kapachino

Category: goals

  • january goals

    january goals

    This year I don’t have any big resolutions. Instead there are a lot of little things that I want to change and accomplish, so to that end my new year’s “resolution” is to make monthly goals.

    In January I wanted to start small because I’m still recovering from the holidays. I’m signed up for the Day by Day class at Studio Calico, and I’m hoping it’ll help me get the most out of my Project Life. This year I really, really want to make a quilt (I got this book and these supplies for Christmas) but it might take me all year so I’m separating it into simple steps. Of the rest, the hardest one just might be leaving work on time, but my quality of life is so much better when I do.

    I also have a few open-ended challenges in mind that I’ll be introducing separately.

    Here’s to 2013!

  • self-care resolutions chart

    So after I wrote this post last week about how far my reality falls from my ideal in the area of self-care, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. My original intention was to incorporate these things into my monthly goals for next year, but I was inspired so I decided to do something about it right away.

    Most of the changes I needed to make were small and all I really needed to do was get them incorporated into my routine. To that end, I made myself a self-care resolutions chart.

    chart

    Right now I have it hung on a clipboard that’s on our refrigerator, and I glace at it a few times a day to make sure I’m not forgetting anything. I put check marks where I’ve completed a task and x’s when I don’t. I know I won’t have to keep using this forever, but until it becomes habit I am very motivated to fill it out.

    There are three things on the list that are big changes. Daily Bible study, family dinner, and exercise. So far I have made the first two happen (although it’s only been half a week). In order to have some spiritual alone time I’ve had to move my wake-up time back thirty minutes. It’s tough to wake up at 4:30 but I go to bed super early so I don’t notice the difference after I’ve had my coffee, and it’s a much better way to start the day. (More about this soon.)

    As for family dinner, it’s really just a matter of planning ahead. Over the weekend I picked out four meals that are extremely quick and easy to make and we did the grocery shopping. If I leave work on time I get home anywhere from 5 to 5:30 and I’m cooking by 6, we eat by 6:30. If a meal takes longer than thirty minutes to make it has to get saved for the weekend because it’s just not happening after work.

    The last big change is exercise, and truly right now I’m stumped as to how on earth I’m going to make this a regular thing. I already wake up at 4:30, and after dinner it’s time to shower and get ready for bed. I go to sleep at the same time as Meredith which is around 8 or 8:30. I could do some kind of workout on the weekend, but once a week isn’t optimal (although I know it’s better than nothing). It’s sad but this might have to be saved for when I’m at a different point in my life.

    Anyway, the resolutions chart has been working for me so I wanted to make it available to you if you think it’s something you could use. Find it here on Google Docs, then just save a copy and edit away. I don’t have a reward system in place at the moment (nerd alert: the feeling of accomplishment & how much better I feel about myself is reward enough for me) but you could totally do that.

    Note: I have a post coming about how I use essential oils for health. Also note that I am not currently eating all that healthy but I haven’t mentally worked up to that change yet so it’s still to come. :)

  • holiday 2012 to-do list

    First of all, a reminder – if you are participating in the Book of Lists, we’re posting our first list on Monday (December 3) and the topic is wishlist. So if like me you haven’t done it yet, work on it this weekend!

    And now, since today is the last day of November, I give you my holiday to-do list. I am pretty happy that I can already cross off a few things.

    1. Put up household decorations.

    2. Put up tree and decorate it.

    3. Make advent calendar.

    4. Fill advent calendar. (Decided to skip this.)

    5. Buy gifts for family. (In progress.)

    6. Assemble my Christmas wish list and send to family (we all do lists).

    7. Decide whether or not to send Christmas cards. (Going to do New Years’ cards!)

    8. Drive to see the lights in River Oaks (a fancy Houston neighborhood).

    9. Go shopping with Dad.

    10. Attend the Messiah singalong with Mom.

    11. Bake my sister-in-law’s delicious Christmas cookies.

    12. Go to the Christmas tree farm with family.

    13. Do something for Meredith’s teachers.

    14. Work Christmas party.

    15. Nursing home Christmas party.

    16. New pajamas for all of us.

    17. Drink a lot of peppermint mochas. (In progress.)

    18. Keep up with December daily.

    19. Cook whatever my family tells me to cook.

    20. Shop the sales after Christmas for holiday items.

    What’s on your list?

