Christmas goals (plus an update on my last goals)
Actually, we'll do the update first.
1. Figure out a new budget with Mr. FG.
Nope. Maybe we'll get it done in time for January? We did discuss what we plan to do with our extra money in December, though, so we're not just floating along entirely without a plan!
2. Read my Bible every day.
Nope, not every day. I have been good about going for walks in the morning, and I pray while I do that. But I just need to get my rear out of bed a little earlier so I can read before I go for a walk (I'd listen to an audio version of the Bible while I walk, but then I'd run out of time to pray!)
3. Update Quicken.
Done. Oh yes. I felt like putting it off, but because it was on my list, I got it taken care of. Behold, the power of the public to-do list!
4. Organize kitchen cabinets.
Nope. I did take before pictures...does that count for anything?
5. Get half of a Christmas present made.
I'm almost halfway done, so I'm going to cross that off.
6. Make a list of presents that need to be made/bought.
Yup, did that! And we only need to get a present for one more person before we're done.
7. Clean up my laundry room.
Yes, indeedy! And if you faithfully read here, you already know that because you saw the before and after pictures!
8. Cancel my gym membership.
Sort of. You have to go to the gym to cancel it, and when I went in, they offered to give me discounts so that Mr. FG and I could both keep our memberships for the price of Mr. FG's membership alone. I'm a little fuzzy on why exactly they would do that, but I agreed. I still think I'm going to go in next month and cancel for real, though, because I am just not getting to the gym these days.
One upside of this is that when I do cancel, Mr. FG's membership will still be at the reduced price, so we'll be saving even more.
9. On a related note, walk four days this week.
I've been doing well with this! Setting my clothes and shoes out the night before helps a lot. Then I just have to wake up, put my contacts in, throw my clothes on, and head out the door.
10. Give Sonia a haircut.
I did! And I think her hair looks a lot happier now.
So, I got 7/10 things done...not too shabby.
Here are 10 things I'd like to get done over the next two weeks.
1. Figure out a new budget with Mr. FG.
I'm not sure how realistic this is given how close Christmas is, but we do need to get it done!
2. Read my Bible every day.
I'm going to have Mr. FG set the alarm early enough for me to get in a bit of reading before my morning walk.
3. Organize kitchen cabinets.
Gotta have some Afters to go with my Befores!
4. Make cut-out frosted sugar cookies with the kids.
We do this every December, and they just love it.
Hmm. Looking at that pictures reminds me that I should check on the status of the redhots at our house. I may need to buy some.
Or, um, a lot.
5. Make Pfeffernusse.
Mr. FG requested these.
6. Help the kids finish buying/making presents for each other.
They've got a good start on this, but I need to figure out who still needs to get a present for someone. It's a little complicated to organize this with four children and it must really get crazy with more than that!
7. Update Quicken.
I don't trust myself enough to take this off the list just yet.
8. Finish the Christmas present I started making.
Considering Christmas is in the next two weeks, I'd better get this done, list or not list!
9. Bake bread to give to neighbors.
I'm not sure what recipe I'm going to make this year. Maybe cherry danishes if I'm feeling extra motivated.
10. Make a detailed schedule/plan for next week.
Between now and the day after Christmas, I'm doing a photo shoot, we're visiting a nursing home twice, going to a Christmas concert at church, hosting a women's Christmas party here, having my in-laws over, visiting Mr. FG's aunt, and visiting my family. And some of these events involve cooking/baking for me.
I think this is going to be manageable, but only if I am organized and prepared.
Thank goodness we're not doing any schoolwork next week!
How's your schedule looking at this busy time of year?
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Today's 365 post: Our adventures in Narnia are over.
Joshua's 365 post: ???
I admire your ambition! I just cleaned out the kitchen cabinets and found a lot of things that could be sold or donated. This was a nice way to raise some funds for the Christmas season and donate some items to those in need. It helps me stay motivated to do things like this when I know I'm not the only one benefiting from it!
Just curious, and don't mean to stir up any trouble, but, why does mr. FG get to keep his gym membership if you are cancelling yours? I undertand that you don't have as much time as you did when with his old job, but if it's (essentially) a free membership, why would you cancel it?
Well, before his was $34.99/month and mine was $19.99. They changed it so his is now $24.99 and mine is $9.99.
So, we both have memberships now for a total of $34.99.
But if I'm not using mine, it makes sense to cancel mine, so that we're only paying the $24.99/month for his. Does that make sense?
Oh, and I totally don't mind you asking! I probably just didn't explain it well enough in my post.
I would recommend putting off you your kitchen cabinet reorg. until Aby at Simplify101.com re-runs her Organize your Kitchen workshop again. It's a pretty big project - I did in stages, over a couple of weeks - so worth it. :-).
When is she doing that? Is it something she runs on her blog, or something you have to pay for?
Yes, Liz, please give us some details on this workshop.
