Tag Archives: goals

Weekly Goals

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This week I did really well on somethings but somethings fell by the wayside as both myself and my older child came down with a cold. It wasn’t too bad to handle but the cold, rainy weather added to our lazier behavior this week. Even so we still managed to keep the TV OFF for the majority of the day and did some wonderful activities that I will share a bit later. And on the bright side the new baby steered clear of our sickness. With writing that I realized she is no longer a new baby as she has passed into the 3 month threshold.

Valentine’s Day was joyful even with out my sweet love since he managed to send me goodies even through the deployment. Now he can not ever say he was too busy any holiday for romance ( not that he would) since he still managed romance while fighting a war! Hope everyone’s week was as enjoyable.vday

Week of February 11th

Family/Motherhood goals

1. Take Valentine’s pictures of kids. The little ones came down with a cold this week so we are postponing this, again.

2. Attend weekly music class.

3. Take them to the park 2x.

Marriage goals

1. Finish reading The Power of the Praying Wife.

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2. Mail quilt to hubby. I love how this turned out and was very simple. I am not the best sewer but I worked on it from an idea in my head and it turned out great.

Household goals

1. Work on baby’s name sign and bow holder

2. Drop off donations.

3. Work on quilt.

Self Improvement goals

1. Attend FRG training.

2. Finish reading How to Potty Train a Toddler the Loving Way.

3. Attend FRG meeting. The date was changed.

Personal goals

1. Continue exercising 5x a week. I was side lined two days this week but will be back on the fitness track tomorrow am.

2. Continue no TV before 5 pm. ( This has been one of my greatest achievements for living with purpose goals. Not having the glare on during day as background noise has increased focus and organization so much. I will be writing more on this soon.)

Goals for February 18th

Family/Motherhood goals:

1. Attend weekly play group. ( The holiday canceled music class this week.)

2. Concentrate on number games this week.

3. Do two creative indoor play activities.

Marriage goals:

1. Mail Quilt.

2. Read The Power of the Praying Wife

Household goals:

1. Finish baby’s room bow holder and name sign.

2. Finish one March present ( I have 8 individual items to complete for upcoming special days)

Self Improvement goals:

1. Attend FRG meeting.

2. Continue Proverbs study.

3. Try one new recipe.

Personnel goals:

1. Exercise 5x a week.

2. No TV weekdays.

3. Start fitness progress journal.

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Turn That Thing Off

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A challenge! This year I have set out to be more proactive in my role as wife/mother/homemaker and friend. Everyday I am attempting to work on something extra so that at the end of each week I have something great to show for the time that has passed.

Not many people may admit this and some may not even struggle with this but I will ashamedly admit that my home does. We are far too in tune with our electronic devices. The television is on as back ground noise for a  portion of everyday and I was beginning to know the schedule of even the most mundane of shows during my last pregnancy. Not to mention the smartphone that I use for everything from recipes to couponing to an oven timer and the endless messaging of other mentally unstimulated homemakers.

There is no end to the reasons of cause for this. Pregnancy, injury, winter weather, depression, a physically exhausting job the list goes on and on for why one might veg during their down hours. Myself in particular had been pushed to watch or leave on the TV for more hours than I would have liked by an exhausting pregnancy as well as a few other smaller factors. So this year when I was making my list of great goals to achieve in 2013 I realized something:

-Make all gifts by hand this year

-Begin early homeschooling of my toddler

-Plan more day time activities that stimulate learning and creativity

-Support my deployed spouse by keeping a productive home and happy loved children

-Get back into great prepregnancy shape

…hmmm watching the next big thing on television was not a priority. Then why had I made it a daily occurrence?

So I have implemented some rules since the start of the year.

1. No television before 5 pm with the exception of using the Wii fit for myself during nap times.

2. Limit night time viewing by always having a task to do during those hours. Usually I fold clothes or do strength training when watching.

3. Show the children who I want them to be through actions not words. It is all well to say I want them to be healthy and productive. It is another thing to help them learn how to be those things.

So off the television has gone and in that time we have had some great fun. Exploring other ways to stay busy with a toddler during winter time is a challenge but I remember so many more great days now that our focus is where we would like it to be.

Articles like this one  from kidshealth.org have pushed me further to get back to basics with my children.

jan13 005

Pipe cleaner and colander activity found on Pinterest here!

So where is the challenge? I have enjoyed so much turning off the daily glow of television that I would like to challenge myself, and anyone else interested in joining along, in taking a no television approach to the week. Friday night, Saturday and Sunday will be the only days permitted with a use limit of two hours a day. I hope to change my family for the better and reinforce learning and creative play before any television viewing in our home.

