2014 Goal setting!

2013 Goals reviewed...how well did it really go?!

What a year it was!!

If you remember, I had some pretty lofty goals for 2013. I was pretty determined to make some new habits, and to improve myself a little in the process!

Here were the goals I set, followed by the results for 2013:

1. Continue goal of healthier eating.

  Did much better. Eating at home is usually a win-win! Hope to add more heathy eating to the list in 2014.

2. More juicing.

 I was on the right track, and then derailed. Hoping to try it again! 

3. A minimum of one new recipe tried a week.

This was a BLAST. I tried 66 new (to me) recipes. Some were new versions of meals we love. Some were at-home versions of food we love from restaurants. Love this challenge SO much, that I am continuing it for 2014! It has become something we look forward to weekly! 

4. Add in more exercise.

   Got better in 2013, but there's a lot of room for improvement!  I had fun over the summer and fall doing my personal challenge of a "5k a day". Really, it sounds so cool, and isn't that tough (mind you, I'm a power walker, not a runner!). Bike rides were easier this year than the year before- that's a great sign!

5. Try yoga.

  Did this one early in the year, and got HOOKED! It helps my neck and back muscles, and even helps with my scoliosis in my lower back. This IS a part of my life now!

6. Start professional organization business.

Welllllll....as much as this is still a goal, and a passion of mine, I don't think I'm ready. Pair that with my new job as the "library lady" and, well, it's not a priority. I did get a good organizational challenge this year, it was fun, and a great learning experience in the area that worried me about organizing for others- dealing with people, and helping them clear the stuff. 

So, I guess this one is "to be continued"! 

7. No plastic bags for the year.

  This was a game changer for me, and our household in general, since the hubs decided to play along and do the challenge too (and all on his own!). The idea was this- I had a trunk full of reusable bags that always seemed to remain in the trunk. My goal was to make it a HABIT to not use plastic bags and to remember to take those reusable bags into the stores with me! I managed to close out the year with a grand total of FOUR plastic bags from stores. Two of which were wrapped around the bottle of wine Andy wanted from Target and I didn't see until the next day when I emptied out the plastic bin I bought on Dec. 28th! ugh. I did get some paper bags this year- the gifty kind that can be reused. I didn't count food bags (subway and their plastic bags!!). And it is a HABIT now. 

I now break out into the sweats if someone almost insists on bagging my item. 

   A quick observation I noticed early in the year- people almost get OFFENDED if you don't want their bags. Wether they are plastic, or fancy with wrapping, some people tried to FORCE the bags on me! "But look at how pretty the bag and tissue are- don't you want that?!". My answer was a very firm NO. So strange that we have come to this, where the packaging is SO big. I think I may have encouraged some people too, which is always fun!

   A few times super nice clerks at stores would bag onions in plastic and put them in my reusable bags- thinking it was be less mess for me. Even after I said I was trying to go bag less. So what was my solution? Before I rolled my cart to the car, I would "ditch" the plastic bag at a different register...dedication, people! 

    If I forgot my purse-sized reusable bags? I would shove those groceries into my purse! Yes.i.would. More than once I found the random jalapeño pepper rolling around in my bag a few days later. Still worth it!

Best, is now this is a LIFELONG habit.when we traveled to Ireland in October, I took a bag to use- and am glad I did, because they CHARGED for bags!!  

8. Add in more green-living tips.

Reducing plastic bags was my biggest challenge toward more green living. I also continued with my Norwex cleaning items, and feel in LOVE with the magnet ball for the dishwasher, paired with the Norwex dishwasher detergent. It takes less than 1/2tsp of soap per load. And it breaks down faster versus traditional dishwasher soap. 

   I use very little chemical cleaners anymore. The Norwex Enviro cloths use water to clean, and when I need something a bit stronger, I use Norwex products! I have ZERO commercial or store brand cleaners. No bleach, no fabric softener or dryer sheets (white vinegar in the wash works better, wool dryer balls in the dryer are safer!). 

