May 2013 Goals

Here are my monthly goals for May:

Read - See my 2013 Reading List for more inspiration!

• Pastor's Wives by Lisa Cullen
• Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst
• Bottled Up by Suzanne Barston
• Broken by Jonathan Fisk

Home Management

• Plan out my summer deep cleaning projects. Last summer, I did one project per day and mapped everything out ahead of time on the calendar.
• Make Butterhorns for the Pork Chop dinner at church. (I think I'm making 10 dozen? We'll see...)

Other

• Exercise.
• Daily devotionals.
• Nail down daytime cloth diapering routine for Hannah.
• Continue crocheting. Right now, I am working on a scarf.

Blog

• Post once per day
• Three book reviews:
• Mommy Time devotional (by Sarah Arthur).
• It Happened at the Fair
• Pastor's Wives
• Post Reading and Goals updates at the end of the month.

April Goals Update

Here's a look at how I did with my monthly goals in April.

Read - See my list of planned reading for 2013 for more inspiration!

1. Lead Your Family Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges and Tricia Goyer
2. No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley and William Sears
3. Mommy Time by Sarah Arthur {I have been using this devotional on a daily basis.}
4. Broken by Jonathan Fisk

{I read three books in April - see my thoughts in this post.}

 

Home Management

1. Total up receipts for January, February and March.
2. Update spreadsheets for taxes.

Other

1. Continue crocheting. Right now, I am working on a scarf. {Unfortunately, I can never seem to find the time for crocheting...}
2. Begin exercising two times per week.
3. Enjoy a week away from home with my husband and baby.

Blog

1. Review Lead Your Family Like Jesus. {Read my review in this post.}
2. Do one Purex Insiders review and giveaway. {I reviewed Purex Natural Elements and Purex with Crystals.}
3. Post a Goals update at the end of the month.
4. Post a Reading update at the end of the month. {Check that out in this post.}

My Goals for April

April is a crazy-busy month for us, but I still intend to set a few monthly goals so I can stay on track!

Read - See my list of planned reading for 2013 for more inspiration!

1. Lead Your Family Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges and Tricia Goyer
2. No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley and William Sears
3. Mommy Time by Sarah Arthur
4. Broken by Jonathan Fisk

Home Management

1. Total up receipts for January, February and March.
2. Update spreadsheets for taxes.

Other

1. Continue crocheting. Right now, I am working on a scarf.
2. Begin exercising two times per week.
3. Enjoy a week away from home with my husband and baby.

Blog

1. Review Lead Your Family Like Jesus.
2. Do one Purex Insiders review and giveaway.
3. Post a Goals update at the end of the month.
4. Post a Reading update at the end of the month.

My Goals for February

We are expecting our baby girl sometime in February, so my goals are very simple this month!

I thought about not making any goals at all, but it's possible that she won't arrive until later in the month, so I still want to have a few goals on which to focus while we wait for her. Besides, I am so antsy that I need to keep busy! :)

Read - See my list of planned reading for 2013 for more inspiration!

1. Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate (for review)
2. On Becoming Baby Wise
3. The Everything Breastfeeding Book

Home Management

1. Do our taxes. (This depends on when we have all the necessary documents and when the baby comes!)

Other

1. Have a baby! (That's a big enough goal, right?!)
2. Continue working on my crocheting.

Blog

1. Review "Fear, Faith and a Fistful of Chocolate."
2. Post a reading update at the end of the month
3. Post a goals update at the end of the month.

January 2013 Monthly Goals Update

Today is the last day of January, so it's time for a monthly goals update!

January was a spectacular month for me when it came to my goals - I accomplished every single goal! It certainly helped that I made my goals very realistic and achievable (and it also helped that Baby Girl has not decided to make her grand entrance yet!).

Read {You can read my Monthly Reading Update from yesterday for my thoughts on these four books.}

1. You Lost Me
2. I'm More than the Pastor's Wife
3. Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska
4. Natural Hospital Birth

Home Management

1. Organize December receipts.
2. Organize 2012 tax info.
3. Order Turbo Tax Deluxe 2012. {We are ready to do our taxes once we have the last few necessary tax documents.}
4. Finish writing thank you notes. {So glad to be done with these - at least until Baby Girl comes! ;)}

Other

1. Put together LLMA newsletter. {This has been sent off and is out of my hands now.}
2. Finish crocheting Baby Girl's blanket. {I finished this early in the month and this reminds me that I really need to get a picture of it! I love how it turned out!}
3. Order/purchase snacks for the hospital. {I have Think Thin bars, Lara Bars, fruit & applesauce cups and will hopefully have crackers, too. The hospital also has a few gluten free options for me.}

Blog

1. Review "Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska." {My review will be posted on Saturday 2/2.}
2. Write a four week series on my updated Buy Prices (begins Monday, January 7). {View the entire series to get an idea of the prices I look for on virtually everything!}
3. Review Borax (for Purex Insiders) and host a giveaway.