If you haven’t been motivated by my testimony already here are 5 great reasons to step away from the noise box.

1. According to this article scientists found that sitting sedentary for 3 hours a day can cut 2 years off your life expectancy. Eep that alone gets me moving.

2. Television watching is said to lower IQ scores and impede memory.

3. Family albums do not usually have pictures of everyone sitting around watching tv. That is not the activity most want to remember so get out there and do something greater.

4. Obesity and television go hand in hand but so do mild pudginess and daily viewing. As I have gotten *cough* older I noticed I have to work harder to stay fit. Replacing watching hours with do something hours have made up quite a bit of that difference.

5. The more you watch the more you want to watch. Every time we sit for viewing hours we are shown commercials for other semi appealing shows.

Just turn it off.

I would love to hear of your own personal experiences with this challenge.

Goals for the Week of February 13th

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First my goals for last week and how I did. How did you come on your list?

Family/Motherhood goals

1. Take kids to weekly music class
2. Story time play group ( I did not make this one as we had a rough night before and I decided they wouldn’t be up for it.)
3. Take Valentine’s pictures of kids
4. Read Bible aloud daily. (We made great progress reading it and praying daily but didn’t read everyday. Continuing to discipline our routine to revolve around God.

Marriage goals

1. Finish baby onsie blanket for hubby.
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2. Read The Power of the Praying Wife

Household goal

1. Establish a craft area
2. Continue working on quilt
3. Clean out closets

Self improvement goals

1. Begin exercise program (I am so thrilled by my dedication to this. I walked several miles this past week and did several different strength training sessions and one yoga session. I hope to get even more exercise in this week.)
2. Read How to Potty Train a Toddler the Loving Way ( I only made it half way through this goal)

Personal goals

1. Help another family
2. Reach out to another spouse ( I made dinner for another spouse and it was yummy.)
3. Reclaim our schedule after sickness brought chaos! Thank goodness some order!

So I didn’t accomplish everything last week but I heard if you reach all your goals they are not high enough. Here is striving for more next week!

Week of February 11th

Family/Motherhood goals

1. Take Valentine’s pictures of kids

2. Attend weekly music class.

3. Take them to the park 2x.

Marriage goals

1. Finish reading The Power of the Praying Wife.

feb 001

2. Mail quilt to hubby. I love how this turned out and was very simple. I am not the best sewer but I worked on it from an idea in my head and it turned out great.

Household goals

1. Work on baby’s name sign and bow holder

2. Drop off donations.

3. Work on quilt.

Self Improvement goals

1. Attend FRG training.

2. Finish reading How to Potty Train a Toddler the Loving Way.

3. Attend FRG meeting.

Personal goals

1. Continue exercising 5x a week.

2. Continue no TV before 5 pm. ( This has been one of my greatest achievements for living with purpose goals. Not having the glare on during day as background noise has increased focus and organization so much. I will be writing more on this soon.)

Love to hear others goals for the week!

Weekly Roundout

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This week was very full. I bustled to many new baby appointments in this burgeoning heat and was so grateful for the creation of ice cream! I carried a fuller work load with the husband gone and was reminded what a blessing a good nap can be. After every tantrum or sore fit from teething there is a moment of pure baby cuddling bliss that is a reminder from God as to why all this is worth the struggle. Right now I laugh as I watch little one on the monitor sleep with feet out the crib rails cross ways. You would think it would be more comfortable to sleep the other way but then again it is a little present from God to see the daily humor of children. I am so grateful for the week that has passed and looking toward greater goals this week. One day at a time…

Goals for week beginning 7-9

Family Goals:

1. Take my sweets to a play group every week.  He did so much better this week at group play!

2.Read out loud to him for an hour a day. Lunch time is turning out to be the perfect story time. He chews intently while his eyes focus on the pages. He may be too young yet but I have an urge to buy his first chapter book. Maybe Charlotte’s Web…

Personal Goals:

3. Finish Life on Planet Mom. I have almost finished this review to follow shortly!

4. Work 30 minutes daily on quilt. My progress is coming along nicely and the pride wells at having almost completed something that was a real toil for me.

Pregnancy Goals:

5. Do Yoga 30 minutes daily. I feel more “alive” this pregnancy than the first. I was a bit of a bump on a log last time and exercising daily has truly helped my energy levels.

