2016 Goal Setting

I've been using Lara Casey's  power sheets method of goal setting for the last three or four years.  She walks you through her goal setting here (and here is another example also using the powersheets and here is an abbreviated version not using powersheets). I blogged about my 2015 goals here  and had big plans for making 2016 goals. In fact, thought the goals would be made the last few weeks of the year.  But so far... not much.....

For the first time, I am still struggling through the process...

Looking back, 2015 was a  great success. I blew through a lot of the goals I had set. Some you can actually see the results and some are more personal without real measurable results (like exercising regularly and setting up a night time routine).

Some of the highlights of the most visible, I:
read 47 books (47?!)
got the garage cleaned out and the door fixed
got the guest room up and running
fixed the fireplace
had a huge yard sale (HUGE)
filed the empty spot in the kitchen
Went to Tennessee in June
Went to California in September

The things I have in mind for 2016 are still kind of scattered and random and all over the place.  I can't get them to fall into a neat little line.  Its a lot of things at home that I still want to accomplish, like:

Finally get the wallpaper off in the bathroom. I've been struggling with this for a while. Its about 85% done, but I then have to face down the spots of glue that remain and the spots of sheetrock damage and then start painting. Even though the wallpaper is almost off, its still a big job, and a tiring one.  After the painting, I'll put up a curtain rod, curtains, new rugs, etc....

Get the home office up and running. (basically do to the office what I did to the guest room in 2015).

Paint the upstairs bathroom.

New nightstand. I've been struggling finding the right one. I think I've decided I need two or three enclosed drawers.

I cut some mature Carolina Jasmine way back last year and it is just growing back. While it is still coming in,  I want to put rose bushes in front of it. I've already got the stones in place and started putting down some potting soil and I've been looking at these catalogs forever and it surprisingly makes me a little too excited that one of the first roses for the new bed will be from England. I've also got another spot for some climbing roses.

So.... work on 2016 goals slowly continue.....

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The books I read in 2015

 

1. Yes, Please by Amy Poehler
2. Every Bitter thing is sweet by Sara Hagerty (she has a blog here)
3. I'll drink to that, a life in Style with a Twist by Betty Halbreich
4. Choosing the Simply Luxurious Life by Shannon Ables
5. Hebrews (a Bible Study) by Lisa Harper 
6. Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman
7. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
8. Carol Burnett, this time together by  Carol Burnett
9. Quiet Strength by Coach Tony Dungy
10. The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo 
11. Positive Moves by Angela Langsbury
12. Bossy Pants by Tina Fey
13. The Daniel Plan by Pastor Rick Warren
14.  Can We Talk (Bible Study) by Priscilla Shrier
15. Ann Landers Letters to my Daughter by Margo Howard
16. Lessons from Madam Chic by Jennifer L. Scott (she has a you-tube channel here)
17. Change your Clothes and Change your Life by George Brescia
18. Style and the Successful  Girl by Gretta Monahan
19. Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist (she has a blog here)
20. The Woman I Wanted to Be by Diane Von Furstenberg
21. The Hoarder in You by Dr. Robin Zasio
22. The Best Yes by Lisa TerKeurst
23. The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner
24. You are a Bad Ass by Jen Sincero
25. In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day by Mark Batterson
26. Lessons From Madam Chic by Jennifer L. Scott
27. Nourished by Rachel Randolph and Becky Johnson
28. Hosea (Bible Study) by Jennifer Rothchild
29. Deuteronomy (Bible Study) by Kay Arthur
30. Every Girl Guide  to Diet and Fitness by Maria Menounos
31. Empty Mansions, the Life of Hughette Clark by Bill Dedman
32. How to Use a Journal by Jim Roth
33. Lean In, by Sheryl Sanberg (also gave one to my niece)
34. For the Love by Jen Hatmaker
35. Gray Mountain by John Grisholm
36. 10 Steps to Success by Mary Kay
37. We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook by Rachel Randolph and Becky Johnson (their blog here)
38. Goodbye Survival Mode by Crystal Paine (she has a blog here)
39. Audacious by Beth Moore
40. Polish your Poise by Jennifer L. Scott
41. Positive Dog by Jon Gordon
42. Shelter for the Spirit by Victoria Moran
43. The Residence by Kate Andersen Brower
44. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
45. So We Read On by Maureen Corrigan
46. The Story
47. The Early to Rise Experiment by Andy Traub

Guest room

It took a little longer than I expected, but the 2015 goals of house projects via the guest room is officially finished and about $75 was spent.  The unexpected time was partially due to really wanting to use yard sale items where I could, both because I wanted this to done cheap, and also because it is just fun to hunt down items at yard sales, and also delayed because, sometimes life just got in the way and diverted my attention.

