Last week flew by in a blur! Preparing for the “How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half” workshop I gave on Saturday ended up taking more time than I expected (those types of things always do, don’t they?!), but it was every bit worth it–especially as it’s a workshop I’m planning to give multiple times over the next year.
In addition, some unexpected and time-sensitive things popped up that I had to take care of for my book’s release. (It’s not releasing until January 10, 2012, but it is amazing how many marketing and publicity things have to be taken care of months in advance!).
So needless to say, my personal reading and exercise (and that rag quilt I was supposed to finish) had to get mostly shelved. But it’s looking like this week is going to be a lot more calm and quiet, so I’m looking forward to more reading and running and sewing than I was able to carve out last week!
By the way, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with life or just would love to have more order and structure (I’m always working on improving there!), Amy is doing a 31 Days to Get It Together series that you’ll likely find helpful. She constantly inspires me!
Here’s the progress I made on last week’s goals:
Family/Mothering Goals
1. Finish reading The Imagination Station: Problems in Plymouth aloud to the children.
2. Go to see Courageous(Loved it! Highly, highly recommended for adults!)
3. Work on our current habit training project.Personal Goals
4. Run 12 miles (total).
5. Finish reading Eat Mor Chikin.Still working on EntreLeadership and Womanly Dominion.6. Listen to Poke the Box audiobook.
7. Finish Rag Quilt.
Home Management Goals
8. 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!).
Business Goals
9. Shoot video for 31 Weeks to a Better Grocery Budget series.
10. Finish putting together talk + handouts for a speaking engagement this week.
Here are this week’s goals:
Family/Mothering Goals
1. Finish reading The Cabin Faced West aloud to the children.
2. Work on our current habit training project.
3. Take both girls out on individual “dates” with me.
Personal Goals
4. Run 12 miles (total).
5. Finish reading EntreLeadership, Womanly Dominion, and He Heard Hannah (advance review copy).
6. Listen to Poke the Box audiobook.
7. Finish Rag Quilt.
Home Management Goals
8. 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!).
Business Goals
9. Shoot video for 31 Weeks to a Better Grocery Budget series.
10. Get new business cards printed.
How did you do on last week’s goals? What are your goals for this week? If you feel comfortable doing so, I’d love to have you share your progress on last week’s goals and your goals for this coming week in the comments. Let’s cheer each other on to live purposeful and productive lives!
You can download a free customizable weekly goal-planning sheet here.
Beth says
Hi Crystal! I’m a long time reader here, but haven’t commented much. Just wanted to thank you for sharing these goals every week. They have definitely encouraged to pursue life at home differently, with purpose.
Crystal says
You are so welcome! I’m grateful they’ve been a help to you!
Stacie @Motherhood on a Dime says
You’re always inspiring me! I’m working on a mission statement series partially inspired by your reminders that I need to set some goals for myself.
Now, get to running. 😉
Carol@simple_catholic says
I totally forgot to post goals last week! This week my in-laws are taking my son with them on a trip to North Carolina; so, my goal is to take advantage of the “free time” by:
1. Spending 30 minutes in bible reading and prayer.
2. Organizing the basement and bedroom.
3. Advanced curriculum preparations for the next 3 months.
4. Shoot a few business videos.
By the way, I have a suggestion: Since more and more ladies are posting links to their own websites for sharing their weekly goals posts, would it be possible to have a “linky” put up each week here at Money Saving Mom’s weekly post? It would make finding and checking out the links a little easier. Thanks for considering this. 🙂
Crystal says
Thank you so much for doing this series. I loved reading your posts so much that I started doing my own. This is my first week blogging about them though. You are such an inspiration!
Crystal says
Thank you for your kind words–and way to go on setting goals and blogging about them! The public accountability is SO helpful!
Anna says
Hey 2 Crystals! 🙂
Kathy says
Crystal, how exactly do you come up with your mothering goals? What I mean is, do you pick one educational goal, one spiritual goal, one quality time goal, one life skill goal…
Do you look to see where the need is? My problem is I want to teach my daughter SO many things, disciple her in so many ways, build our relationship in so many ways. This is where I overachieve the most. It’s hard to whittle it down in this area.