  • 101 Goals in 1001 Days: Wrap-Up

    I started this project on April 22, 2009 and it ends today. I did not complete all of my goals, in fact some of them I intentionally did not complete, but I enjoyed the experience tremendously. Many things I wouldn’t have accomplished or experienced otherwise.

    All in all, I completed 65 out of 101 goals, which I think is pretty good. Several more goals are in process, many don’t really apply to my life right now, and some of them just aren’t a priority at this time.

    I don’t plan to make a new list right now. Goals really work for me though, so I’m thinking about what to do next. I might make a list for the first year of my 30’s, or maybe I’ll start monthly goals. Not sure, but I’m looking forward to figuring it out.

    Here’s my final list. Items in bold are completed, items in italics are still in process.

    FOOD

    1. Shop at a farmer’s market.
    2. Cook dinner once a week for a month. (4/4)
    3. Cook something with my Crockpot.
    4. Be a vegetarian for a month.
    5. Make David’s lunch three times a week for a month. (4/4)
    6. Compile a recipe book of go-to meals.

    FITNESS

    7. Do a bike race.
    8. Run another 5k.
    9. Join a yoga studio.
    10. Do a Wii Fit body test once a week for twelve weeks. (12/12)
    11. Buy a nice pedometer and wear it at work.
    12. Buy ankle weights and start wearing them at work twice a week.

    HEALTH & BEAUTY

    13. Spend an entire day at the spa.
    14. Buy three new pairs of heels. (3/3)
    15. Drink 64 oz. of water a day for a week.
    16. Find the perfect mascara.
    17. Get my teeth whitened.
    18. Transition to all-natural personal care products.
    19. Try microdermabrasion.

    FINANCIAL

    20. Pay off my credit card bill.
    21. Put at least $1000 in my IRA.
    22. Refinance the house.
    23. Transfer my old 401k.
    24. Implement a system for David and I to save our change.

    COMPUTER AND INTERNET

    25. Back up all of my computer files. 
    26. Learn CSS/HTML/PHP well enough to design and run my website independently.     Intentionally not completed.
    27. Sell something on eBay.
    28. Do a video blog post.
    29. Spend a week without internet, except email once a day.

    NURSING

    30. Become oncology certified.
    31. Take the charge nurse class.
    32. Take the preceptor class.
    33. Get promoted.
    34. Get ACLS certified.
    35. Thoroughly research nurse practitioner programs in the area and decide whether or not to enroll.

    CULTURE

    36. Watch all of the movies that have won Best Picture. (43/83 – List)
    37. Track down this classical piece by Mendelssohn that I used to own but lost, and only know the melody to.
    38. Read 5 Pulitzer Prize winning books that I haven’t read. (3/5) – Olive Kitteridge, Middlesex, Gilead
    39. Read 5 books of David’s recommendation. (3/5) – And the Sea Will Tell, Columbine, Losing Our Religion
    40. Participate in a blog reading challenge and post reviews for every book read.
    41. Attend a Messiah sing-a-long.
    42. Take another class from Leisure Learning Unlimited.
    43. Obtain or transcribe the clarinet sheet music for “Desperate For Love” by Over the Rhine.
    44. See another live musical. – Wonderland (also saw many others!)

    HOUSTON

    45. Eat Sunday brunch at Birraporetti’s again.
    46. Walk the Kemah boardwalk.
    47. Go to another Dynamo game.
    48. Go to a Texans game.
    49. Drive through River Oaks at Christmas.
    50. Go to Dickens on the Strand.
    51. Visit SeaWorld and do the penguin encounter.
    52. See the Beer Can House.
    53. Visit the Orange Show monument.

    TRAVEL

    54. Go camping again.
    55. Change passport to married name.
    56. Go saltwater fishing with David.
    57. Take David to Tabor’s homecoming.
    58. Stay in a bed & breakfast.
    59. Take David to visit my aunt and uncle in South Carolina.

