Goals for 2014

I was struggling to come up with a format for my goals for the year.  And this is definitely a year I need something to help me stay on track and focused since it is so completely different than previous years (coughsingleagaincough).  A fellow blogger Lauren posted her 2014 goals in this format so I decided to snag the idea and run with it!  Thanks for the assist, Lauren ;)

100 Goals for 2014

Personal Growth
1.  Take a sewing class
2.  Learn how to quilt
3.  Make a t-shirt quilt after learning to quilt
4.  Make Logan's calendar
5.  Finish Logan's 1st year scrapbook
6.  Read three non-fiction books this year (an attempt to get away from smut, lol)
7.  Spend more time outdoors
8.  Unplug at home when Logan is awake.
9.  Blog at least 3x a week
10.  See a movie by myself

In the Kitchen
11.  Menu plan weekly with Mom
12.  Make one new recipe a week
13.  Break out some actual cookbooks and make three recipes a month from an actual BOOK
14.  Plan and plant a garden at Mom and Dad's
15.  Plant pots of herbs for the back deck (parsley, mint, dill, rosemary)
16.  Make and freeze soups, etc, for lunches
17.  Go back to making homemade chicken stock
18.  Continue organizing recipes in binders
19.  Get a blender!
20.  Incorporate more veggies into our meals

Friends and Family
21.  Create a birthday calendar and send cards to all friends and family members...in the actual mail
22.  Remember anniversaries and send cards
23.  Throw Gabrielle a kick-ass bachelorette party
24.  Help Mom with Gab's Cleveland bridal shower
25.  Make more of an effort to go to my brothers' homes to visit their families.
26.  Host a book club night at my parents' house
27.  Plan a Valentine's Day dinner for my girlfriends (even if it is just at a restaurant)
28.  Have a spa day with Mom, Heidi, and Gab
29.  Celebrate Matt and Gab's marriage in Pitt
30.  Make an effort to see my girlfriends more

On the Job
31.  Stay on top of grading
32.  Update grades weekly for all classes
33.  Organize lesson plan binders for my AP classes
34.  Plan AP prep/nonfiction unit
35.  Choose books for next year's AP class
36.  Revamp summer reading project
37.  Pass back papers on a timely basis
38.  Become better at hostess coaching
39.  Follow up with customer purchase/care calls to party attendees
40.  Make the phone my friend
41.  Stay active as a Thirty-One consultant
42.  Attend National Conference in Columbus

At Home
43.  Transition Logan to a big boy bed
44.  Repaint/redecorate Logan's room into a big boy room
45.  Set up my crafting area in basement
46.  Buy myself a new bed
47.  Buy Logan a new dresser and use Miss Mustard Seed's Milkpaint in Tricycle
48.  Get myself a desk and set up my "office"
49.  Start a list of all the shit I am going to need when I buy a house
50.  Continue to purge my wardrobe of clothing I no longer wear.  And shoes :(

Financial
51.  Create an emergency fund
52.  Pay off credit card debt
53.  Save for downpayment on a new car
54.  Purchase new car
55.  Pay off Home Depot card from bathroom renovation
56.  Track mileage for Thirty-One
57.  Track expenses for Thirty-One
58.  Create budget
59.  Maintain budget
60.  Track spending
61.  Start Logan's 529
62.  Make several double payments on student loans

Health
63.  Cancel membership to YMCA and join new gym closer to work
64.  Cut down on caffeine
65.  Switch from coffee to tea
66.  Begin eliminating sugar from beverages
67.  Give up soda
68.  Workout 4x a week
69.  Rejoin Weight Watchers
70.  Look smoking hot for Matt and Gab's wedding

So...70 goals.  Seems pretty crazy, but I think most of this is doable.  I will be revisiting it each month with updates on them.  Thanks for helping to keep me accountable!

Pantry Challenge Goals

Jessica at  Good Cheap Eats (and Life as Mom) is hosting a pantry challenge for the month of January.  She also does once a month freezer cooking, which I am going to give a whirl next month.  She posted her goals of her Pantry Challenge here, and since we are going to try to eat from the pantry this month as well, I wanted to post my goals.

1.  Lower our grocery budget.  C and I are working on being more financially aware this year and are tracking our spending.  I have gotten into a terrible habit of spending money too much on groceries and letting things go to waste because they are not used in a timely manner.  My goal is to spend $75 a week on FOOD as opposed to $150.

2.  Clear out the pantry and cabinets for a new organization project.  Because, trust me folks, it NEEDS to happen.

3.  Lead a healthier lifestyle.  This includes not spending money on fast food and buying lunches out (or at school).

I am linking up at Good Cheap Eats!

January Goals Focus on Finances

Instead of making resolutions for the year, I am going to attempt to set a few monthly goals for myself, and use these goals to better my family and home as well. Each month with have a general focus, with this month being FINANCES. There are a few more thrown in there as well, in the areas of organizing and cleaning and general running of the household. So, without further ado, here are the goals I would like to achieve (some with the help of Mr. Control Freak and the Control Freak Kiddos):

• Make a family budget: This is going to cover a few months. We are saving for a vacation and December caused our spending to go completely out of control, with Christmas and several parties we hosted. In the area of sticking to a grocery budget, we failed miserably. I am going to attempt to cook more meals ahead of time and use my freezer more than I used to, and we need to eat out less. January is going to be focused on tracking spending and discovering where exactly our money is going. I think we are also going to need to do this in February, but we will make that call when the time comes.
• Go on a spending freeze. This is going hand in hand with our attempt to create a budget. No more spending on stuff just because we can. We are going on a cash diet and I am removing my debit card from my purse. As I am in charge of the finances in the household, I know I spend too much on things that may not be necessary.
• Create a weekly chore list for myself and the husbo. This is because I feel overwhelmed and need help with weekly housework. When I feel bogged down, I snap at him and the kids and this is unfair to all of us.
• Clean out and organize the master bedroom closet. It is seriously a disaster.
• Start recycling/living greener. In order to do this, I have to search out our city's recycling program.
• Restart Weight Watchers. Track daily. Plan healthy meals. Eat less crap.
• Walk the dog daily. We suck with this in the cold weather and Ozzie is becoming fat and lazy.

So, there it is. What are your goals/resolutions for the New Year??

September Goals

Emily over at Imperfect creates goals for herself every month and then revisits them. Since I have been feeling like I am in a rut lately (and almost completely absent from the blogosphere), I decided to do the same. So, here it goes:

1. Keep up on my grading at school and post grades weekly.
2. Walk the dog nightly.
3. Start keeping track of my points and rejoin WW again. My life can not be taken over by the idea of getting pregnant. Because then I just keep eating.
4. Get a pedicure
5. Tile the laundry room.
6. Clean out the third bedroom and create a study to be used until I get knocked up and we need a nursery.
7. Start joint checking account (we have only been married for a year and a half...)

I think this is enough, considering I am back at work. Hopefully I will stick to it!