2016 Goals

I don't know about you, but I'm very much a goal-oriented person. I thrive with challenges, especially if I have a routine. That's why I want to share my 2016 goals with you all. It will help hold me accountable, but more importantly, I'll have a reference point.

Here you have it, friends... what I hope to accomplish in this great year of 2016:

1. Read Devotional Every Day - I have a few different devotionals, but I'm going to start with one (Jesus Day by Day by Beth Moore) and work my way into another (Jesus Calling) by Sarah Young when I finish the first. I'd really like a mother of a daughter type devotional after that, so I'll be looking for recommendations. I hope to do this each morning as I drink my coffee, but I know life (ahem, a baby) can get in the way of plans like that, so I'll fit this in wherever I can.

2. Be Intentional About Birthdays - this one will be easier with my new planner and stickers (Dan got me an Erin Condren for Christmas - woo!) 

3. Breastfeed Annabelle to First Birthday - I know, I know... she never would eat "correctly"... but I am pumping like a mad-woman and even have a whole additional month of milk stored in the freezer now - over 700 ounces! At the rate I'm going, I should be able to stop pumping sometime in May and still feed her my milk exclusively (we will add normal food too but keep her rate of breastmilk the same) until her first birthday in September.

4. Finish Cookbook - This isn't something huge... it's not like I'm planning on publishing a cookbook... but I do want a nice, organized, easy-to-follow book of all of the recipes my family enjoys... which is a huge undertaking since we try LOTS of new meals all the time. I currently have recipes printed from the Internet in a basket... we keep all the ones we like. I am going to type each one up in the exact same format so it's easy for me to make each one when I'm busy in the kitchen. I do have this project started, and I'm hoping to be done typing my current recipes by the time we move at the end of March, so I can focus on printing and putting together my book once we arrive at our new home.

5. Blog Twice a Week Minimum - This one is pretty self explanatory. I'll always shoot for three posts (M W F), but we saw how that worked out last year, so I'm trying to give myself a little grace here. ;-)

6. Complete 10 30 Before 30 Tasks - My list is found here, and I still have 13 tasks I have't even started in addition to some that are currently in progress. I need to get busy! I turn 29 in July...

7. Read 16 Books - Last year, I failed at reading the amount I set out for - 26 - but I think that whole having a baby thing got in the way a bit. I chose to keep my goal number lower this year in hopes that I won't give up. I use Goodreads to track my progress, find new books, and review the ones I read. I'd love to be friends - find me here. 

8. Set Monthly Goals to Stay Motivated - That's right - I'll be posting monthly goals on the blog and sharing how I did with them the next month. I know a few other blogger friends do this, and it seems like a great way to focus on short-term goals, so I'm going to give it a go!

9. Focus on My Digital Shop - I have unfortunately made the decision to close my shop, Two Cats Decorations. I love making products for people, but I hate packaging and shipping. My tile magnets are too fragile to pack haphazardly, and I was wasting way too much time preparing them for shipment... time I could be spending with sweet Annabelle. My husband was awesome about helping (he always is), but the amount of money I brought in from the shop in 2015 wasn't enough to justify staying open. Instead, I'll focus on my digital shop, Printspirational Art Co., since there's no packaging involved, and it'll be easier to keep up with on a day-to-day basis. I can always turn my shop off during busy times and not even worry about it! 

10. Be Intentional About Life (being a wife, being a mother, being a friend, being myself) - This one is also pretty self-explanatory. I want to make sure I'm being genuine and trying my hardest to fill my roles in life. That's pretty vague, I know, but I'm hoping this one kind of guides me. 

• What are your goals for 2015?

    

2015: A Recap

2015 was such a whirlwind of a year for us!

We found out we were expecting a baby, prepped everything for the baby, found out she's a girl, traveled to Europe, celebrated our one year wedding anniversary, bought a new car, went to a Royals game in Cincinnati, had maternity photos taken, and HAD A BABY!

