January Goals

I shared with you back at the beginning of January that I was honoring Amber at the Starfish Blog by making a big resolution for each month this year.  I also made myself a list of goals for each month as well, and they're listed and crossed off on the side bar of my blog.

January

Spring Clean the Entire House

My January resolution was to spring clean the entire house.  Clean out cobwebs, wipe down baseboards, vacuum under furniture, weed out, give away, straighten, and re-organize each and every interior room in the house.  I did it.  There were many, many trips to Goodwill.

And lots of opportunities to give items to people who would use them and appreciate them.

I bought Thomas a Hawaiian shirt at Goodwill this summer and saw an old winter-y wreath that I had donated.  I saw a lady looking at it and when I went to check out, I saw her at another check out counter purchasing it for $2.  Love that.

I didn't overtax the 3 boys in the house this year in my Spring Clean mode - but David was a big help in cleaning out storage closets, and the boys helped with their rooms and playroom.

I've shared all the details on how I thoroughly Spring Clean the house in these posts - 2011, 2010, here, and here.

I still tackle a room/day using my calendar approach to keeping the house from descending into madness.  I explained that process in this post.  To this day that is one of the most commonly Googled topics that brings people to my blog.

This year was not nearly as tough to spring clean as years past. 

I'm sure it's because I'm doing a little each month on each room, which makes "Spring" Cleaning sooo much easier.

Done - now I can look forward to February with a new list of goals and a new Monthly Resolution.

February

Add New Classes/Workouts to My Fitness Schedule

Looking forward to tackling this one next month.

Happy February!  My birthday month and one month closer to Spring Break!



12 in 12

source

I am completely copying honoring Amber at the Starfish Blog in her idea to create monthly resolutions in 2012.  I like the idea of focusing on something each month.  I also have a handful of goals for each month, listed on the side bar, but big ones are listed below.

So here are my resolutions for the new year!

January

Spring Clean the Entire House


February

Add New Classes/Workouts to My Fitness Schedule


March

Take a Class to Improve My Photography

April

Make Some Changes in the Yard


May

Get the House Re-Painted


June
Journey to See Old Friends


July
Take Up Piano Again


August
Take Up Tennis Again


September
Achieve All My Fitness Goals


October
Complete Basement


November
Wrap Up All Holiday Shopping/Christmas Cards/Decorating


December
Enjoy the Season

November Comes to a Close

A couple of weeks ago on facebook a friend posted this:

"Every time a Christmas tree is lit before Thanksgiving, an elf kills a baby reindeer. True story."

I got a chuckle from it because I know it's aggravating to see all the Christmas displays and decorations up way too early.

As I mentioned last year, the fact that Thanksgiving and Christmas sort of run together these days doesn't bother me in the least.

To me The Holidays start on November 1st and run through January 1st.

It's a time of family celebration, being thankful, giving back, parades, travel, relaxing, decorating, cooking, and parties.

We don't start decorating until the day after Thanksgiving for Christmas, but I'm in full swing now, hoping to finish up our Christmas cards today!

I am happy to have completed almost all my November goals, including a couple of house projects I'll share with you soon.

And finally, November 30th is always about my Mawmaw.

Today would have been my grandmother's 100th birthday and I miss being able to call her to wish her a Happy Birthday.

She loved birthdays and would have been tickled to reach 100.

She passed away in June and we know she's in a better place now.

June Goals

I'm a little late getting my list of June Goals together, but here they are!

Great Summer Workouts
Enjoy NYC
Don't Panic with Boys at Camp
Front Porch Stained
Master Bathroom Updates
Mirrors Framed
Hostas Planted

 

Lots of mini house and yard projects.  The boys are going to church camp where they'll be away from home for 5 DAYS AND NIGHTS.  I vow not to panic during this time and just hope they are enjoying themselves - swimming, fishing, Bible study, s'mores, hiking, sleeping in, making new friends...

 

And we're going to New York!

 

Should be a great month.

