My goals for 2017
Get 7- 8 Hours of Sleep Each Night
With the exception of 2 restless nights {1 night Lucy got sick and the other being July 4th} I think I did pretty good and managed to average about 7 hours of sleep. Which seems to be my normal these days.
Make Saving a Priority, Not an Idea
Free stuff, it’s EVERYWHERE this time of year. Mrs. HB and I went on a walk downtown and we found a free set of cabinets at the end of someone’s driveway {that would be perfect in a garage for extra storage}.
We also found a queen bed frame {If I needed one I would have taken it and spray painted it a brushed nickle color} and then there was an old tv which I highly doubt got picked up.
And then there was that pile of matchsticks I found after July 4th. Silly people. Leaving perfectly good matchsticks in the road. What were they thinking? 😉 So far this month we have paid extra on the mortgage, spent less on gas {thanks to me staying home more} and went another week without turning on the A/C. I’ve also cut back on watering the lawn too {which has saved us over $100 on our water bill over last year around this time}.
Live a little
I didn’t do anything exciting this past week, but hey, they can’t all be winners.
Visit 52 REAL Bakeries
I wrote about Butter Baked Goods in Vancouver, British Columbia and am now researching bakeries in Southern California because we may be going down there this fall to visit the HH’s family. My MIL loves sweets so I’m hoping to find a few good ones to try out.
Have 1 “no spend” week each month
This past week was a no spend week for me. No new groceries, wool, gas, household stuff or anything else. If you have never tried a no spend week, you should. I like how I don’t feel the need to leave the house as much and I figure it’s good training for when we live on the east coast and a blizzard rolls in and we are stuck at home. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.
Although honestly, I’m pretty sure I could stay home for an entire month and not get cabin fever as long as I had the internet, food and a project or two to work on.
Start a Line of Rug Hooking Patterns
So far I have 8 rug hooking patterns listed in my Etsy shop with 3 more drawn out but not completed. I’m finding it hard to get much done right now {the weather is so nice!} and that’s okay. As long as I get 12 patterns done by the end of the year I’ll be able to mark this goal off my list.
Turn My Wool Stash into $2,500 Mission Accomplished
So far this year I’ve made $4355.31 in my Etsy shop and Ebay store this year. I didn’t sell a single item last week {which is typical for this time of year} but I am working on items to list this fall as well as dyeing wool to sell {and use}. The Girl and I found a new series to watch and I managed to complete 3 cat heads which I’ll stick on some old wooden bobbins when I get them all finished.
Play in the Dirt
Just call her the moss queen. 😉 This past week I worked on ridding the backyard of clover and moss {I’ve still got a few days to go} and the HH and I did something else which I can’t write about because the federales would be after us.
Purge 250 Items Including Selling Larger Items We No Longer Feel We Need
So I didn’t find anything to get rid of this week but I did manage to come home with a few items from the fashion shoot. I’m supposed to be getting rid of stuff, not bringing it home! The neighborhood garage sale is next week and I’m excited to finally get all those boxes out of our garage and re-home the treasures with other people.
Learn to Crochet Mission AccomplishedÂ
Dote on My Husband Even More Than I Do Now.
This morning I served the HH breakfast in bed. On the menu… Creamy oatmeal and a cup of coffee. He put in a lot of hours this past week so I decided I’m not going to bug him with a project list today. But if he asks….. 😉 I’ve got a few ideas for him.
Lose the Muffin Top {again} Mission Accomplished
To quote NSYNC… Bye Bye Bye
Wear out {most of} the clothing I already own.
Working on it.
Try 52 New Recipes
I have plans to try out a new tomato salad this week and I still need to get all those other recipes Mrs. HB and I have tried out on the blog.
Read 52 Books
I downloaded Hillbilly Elegy and Kiss Me Like a Stranger from Hoopla this week. I am about 3 hours into Hillbilly Elegy and it’s really GOOD. I had Kiss Me Like a Stranger on request at the library for over 6 months and finally gave up and snagged the audio version for free.  I am always looking for book recommendations so if you’ve read a good one lately, please let me know in the comment section.
Give Back to 12 Different Organizations in My Community
January – Donated to Quilts from the Heart in Memory of my brother.
February – Donated to Empty Bowls Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club.
March – Donated to my daughter’s mentor who was in a horrible car accident.
April – Donated again to my daughter’s mentor who was in a horrible car accident.
May – $100 Tip to a waitress on Mother’s day.
June – Started collecting men’s shirts to donate this winter.
July –
And then, there’s those top secret goals we’re not talking about yet.
Secret Goal #1 Sell East Coast House Mission AccomplishedSecret Goal #2 Chickens! Mission Accomplished- Secret Goal #3
- Secret Goal #4
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2017? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2017 Goals HERE.
Rita says
How are your chickens doing? Are they giving you eggs yet?
Leslie says
I listened to The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (the book they made into the movie) and it was so good! I’m pretty sure I heard it on hoopla. Might have been overdrive (our library uses a few online sources). So Good!
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s on my list. 🙂
Marilyny says
I’ve been admiring your rugs on Etsy, but I’m not sure how best to use or display them. Can you enlighten me?
Mavis Butterfield says
People tend to display the small ones on a wall {sometimes in a grouping} or on a table. I plan to display all my small rugs on a wall someday.
Blair says
If you’re near Seal Beach or Belmont Shores area of Long Beach (2 locations), check out Sweet Jill’s. Otherwise, check out the Latin grocery stores for Latin/Hispanic sweets such as Mexican sweet bread (pan dulce) or Asian markets for Asian sweets such as Vietnamese pastries. Typically they’re cheap too at either.
Blair says
Oh and Rossmoor Bakery in Signal Hill (near Long Beach) as well. They did my wedding cake. Also try La Moderna but get a tamale too. This is in Whittier, my hometown. I hear La Monarca is good as well but haven’t been since they opened after I moved out of California. If you ever need recommendations for Colorado I’ve got a few here too.
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you!!
Laura says
Blair, any bakery recommendations for the USC area? Dropping the boy child off at college and it would be fun to set him up with a nice going away goody especially since his birthday is 2 weeks after he gets there. TIA!
Blair says
Yeah, you have sprinkles close by, which is the trendy place. But you favorite is the farmers market. It’s not like the weekly farmers market in the sense you’re probably thinking but more like a bazaar/food court/flea market, attached to the Grove, an upscale shopping center. But farmers market is a throwback to old la on fairfax with the compound pretty close to the university. It’s fun to just get lost and spot the random celebrity incognito just trying to have their coffee and Texas donut or Slice of pizza. I also think the immediate area is getting gentrified since I was college age and it was a lot more run down then so maybe some new places there or in downtown la.
bobbi says
I think I missed something, lol. are you still planning on moving to the East coast? 🙂 I live in FL and really want to move somewhere (anywhere) that there are seasons. 🙂 One day…
Mavis Butterfield says
It’s all I want to do. 🙂 4 real seasons… how nice would that be?
Laura says
If your coming to San Diego then you need to go to The European Cake Gallery or Extraordinary Desserts. Both are delicious.
Laura says
I know the difference, it’s you’re.
Tina W says
I second the Extraordinary Desserts suggestion. And third it, and fourth it as well.
Seriously, it’s that good.