    HOME

    60. Paint the entire front half of the house.
    61. Set up a writing desk in the front room.
    62. Sell/give away/donate all the books I don’t need or want.
    63. Plant something.
    64. Get the carpet replaced.
    65. Have the locks changed so they all open with a single key.
    66. Get all the electrical outlets working again.
    67. Set up a fully-functional and decorated dining room.
    68. Obtain a vacuum cleaner.
    69. Refinish my old desk chair.
    70. Get the drywall in the bathroom ceiling replaced if needed. – Turns out the drywall wasn’t affected by the leak in our attic! Hurrah, one less project to spend time and money on.
    71. Buy 5 original/handmade art/craft pieces from local creators to display in our home. (0/5)

    RELATIONSHIPS

    72. Write David a list of 100 things I love about him.
    73. Babysit my new nephew.
    74. Get pregnant.
    75. Send 10 ‘just because’ cards. (7/10) – Lauren P., Jennifer W., Lauren A., Stephany R., Tabaitha K., Erin S., Grandma
    76. Hand write a letter to my Australian pen pal.
    77. Host a game night.
    78. Give David 5 random love cards. (1/5)
    79. Send out timely Christmas cards.
    80. Attend my 10-year high school reunion.

    GIVE BACK

    81. Donate blood once a quarter. (9/9)
    82. Register to be a bone marrow donor.
    83. Start using reusable shopping bags.
    84. Send Mary, the child we sponsor in Uganda, a picture of us.
    85. Make an achievable plan of steps to take to have a more environmentally friendly life.

    BE CREATIVE

    86. Finish a cross-stitch project. – See it in Meredith’s nursery.
    87. Complete NaBloPoMo.
    88. Make and send birthday cards to everyone on my birthday list for three months.
    89. Make an inspiration board.
    90. Have a custom stamp made.
    91. Take a sewing class.

    SPIRITUAL

    92. Memorize Philippians 3.
    93. Complete the Biblica New Testament challenge.
    94. Fast for 24 hours and evaluate.
    95. Be a regular at a women’s Bible study.
    96. Complete a Beth Moore Bible study with homework (on my own with downloaded sessions or live). – The Beloved Disciple

    ET CETERA

    97. Buy another leash and walk the dogs simultaneously.
    98. Get new windshield wipers for my truck.
    99. Become a true fan of the Texans by following every game and discussing with David.
    100. Complete a New York Times crossword puzzle without help.
    101. Compile a list of favorite quotes.

  • Inexpensive, Natural Beauty Products

    Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/.

    ***

    I’m not super into makeup and beauty products, but I’m also not uncaring of my appearance and skin health either. Actually, over the past year I began the process of transitioning all my personal care products to natural versions, and I’m not talking high-end stuff. I’m on a budget, and I want to do this the healthy way AND the cheap way. I’ve tried a lot of things, and this is what I’ve come up with.

    >Facial care: I’ve started using the natural oil cleansing method, mixing extra virgin olive oil and castor oil, then wiping off with a warm towel. I can get away without using any  moisturizer, but I find that if I do that the fine lines on my face are much more visible. Burt’s Bees Radiance Night Creme takes care of that (or, honestly, whatever lotion I have lying around – my skin isn’t sensitive).

    >Body: Alba Botanica lotion is wonderful. Smells good, goes on clean, all natural, and lasts a really long time. Oh, and this isn’t all-natural, but I refuse to part with my anti-perspirant and am dedicated to Dove deodorant.

    >Makeup: I haven’t yet tried a cheaper version of mineral foundation (my favorite kind), but I hear good things about L’Oreal True Match Naturale, so that’s what I’ll go with next. I’ve tried all-natural mascaras, but they just don’t work as well and mascara is really important to me. My current go-to version is Covergirl Lash Blast Mega Volume. With a couple of coats my lashes look awesome, and it applies so easily. And…that’s all the makeup I wear on a regular basis.

    >Teeth: Tom’s of Maine toothpaste works well and tastes fresh.

    >Hair: I tried the no shampoo thing, but I guess I didn’t try hard enough because my hair felt gross (even though I knew it was clean). So for awhile I’ve been using Nature’s Gate shampoo and conditioner every other day or so. I only need a little bit each time, so they last.

    ***

    Really, that’s about it. I try to keep things as low-maintenance as possible and I find that I’m much happier.  What’s your beauty philosophy?