Look for my February monthly goals tomorrow!

My Goals for January 2013

 

With a new year comes the opportunity to start fresh with goals. Yesterday, I shared my broad and flexible goals for 2013. Today, I'm breaking those goals down and sharing my monthly goals for January.

Look for my weekly goals later today!

Read

1. You Lost Me
2. I'm More than the Pastor's Wife
3. Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska
4. Natural Hospital Birth

Home Management

1. Organize December receipts.
2. Organize 2012 tax info.
3. Order Turbo Tax Deluxe 2012.
4. Finish writing thank you notes.

Other

1. Put together LLMA newsletter.
2. Finish crocheting Baby Girl's blanket.
3. Order/purchase snacks for the hospital.

Blog

1. Review "Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska."
2. Write a four week series on my updated Buy Prices (begins Monday, January 7).
3. Review Borax (for Purex Insiders) and host a giveaway.

December Goals Update

Here's a look at how I did with my goals in December. You can also check out my final updates on my 2012 yearly goals, my 2012 Do-It-Yourself projects, and my 2012 reading list!

You can also take a look at my reading list for 2013.

Personal Goals
Read the last seven books on my 2012 Reading List. Whatever books I am not able to read this month will roll over into my 2013 Reading List.

1. Pregnancy and Childbirth Secrets
2. You Lost Me
3. Real Food for Mother and Baby
4. Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
5. Courageous
6. Natural Hospital Birth
7. The Everything Breastfeeding Book

Complete my Do-It-Yourself project. I've altered this and will focus on making Christmas cookies instead. Here are some of the cookies I want to make (and I am certain that more will be added to the list!): {We had so much fun with cookie-making this year! Our favorite was definitely the GF Peanut Blossoms...tasted exactly like the "real" thing!!}

1. Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blossoms (I will use Better Batter flour.) {The gluten free version was so good that we never made "regular" ones!}
2. Regular Peanut Butter Blossoms
3. Cookie Dough Truffles (I made these last year with Better Batter and they were awesome!)
4. Gluten Free Cake Pops
5. Gluten Free Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
6. Grandma's Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
7. Plus Chocolate-Covered Pretzels (both regular and gluten free)

Make and freeze applesauce.

Label 2013 folders and put them in the filing cabinet.

Host Christmas (several times!).

Begin working on the Winter LLMA newsletter.

Continue crocheting Baby Girl's blanket. {It's almost done! I'm just working on the border now.}

Create my 2013 Reading List.

Blog Goals
Post an update at the end of the month for my 2012 reading.

Post an update at the end of the month for my 2012 DIY projects.

Review Dial holiday soap for Purex insiders. {Check out my review in this post; we loved this soap!}

Work on my Buy Price spreadsheet. Look for updated buy prices during the month of January! {I am continuing to work on this and plan to start the series on January 7.}

December Goals: Christmas preparations, reading, and year-end wrap-up!

Goal setting has been such a great thing for me! I find that I am much more productive when I have goals to work toward. And writing them down provides plenty of accountability. :)

In spite of the busyness of the holiday season (something that can't be avoided in a pastor's family!), I hope to accomplish quite a bit in December. Here's what I am working on:

Personal Goals

Read the last seven books on my 2012 Reading List. Whatever books I am not able to read this month will roll over into my 2013 Reading List.

1. Pregnancy and Childbirth Secrets
2. You Lost Me
3. Real Food for Mother and Baby
4. Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
5. Courageous
6. Natural Hospital Birth
7. The Everything Breastfeeding Book

Complete my Do-It-Yourself project. I've altered this and will focus on making Christmas cookies instead. Here are some of the cookies I want to make (and I am certain that more will be added to the list!):

1. Gluten Free Peanut Butter Blossoms (I will use Better Batter flour.)
2. Regular Peanut Butter Blossoms
3. Cookie Dough Truffles (I made these last year with Better Batter and they were awesome!)
4. Gluten Free Cake Pops
5. Gluten Free Soft Frosted Sugar Cookies
6. Grandma's Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies
7. Plus Chocolate-Covered Pretzels (both regular and gluten free)

Make and freeze applesauce.

