Day 08- Short term goals for this month and why
Day 09- Something you’re proud of in the past few days
Funny that when I got online to post yesterday, I decided just to write what I was feeling, from that it somewhat turned into my 3 in 30 Goal check in, and now come to find out, my 30 Days of Me for days 8 & 9 all seem to be wrapped up in what I blogged about yesterday and my feelings of contentment!
My goals for April are to complete my garden project(well... the preparing & planting part of the project anyway!) finish Dannon's quilt and a baby quilt/blanket, and limit my trips to Redding.
I should also include, that I hope to complete the divorce paperwork, and continue attempting to work with Cliff to have it filed. Thats a difficult goal in nature itself, as well as the fact that I have to somewhat rely on him to accomplish the task... and lets just be honest, he was never someone that I would call "reliable."
As far as something that I am proud of in the last few days, I've got to say that getting my first garden bed prepared and my strawberries planted has been huge for me! I've never really gardened, and the few things that I have attempted to grow haven't been very successful (except for my kids, see previous post, lol!) I watered my strawberries just a few minutes ago, and I could swear they have grown already! I think this gardening thing is going to be a bit like Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball idea, some quick signs of success are quite motivating to continue!
Hmm, now since I've been thinking about goals again, its off to search the wonderful internet for the perfect fabric for Baby-With-No-Name's quilt while I enjoy another day of sunshine and watching my son play with a bucket of water and two plastic cups!
Showing posts with label 3 in 30. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 3 in 30. Show all posts
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Ahhh, contentment!
The sun has been out for the past few days. To the point we're wearing shorts and tank tops, searching for (my) lost sunglasses and investing in our backyard living!
About a week ago, Bob received a small amount from his mother's insurance. She passed away at the the end of January, or was it the beginning of February? I should know this. The settlement wasn't much. She had taken out a loan against it that had to be repaid first, and then the leftover amount was incorrectly divided among the beneficiaries. We are just thankful for what he did receive! But as usual, good intentions seem to go out the window, at least where financial responsibility comes into play... I'm still trying to talk him into putting some in savings, and some towards debt repayment, but I am very happy with where the bulk of the money has been spent so far.
We purchased a lawnmower (that has yet to be assembled and put to use, lol) Bob was able to pick out a new charcoal grill to replace the one that got left behind at the apartment in Kalama when our moving truck was just too full, and we've added two outdoor rocking chairs and a hammock to our backyard. This is where my feeling of contentment is coming into play at the current moment.
I am sitting in one of the rockers, ice water in hand, slight breeze through the yard and watching Dannon play with a bucket of water and a cup. Ashlyn is playing with her neighborhood friends and Bob will soon be on his way home from work.
The house is mostly clean, the floors have been mopped, I got my strawberries planted today, another planting project is underway and I'm tired--but it feels so good to be tired from being productive rather than tired from being lazy.
Today is April 1st, I haven't been able to come up with any good jokes to play on anyone, but I have gotten a rough draft of our monthly budget together and was able to include money to set aside for my trip with the kids up to Washington to visit family during Ashlyn's spring break. Last month one of my 3 in 30 goals was to have my divorce paperwork completed. Its not completed. But I did get a good start on it and will continue to focus on that throughout this next month. I did MUCH better with my water consumption, as well as remembering vitamins every night and better oral care... I'm also very proud to announce that Dannon is now completely bottle free, and all in all, it wasn't that bad!
For April, one of my goals will be to follow through on my gardening goal. So far I have one of the raised beds cleaned out, added a bag of Flower & Vegetable soil and planted the strawberry shoots that came from my online order with Gurneys. The other garden bed is still a jungle of a mess. I have seeds that should be coming within the next two weeks (also from Gurneys) and have great intentions to plant lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins and a hanging tomato plant. I really hope something grows. I mentioned to Bob today that I have this almost desperate need to have success with growing something, and he pointed out that I'm doing pretty good growing his baby and thats the most important thing :) I think after my next OB appointment on the 8th, I will start to be seen every two weeks. Crazy how fast this time goes!
