Well, last week I told you that I’d completely fallen off the bandwagon. This past week was much better. Not anywhere near where I’d like it to be, but sometimes I think I tend to have unrealistic expectations of myself.
I went to bed before midnight every night but Saturday night and I got up before 7 a.m. every morning but Sunday morning. That’s headway, at least.
And our homeschooling schedule went really well, we accomplished a lot fun projects and reading together, and I spent a lot more time playing with and just enjoying my children last week. That’s likely one thousand times more important than the other things that didn’t get crossed off the to-do list!
So I’m trying to just be thankful for the progress made and not be discouraged that I still have a very long way to go. Babysteps, babysteps, right? 🙂
Last week’s goals:
Family/Mothering Goals
1. Finish reading The Cabin Faced West and Sarah Witcher’s Story aloud to the children.
2. Take the children to the pumpkin patchand the corn maze (Yay for Groupons!).Personal Goals
3. Run 10 miles (total).
4. Finish reading Angel in the Rubble and A New Kind of Normal.Still working on EntreLeadership, The Rose Conspiracy, He Heard Hannah,5. Finish Rag Quilt and knitted dishcloth.
6. Go to bed by 10 p.m. every night. (If I follow through with this simple goal, my whole week should be incredibly improved!)
Home Management Goals
7. Spend 10 minutes picking up/cleaning our bedroom/bathroom every day (I’ve really been working with the children on keeping their room/bathroom cleaned and I realized that I’ve not been setting the best example for them!).8. Do one load of laundry from start to finish every day.
Business Goals
9. Shoot video for 31 Weeks to a Better Grocery Budget series.
10. Outline our workshop for the Relevant conference with my husband.
The knitted dishcloth I’m working on this week
Here are this week’s goals:
Family/Mothering Goals
1. Finish reading Paul Revere and The Imagination Station: Showdown With the Shepherd aloud to the children.
2. Take children to a soccer game.
3. Take at least 30 pictures of the children this week (I’ve been trying to train myself to take more pictures; I always seem to forget and then we miss having photos of some of our most special moments and memories!)
Personal Goals
4. Run 10 miles (total).
5. Finish reading EntreLeadership, The Rose Conspiracy, He Heard Hannah, Kisses from Katie, and In Search of Balance.
6. Finish Rag Quilt and knitted dishcloth.
7. Go to bed by 10:30 p.m. every night.
Home Management Goals
8. Follow this 15-minutes-a-day cleaning schedule (this is an experiment to see if this works any better than my current system!)
9. Do one load of laundry from start to finish every day.
Business Goals
10. Finish writing and do a run-through of our workshop the Relevant conference with my husband.
How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Of, if you’ve blogged about it, leave your direct link below. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!
You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.
Kelly Cain-Smith says
Such a simply great idea! I’m so inspired by you, as I mention in my goals post!
Debbie says
Crystal,
On January 1st of this year, we made the first payment of our mortgage refi at 3.75%/15 years. Our goals is to pay the house off in eight years. I just wanted to let you know that we’ve paid $22,500.00 to the mortgage principal this year. We are only $256.00 away from trimming one whole year off the life of our mortgage. By the end of this year, God willingly, we will owe 13 years instead of 14 . I still remember the day I read that you had purchased your house out right. I became inspired.
[email protected] says
Your weekly goals are a great source of inspiration! I am amazed at all you get done!
Carol@simple_catholic says
My plan for last week was to finish the scarf I have been working on, but I never had time to even look at it. :/ So that’s my goal for this week – again, along with getting some writing done for my blog and business.
Amy says
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who forgets to grab the camera. I do want to take more pictures, but the one thing that makes me feel a little better is that it seems like whenever I am trying really hard to get good pictures, especially of a special moment like birthdays or holidays, I am focused so much on the picture-taking that I forget to put the camera down and actually make memories with my children. I’d rather make the memories and have no proof than have to look back at pictures to show me the moments I missed.
Lea says
I did pretty well with last weeks goals. I am trying to get my Christmas presents out of the way.
