Goals for 2014

Here we are a couple of weeks into 2014 already. Can you believe it?!

I've wanted to share with y'all my goals for the new year.

There aren't that many but sometimes I think it's better to have a few well-chosen, doable goals rather than a lengthy, intimidating list that will probably be forgotten already by this time of the year simply because one didn't know where to even start on the lengthy list!

For many years I didn't bother with making any resolutions or goals.  I figured what was the point when I usually forgot about them by mid-February!

Well, I discovered during my 'no-resolution' years that I usually ended up the year the same way I started.  No further ahead.  Whether that be in knowledge, or skills, or dreams, or financial....

So, I decided that while there was nothing wrong with not setting goals or making resolutions I just wanted more. I wanted to see the satisfaction of reaching towards or meeting my goals.

CountryBoy and I have definite plans for our future.

In order for those plans to come to fruition it is going to take some discipline on our part in the meantime.

That's what I based this year's goals on.

- I mentioned in my last post about my goal of minimizing my craft/hobby projects down to two ongoing at a time.  I currently have five in the works so I am going to concentrate on finishing up at least three projects and then throughout the year I will keep it at two. (I like to have a variety and choose which one to work on according to what I feel like doing at the moment!)

- Another project I want to tackle this year is to consolidate my recipes into one, maybe two recipe books.

I love cookbooks!  I like to see a photo of what the dish I'm trying to make 'should' look like, ha!, and I like to flip through and browse (and salivate) over recipes.

I also like the fact that cookbooks are tangible and easily accessible.

Along with my cookbooks, I have torn recipes out of magazines, newspapers, I'm collecting them on Pinterest and I also have several files of recipes saved on my computer.

Here are some problems I recently ran into...  I had no internet service for a while.  The recipes pinned on Pinterest?  Did me no good.  My computer 'died' on me (or so I thought!).  All those recipes I had saved on my computer?  Had no access to them. sigh.

And all my cookbooks?  While I do love them, they are heavy.  And when traveling down the road, every bit of extra weight in the fifth wheel adds up to wear and tear on our old truck and uses lots more fuel.

So, my goal is to make my own cookbook (or two) with my favorite recipes from all my cookbooks.  I want to make it pretty with photos, tips, etc. (after all, I AM a graphic designer!) and then I am going to print it out and put it in a notebook where it is easily accessible whether or not I have internet service or my computer goes kaput!

- I'd also like to come up with my own pantry and staples list.

Eating a diet that does not contain any man-made or boxed foods requires a little more thought process as to what items I should always have on hand in order to make things from scratch.

Also, being quite a ways from the nearest grocery store I can't simply 'run to the store' to get something that I've forgotten.

Therefore, I'd like to create a list of items regularly used in our diet, always have those on hand which will make any last minute menus easily doable.

- Pursuit of simplicity. I am going to continue to purge unnecessary items from the fifth wheel and the cargo trailer.

As mentioned before, weight is an issue when traveling.  You'd be surprised at how heavy things really are especially when all added up!

Another reason for simplicity and decluttering is the ease in which we can pick up and move on to the next town/job without having to go around and secure everything or pack it up and unpack it when we arrive.

We do have a system in place but any way I can make that system smoother and easier is a plus.

- Continue to research herbs and essential oils to start a home apothecary.

I'm not going into why I feel this is important and necessary but anyone that knows me knows that I like all things natural.  Including medicinal treatments whenever possible.

Please don't get me wrong... I appreciate the knowledge and technological advances of today's medicine.  Many lives have been saved including that of my husband for which I am extremely grateful!  There is a time and a place for it indeed.  Sadly, many have come to rely on synthetic drugs to sustain them rather than getting to the root of the problem which, in my humble opinion, is simply putting a bandaid on the disease or illness rather than healing it.

I also believe that we have gone to extremes in today's society and have forgotten the original medicine created by the Creator who also created us.  In His infinite wisdom, He created, in plant material, exactly what our bodies needed in times of disease and illness.  The same goes for the healing power of food to heal our bodies.  Coincidence?  I don't think so. Unfortunately, we've lost that art and knowledge throughout the years.

Thankfully, many people today (myself included) still believe in the power of prayer and many miracles have happened due to earnest prayers in spite of ourselves, our lack of knowledge and the poor way we treat our bodies.  Can you imagine what the combination of the two can do for those afflicted?  Wow!

Through research and prayer I hope to gain some of that lost and forgotten knowledge.

- Save money and pay off debt.

I think this should be on everyone's list if it isn't already!

Times are really tough right now for most people and this may seem like an impossible goal.

I'm here to tell you that it isn't.

Frugal, frugal, frugal!  (Kind of a funny word when said many times!)

I have learned many ways to save money on necessary things.  For example, I make my own laundry detergent.  For pennies!  And, it lasts a LONG time!  There are many other money-saving tips that can be found online via blogs, Facebook and Pinterest.  Check them out.  Every time I find something that I can make cheaper is money in my pocket rather than the manufacturers, woot!

Also, coming to grips with consumerism which is rampant these days. Redefining wants, luxuries and necessities will help save a penny here, a penny there.

On the debt front... I mailed the final Jeep payment last week.  And, we paid it off early!

Our only debt now is our mortgage.  I believe most people will always have a mortgage payment. We hope to one day be able to pay cash for our dream hobby farm home.  Dream big or go home! Ha!

- I'd like to improve my photography skills. Maybe come up with a signature look or technique.

- I am also going to ponder and, hopefully, come up with a work-at-home type business based on my hobbies/skills.  (And as y'all know, I have LOTS of hobbies!)

I currently have no idea where this will lead but I definitely want to give it some thought this year.

That's it!  Eight things on my list.

Eight things that I think are doable.  And, if I'm able to make some headway on each item then I am that much further ahead at the end of the year and hopefully that much further ahead to our dream hobby farm home!

I know this ended up being a rather lengthy post but if you've managed to make it to here then I thank you.  You will help me be accountable and stay focused throughout the year.  I may even 'check in' in the middle of the year to let you know what progress has been made.

How 'bout you?

Do you make new year's resolutions or goals?  I'd love to hear what's on your list!

Till next time my friends