April Goals

As we roll into a new month I am thinking about what is MOST important to me. Family? Absolutely!  God?  But of course!  My job?  Not as much as it once was.  My health?  Yep.  My home?  Yes, I want to make my home a comfortable and inviting place for my family and our friends to enjoy spending their time.


Are any of these categories where I want them to be?  Not even close.  So what am I going to do about it?  Set my 3 in 30 goals to reflect who  I want to be.  So here they are.


Goal #1)  Simplify my home.  This month I am going to get rid of 2 bags/boxes of stuff a week.  This could come from my bedroom, my garage, my craft room that still needs to be finished being purged, my kitchen or the bath room.  Removing clutter will provide peace and calmness in our home.  


Goal #2)  Continue weight loss with healthy eating and exercise.  The only way I can be my best for everyone is to take care of myself by making sure I am providing my body what it really needs and removing the garbage it doesn't.  As of March 31st, my weight is 219#.  I lost 6 pounds in March.  I am working to be under 200 by April 30th. It is kind of unnerving to put my weight out there for all to see, but I am going out on a limb and hoping for your prayers and support.  


Goal #3)  This one is a bit more complex than the first 2...It's all about relationships.  I want to make April the jumping off point for becoming the women I know God desires me to be.  I say people mean the world to me but I don't show it as often as I should.  I want to be a woman of active love.  I want to serve gracefully.  I want to love without limits.  I want to put my time and energy into letting the people around me know that they have my attention and my love and I will do anything and everything to keep my promises to them. 


With that said, I'm off to start doing what I need to do to make those goals happen.  I look forward to sharing with you how things are going and to hear how you're doing on your goals. 

February 2012 goals update

Hi.

I took a break from blogging last week but I'm back now.  Last week was not a good pain management/energy week which meant my productivity was in the tank too.  It happens from time to time. 

So, looking back at my goals for the month...

The BIGGIE...Goal #2 (I'm still working on order for now we'll just focus on the tasks not the order of them...LOL!)
Cleaning out the "junk room" of my house.  So far we have made 1 run to donate to Salvation Army.  The things my son will do to borrow my car.  I can get from one end of the room to the other.  This weekend, I plan on bringing my sewing machine and a couple projects out of it to reduce the amount of material I have stockpiles in there.  I have 2 birthday gifts to make and a bat costume for my little man's school play.  In addition pinterest has inspired me to make a couple little things that will use up some of the random fabric.  Needless to say, I have a long way to go still but am making some headway.  It should be done by the end of the month. 

Goal #1, of opening my Etsy store is not moving forward as I had hoped.  I am determined I am going to get the pictures taken and posted this weekend.  Determined I say.  I would love to start selling what I have on hand so I have a good excuse to make more.  I really want to have a little money coming in for my "goals" fund.  My big, long term goals include paying cash for a newer car for my prince charming, paying cash for new furniture, paying cash for a nice family vacation.  Obviously those are some pretty big goals to place all the pressure on a little Etsy store, but Etsy success sure would help me get going in the right direction.

Goal # 3, encouraging others.  Well, I have been trying to reach out to those around me and encourage them towards their own goals.  My love and I have been sending each other sweet emails during the week when we are both at work.  It's nice to get that little "I'm thinking of you." while you're plugging away at the desk.  Next week I am going to put little notes in my little one's lunch box.  When I was doing this before he really liked it.  Maybe I can find a way to work the weekly spelling words or the sight words we'll be working on into the notes.  Hmm...now that has me thinking, but that will have to wait for a different blog post.  I have been trying to text and email and facebook (FB) chat with friends and family that I don't regularly talk to.  We keep up with each other on FB but rarely connect beyond that, whether it's time or distance.  If someone's my friend on FB it's because I like them so I want to connect with them. 

I hope you're all having a productive week and striving to reach your goals.  Share your links in comments so I can come over and show some love back.

February goals

My February goals are very simple and complex all at the same time.

Goal #1:  Open an Etsy store and sell some of my handmade jewelry.  I keep spending money hand over fist on this hobby.  It's time to see if I can make anything with it.  Right now I am at the stage where I have to thing of a cute and clever name and then take pictures of all my beautiful baubles and post them and figure out pricing.  Not a HUGE amount to do, but enough to be slightly daunting.

Goal #2:  Clean out (gut) my craft room.  Completely.  This may need the help of friend who have the patience of saints and are really good at organizing.  This room is completely unusable and looks like a scene out of hoarders.  I have craft stuff and books and a file cabinet and more books and games and puzzles and basically a ton of stuff I need to either commit to using within a set amount of time or discarding or donating.  Either way, somethings got to be done with all the stuff in there.