Becky@OrganizingMadeFun says
Thanks for sending everyone my way with the 15 minutes a day schedule! I love the schedule and it works if you aren’t completely obsessed with perfection – just keeping the house tidied up! My house is in no way perfect, but it LOOKS clean and is clutter free. I posted your 31 days of saving money on groceries to my FB page…great series!
Becky B.
http://www.organizingmadefun.com
Organizing Made Fun
Eileen Leacock says
Thanks for the link-up and the free download. Great motivational tool.
Rhonda says
Love how you divide up your goals into areas – I just see so much to be done and try to prioritize it. Perhaps I should reconsider this! This was my first visit to your blog – I’m new to the Blog World and am enjoying getting familiar with things!
Wendy Santiano says
This is the first time I’ve done a link up also! I just started Revolution: Christmas this week so there aren’t many posts up yet… working on it! Wanted to get a start on it before the Christmas Season! Looking forward to having the best Christmas yet without all the commercialism and fluff! And of course would love to touch as many people as possible:)
And I love your weekly goal planning blog posts! Makes me feel like there is so much more I can accomplish:) Thank you so much for all you do!!
Victoria Osborn says
I have been so encouraged reading your weekly goals, and it has really encouraged me to come up with my own goals. I found that I am actually getting more done than I thought!
Crystal says
Way to go!!
deborah says
I linked up! Kind of exciting! This is the first time I’ve ever done a link up! Thanks!
Crystal says
So glad to have you participate!
deborah says
Seeing that you don’t get all your goals done each week makes me feel better about all the things I’d like to get done that don’t happen. 🙂 Is that selfish or what?!
Julie says
The knitting pattern is the exact same one that I started with when I started to teach myself to learn to knit this past summer. I made two, but ripped the first one out a few times, because I haven’t mastered how to undo stitches yet. I love how easy they are, but you still have to pay attention to what you are doing especially at the beginning and end of the rows.
Brittany says
THANKS FOR THE LINK UP! GOD BLESS!
Meredith says
I love this weekly post. I feel so much more productive since I’ve organized my goals the way you do! Thanks!
sarah says
I’m curious as to your home management goal category. Who takes care of your actual house structure and yard? Maintaining the outside of our ten-year old (not too old) home and the property occupies a lot of my time and, unfortunately, takes time away from other categories such as playing with my children, etc. From painting things, to power-washing, to refinishing decks, hours of mowing, re-seeding, leaf removal, weeding, etc. Anyone in this situation?
Jessica Claire says
Yup. I am in your shoes! Except we own two homes. The one we live in, and the one we are working on fixing up to get rented out. My husband leaves the house at 7 am and most nights doesn’t get home til after 7 pm. So there is no way he has energy or time to do it. It is a lot harder to keep my 7 month old happy, but my 5 year old loves to just play outside. He will throw the Frisbee, play basket ball, or really any sort of game he makes up. I put the baby in the baby back pack we have and carry him around. Most times he falls asleep with in minutes and I can rake, pull weeds, mow the lawn, ect with him just sleeping away. I particularly like this because it’s an extra work out 🙂 But, our house is far from perfect! So please don’t think this is a daily thing we do for hours on end. Just a few times a week for a little while each time. I too would love to hear what other moms do in this area!! Maybe I can reconfigure my plans and do something a little easier.
sarah says
Jessica, We own two as well, a rental and our own. And my husband is also gone ALL day, so it’s mostly up to me, except on the weekends. I’m glad someone else is un-balanced toward that category, too. It makes me feel better.
Catherine says
Re: Photos of the kids
I also forget to take pictures. However, I have decided to just do one professional portrait session a year, and then take my own pictures on very special days (birthdays, xmas, vacations, etc). That’s more than enough. I don’t need to pull out the camera every time someone does something cute.
I see too many parents at the park or at gymboree who are CONSTANTLY taking pictures or videos with their phones or cameras. I would much rather be present in the moment with my kids.
Also, I know so many older women who are now facing the burden of going through boxes and boxes of old photographs they never had time to organize. Organizing decades of photos is NOT fun. And they never get around to it, the burden just gets passed down to the next generation.
