11 in 2011. November Edition.
Friday, November 11, 2011
{Image from Dani @ Hard Corps Love}
How does each month go by so quickly? I feel like I was just writing out my October Edition of my 2011 goals, and here I am, once again, doing yet another month! To be honest, I haven't really been thinking of my goals much this month. There have been so many other thoughts and ideas ruminating in my head, and some will be shared soon, as the thoughts have given way to action!
But for now, I am here, taking a few minutes (while my dark chocolate chunk cookies - with marshmallows tucked inside - bake in the oven...YUM!) to look at the goals I set out for myself at the beginning of 2011, and to evaluate how I am accomplishing (or not accomplishing!) those goals. So, without further ado, the November edition:
1. Read 12 new books: I finished Her Mother's Hope, by Francine Rivers. It was GOOD! And I am eagerly waiting for the second book in the series to be at the library, so I can check it out! While I am waiting for it, I am trucking through The One Forever Promise by Lori Wick. Have I mentioned how much I adore reading? It's the best! Any good book recommendations out there?!
2. Try 2 new recipes each month: Let's see...this month I've made Pumpkin Cake, Pumpkin Bran muffins, Oatmeal Banana muffins, Fudge Brownies...whoa! I guess we've been eating a lot of desserts around here, haha! I can't remember if we tried any new dinner recipes...oh wait! I've been making rice in the rice cooker with chicken broth, garlic cloves, salt, pepper and some butter...and man, oh MAN, it is so stinking good!!! Anyways...
3. Lose the 'baby house' weight: Yeah, so I'm just going to admit this has pretty much been on a standstill since last month. Having visitors is not so good for the waistline :)
4. Read (at least) one chapter in the Bible every day: Do you have any idea how humbling it is to have to admit that I have not been doing this? It's such a kick in the pants. I KNOW I need to be reading and I WANT to be in the Word. Everyday. And yet, so often I find reasons not to or something distracts me. I am going to change this. Starting today.
5. Tell my babes I love them every.single.day: Done.
6. Grow something green: My indoor plant is still alive! Although my plants outside have decided the weather is too fickle to keep growing, so they are just about done for the season - they lasted a long time though, so I am proud!
7. Get outside and walk every day: We have not been walking as much lately - I think it had to do with having family visit us, and then the time change has thrown off our routine and the usual light we walk in after dinner! We just need to build new walking habits, because seriously, all of us LOVE spending that time outside each day.
8. Use less. Conserve more: I've been researching DIY laundry detergent and cleaning products. And I have been trying to use less plastic bags. We do so well in other areas, but plastic and water are the main areas I have a hard time in. I need to spend some time really thinking about ways I can conserve better in those areas.
9. Take more pictures. Capture everyday moments. Record video: Some days are better than others. It's a fine balance between capturing moments and being IN the moment, you know?!
10. Spend less. Save more: We've been trying to use the cash system more, instead of relying so much on our debit card, and I really do feel it's helping us spend less. There is just something about having cash in your hand, that convinces you to not buy something you don't really need. The saving more part though...yeah, same story....it's hard to save money when you don't have much to save, but we are trying to be diligent, even if it's only a little teeny bit each month, because I really do feel that even that little bit will add up.
11. Be more intentional: I have been working on being more intentional with my time lately - and really setting aside time for different tasks. For example, I know how easy it is for me to want to get swept up in facebook/blogs/pinterest, and it would be easy for me to do so while the kids are awake and playing. But I really want to be present with THEM, so I am trying to be even more intentional about my time, and how I use it throughout the day. I don't want to waste moments with my babes.
There ya have it. The November edition of my 11 in 2011. One more month to work on my goals, and then it's time for the big evaluation of the year, and to begin thinking of goals for 2012. I know it may seem silly that I do this, but it really does help keep me accountable, and gives me things to work on - these goals help me strive for more, and that's always a good, beautiful thing.
Y'all, my cookies are out of the oven, and they are AH-mazing. I can't even tell you how good they are. All you do is take your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, and before you put the dough balls on the tray, you press the dough out a little, push a few mini-marshmallows on it, and wrap the dough back around, so the marshmallows are tucked inside. Then bake, per your recipe. Delicious.
2 comments
Oh haha cute pic with cookie! You're so goofy =)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE to read too but hardly find time anymore... Or maybe it's just I don't have time to go to the library and peruse the aisles for a good book. =( I love Francine Rivers though, I should check out more of her stuff!
It is hard to spend time in the Word. Which sucks, and it's sad =( That should be the first thing we do when we get the chance. So many times I've just had to shut my computer in the middle of whatever I'm doing and pick up my bible. It's so worth it!
After I had Charlie I wanted to lose my gut, fast. The one thing I found that helped me was make a calender, then each day when I worked out write down what I did. It felt like a big accomplishment, plus I could physically see my progess! The first couple weeks I didn't notice a difference at all, but if ya stick with it, you'll see results. So hard to lose weight and eat healthy with the holidays coming up though. Boo =(
Good luck with all your goals, you can do it!
Those cookies sound delish!
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