Happy New Year: Goals {2019}

I look into the mirror trying to avoid looking to see if the lines around my eyes are becoming more prevalent. But where else is the to deflect my gaze as I was my hands in the sink? My countertop in the bathroom is a cluttered mess. The mirror itself is covered in water droplets. I could list a handful of other things not right in that room

After all. It is the new year. Time for reflection. Time for rejuvenation. Time to start over fresh. Resolve to make changes. Resolve to be better.

How often do we set New Years Resolutions without the follow through? 

Why do we think so negatively about making resolutions?

They really are just goals. Things to make happen during the course of the year. Goals for the success of one kind or another.  

I look into the mirror at my reflection. The lines aren't too bad, yet. My pants still barely fit, but I did just have a baby 4 months ago. It's ok.

There is nothing wrong with making goals. There are things I want to do in my house and in my life. I can call them resolutions, but I think I will call these my goals for this year. 

I know, I did just share my One Word for this year, with you. I do still need to work on that, and Rest is my focus for this year. Both Mentally and Emotionally. Physically, there are things that I have been wanting to get done.

Somewhere along the way, I have come across people who have said it's not enough to just create the goal. You need to create a situation to help you achieve it. Seriously, as a writer of IEP (individualized education plans) for students, I should know this. Goals were a big part of those documents. SMART (simple, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound) goals are prevalent all over the internet.

1. Lose the baby weight

     I have at least 20 pounds I would like to shed. I have pants I would like to fit into without having to spend money on more.

     I will do crunches/some kind of core workout in the morning, at home, after drop off 2 days a week.

     I will walk the sidewalk path at the school after drop off the other 2 days a week.

2. Finish writing my novel

    My NaNoWriMo story from 2017. It's sitting in my brain and I need to finish it.

    I'm about halfway through it. I plan to write 500 words a week. I should be done by the end of the year.

3. Get out of Debt

     As long as we stick the budget, we should have it paid off within the year! I've been saying this for years. Things come up and the budget gets shot. Once a month I need to include Brandon in the budget building and maintain it every paycheck.

4. Minimize Toys

     with the kids getting older (how is my oldest 8 already?!) The toys need to be gone through. I'd rather have this done fast. like a band-aid. But, I also want them to make the decisions.

     We are working on getting the girls to share a room, and in order for their things to be easily moveable, they need to pair them down quite a bit. I'm hoping to use the third room as a transition room. As Elias gets older he may share a room with his brother for a little while and the girls can have a break from each other then they can switch. We will see how that goes. But there is too much already. Quite a bit of it they have outgrown.

     The first Saturday of the month we will pick a category and go through either konmari style or practicality.

5. Minimize sewing supplies

     I have way more than I need and what I can actually use.

     No new fabric or supplies without purpose. It needs to be an immediate project.

     1st Friday of the month the husband has off from work, this will be my opportunity (when he isn't on overtime) to be able to take some time and work on my own things.

6. reestablish routines

     Cleaning schedule - 30 minutes a day

     Laundry Rotation
     Dishes and sweeping of floors every night

When you create goals for yourself, how to you go about seeing them through?

Living Intentionally: My Planner Set Up

My New Year Resolution is getting my life organized for living intentionally. You can read about that here! I shared my brainstorming start to setting up a planner with some resources that I was using to help me get the set up going, here. And after some searching for printable options and reviewing the cost of buying pages for my planner, I decided it would be much easier to make my own that buy. I also said, in that post, I was going to share my set up once I got it figured out. So here I am sharing my set up with you!

The Binder
I am using a Compact Franklin Covey binder I had purchased from Target about 10 years ago when I went back to college. I was lucky I found it during the books/paper KonMari Purge. I found it with my day timer, which was sadly falling apart. So I purged the day timer and kept my Franklin Covey.

I still love the color of the binder. Brown and pink go so nicely together. The front has a pocket, but I haven't used that yet.

The size of it works for about 2-3 months of daily sheets at a time. Other than that, it would be too full. HA!

The front is supposed to be a card holder, but the glue has worn a little. It makes a great place to put my pens. I'm surprised how quickly my brain accepted the color coding per person! Plus it makes it easier to fit the highlighters in the little zip pocket I have in the back.

I love it so far. The compact sizing of it makes it hard for pages though. I could not really find any printables for the size (probably because it's just an odd sizing). 4.25x6.75 isn't an even ratio of your typical 8.5 x 11 paper size. It took multiple printings of free versions for me to decide to make my own.

The Set-Up & Organization
I have it divided into sections.

