Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label goals. Show all posts

Friday, January 25, 2019

2019 Goals & Word // Let's Do This!



Woohoo! It is 2019! The last few years have been a doozy. Really really. 2018 was definitely the year where I experienced the most positive change and growth. I was able to move from managing my anxiety (and holding on for dear life), to actively working on some new improvements and feeling a little bit of motivation again. I think the last time I felt that way was about 2015. This year, oh this year.. this year I'm feeling so ready to work on so many things and have a lot of fun. I want out of the shell even more. I feel prepared to do it, because I've spent the last few years learning to take care of myself. That is so exciting, friends! (I'm having trouble expressing myself... but I think you get it!)

Personal vs. Common Goals


This year KC and I set some common goals and divided them up first into categories, and then into actionable chunks through the months. The header goals are the main ones, and the little bullets are ideas that we have to carry them out throughout the year. :) In other words... this might look like a massive list... but it's really just an actionable list to be divided up over the next 12 months. This makes the blog post look crazy, but I enjoy knowing how people break down their big goals, and their specific actions toward tackling them, so I wanted to share them anyhow! :) A lot of these are things that I put on my lists year after year and have trouble tackling by myself. I think approaching them as a family will make us more successful, and make it more fun!

So... here are my goals for 2019!

Personal Goals


 Word of the Year: 

Cultivate!

I really want to grow all of the things. From a flower garden and pollinator friendly yard to better habits, and more diverse experiences.

Personal Goals:

Plant a Garden (flowers, fruit/veggies that we will eat, bee-friendly plants)
Go Kayaking (as much as possible)
Try Family Recipes and Learn Their Stories (probably document it)
More Outdoor Adventures (horseback riding, SUP, camping, hiking, etc.)
Read 60 Books (more fairy tales, more non-fiction, a few classics, a biography)
Feed the Birds!
Make a Hummingbird Cake
Go to the Beach
Settle into our home!
Try a New Pie Recipe

Common Goals:


Home


Things Have A Physical Home
     -Craft/Scrapbook Items
     -Books (build built-ins)
     -Closet Storage (winter clothes x_x)
     -Entertainment System (built in, video games, etc.)
     -Laundry Area (storage, tiny mudroom spot)
     -Kitchen Organization (streamline, creative storage)
     -Pantry Organization

Yard Woes + Low Maintenance Landscape
     -Get Grating Done (Save Money, Schedule)
     -Add Stair Rail to Outdoor Stairs
     -Edge the Sidewalk
     -Repair Fence
     -Landscaping on Hill
     -Wood Pile (cut up into manageable bits, dispose or us)
     -Tree Management (take down more trees? :(, save money, etc.)
     -Hang Up Mailbox
     -Grow a Moonflower Plant on Our Porch
     -Get a Lilac Plant
     -Buy Garden/Lawn Tools
     -Consider our backyard/driveway (garage? shed? patio area/furniture?)

Plan for Home Updates (budget, timeline, wish list, etc.)
     -Living Room Floor
     -Stair Flooring
     -Tile (both bathrooms, laundry room)
     -Back Splash
     -Paint Burgundy Strip of Wall
     -New Stove (gas?)
     -New Dishwasher
     -Furniture (chairs for upstairs, dining chairs, card table, etc.)
     -Hang Things on Walls
     -Light for Landing
     -Basement Storage (shelves, what goes down there, light, etc.)
     -Get "last" of Things from KC's Parent's House
     -Paint Bathroom Sink Cabinet
     -Paint Bedroom Furniture

Health


Take After Dinner Walks
Go Kayaking
Go Hiking
Spend More Time Outdoors

Money


Save Money to Achieve Goals (and determine what those are, how to prioritize, etc.)
     -Meet Twice Per Month About Budget
Reliable and Accurate Budget Plan

Learning


Master One Loaf of Bread
Add 5-10 New Reliable Recipes to Our Go-To List
     -Go to Aldi
     -Try a Few New Recipes Each Month (both choose!)