Amanda says
Here’s my weekly goals!
http://onstaati.blogspot.com/2011/10/weekly-goals.html
Trish @ Finance With Funk says
Here’s is the link for my weekly goals. I love reading what everyone else does. Just reading yours Crystal reminded me that I needed to get my updated business cards ordered for one of our businesses. So Thanks! 🙂
http://www.financeswithfunk.com/2011/10/03/weekly-goals-1022011/
Crystal says
You’re welcome! Thank for sharing your goals!
Deb says
I already preordered your book on Amazon (and 2 Gooseberry Patch books to make the $25), with their pre order guarantee, you cannot go wrong……..
Crystal says
Thank you so much, Deb! I hope it’s a help and inspiration to you!
Maryalene says
I’m going to start weekly goals too. Here’s my first list:
http://lowell-living.blogspot.com/2011/10/goals-for-week-of-october-3-2011.html
Heather @ Family Friendly Frugality says
My goals the past 30 days or so have been totally shot each week. First my dad was in the hospital and then he passed away. The funeral and trying to help my stepmother and basically September just seemed like one big blur. I think I need to really buckle down on the goals this month so I can get back to some kind of normalcy 🙁
Anna says
I am so sorry for your loss. Be patient with yourself. You and your family have been through a lot. I admire that you even want to consider doing goals. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Carol@simple_catholic says
So sorry about the loss of your dad, Heather. Will pray for you and your family during this time of loss.
Koree says
My main goals are to survive this week of grad school and holding down TWO jobs. Factoring in one “fun” day on Saturday to go pick apples and pumpkins. Things that are on the back burner: laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, organizing coupons.
Jessica says
Sounds like you have a lot on your plate, and that your priorities are right where they should be. I have to remind myself sometimes that although I like to be kind, eat healthy, exercise, save money, and look nice, the only thing that has a measurable, definite effect on my happiness and my future is how much I studied!
Koree says
Yes and these are the days when I would rather put on makeup and fix my hair, but i resort to glasses and a ponytail so I can study before class or squeeze in one more chore!! Good luck : )
Lea says
I did ‘ok” with my 10 weekly goals. Since my children are all grown the tasks get smaller
april says
here’s mine
http://ithinkicansquared.blogspot.com/2011/10/weekly-goals.html
Anna says
Nice blog!
Alicia @ Alicia's Homemaking says
Oh yes, and I shared my weekly goals here: http://www.aliciashomemaking.com/2011/10/beginning-of-week-planning.html
Thanks for inspiring me, Crystal!
Alicia @ Alicia's Homemaking says
I love your goal to go on dates with your girls! 😀
Jessica says
I want to take the dog on a long walk two nights this week. I sleep better and he is better behaved when we get some exercise. I also want to use the produce in my fridge (which I have already cleaned and cut!) rather than letting it spoil and eating takeout. I want to continue to show the bf basic cooking skills, and be a good sport when it isn’t exactly how I would do it, because it’s nice having a home-cooked meal ready at a decent hour. I also want to keep an organized running ‘want’ list of the best deals at local drugstores.
Lucky @ Making My Own Luck says
Last week was crazy for us too! It must be something in the air. I did okay, but cut my goals down to 3 this week so I can catch a breath. The big one is decide to start writing the novel I’ve always been thinking about:
http://cookingluck.blogspot.com/2011/09/saving-money-this-week_30.html
Carrie Bergherm says
Last week seemed to go by pretty quickly for us as well! But it was a ‘quickly’ that involved actually getting stuff checked off my to-do list. As I hoped, this last week calmed down after a couple of weeks where thing after thing seemed to crop up on me unawares. So glad! Although, since my boys were a bit sick, we didn’t get as much schooling done as we normally do. But we’re back at it this week!
Here’s my weekly goals:
http://berghermlife.blogspot.com/2011/10/even-more-to-do.html
Lori F. says
“The Cabin Faced West” brings back so many wonderful memories for me. I actually went to elementary school at “Hamilton Hill”, now known as Ginger Hill in real life. I remember reading this book in possibly 2nd or 3rd grade. Please enjoy and tell your littles that there is indeed a place in southwestern PA that is Hamilton Hill.