In the front Is the yearly and monthly calendars. I found them for free from Scattered Squirrel. I also keep my list of birthdays and anniversaries on a sheet in the current month (I want to start sending cards).

Then I have
Tasks - Weekly docket and daily pages (2-3 months at a time). I had originally tried a 2 page daily spread but it was too much. So I took from each page what I liked and put it on 1 sheet. It uses less paper that way. It took me a while to figure out printing too. I print the pages on the booklet setting and it works great for the order I want it in and printing front and back (which my printer does on it's own, it's awesome!)

Weekly docket I use to fill in general to do's for the week, appointments and things I don't want to forget when doing my daily planning. So far I almost forgot an event and was able to not miss it because it was there! I was so excited!
The parts are:

• Daily slots for events
• To do's
• Phone Calls/emails
• appointments
• Goals
• Blog

Parts of the daily sheets:

• timed spots for the day
• water tracker and daily meals
• House keeping
• Blog/sewing
• goals
• family
• to do
• notes

Personal - I have tabs from my day timer I kept and use for this. In the front is my debt tracker. It is a goal for the year! It is top priority so goes first! I have my budget binder That houses the rest of the financial stuff. I have sections for:

• Reading - I keep track of suggested books, books chosen for book club, and the books for the BookRiot Reading challenge.

• Blog Planning - I had a separate binder for this, but didn't use it. Here I can include blog posts in the calendar and turn to this section for post planning, and I have created a sheet for tour planning, notes and brainstorming ideas (this post would have happened sooner had I not been sick all weekend)

• Menu planning - still a work in progress. I might put dinner ideas here, but I am thinking a separate binder with my cookbooks of favorite meals will help keep this planner from becoming overstuffed!
• Party Planning - I have my printables that I am going to condense into compact sizing to use here for birthdays
• Holiday Planning - Halloween Costume Planning, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Those go here.
• Sewing - I have created a smaller size to my measurement tracker sheet and have that here. I am including project sheets here too from my Boys and Girls capsule planners.

I'm thinking of changing/adding the Konmari Checklist somewhere in here too...

Goals - I have my Goals and resolutions in this section. I have my list of goals, and then breakdown of each goal listed in order with long term and short term deadlines. I refer to this when filling out the monthly, weekly and daily sheets that are in the front.

Addresses - I have misplaced addresses, or discarded random papers (party planning) that had addresses on them and I needed them in one spot, easy enough to update when needed and accessible when planning events and get togethers; or just sending invites and cards. 

I use a photo/card holder for appointment cards and a pocket for highlighters and a pencil.

So Far

I love it! I have been using it for several days and it has helped so much! It fits perfectly in my Ethel! I used to carry just a clutch/handbag, but now I have reason to carry her and I have to say I feel better about my day. At home it sits open on the table and I can refer to it/check off items/adjust as needed. 

I have everything in one place and I love that. It makes things easier that way, and the color coding is awesome as I can see it from a glance. I have MOPS, Quilt Guild, the blog, appointments, everything. Seriously, so exciting. I understand why people become addicted to their planners! 

Now for the next step in my Living Intentionally goals, to just work on scheduling in those days for personal and family time. I went to book club this month and Husband said he needed to start scheduling stuff with his friends too. I told him he should! I think it might start to become easier to schedule in a set date night too... That is if we can ever get anyone to watch the kids! Ha!

I have noticed that it helps with cleaning out my purse every day too. In the KonMari book, she mentions to empty your bag at home. Granted I don't have a station to put the stuff (yet), but taking out the planner pushes me to take out everything else too.

I'm Curious

How do you organize your time, if you do? What planner do you use?
Have you thought of getting a planner, or tried it and it didn't work? 

2016 Finish Along: Quarter 1: Goals {2016 FAL Q1}

Another Year, a new start, and a new quarter for the Finish-Along!

Part of my Goals and Resolutions for this year is to work through the WIPs (Work in Progress) and UFOs (unfinished objects) to get them done, usable and no longer taking up space in the craft space. I really wanted to finish these last year in prepping for baby. But it is hard to sew when your tired! And I know this year I am going to be tired too! But, at least a few of them the tops are pretty much done! :)

And, here is my list for this quarter.

1. Labyrinth Lap Quilt... I was debating on the backing, but it works and it needs to be done.

2.  My band shirt memory quilt... I found a backing by andover fabrics! It's perfect! There is no reason for this not to get done now! Ha!