Lifestyle


Have a Kitchen Garden (use it)
     -Get Tools
     -Plan What To Grow (how much, map it out, planting schedule, etc. etc.)
     -Learn Maintenance, Skills, etc.
     -Grow Flowers (which, where, etc. etc.)
Learn to Meal Plan (in some capacity) by End of Year
Have Cleaning Schedule (light) by End of Year
Keep Social Calendar Manageable
     -Set Off Limits Days (no plans!)
     -Set Scheduled Days (to do an actual thing together)
     -Meet Every Sunday about Social Calendar (for upcoming week)
Focus on Our Marriage
     -Go On Two Dates Per Month
     -Enjoy More Everyday Together Activities (walks, cooking dinner, baking, playing games) vs. sitting and reading/playing video games. :)

Experiences


Make Plans for Europe (even if it's a 2020 or 2021 type of trip)
Volunteer/Give Back
Go to Hawaii
Go to the Beach (could be in Hawaii)

Because I think it's fun to look back... here are my goals from 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012!

 What are your goals for this year? If you have a post, send me the link!! I'd love to read it... and get back into blogging and blog reading a bit more regularly this year!!

 Do you break up your big goals to make them more actionable or manageable?

 XO,

 Alexandra
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Thursday, January 3, 2019

2018 Goal Review

Hello 2019! I am so glad you're here.


What a year it was! It was filled with intense ups and downs, but a also a lot of joy, awe, and contentedness. Can't ask for more.

 2018 Goals:

"Invest" My Love, Money, and Time (see below for more)
Go to the Beach
Treat My Body Better ---???
Watch 12 New (to me) Period Dramas
Buy A House - BUT DON'T SETTLE!
Eat Advenurously
Read 50 Books
See Family More
Get Warmer Socks
Have Adventures

How it Went:


I did a great job at my word of the year "invest". I was able to use my money toward a world that I want. I shopped for more long-term, high quality, and eco-friendly things when I could. That also meant things like electing to have wind energy in our home, and getting fossilized bamboo as our flooring choice. On a smaller scale I bought a decent coat, birks, and some saltwater sandals that seem to be pretty durable.

We also invested in small local businesses, so many restaurants included! Which I feel great about. I love our little town and it's fun local spots!




I was grateful to get to visit Arkansas, Cuba, Mexico, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Rhode Island in 2018. While in Mexico, we spent some time at the beach. It was rocky, but really lovely. We saw so many fish! I need to post what I can about these trips soon. Not sure if I can stomach a Cuba/Mexico post without photos. :( :( :(




I am not sure if I treated my body better or not... it feels like a half-pass. On the one hand, I was kinder to myself related to my body, and had fun getting dressed again from time to time. I also started drinking teas for caffeine, which are still sweetened but way less bad for me than a latte or a soda. On the other hand, I took a lot less walks, and didn't eat super healthy. We cooked very little... because moving, etc. etc. KC's job was really horrible until he left in September, but now works in a different city... so we didn't take a lot of walks. We tried kayaking, which was super fun and has inspired me to try that more often as a means of fun exercise! I dunno... what do you think?! hahah

I watched 12 new-to-me period dramas. Most of them were good at least 3 stars. At the top of my list are Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep is hilarious and heartbreaking), Sweet Land (slow and lovely), Little Women (2017) (cinematically beautiful!), and Guernsey (obviously). Absolutely the worst movie I've EVER seen was Diary of  Chambermaid. Blech.


We bought our home in April and have had a lot of fun making it our own. I feel that 2019 will be even more of that type of year as we *really* settle in. :)




We tried a few new restaurants in town, and a few new(er) cuisines (to us). We ended up eating quite  a bit of ramen/neo ramen and a lot of Indian. We also tried some fun new brunch places, and yummy things like lots of lobster rolls, and Cuban food on our travels.


I definitely surpassed my reading goal, by a lot. It was a means of treating and avoiding anxiety in a crazy year. I have no regrets. See my top 26 books of the year, here.


I got to spend more time with my sisters, nephew, mom, and grandma which was really nice. We also made a point to see KC's closeby grandparents every few months. There were a few months where we were super busy, but I feel good about it. It's something I hope to continue in 2019. Lastly, we got to see my grandma and dad a few times from Arizona, AND my extended family a little bit more than in the past few years.




I bought a lot of socks. I bought some at LL Bean, a few pairs of Smart Wool, and got a pair of Bombas for Christmas. My feet are still cold sometimes. But its a step in the right direction, har.




2018 was definitely an adventurous year! Between the adventures in new places and the (perhaps more mundane) ones that come with severe decluttering and buying a home, we learned a lot! One of my favorite adventures was *finally* trying kayaking for my birthday this year! :) I liked all of the adventurous moments both big and small.

Overall 2018 was a great year! I feel like it has laid a wonderful foundation for 2019!

