2014 Goals

'Tis the day of the new year and the season of accompanying resolutions.  

2013 was better for me and my family than 2012.  2012 was the year of emotional/mental/family stresses and problems galore.  2013 was hard, very hard, on our finances with the job loss of my husband.  This past fall, my sweet grandmother passed away, which left a big hole in my heart.  However, 2013 was, over all, less stressful. 

I look now to 2014 with a very optimistic hope for the many fabulous adventures awaiting us.  First on the list to do is a move to a new house (but just across the street) which will help out finances.  It also be a great opportunity for our jewelry business that we own.

Below is my list of resolutions from 2013.  The ones I didn't finish/accomplish will be my 2014 goals, for I still want to accomplish them.  The ones I did finish/accomplish I leave intact for today, but crossed off ---because I LOVE crossing things off a list.  

Personal:

~ In bed by 9:30 - up by 6am (during the week)  ---Still need to work on this....though much, much better than before.

~ Treadmill 4x/week--- Still need to work on this one.  It was hit and miss during the year-- just a struggle for me.

~ Work on photo albums 2x/month ---  Still need to work on this one too.  My sweet husband has offered to help and we are going to do it for an hour or two on Sunday afternoons.

~ Find more ways to perform service for others --- we had fun with this one last year.  Highlights included paying for random people's food at restaurants, Secret Santa and meals/groceries brought to friends who need a little lift. I want to continue this one.

~ More gratitude in my heart --- Much better than before. . . . but this year I am going to focus on writing thank you notes in a more timely manner.

~ Cut back to part time work --- Still a goal.  Not sure how this one will work since my husband lost his job last summer.  So, I should add: Help husband find full time employment and then cut back to part time work.

Family/Marriage/Mother:

~ Family Time each Sunday afternoon  -- we have done this most weeks.  So this year I want to add that we will have a formal lesson 2x/month.

~ Miss M plays outside the house 2x/week --- YEP! And, oh has it made a world of difference for Miss M being outside more often. 

~ Date night w/sweetie 2x/month----still need to work on this too. We have a hard time finding babysitters, so I will change it to find a group of people I can call on as babysitters then have date night 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.)  Done, done and done.  Well, ok, except for just a few things.  It was great to enjoy the season and not worry about crowds and finding the right gift under pressure.

Homemaking:

~ Continue to work on being organized by following 52 weeks to an organized home ---Starting this up again.  With the upcoming move, everything now is in boxes.  I will need to organize our new home.

~ Redo kitchen YEP! We did it and it is gorgeous.  We are sad to leave our kitchen, but so excited for our new home.

~ Paint the downstairs  -- didn't get to this.  But this year, we want to paint the rooms in our new house.  And maybe new countertops and a new kitchen floor.... and .... and ..... there is always a project to be done in a house.

~ Try two new habits to be more 'green.'  --- Habit 1 -- use reusable bags for groceries -- it has been hit and miss.  I will work on improving. Habit 2 -- use a bleach alternative.  I have found a great recipe that I like. It just uses hydrogen peroxide and lemon juice. Click here for the recipe.

~ Host another community garden -- didn't get to this.  And this year, our new home doesn't have a big enough space to host a community garden, so we will just have a small family garden.

~ get ride of (donate/sell/throw out) 50 boxes of stuff   YEP!! I did this. + + Plus some + +  With our upcoming move, we have donated/sold and threw out a lot more than planned.  YEA FOR ME!!
~ I want to add another goal and that is to purchase more items locally--food, gifts and services among them. 

Financial:

~ Pay off medical bill  -- we are close, oh so ever close. This will be this year's goal, though I expect it to be paid off in a few month.  HALLELUJAH!! And then we, other than our mortgage, we will be debt free.

~ Increase monthly savings amounts for retirement & emergency funds  YEP! Even with the job loss of my husband, we were able to do this.  Most of our savings/retirement is taken out of our account automatically, so we can easily continue doing this.

~ Pay cash for our vacation to Colombia---- didn't get to this one either -- as in we didn't go to Colombia. Maybe this summer???

Here's to a fabulous 2014!!! 

What are your goals for the year?

Goals updated.

