Goals for 2010

Remember my attempt at the 101 things to accoplish in 1001? Yeah, that didn't happen. I think I even made goals for 2009. Don't think many of those happened either. I'm admittedly a plan/list-aholic and not very good at following through on them. I LOVE making lists, planning, preparing and hoping for the best. Then life comes in and things fall by the wayside. I'm secretly happy I'm not the only one that this happens to.

Partly because of my repeated failures, I've been doing some soul searching, thinking about some advice from my husband and even had a pity party yesterday. I hope to share more about this soon, to share from my experiences and lessons I've learned recently. I'm still in the midst of some very important personal..... let's say "breakthrough." It's hard for me to explain while I'm in it, so I'll write more after I get through it.

In an effort to hopefully make my goals more doable this year, I've broken them down in a slightly unique way and want to get them out in the open to keep me accountable (hopefully). I listed a few main areas of my life that could use some improvement. I then decided on a few main goals to accomplish in each area:

• Blogging/Work: Create and maintain a daily and weekly schedule, spend more time writing, make $100 or more, increase blog readership, make a work notebook
  
• Children: Establish and maintain a schedule, start preschool homeschooling
  
• Financial: Make more than last year, reach $5000 in savings, any other extra towards student loan
  
• Household/Homemaking: Reorganize and maintain "Home Management Notebook" and keep the home more organized, clean and peaceful
  
• Spiritual: Read through the whole bible, establish daily times with God
  
• Weightloss: Lose 40-45 pounds
  

I then listed out each month of the year and wrote a small, practical, doable way to work towards my goals in each category. As an example (and since it starts tomorrow!) I'll list out my steps for January. I think I'll call them "Baby Steps" in honor of Dave Ramsey. If I complete/easily maintain a Baby Step for the month, I'll add another one. Hopefully I'll post at the end of each month how it went and my new Baby Steps for the next month.

January Baby Steps

Blogging: Write out Monday weekly posts schedule and start writting ahead
Children: Once/day involve Lizzy (my 2 year old) in something I am doing (cooking, cleaning, etc)
Financial: Keep grocery money for this month under $100 (including Gift Cards) by eating mostly from the pantry and such
Homemaking: Go through Management Binder and update, change or add anything
Spiritual: Establish a family worship time each day
Weightloss: Keep my snacks under a total of 500 calories each day

I'm sure I'll learn lots and post about it along the way. I am so super excited for the fresh start of a new year! How about you? Any goals and plans for you this year? You can go to Happy Housewife and Beautiful Calling on January 1st to link up your goals and see others!

A New Habit: December

Last month, Life as Mom started a neat challenge called the Get a Good Habit Going Challenge. I was very excited about the idea, but it just didn't work out for me to do it last month, so I'm going to jump in this month! I know it's already December 2nd (wow!!) but it's not too late to state a goal or two and map out a way I hope to achieve it. There are SO MANY habits I want to change/create, but I think for sanity's sake I'll just choose 1 or 2 to baby step my way through. That way I'll I'll be more likely to actually accomplish it!

For this month I'm going to work on two main goals: Get to bed at a decent hour and Use up our pantry and freezer without buying additional supplies. I know I'll have to work on these goals in steps to make it more achievable and lasting.

I always have been a night owl. However, I notice that when I get to bed at a decent hour and get up before the girls my day seems to go much smoother and I'm a much happier Mom. Sunday night I was up until 3AM and not because I was doing anything terribly productive either. I woke up the next day when the girls did and was very tired still, which made for a long day with a short temper. This needs to change and I know it! Here's my plan of attack:

• For Week 1: get to bed by 12:30 AM and up by 8:30 AM
• For Week 2: get to bed by 12AM and up by 8AM
• For Week 3: get to bed by 11:30 AM and up by 7:30 AM
• For Week 4: get to bed by 11PM and up by 7AM

As for the freezer and pantry challenge, here's how I plan to get better at using stuff up with out going to the store (I've failed miserably in times past!):

• List out all the pre-made meals in the freezer from past freezer cooking days
• List out all the side dishes I have in my pantry
• Make out the month's dinner menu based on what we have on my sharpie calendar
  
• Make fruit smoothies for breakfasts to use up some of the frozen fruit I hand picked this summer
• Drink hot tea once a day. It's good for you and we have a TON of it!

Well, that's my plan of attack this month. Are there any good habits you're working on this month? Share them and any tips you have with us!

Socks

Woohoo! I just finished knitting my very first sock (one of my 101 in 1001 goals) and.... it looks terrible. I'd post a picture but it'd be really embarrassing. :) Besides, my phone pictures don't show up on here very well.... might have to find a really great deal on digital cameras soon... Anyway, this sock was amazingly easy to make and I did it using white cotton thread, which is what socks are supposed to be made of, right? This is really the type of finished work that will end up being unraveled for something new... shame. But at least now I can say I did it and cross it off my list!