It all started with the new quilt set I found somewhat on a whim at TJ Maxx for $39. I bought it with a vague plan for re-doing the room, but didn't really commit to it for about two months.  It eventually led to a bed skirt at Tuesday Morning for $16, then a rug from Home Goods for $19. I also bought one bed pillow from Wal-Mart for $2.88. That's the extent of the money I spent for the guest room.

Everything else was moved from another room or found cheap at yard sales. The light blue sheers were once in the master bedroom,  the nightstand is an old sewing machine that belonged to my aunt, the tissue cover was crocheted for me about 20 years ago, I've had the dolls and the dresser for at least that long. The yard sale items were:  big white mirror was $3 at a yard sales about 10 years ago. The two light blue shams were $1 each, the three white pillow cases were $.50 each (two pillows are hiding behind the shams), and the standing lamp was $5. And I painted the light switch instead of replacing it.

All finally coming together was greatly assisted with a visit from my cousin and neighbor who has a lot more energy than I do, and basically whipped it all in shape. Thank God for family members who don't work, so they have free time in the day, and interest in decorating rooms, even when they are not in their own house.

An added little surprise bonus is the guest bathroom is done too. It took two trips to TJ Maxx and one evening after work. 2015 goals getting accomplished.

 

PS.... the top is from my last Stitch Fix

Another little glimpse of the guest room refresh

The $2 pale blue pillow shams are feeling at home.

The rest of the guest room refresh, as I have started calling it,  has been in a serious hold pattern and had to take a back seat to everyday life. The big trial at work that has me going in every single Saturday, the AC that went out in the master bedroom that had me sleeping in the guest room for 4 nights (its is now fixed and turned out to be very minor), the house alarms in the middle of the night and police knocking on the door......... just life in general has taken my attention away from the refreshing. Then next week I'll be in California for this conference..... thus refreshing is in the back seat.

I did go to both Walmart then Tuesday Morning to get a bed skirt but couldn't decide on ivory with lace or white with box pleats. The one at Walmart was $15 and the much nicer one at Tuesday Morning was $16.  I've now decided when I find time to make it over there, it'll be the box pleats white one from Tuesday Morning.

Still keeping a small budget in mind, I also looked around the house for  something to hang over the dresser, but haven't narrowed that down yet either.  My plan is to have some progress to report sooner rather than later.

A little glimpse of the guest room

Continuing on with my 2015 goals and house projects  

I'm not doing enough to say the guest room is being re-decorated,  I think of it as a little guest room refreshing. I am trying to do everything really cheap.

 I never liked this switch plate, a $3 can of  white spray paint made me like it a little better.

 



New bedspread from TJ Maxx. Its a light summer quilt. It was $39. The $2 light blue pillow shams from the yard sale coordinate really well and may be one of the best purchases I have made in quite a while. They are very nice shams. The blue sheers were moved around from another room.

 

I am now on the lookout for a rug, a bed skirt,  a small end table and two matching lamps. I also need something for one wall above a dresser, but I'm sure I will find something to move around in the house for that spot.

 

I went looking at TJ Maxx this weekend, but nothing jumped out at me. I'm going to visit a larger TJ a few miles from me, and look for a yard sale again next weekend.  But, I get impatient and want the room to be pulled together, but still want the thrill of pulling it together really cheap.  And honestly, the really cheap part is just as much fun as the refreshing the room part. I do love the hunt.

 



2015 Goal planning: mid-year assessment of house projects

Mid-year check in. I'm just as surprised as everyone else. How can it be June? How? How? Lara Casey's method of slowly plotting and planning and figuring out what to focus on for the new year includes a mid year goal check in.  Here is my original 2015 plans.