 How did 2018 go for you? How did you do on your goals?

 Sharing  my 2019 goals and word of the year soon! :) 

 XO,

 Alexandra
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Thursday, May 31, 2018

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!

Ummm... this post was meant to go up on 5/17. Whoops....

Sometimes life changes very very quickly.



Putting it Off & Other Grumbles:

While we had a goal to buy a house this year (and not settle!) we were feeling very unenthusiastic about it. We didn't want to look at houses, we didn't want to figure out the steps to take, we REALLY didn't want to fight people for houses. Where we live, most (reasonably priced) homes sell within 24 hours. We have several friends and acquaintances who had put multiple full and above price offers in on homes and didn't get any of them. Based on how we were feeling, we were unsure if we would really start looking seriously until the fall... if then. Like look in October, not buy or move until 2019....

Along the way we decided to start the background stuff: get pre-approved for a loan, find a realtor, etc. and our expectations didn't change. Our pre-approval was done, and our realtor didn't send us ANY houses within 3 weeks. We finally decided just to go look at a house. It was on the high end our price range, but we figured, why not? Instead of going with our lack-luster realtor, we asked to see it through the seller's agent. It was ok, but nothing we were crazy about. She immediately asked us what we were looking for and started sending us houses. Two days later we looked at a really cute old house, and a decent (still old) but newer house. We weren't expecting anything to come of it.

Unenthusiastic House Hunting:

We walked into a 1905 farmhouse in a calmer part of our (small) city, and really liked it. It had a lot of charm, and open floor plan, and a cute upstairs room. It was small enough that we could reasonable keep up with the space without becoming overwhelmed. It felt right being inside of it, but we went on to the next house not really talking too seriously about it. The next house was fine, but more expensive and not what we were looking for.

Our realtor let us know that the cute old house already at 4 offers on it, and if we were interested we needed to act fast. We left, grabbed a Sonic, and decided that we *were* interested. SURPRISE! We started working on our paperwork with the realtor, when she texted us that there were now 5 offers on the house, and that the owner was going to review all of the offers at 6:00 PM. It was 5:00 PM... yikes! So we started filling out the papers as quickly as we could. They texted again to say that the owner wanted everyone to know the current best offer (super unusual!)... which was $5,000 above asking price, IN CASH, with the contingency of the city approving a permit to build a garage. We were screwed. We can't compete with a cash offer, so we upped our total offer and kept working on the paperwork.

We wrote a letter to the owner about ourselves and how much we loved her house, and included pictures of ourselves and our cats. Well of course the internet was crawling... and things weren't loading... and our offer got sent over at about 6:06 PM. I figured, "this is the last straw, they won't even look at our offer. It's 6 minutes late!!" Feeling really overwhelmed we went to grab some Chipotle. We stood in line waiting to order chatting about how we at least have an idea of what the process is like.. and next time it would be easier.

We got back with our dinner, and had an email from the realtor. She let us know that the owner was considering the offers and would let us know ASAP that evening or the next morning. Not 10 minutes later the realtor called and told us that we got the house. **WAIT WHAT?!** WE got the house?!? WE got the house over a cash offer?!??! KC had burrito in his mouth and looked so surprised. I cried, (weird...), so overwhelmed and COMPLETELY surprised!! The realtor let us know that the letter we wrote really touched the owner's heart and she cried as she read it. Which of course had me getting tearier. We hung up and were completely in the clouds.

We had a house! (aka IMPATIENCE)

We spent the next few days working on paperwork, refreshing the Trulia page waiting for it to be marked as "pending", and trying to focus on anything else. We tried not to get too carried away... because we still had to pass the inspection... and this is an OLD house... so we didn't really know what would happen. We weren't able to get an inspection sooner than 9 days after putting in our offer, and waiting was really difficult. I am not a patient person, and I was super attached... wanting to spend every night over there hugging the side of the house.

We signed our paperwork for our loan, and the loan officer kept gushing about the house and asking if we were excited... YES OF COURSE! WE'RE TRYING TO BE PATIENT THOUGH!!! lol

Before the inspection, waiting was pretty excruciating. I kept reading and reading and working on spring cleaning and packing to keep my mind occupied.

We finally had the inspection, and it went about as well as it could for a 100+ year old house. It had a bunch of small things that needed fixed, but it needed new siding on one side of the house and the yard needed grated to keep the water away from the siding in the future. The owner agreed to cover the siding and a bit of the grating, and pretty soon we were just waiting more... but at least we knew nothing could go wrong to keep us from buying the house!