Personal
~ In bed by 9:30 - up by 6am (during the week)  -- Not so much this summer, buy hey, I can sleep in.  I know, I know, I know, that's not the point.  But. Well. It is what it is.  Besides, school is starting soon, so it's back to the habit.
~ Treadmill 4x/week -- I have been doing pretty good with this one. YAY!!
~ Work on photo albums 2x/month -- aggh!  Gotta get on this!
~ Find more ways to perform service for others -- this has been fun, and I am ever working on this.
~ More gratitude in my heart -- still working on this.
~ Cut back to part time work -- I thought I had this lined up, but the powers that be said no.  So now I am looking at other options.  In the mean time, my husband lost his job, so we need to find him a new job so I can look at going part time.

Family/Marriage/Mother
~ Family Time each Sunday afternoon -- We have been doing this about 2x/month. 
~ Miss M plays outside the house 2x/week  -- This has worked out better than I thought it would. And during the summer, she was outside nearly everyday.  Our summer mantra: the dirtier you are, the more fun you've had.
~ Date night w/sweetie 2x/month -- a little better.  It's happening every 4-6 weeks.  
~ 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.)  -- I have started to get some gifts ready and am about half way done.  I hope to have it finished up by October.

Homemaking
~ Continue to work on being organized by following 52 weeks to an organized home  --aggh!!  Hard, hard, hard.
~ Redo kitchen  -- yep! Pictures will come when it is completely finished.
~ Paint the downstairs   -- we painted the kitchen and downstairs bath.  Not sure if we will get to the dining and living rooms.
~ Try two new habits to be more 'green.'  Habit 1 -- use reusable bags for groceries -- it has been hit and miss.  I need to prepare more so it will happen.  Habit 2 -- use a bleach alternative.  I have found a great recipe that I like. It just uses hydrogen perozide and lemon juice. Click here for the recipe.
~ Host another community garden -- This didn't happen this year.  There were too many other things going on.  We will try again next year. 
~ get ride of (donate/sell/throw out) 50 boxes of stuff -- We had a garage sale in June which helped to get rid of many items.  I have donated/sold/threw out about 25 boxes of items now. Half way done! YAY! 

Financial
~ Pay off medical bill -- little by little, bit by bit.  We are wanting to have it paid off by the end of the year.  This is coming along and we should have it paid off by October.
~ Increase monthly savings amounts for retirement & emergency funds -- Yes! Yes! and Yes!
~ Pay cash for our vacation to Colombia -- due to my husband's job loss, this has been tabled for later. Perhaps next year.

And, achieving goals, my friends, is 

February Financial Mini- Make Over

Every February, we have a family mini financial make-over.  By the way, some people call this a February Financial Fast.  And I do like that name!  I might even adopt it for us.

And, alas, here we are in March.  February came and went ever so quickly.  Below are the four main  things that we try to do to help us keep our finances in check.

1)  We examine our budget.

• What are our goals for the year? What do we need to save for travels, vacations and home improvements or other big expenses?  This year we needed to add a goal of paying off a medical bill debt. We ask ourselves: Do we need to add money to this area of our budget or spend less in another area?  What are family needs?  Individual wants?  We have several different incomes, so we look over what (and how much) will our sources of income be for the year?

2)  We shop less for food.

• We buy only essentials.  We try to limit our food to what we have in our food storage.  This does force us to meal plan better and to take inventory of what we have in our basement and freezer. This can be overwhelming, but with planning it out --- it very doable.

    
3)  We go over our services to see if we can find a better deal.

• Services include:  internet, phone, cable and insurances.  I am often amazed but how much companies charge and when you start to shop around and are willing to switch carriers.
• We currently don't have cable and our phone is just a basic land line.  With our internet and insurances, there are deals all over the place.  When we did have cable (which we get every four years so my sweetheart can watch his World Cup), deals would appear when I called. First I would ask for any specials they have available for us. If that didn't pan out, I would mention we were looking around for another provider.  And if that didn't bring any deals, we would cancel. But it would only be for a day or two----because almost instantly, they would call, email and send out a plethora of deals if we would return to them. Here is another article on how a family  was able to reduce their fees.

4)  We look over our bills.

