could just stick to it...

QUICKLY THOUGH before I talk about goals....let's talk about my windowsill garden...  Just after writing that post, things went downhill fast...and I mean fast.  I came home from a few days out of town to discover slimy yuckiness all over the bottom of my veggies and brown water.  Um, eww.  I rinsed them all really well, cleaned the dishes and put in fresh water (I had also discovered some mold)...  The next morning, it was all back again...  At that point, I decided I was done looking at that nastiness, and I will just wait a few more weeks until I can play in the dirt.  Sorry to disappoint or lead anyone astray -- although if you are windowsill gardening, be sure to let me know how it goes!

Okay -- so goals...a few are marked off as I was able to complete some yesterday and this morning.

Reading
+ Complete 5 days of Luke study
+ Read Chapter 1 & answer study guide questions for A Woman's Wisdom
+ Read Chapter 2 & watch video/read blogpost for Desperate
+ Read Intro and Chapter 1 of Jesus + Nothing = Everything
+ Look through Joy the Baker cookbook

Health & Well Being
+ Eat Clean
+ Drink Water
+ Move More

Home Project Completion
+ Make list of basic sewing supplies needed and supplies for a few projects
+ Make list of goals for March, including 31 Pinterest Projects in 31 Days (blog post coming soon!)

Organization
+ Planning for next week and for month of March
+ Make menu for next 2 weeks, grocery list, and coupons/deals list

For Someone Else
+ Childcare for Community family
+ Visit church member shut-in

For G & C
+ call to see about places/prices for professional framing for G's diploma
+ coffee date with G
+ research swim lessons & new carseat for C
+ play board game, play outside, and make fish craft with C

Blog
+ 3 posts

1.28.2013

Goals for this week...

Last week my goals list turned into a bit of a to-do list, and I'd really like to keep the two somewhat different.  My to-do list is mostly comprised of the things that I HAVE to get done, but I want my goal list to be those things that I too easily push aside but that SHOULD be happening that week.  I also hope to keep it at around 10 items.

As for last week's....


Personal
~ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
~ Get halfway (or more) through The Meaning of Marriage (I'm about 1 chapter short of halfway)
~ Get halfway (or more) through The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick (I'm about 70 pages short)
~ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable

Health & Well Being
~ Meet water quota every day
~ Exercise at least 3 times this week (twice)
Track calories every day
~ Lose at least 2 pounds this week (0.6  better than gaining, I suppose)
~ Do something outside two days this week
~ Have a friend over for coffee
~ Give myself a pedicure using the new set I got for Christmas! (desperately needed!)

Home Projects
~ Clean house well
~ Wash shower curtains and trash cans
~ Straighten guest closet and make room for guest clothes
~ Finish organizing pinterest boards according to rooms

Marriage/Parenting
~ < 1 hour screen time for C each day  (most days)
~ Coordinate walking plan with G

Blog
~ write and post 3 entries this week

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Attempting to shorten things up a bit this week...

Personal
+ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
+ Finish The Meaning of Marriage and The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick
+ Read Chapter 2 in Leadership for Women in the Church
+ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable

Health & Well Being
+ Get halfway (or more) through The Skinny Rules
+ Drink at least 840 ounces of water this week
+ Exercise at least twice, track calories daily, lose at least 2 pounds
+ Do something outside at least twice

Home Projects
+ Valentine's Day decorating and planning
+ Complete monthly room plans/lists
+ Make micro-fiber reusable duster?

Marriage/Parenting
+ Play at least 3 board games with C

Blog
+ Write and post 3 entries this week


If you're blogging your goals, share the link with us in the comments below!  Have a great week!

1.21.2013

Goals for this week...

I went out on a limb and posted my goals for the week last Monday, knowing full well that I might not accomplish a one of them and then I'd have to come back here and "face" all of you...but I did it anyway.  And, I'm thankful for the accountability that it provided.  I'm also trying to be realistic and I *try* to be a go-with-the-flow person and realize that even the best plans get interrupted.

I'm happy to report that some of my goals are crossed through...and some are not.  But...it's okay, and for some of them I will try again this week...knowing that they may or may not be accomplished.  But, progress is being made, and if nothing else, I am mindful of things that I need to be mindful of. 

So here's where we stand after last week...