We FINALLY closed on the house on May 17th!





We started tearing carpet out, painting, and planning to redo the cabinets and counters right away. :) For "live" updates feel free to follow my Instagram Stories... where I rant, ramble, and show "before" and "afters" (sometimes "middles"). and if you have encouragement... I love getting PMs that are like "woohoo!" or "I can relate"... because well, it's nice to know you're not alone. Am I right? I might share before & afters here if y'all are interested. Let me know :) 

Well there you have it, the details behind our "big news"! I mean how many things could it have been...?! 

 What do you think?

 Have you bought a house before? Were you as impatient as I was?!

 Despite the lack of time, etc. I hope to blog and read more blogs coming up... because I miss you guys, and I miss this outlet! :) #balance (aside from the fact that we are out of town next week! Cuba & Mexico here we come!)

 XO,

 Alexandra
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Monday, February 19, 2018

Goals & Word of the Year 2018 // FINALLY

Whew, this year is off to a slow start, but I am feeling back to my old self more or less. I want to stay up late to finish books or projects, I want to go out and do things, etc. So, I finally have some finalized goals for the year, and some thoughts on my word of the year as well.



2018 Goals:

"Invest" My Love, Money, and Time (see below for more)
Go to the Beach
Treat My Body Better
Watch 12 New (to me) Period Dramas
Buy A House - BUT DON'T SETTLE!
Eat Advenurously
Read 50 Books
See Family More
Get Warmer Socks
Have Adventures

Elaboration:

Where You Invest Your Love (& Time & Money), You Invest Your Life

This is something that I have been thinking about SO much lately. My word for the year is Invest, and here's why. Our world is kind of a mess sometimes. The news is terrifying, the internet is full of trolls, and sometimes I feel really really hopeless. One thing I thought of at the end of the year is this quote, which funnily enough was one of the first things I posted on this blog:

"Every time you spend money, you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want." - Anna Lappe

Wow, right? Its so true, and it is so easy to forget. I think that this quote definitely extends to the way you spend your time, and also your love.

This year I want to be more intentional about supporting the kind of world that I want.

Money: 

I've been thinking a lot about the word "invest". Not just in the sense of money, but in the sense of every resource and attention that I have. I want to invest my money in quality products, sustainable products, creative ones, things that will enhance my life and help me live a better one. Things that will allow me to create: paints, glitter, paper, and notebooks. I also want to invest my money in experiences, in learning, and in seeing new places. I want to hear live music, learn new skills, take classes, and see more of the world. I want to spend my money on sustainable goods, to sustainable companies. More quality clothing, more things made in the US, more things that are recyclable, used or ethically made.

Time, Love, and Attention:

I want to invest my time and attention in things that make my life and the world better. I want to spend more time an attention on taking care of my body. I want to move, stretch, get stronger and healthier, and get outside more. I want to have fun doing it, I want to start just doing it because it is what is good for me. What is necessary for me. An investment. I want to cook and eat better. Foods that I like, that my body craves, and that I need to remember to eat, because it is what is best for me. I want these things to help KC too by extension. Maybe there will be a fun hobby or means of exercise that we could both benefit from. 

I also want to invest my time in my marriage with KC. Over the years it becomes clearer and clearer that our life is about us. The two of us and our small family. We are so happy together, and I am so grateful for that, but putting more time and effort into getting quality time together, focusing more on his needs, and teamwork, etc. will only continue to make our relationship better.

As I learn new things, try new things, and explore I want to expand my world view. I want to gain perspectives, and become more involved in making the world a better place. I want to get involved in the community, volunteer, and have solutions or at least words or actions that can come at times when I don't know what to do or say. The world hurts so much right now especially, and I think that each person can make small differences if they try. I just need to come up with some practical and useful ways to do so. 

There you go only a month and a half late. heheh but I am happy with what I have. I have more elaborating to do on my own end, but it isn't necessary to post here.

 What about you guys? What are your goals for the year and how are you doing with them?!

 XO,

Alexandra

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Monday, January 15, 2018

Twelve Months In & 2017 Goal Review

Well, 2017 is over. I am FINALLY back at work, not sick, etc. etc. In a fun twist of fate KC got an awful stomach bug just as I was recovering from my virus. He's better now, but goodness. We'd like a break!

