This Year's Goals

'Tis the season of the new year and the accompanying resolutions.  Here is a list of mine for 2013.

Personal
~ In bed by 9:30 - up by 6am (during the week)
~ Treadmill 4x/week
~ Work on photo albums 2x/month
~ Find more ways to perform service for others
~ More gratitude in my heart
~ Cut back to part time work

Family/Marriage/Mother
~ Family Time each Sunday afternoon
~ Miss M plays outside the house 2x/week
~ Date night w/sweetie 2x/month
~ Christmas gifts all ready for wrapping by Thanksgiving.  (Usually I do this, but this year I was behind and it was too stressful for me with last minute gift buying.)

Homemaking
~ Continue to work on being organized by following 52 weeks to an organized home
~ Redo kitchen
~ Paint the downstairs
~ Try two new habits to be more 'green.'
~ Host another community garden
~ get ride of (donate/sell/throw out) 50 boxes of stuff

Financial
~ Pay off medical bill
~ Increase monthly savings amounts for retirement & emergency funds
~ Pay cash for our vacation to Colombia

Business
We are still deciding what direction and what we want to do with our jewelry business.  Those goals will be posted later.


2012 was quite hard for us.  I look to 2013 with a very optimistic heart with many surprises awaiting for us. 

What are your goals for the year?

A Thankful Heart

Last year about this time, I listed 101 things I am grateful for.  This year, I add another 101 reasons that fill my heart.

This year's list:

Mi Colombiano ~ tissue paper ~ bows ~ barrettes ~ lotion ~ tulips ~ sunrises ~ locks ~ skeleton keys ~ laughs ~ riddles ~ arches ~ sand ~ arepas ~ compass ~ trees ~ chocolate kisses ~ philanthropic ~  electricity ~ second chances ~ breakfast in bed ~ gardens ~ savings ~ Utah ~ Oregon ~ Children Museums ~ explorers ~ curiousity ~ parents ~ health ~ siblings ~ goals ~ children ~ raises ~ help ~ Valentine's Day ~ hammocks ~ pebbles ~ Mr. Darcy ~ hikes ~ happy endings ~ septic tanks ~ gifts ~ treasures ~ movies in the park ~ wool ~ cotton ~ ironed sheets ~ Latin ~ running water ~ cut and paste ~ candles ~ bees ~ goat's milk soap ~ FMH ~ God's Country ~ alumni ~ closure ~ new thrift stores ~ game night ~ super glue ~ sticky notes ~ pictures ~ mashed potatoes ~ secret canyons ~ emeralds ~ puzzles ~ holidays ~ vacations ~ quality ~ country ~ old haunts ~ holidays ~ roses ~ traditions ~ Baroque music ~ big speakers ~ history ~ local concerts ~  flirting ~ fresh milk ~ hush puppies ~ PBS ~ lullabies ~ pillows ~ recliners ~ razzleberry pie ~ bon fires ~ Scrabble ~ iron ~ rags ~ birthdays ~ twinkles ~ valleys ~ grace ~ answered prayers ~ paint ~ cousins ~ bubbles ~ new books ~ old friends posing as books ~ Miss M 

For last year's list: CLICK HERE

top 9 posts of 2012

Here are the top 9 posts of my blog viewed in 2012. Enjoy.

9. The ending of summer  I love my summers. The freedom, vacations, gardens and beauty. This past summer thought, was a rough yet blessed summer for us.

8. Frugal Living A -- Z   Being frugal is a top priority for us.  These are some ideas to save money without going insane.

7. Saving $ with the laundry  Quick and cheap--- making your own laundry detergent and stain remover.

6. getting back in the saddle--  Organizing. uggh. Not my strong point.  Here is another attempt at trying again.

5. Money  Life through us a curve ball last spring regarding our finances. Ouch. But, always,  life goes on.

4. Clearance sales  One of the ways we save money is shopping the clearance sales. Fun finds indeed.

3. The Pile  Yep. I am a pile person. (Yes, I know it goes hand in hand with lack of organization.)  And yes. here is the follow up: The Pile No More.

2. disappointments....   they happened a lot this past year, but there is joy in the midst as well.

1. Week 7 of being organized This past year, I took on the 52 Weeks to an Organized Home Challenge.  There were some high points, and some sluggish points.  Week 7 was a good one for me.


Here's hoping for a fantastic 2013 that will be debt free, simple and joyful.  Cheers.

And that, my friends, is