March Wrap Up

I set some goals for myself for 2010 - here's my 3rd month wrap up!
~~Finish 1 Knitting Project - I got about 3/4 of the way through with my hat and took it to the knitting store - too many holes to continue.  So I'm ready to start on a scarf!  Plan to get started next week!

~~Learn All Songs in my Piano Book - I haved nailed 5 songs.  I'm a little behind but am focusing my free time on spring cleaning right now.  I'm still practicing pretty regularly though.

~~Participate in the 52 of 52 Mom-in-the-Photo project - Yes!  I've completed all 13 weeks!

~~Successfully Complete 12 No-Spend Weeks - No!  I didn't do one in February or March.  I think I'm going to amend this to 6 No-Spend Weeks this year. 

~~Refurbish 1 piece of furniture - I plan to look for a piece for Brennan's room this spring.

~~Run a 5K - No, I haven't begun my running program yet.  I will probably focus on this in the summer.

~~Go to England California - Got our tickets!  We're going in July!

~~Lose 77 Pounds - I've lost 7 so far.

~~Successfully Transition to a Stay-at-Home Mom - Yes!  I feel like I've done this very easily.  I'm no longer working as of mid-March.  I'm loving it.  I'm filling my days with field trips and time in the boys' classrooms, spring cleaning, meeting up with friends, and lots of time at the gym!

Pretty good I think!  This spring weather is so wonderful - enjoy a beautiful Easter weekend!

February Wrap Up

I set some goals for myself for 2010. Let's see how I've done this month!


~~Finish 1 knitting project - no, I don't know that I've picked up the needles in February.  Work has been occupying a lot of my time.  I hope to finish my hat in March!
~~Learn All Songs in my current Piano Book - I reported last month that I've pretty much mastered "Minuet" and "Sheep May Safely Graze" by Bach and "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven. I've been practicing those and added "Minuet in G" by Beethoven.
~~Participate in the 52 of 52 Mom-in-the-Photo Project - Yes, I've completed all 8 weeks this month!
~~Successfully Complete 12 No-Spend Weeks - I did not get organized and complete one in February.  I'll have to make up for it later in the year!
~~Refurbish 1 Piece of Furniture - Not yet but I'm thinking about it.
~~Run a 5K - Gosh, I can't believe it will be possible. I haven't really tried yet to run so will start focusing on that once it warms up. I have a hard time running on the treadmill.
~~Go to England California - We've scratched the England idea this year but are making plans for Southern California in the summer!
~~Lose 77 Pounds - Working on it, eating really well.  Will add exercise to the mix once work is over.
~~Successfully Transition to a Stay-at-Home Mom - I have 2 weeks of work left. I'm going to miss it - love the position I'm in, love the people I work with, but I'm really looking forward to the change.

I had my priorities straight for February, focusing more heavily on the boys and work and putting a few other things on the backburner until work is over.  March will be a month of change and I'm looking forward to it!

How was your February?

January Wrap Up

I set some goals for myself for 2010.  Let's see how I've done!

~~Finish 1 knitting project - I am knitting!  I'm making a cute red hat. It's full of holes unfortunately, but I'm getting there.  I have thought abot quitting this project and starting something new, with fewer "learning" holes, but I'll just keep going.  Brennan would really like to have the hat for outdoor recess so I'll do the best I can to fix the holes when I'm done.  About half-way there.

~~Learn All Songs in my current Piano Book - I realize it looks like a bunch of 6 year olds on the book cover, but these classical songs are not THAT easy.  I've pretty much mastered "Minuet" and "Sheep May Safely Graze" by Bach and "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven.  Maybe I'll do a video for the blog?  For now my family is a patient audience! 
~~Participate in the 52 of 52 Mom-in-the-Photo Project - Yes, I've completed 4 weeks this January!

~~Successfully Complete 12 No-Spend Weeks - I completed 1 in early January and learned a lot.  Planning another for February.

~~Refurbish 1 Piece of Furniture - Not yet but I'm thinking about it.

~~Run a 5K - Gosh, I can't believe it will be possible.  I haven't really tried yet to run so will start focusing on that once it warms up.  I have a hard time running on the treadmill.