As the fog is lifting I am finally able to think a bit about 2017 in review. I missed my monthly linkup with Kristen and Gretch, so I'm going to recap my December and Yearly goals all in one swoop!

1) Goals for December:


2) Work on (MY FIRST!) December Daily album!

Check! I am ALMOST finished with it too, which is pretty good, all things considered!

3)3) Read books from under-loved genres (2017 goal)

I read another graphic novel, a historical fiction, and a contemporary adult novel. They were all pretty good too!

3) Try specific ideas from The Little Book of Hygge

We stayed home a lot, but didn't do anything specific from the book.

4) Try a new Christmas cookie recipe

Nope!

5) Get holiday or end of year cards sent out

See #8... :( 


6) Do #allthefestivethings

We did do this! Busy busy!

7) Go through 3 boxes (or the like) that we are storing. Purge, purge, purge!

Nope, though I did give my purses and tote bags a good re-organize!

8) Take a few things off of my plate - if I can...

See #5. 

9) Think about social media schedule for 2018

Not really.


10) Read and then read more

I did very well at this before I got sick!

11) Spend time on non-paper crafts

Nope.


12) Take more photos at home with KC/cats, etc.

I think we did ok at this!

Total: 6/12 - Not bad for a very full month of holiday things. I think I could have polished off a bit more had I not gotten sick. But what are you going to do? :) 



2017 Goals in Review:

What Went Well: 


KC and I started taking walks during the work day. I think this was tremendous for self care, and got us moving more. It's not "working out" but it is a sustainable step. I'll take it!


I worked hard on conquering my dental anxiety. I had so many appointments, and got a lot of work done. I feel less anxious now, and I am in a better place about it all. I didn't get it completely finished, but that was mainly due to lack of insurance money after a while. I go back this month. Feeling good about this despite the not-so-fun nature of it all.


We were able to make less plans for most of 2017. I tend to over-schedule and commit like crazy. So this was really lovely and needed to have a break. I think it really helped especially with divorce stresses, etc. throughout the year. The busier months were much more stressful.


I used YouTube a lot for my scrapbook and crafty ventures. I was so delighted and surprised to see over 100 followers at the end of 2017! I'm getting a bit more engagement, and making videos is becoming more second-nature as well. Thanks to all who have followed along there! :)



Along with being home more, we were able to focus on seasonal living a little bit better. We made a point to get out and do things related to the season or holidays. We ate with the seasons a bit more, etc.


I surpassed my reading goal for the year, and I read 58/50 books! Overall it was a very good reading year. I talked about my favorites from 2017 in this post. :) While I didn't read a book from every under-loved genre I mentioned, or as many classics or non-fiction as I wanted to, I still feel good about where I ended up, and I think I read more overall than I would have otherwise! I am also so happy with my book ban progress (coming soon, I swear!). I sold back so many books after reading!


Our decision to move in with my in-laws, (as crazy as it sounds!) was a great one. We are all so comfortable living together. They love our cats. We love having more family time. It's overall just more cozy and less stress. It is also definitely helping us to save for our first home. Our savings is looking so good, and we are hoping to start house hunting this spring! :) 

What I Hope To Keep Improving:

More exercise. I'm so happy with our walks, but I want to keep adding in more exercise. More walks, more yoga, etc.

Cooking and eating at home. 2017 was so much about self-care, but also about giving ourselves grace. It was a really tough year, and we didn't want to beat ourselves up about going out for meals, etc. We didn't go overboard, but didn't cook that much either. I would like to see a continual effort toward cooking at home more in 2018. I think we can handle another gradual shift! Baby steps! :) 

Travel balance. In 2016 we were traveling like crazy. In 2017... we traveled comparatively very little. KC and I have had chats about ideal amounts of time between trips. It's unclear what we'll do quite yet. But I think we are hoping for a few more trips this year. Even short/close by ones. :) Breaks are important!

Organization & Packing. With a house buying and moving on the horizon, I need to buckle down on some de-cluttering, organizing, and re-packing. I started strong in Jan/Feb last year with this, and then quickly puttered out in favor of a more organized living space. I hope to get this under wraps at the beginning of this year.

I have a lot of thoughts on specific goals for 2018. I am excited to share them soon! 

How was December for you?

What did you accomplish in 2017?

What are your goals for this year?

I'm so excited to catch up with you all now that I'm feeling better! I can't wait to read about your goals! :) 

XO,

Alexandra
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