Gretchen says
Here is mine for the week:
http://extraordinaryordinarylife.blogspot.com/2011/10/goals-for-week-and-last-weeks-update.html
Thanks again for doing this!
Katie Haney says
My goals this week are to: go to yoga 6 days, do my “Psalms of Ascent” Bible study every day this week, read Choosing Gratitude {by Nancy Leigh DeMoss} and Why Small Groups? {edited by CJ Mahaney}, and keep our kitchen clean every day {it’s easy to let dishes pile up and counters to get messy unless I intentionally take time every day to maintain it!}!
Writing out goals is so helpful! Thank you for the encouragement every week to do this!
Marie says
I’m doing a 40-days with Jesus devotional and this past week one paragraph really struck me.
“Talk with Me about every aspect of your day, including your feelings. Remember that your ultimate goal is not to control and or fix everything around you; it is to keep communing with Me. A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with Me, even if many things remain undone at the end of the day. Do not let your to-do list(written or mental) become an idol directing your life. Instead, ask My Spirit to guide you moment by moment. He will keep you close to Me.”
Johnlyn says
LOVE THIS!!!
Maria says
Thank you for this Marie. I needed to hear it.
[email protected] says
This upcoming week for me will probably be like your last week–busy!
I’m re-evaluating some things at our house and my primary goal is to spend more time interacting with my children as well as working on a writing project.
Thanks for giving us a peek into what your goals are. It’s always fun to see what other moms are up to!
amy says
This is a question for all: I’d like to start reading chapter books aloud to my 4 year old son. Any suggestions on good books to start with that will grab and hold his attention without the pictures? Thanks!
[email protected] says
Sonlight.com has great readers for every level. You can purchase them used or just check them out from the library. Honey For A Child’s Heart is also a great resource for Read Aloud books.
Nicole says
Hi Kimberlee-
Honey For A Child’s Heart is awesome! A couple of months ago I was looking for a new book to read to our children and someone recommended it. My son is 3 years old and he loves it. Actually I bet if I were to go into his room now I would find him in bed with the book next to his pillow!
Nicole
Sandy says
I read a book to my 91 year-old mother every day. She loves our “juicy story time”!
Nony (A Slob Comes Clean) says
I’m still adjusting to a new routine, but each week gets better.
My main goal for this week is to use my time wisely. That means, check things off the list before I do anything that isn’t on the list! It’s just so easy to get sidetracked!
WICK says
Last week was crazy busy, and it seemed the cold wanted to stifle all “goal achieving” in our home. But my goal of “spending quality time with my girls” was definitely achieved. In busy weeks, it’s good to have my goals prioritized. 🙂
Jen (Balancing Beauty and Bedlam) says
Where does the weekly time fly? It’s so good to know that on those weeks, it’s ok to postpone some of the goals and know that it’ll be alright. I am SO thrilled that Amy joined me on our 31 Days series. I know she is going to be full of nuggets of wisdom.
I am taking on the toughy of Balancing Beauty and the Budget…you know, the hard stuff where we may step on toes. hahaha
Willa@ArmstrongFamilyFare says
Too funny! I just pulled up your blog and saw the picture for this post. I thought to myself, ‘Wow, it can’t already be time for another weekly goal post. It was just a couple of days ago that she posted her last one.’. Then I scroll down to your actual post and you had a similar feeling. This past week was a whirlwind for us too, with house guests all weekend long and my father in law coming in a couple of days. Busy days!
Even though I’m sure there are times where you feel like you’re not accomplishing everything you want or need to. I must say you’re an inspiration to me. You keep me rechecking my priorities and pushing myself to accomplish all the things that God has on my plate!
Johnlyn says
I turned the computer off and got all of my house work done this morning. Now it’s play time. I love it when that happens, but I get side tracked all too often.
Here’s my intentional living post from my blog (scroll down past the menu plan): http://www.hummingbirdhomemaking.com/2011/10/homemaking-menu-plan-and-intentional.html
I updated my previous plan here:
http://www.hummingbirdhomemaking.com/2011/09/homemaking-menu-plan-and-intentional.html
I must say that posting it on the Internet for all to see is a bit like having an accountability partner. Thanks for the encouragement Crystal!