Label 2013 folders and put them in the filing cabinet.

Host Christmas (several times!).

Begin working on the Winter LLMA newsletter.

Continue crocheting Baby Girl's blanket.

Create my 2013 Reading List.

Blog Goals

Post an update at the end of the month for my 2012 reading.

Post an update at the end of the month for my 2012 DIY projects.

Review Dial holiday soap for Purex insiders.

Work on my Buy Price spreadsheet. Look for updated buy prices during the month of January!

November Goals Update

Personal Goals

Read eight books. Yes, this is a lofty goal! And I probably won't read all eight, but I can aim high, right?!

1. Power of a Praying Wife
2. From the Hips
3. 10 Secrets to Life's Biggest Challenges Almost done with this one!
4. The Bridesmaid
5. You Lost Me
6. Real Food for Mother and Baby
7. Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
8. Pregnancy and Childbirth Secrets

Complete my Do-It-Yourself project: Homemade Yogurt in the crockpot. I think DIY projects are not going to happen for the remainder of the year.

Exercise 3-4 times per week. I only did so-so with this. November was such a crazy month!

Update tax spreadsheet (through September).

Clean windowsill tracks.

Make and freeze applesauce. Once again, I made applesauce but haven't frozen any yet.

Drop off or mail Operation Christmas Child box.

Continue crocheting Baby Girl's blanket.

Blog Goals

Updates on reading throughout the month.

Update on my Do It Yourself project.

Review two books.

1. The Bridesmaid
2. 10 Secrets to Life's Biggest Challenges This review will go up on Monday.

Review Purex + Oxi laundry detergent and host a giveaway! Stay tuned for this next week.

November Goals

November and December are absolutely crazy months at our house and I've got some lofty goals planned, but I'm going to do what I can!

Personal Goals

Read eight books. Yes, this is a lofty goal! And I probably won't read all eight, but I can aim high, right?!

1. Power of a Praying Wife
2. From the Hips
3. 10 Secrets to Life's Biggest Challenges
4. The Bridesmaid
5. You Lost Me
6. Real Food for Mother and Baby
7. Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
8. Pregnancy and Childbirth Secrets

Complete my Do-It-Yourself project: Homemade Yogurt in the crockpot.

Exercise 3-4 times per week.

Update tax spreadsheet (through September).

Clean windowsill tracks.

Make and freeze applesauce.

Drop off or mail Operation Christmas Child box.

Continue crocheting Baby Girl's blanket.

Blog Goals

Updates on reading throughout the month.

Update on my Do It Yourself project.

Review two books:

1. The Bridesmaid
2. 10 Secrets to Life's Biggest Challenges

Review Purex + Oxi laundry detergent and host a giveaway! Stay tuned for this next week.

October Goals Update

Here's a look at how I did with my goals in October. Overall, I had a good month, but I certainly didn't read as much as I should have!

Read five books: Well, this was a fail. I read one book ("When to Speak Up and When to Shut Up") in October. I attempted to read numbers 1 and 2 below and could not read either of them. I did start reading "From the Hips" this week and am about halfway done with it!

1. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (I didn't finish this in Sept.)
2. One Thousand Gifts
3. 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families
4. Power of a Praying Wife
5. From the Hips

Complete my Do-It-Yourself project: Gluten Free Apple Pie with homemade crust. I didn't have time for this in September, but it worked out anyways - we bought a bushel of "seconds" for $15 (or about $0.38 per pound)! I've got lots of apples to take care of now. :)
*If I have time, I also hope to try Homemade Yogurt in the crockpot.
I'm making the pie on Saturday morning! No time for the homemade yogurt, though...that's on my November goals list instead.

Exercise 3-4 times per week.

Finish two cleaning projects:

1. Organize the living room desk.
2. Clean windowsill tracks.

Finish updating our tax spreadsheet. Woohoo! It's complete through September!

Continue working on my crochet washcloth. I finished this and started a new project: a baby blanket for our baby girl (due in February).

Purchase tote boxes and organize: childhood memories, baby clothes.

Make and freeze applesauce (see above about my bushel of apples!). I made applesauce twice, but so far, none of it has made it into the freezer. :)

Put together my Operation Christmas Child box.