3. This is little lady's baby shower quilt. From 2013...

4. This circle quilt. It was supposed to be for a MQG fabric challenge... It has sat in my sewing bag for.ev.er... 

5. These are supposed to be some Peasant Tops pattern by Tie Dye Diva Patterns for little lady. I know they are now too small for her, but I could still use them for this next little one coming, even if they are a 12 month and 18 month size!! 

6. This was supposed to be Little Man's Going to Grandma's/&or/Grandpa's over night bag. It is supposed to be the Dorothy Day Tripper by Swoon Sewing Patterns (affiliate links) ... 

&

7. If I have enough left over I also want to make a Tiny Explorer Backpack by Diedelbug Handmade for him when we go to MOPs meetings, the Zoo, and anything else that seems to fit with learning and fun. ;) Only problem is, he doesn't stay over anywhere and we no longer go to the zoo (I haven't renewed our membership). I still want to do them, and we miss the zoo.

I've carried over this list since 2013! Don't believe me? check it out! Finish-Along
Sad, right? I know! same things over and over. Wish me good luck! ;)

Linking up!

Happy Sewing!

Happy New Year: Resolution and Goals {Welcome 2016}

First off...

Happy New Year!!!

Last year ended. It was a whirlwind of a year. So much going on, so many new things.. And now a fresh start. A new year to make it better. To make things better, easier, more. A time to plan and prepare and become intentional about living.

I shared last years goals and how I did with meeting them (you can read about that here), and there was a lot I set out to accomplish without success. There was a lot I did accomplish that wasn't on the list, but they were surprises. And yet, with everything that happened last year I kept getting that little whisper in my ear, "you need to be intentional". I didn't understand but as the year progressed I became more aware...

Be Intentional...

Intentional about my time with my husband. We have to schedule the time to be together. We need to remember to be intentional about our love towards each other. Day to day becomes monotonous and we become jaded. We need to be intentional with our interaction with each other and the direction we wish our relationship to go (you know, into old age).

Intentional about my time with my kids. How many times have I set out to start preschool with little man only to have it thrown to the wayside? How many good intentions are cut short only because I didn't make time for it or just let it slide? I love my kids and I know they know it. But I need to be more intentional in my time I spend with them.

Intentional about my time for myself. No more feeling guilty when I ask my husband to watch the kids so I can take an evening out with the ladies. I laugh at that because that is hard not to feel. He says I shouldn't feel guilty. But, I do. I need to be more intentional with the free time I get when I do get it. Scheduling that free time into my day, my week, my months. I need to schedule that time in for Brandon too. A family I look to as a roll model in this takes every Saturday and trades. One Saturday is mom's, next is dad's, then it's the family day and starts all over the fourth Saturday. I love that idea!

This all boils down to planning. I need to be intentional in my planning. Living intentionally requires some intentional planning. A lot of intentions, a lot of being intentional, right? But it seems necessary to be successful. Successful in relationships, successful in meeting goals, successful in life.

So starts my list of goals for the year...

1. Planning. I have a planner. I intend to plan out my weeks and months. I hope that this makes things run smoother, if not easier. At least I can look to what is happening. I am not looking to throw a whole year into the planner all at once, but a few months in advance. With the baby being due in a few weeks and little man starting school, it will be more necessary to keep things straight.

2. Getting out of debt. We want a life without being strapped down by credit. No more credit card bills, no more owing money and having so much of the paycheck go towards things that we borrowed money to buy. Sad thing is? I can't even remember what those things were! Being able to set aside money for the things that are going to need to be replaced soon, like a new dinning table, washing machine, Christmas tree. We can't get those things until after that credit debt is gone. And as my son breaks another chair I can only imagine how much sooner we are going to need another table and what we can do in the mean time while we can't get one...

3. Finish the KonMari Purge. I need to establish a timeline for this one, but I am hoping to finish all of it by August. That gives me 8 months and I am already into the Kimono (miscellaneous stuff). I am thinking I might want to start over with the clothes after the baby has arrived and I have gotten closer to pre-baby body.

4. Establish my Capsule wardrobe. I took some time off the wardrobe because I was limited my clothes once I started getting bigger. I'm down to 1 skirt, 1 leggings, 2 pairs of pants that fit, 4 long sleeve shirts, 2 '3/4' sleeved shirts and 3 short sleeve. This is maternity wear, the leggings don't match a thing, one long sleeve shirt really only works under things but doesn't match with the colors in the short sleeves... My wardrobe is a mess. I may need to start figuring things out for nursing anyway! 4 more weeks!

