Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend!
Ours was quite full, but so good! Our friends, the Odoms, were driving through TN so we had them over for dinner on Friday night. And then Erin and I stole out to have coffee and great conversation afterward until late into the night.
Saturday, I had my usual early morning coffee accountability coffee date with my friend, Allison. Then, I shopped for supplies for our church’s cafe, did some blog work, and Silas had a baseball game.
That afternoon, it was “Operation Find Tam an Outfit to Wear at Her Upcoming Speaking Events”. 5 things you should know about this picture:
1) Angie (the gorgeous gal in the passenger seat) was the one who introduced Tam to me just a few days after we moved.
2) We will forever be grateful because Tam and her family (including Kass – the adorable girl next to me in the back seat) have become like family to us — some of the greatest gifts since our move to TN.
3) We quickly discovered while shopping that pretty much everything looks good on Tam. However, despite how crazy cute she is in everything, I will still be her friend… Because you just can’t not love her!
4) Dressing rooms were not made for 4 grown women to stand in and try to give input on someone’s clothes. But we improvised and made it work — while having a blast doing so!
5) The best line of the afternoon from Tam after trying on a shirt that was rather unique and drape-y: “you need Google maps to figure out how to put that thing on!”
On Sunday, we got up early to go to church and help out at our church’s cafe for both services. We met a new family this weekend who moved here recently and also started coming to our church, so we invited them to come over for dinner on Sunday evening.
So Jesse headed to take our girls to a birthday party and then he and Silas went Jesse’s softball game, while I came home and got food and the house ready for hosting our Community Group and having the family over for dinner afterward. It ended up being such a great afternoon and evening full of fellowship, great conversation, and new friendship.
Here’s an update on my goals from this past week:
Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Take the kids on a field trip to the Nashville Zoo.
We had a lot of fun on our outing with friends to the zoo! It was a beautiful day and I was very impressed with the Nashville zoo.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.
3. Continue working on developing the habit of obedience in our home(I attended the Laying Down the Rails workshop at the recent homeschool conference and it’s really motivated and inspired us in our parenting. We’re choosing the habit of obedience to implement in our home for the next 6-8 weeks. Just a week of working on this and it’s already made a big difference. Watch this video here for a snippet of the workshop.)Personal Goals
4. Exercise at least 5 times.5. Finish at least two books.
6. Listen to at least two inspiring audios/podcasts while working/driving.(I’ve recently been challenged to do a better job of using those little cracks of time throughout the day to fill my mind up with good things and things that make me think and analyze life.)Swoon. Got to hang out with adorable Ezra and the amazing Jessica Turner for a lunch date last week. I was so in love that I didn’t even know Jessica took the top picture. Be still my heart. He kept smiling and cooing at me… And I’m smitten. Also, I think his mama is just downright incredible. So fun to talk books, blogging, business, babies, and balancing with her over a yummy lunch.
Local Ministry/Hospitality/Friendship Goals
7. Have a lunch date with a friend.
8. Have friends from out of town over for dinner.
9. Finish reading a friend’s manuscript & writing an endorsement for it.
Business Goals
10. Outline/write 3 substantive blog posts for next week.
I did a little freezer cooking session last week: two pans of bacon, two loaves of Banana Bread, and some Trim Healthy Mama Pancakes. I’m so happy to be back into the swing of Freezer Cooking again… I have missed it and I’ve been reminded as to what a difference doing a little cooking ahead can make in our lives.
{More details and pictures and recipe links from my freezer cooking session coming tomorrow.}
This week’s goals:
Marriage/Mothering/Homemaking Goals
1. Finish buying all of our homeschool curriculum for next year.
2. Write a love note to Jesse.
3. Have a date night with Jesse.
4. Continue working on developing the habit of obedience in our home (I attended the Laying Down the Rails workshop at the recent homeschool conference and it’s really motivated and inspired us in our parenting. We’re choosing the habit of obedience to implement in our home for the next 6-8 weeks. Just a week of working on this and it’s already made a big difference. Watch this video here for a snippet of the workshop.)
Personal Goals
5. Exercise at least 5 times.
6. Finish at least two books.
7. Listen to at least two inspiring audios/podcasts while working/driving. (I’ve recently been challenged to do a better job of using those little cracks of time throughout the day to fill my mind up with good things and things that make me think and analyze life.)
Local Ministry/Hospitality/Friendship Goals
8. Plan out summer drinks for our church’s cafe.
9. Finish reading a friend’s manuscript & writing an endorsement for it.
Business Goals
10.Finish the final edits for the course handbook for our new online course.