My other April goals will be to finish Dannon's quilt, and also start & finish a quilt for the new baby. I have a little craft area set up in the garage now, but I have yet to give my new sewing machine a try. Dannon's quilt has light blue and lime green colors with a pirate themed fabric and since #3 (still no names decided) is due sometime between the very end of June and beginning of July, I'm kind of thinking he needs a 4th of July-ish red, white & blue quilt. Stars required.
My third and final April 3 in 30 goal will be to limit my weekly trips into Redding to 1-2 times per week. Gas prices are ridiculous, and my trips into town equal either shopping, or meeting Bob for lunch. So lets recap: Spending money on gas + Spending money on shopping + Spending money on lunch = Spending too much money! The best way I can see to reign this in a bit is to just stay home, and thats what I am going to focus more on doing.
Things might not be perfect, but they're still pretty good and I'm A-OK with that! :)
About a week ago, Bob received a small amount from his mother's insurance. She passed away at the the end of January, or was it the beginning of February? I should know this. The settlement wasn't much. She had taken out a loan against it that had to be repaid first, and then the leftover amount was incorrectly divided among the beneficiaries. We are just thankful for what he did receive! But as usual, good intentions seem to go out the window, at least where financial responsibility comes into play... I'm still trying to talk him into putting some in savings, and some towards debt repayment, but I am very happy with where the bulk of the money has been spent so far.
We purchased a lawnmower (that has yet to be assembled and put to use, lol) Bob was able to pick out a new charcoal grill to replace the one that got left behind at the apartment in Kalama when our moving truck was just too full, and we've added two outdoor rocking chairs and a hammock to our backyard. This is where my feeling of contentment is coming into play at the current moment.
I am sitting in one of the rockers, ice water in hand, slight breeze through the yard and watching Dannon play with a bucket of water and a cup. Ashlyn is playing with her neighborhood friends and Bob will soon be on his way home from work.
The house is mostly clean, the floors have been mopped, I got my strawberries planted today, another planting project is underway and I'm tired--but it feels so good to be tired from being productive rather than tired from being lazy.
Today is April 1st, I haven't been able to come up with any good jokes to play on anyone, but I have gotten a rough draft of our monthly budget together and was able to include money to set aside for my trip with the kids up to Washington to visit family during Ashlyn's spring break. Last month one of my 3 in 30 goals was to have my divorce paperwork completed. Its not completed. But I did get a good start on it and will continue to focus on that throughout this next month. I did MUCH better with my water consumption, as well as remembering vitamins every night and better oral care... I'm also very proud to announce that Dannon is now completely bottle free, and all in all, it wasn't that bad!
For April, one of my goals will be to follow through on my gardening goal. So far I have one of the raised beds cleaned out, added a bag of Flower & Vegetable soil and planted the strawberry shoots that came from my online order with Gurneys. The other garden bed is still a jungle of a mess. I have seeds that should be coming within the next two weeks (also from Gurneys) and have great intentions to plant lettuce, cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins and a hanging tomato plant. I really hope something grows. I mentioned to Bob today that I have this almost desperate need to have success with growing something, and he pointed out that I'm doing pretty good growing his baby and thats the most important thing :) I think after my next OB appointment on the 8th, I will start to be seen every two weeks. Crazy how fast this time goes!
My other April goals will be to finish Dannon's quilt, and also start & finish a quilt for the new baby. I have a little craft area set up in the garage now, but I have yet to give my new sewing machine a try. Dannon's quilt has light blue and lime green colors with a pirate themed fabric and since #3 (still no names decided) is due sometime between the very end of June and beginning of July, I'm kind of thinking he needs a 4th of July-ish red, white & blue quilt. Stars required.
My third and final April 3 in 30 goal will be to limit my weekly trips into Redding to 1-2 times per week. Gas prices are ridiculous, and my trips into town equal either shopping, or meeting Bob for lunch. So lets recap: Spending money on gas + Spending money on shopping + Spending money on lunch = Spending too much money! The best way I can see to reign this in a bit is to just stay home, and thats what I am going to focus more on doing.