Annabelle is the sweetest gift to ever come into our lives, and while we are sad to see the year of her birth go, we are extremely excited to watch her grow, develop, and learn new things!

• How was your 2015?
• Are you happy or sad that it's over?

    

Goals for the New Year: 2015 Edition

Ahh, a new year is upon us. With that comes new goals. I know some people don't like resolutions or goals, but I do. I look forward to the 'fresh start' each January brings. I love being vocal about my goals so that others can encourage me and hold me accountable. I also just love having things to work toward.

Without further adieu, here are my blogs for 2015 in six different categories of my life.

• Double my blog readership.
• Publish 3+ posts per week.
• Get connected in more blogging communities.

• Add two new prints each week to my shop.
• Create three new products for my shop.
• Reach 1,000 sales in my shop.

• Read 30 books.
• Work my way through my 'Dear America' books from the beginning (more than 30 - may not make it all the way through in one year).
• Continue reviewing books.

• Edit my 2014 NaNoWriMo novel.
• e-Publish my novel. 
• Publish a piece of writing - anywhere.

• Work out 3+ times each week.
• Take a class at the gym each week.
• Run a half marathon (no full this year).
• Drink 8+ cups of water per day.
• Focus on making healthier choices each day.

• Create an organizational system for all areas of my life.
• Work through daily devotionals. 
• Add 4+ new recipes to our cookbook each month.

There you have it - my goals for 2015. I hope this year is as amazing as 2014 was. I have a lot to look forward to and a lot to work toward! 

• What do you think of my goals? 
• Do you have any new goals for 2015?

New Year; New Goals

As I venture into 2014, I’ve decided to create six resolutions I can stick to this year. The resolutions are simple and to the point, but they will require strength that comes in physical, mental, and/or emotional form.

1. Read 25 Books

Yes, last year my goal was to read 36 books. I almost reached that goal by reading 33. I was ahead for a while, and I lost some steam toward the end of the year. Since my wedding (and five-six week honeymoon) is this summer, I’m sure I won’t have quite as much time to read as normal, so I lowered my standards for 2014. Don’t worry, though. 2015 will be here soon, and I’ll play catch-up!

2. Run a Full Marathon
Luckily, I’ve already jumped the biggest hurdle by simply signing up for one. I’ll be running the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon on April 27^th with one of my best friends, and I am absolutely stoked! I’ve run several 5Ks and a half marathon, but it’s been a lifelong dream of mine to run a marathon… what better time to run 26 miles than when I’m 26 years old, right?

3. Blog Twice {or more} Per Week
I’ve been blogging for two full years now (but only one year on this blog; I ditched my old one after my “blog-every-day-for-a-year” challenge because that one was so cluttered, but my hope is to have a regular posting schedule. My goal is to plan better for posts and take the time every week to type out two or three posts. I also want to pre-write topics to post while I’m on my honeymoon (and schedule them to post automatically since I’ll be without Internet). Here’s to the year of writing!

4. Grow Spiritually
Last year, I started going to church regularly with Dan. In fact, we actually joined our church, which we love. It’ll be difficult to leave it when we move for Dan’s pilot training. Rather than simply going through the motions, however, I’d love to grow more spiritually. I’m not exactly sure what that means yet, but I’m going to work on it.

5. Complete Seven {or more} Items from 30 Before 30 List
When I turned 26 last July, I made a list of 30 things I want to accomplish before I turn 30. I have three and a half years left to complete my list, and this year, I want to cross off at least seven more items. I’m not sure which ones will happen this year, but you can check out my list by clicking here.

6. Continue Living Fearlessly
In 2013, I made a goal to not be afraid to try new things and to always focus on what I can do rather than what I cannot do in given situations. I think I did a pretty good job, but I know I still have lots of room to grow. I’d like to focus on new endeavors without all of the “what-ifs” that run through my mind. There is no time like the present!

Well, those are my resolutions for the year. Here's to hoping I can conquer them all!

What do you think? Do you have any resolutions of your own?