I've been putting off my kitchen reorg for months, and I really need the space.
I saw that she offers a video workshop, but it costs $65. My organizing skills aren't bad enough for me to want to fork over $65. =P Maybe Liz is referring to something else this blogger does?
No kidding. I saw that $65 price and decided to just do it myself. I have pretty good organizing skills. What I need more is motivation!
Maybe, Kristen, you could do a sort of "Kristen's Kitchen Klean-Up" type of thing (ok.. I just TOTALLY read that as KKK-up. And maybe not the best choice!). I would do a link-up with that. My kitchen is in desperate need of organization! Especially after wedding gifts. Oof 🙁
Yes, one has to be careful of such things with a K name. 😉
Hmm. Maybe we should do this in January?
I like your lists. That's pretty neat and a good way to keep yourself accountable, by posting it online. I try to read my Bible every day, too...but I don't always make. However, I do walk every day, twice a day, because our dog has to get exercised 🙂 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
I'm so glad you are still doing your goals.
Your lists inspire my lists. Although this week, not so ambitious.
Could you go for twice as long a walk, listen to the Bible for half the time and pray the other half? Plus, extra time in nature, spent on self-care, and exercising. Win, win, win, win, and win. 🙂
I made your pfeffernusse last week and sent a bunch of them to my parents. I ran out of time to bake them all though, so I put the rest of the dough in the freezer (we'll see how well that works later).
I was excited to find your recipe. My grandma always made pfeffernusse at Christmas when I was little and my dad loved them, but her recipe died with her. Your recipe is not nearly as spicy as hers, but that means my mom will actually eat them too.
I'm in a family with five kids and we exchange names to cut down on the present craziness. This also allows us to buy or make one or two gifts of higher quality that the person will really love rather than getting five small gifts that won't be valued quite as much. It also helps us keep the emphasis of Christmas on what really matters than just on quantity of gifts. We often times also combine efforts for one nice gift for our parents than on five seperate items.
You can do it! 7 out of 10 is pretty spectacular.
Thanks for the reminder this month to cut the little one's hair. I was able to cross that off my list too.
"6. Help the kids finish buying/making presents for each other.
They've got a good start on this, but I need to figure out who still needs to get a present for someone. It's a little complicated to organize this with four children and it must really get crazy with more than that!"
Sounds like a math teaching opportunity to me: combinations and permutations.
Sad but true: I like organizing kitchens. I even like organizing other people's kitchens. It's a challenge, especially when adapting to someone else's preferences and not my own, but I know it's within my capabilities so I know I'll be successful.
WilliamB--you are more than welcome to come organize MY kitchen anytime. I've got gadgets and whatchamacallits everywhere. ;x
Kristen - great to-do list. Always inspiring.
One thought for you, for myself, and other home manager types...
This list is ambitious... and your parting comment about all the *other* Christmas activities you are doing (party, concert, visiting nursing home, hosting family, etc.) could all become individual to-do lists. And that does not even mention all the things you do just to "maintain"... like laundry, cooking, dishes, encouraging the kids to tidy up, sweeping crumbs, wiping counters/tables, blah, blah, blah. Sometimes I feel like the maintenance stuff fills my day and there is barely time or energy to tackle the "official to-do list."
Thanks again for the inspiration to add "organization" to my "maintenance" routine.
Isn't that the truth? The daily stuff takes a lot of time!
I never get everything on my goal list done, but I do find that having a list helps me to get more done than I would otherwise. So, I just keep aiming high, and I don't beat myself up when I don't get everything done.
I'm not nearly as ambitious this time of year. Not 'cause I can't, but 'cause I don't want to. 😉 But I bet you can pull it off!
Kristen: Would you be able to post gifts that your children have made for each other/adults (in the past)? Time is ticking away, and I'd appreciate some good ideas. We all have so much that nothing is needed, which is a blessing I know, but husband and I want to encourage giving to others for our 3 children, in this commercial age. My kids are aged 13, 12, and 6. Thanks.
Kristen, I've been part of an on-line accountability group (They also have Twitter and email groups--mine was facebook), which ends tomorrow. I'd love to send you an email in the morning and say "I'm up. I read my Bible. " and even "Here's what I loved about it..." if you like. I need the accountability, and if you do, too, and would like to, just let me know. Or, maybe you could do that with your mom or someone. Heck--you could even blog it every morning and let the whole readership know if you got it done or not. Maybe just until it's a habit.
Hi! I LOVE your blog (as well as the non-consumer advocate, you 2 are amazing). I'v been using Quicken for more than a decade, and I love it. I can give you lots of tips to make it easier, if you'd like (you have my permission to email me). My dear hubby and I work on our annual budget every year, either week between Christmas and new year's or first week of January. GREAT list (though the kitchen cabinets are a better in january-after-the-holiday-when-its-raining kind of project, IMO)