• Gas, electricity, natural gas (to heat our home), and water bills.  How can we lower these bills?  Are there services we are being charged for that we are not using? Is there ways we can reduce driving our cars?  Can we combine trips?  Walk or bike more?  Need ideas to get started, this article is a great starting place with 20 inexpensive ideas.  

~~~

This isn't about how cheap we can become for us.  It is a chance to step back and see: What are we doing right? Where are we? What are our financial goals for the year?  How and where can we improve? 


I love what Sarah wrote on her blog, Besos and Bubbly:  She and her husband are doing a financial fast for lent.  She writes, The financial fast is a "... chance to cut back on the indulgences and the decadence of the holidays, an opportunity to re-assess and re-group in a new year, a time to usher in the re-birth of spring with the mindfulness of a personal cleanse that I think is a healthy practice for all."

And that, my friends, is 

update on resolutions

It's been almost two months into 2013.  Here is an update on my resolutions:

Personal
~ In bed by 9:30 - up by 6am (during the week)  -- I have been sick a lot, so going to bed early has happened a lot.  Getting up early, not so much.
~ Treadmill 4x/week -- hasn't happened (see above) but now I am feeling much better, so I will start it up again.
~ Work on photo albums 2x/month -- nope.  Gotta get on this!
 Find more ways to perform service for others -- this has been fun:. I have taken in a few meals to friends, paid annomiously for a random's couple's meal at a restaurant, helped out with a project for daughter's teacher.
~ More gratitude in my heart -- still working on this.
~ Cut back to part time work -- I thought I had this lined up, but the powers that be said no.  So now I am looking at other options.

Family/Marriage/Mother
~ Family Time each Sunday afternoon -- We have been doing this about 2x/month. 
~ Miss M plays outside the house 2x/week  -- This has worked out better than I thought it would.
~ Date night w/sweetie 2x/month -- nope. Gotta get on this!
~ 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.)  -- I have started to get some gifts ready.  I think it will happen this year.

Homemaking
~ Continue to work on being organized by following 52 weeks to an organized home  -- nope. Gotta get on this! Now that I am feeling better, I will have the strength to get back to it.
~ Redo kitchen  -- not yet-- maybe this summer
~ Paint the downstairs   -- not yet-- maybe this summer
~ Try two new habits to be more 'green.'  Habit 1 -- use reusable bags for groceries -- it has been hit and miss.  I need to prepare more so it will happen.  --Habit 2 -- haven't thought of it yet.
~ Host another community garden -- we are getting friends signed up.  This is a fun tradition of ours!
~ get ride of (donate/sell/throw out) 50 boxes of stuff --I have packed up about 5 boxes of stuff for a summer garage sale.

Financial
~ Pay off medical bill -- little by little, bit by bit.  We are wanting to have it paid off by the end of the year.
~ Increase monthly savings amounts for retirement & emergency funds --we have increased our saving account deposits, but haven't increased our retirement accounts yet.
~ Pay cash for our vacation to Colombia --saving for this!

Lunch Ideas

I am all the time trying to get lunch ideas for my family ---  lunches that we eat at home, on the road as well as at school and work.  I have looked at many ideas and here is the list I came up with: 

apple slices and peanut butter or almond butter or Nutella
 

bagel with butter

baked potato

buttered noodles

carrots, pepper strips, celery & hummus
celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins
chicken nuggets

cold leftover meatloaf with ketchup
cottage cheese and fruit

cream cheese and jelly
 

Egg salad on bread or crackers

English muffin pizzas

fruit cup

fruits and veggies

fruit salad
 

grilled cheese

grilled veggies
guacamole and chips or crackers

ham slices and cheese not on a sandwich
hard boiled eggs

hot dogs and baked beans

hummus and pita and/or veggies
 

kabobs --cheese cubes, fruit cubes, chicken cubes, and veggie cubes

leftovers--which at our house we call "Venegas Buffet"

lettuce leaves to wrap a sandwich instead of break

muffins

nutella and banana

oil-based pasta salad with veggies and meat or tuna
 

pasta salads
PB and banana and/or honey, instead ofjelly
pasta with a bit of butter and grated Parmesan cheese

salad in a container with dressing packed separately
sandwiches with cheese, vegetables, roasted veggies, hummus

sliced oranges
smoothies
soup in thermos*

taco salad

trail mix

tuna salad or chicken salad stuffed into a hollowed out tomato or pepper
 

whole-wheat crackers and cheese, meat, or hummus or pretzel or pita chips
 

yogurt

*Thermos tip: In the morning, heat up soup or the leftovers.  Pout boiling water into your thermos, then pour it out and put the heated up food in there.  Put the thermos lid on.  The food usually will stay warm until lunch time.

Do you have any lunch ideas to share?

Having lots of choices and a list on hand, is my friends, 

Green habits