Nicole says
Wow, you are so incredible. To think that you have several other goals aside from what you post here just blows me away. I wish I were more like you!! 🙂
For this week, I’ve set fewer goals in the hopes that I will not become overwhelmed and actually ACCOMPLISH them.
Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration!
Cindy says
One suggestion I would make for cleaning is to do the dusting the day before the vacuuming. I try to dust and vacuum on the same day, but if that doesn’t happen, I always dust first, so that the dust falls on the floor and gets vacuumed up, and does fall on a floor I just vacuumed the day before.
Valerie says
My mom and dad always had differing opinions on this one. Dad thought you should vacuum then dust because the vacuum stirs up more dust. Mom thought you should dust then vacuum for the exact reason you cited. Help! What should you do?
deborah says
My mother always dusted first. After I was married, my mother-in-law said that her sister-in-law always swept and then dusted because it stirred up dust. I can see both sides. Just getting the dusting and sweeping BOTH done is good enough for me! 🙂
Sara@Save Money, Live Joyfully says
Thank you for the link up, and the accountability! I need to stay focused this week 🙂
Holly says
Crystal…How did the 31 weeks to a better grocery budget video go? I look forward to your videos and I have finally caught up on the ones I haven’t watched. I find that you have great ideas for budgeting 🙂
Crystal says
Um, it didn’t go… because I didn’t get it shot. That’s why it’s still unchecked off… hopefully this week!
Holly says
Goodluck!!!
Kristen@TheFrugalGirl says
I smiled when I saw your picture goal. I’m kind of camera obsessed, so I never, ever have to put “take pictures” on my to-do list. Hardly a day goes by where I don’t take at least 30 pictures. Hmm. Maybe I should put something on my list like, “take fewer pictures and get other things done.” =P
Crystal says
😉 You’re the kind of person I hope to be!
Kristen@TheFrugalGirl says
Except maybe you can take pictures AND still get other things done. 😉
Marie says
Crystal- just remember when you get around to taking the pictures to actually print them. I have picture frames hanging on my wall with strangers in them! And sadly it’s been 1 1/2 years!!! My kids are starting to ask who “these people” are.
My husband takes the pictures off the camera as soon as we take the pictures and then they go into the “great cyber abise” as I call it because I have no idea where they are or how to retrieve them or download them to a site to print them!!
It’s my goal to have my family pictures hanging on the wall by Thanksgiving!
Diane says
Me too. I have over 6000 photos of my daughter’s first 2 yrs and my goal is to organize them on the computer and copy them onto CDs.
deborah says
I love to take pictures too! I don’t take pictures everyday, partly because I just don’t have the time. I can procrastinate on getting the pictures off the camera! I love taking them, though.
lori says
and she knits?? wow! 🙂
becca holt says
Thank you so much for reminding me about Kisses from Katie! I heard her interviewed on a radio show recently and meant to write down the name of her book but forgot! Sounds like such an amazing story and a great suggestion for my book list!
April says
Since I’m on bedrest, my goals are a little different than most people’s goals: 1. Rest (obviously, though it is hard for me!) 2. Gestate (having twins is harder than it sounds) 3. Gain weight (2 lbs, woohoo!). I completed all three goals, along with some online Christmas shopping and am bumping it up this week to add a new one—crochet projects! I am excited to finally get something productive from all this laying around!!!
The Chick @ Fat Chick Fed Up says
I love your goals posts-you are SO ambitious. I blog about my weight-loss/healthy living goals every week, butI hardly ever meet them all. Oh well-at least I have something to shoot for right? And I lost 2 pounds this week so I guess that’s progress!
I just bought my hubby EntreLeadership for our anniversary on Friday-how do you like it so far?
Crystal says
Congrats on your 2-lb. weight loss!!!