9. Learn to cut Andy's hair.

   This was a great coat saver! Andy averaged 1 haircut a month, and usually spent $26-28 per haircut, with tip. This is one of the "stop in and some random chick will cut your hair" kinda if places. Results varied, and it wasn't cheap!

   For the cost of ONE of his haircuts, I bought a nice set of clippers from Walmart ($27 plus tax). And that's it! We have the smaller "touch up" trimmers already, so one year of haircuts for Andy was less than $30! #winning

10. Cost saving/ more money saving tips.

   See the previous two items! Can't wait to figure out more!

11. Pay off one vehicle.

  SOOOO close! May even happen in January!! 

12. Sew a garment.

In November I finished my first sewn garment- unless you count the simple skirt I made in 7th grade home ec...and I wouldn't! Lol.

   I had the pattern. The fabric, prewashed, even. Just didn't have the nerve! While visiting my favorite local quilt shop in the fall, I noticed that they had the exact tunic I wanted to make, hanging on display. I asked about it, and they were even having a CLASS! I heard the angels sing! I immediately signed up, and learned SO much. And the tunic is cute! And, I cleared out another project from the growing PHD pile (Projects Half Done pile- tell people you're working on your PHD and see the reaction you get, it's hilarious!). 

13. Knit socks.

  Welllll. Let's just say I had the BEST intentions. My favorite knitting genius, Michelle Hunter of www.knitpurlhunter.com had a knit along. I started. And, well...

She's having a similar one in January, and I'm trying again! 

14. Knit a sweater or garment.

Technically, I kinda did. As an order for my crafty biz. Maybe 2014 means an actual sweater? 

15. Finish the perpetual afghan.

Oh! I have all of the squares done, finally! This project is one that I pick up and put down for weeks at a time- sometimes longer. Got the first row of blocks connected. To be continued in 2014!

16. Make FB craft page.

Finally! Got it up and running in January! It's growing, and with my job, I am plenty busy! Www.facebook.com/thecraftylittlebird

17. Sell crafty goodness online.

Done and DONE! Along with my Facebook business page, I also have an Etsy business page for The Crafty Little Bird! 

Www.etsy.com/shop/thecraftylittlebird 

New Years goals, revisited...

Things are going well!:)

Here are the standings with the goals I had planned for this year:
-going without acquiring new plastic bags
Well, honestly, I acquired ONE since January 1. It was actually acquired ON January first. Ha. I stopped to pick up some yarn at Michael's and realized as I was walking out of the store I had a bag in my hand! But none since. The hubs has done pretty well too, and last week even put his groceries back in the cart and bagged them when he got to his truck, since he left his bags in the car! Impressive!

- one new recipe a week (minimum)for the year-
So far, so good. I'm making it a fun event, and sharing the recipes with my FB friends too. Both recipes have been great, and will be added to our rotation!

- knitting socks-
This has been a hang up of mine for awhile. Not sure why, but they scared me! So, I prepped myself by gathering my supplies to to a KAL (knit along) being hosted by an AMAZING knitting teacher , Michelle Hunter of Knitpurlhunter.com . Seriously, she is amazing!
Not only did I complete week one, but I am knitting two socks at a time, from the toe up, AND I am using the magic loop method. If you're not a knitter, this paragraph probably sounded like one of Charlie Brown's teachers talking...trust me, it's a big deal!:)

- Start my organization business-
The wheels are in motion, I am starting some researching I needed to do, and am going to look up the small business administration in the area and find out more info. Finally!

-Start a FB business page for my craftiness/ sell crafty items online-
It's happening! I don't even have business cards or my FB or website pages up, and I have orders!:) again, FINALLY.


So, that's all I've got so far. But we're only two weeks into the new year. I consider this a WIN thus far!
How are your goals going??? It's NEVER too late to start- so start now!

This week I hope to:
-look into trying yoga
-contact the small business administration (SBA)
-get my crafting business cards ordered, and get my FB crafty page up

Whew!