Photograph Credit: Flickr (Angie Torres)

Month 11 is upon us. I cannot believe how far I’ve come with these goals that I never really thought I would accomplish this year. With some goals easier than others, I am enjoying this process.

Seeing the finish line for 2012, I am cracking down to finish well. In moving forward, the following is my recap of October and my goals for November:

Physical

Drink 4 glasses of water per day.  Though drinking 3 consistently, I have not mastered that 4^th glass yet.

Eat breakfast each morning. Done!

Exercise for 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. With soccer season complete, I am missing my walks during practice. This goal is really hard for me. When I get down a routine, it changes, and then I’m back to finding a new schedule. This goal is keeping me on my toes. 😉

Family

Plan at least one family outing/activity each week. Accomplished!

Spend 10 minutes with each child each day. Done!

Allow children to help with a household task each week. They continue to help, especially when a game, tool, or reward is included.

Financial

Follow Crystal’s year-long plan to reach my goals. From last month, I got my coupons organized. Yeah! This month’s goal is to never pay retail. Why would I ever pay retail, when there are so many ways to save? 🙂 My favorite saving strategy this time of year is through on-line shopping in addition to coupons and other deals.

Purchase dressers for my daughters’ room. This goal is ongoing. We are planning to redecorate the girls’ room in spring, so this goal is on hold.

Purchase upgraded computers for hubby and me. This goal is also ongoing. We might have a solution. I’ll keep you posted.

Business

Write posts one week in advance. I’m just writing. I am still behind on posts, but I’m catching up. October posts are finished, now working on November. However, I have posts scheduled through the end of the year. I just need to keep writing. 🙂

Make one improvement to the blog this month. No progress this month.

Read two chapters of blog book each month. No progress this month.

With a large fundraiser on the horizon, I had to put some of these items on the back burner. In using time wisely, I made some baby steps forward which is progress. As you keep pressing on, finish well. Happy goal reaching!

Question: How are your goals coming along?

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Angie Torres)

Your eyes are not deceiving you; two months (September and October) are dedicated to using coupons.

With the craziness of my schedule these past few weeks, my coupon binders are a mess. I have inserts organized, but not cut and filed.

Though listed on my To Do list, my coupon binders are low in order of priority.

This process is tough, and I’m thankful for the goals to keep my eyes pointed in the right direction. In pressing forward, the following is my recap of September and my goals for October:

Physical

Drink 4 glasses of water per day.  Yeah! Back up to 3 glasses of water per day. Now I’m aiming for 4 glasses.  

Eat breakfast each morning. With the morning routine down to a science, I have added a granola bar to my schedule. Though not bacon and eggs, this breakfast option works for me right now.

Exercise for 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. This goal is my nemesis. I’m terrible at it and have a new perspective. Our school is considering a 5K run in the spring. I would love to get back into running. With some motivation and a deadline, I am aiming to finish a 5K this spring. In the meantime, I walk and jog the track during my son’s soccer practice each week. Something is better than nothing. 😉

Family

Plan at least one family outing/activity each week. Accomplished! This is my favorite goal this year. Among visits to the apple farm, celebrating Columbus Day, and family dinners, our family has been on the move having fun together. Keeping this goal a high priority!

Spend 10 minutes with each child each day. Accomplished! My schedule has these times built in: with my toddler all morning, then with my kindergartner while the toddler gets her nap, and later with my son.

Allow children to help with a household task each week. Done! Our home is staying cleaner with my children helping with the cleaning.

Financial

Follow Crystal’s year-long plan to reach my goals. Couponing is going well. Though my binders are a mess, I still sort through to find the coupons I need. 🙂 My menu planning has been hit or miss during this busy season. However, our well-stocked pantry and freezer keep my family fed.

Purchase dressers for my daughters’ room. This goal is ongoing. No progress this month, and I have not begun looking for replacements.

Purchase upgraded computers for hubby and me. This goal is also ongoing. Put aside savings this month towards this goal and researching options.

Business

Write posts one week in advance. I’m just writing. I am behind on posts, but I’m catching up. 😉

Make one improvement to the blog this month. No progress this month.

Read two chapters of blog book each month. This goal fell by the wayside. I have been asked to edit/proofread an author’s new book, so I look forward to getting some reading done next month.

Progress is slow or non-existent, but life happens. As I work through the challenges, I discover new strengths and weaknesses of my own.

In using time wisely, I am better for having these goals than if I were just wandering along through life. Set goals, and start accomplishing. Happy goal reaching!

Question: How are your goals coming along?

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Angie Torres)

Still enjoying our summer days, but it is quickly coming to an end next week. We arrived home over the weekend from a 2.5 week vacation. Well, the kids and I stayed that long. Paul came back after 1.5 weeks.

We enjoyed lots of attractions and family time, but it’s getting time to get back on a routine. From the looks of my goals, I need my routine back. Not all is lost. I am making some progress, and Rome wasn’t built in a day. 😉

If you are just joining me, I set these goals (listed in bold print) in January 2012. The financial goals are based on Crystal Paine’s The Money Saving Mom’s Budget. Each month, I post how I’m doing on these goals. Feel free to jump in and comment on your goals. It’s never too late to get moving.

The following is a recap of my progress from July, and my current goals for August 2012 (I know we are almost in September, so I better get busy. ;-)):

Physical

Drink 4 glasses of water per day.  Fell back on this one. Florida water is not as tasty as South Carolina H2O. Even with the filter, the water did not quench my thirst. I drank too many glasses of refreshing sweet tea. It has lots of water, but I need to get back on track for August.  

Eat breakfast each morning. Excellent job! I did skip the greasy doughnuts served as the continental breakfast at our hotel, but I am on track with this goal.