Things might not be perfect, but they're still pretty good and I'm A-OK with that! :)
Friday, January 7, 2011
First Post of 2011!
Well, here we go again!
I'm attempting to do this blog thing, as a tool for myself to publish my thoughts, my accomplishments and my goals. It always seems to help with accountability when you "put it all out there" and that is my intention.
I have been very inspired by my cousin, Lauren, who started in 2010 with health/diet goals for each month and has expended that for 2011. Its motivating to see how others can set goals and succeed! Maybe my goal setting can be motivation in some way for others as well!
I am participating in an online/blogging program called "3 in 30" for each month in 2011. See more info here (http://www.facebook.com/#!/3in30)
For January the goals I have selected to focus on are:
1) Eliminate Dannon's nap time bottle. The boy is getting closer and closer to being two (gasp!) its been my pure laziness and using the excuse of the big changes he has experienced with the move to California that has continued the use of his bottles at nap time and night time. Nap is the first to go, and so far its been a success!
2) Read each night with Ashlyn. This girl is a reader! I need to make it a priority to spend a few quiet minutes with her each night, minus all the other normal distractions. It gives us time to bond and be close, and gives me a chance to re-live some of my favorite books from my childhood. Right now we're working on the second book in The Boxcar Children series, I think we're going to need library cards in the very near future! We've been reading a chapter each night, and haven't missed a night yet!
3) Develop a working budget/cash system for the month of January. This is the one that is intimidating (and very well could end up being on my 3 in 30 list each month this year!) I've got the bones of the budget, but I'm struggling with committing to a cash system for the non-bill categories as well as calling to make arrangements with a credit card company and my car company. I am ashamed to be so far behind on these two debts... but, it is what it is and I need to take control and tell our money where to go instead of wondering where it went. One day we will be debt free. It has to start somewhere. But not without a budget. So far I've just avoided most spending (hey, that helps too!) but I can't imagine that working for long.... ugh. Ok. Must. Finish. Budget.
I'm attempting to do this blog thing, as a tool for myself to publish my thoughts, my accomplishments and my goals. It always seems to help with accountability when you "put it all out there" and that is my intention.
I have been very inspired by my cousin, Lauren, who started in 2010 with health/diet goals for each month and has expended that for 2011. Its motivating to see how others can set goals and succeed! Maybe my goal setting can be motivation in some way for others as well!
I am participating in an online/blogging program called "3 in 30" for each month in 2011. See more info here (http://www.facebook.com/#!/3in30)
For January the goals I have selected to focus on are:
1) Eliminate Dannon's nap time bottle. The boy is getting closer and closer to being two (gasp!) its been my pure laziness and using the excuse of the big changes he has experienced with the move to California that has continued the use of his bottles at nap time and night time. Nap is the first to go, and so far its been a success!
2) Read each night with Ashlyn. This girl is a reader! I need to make it a priority to spend a few quiet minutes with her each night, minus all the other normal distractions. It gives us time to bond and be close, and gives me a chance to re-live some of my favorite books from my childhood. Right now we're working on the second book in The Boxcar Children series, I think we're going to need library cards in the very near future! We've been reading a chapter each night, and haven't missed a night yet!
3) Develop a working budget/cash system for the month of January. This is the one that is intimidating (and very well could end up being on my 3 in 30 list each month this year!) I've got the bones of the budget, but I'm struggling with committing to a cash system for the non-bill categories as well as calling to make arrangements with a credit card company and my car company. I am ashamed to be so far behind on these two debts... but, it is what it is and I need to take control and tell our money where to go instead of wondering where it went. One day we will be debt free. It has to start somewhere. But not without a budget. So far I've just avoided most spending (hey, that helps too!) but I can't imagine that working for long.... ugh. Ok. Must. Finish. Budget.
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