5. Read. I have totally met a goal of 24 books this year and read 27 (Goodreads is awesome for this). I am thinking of joining the BookRiot Read Harder Challenge this year and upping my number to 30. In 2013 my goal was 20 and I read 23, so I think I can do it! :)

6. Establish a day for family and independent time, like what my friend does. It might take some husband coercion, but even if it takes most the year. I think I need the time. I haven't had a day in a long time. Rushing to the grocery store and back doesn't count.

7. Health. I need to take care of myself better... I need to drink 8 glasses of water a day, sleep 8 hours a night and not skip any meals.

8. Crafting/sewing. Finish a few more of my WIPs! More specifically those quilts taking up space in the craft room what is to be the baby's room. I need to get back into the FAL for next year. There last few quarters have been sadly lacking. You can check out my current list here. If I finish each one in a month, then I can finish by the end of May. I'm thinking more August/September though for the one where the top is started but not finished.

Let me hear from you:
What are your goals for this year?

Reflection: 2015 Resolutions and Goals Revisited

At the beginning of the year I wrote the post Happy New Year: Welcome 2015 (New Year's Resolutions - Goals). I wanted to go back and see how I did, reflect on the year. What better way to decide where to go next year than by looking at the past year; and, of course, so I don't repeat mistakes and unachievable goals. Right?

My 2015 Goals:

1. Selling Handmade/ Handcrafted Items

2. Design and sell foundation paper pieced patterns

3. working towards becoming debt free

4. Buy a bigger car

5. don't skip meals

6. Sleep 8 hours a night

How'd I do?

1. I decided against the clothing aspect. I have no interest in the compliance and all other hoops to jump through in order to sell. I respect and appreciate those that do. It is too much time, money and stress for me. At least I am honest.
Do I still want to make quilts and bags to sell? Yes! Do they have compliance laws? I have no idea, and I guess it would be something to look into. But, with the new baby that probably will not take place this year.

2. I have not listed more than my Arizona Flag on Craftsy. My laptop died. We got a chromebook. Excuses/excuses... I need to work on that one some more. I still have an alphabet that I was working on, but again not something this next year, or at least immediately.

3. Working towards debt free. I have no idea how to share this with you without giving a ton of (too much, not necessary?) info. We got more than halfway there. Then, the credit cards started getting used again and... Well... That went out the window. We got back on about a halfway through the year, then stopped again because of the baby. Budgeting helps. It is necessary. We live paycheck to paycheck at this point. Is it ok? Sure. The end goal will happen. Projected time frame? 2 years. Eek. But hey, it's something. As long as we can keep things under control, stick to the budget and not stray, we can probably finish faster.

4. Buy a bigger car. How can one save up if your paying down debt? You can't. It doesn't work. You can't do both at the same time. End result? We now need a new car, thanks to beautiful baby #3 due in 5 weeks, and not much to use towards it. Oops. But, our little girl is totally worth it. I look forward to holding her, and seeing her daddy and brother and sister with her!

5. don't skip meals. I haven't been tracking it. I can't tell you how many I have skipped. I know it's a lot.

6. Sleep 8 hours a night. Yeah, not tracked. but I am usually in bed by 9 and sleep until about 5:30/6... Maybe with 1 or two wake ups in there... That's about 8 hours. I can't function without it. And I usually nap about an hour every day too. Will I keep it up after baby? we'll see...

Reflection and Application:
Somethings that I set out to accomplish were... reasonable... but not extremely realistic for me. But, Live and learn, yes? I have a list of things that I need to replace which wont happen until after the debt is paid, but at least I have learned that lesson and a lot focuses around the budget/debt aspect of goals.

I'm in the process of writing my goals for next year and trying to keep in mind keeping them SMART. I learned that in college for planning IEP Goals. You would think I would have kept that in mind for myself too. But, the more you do it the better you get at it. But, so many people reference that in yearly, monthly, daily goal setting.

I am thinking planning is a big one for next year. A way to document and track how I am doing towards goals. I need to figure out a way to measure them...

Let me hear from you!
Did you make goals last year? Did you meet them? How do you monitor your progress throughout the year?

Establish a Budget: What to Put in Those Envelopes {create an envelope baseline}

Last time I posted about budgeting was at the beginning of the year when I shared some free printables that I use for my budgeting. We had added the envelope system to our budgeting system about 6 months prior to that post and i have to say, it has helped up tremendously. Especially with the talk of the capsule wardrobe and the effects that has on a budget, it is something that I thought I should touch on.