6. Start piecing together baby’s room. I didn’t get far on this. I feel lost moving things without the other half.

Marriage Goals:

7. Create separation and welcome home traditions. (We don’t have our own yet!)

Household Goals:

8. Continue to cut down on clutter!

9. Red Velvet Cake recipe perfection.

 

Week Goals for week 7/16

Family Goals:

1. Take little one to weekly play date.

2. Continue to read aloud an hour a day.

Personal Goals:

3. Work on quilt daily.

4. Finish Life on Planet Mom.

Pregnancy Goals:

5. Continue to work out 30 minutes a day.

6. Add nightly walks with the little one.

Marriage Goals:

7. Write him a love letter.

8. Mail off care package.

Household Goals:

9. Organize hall closets.

10. Find baskets for deep freezer.

 

What are your goals this week?

 

Weekly Roundout!

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Last week’s goals were a breeze! I didn’t have a chance to get my Red Velvet perfected but I must say it was a wonderful week wishing hubby bye for another departure. Being a military wife can, at times, be so romantic! Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

Onto goals. I had an easy list this past week. I am going to rev it up this week.

1. QUILT!  The challenge of continuing to work on my first quilt is huge. I take it out whenever the mood strikes so I am dedicating 30 minutes a day to sewing to teach myself greater discipline!

2. Red velvet cake.

3. Hand print art. Pictures to follow soon!

(there catching up to take priority)

4.  Purchase new crock pot  I adore this invention! I made crockpot BBQ chicken in it for shredded BBQ sandwiches that were a huge hit. The hubs devoured three!

Crock pot BBQ Chicken recipe:

chicken pieces, I used 3 boneless, skinless breasts

bottle of any flavor BBQ sauce

10 oz coke

Place ingredients in pot on low setting until chicken is cooked through. I did 6 hours. Then shred chicken in pot with forks. Continue to cook about 45 minutes. Serve on buns. This would be delicious on potato bread but I used Hawaiian buns and it was wonderful.

I think I might add pineapple and Hawaiian BBQ sauce next time to make a Hawaiian BBQ.  Mmmmm…

5. finish purging the house for new baby  We made it really far in this realm. Still much to do!

6. go on a date with hubby! We had a wonderful Japanese dinner outing. New baby loves Mochi!

Goals for week beginning 7-9

Family Goals:

1. Take my sweets to a play group every week.

2.Read out loud to him for an hour a day.

Personal Goals:

3. Finish Life on Planet Mom

4. Work 30 minutes daily on quilt.

Pregnancy Goals:

5. Do Yoga 30 minutes daily.

6. Start piecing together baby’s room.

Marriage Goals:

7. Create separation and welcome home traditions. (We don’t have our own yet!)

Household Goals:

8. Continue to cut down on clutter!

9. Red Velvet Cake recipe perfection.

What are your goals this week?

Weekly Roundout

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Last week was full of family fun and as such I let a few goals slide. You know what? I was happy to be a little behind in the end for the memories we gained.

Last’s week to do list.

1. Perfect a dessert. I have no idea how I have managed to skim through life this far without having a go to up my sleeve. Leaning towards Red Velvet Cake mmmmm… Moving this to this week and cannot wait.

2. Have a yard sale. This is quite the underground activity I must say. I never knew! 

3. Find a used book store. I very much miss such a place. I found a bookstore nearby that sold used books but it was not what I had hoped for. I looks like rural living does have some down sides!

4. Start up my quilt again. It is nagging me from the hall closet. Time I answered.

5. Make hand print art with the little one for family.

 

Oh man. I did pretty poorly on these! Today I was planning on pulling out the quilt and taking pictures to begin my progress report.

1. QUILT!

2. Red velvet cake.

3. Hand print art.

(there catching up to take priority)

4.  Purchase new crock pot

5. finish purging the house for new baby

6. go on a date with hubby!

Hope you week starts wonderfully!

Present!

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So I know I haven’t made much of an effort to update lately and that is changing, promise. Life has been so full and busy lately that I have set my priorities in line and everything else falls by the way side. As of late I have not made myself a priority. I haven’t had time. There are new baby appointments and older baby appointments and things to cook, people to comfort, sun to soak and laughs to good to miss for me to sit and just be. But I will say now that I have just sat and relaxed…ahhhh. That is better.

Father’s Day passed without a word from One Loved American Girl! I apologize Dads. Happy belated Father’s Day. It takes an amazing person to lead a family!

This past month we have set some pretty life altering goals. God has blessed us greatly and in order to bless others we have to be great stewards of ALL our resources. After all you can not give out what you yourself do not have. To begin we decided to implement greater savings tools to help stretch the dollars further. We pray to make a greater difference in the lives of others by first creating a difference in our home. I have to admit it is not always easy walking the tight road and we sometimes fumble but the end reward will be worth it.

Our little one is growing steady and my heart bounds with all the stories I wait to read. Hopefully they will one day carry these stories around as unrelentingly as I did some years ago.

The list of things I hope to accomplish this week is long so here goes!