Those are the only goals I am setting for myself this month. Goal # 2 will take my time and energy (both physical and emotional) so I don't want to over commit myself and end up disappointed.  There are a ton of things I would like to put down here for goals but I am going to exercise self control.  If I get a lot of reading done, WONDERFUL.  If the laundry is kept up with and the dishes are always done, COOL.

Oh, you know there is 1 other goal to add to my list.

Goal #3:  Be an encourager.  Don't be idle in telling people when they do a good job.  Don't let people wonder if they are on the right track.  Sometimes people think "atta boys" are just empty (phony) praise.  Of course I'm not just talking about giving praise when the boys get their socks in the laundry without me nagging them to get them picked up, but that's great too.  I'm talking about the people in my life that are walking thru some big, scary stuff and need someone to remind them that it's okay because they're not alone.  My job is to come alongside them and support them.  Sometimes that can be emotional and prayer support.  Sometimes it might be taking a single mom's kids while she works.  Sometimes it might mean paying for someones tank of gas or groceries.  I want to be open and willing to hear the voice of God and respond.  Sometimes that is hard when you have a budget to follow but that's details for God to work out if He calls me to help someone financially.  He is my provider and He can use what He's handed to me to help others.

Now my goals are there for all the world to see.  Hold me accountable.  Ask me how I'm doing.  Challenge me.  Help me grow into all He wants me to be.

Week 1 check in

Hi.

I thought with the wrap up of the first week of the month I would share how I'm doing on my goals for the month.

1)  Stop drinking soda and drink 4-25oz bottles of water.
           On this one, I have mixed success/failure.  I haven't had any soda since last Friday.  None.  Not a drop.  Yay me!!!  I have not increased my water intake as much as I would like.  I am working on it though.  I'm not losing sight of how much my body needs water.

2)  Go to the gym 15 times and start interval running.
           I went to the gym Wednesday and Thursday.  I love the elliptical so I got on it first thing and to my dismay I could only do 7 minutes on it.  When I stopped I almost passed out.  Very scary.  Last time I went to the gym I did 20 minutes and 1.75 miles.  I was there at the beginning of Dec. but had to take a break due to injuries.  I didn't gain weight over the holidays but my injuries sidelined me from most any activity.  After the elliptical on Wednesday I did 2 miles on the treadmill and then called it a day.  Thursday was much better.  I was able to go 30 minutes on the elliptical.  My heart rate is far too high though.  :0(  I'll keep working and it will get easier and I will go farther easier.

3)  Save $100 from each paycheck.
            Well this one is slightly modified.  My husband and I sat down and did a budget and his goals and mine had us going in different directions.  We were thinking the same thing but doing different things to get there.  In December the 1 and only credit card was used.  GRRRR.  We are going to pay it off over this month and next month but still put money into savings, just not as much as I was hoping. Drats.

The sugar free challenge has had its ups and downs.  I slipped up a couple times this week but over all I have done pretty stinkin good.  Any ideas how hard it is to cut sugar cold turkey?  I haven't had any since Wednesday night when I finished off the peppermint ice cream that was in the freezer.  I'm the only one that will eat peppermint ice cream and it was taking up space in the freezer.  LOL!! Seriously though it only had about 3 bites worth of ice cream in it.  And we really did need the freezer space for the frozen fruit for my green smoothies.

The praying for my love challenge is going well. I am really enjoying the focused prayer time.  Each day we focus on a specific attribute such as integrity, relationships, salvation (etc).  It's nice to be specific and not just arrow prayers and "bless him" prayers, although there is nothing wrong with either.

I'd love to hear how you're doing.  I'm rooting for you!  Know that even if it feels like you're all alone in your endeavors, I am cheering you on.

Have an amazingly blessed day.

Relationships

The word for this year is RELATIONSHIPS.

Relationships are central to living.  We have family relationships.  We have work relationships.  Hopefully everyone reading this has a relationship with Jesus as their savior and friend.

Who wouldn't like to have deeper, more fulfilling relationships?  I always talk about how much people mean to me but my actions don't always show them.  I always mean to read thru the Bible but have never read it cover to cover.  I have great intentions but frequently follow thru.

This year things are going to be different.  This year I am going to be intentional about my relationships. I am going to spend time with those I care about, quality time.  I am going to pray more for the people God has surrounded me with.

