Let's Be Practical

It's about time that I get together the goals I would like to accomplish this year. I plan to be more practical this year. I think one goal under each category is not too much to ask of myself. I am still a believer in dreaming big and reaching for the stars. I am also a firm follower of the concept "expect more, get more." In fact, those things follow me through many aspects of my life. (Some of this comes from being a perfectionist.) So, without further ado...

Romance/Marriage Goals

After reviewing last year's goal's in this area and how badly I failed at them, I decided to retry one of those. They were such worthy goals that I just couldn't let them go!

I would like to write, say, or do something to build up and encourage my husband on a daily basis. He deserves it. Although it may be easy to find flaws, it is important to remember that no one is perfect and that a marriage will benefit from that kind of positivity.

Food-Health Goals

Finding a goal for this one is a bit harder. With all the changes I've already made, it feels like there is so little left. My biggest weakness in this area may be creating health conscious meals that the whole family can eat. I sometimes find myself making a small healthy meal for me and giving everyone else something easy. That is clearly doing them no good!

Educational/Professional Goals

Basically, my only goal here this year is to once and for all decide what I want to do. I need to come to a clear conclusion on if I plan to go back to school or not. I need to decide what degree I pursue if I do. After already completing on degree and many trainings, I am just not sure. A decision will be made this year!

Service Goals

This year I want to learn to serve as a family. I want to teach my children to care for others above themselves. I want to take every opportunity I can to serve as a family. At this point in time I am not sure what that looks like, but it is my goal.

Cleaning/ Household Management Goals

I think it would be reasonable to expect that one load of dishes gets done a day.

Physical Goals

I want to be able to jog 3 miles. Specifically by April when I intend to do the color run!

Blogging Goals

I really want to get at least 15 posts a month between my blogs. The more the better though!

Fashion Goals

We will be talking more about this over the month, but I want to really build and understand my signature style so I can only have pieces I love.

Saving/ Money Management Goals

 Put something... anything into savings EVERY month. If I accomplish this, it will be the biggest feat of all!

Reading Goals

Readers already know my love for self help books, so its not worth including them in my goals this year. I will surely read plenty of them. If I can find them, I will usually read them. However, I do think it would be important for me to focus more attention this year into getting deeper in the Word of God. This year my reading goal is to read from the Bible on a daily basis. Surely this is the most useful book of all that I can read.

So that completes this year's goals. I look forward to going back to these again next year and seeing how I did. I can only hope that I do as well as last year with its hefty list of goals.

Now I want to know, what are your goals this year? Do you create goals for each aspect of your life?

A Year In Review

As I welcome a new year, I have come to grips with the fact that last year was not as perfect as I would have liked. I had big plans for the year. I had lots of hope. I always find new beginnings refreshing, exciting and nerve racking! I figured for my first post of the new year I would do two things. First, I will explain my absence and second I will review my goals from last year. If you joined recently, you can find those original posts here.

As for my leave of absence, there were several reasons. I really needed a break. I was lacking inspiration and suffering from mild depression. Although this is not completely foreign to me, it did seem to drain my writing abilities. Second, I had far too full of plate. I was spread too thin. I was so tired when I got home that writing was really the last thing on my mind. Lastly, my husband and family needed me. We have gone through job losses, illness, and the holidays all in a few short months. Now, after my break I feel more motivated and a little bit more inspired. I sought help, I took a breather, and I am back in the game.

Since my explanation is out of the way, I would love to take a look at last years goals and whether they were accomplished. I'm actually surprised how many were. I was a little bit optimistic when I wrote them!

So, here they are:

Romance/ Marriage Goals

1. I would like to write, say, or do something to build up and encourage my husband on a daily basis. You know, I don't really know if I accomplished this one. If I did, I was not purposeful about it. However, now that I am reading it... it is a super good goal. I may reconsider it.
2. Make it a point to have a "date" on a monthly basis Yeah, this one did not happen. Money was short and kids are hard. I hope for better chances this year.

Food/ Health Goals

1. Reduce intake of sugary foods. Yes, I actually did do this! I have done all three of my food/ health goals. Below I will show an update on my progress!
2. Reduce intake of fatty foods.
3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Educational/ Professional

1. Take one class or seminar on an area of interest I went to Bloggy Conference 2014 and it was awesome. I do hope to get some sponsors to go again!
2. Do three professional trainings I did a little bit more than that! I am now a certified Behavior Technician.
3. Do three activities to be more actively involved at my current school I tried, I've done at least one, but this year has been busy like I said.

Service Goals

1. Be involved with some form a volunteer service 3 times this year If working at church counts I more than completed this goal!
2. Knit at least 10 baby caps for the local hospital to be given at the end of the year. Sadly, this is another fail. I never got to the first one!

Cleaning/ Household Management Goals

1. Clean one thing before bed every night. This might have happened once a week.
2. Create and post family rules If you are a loyal reader, you already know this didn't happen. we have rules, just not posted and "official".
3. Give my oldest son a chore list I need to get this up and running!
4. Create and stick to a basic menu and shopping list Nope
5. Create and use a household management binder Made the binder but didn't use it!

Physical Goals

1. Take at least 1 exercise class I rocked both these goals!
2. Do something active (and purposeful) at least 3 times a week.

 Blogging

1. Post at least 3 time a week here on Casseruola Dolce Della Vita
2. Post at least 2 times a week over at Missionary Manda's Musings
3. Post at least once a week at Growing Up Around the Table Let's just say frowny face all around!

Fashion

1. Clean out at least 4 articles from my closet that haven't been used in the past 6 months. That was done, nothing fit!
2. Paint my nails on a weekly basis and my toes on a monthly basis. Another no.