 










The first half of the year was a wild success in the house projects area of life.   I still have a lot to do but so far, I (reluctantly and unexpectedly)  invested in a really nice vacuum (this one) and a chain saw. I gave a lot of attention to cleaning and organizing closets in the living room and the entry way, makeup in bathroom (here) and some gardening projects (tomato plant, cleaning up some flower beds, rooting hydrangeas from a cutting; herb garden in kitchen window, and African violets in bathroom window).



















The biggest purchase for the first 6 months was to fill a sad and empty kitchen space with a buffet here and I love it  and  ....

My greatest success......

the major goal of parking in the garage before winter happened in MAY!  Thanks to a lot of help with cleaning the garage, a HUGE garage sale (recap here), a  door repair and my car is now living in the garage.  I am super excited.  Seriously. I am so excited.

I realize it doesn't sound like much but I feel it was a pretty productive first half of the year. So many little things on my mind that I hope to focus on in the second half of 2015....

remove wallpaper in master bathroom and paint (I have just about talked myself into hiring someone to do this because it is not getting done on my own)

put up curtain rod and curtains up in masterbath

paint the inside of the master bathroom cabinets white

paint the inside of the upstairs bathroom cabinets white

new shower curtain and rug for upstairs bathroom

guest room completely put together and in a constant state of
readiness for guests (this is SO close)

fireplace repaired and one cord of wood in place for cold weather (saving for it now, this will definitely be done by winter, unless the money is diverted to pay someone to paint bathroom...)

 

kitchen table (I found one  serious contender for $400 but I've really got my heart set on an antique table for about $100. I havn't actually found any antique tables for about $100, but I have hope they are out there.  but I'm kind of getting use to using the very small round end table that I'm using  in the kitchen now (below). Its awful small but its  grown on me and kind of cozy)

2015 goals in action: a garden project

 

Remember when I was complaining about not having time to do little craft projects like other people seem to have time to do? (here) 

 

A lazy weekend full of sunny Spring weather and $35 later, a little project is finished. If you follow me on Instagram (button to follow me is on Right  side) you'll know that my project little herb garden for my kitchen window sill was the big accomplishment for Sunday.

 

I had been kicking the idea in my head around and sat down with my Lara Casey 2015 Goal planning sheets  and focused a little more on my house project and goals and then put some step by step planning into it. 

 

 

 





I had been half-heartedly searching for the pots here and there and  found several that would have worked, but nothing that made me stop and commit to it.  Until I found these three somewhat matching, but not identical, little pots at Tuesday Morning for $6.99 each.

Having the pots made it easier to get the herbs. I picked sweet basil and oregano from wholefoods for $2.50 each and peppermint from walmart for $3.50, along with a bag of good house soil for $4.45. I already had some garden gravel in the garage.

Added unexpected benefit is that I am feeling really accomplished and this little herb garden has made me so happy just to look at it each day and my kitchen smells delightful!

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TJ Maxx part two (and how I've used a few things)

Last week when I happened into TJ Maxx and found some things, I liked the hand masks so much that  I took myself to a different TJ Maxx specifically looking for more (I have three TJs in my immediate area). 

The gloves were $3.99 each. One I kept for myself and one went to a different friend with some nail polish as a birthday present. Which I thought was a really clever birthday present..... nail polish and hand gloves?! 

 

One of my 2015 goals is more focus on my home, and I knew I wanted/needed fresh shower curtains but didn't know I would be buying it on this trip, but why not. That is part of the magic of TJ Maxx. There it was and the liner was cheap, $2.99, and the fabric curtain was a Cynthia Rowley brand for $14.99, which is about $30 cheaper than anywhere else you can find it (one of the benefits of knowing brand names, you'll recognize a deal fast).  Now that the shower curtain is up, I am not in love with it and I'm going to ~ eventually ~ look for a different one, but I'll keep it for a while and the price tag makes it possible to toss it in the yard sale pile, recoup $5 from it and just move on.
 

Also unplanned (is any purchase really planned in TJ Maxx.... no) and sitting in the bath section was the gold patterned mirror tray for $12.99 that is currently sitting on my bathroom counter. I had wanted a tray and was unsuccessful at finding the right size. This was close enough in size and I like gold accents better than silver I see everywhere else and could not beat the price. I couldn't pass it up. Ideally, I would like it a little bigger, but was a very good purchase.