October Monthly Goals: reading, apples + more!

It's been so nice to get back on track with my goal setting! September was a very productive month. Here's what I am planning to do in October:

Read five books:

1. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (I didn't finish this in Sept.)
2. One Thousand Gifts
3. 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families
4. Power of a Praying Wife
5. From the Hips

Complete my Do-It-Yourself project: Gluten Free Apple Pie with homemade crust. I didn't have time for this in September, but it worked out anyways - we bought a bushel of "seconds" for $15 (or about $0.38 per pound)! I've got lots of apples to take care of now. :)
*If I have time, I also hope to try Homemade Yogurt in the crockpot.

Exercise 3-4 times per week.

Finish two cleaning projects:

1. Organize the living room desk.
2. Clean windowsill tracks.

Finish updating our tax spreadsheet.

Continue working on my crochet washcloth.

Purchase tote boxes and organize: childhood memories, baby clothes.

Make and freeze applesauce (see above about my bushel of apples!).

Put together my Operation Christmas Child box.

September Goals Update

Here's an update on how I did with my September monthly goals:

Read four books:

1. Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day
2. When Hope Blossoms
3. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
4. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

Complete my Do-It-Yourself project: Gluten free apple pie with homemade crust. (Click through for a how-to video!)

Exercise three to four times per week (walking on treadmill, yoga).
Home Management project: Finish intensive cleaning. {I started this over the summer, but didn't finish, so I'll be working on the remaining projects during September.}
Other goals:

• Work on crocheting dishcloth.
• Update tax spreadsheet (for housing allowance) through August.
• Begin Winter LLMA newsletter.
• Work on "Funeral Information Notebook" for church.

Blog Goals

Post updates on reading throughout the month.

Post an update about my Do-It-Yourself project.

Review new Soft Scrub products and host a giveaway!

September monthly goals: reading, DIY project, cleaning + more!

In light of refocusing my yearly goals, here's a look at what I will be working on in the month of September.

Personal Goals

Read four books:

1. Understanding World Religions in 15 Minutes a Day
2. When Hope Blossoms
3. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
4. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth

Complete my Do-It-Yourself project: Gluten free apple pie with homemade crust. (Click through for a how-to video!)

Exercise three to four times per week (walking on treadmill, yoga).

Home Management project: Finish intensive cleaning. {I started this over the summer, but didn't finish, so I'll be working on the remaining projects during September.}

Other goals:

• Work on crocheting dishcloth.
• Update tax spreadsheet (for housing allowance) through August.
• Begin Winter LLMA newsletter.
• Work on "Funeral Information Notebook" for church.

Blog Goals

Post updates on reading throughout the month.

Post an update about my Do-It-Yourself project.

Review new Soft Scrub products and host a giveaway!

Goals Update: June goals + 2012 goals

Here's an update on my goals so far this year. During July, I'll be taking a break from posting my goals. I hope to be back at it in August!

2012 Yearly Goals

Personal

• Read 36 books in 2012 = three per month. Still doing really well with reading! I've read 23 books so far in 2012.
• Completely reorganize our filing cabinet. I intend to spend at least one hour per week on this (during an average week).
• Complete one Do-It-Yourself project per month. I learned to crochet in June and am almost finished with my first dishcloth.
• Exercise regularly - at least three times per week. Regular workouts have been put on hold temporarily until I'm functioning well again. 
• Create monthly goals (a new concept, but similar to my weekly goals) for my personal life.
• Continue creating weekly goals. Weekly goals (and goal-setting in general) are making such a huge difference for me this year!

Blog - All of these goals are going well!

• Post a Do-It-Yourself project update at the end of each month.
• Post reading updates as I finish books.
• Post two new recipes per month.
• Create monthly goals for my blog.

Marriage and Family

• Continue reading through the Bible together according to this two year plan (we are on year two). We are into the Gospels now.
• Read several books about marriage and family: The Meaning of Marriage, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families and Power of a Praying Wife.
• Continue supporting each other through a huge upcoming change in our lives.