Saving/ Money Management Goals

 1. Put away a little money for each of my boys a month. no
 2. Use more coupons! I did ok with this.
 3. Save at least 50 a month. no
 4. Create a workable budget. I wish I had done better with this one.
 5. Put a small sum into an emergency fund each month. another no

 Reading Goals

1. Read 2 books on household management/ money I don't think I did... I dunno. I read  A LOT of self help books.
2. Read 2 books on marriage Yes
3. Read 2 books for pleasure Yes
4. Read 2 book on parenting Aww, no I didn't do that.

So, that was how I did! Not as bad as it could have been. As you can see my health ending up being my main focus. I will write about it in the near future but for now- here is my progress!

10 Things I Wish I had done now that it is too LATE

Its interesting how somethings can just rock your boat. Over the past few days I have been considering my limitations, goals, and dreams. I have also been reliving the wondrous adventures of my past. Do not get me wrong, I have done a lot for my young life. I have been around the world (Japan, Philippines, France, South Africa, Mozambique). I have a college degree. I am married and have two fantastic children. I've lived through unimaginable things. Yet, I cant help seeing all the things I fee like I am going to miss. So this post is dedicated to those things and finding a way to recreate new goals that are possible!

At the very bottom of my page is my "Life List," which is basically a bucket list. The first few things on this list come straight from it because ultimately, they are the ones I am saddest about losing.

1. I wish I had gone straight into the mission field. With the news that  require handicap accessible living, living on the mission field seems less and less likely. It's heart breaking.

2. Its really too bad that having a farm it not practical. That is unless some one else wants to tend it for me.

3. I will never change a tire. There goes wanting to be a truly renaissance woman.

4. I wish I had danced. Not just ballroom dancing, because that is still possible. I wish I had gotten out there and "shook it". I wish I had taken lessons or did something. I wish I had moved, because now I am sad I cant.

5. I wish had finished my second degree in education. I look at it now and it losses practicality. I mean, what is the purpose if I will have to give it up someday.

6.  I wish I had done a few more crazy things. Weird huh? I wont be able to do them in my midlife crisis.

7. I wish I had saved money when I was single. Like I said, find out you have a disability is expensive.

8. What is the likelihood I will ever travel the world again? Not much.

9. All of these things on m 30 BEFORE 30 list- Learning to Hula Hoop, set up for retirement, and exotic workouts.

10. I wish I had lived more in the now instead of the future. Its about time I change that.

Do you have any suggestions on what to replace these with? Share them with me!

Resolutions

I decided it would be appropriate to start this new year and fresh return to blogging with a few resolutions. However, I am an over achiever and I have quite the list! So, to save everyone the time, I will split each category of goals and resolutions out during this whole month. Below is a list of my goal/resolution categories.

Please feel free to inspire me. Tell me what your goals in these areas are. Tell me what areas I missed too! I'd be glad to add a few.

• Romance/ Marriage
• Healthy Eating
• Educational
• Reading
• Blogging
• Fashion
• Money/ Saving
• Physical
• Professional
• Cleaning/ Housekeeping
• Household Management
• Service

As of now I have at least one goal in each of these areas. I feel like I am missing something... I may be thinking about it a bit too much! There is some part of me that wants to be Martha Stewart, Rosie the Riveter, and Wonder Woman, all put together!

Digging Deeper: Question 1

I'm really excited about our new theme this month! As I mentioned a few times last month, we will be making a point to do a little self discovery over the next 31 days. I plan to have projects, questions, and the like to share almost daily. I also intend to have more guests as we cover this complicated subject!

Today I have a little thought provoking question for you. I was listening to "Straight Talk" with Robert Day this morning on the radio, when he asked a powerful question.

source

Because I can't find the exact wording, I'll paraphrase. He asked,"If money was no object and you were guaranteed to succeed, what would you attempt?" If that wasn't a hard enough thing to think about, he also said that whatever the answer is to that question should be what we are doing with our life!

Think about this for a minute. Those would be our true passions, goals, and desires. It would be the things that bring us the most joy. I think he is right! Although money is a big part of whether we can do some things, it shouldn't block us from what we should be doing!

That means its my turn to answer his question and consider his thoughts on the matter.

What would I do?

Hmm...
First, I'd probably go get my doctorate. Likely in Asian studies and sociology. I'd make a point to learn Japanese. This would open doors into the mission field I want to enter.

I'd also probably make a point to get to a healthier state with a slightly slimmer waist line in order to be able to travel and live more comfortably overseas.

While I'm at it, I'd love to learn Italian for the sheer fact that it is a part of my herritage.

 I'd definitely write and publish a few books. On subjects ranging from children's stories to self help and beyond. I'd also apply to write for a magazine on a regular basis.

With the money I'd make writing, I wouldn't need to do anything more than missions and family. This would be perfect! Right now I have this unrealistic dream to be super mom and wife. I want to keep the house up, cook dinner, and enjoy my kids.

On a fun note, Id plant a vegetable and flower garden and learn to do all basic house and car repair skills. This includes (but is not limited to) wood working, plumbing, changing tires and oil, basic electrical work.

Too bad he didn't say we had all the time in the world too... I'd probably add more!

What would you choose to do?

Looking Forward

I have several other good ideas for the week. I think I really want to make a link up for this month. Please give me your feedback.

 Here's my idea...

Every Friday you can pick one idea mentioned on my blog over the week and post what you thought about it or how you accomplished it on yours. I will provide the link button in advance so anyone who wishes to join in, can. Then, if you link up you can comment on my link post and share a link to your blog! I want to get my readers involved and help them learn about themselves as I get to know me a little better!