No more excuses of not having enough time.  I spend so much time doing random stuff that at the end of the day doesn't matter.

So if you see me and see that I'm not living our my relationships first life, please, call me on it.  I'll thank you!

Changes and a good approach to goal setting

I know...I know...

I talk a lot about changes I am going to make and how much better I am going to be for them.   What happens is that I end up biting off more than I can handle and get overwhelmed.  I don't want to do that.

At the beginning of last year I joined a group called 3 in 30.  They promote setting 3 goals a month.  3 goals is attainable and not overwhelming at all.  I can do 3 goals.  Doing it this way, I can reach 36 goals over the year.  Imagine the stress I would have if I had 26 goals listed at the beginning of the year. 

Here are my first 3 goals for 2012.

1) I will not drink soda/ drink 4-25 oz bottles of water daily instead.

2) I will go to the gym 15 times this month and be able to jog for 5 minute intervals by Jan 31st.

 3) I will put $100/paycheck into savings by cutting our needless spending.

They aren't huge goals but accomplishing these 3 things will result in changes in all areas of my life.  Drinking water will help with my headaches and digestion. 
 
Going to the gym will be a discipline builder and interval training will improve cardio vascular health and my waist line.
 
Cutting needless spending will also promote discipline and rebuild our savings.  It will teach us to use what we have and appreicate all we have. 
 
I am also participating in the praying for your spouse challenge and a sugar free challenge for the month in addition to my goals.  What better time to increase praying for my love than when I am cutting sugar out?  Seems like the most logical combination, doesn't it?
 
What are your goals and desires are we come up to the new year?  Do you make resolutions and find yourself burning out midway thru the first day?  Do you make specific and attainable goals or just throw it out there and hope it sticks?  What's your best way for reaching for (and reaching) the stars?

Determination

Yesterday I went to the gym to try the classes with visions of going every day and mastering the classes.  The latter part of that sentence is hysterical since I am coordination challenged but I like to dream big.

This morning I woke up and all my muscles ached and I have a migraine that I have not been able to shake.  Today's class is step and sculpt.  I am determined to at least make it to the gym and get some kind of work out in.  30-45 minutes between the treadmill and the eliptical could work but it really wasn't what I had in mind today.  My reward for going to the classes Monday-Wednesday is the Zumba class on Thursday. 

What to do?

I am determined to go and to get sweaty.  Migraine or not, I have to work out.  This is what happens to me frequently.  I am excited to get started and have high hopes and expectations then my body decides it doesn't want to succumb to my plans.  I hurt myself or have a flair up or come down with a migraine that refuses to die. 

Sorry Body, I am doing this for your own good.  You will thank me later.  Today you may rebel and throw a temper tantrum but you're going to have to do it my way anyways so the sooner you adjust to that, the better it will be for us.

I am determined to hit my goals.  I am not posting all of them here but I am committed and by posting my struggles and issues, maybe I will overcome them hopefully encourage someone else thru their struggles. 

What to do??

Every have so much on your plate that you are so excited about that you just don't know where to start?  Or you start too many things and get overwhelmed? 

I tend to start things very enthusiastically and then lose my motivation.   This time around I want to finish as strong as I start.  I don't want to give up part way thru.  I don't want to feel overloaded and lose focus on why I am doing what I'm doing. 

I've tried keeping the goals list in front of me.  I've tried scheduling my time to work on my goals.  I don't think keeping that appt with myself has been enough of a commitment.  Maybe what I need to do is put it out here in cyber space for all to see and critique and hold me accountable to. 

I am excited to meet up with friends at the gym everyday and try the classes the gym has to offer.  Maybe meeting someone there everyday will be the motiviation I need to go back day after day. 

I am going to read Billy 2 novels this month as well have him read to me on a regular basis, at least 4 times a week.  I don't know what novels we'll read but it should be fun.  Right now we are reading the Boxcar kids adventures #1 on my kindle.  I think he likes it better being the kindle instead of a book so I am going to try to get library books on my kindle so he can use it and see if that makes him more interested in reading. We'd love to read some more Magic Treehouse books. 

I am going to make Christmas gifts for the people who have blessed my heart over this past year.  This is a pretty big commitment and I hope to get them all made so no one gets left out and gets their feelings hurt.  Have I mentioned how much I love Pinterest?  If you see your gift on there, please know that when I saw it there, I thought of you instantly and had to make it for you!  It's how I am. 