June goals

Personal Goals

• Read five books:
  1. The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis
  2. Write It Down, Make It Happen by Henriette Klauser
  3. Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey by Joanie Demer and Heather Wheeler
  4. The Open Adoption Book by Bruce Rappaport
  5. Be Centsable by Kristin McKee and Chrissy Pate - Almost finished with this one.
• Complete my Do-It-Yourself project: Learn to crochet and make a dishcloth. My crochet hooks and yarn on their way!
• Exercise three times per week: 30 minutes on treadmill, 20 sit-ups.
• Home Management project: Summer Cleaning. Look for an introduction this weekend; the series starts on Tuesday! This started off well but has been put on a temporary hold. It may wait until August or September when I am able to clean again.
• Begin working on newsletter for LLMA.
• Try using cash only for our household/grocery budget during the month of June. I was really happy with using cash during June and plan to continue doing this.

Blog Goals

• Post two recipes:
  • Roasted Potatoes and Carrots Get that recipe here.
  • ? - Maybe I will come up with something! I also posted a recipe for Meatballs and Mashed Potatoes.
• Updates on reading throughout the month.
• Update on my DIY project.
• Series: "Summer Cleaning...the easy way!"

June Monthly Goals: reading, learning to crochet + more!

As we head quickly into the summer months, I've been evaluating my goals and planning out the month of June.

As I've been saying all year, I began creating monthly goals for myself, based on my yearly goals. Then, I break those monthly goals down into weekly goals - and I chip away at those goals each day. Following this process has made a huge difference in what I am able to accomplish. In fact, I am accomplishing more than I thought possible!

Here's a look at the goals toward which I will be working in the month of June:

Personal Goals

• Read five books:
1. The Fiddler by Beverly Lewis
2. Write It Down, Make It Happen by Henriette Klauser
3. Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey by Joanie Demer and Heather Wheeler
4. The Open Adoption Book by Bruce Rappaport
5. Be Centsable by Kristin McKee and Chrissy Pate
• Complete my Do-It-Yourself project: Learn to crochet and make a dishcloth. My crochet hooks and yarn on their way!
• Exercise three times per week: 30 minutes on treadmill, 20 sit-ups.
• Home Management project: Summer Cleaning. Look for an introduction this weekend; the series starts on Tuesday!
• Begin working on newsletter for LLMA.
• Try using cash only for our household/grocery budget during the month of June.

Blog Goals

• Post two recipes:
• Roasted Potatoes and Carrots
• ? - Maybe I will come up with something!
• Updates on reading throughout the month.
• Update on my DIY project.
• Series: "Summer Cleaning...the easy way!"

A Goals Update: May goals + 2012 goals

As the month of May wraps up (where has the year gone?!), here's an update on how I've been doing with my goals. How are you doing when it comes to accomplishing your goals?

2012 Yearly Goals
Personal

• Read 36 books in 2012 = three per month. Still doing really well with reading!
• Completely reorganize our filing cabinet. I intend to spend at least one hour per week on this (during an average week).
• Complete one Do-It-Yourself project per month. I didn't make hamburger buns this month as our freezer was simply too full!
• Exercise regularly - at least three times per week. The workouts are tough, but I am surviving!
• Create monthly goals (a new concept, but similar to my weekly goals) for my personal life.
• Continue creating weekly goals. Weekly goals (and goal-setting in general) are making such a huge difference for me this year!

Blog - All of these goals are going well!

• Post a Do-It-Yourself project update at the end of each month.
• Post reading updates as I finish books.
• Post two new recipes per month.
• Create monthly goals for my blog.

Marriage and Family

• Continue reading through the Bible together according to this two year plan (we are on year two). We are going to finish the Old Testament this weekend!
• Read several books about marriage and family: The Meaning of Marriage, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families and Power of a Praying Wife.
• Continue supporting each other through a huge upcoming change in our lives.

May Goals

Personal Goals

• Read five books.
  1. Ebook: How My Soul Yearns by Ashley Wells Read my reviews on How My Soul Yearns, The Meaning of Marriage and He Remembers the Barren (an additional book).
  2. Be Centsable by Chrissy Pate and Kristin McKee This will be on the list for June.
  3. The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
  4. Dear Birthmother by Kathleen Silber Read my thoughts in this post.
  5. Successful Adoption: A Guide for Christian Families by Natalie Nichols Gillespie This was an excellent book!
• Complete my DIY project: Homemade Hamburger Buns for my husband. No room in the freezer!
• Exercise three times per week for 30 minutes each time.
• Organizational projects
  1. Carts in office. So glad to have this project completed!
  2. Childhood "memories." I'd like to purchase plastic totes to put our items in so they are protected. (This project will hopefully happen later this summer.)
• Continue planning Vacation Bible School - begin registration, finalize leaders.