You can read some of my initial thoughts on EntreLeadership here: https://moneysavingmom.com/2011/10/48-hour-giveaway-entreleadership-by-dave-ramsey.html
The Chick @ Fat Chick Fed Up says
Thanks Crystal! We don’t have our own business, but my husband has always been in management, leading teams and leadership positions at church so I am hoping he enjoys it and that he learns some things that he can translate over into his career. We have loved all of his other books so I am sure this one will be no exception. Just wish I could be there to give it to him in person!
Sarah says
It’s frustrating that some of the links people post are not goal-setting, but other things, like just a link to their frugal blog, or there’s another completely random one!
Crystal says
I’ll go in and delete the ones that aren’t specifically on-topic.
Sarah says
Oh, THANKS! 🙂
Rochelle says
My goals have been hit and miss for the past few weeks. I’m blaming it on the crazy weather- one day it’s 80 next day it’s 40!!
Kimberly B says
I love that knitted dishcloth! I wonder if I can squeeze in some time to make a few of those for Christmas presents. My grandmother would make all the grandkids knitted slippers each Christmas. Now that we’re grown, I think dishcloths would be a great tip of the hat to her.
Catie says
Thanks so much for hosting a link up! I love making lists and goals, even if they are simple things that I should be doing anyway. Some days my goal is to just take a shower, but at least I get to cross something off of a list.
Johnlyn says
I hope it’s okay that I linked up a post even though it has my menu plan and my “intentional living” goal on it. If not, feel free to delete it!
Thanks for the link up – how fun!
Guest says
Love reading your list every week. It popped into my mind that it will be so cool to see in a few years what your weekly goals are like when your little ones aren’t as little anymore. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how the “frustrations” during this season will change so quickly in the next season.
Very neat that you’ll have a record of these for yourself and your kids.
Anna Hettick says
This is awesome! I follow a similar rule for house cleaning. I have set cleaning chores for Mon. – Thurs. and it helps a ton with the upkeep of the home! Plus then I don’t keep get discouraged if for some reason I don’t get to that day’s cleaning chores because it’s not like I’m missing a whole cleaning day.
Kim says
Maybe if I write out my goals like you do I will feel like I’ve accomplished more. I always have a to do list and crossing things off feels so good.
I love your blog, this must take a huge amount of time. Such a great resource for a mom.
Vane says
Looking at some of this to do lists. I notice goals set for kids. house and one self but how about something for husband? I really would love ideas or goals to show hubby appreciation since the man of the house (in most cases) is the one that goes out to work allowing us stay at home mommies to keep our jobs! 🙂 you know what i mean? I just will really like to see what you guys come up with and give me some ideas! 😀
Love everyone’s to do lists by the way very inspirational! 🙂
Johnlyn says
I think first of all you need to know what your husband’s love language is. If you buy him a gift, but his love language is touch, it doesn’t mean much to him.
Google 5 love languages and I bet you’ll get a lot of ideas.
Sarah says
Crystal has said before that she has goals for her marriage, but she doesn’t post them here.
Sarah says
Crystal has said before that she has goals for her marriage, but she just chooses not to post them here.
Crystal says
As I mentioned when I first started posting goals, I’ve decided not to publicly share our weekly marriage goals or ministry goals, for a variety of reasons. But I try to make the marriage goals the #1 priority. Because I feel like that is one of the best gifts I can give my children–a strong marriage.
I’m reading a great book right now, The Husband Project, that is full of ideas, if you feel like you need some fresh inspiration.
vane says
Sorry, I never read about that. But the book sounds interesting, might check it out! 🙂 Thanks!
kelli says
My goals are a bit overwhelming this week- we are having 12 guests in our home this weekend for my daughter’s first birthday, as well as my son’s baptism. Now that it’s out for all the world to see, I’ll have to get it done, right? 🙂
Lucky @ Making My Own Luck says
Hey, thanks for the link up. How fun!
I’m happy to say I met my goal to stop eating the Halloween candy last week. This week I’m working on laundry.
I started writing a novel a few weeks back, and these weekly goal setting posts really keep me on track. I’ve been writing on my train ride into work each day and I’m really having a great time. At first it felt like a chore — it would be much easier to listen to podcasts, or read a novel or just zone out. But now I depend on my writing time, and this morning I was so absorbed I almost missed my stop! I’ve always struggled with finding time to be creative, but I’ve always used work and my long commute as an excuse. I don’t know why this didn’t occur to me before!