I've had a couple conversations with people about this, I thought I would share this with you. And, one of my resolutions, or new years goals, was to pay off debt. The envelope system is nearly critical in the success of becoming debt free...

We are still paying off debt like no other. But not quite with "gazelle speed" as Dave Ramsey calls it.

I talk about budgeting with people all the time. Not that it rules our life, but really that it sets the guidelines and parameters of what we are willing to do, for now. But living on one income (and not a grand one at that) we can't do it all, all the time, at the moment.

Don't get me wrong. We still do stuff. We have memberships to things. I still go out to dinner with friends for book club and other things. But I have made the decision that I do not need to order anything. I am there to visit with friends. I haven't gotten kicked out of a restaurant yet for not ordering food. Did it feel weird at first? Definitely! Does it still feel weird? Totally! I rent things from the library instead of buying from the store or getting netflix and hulu.

You know what, it works! We no longer over spend, even with the fabric purchases that I may not have made after starting my capsule wardrobe. Those evil credit cards don't get used.

But one thing I get asked whenever I get to talking about budgeting, or just what I hear, is I just don't know how much to put in one/each envelope! Don't use it as an excuse not to get started. Especially if you have a goal to becoming debt free!

This is what I suggest... Build a Baseline.

1. Establish a Budget. Just like everyone else says to do, this kinda needs to get done first. You need the roof over your head and the electricity/gas to cook your food. This part doesn't mean necessarily what amount to put in what envelope. It simply means to designate the different bills and things that need to get paid. The envelope amounts can come later. It doesn't all have to be done all at once. just as long as you know how much you have after all the bills are paid is the foundation needed to begin the rest. Establish this. use it for a month, or two or three to get the feel of it.

check out these helpful places for building a budget.

• Our Free Printables
• use Every Dollar from Dave Ramsey. it's a free online system that lines up with his steps. It totally puts things into perspective with meters to monitor the steps. It's a great visual! There is a subscription option too, but I haven't tried that one.
• Dave Ramsey's website has all kinds of resources check out a couple (because there is a bit) of envelope posts here and here
• A Bowl Full of Lemons has a budgeting series with some excellent printable bundles you can purchase and a step by step process how to use them and/or make your own
• One Good Thing by Jillee has a tutorial for making your own envelopes
• Check out this post on Financial Freedom about envelope systems
• Debt Steps has one too

I used a budget for about a year before I started using the envelope system. It might set me behind a bunch of other people. But at least it's done now.

2. Collect your receipts to track your spending for the month. You can go between pay periods or for the entire month. I do pay periods. The husband when from every week to every other week when we started the envelope system and it helped us not run out of money in the middle of each pay period. You know, so we could buy food!

This includes credit card receipts! But, the goal is to not use those credit cards! Keep tabs on your account, or just withdrawl cash and use that so you can physically touch and actually see how much you have left. But if you so happen to use a credit card, keep that receipt too.

This is why I suggest to use your budget to help you know how much you have after bills, but also to track your normal spending habits. It's easier to categorize when you have your typical purchases in front of you.

3. I just organized by receipt. you could probably track items using excel, quicken might have some options. I just used pen, paper, and receipt.

• separate them by pay period or month.
• Organize your purchases by category that makes sense to you. The common ones I have Household supplies, Personal Care, Baby supplies, care maintenance, animal supplies, date night/entertainment (and after the fabric purchase fiasco when I was building my capsule wardrobe, fabric and sewing). If you sort your receipt by pay period/month you can see the amounts that you typically spend and can use this as a stepping stone for your envelopes.
• Tally the amount you spent in each of these categories
• compare these numbers to the remaining amount in your budget. did you overspend your remaining amount

Check out these tips, pros and cons on Money Crashers

4. Add these categories to your budget and the amounts that are established. If you establish a baseline, it helps. You can do this over the course of 1-2 months and average out the spending.

Once you have that baseline established and those amounts written into your budget, take the time to reflect on your spending after each paycheck, each month. It's not written in stone and you can update and change.

I also add envelopes to account for birthdays as they draw near, anniversaries and even holidays, also known as like a sinking fund. I know it's not a saving tool, but it is working for us for now and it prepares us for those things.! But I am sure it will change as our needs change!

Don't be scared to start! Anyone can do it! You can do it too!

Happy New Year: Welcome 2015 (New Year's Resolutions - Goals)

Happy New Year! Welcome 2015!

I am not one for setting new year's resolutions because I know that I'm not going to keep them. You know, those silly ones...