~~Go to England - Nope we're deciding on a couple of other trips this year but are moving England to 2011.  That's OK - we've got a lot planned for this year!

~~Lose 77 Pounds - Down 5 lbs and 5 % body fat, so that's good.  Will kick this into high gear after I am no longer working.

~~Successfully Transition to a Stay-at-Home Mom - I have 6 weeks of work left.  I'm going to miss it - love the position I'm in, love the people I work with, but I'm really looking forward to the change.

Overall - very successful January!

1 of 52 and My First No-Spend Week

One of my projects for 2010 is to be in more pictures.  I avoid having my picture taken sometimes and know that it's good for my family to have me in photos to look back on.  So, I've started the 52 Weeks challenge.

Here I am (on the left) with one of my BFF's, Ginger.  Last night we went to John and Ginger's for a wonderful dinner (more on that later today).  Ginger is an amazing person.  Not only is she a loving mom and wife and fantastic at her job, she's inspiring to everyone.  This year Ginger is training to run her first marathon.  Her optimism and good-natured spirit are contagious, which is good because I'm working on this in 2010.

Bonnie and Ginger, January 2010

Last night also ended my first No Spend Week.  The goal that I've set for myself is to think about the discretionary spending that I can shift.  The last 7 days the goal was not to spend above and beyond groceries.  I tallied what I did spend and it was $81.  Hmm.  Not exactly a "no spend" week, but I definitely learned some things about myself.  80% of the spending was on eating out.  I could have easily avoided all of the money I spent this past week but forgot many times of this project until I had to jot it down later.  But, the $81 was definitely less than I would have spent discretionarily if I hadn't been on this plan, so it's a start.

2010 Projects

I added a project list to the blog sidebar of potential projects for 2010.  I'm a listmaker (no kidding, Bonnie) and it works for me.  I tend to make audacious lists and endeavor to accomplish as many as possible, knowing I won't get to them all, and that's OK.  Invariably something that seems critical on a Monday resolves itself or priorities shift by Thursday, or I simply decide it's not as important as I thought it was.  Big lists that have a few things not crossed off work for me.

So, as of today here are some projects I'd like to focus on in 2010.

~~Finish 1 knitting project - I've signed up for a class next weekend and I'm excited to finally learn to knit.  I have no idea what I want to do with this awesome new skill, but I think it'll be fun to have that creative outlet.

~~Learn All Songs in my current Piano Book - I've piddled at the piano for years and have a great book that I'd like to master.  It's quite embarrassing because it looks like 6 year olds on the front cover, but it's advanced enough for me that I will need to really work at most of the songs.  They're beautiful classical pieces. 

~~Participate in the 52 of 52 Mom-in-the-Photo Project - I wrote about this project here

~~Successfully Complete 12 No-Spend Weeks - This is a popular activity for a lot of families that I know of.  The goal is to not spend discretionarily for a period of time in order to prioritize on what is important.  Some families do this for a month.  I've decided to do one week/month this year.

~~Refurbish 1 Piece of Furniture - I'd really like to learn to do this.  Take an old beat-up discarded table or chair and turn it into something beautiful and functional.  I have an idea for Brennan's room.  I'm a sucker for a before-and-after!  Just need to wait until it warms up a little to be able to work in the garage - and need the right piece of furniture. 

~~Run a 5K - I would love to be a runner but I'm just not sure I'm cut out for it.  I think other activities like the elliptical or spinning work better for me.  But, I'd love to be able to run 3.1 miles - not marathons, half-marathons or 10K's like many friends do.  Just a 5K.  Surely I can pull that off.

~~Go to England - We are considering it for 2010.  We have a lot of plans that are up in the air at this point so this might not be the year, but we're seriously considering it.

~~Lose 77 Pounds - I've written about it here.  This I'm putting a ton of energy into.  I've got some great resources, friends, and family support for this one.  Wish me luck :)

~~Successfully Transition to a Stay-at-Home Mom - In a couple of months I'll no longer be working and it's a really strange thought!  But I'm looking forward to being able to focus a lot more energy on the boys, David, the house, my health, and all these projects listed above!

I'm really looking forward to a fun, healthy, creative, and project-filled 2010!