Sidetracked Sarah says
I have a 3 month old baby who wants to be held and nursed all the time! My only goal so far has been crockpot cooking, lol. Lame, I know!! I posted my menu…but I want to work on more goals. Thanks for the encouragement!
kelli says
All you need to do is hold that baby! They get big too fast! 🙂
Sidetracked Sarah says
Yes, they do! Thanks for the support!!
AJ says
Not lame at all – cuddle that baby lots and lots! If anything grab a book and do some reading – or read to the baby!
Sidetracked Sarah says
Yes, I do plenty of reading. We’re homeschooling the older children as well…..so I get plenty done from my chair……but my main focus for now is definitely meals…and the rest just comes to me. I do need to focus on more goals though….even if they’re from my nursing chair, lol! I know I’ll miss these baby days when they’re gone. 🙁
Kimberly B says
Crockpot cooking is a great goal to accomplish with a baby! 😀 My son was the same way, I thought it would never end! He’s a year now, and I look back to those months wondering where the time went and wish for the days of holding him in my arms again.
Sidetracked Sarah says
I totally agree Kimberly! This is my 6th baby. Although I’ve never had one quite this fussy and clingy, I know I’ll still miss his being little days. They’re just so cute and snuggly!! Some days feel oh so long, but others just fly by. It definitely helps having 5 older children that are good at distracting me, entertaining me and just plain keeping me busy!! 🙂 Thanks for the support!!
Diane says
Nothing lame about that! 3 mo olds take a lot of time and nursing and mommy time is what they need the most. Your family will be just fine on crock pot meals and you can catch up when your baby is 2.
Sidetracked Sarah says
Yep, thankfully, we usually think the crock pot meals are pretty good anyway! 🙂 I’m thankful to have an 11 year old helper who does pretty good as my right hand when I need her the most!!
Elise says
Oooh, I know how you feel! Mine’s four months old. The sling, bumbo seat, and crockpot are the only way I get anything done 😛
Sidetracked Sarah says
This is the first time I’ve had a bumbo seat, but he’s still a bit too little for it. He just falls over and looks totally uncomfortable. I’m sure it won’t be long now though that he likes it. Glad to know I’m not the only one, lol.
Jessica @ The Abundant Wife says
I have a 27 month old and a 10 month old. I know what you mean! That is why I’m doing “Frumps to Pumps: The Get Dressed Challenge” by Sarah Mae @ Like A Warm Cup of Coffee. Just getting up and getting dressed is more than enough of a challenge for me! Maybe you’d be interested in doing it with us? Today is Day #1 in the series of daily devotionals, if you’re interested! 🙂
Jess
deborah says
I remember when my oldest was a baby. She wanted held a lot and I felt like I would never get anything done again! I would come up with one or two things I wanted to get done for the day and write them down. If I got them done, I would feel like I had accomplished so much! 🙂 And she was my only one at that point! Part of my feeling overwhelmed was, I think, being a new mother. Still, babies take a lot of time. That’s part of the reason God made them so sweet. I read a really good description for baby days. “The days are long, but the years are short.”
Sue says
I love your knitted dishcloth. Oh so cute. You really inspire me to do more so thanks so very much.
Meredith says
I did so much better on my #1 goal. Stop going to the grocery store (stores) so much. Where I usually stay in our budget, we usually have money left over and I blow it thinking, I could go to and see if any of the freebies are there. I just went twice, one large trip and a small one for “oops I forgot it or we ran out too quickly” items. I ended up being more focused and opened minded. I had more time to play with my daughter, to cook, to be with my husband…it may sound corny but it was invigorating!!!!
Carrie Bergherm says
Linked up to my goals!
I should probably follow your suit and head to bed earlier… I’ve been staying up way too late… Makes it hard for getting lessons started in the morning.