But, are they really silly? I mean, if we set attainable, measurable goals, who's to say we wont keep them? Here's to making those Resolutions more like Goals we can Keep!

So here are my resolutions...

My first resolution is that I want to start selling handmade (no, Handcrafted as a fellow seamstress, blogger and friend had said). I sent out my first invoice New Years Eve and I have to say that it was exhilarating and exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time! Based on the same conversation from aforementioned friend, I know I can make things, and make them well. But just because I would rather make something than buy it does not mean others feel the same way. The Yoda Inspired Hoodie was a pretty good start, right?

My second New Year's resolution is that I really need to get into action and start getting out some paper pieced patterns I have been working on. I have a bunch of them sitting in a file on my old computer just needing directions written up, tested, corrected, published and listed. I am hoping to get some time to get those out there! I love paper piecing. I even started last year with my Arizona Flag Mug Rug paper pieced pattern on Craftsy.

New Year's resolution number 3 focuses on that Hubby and I have been working on getting debt free. Have you read any of Dave Ramsey's books? SO awe inspiring! I remembered hearing a while ago that in order for the economy to improve people would have to go further into debt. When (at the time) the average American had 14 credit cards and owed thousands, that made no sense to me. It still doesn't make sense to me. I have had people who believed this lie try to explain it. But if I didn't owe hundreds of dollars every month in debt that money could go to business and independent designers and the community. I see that as doing more to improving the economy than my money going to backs that use it to sell more debt. (rant end) But it also helps us here in the now and in the later.

Our 4th is to buy a bigger car. Ok. Maybe this one is shooting more for 2016. But hey, it's a goal to make #3 more enticing right? Besides, it would be so wonderful to be able to car pool in one car rather than take multiple cars. Plus it gives more room.

Now for those ones that seem 'silly', but really they are all about health! 5th is not to skip meals. I think I have been working on this one already, without success. Does coffee count as breakfast and lunch? No? oh... well... Yeah, I need to work on that.

My final big goal for the year... Sleep 8 hours a night. Tonight (if I went to bed now, as in right this minute) it's not gonna happen. Hmm, sew, crochet, sleep? I pick the first two. Sewing uninterrupted by children. Crocheting without littles pulling at the yarn? Wonderful!  Waking up feeling icky and sleep deprived with getting a migraine later, not so wonderful... Darn those consequences... I'll just have to reprioritize my day. After all, we don't need clean dishes to eat off of, right? ;)

These are my big ones.

Tell me: What is your big goal for the year? Or are you like me and do not usually set them?

New Year's resolution or not,
Hope you have a Happy New Year!

A Little Bit of Reality... Needing Some Quality 'Me' Time... {The Orange Rhino: 30 Challenge to Stop Yelling}

I love my kids so much! But, these last few days have been so hard! I'm a yell-er. I didn't used to be until after I had started working. I thought it would go away once I stopped working... it didn't... I don't like it... I hate it...

Nikolai is taking every toy away from Samara when she starts playing...

Samara has not been napping well. That makes for one cranky and tired baby...

Nikolai refuses to nap and has been giving me attitude/back talking...

The only ounce of me (by myself, alone) time I have is in the evening, after everyone has gone to bed when it is late. Or a rush to the grocery store because we need something. Then, I'm in a rush to try and make the most out of my me time that it becomes more stressful than relaxing...

I have gone a week without showering! Yuck! At least I have clean clothes...

My phone has not been working (not charging and wont turn on) so I haven't even really been able to have a good conversation with a friend in almost a week. I miss a good convo with a friend...

Mostly, I usually only get out of the house is to run errands (grocery shopping)...

If you haven't noticed, I am feeling the need for some 'me' time, time with friends, or just peace without children. I feel like I am on the verge of a break down. Unfortunately, it is real and hiding it is not healthy. So I am trying to get it out and just not sit down and cry...

Today (Day 17) of the Orange Rhino, 30 day challenge to not yell at your kids, is to make goals to take care of yourself...

My Daily goals:

- eat breakfast (you think it would be easy... but I need to remember coffee is not breakfast)

- read a book or a chapter, or even half a chapter, just to read some for me

- go to bed earlier than 2am 

Short term goal:

- get a haircut (I want it short, it would be a bit of a drastic change though) *feedback?

Long term goal:

- take photography classes and/or clothing pattern drafting classes (a maybe because of expense)

-or-

- get together with a friend for coffee or lunch or something (no kids) at least quarterly

What are your goals for yourself? How do you make sure that you take care of you? How do you get some quality 'me' time in?