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.
Sue Sundstrom says
Okay, I’m late to the gals ‘goals’ party, but it’s great accountability for me to post my goals!
Jennifer Tasker says
OK, so two quick comments:
1. I love that your freezer cooking included pans of bacon as well as Trim Healthy Mom recipes! All about balance!!
2. I also love seeing that photo of you and Jessica. I’ve been following you both on your blogs for years – so its kinda weird to see blog-life meets real-life!
Anna @ Feminine Adventures says
I didn’t get the things I was planning to done this week, BUT after almost a year of waiting, finally got our bedroom cleared of boxes and piles. (A remodeling project took WAY longer than expected, but it’s finally done and we get our room back, yay!)
Ali says
Watch out, loving on a friends adorable baby is one of the reasons I’m 21 weeks pregnant with my 4th! “Come on honey…just one more!!” 🙂 Oh, I have a wonderful husband!
Crystal Paine says
😉
Jennifer says
Just posted my link. Better late than never. Thanks for encouraging us to be accountable to one another, Crystal. You also remind me that I have got to investigate a few new homeschooling things. I have a high schooler this year–EEK! I have heard such good things about IEW that I need to investigate it. I’m thinking I want to throw that into the mix for her!
Lisa says
Okay, someone please tell me that I’m not the only one who is thrilled if I’m able to visit with friends (or family) once or twice a month! 🙂 We moved about three years ago, but I still have hardly anyone I would consider a close friend in the area . . . much less friends to get together with on a regular basis. I can’t be the only one, right?
(Not a criticism of this post at all! 🙂 I’m happy for Crystal and her family . . . just, ack . . . sometimes feel like a total failure at making friends after reading this sort of thing. 😛 And in need of a little encouragement. 🙂 )
Crystal Paine says
I think the biggest thing for us in developing relationships here has been reaching out again and again, looking for people who are lonely/craving community, praying for friends, opening our home, going out of our way to look for opportunities to serve, and plugging into our church.
We’ve experienced a lot of awkward situations in the process and there have been many times when I’ve felt very out of place and outside my comfort zone, but the result has been some beautifully deep and rich relationships so it has definitely been worth the hard, weird, and awkward.
Praying that you’re able to find community right where you’re at, too. Don’t give up. Keep reaching out and hopefully those deep relationships will start to blossom there little by little, too. {Hugs!}
Lisa says
Oh, it really wasn’t a criticism, and I can imagine that you did work hard to develop them!
It’s just nice every once in a while to know that I’m not the only one, ya know?
Crystal Paine says
And I totally didn’t take it as criticism, I just wanted to share in hopes it might encourage and inspire you to keep reaching out and putting yourself out there… it’s hard, but oh so worth it!
Sue says
you are not the only one Lisa.. i was thinking the same thing.. not to take anything away from Crystal.. but same issue here..
LOL
Lisa says
Thank you! 🙂
HappyMama says
Your not the only one! I have friends I visit with on an occasion. We get together for playdates with our children, but I don’t have any friends that I do things with like I did in high school. And most of my socializing is with our lovely family. My mom is one of best friends and my mother in law is great. I guess I just really like spending most of my time with my husband and children. I grew up with parents like that and I guess I am the same way myself. Its fun to get together with friends and their children occasionally, but I am content with that. I guess the people I’ve known in real life who are way into friends-usually have relationships with their husbands and kids that suffer. Not saying this is the case for Crystal, but just my experience with people I’ve known in real life. So don’t feel bad your not the only one who isn’t super social outside their own families!
Lisa says
Thank you, Happy Mama! I’ve been wondering a little if I shouldn’t be worried about the fact that I’m pretty happy to just spend time with my family most of the time . . . your comment made me feel much better about it! 🙂
Julia @ Swirls and Spice says
Thanks for showing me a healthier way to bake my bacon. I’ve been wondering how to do it without having the aluminum foil touch the bacon! Now I know! Looking forward to the full freezer cooking report this week!
Sarah says
Since you’re buying homeschool curriculum for next year, I’m curious…. How has Monarch worked out for you?
Crystal Paine says
Yes! We’re using it for Math, Language Arts, and Science next year and using Sonlight Core for History, Geography, Bible, Reading, etc.
Cari says
Sounds like a very fun, full, and productive week again! Thank you for sharing!