On a non-TJ Maxx related note.... how cute is the hummingbird dressed in a suit holding the clock? It was $20 at Lancaster House,  a store only open to the public once a month, and found when spending a bad day turned into a good day of eating, drinking coffee, and shopping with a girlfriend.

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2015 goals in action. A house project

As I am working through the Lara Casey Powersheets,  some goals I knew almost immediately. One of my 2015 goals will be more attention to my house. 

To me, it means an overarching theme and is going to present itself in different ways through out this year,  like a yard sale, a garage door repair and, first, this buffet.

After an unwanted and unforeseen divorce, and a year and a half of limping along feeling pitiful walking through a large eat in kitchen area that was completely empty, and having no convenient place for mail, the phone, Christmas china storage and cookbooks,  I finally said one morning... I cant live like this anymore, and I started looking.

I knew almost immediately I wanted a buffet and not a china cabinet, which is what sat in that space for the last seven years. (is it a good sign that I have no desire to recreate the past?) And I did not want an antique for the same reason. I briefly considered console type tables, but it was a relatively brief thought (I love Paula Deen's furniture line, and for a while, this one was the forerunner). 


















and I knew I needed something tall, because, first and foremost, I am really tall and want to be surrounded by my kind and second. Really? who would put the phone plug and outlet so high on a wall? (The same person who painted the bathroom cabinets green  forcing me to paint them brown?) and the lamp is a place holder while the real lamp is being searched out. The final touch will be a large mirror that I already own to go above it.

I was actually at Olinde's before Christmas with my oldest friend looking for a small kitchen table (that I still have not found, I am hunting with limited funds) when I saw this tall, glass doored beauty from across the crowded showroom. It was love at first sighting.

I, of course, did not buy it. I feel I have to shop around and look at practically every buffet in the city before I commit to such a large purchase.  Then I, of course, I asked for (and received) an additional discount when I did buy it.

Saturday afternoon was spent with my friend making soup and moving the cookbooks into their new home on the bottom shelf, which, coincidentally, is a perfect fit. Then, we basically sat around and admired it a while, before she finally said. "This just looks like Bobbie".

I agree.



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Goal planning for 2015 with Lara Casey Power Sheets

Is it strange to talk about goals in the middle of January? When I feel most people are no longer thinking about it....

I have a system (using Make it happen goal sheets), and it is a system that can't really be rushed. It kind of takes all of January to slowly piece it together. I describe it to my friends as a process of thinking about the big life picture, what you want your life to look like, then slowly narrowing the focus into what your days will be filled with. 

I read a statistic that only 1% of people actually write down their goals for the new year, so I figure I am already way ahead, even if my goals are still in formation in January.

I use a goal setting process by Lara Casey, and it helps that she does it step by step with you on her blog, here, She describes it as preparing prayerfully and intentionally (another reason it takes a while for my goals to develop).

Some (me included) are sharing it on Instagram using #Laracasey or #powersheets. There is a little button the side if you want to follow me on Instagram or search for other's experience with this system.

I've been starting the new year with the goal sheets for three years now, and every year my goals get clearer, smaller, more specific, less flighty, less pie in the sky, more concrete. I like it so much, I gifted a set of goal sheets to a friend for Christmas. Its fun to have someone to do it together with, although, it is not really together. Its such an individual thing.

I didn't expect I would have 10 goals, and I was OK with that.  They are still cementing themselves together, but so far I realized they are surprisingly really small goals. And I am OK with that.

So many others have big goals, like writing a book, providing water for a village in Africa, adopting, going to business school and taking head shots to start an acting career....  meanwhile, my goals are more like .... how can I get more sleep every day? How can my surroundings make me feel better?  I realize I am in a different season right now. I have done a lot of big things in the past, now my season is focused on comfort and taking care of myself is at the forefront of my mind. 

I also picked a word for the new year: "moving forward", that is what my focus is on.

In a nutshell, here are my goals, in general terms:

1. Read more books- goal: 20
2. Healthy eating
3. Find and enjoy daily exercise
4. Professional development
5. More time in Bible and prayer
6. Morning routine. I have very slow mornings, like This.
7. Evening routine
8. Focus on home





I expect I will be sharing more specifics, what each of these goals really look like in my daily life, and how I progress throughout the year. I am giving myself a little more time to sit with the ideas and really figure out what it means to me, and get a little action plan going.