There are so many things vying for our attention and our resources this season.  My biggest goal is to make sure my focus stays firmly where it belongs, on my God and Savior and on the family and friends I have been abundantly blessed by. 

Have an amazing day and be abundantlly overwhelmingly blessed today!

Exhaustion vs Goals

Well, we are just a couple days into June and I feel like I am not where I should be.  Things have been so busy.  Church, soccer, hair appt, work, working out...ugh!  Tonight is my down night.  I refuse to do anything productive.

Well, not completely unproductive...I did read the word this morning which is good because I don't think I could have made it this far today without that as my start.  Problems problems all around and no rest to be found.

My workout today was cancelled due to measures outside my control.  My hair appt was the only appt I kept today.  It was well past time.  I got take out and we all just relaxed at home.

Tomorrow is a fresh day and I will be busy but back on task.  If I can find an extra hour, I will go to the gym otherwise I will make a point of playing at the park with Billy and kicking his soccer ball when he isn't using it.

I will read my Bible and do my 31 days to clean challenge.  I will try to catch up as I was already behind from not being home hardly at all.

Well, that's where I am.  So much to do and feeling pressured but also confident.  I will succeed.

How is your 3 in 30 challenge going?

June Goals

I am so excited to get back on track with setting my goals and hitting them.

I have had so much going on and  I can't tell you how much I want to get things done.

So, without further ado, here are my goals.

First, I haven't spent much time in the word getting filled so I can be the best God wants me to be.  I am going to get into the word daily.  I am not committing to read a book a day or anything like that, some days I might only be able to read a couple verses and others I might be able to read chapters.

Second, I am eager to build my travel business so I will finish my training the first week and then work the rest of the month to get more training and get quotes out to as many people as possible so I can book three new customers over the course of the month.

Third, I have packed on so much excess weight.  It is not fun and prevents me from doing so much that I would like to do.  My goal as it pertains to that is that I will work out 4 days/wkly at the gym for at least 45 minutes each time.  In addition I am going to keep my food journal up to date no matter how good or bad I do on any given day.  On the days when I am not working out at the gym, I want to be outside and active, hiking or biking or playing at the park with my little one.

That is what I want to do in June.

What are your June goals?

Progress

Happy Wednesday March 9th. 

I thought today would be a great day to revisit my monthly goals and evaluate what's going well and what's a struggle for me.

Goal 1 was to exercise 20 times in the month.  The first week of the month I had a flare up that left me pretty much useless.  I laid around on the couch barely functional.  I hate when I get like that.  Exercise helps so I finally pushed past and got to the gym on Monday.  I can't tell you how much that helped me!  I went again yesterday but was wearing the wrong shoes and ended up with terrible shin cramps after only a couple minutes of running.  Those shoes hit the trash can as soon as I got home.  The way this is shaping up, I will need to go shoe shopping on Saturday.  Today I don't have time to hit the gym so I figure I will do squats and lunges while watching Billy play at the McD's playland.

Goal 2 was to read 3 books. I am about 2/3 of the way thru Mansfield Park which is good because book club is the 18th.  Since I broke my Kindle, I picked up Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn.  I had forgotten what a great writer she is.  She has such an amazing sense of humor.  Stay tuned for a book review in the next few days.  It is such a great read!  I don't want to say too much now.  I still haven't decided on book #3 but I'm sure I will know it when I see it.  I was thinking about reading Lisa Whelchell's book Taking Care of the Me in Mommy.  I picked it up a couple years ago and still haven't read it.  Oh and does finishing The Tale of Desperoux with Billy count?  That is one long book!

Goal 3 was to find a place to sell my crafts.  I have a couple really great ideas but as of right now I haven't done anything towards that end.  I am thinking of going on Etsy but want to make sure that I do it right so I don't get lost in the vast expanse that is Etsy.  I am also looking into the Fairview Crafters Market.  And my sweet Jake is applying for the Gresham's Farmers Market.  If he does that and sells my goods and I do the Fairview one and sell his, we should be able to sell some...I hope!!! We both spend too much money in supplies to not make money doing what we really and truly enjoy.

Well, that's where I am at.  How bout you?  How are you doing in reaching your goals?

February Goals Update and March Goals

Well, as February winds to a close, I have to say, I am slightly disappointed but also optimistic.  Although I didn't hit all my goals, I am thrilled how far I've come.  There were a couple things that I planned to do over the weekend to bust them out but instead, I sat on my couch pretty much all weekend wrapped in a blanket with my Bible.  It was a rough pain management weekend. 