This year, I chose for one of my resolutions it to develop two new green habits. I have decided one habit it to use more reusable bags to cut down on the plastic bags that are brought into our house.  I don't know about you, but plastic bags seem to over take us. Plastic grocery bags are made from natural gas and petrolium.  I hate the idea of having, yet, another petroleum based product in our house. Someday I would love to be rid of my petroleum dependance.  I have a bunch of canvas bags, but for various reasons, they are not always used.

My new plan is thus:

1. Keep a few canvas bags in the car near the driver's seat so I will see them.

2. Make a note on my grocery list to bring bags.

And, that my friends, is

 

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

getting back in the saddle--

WOW! WOW!  WOW! What a summer and for that matter, what a year!! Lots of ups (husband's new job & fun family vacations) and a tremendous amount of downs (family problems, financial strains). Many things had to give, and my grand plan of organizing my house was one of them. Earlier this year, I found a great organizing website that had a 52 weeks to an organized home challenge.   I started strong, wavered, tried again, did well and then life got in the way and the whole idea/plan/motivation fell fast and hard. 

I did, this summer, have a huge garage sale with family.  And what didn't sell, we donated to a thrift store.  It was amazing how much we sold and even more amazing was what was left to give away.  It was refreshing to be rid of all those items.

Well, I am getting my groove back.  I am setting boundaries and meeting goals.  I have some house and yard help. I am getting a good night's sleep. I am ready to tackle organizing the home.  I am not sure where exactly I ended with the challenge originally, but the nice thing about the website is one can start at anytime. So this week, I am joining back at week #39: Outgrown & Seasonal Clothing Storage  

And that, my friends, is

for teachers ---

I am a teacher and am always on the look out for websites to help me out.  Here are my favorite top six sites. If you have a favorite, please share! I would love to visit more.

www.teacherspayteachers.com

A website created to be an open market for teachers.  Lots and lots of ideas, worksheets and lesson plans.  Some you pay for and some are free.  If you create worksheets, this may be the place for you to sell them to others. 

www.teacherlists.com

A fairly new website, but if you post a list of supplies you need, you can get FREE wet wipes and paper towels for your classroom. 

www.moneysavingmom.com  

This website is to help you be a better home economist.  As a teacher and working mom, I have used many of the ideas here.  It also posts FREE books to download from Amazon.com and FREE printables for homeschooling, which I have used in the schools just as easily.

http://teachers.net/lessons/

This website boasts of having over 4000 FREE lesson plans! WOW!  In addition, it has a classified section, job board, mailings and more.

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/free-puzzlemaker/

This website offers FREE custom made puzzle makers including: criss-cross, fallen phrases, mazes, cryptograms, and hidden messages.

and lastly ---

 

http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy/ 

This website gives you a FREE version of customizing your own jeopardy game.  Great to use with an inter-write board for reviews.  I have used this with junior high kids as well as high school kids and they all love it.

IMPERTURBABILITY!!

Yep! It's my new word of the week.  And it is what I need while dealing with all the chaos that is going on right now in my life. Because I get ruffled. I get frustrated. My mind becomes filled with so much junk and pain and hurt, that sometimes I shut down and slip into survival mode.

What does the word mean?  Well, that is a good question. It means: not easily perturbed, calm and unruffled.

Yep. That is exactly what I need.

Next on the list is to figure out different ways to help me cope... to be filled with imperturbability...

to start:

nature
prayer
stillness
gardening
playing
laughing
simplify
exercise
piano playing


Imperturbability!  That my friends, is

The ending of summer

August 1st. WOW! Where has the summer gone?? But you know, I am just as anxious for fall as I am each year for summer. I love the crispness in the air. I love the fall harvest.  I love pumpkin patches and corn mazes.

It has been a rough summer for us emotionally and financially. We have had our fair share of delightful ups only to be balanced with those depressing downs. I have laughed much, cried hard and have quietly prayed when my burdens will be lifted.

I am not sure what the future holds. I am not sure when or even if my burdens will be lifted.  But I march on with my family.  I also search out moments of quietness to meditate, pray and relax.

And that, my friends, is

joy

This past week I saw this phrase in passing:  Be the joy

WOW! It spoke to my heart.  Am I the joy? It leaves me much to think about.

My mind wanders, and I thought, why not?

Be the Joy
Be the Love
Be the Change
Be the Music
Be the Blessing
Be the Heart
Be the Strength
Be the Truth
Be the Life
Be the Reason
Be the Answer
Be the Sunshine
Be you
and always

 ~ ~ ~ Be the Joy ~ ~ ~

Jewelry Sale

We are having a weekend sale on our fine jewelry in our Etsy shop. Please check out our business blog for more information:

http://galleonsgold.blogspot.com/