And who knows, maybe I'll practice some more and make cute little kids' socks... I'm sure that'd be way quicker and easier. Oh boy, I just finished and I'm already coming up with new projects to add to my already seemingly endless list! Stop me, quick! If you're a knitter and interested in the pattern, let me know and maybe I can send it to you, or point you to something similar. I don't want to infringe on any copyrights. :)

Update on my 101 in 1001

Here's my recent progress on my 101 in 1001 list. Not as good as I had hoped, but as I talked about earlier, sometimes we have to choose to be ok with what we can reasonablly accomplish in each season of life. :)

Things I've been Working on:
3. Stock freezer for after new baby

9. Go a whole month without buying store bread every 6 months (0/6)- Darn! I almost got this one (had to go 9 more days) but I had a coupon that got me all natural bread for $0.49 today at Giant Eagle. Oh well, try again! :)

14. Comment 5 times a week on another blog (15/715)- I love this! It's so much fun!

17. Go one day without any computer once per month (1/34)- I did this... although it was Mother's Day. Does that count?

29. Complete a yarn project every 6 months (0/6)- I'm working furiously to finish mending Maria's blanket before the new baby comes! :)

45. No candy for a whole week every month (1/34)- This one will be done tonight... it wasn't hard, although I didn't count ice cream, puppy chow and some other borderline items!

47. 20 minutes of exercise 3 times a week (5/429)- Blah! I failed this already... should have known! I hate exercise but I know I need it. I'll keep trying!

52. Get hypercare (5/4/09)- Yay! It's already helping, too!

53. Make fresh juice once per week (3/143)- This one's borderline too because I'm going to count the fresh smoothie my sweet hubby got me for Mother's Day! :)

61. Read a book with Thad once per month (0/34)- We are currently working through Gary Chapman's Five Love Languages I got free from Paper Back Swap

79. Memorize one new scripture per week- see list (3/143)- I had to change these a bit because I noticed I was only able to really do 1 per week and I don't want to rush through these, just to get them done. I really want to take the time to learn them and meditate on them.

86. Host a couples night once every 3 months (1/11)- Yay! This Saturday is the first Couple's Night that our church has had in quite some time!

Freezer Stock List

As promised in my 101 in 1001 list, I decided to follow in the footsteps of many moms here in the blog world and I will be making and freezing as many meals, snacks and breads as I possibly have the energy to do for after our new bundle arrives. Below is my rather ambitious list, but hey, who knows? It could happen! Unfortunately I've been getting hit rather hard with exhaustion and headaches and all the other fun things of the third trimester (which is also why I haven't been really posting or been around lately)! I hope to have more energy soon and knock out lots of things before our lives get turned upside down for a little while! :)

Meals:
Ritzy Chicken (2/2)-from the Money Saving Mom Budget dinners e-book
Frozen Homemade Cheese Pizzas (0/3)
Chicken Tostada Mixture (x2)-Robin Miller, Robin to the Rescue
Skillet Cheeseburger Pasta (1/3)
Mexican Chicken Soup
Crockpot Black Beans and Kielbasa (from the Akron Beacon Journal years ago)
Peanut Sauce and Beef with Rice
Ravioli Lasagna
Mini Fish Burgers
Baked Ziti
Pizza Pockets
Quick Paella
Spaghetti Pie

Baked Goods:
Chocolate Chip P.B. cookies (0/2)
Banana Crumb Muffins (2/2)
Wheat Bread Loaves (1/2)
Granola (0/2)
Raisin Crunch Cookies
One Batch of the 30 minute rolls from Money Saving Mom's Budget Friendly meals e-book

I believe that making all these meals for the freezer will save us a great deal of money and frustration after the baby comes. I won't be tempted to order pizza (just pull one out!) or get McDonald's or quick convience food from the store because all the dinner work will already be done.

Here's how I plan on doing the food. Prepare the meals as directed. Casserole dishes will be lined with aluminum foil, food placed in, frozen for a few hours and then pulled up and out of the dish. Wrap the food completely in a layer of foil and then plastic wrap. I seal the edges with masking tape and then write on the plastic (or tape) what the food is and how to prepare it. This way, not all of my dishes are in the freezer, I don't have to invest in a bunch of aluminum pans, and I don't have mystery food sitting at the bottom of the freezer. Alton Brown uses 2 layers of aluminum foil and then a freezer bag when he freezes (in the Turkey Show). He says the foil is to keep off freezer burn and the plastic is it keep out funky odors and tastes. :)

I have also been taking the leftovers from some of our recent meals (especially soup) and freezing them for quick and easy grab and go food (for lunches and such). Soup will simply go in a foil lined bowl, frozen, pulled out and individually wrapped, again so that not all of my dishes end up in the freezer. Plus, it'll save freezer space. The pizza I will place on a cookie sheet as if I were going to bake it, frozen, removed and completely wrapped as described above. And so on. You get the idea. Good thing I stocked up on aluminum foil when I had those coupons recently! I am still learning how to best do freezer cooking, but as I learn, I promise to share! Please feel free to share your tips and lessons too. :) To see other great kitchen tips check out Tasty Tuesday!