Blog Goals

• Post two recipes.
  1. Cheeseburger Meatloaf This is a super quick meal to throw together!
  2. Salsa Chicken  - Look for this recipe tomorrow!
• Post reading updates throughout the month.
• Post an update about my DIY project.
• Continue with my Top 10 series. This month, we're looking at the items that I don't purchase.

May Monthly Goals: reading, homemade hamburger buns and organizing...

As I've said before, this year, I began creating monthly goals for myself, based on my yearly goals. Then, I break those monthly goals down into weekly goals - and I chip away at those goals each day. Following this process has made a huge difference in what I am able to accomplish. In fact, I am accomplishing more than I thought possible!

Here's a look at the goals toward which I will be working in the month of May:

Personal Goals

• Read five books.
1. Ebook: How My Soul Yearns by Ashley Wells
2. Be Centsable by Chrissy Pate and Kristin McKee
3. The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller
4. Dear Birthmother by Kathleen Silber
5. Successful Adoption: A Guide for Christian Families by Natalie Nichols Gillespie
• Complete my DIY project: Homemade Hamburger Buns for my husband.
• Exercise three times per week for 30 minutes each time.
• Organizational projects
1. Carts in office.
2. Childhood "memories." I'd like to purchase plastic totes to put our items in so they are protected.
• Continue planning Vacation Bible School - begin registration, finalize leaders.

Homemade Hamburger Buns
Image credit

Blog Goals

• Post two recipes.
1. Cheeseburger Meatloaf
2. Salsa Chicken
• Post reading updates throughout the month.
• Post an update about my DIY project.
• Continue with my Top 10 series. This month, we're looking at the items that I don't purchase.

A Goals Update: Yearly Goals + April Goals

April was a very busy month (like any other month!) - here's an update on how I did with my yearly goals and my monthly goals:

2012 Yearly Goals

Personal

• Read 36 books in 2012 = three per month. Still doing really well with reading!
• Completely reorganize our filing cabinet. I intend to spend at least one hour per week on this (during an average week).
• Complete one Do-It-Yourself project per month. Artisan bread was a huge hit with my husband and his parents!
• Exercise regularly - at least three times per week.
• Create monthly goals (a new concept, but similar to my weekly goals) for my personal life.
• Continue creating weekly goals. Weekly goals (and goal-setting in general) are making such a huge difference for me this year!

Blog - All of these goals are going well!

• Post a Do-It-Yourself project update at the end of each month.
• Post a monthly reading update at the end of each month.
• Post two new recipes per month.
• Create monthly goals for my blog.

Marriage and Family

• Continue reading through the Bible together according to this two year plan (we are on year two).
• Read several books about marriage and family: The Meaning of Marriage, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families and Power of a Praying Wife.
• Continue supporting each other through a huge upcoming change in our lives. 

April Goals

Personal Goals

• Read four books.
  1. "Margin" by Richard Swenson. Read my update about Margin and A Love That Multiplies in this post.
  2. "Love that Multiplies" by Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar.
  3. "Tightwad Gazette" by Amy Dacyczyn Look for a reading update this weekend.
  4. "Dear Birthmother" by Kathleen Silber This will be on May's list. The Tightwad Gazette is nearly 1,000 pages, which I didn't know!
• Complete my Do-It-Yourself project: Artisan bread in five minutes a day. This DIY was a huge success!
• Exercise three times per week for 30 minutes each time. I did fairly well this month, aside from this week, as we were traveling for the wedding.
• Continue preparing for Vacation Bible School.
• Clean out desk; sell desk and lamp. The desk has been cleaned out and I am working on selling the desk and lamps.
• Organize my clothes (switch from winter to summer and pull out clothes that I no longer wear). This was a huge project, but it's done!
• Read the Ebook that I downloaded for free at the end of March. Maybe in May?

Blog Goals

• Write a four-week "Top 10 Series" about the top 10 products that I buy in each of four separate categories. Look for the first installment on Tuesday of this week! This series is going well! Pop over to check it out.
• Post two recipes:
  1. Gluten Free "Hamburger Helper" Pasta. This should have posted earlier today.
  2. Gluten Free Pizza Pie. See the recipe HERE.
• Post an update about my DIY project. Read my update in this post.
• Post reading updates throughout the month as I finish each book.
• Participate in the Money Saving Mom audiobook blog tour. Read my review in this post.