What? Half The Year Is Gone Already?

Hey folks!

Can you believe that half the year is already behind us?

Mercy, where DOES the time go?!

I thought since we've made it through half the year 2014 that it would be a good time to reflect on those list of goals we made at the beginning of this year.  To find out what we have accomplished and what still needs some attention.

As a recap, here is a brief list of my goals for this year...

- finish works-in-progress and minimizing my many crafts/hobbies down to two ongoing projects at a time

- consolidate my recipes into one or two cookbooks

- create a personalized pantry/staples list

- continue the pursuit of simplicity

- start a home apothecary

- save money and pay off debt

- improve photography skills

- find a way to make money from home doing what I enjoy

If you'd like to read the original post you can find it HERE.

So, let's see how I'm doing so far on accomplishing my goals for the year...

 - minimizing my crafts...

I set this goal mainly because of my lack of space issue while living in the fifth wheel.  At the time I set my goals I had five projects in the works.  I am happy to report that ALL five of those projects have been completed, woohoo!

I currently have one project in the works...

a gender-neutral baby blanket that will be for sale in my Etsy site once I reopen it (hopefully in a week or two).

I am on the last skein of yarn for the body then it's on to the border which shouldn't take too long to finish.

Since I am so close to finishing this project I am concentrating on it and not starting any others till this one is done.

That being said, not only did I finish all five projects I had in the works at the beginning of the year, I am sticking to my goal of only two projects in the works at any given time.  yay!

- consolidate recipes

 

ugh.  I am still working on that one.  Probably not as diligently as I should but I have started going through my cookbooks, one at a time, and typing up recipes.  If it's a recipe I haven't tried but sounds good then it gets saved in a Folder  titled 'Recipes to Try'.  If it's a tried & true recipe we like then it gets saved in the appropriate Folder.  Eventually, I want to print them out so that I have access to my recipes if/when I have no Internet access or my computer goes kaput.

I have managed to purge and donate a few cookbooks already but, I still have a long ways to go.

Note to self:  be more diligent in going through my cookbooks

- create a personalized pantry/staple list

I have not spent much time doing this.  Although I have mentally added several items to this list I have not written them down so that it's easier to remember come shopping day.

I also found that I was picking up the pantry/staple items on a regular basis when we were in one location but after moving to another location many of those items were not available at the stores in our new town/area.  It's kinda frustrating.  For example, I found many types of frozen beans at our last location and I always bought a bag or two to have on hand to add to many dishes since they are good sources of protein and have many beneficial nutrients in them.  The fact that they were frozen and NOT in a can made them even better.  But, I can not find them at any of the stores in our new location.  Frustrating I tell ya!

So, needless to say, I still need to create that list and just roll with the punches if I can't find an item or two on my list.

- continue the pursuit of simplicity

This has been going fairly well especially the last couple of months since I finished work and am home all the time (literally, wink!). 

I filled the back seat of the truck up last week with items to be donated and CountryBoy and I dropped it off at the thrift store the other day.  yay!

There is a ways to go in the declutter department but I'm heading in the right direction.

Another thing I simplified was paperwork.  I created a Home Binder making it easier to see what's due when, pay bills, file them, check things off the proverbial To Do list, plan projects, etc., etc.,  You can read more about that HERE.

- start a home apothecary

I have to admit that I have not spent as much time as I would like in researching herbs and home remedies but I have made a few things so, technically, I guess I've started it!  I've made a warming oil for joint aches & pain and I have a headache tincture in the works.

It has to continue to 'brew' for at least another week to three weeks.

(I showed it to CountryBoy and he said "maggots?"  I told him yes but really it's lavender.  Silly man!  I eventually told him what it was but I don't think he believed me, heehee!)

I still need to research remedies for a few of the more common ailments such as allergies, cold & flu, etc., then order the necessary herbs and make the remedy so that it will be ready should we need it.

- save money and pay off debt

We've managed to save some money and we've paid off the debt we had at the beginning of the year but, we had to buy a new truck so now we have that debt to pay off.

We have an aggressive plan to pay off the truck loan in two years yet still continue to save money for our future farm!

- improve photography skills

Pshaw.  I am sad to say that THAT hasn't happened.  Hasn't even been attempted yet.  I've not even taken very many photos this year.  Hopefully that will change.

- find a way to make money at home doing what I enjoy

I've recently come up with an idea.  I'm in the process of designing it and trying to mentally figure out the logistics as to how to make this idea come to fruition in a simple manner.  If so, then I may be on to something, wink!

It involves this...

and a few other items that I still need to purchase.

You'll have to stay tuned.  Oh, and cross your fingers for me!  I'm really hoping I can make this happen fairly easily and if so, then this may be my marketable item for making money at home.

So, there ya have it.  An update of my goals for 2014.

I'm satisfied with what I've accomplished so far.  If I continue to steadily pursue my goals throughout the rest of the year then I think I'll be in good shape.

How bout you?  How are your goals for this year coming along?  We're halfway through the year so now is a good time to ponder, reflect and maybe even update your goals.

Till next time my friends...

Two Down

Four to go!

I finished another project the other day and crossed it off the 'Get Done' list, woo hoo!

Back in November, I took a quilting class at a (somewhat since we've moved) local quilt shop.  The pattern used was the Posh Tot which is a throw-size quilt.

I ended up making two quilts during the classes. Here's the first one...

Quilt Front

 I love these colors!  These are the colors of my living room back home.

Quilt Back

And the second one I wanted to make for CountryBoy for Christmas.

I have to tell you, the first quilt I made was a cinch.  I had no problems whatsoever during the entire process of making this quilt.

The second quilt?  A menace from the get-go.

I mean literally, one problem after the other beginning with cutting the fabric, piecing the fabric, right up to the binding.  It probably stemmed from the fact that I enlarged the dimensions of the quilt because of the pattern design in the original fabric that I wanted to use in the center square.  But, that's neither here nor there. I ended up not being able to use the original fabric which, in the long run, turned out to be OK.

I managed to finally get the front and back all pieced together ready to be quilted.  Originally, I wanted to do the quilting of the sandwiched pieces myself since it was a gift to my Hubby but after the problems I ran into and my rather small work space in the fifth wheel I decided that I didn't want to bother with it and left it at the shop to be quilted by the owner.

Unfortunately, she was not able to get it finished before Christmas so CountryBoy still had one more present coming.

He finally got it the other day!

Here's his quilt made with his favorite colors....

Here's Precious and LizzieBelle admiring the back of 'Daddy's' quilt...

And here's LizzieBelle modeling the quilt....

Isn't she cute?!

Anyway, by the time I finished the binding I was ready to donate it to Goodwill, ha!  But, I gave CountryBoy the quilt that night and he loved it!

I am finished with the Posh Tot pattern as I tend to like the more traditional and classic patterns rather than the modern ones.  Although there are some beautiful modern quilts that are truly works of art.

I found a 'Quick Classic Quilts' book at the thrift store so once I am caught up on my 'Get Done' project list I will be choosing a pattern out of there to begin working on.  I hope to use some of my fabric stash which will help the storage space issue and save me money.

But in the mean time, I now have two projects crossed off my 'Get Done' project list.  Which is a good feeling!  A really good feeling!

Till next time my friends...

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