I've been meaning to do a goal check in for a few weeks now, so let's get started on the progress! :)
1. I will read 52 books this year. In 2011 I read 45 books AND planned a wedding so I'm pretty sure I can get this accomplished! I finished a book last night--although I read 90% of it in 2011, it was over 1300 pages so I'm going to go ahead and count it. :) I am actually doing so well with this challenge! I have read 23 books so far--I am six books ahead of schedule! I will do a post soon with the books I've read and which ones I liked/didn't like. :)
2. I will lose 20 lbs. When I exercise and eat right I feel better about myself! I need to develop the best plan for me for this year though. While I haven't lost 20 lbs, I have started eating with my allotted calories for the day. In addition, I've started running again. I am now three workouts away from finishing Couch to 5K! I am really enjoying it--and I've already downloaded the Bridge to 6k app as well! :) I'm also on some medicine that makes you gain weight, so the fact that I have lost ANY weight makes me so so happy! :)
3. I will save X amount of dollars this year. This will be a little bit harder, but I am still confident that we will be able to reach this goal! My ultimate goal would be for us to be able to live off of one of our paychecks, but we aren't there yet! We are making so much progress in this area! We are about halfway to this goal and we still have almost 7 months left in the year! I am very proud of both of us to really spend responsibly this year. :)
4. I will find a place for every single thing in my house. If it doesn't have a place I will either create a solution for it or give it away. I want my life to be more organized! This has seen some progress...Not nearly enough though! I have gone through my closet twice already this year. Rob and I have also cleaned out our old office, which had really become a junk room. Major progress there! I could definitely do more though--especially in other areas of the house, but that will have to wait a little while. :)
5. I will learn to coupon in a way that cuts our shopping budget down at least $100/month. I am going to really focus on personal care items and pet food and treats. We spend a lot of money in this area and I am looking forward to saving some money--which will also help with #3! I have done a terrible job with this! I need to carve out some couponing time--that's the only way it will get accomplished!
6. I will travel outside of Ohio at least 6 times this year. I stole this idea from my friend Kate. I already know of three trips I'll be taking out of state this year, so I really wanted to set the bar high! And, trips to Kentucky to visit my mom do not count! :) So far this has only happened once...however I know there will most likely be three trips out of the state in the next couple months! Hurray!
7. I will send more cards and snail mail this year. I know how much of an impact this can have and I promise to be better at it this year! I actually forgot this was a goal...terrible! I have sent a couple of cards, but nowhere nearly what I wanted. I've actually been at the receiving end of this so far this year--I need to turn that around!
8. I will complete at least three Bible Studies or devotionals this year. I will be doing at least two Beth Moore studies with some of my favorite ladies at church, but I would like to find one other study or devotional to really strengthen my relationship with Christ. I am about 9 weeks into my first study of the year--Beth Moore's A Heart Like His. I'm also reading Jesus Calling on a pretty regular basis. I love that devotional!
9. I will plan at least three trips for my husband and I to take this year. I think traveling together really strengthens our relationship--plus it is just fun! I love the memories we create and looking back on those times really bring me so much happiness! We have one down, two more to go! We went to Vegas in February and it was amazing. Rob and I just had the best time together. I'm in the process of planning one more--hopefully we will be able to get another one in sometime this year! :)
10. I will make sure there are no dirty dishes in the sink and a load of laundry is started every night before I go to bed. I hate both of these chores, but getting them finished the night before makes for a much happier morning for me. This has been life-changing for me. Seriously. Even when I'm really, really tired I still do this. It makes my life so much better. Even if there are lots of clean clothes that need to be folded on the couch, I still feel better about my life! I've also started preparing food in individual servings for lunches on Sunday night. I make a few sandwiches, put pretzels into baggies, wash and prepare grapes, etc. Makes life much less stressful throughout the week! :)
11. I will get pregnant this year. This is a whole different post for a different day, but this will happen this year! This is a work in progress, friends. I am not pregnant yet, but we are taking some definitely steps to make this happen. And that makes me happy. :)
12. I will be a good wife this year! This includes cooking my husband's favorite meals, showing him how much I love him everysingleday, and spending quality time with him! I will have to let Rob be the judge of this, but I think we are doing a pretty good job of loving on each other. :) We are even having a manly date--a new burger place and off to see the Avengers! If that's not showing him how much I love him, I don't know what is. ;)
How have you been doing on your goals for the year? Let's hold each other accountable, friends! :)