My last post was about my participation in the Bible in 90 days challenge.  I'm most excited to do this.  Yesterday was day 1 so I got up before my family and set out to read before they woke up but lo and behold, work needed to be done so I spent 2.5 hrs working from home.  By the time I was done, my family was all up and wanting my attention.  I did get my reading done throughout the day but it wasn't in the solid block of time I had hoped for.  All's good! 

So for my February goals,  I completed my reading goal.  I still need to get 4 boxes of stuff out of the house.  I have 1 packed and ready to go and I have the boxes for the others but haven't got them packed yet.  I will just add that to my march goals.  And for finishing my travel agency training, I am still working on it but hope to be done this week. 

My March goals are

1) exercise 20 days out of the month for at least 20 minutes each time.  This does not mean that I can work out fewer times for 60 minutes.  I need to be consistent.  If you're reading this and need a work out buddy to help you meet your goals, leave me a comment.  A workout partner would be a great motivator to get working out consistently. 

2) read 3 books.  I am going to finish Mansfield Park and read 2 other books that I haven't confirmed yet.  Once I decide on the books I will let you all know.  I think one of them will be a Robin Jones Gunn book that I am getting from WaterBrook Multnomah. 

3) find a place to sell my jewelry/crafts.  I have to find a way to justify the massive quantities of craft supplies I have and my obsession with buying them, right?  Along the same line, I plan to complete my pay it forward 2011 challenge and get all my wonderful friends their handmade goodies this month. 

What are your goals?  How did you do at hitting your February goals?  Are you encouraged or discouraged by February?  Remember, if you didn't hit your goals, it's okay, just roll them over to this month and quit stressing. 

I will be back soon to focus on my goals and success, keeping you informed on how I'm doing.

Have a great last day of February!

Progressing

Since I haven't posted in a bit, I thought now would be a good time to do an update on this months goals that I posted earlier in the month. 

Goal # 1, reading at least 2 books.  I finished 3 Cups of Tea and Divine Appointments.  I am about a third of the way thru Mansfield Park.  Making very good progress getting where I want to be.  Of course I have 5 more books that I want to read but those will have to wait for now.

Goal # 2, getting rid of 4 boxes of "stuff" from my home...well, that one I have not done as well one but I still have a week to get it done.  I am confident I will accomplish this task.  The only question is where to start.  I think I will focus on my stuff instead of Billy's room.

Goal # 3, completing the travel agency training and promoting the agency is by far my biggest challenge this month.  By the time I get home there is so much to do that I don't have the time I would like to do it.  I think I should still be able to get this done by the end of the month as I will be reducing my office hours 3 days/wk which will give me some free, unclaimed time on those days. 

Health and fitness has been a huge struggle.  I have been getting to the gym more often and being more consistent but my eating is still totally crazy!  My water intake has been very inconsistent.  I am thinking that I need to actually post goal updates more often so it helps keep me focused and on track.  Breakfast is still a huge problem area for me as are cutting out the sweets/excess carbs.  Today is a new day and a new opportunity to take control.

How are you doing on your goals for this month?

February Goals

Since today is February first, it is a good time to post my goals for the month.  I am participating in the 3 in 30 challenge. 

Last month I set so many goals that I lost track of some of them.  So posting the basic 3 I am going to work on this month should help me stay focused.

Goal #1:  Read 2 books for pleasure, beginning to end.  I know it sounds like a little goal but sometimes carving out time to read is really hard.  I am currently in the middle of "Three Cups of Tea" and "Mansfield Park."  I also have 2 other books that I want to read.  I am trying to not start too many books at one time.  I have put Mansfield Park down to finish Three Cups of Tea. 

Goal #2: Remove 4 boxes of stuff from my home.  This could be clothes or books or craft supplies.  This does not include the stacks of magazines that are going into the recycling box.  It also does not include any of the paper stuffs that need to be shredded. 

Goal #3:  Get travel agent training done and promoted.  This will require me sitting down and just committing to doing it daily.  A little bit every day will make a difference. 

In addition to these 3 new goals, I am going to continue on my health quest.  Getting healthy and getting to my goal is a long term goal and 1 month won't make a large difference but day after day and week after week and month after month, I will see a difference and get the results I want. 

I just have to remember to apply the daily principles I wrote about yesterday, having a plan.  I am sticking by my plan.  I am drinking water, I am tracking my eating, I am eagerly looking forward to exercise. 

What are your goals? How are you going to accomplish them?