Erin@The Humbled Homemaker says
Wow–you had a PACKED weekend! Thank you SO much for making time for our families to visit! We ALL enjoyed it! I hope you get to catch up on some sleep at some point this week! Love to you, friend!!
Jen says
Looks like you had such a nice week. 🙂
Have you done a recent post on podcasts you listen to? I searched and couldn’t find one! I have been listening to audio books in the car, currently “Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To” and I’m really enjoying it, especially in the mornings during my drive to work.
I also just started “Lizzy and Jane” which you recommended! Love it so far. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
I listened to some of Kat Lee’s Inspired to Action podcasts two weeks ago and last week started in on Andy Stanley’s Leadership podcasts. We’ll see what I end up listening to this week… probably more Andy Stanley since I loved it so much!
Shelly says
This past week I got very little done that was on my goals list. I did get a project worked on. So I made some progress.
I need to do some freezer cooking myself. I think my family would eat all the bacon before it made it to the freezer. 🙂
Amanda says
Oh my, Jessica and her baby are adorable!
Karen says
Love the picture of you and Jessica’s baby…so sweet! And I really love your hairstyle in that picture. Any tips for someone who’s *ahem* “challenged” at doing their hair? 😉
Crystal Paine says
It only took me three months and hundreds of tries to perfect that bun… but now it’s quite easy for me to do. I just pull my hair back like I’m putting it in a ponytail and then twist and wrap it around in a bun and secure it with a hair tie. Then I mess with the bun to make it look like I want and then secure with bobby pins.
Maybe I should do a YouTube tutorial… but then, it feels really, really weird for me to be doing a YouTube tutorial on hair!!
Jenny says
Yes, please! I love your bun in the make over your mornings course & have already searched YouTube for a tutorial!
Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama says
I’m just starting out with my blog (thanks for the inspiration!), so most of my goals this past week were blog related. I did write and publish my posts, apply and get accepted with Google AdSense, and apply and get accepted as an affiliate for Erin’s Homemaking Bundle. A pretty productive week all around! I loved the photos of the baby. There’s just something about little ones…:)
Amy says
I would love to see a list of items you are ordering for homeschooling! 🙂
Julie@FrugallyBlonde says
I can’t wait to hear how your bacon turns out. Ours always disappears so quickly that I stopped buying it. Whenever I go shopping with my mom and sister we always call whatever dressing room we are in the party room. With three people crammed in the room and all the noise people probably think there is a party going on.
Pam says
Freezing bacon would never work in our house – it would be gone as soon as it was cool! I’m back into my weekly goal setting after a crazy few weeks of vacation, lots of work and a new puppy!
Valerie says
Looks like you were very successful with your goals! I have to give myself a deadline because I’m so bad at procrastinating. Were you able to find Tam an outfit? I laughed so hard at the Google maps quote…the struggle is real.
Crystal Paine says
Love that girl… she’s hilarious without even trying to be! And yes, we found her an outfit and it’s adorable! Some of it was from what she already had, too, so that made it much more affordable!
Jennifer says
Do tell, what’s the new online course going to be about????
Crystal Paine says
It’s called Make Over Your Mornings and is launching in 3-4 weeks. It’s SO close to being done and I’m so excited about it!
Victoria says
I did get my posts for this week done by Friday but I didn’t get as much work done on my ebook on Saturday. My son’s school found out he was young enough to play on the junior high soccer team even though he is in high school and asked him to play. Him playing means a whole lot of driving to and from practices and game watching for me that I wasn’t expecting including a game on Saturday. That’s okay though I love watching him play. I managed to take the kids ice skating Friday night and didn’t fall once! I did notice that the kids skates were not as tight as when my hockey skating husband gets them but that didn’t seem to bother them much. This week I am hoping to go through my daughter’s closet and get rid of all the too small summer clothes and figure out what she needs. I also want to finish “In a Pit With A Lion On A Snowy Day” I am really liking it.
Tracy says
I have never heard of freezing bacon before, so this might be a weird question, but what do you do with it? Is the texture the same after thawing?
Crystal Paine says
I’m experimenting and will let you know in my post tomorrow what I find out! 🙂
Tracy says
You might also explain how you keep your family from eating the whole pan of bacon before it makes it to the freezer 🙂
Jennifer says
🙂 Right? I don’t think I’d be able to get it in the freezer at my house.
Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden says
It’s good to see that you are back to freezer cooking. I know that with how busy you stay it will definitely help you like it does me. Saves so much time and money by not eating out when life gets busy!