1. Perfect a dessert. I have no idea how I have managed to skim through life this far without having a go to up my sleeve. Leaning towards Red Velvet Cake mmmmm…

2. Have a yard sale. This is quite the underground activity I must say. I never knew!

3. Find a used book store. I very much miss such a place.

4. Start up my quilt again. It is nagging me from the hall closet. Time I answered.

5. Make hand print art with the little one for family.

Happy goal achieving this week. I hope to be busy!

Things ARE Returning to Normal

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The husband is back from far away ville (for now). My little ones Birthday party went off without a hitch and our family has since left. The home is turned upside down from unending commotion but we enjoyed ourselves. Now back to real life. After the unending family time with my husband I am sad to return to routine. It is always “feast or famine” when it comes to time together, just like the civilian world I am sure, though our “famines” are quite a bit different.

This past bit we were able to hear the new little one’s heartbeat. It sounded strong! The baby also sounded very active. I could hear him or her swishing about as we listened. Such a blessing to have been able to hear the little one growing inside me. I feel renewed even through this worsening morning sickness and what I fear may be strep throat. Eep!

 

But onto the week ahead and my lingering goals!

I have decided after taking stock of my pantry that I could be making so many of the things I normally purchase. My goals this week will reflect a new sense of wanted domestic goodness.

Home Goals:

1. Go through pantry and outline things to make by hand.

2. Spend 2 hours “freezer cooking”.  My new devotion to weekly meal preparation!

3. Menu plan for the weeks ahead.

4. Have a baking session to replace at least 3 pantry staples with from scratch options.

Family Goals:

5. Start on my husband’s requested blanket

6. Mail Grandparents Birthday pictures

Mothering Goals:

7. Attempt to wean, again.

8. Find a Mommy and Me class locally.

Self Goals:

9. Read “Life on Planet Mom”

10. Make an Ultra Sound appointment!

 

Weekly Roundout

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This week my whole world has been turned upside down by the way I have been feeling. I am delighted to say my husband and I are…

once more! So overjoyed with this news and so very tired. My normal pick me up caffeine has to be changed so sleeping longer hours these days is the only solution I have found. The days seem to slip by faster and faster now while I lie in my pregnancy coma. On top of this exciting time my dear husband has hit the road. My Sweets and I will be making the best of this Easter just us two. I am also gearing up for family to visit for a week and little one’s first birthday. My hands have been a bit full!

So here are my last goals and my progress I made this week:

1. Try one new recipe. Tried two actually. Pasta with brocolli and chicken sausage that can be found here. I am not too fond of the recipe since it was very bland. I would tweak it and use cubed mozzarella and Italian seasoning. Recipe number two was from (never home) maker for Frozen banana bites. They were yummy but very sweet. I may try with dark chocolate next time.

2. Exercise 30 minutes everyday. With the exception of the weekend I did!

3. Outline our Easter brunch menu.

4. Return to my neglected quilt.

5. Complete menu planning for the upcoming Birthday party!

6. Finish the Money Saving Mom’s Budget audiobook.

7. Update Mommy tummy challenge. See above ;)

8. Begin I Dare You by Joyce Meyer

I did a less than stellar job at these this past week. But as with anything we have to allow ourselves GRACE when need be.

Goals this week:

1. Clean out closet.

2. Organize DVD/video games in their new home.

3. Begin I Dare You by Joyce Meyer

4. Complete party planning.

5. Prepare menu for upcoming week.

6 . Complete freezer cooking session.

7. Compile home cookbook.

8. Create menu board.

9. Donate no longer used toys.

It is a new week and time to hit the ground running! What are your goals?

Weekly Roundout

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This was an amazing weekend. My little family and I ventured out to eat, enjoyed the backyard fire pit with some friends and rejoiced in His word. How did your week go?

The past weeks goal completion:

1. Find decorations for my sweets Birthday celebrations praise hobby lobby! I adore that I found so many of the necessities here for less than I could find them online. I am a fan!

2. Post 5 day spring cleaning guide.

3. Take a picture a day for the week.

4. Try 2 new dinner recipes.

5. Find a cupcake recipe for my sweets party! I am leaning towards classic lemon or chocolate. Decisions decisions!

6. Update Mommy tummy challenge.

7. Walk 7 miles.

Goals for this week:

1. Try one new recipe.

2. Exercise 30 minutes everyday.

3. Outline our Easter brunch menu.

4. Return to my neglected quilt.

5. Complete menu planning for the upcoming Birthday party!

6. Finish the Money Saving Mom’s Budget audiobook.

7. Update Mommy tummy challenge.

8. Begin I Dare You by Joyce Meyer

What are your goals this week? Let’s begin!