Personal
~ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
~ Get halfway (or more) through Made to Crave (finished it! easy read, couldn't put it down!)
~ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable

Health & Well Being
~ Meet water quota every day (met it 2 days, came close 2 days, not EVEN close 1 day)
~ Exercise at least 4 times this week (went for a 15 min walk ONCE  :-( )
Track calories every day
~ Lose at least 2 pounds this week (3.8 for the win!)
~ Do something outside
~ Meet a friend for coffee  (BooHoo...we got snowed rained out!)

Home Projects
~ Finish planning for 2013
~ Complete reading lists for me and C (for now...)
~ "Homeschool" plan for remainder of January
~ Complete at least one other project from to-do list
~ Begin using coupons again and plan shopping list

Marriage/Parenting
~ Limit screen time to one hour each day for C (we were close on this....)
~ Reduce C's sugar intake (recovery from Christmas)
~ Play board game and read with C every day (close on this one too)
~ Develop reading/walking plans with G
~ Discuss vacation and yearly scheduling plans with G

Blog
~ 5 posts this week  (okay, how about 3??)

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On some of those, it's that little phrase "every day" that really got me.  But, again...I will keep striving and in the process I'm accomplishing good.

So without further ado -- here's the goals for this week (which is a little different with my husband being off from work today, and family arriving in town for the weekend on Thursday).


Personal
~ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
~ Get halfway (or more) through The Meaning of Marriage
~ Get halfway (or more) through The Secrets of People Who Never Get Sick
~ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable


Health & Well Being
~ Meet water quota every day
~ Exercise at least 3 times this week
Track calories every day
~ Lose at least 2 pounds this week
~ Do something outside two days this week
~ Have a friend over for coffee
~ Give myself a pedicure using the new set I got for Christmas! (desperately needed!)

Home Projects
~ Clean house well
~ Wash shower curtains and trash cans
~ Straighten guest closet and make room for guest clothes
~ Finish organizing pinterest boards according to rooms

Marriage/Parenting
~ < 1 hour screen time for C each day
~ Coordinate walking plan with G

Blog
~ write and post 3 entries this week


Thanks for reading and have a great week!


1.14.2013

2 weeks late...

Today is my January 1st.  I'm a lover of new beginnings, of fresh starts, of schedules and to-do lists.  I'm not a huge fan of New Year's Resolutions per se, but I do think it's good to periodically (maybe not JUST once a year) evaluate where you are, what you're doing, and what goals you have made for yourself.  The last two weeks of "laying low" with my daughter provided lots of opportunity to think about the goals and plans I wanted to make for this year...realizing that God may have others in mind for me...but we'll start with this and see where we end up.

So, I took a little "planning retreat" on Saturday morning to our local Panera, and got my home management binder in order for 2013 and made some revised schedules and lists and charts.  (Can you hear the giddiness?)  

One new thing that I am trying for this year is setting goals for myself and (gasp) I'm planning to list them here every Monday along with the previous week's progress report...  I've never been good at keeping goals (of this sort before) but I think making them public might encourage me to do it.  (Especially since I regularly see a lot of my readers face-to-face and realize that they could ask me about it!)  If I suddenly stop posting them, you'll know I didn't like it or chickened out!  This idea comes from Crystal Paine of Money Saving Mom, so I can't take credit for it.  Her goals are inspiring to me.  She provided a free blank printable for making weekly goals, and I downloaded that and will be using it each week. 

SO...without any further rambling...here's some of what I hope to accomplish this week...
(insert deep breath here)

Personal
~ Complete 5 days worth of Luke study and Proverbs study (each)
~ Get halfway (or more) through Made to Crave
~ Record 3 gifts each day and take pictures where applicable

Health & Well Being
~ Meet water quota every day
~ Exercise at least 4 times this week
~ Track calories every day
~ Lose at least 2 pounds this week
~ Do something outside
~ Meet a friend for coffee

Home Projects
~ Finish planning for 2013
~ Complete reading lists for me and C (for now...)
~ "Homeschool" plan for remainder of January
~ Complete at least one other project from to-do list
~ Begin using coupons again and plan shopping list

Marriage/Parenting
~ Limit screen time to one hour each day for C (sickness creates BAD habits)
~ Reduce C's sugar intake (recovery from Christmas)
~ Play board game and read with C every day (not counting before nap/bedtime)
~ Develop reading/walking plans with G
~ Discuss vacation and yearly scheduling plans with G

Blog
~ 5 posts this week

So there ya have it!  I hope to be back tomorrow for "Time to Read Tuesday"......




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