May Goals

I completed about half of my April goals, and that's great! 

Sometimes, what looks important at the beginning of my month, ends up not taking priority throughout the weeks.  I know I'm focusing on the right things.

Update Master Bathroom

Enjoy Easter with Friends

Focus on My Fitness Goals

Complete 1 Painting Project

Garden, Prune, Mulch, Plant, Sweep, Water

Get Carpets Cleaned

Start Family Bike Rides

So, here are my May 2011 Goals!

Open the Pool

Enjoy Time with the Moms (who are visiting this month)

Finish School Strong (including all my volunteer commitments)

Continue Focus on my Fitness Goals (always important)

Mulch, Plant, Weed

Master Bathroom Updates

Plan Our NYC Trip

Happy May!

April Goals

I think I did really well on my March Goals!

Remodel 2 Bathrooms

Enjoy Spring Break with Family

Continue Exercise Program

Read 2nd Digital Photography Book

Clean and Seal Main Floor Grout

Hang Kitchen Valance

Decide on Bathroom Window Treatment

I accomplished all of my goals (first time ever?)  It's great to get some of the big house projects for the year accomplished!

Update Master Bathroom

Enjoy Easter with Friends

Focus on My Fitness Goals

Complete 1 Painting Project

Garden, Prune, Mulch, Plant, Sweep, Water

Get Carpets Cleaned

Start Family Bike Rides

March Goals

This year I started setting monthly goals and tracking them on the right side of my blog.  That's been working out really well.  So let's check in and see how I did on February's goals.

February Goals

1.  Celebrate my 40th birthday! - I definitely did!  We had a great trip to Key West and I got to celebrate with friends and family!

2.  Remodel 2 bathrooms - have you ever worked with a contractor?  This spills over to the next month again, but I understand this is actually starting on Wednesday.

3.  Work on 2 room painting projects - no, I have put these projects off for the time being

4.  Finish spring cleaning the house - more or less, I've got a few areas to finish up but I feel like I accomplished a ton on this goal

5.  Hang our new kitchen curtain - no, but I've got it and am ready to hang it

6.  800 minutes/exercise - Yes!

7.  Experiment with new photography tips - Our trip to Key West gave me lots of opportunities to read a little more and practice using different settings on my camera.  I've been happier with my results lately.

Four out of seven ain't bad!  It was a tough month for all of us and am ready to kick off March with new goals.

 

March Goals

Remodel 2 bathrooms

Enjoy Spring Break with family

Continue great exercise program I've started

Read 2nd Digital Photography book

Clean and seal main floor tile grout

Hang Kitchen Valance

Decide on Bathroom Window Treatment

Happy March!

February Goals

Last month I started tracking monthly goals instead of setting annual goals and I think it was a great idea, if I do so say. 

It helps me get focused so I'm not wasting my stay-at-home time and still am able to spend the quality time with my family that I want to. 

So, here are my February goals.  Again, maybe too many? 

Oh well!  If they don't all get completed it'll be just fine.

February Goals

Celebrate my 40th birthday!

Remodel 2 bathrooms

Work on 2 room painting projects

Finish spring cleaning the house
Hang our new kitchen curtain

800 minutes/exercise

Experiment with new photography tips

Again this month, I'll be tracking my progress on my blog side bar.

Happy February!

January Goals

Last year I set a whole bunch of goals for myself and achieved only 1.  I did however accomplish all sorts of great things for myself and for my family but just not the ones I set out to achieve and blog about.  So, this year, I'm going to take it a month at a time!

January Goals:

Develop a workout program and eating plan that I can stick with all month

Spring clean the entire house (without going mad)

Spend time each day learning about my fancy new camera and how to improve my photographs

Renew our passports (in case we go overseas this year!)

Get both boys' bathroom floors/1 shower remodeled

Celebrate Brennan's 9th birthday

Kick off our new Wine Club

Phew, I'm tired just looking at that list :)

Happy New Year!