101 in 1001 Update

It was an exciting first week for me in my 101 in 1001 Challenge. I accomplished a few things, kept up with some things that stretched me and even failed a couple of things already! Here's the things I worked on (or didn't!) this week:

1. Cook a new recipe 3 times a month (2/102)-I tried a granola recipe I didn't like and a Pork Medallions with Lemon Sauce we really liked that was similar to the recipe here using 1.25 lb of pork loin cut into slices, a cast iron skillet and omiting the parsley-fantastic!

11. Catch up with 1 person on Facebook every week (0/143) Not Accomplished-Opps. I let this one slide last week. I'll have to try again this week!

13. Spend 1 day a week doing scheduled posts (1/143)

14. Comment 5 times a week on another blog (5/715)-This is fun! It's good to encourage others!

18. Get up before Lizzy 5 times a week (5/715)-This one is hard. I am not at all a morning person. But I did notice that when I get up before Lizzy I feel more energized, organized and ready.

19. Write full to-do list for new baby (4/21/09)- DOne! Now I just have to do it....

21. Name new baby (Email me if you want to know!) (4/16/09)

47. 20 minutes of exercise 3 times a week (3/429)- This one's hard too. I hate exercise, always have. I try to do this in two 10 minute time slots, once before Lizzy wakes up and once during nap. I try to do walking and back exercises for the pregnancy

53. Make fresh juice once per week (1/143)-Mmmm... I love fresh juice!

74. Drink a cup of tea every day (7/1001) Not Accomplished- Bummer. I should have known that I won't be able to do something that requires everyday effort. I forgot to drink my tea on Sunday, but I will still continue with it anyway to see how much I can do (I'm actually drinking Snapple Strawberry tea right now. Very good!) Plus, we have an enormous supply of tea that really needs worked on!

79. Memorize one new scripture per week- see list (1/143)-I technically did this one this week. Though I only memorized one of the two verses.

81. Get up early to pray 3 times a week (3/429)-I technically did this one too because I try to pray a little bit every time I wake up before Lizzy. But I know in my heart I need to work harder at this one and make it more of a priority.

Overall, I think I'm doing pretty well and I'm still excited. One of our refugee "neighbors" Marjan started to try to teach me how to knit socks tonight. LoL. We'll get there eventually...! :) How are you all doing with your goals?

My 101 in 1001

I am a list person if there ever was one. After reading about the 101 in 1001 challenge over at Ashley's blog, I decided to give it a try. The idea is to list 101 things that you would like to accomplish in 1001 days (2.75 years, 143 weeks, roughly 34 months). They have to be obtainable, measurable goals that require effort on your part. I hope these goals will inspire me and help me to stay on track. After all, how can we work towards something unless we first know what it is and have counted the cost on how to get there. People perish for lack of vision. If you have no where to go, you'll go no where.

I hope to accomplish these things in the next 1001 days. The ones with a strike through them have been accomplished and the ones in bold were not accomplished. However, even if I fail to stay on track precisely, I will get back up and keep going at it. I know with the new baby on the way, some of the every week things may fail to be accomplished. We'll see how it goes. I hope to give regular updates on my progress, but not for my own glory. I hope to inspire others and keep myself accountable. :)

My 101 in 1001 List
A. Baking/Cooking
1. Cook a new recipe 3 times a month (3/102)
2. Have a freezer stock day every 3 months (0/11)
3. Stock freezer for after new baby
4. Make a list for above food stock (5/4/09)
5. Learn to cook 6 Iranian dishes (0/6)
6. Read cake making book
7. Make a fancy cake
8. Make a fancy cake for someone else
9. Go a whole month without buying store bread every 6 months (0/6)
10. Create and write down 6 new recipes

B. Blogging/Online
11. Catch up with 1 person on Facebook every week (0/143) Not Accomplished
12. Mail giveaway winners
13. Spend 1 day a week doing scheduled posts (2/143)
14. Comment 5 times a week on another blog (20/715)
15. Update blog on 101 in 1001 at least once per month (1/34)
16. Switch blog to a three column layout
17. Go one day without any computer once per month (1/34)