Denise says
Love. Would have made my laundry goal (mine is to have an empty hamper every night) but we had a water pipe bust. DH didn’t let me use the washer for 3 days to make sure the well recovered. Same with the dishes (we washed some, but didn’t empty the sink each night – thank goodness for paper plates!). Finished 1 book and several crochet projects. Stayed on task with homeschool and the history book we are reading aloud. I can’t wait to hear about your 15 min housecleaning experiment! We always get it all done, but most of the time it’s such a struggle!
Carrie says
I want to pat myself on the back for getting through 75% of the papers that pile up on my kitchen cart. Crystal, sometimes I think the biggest benefit of home schooling must be avoiding the deluge of permission slips, projects sent home and homework papers lying around.
Crystal says
I think I’d go crazy with all the papers I’ve heard that come home from school! Congrats on getting through most of the pile!
Amie says
I haven’t tried knitting a dishcloth before. Now that I’m a bit faster with knitting (from several shawl experiences) I’ll have to try it out when I finish a few other projects. Thanks for the link-up.
Karen@MSEnthusiast says
Did you finish Tribes? What did you think? I got the gist of the book through videos on youtube. I’m currently reading Permission Marketing.
Crystal says
Yes, finished it two weeks ago. It was pretty good. Not fabulous, but thought-provoking.
Karen@MSEnthusiast says
Okay. I think my goal is to read all of his books. I’m reading Permission Marketing. It’s hard for anything to be as good as The Purple Cow for me. I can always find a few something to apply to what I do but I can’t say this one has blown me away.
Shannon says
It really is about the sleep! I find that I’m way behind the eight-ball if I don’t have enough sleep.
Maryalene says
Added mine! Thanks for the link up!
peever says
Oh! You’re doing the Grandma’s Favorite Dishcloth pattern. It looks great! 🙂
Crystal says
I totally bombed on my “Zero Dollar Days” goals. Remember that Hello Kitty watch you posted? I ordered it and then realized that I had worked so hard not to spend $ that day and then HAD to buy that watch. Haha! It was for Christmas, so that shouldn’t count, right? 😉
Here are the rest of my goals:
http://ncsufrog.blogspot.com/2011/10/weekly-goals_16.html
Crystal says
Sorry for being the cause of you not making your goal. 🙁
laurie bishop says
I did great on the physical side, but awful on the house cleaning, so I am going to try your schedule also. Will see how it works!
Trish @ Finances With Funk says
Sorry for the accidental twice link 🙂 You can delete one Crystal.
Wow I had such a better week last week. Except for laundry that I see is on your list too this week. Ha! I am famous for washing and drying the clothes. It’s just the folding and putting away follow through I lack.
Julie@ Flitterbugs says
Auhhhhh! I see you have “Kisses From Katie” in your picture….just finished it last night! AMAZING! I was about to recommend it to you! You should definately bump it to the top of your must read stack:)
Crystal says
As soon as I finish one of the books I’m reading, I’m starting it. It’s my reward for finishing. 🙂 It looks SO good!
Julie@ Flitterbugs says
Awesome reward!
Trish @ Finances With Funk says
I was hoping to hear from someone who read that. I wanted to buy it for a friend who the story absolutely reminded me of.
Julie@ Flitterbugs says
You will not be disappointed! I’ve been following Katie’s blog for a few years now….her book is just as amazing. Beware….it may change your life!
Trish @ Finances With Funk says
Awesome. Then I will buy it this week. I am going to have to give it with the condition that I get to read it after she is done. 🙂
Sarah says
While I haven’t read the book, I can guarantee it is good! I’ve read her whole blog and got to meet her in Uganda. We helped serve food to the sponsored children on Saturday. She is amazing!!
Heather says
We got to hear Katie talk at Catalyst last week. Wow! Life changing and inspirational…..
Claire at savingmoneyplan says
Katie is amazing!!!! Loved her catalyst talk and read the book in one night! So glad it’s on your list crystal!!!!
Windy says
I just finished Kisses from Katie too! Absolutely blew me away… her maturity and wisdom at Catalyst in Atlanta. Definitely a woman who is living radically for Christ! 🙂