Exercise for 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. No official exercise, but we stayed moving. Walking through the zoo (3 times), science museum, children’s museum (twice), the pier, and the botanical gardens wore me out. This goal has been tough. I think I will try to find a good exercise/healthy living blog to encourage me on this upward mountain. Can anyone recommend such a blog that is updated regularly?

Family

Plan at least one family outing/activity each week. Accomplished! Even without the family vacation, we have stayed busy with entertaining guests at home, shopping together, getting our home clean, and enjoying dinner with friends. Love this goal, and keeping it all year.

Spend 10 minutes with each child each day. Fell back on this one, especially on vacation. With all the preparations, I spent limited time with them one-on-one. Then on vacation, we played together. I guess some days I spent more than 10 minutes with one child, but not with each. In working through a new routine this fall, this time will get carefully scheduled.

Allow children to help with a household task each week. Definitely could not have gotten the house clean before we left without help. My kids are doing a great job helping out and taking ownership of their tasks. Using time wisely to show them how to clean has been time well spent.

Financial

Follow Crystal’s year-long plan to reach my goals. I’m still behind on this goal because I need to research some of the budget items. Being away from home and my files did not help. I hope to get this done though I am unmotivated to do so. I know I’ll be glad when it is in place, but I just need to do it. Keep me accountable because I need you there to get me to the finish line.

Purchase dressers for my daughters’ room. This goal is ongoing. We received princess decorations from a cousin who outgrew these items. Looks like next year (2013), Paul and I will design a princess room for our daughters. This is after our Noah’s Ark nursery gets transformed into a sports room for our son.

Purchase upgraded computers for hubby and me. This goal is also ongoing. Remember we purchased more memory in June for my laptop? Well, it worked. I am seeing better use of my time with faster processing. Thrilled with this upgrade and will continue to seek options for upgrading Paul’s machine and my desktop.

Business

Write posts one week in advance. Don’t fall over, but I’m ahead. I know it only took me 8 months, but I never would have gotten here had I not started. The goal now is to keep the momentum going (*insert happy dance here*). 🙂

Make one improvement to the blog this month. Accomplished! I upgraded my widgets (on the sidebar) and affiliate links. My project of upgrading and correcting older posts is still a work in progress.  

Read two chapters of blog book each month. Read some, but not sure if I finished 2 chapters. My reading has slipped away. Though I enjoy reading one book at a time, I was encouraged to start more than one type of book. Then depending on my mood, pick the one I feel like reading. Not sure how I feel about reading multiple books at the same time.

Though I’ve been gone part of August, I am still making progress with my goals. This journey is full of choices, and some months I make more progress than others. When the going gets tough, I only need to glance back to see how far I’ve come. That motivation keeps me moving forward. Keep striving for your goals!

Question: What are your reading habits? One book or multiple books going at the same time?   

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Angie Torres)

Summer is flying by. With days spent at the water park and in the jump zones, I look forward to my afternoon naps.

In keeping a busy schedule, some of these goals were hit or miss this month. Though progress is slow, I continue to take baby steps as I grow, learn, and follow Crystal’s 12-month plan as outlined in The Money Saving Mom’s Budget.

The following is a recap of my progress in June, and my new goals for July:

Physical

Drink 4 glasses of water per day.  Success on the days I drank water. Yes, I went a few days drinking other beverages, mainly sweet tea or diet coke. Though making some headway, I will keep this goal for another month before adding another glass.

Eat breakfast each morning. I did much better this month as I chose to eat when my children ate. Though not consistent, I am moving in the right direction.

Exercise for 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. Though falling flat on my face here, I will not deter from this goal. My activity has increased running around with my children, but this goal is to build my stamina. This goal will continue for July.

Family

Plan at least one family outing/activity each week. Accomplished! Visited a local zoo, went tubing, helped a friend, and attended a birthday party. Love this goal, and keeping it all year.

Spend 10 minutes with each child each day. I find it easier to spend personal time with my kids when I’m home. However, my youngest has received the most Mommy-time when we are out. She needs more attention while my older two play together. This goal is still a priority that I aim to reach each day.

Allow children to help with a household task each week. Love it when my children finish one task and then come to ask how they can help. The initiative shown makes this momma proud. Our house is not in tip-top shape, but I’m getting there with lots of help.

Financial

Follow Crystal’s year-long plan to reach my goals. Still behind, but I did pay cash when going out to dinner with friends. To be honest, I did not feel empowered or any different from paying with the credit card. From what others share, the full-fledged budgeting is freeing. I’m not there, but I understand the freedom in having a plan.

Purchase dressers for my daughters’ room. This goal is ongoing. No progress made on this goal for June. Not sure when we will move our girls into the same room. Right now, there is no hurry.

Purchase upgraded computers for hubby and me. This goal is also ongoing. We purchased more memory this month to increase the processing speed of my laptop. We are waiting for delivery of our purchase.

Business

Write posts one week in advance. I feel like two steps forward and then catching up on this goal. When I get ahead, I end up taking a day off which results in writing one day ahead. Though not where I want to be, I am not behind. This goal remains as I work to get ahead.

Make one improvement to the blog this month. Accomplished! Though not seen from the front end, I have started making a backup of my category posts. This project is underway with completion in sight.

Read two chapters of blog book each month. Half done – I read one chapter this month. With my summer reading complete, I hope to increase reading this month.

In reflecting back, I am happy with my progress. This is journey is full of ups and downs, and I’m learning what I can handle. Without regret, I am pressing on and will continue to update you along the way. Keep taking baby steps!

Question: How are you doing on your goals this year?