C. Children
18. Get up before Lizzy 5 times a week (17/715)
19. Write full to-do list for new baby (4/21/09)
20. Accomplish baby to-do list
21. Name new baby (Email me if you want to know!) (4/16/09)
22. Research books and curriculum for teaching Lizzy
23. Find 5 Lizzy activities to do regularly
24. Go to the zoo
25. Potty train Lizzy

D. Crafts
26. Send a card to each woman in church
27. Make 10 cards per month (0/340)
28. Finish Noah's Arc cross stitch
29. Complete a yarn project every 6 months (0/6)
30. Send a card to all my address book contacts
31. Learn to make cloth diapers
32. Learn to knit socks (5/21/09)
33. Learn to knit a sweater
34. Learn to knit a hat
35. Mend all clothes that need it

E. Financial/Frugal
36. No late bills for 24 months (1/24)
37. Put something in savings once per month (1/34)
38. Have a monthly budget meeting with Thad (0/34)
39. Don't eat out for a whole month
40. Make 5 at home natural cleaners (0/5)
41. Have a yard sale
42. Go 7 days without going to a store
43. Go 2 weeks without going to a store
44. Do only necessary driving for a whole week

F. Health/Body
45. No candy for a whole week every month (1/34)
46. Lose all baby weight in 9 months (0/??#)
47. 20 minutes of exercise 3 times a week (5/429)
48. Visit the dentist
49. Get to goal weight of 125 (0/??#)
50. Do living well's 35 day challenge (with some adjustments)
51. Find a healthy sugar substitute for drinks
52. Get hypercare (5/4/09)
53. Make fresh juice once per week (4/143)

G. Home/Garden
54. Read Victory Garden
55. Plant a garden (0/3)
56. Plant an herb garden
57. Paint bathroom with mold resistant paint
58. Prune and trim trees
59. Thin tiger lilies

H. Husband
60. Do 30 day Husband challenge twice a year (0/6)
61. Read a book with Thad once per month (0/34)
62. Make Thad breakfast in bed once per month (1/34)
63. Pray for Thad every day he works
64. Pray with Thad at least once per week (3/143)
65. Give Thad a back rub once per month (0/34)
66. Beat one of Thad's video games

I. Personal Improvement
67. Sort and donate clothes twice a year (0/6)
68. Make wills
69. Choose a guardian for kids
70. Change address for all yellow sticker mail
71. Get new shoes for me
72. Go one week without a single complaint
73. Learn some Persian
74. Drink a cup of tea every day (13/1001) Not Accomplished
75. Get a bra that fits right after second baby
76. Get a professional back massage
77. Throw a surprise party for someone
78. Get a fresh hair look

J. Spiritual/Church
79. Memorize one new scripture per week- see list (4/143)
80. Read every book of the bible (0/66)
81. Get up early to pray 3 times a week (12/429)
82. Listen to Nancy Leigh DeMoss cds
83. Pray about and list mentoring ideas/themes
84. Listen to and review True Beauty 08
85. Read Proverbs once every 2 months (0/17)
86. Host a couples night once every 3 months (1)
87. Pay for someone else's meal at a restaurant
88. Complete the True Woman 30 day Challenge
89. Complete the 31 day Husband prayer Challenge
90. Make up a 30 day challenge
91. Complete my made up 30 day challenge
92. Complete the 31 Day Praying for the Pastor's Wife Challenge

K. Travel/Entertainment
93. Visit Washington D.C.
94. Go to the Melting Pot
95. Do Goodyear's Hiking challenge
96. Go to Omni for another class
97. Watch 5 Materpiece Theatre movies (1/5)
98. Spend one week without any T.V.
99. Have a board game night once a month (0/34)
100. Try one new board game every 3 months (0/11)
101. Celebrate finishing the List!!

2009 Goals

I know, it's a little late to be doing 2009 goals in February.... but I have my reasons! I love lists and the feeling of accomplishment from actually doing things on those lists. I've also been inspired by the other people around the blogosphere who keep track of their financial and personal goals. It's so awesome to have goals to work towards and what a motivator! So, here are my lists for this year. Some of the things are VERY ambitious and others are very doable. I think being pregnant has made me so gunho to get a lot done... the whole nesting thing. I'm sure I'll end up adding more... :)

Financial Goals

• Have 3 months expenses in our savings account
• Finish and send in poodle project (don't even ask; sore subject and poor discipline)
• Set up etsy store and list leftover stuff from craft store
• Pay off as much as (here's the ambitious part) 1/2 of the student loan

Spiritual Goals

• Start each naptime with prayer and reading
• Read through all the Psalms
• Read through all Proverbs once a month
• List my reflections and observations here on my blog about the above reading every Saturday

Personal Goals

• Have basement cleared out of all junk by June (baby!)
• Get green room set up
• Get basement set up for cards and make A LOT