My 14 Goals for 2020
J.M. Barrie, of Peter Pan fame said it best when he wrote, “Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.”
And friends, I would rather be doing something else.
So at 9 am this morning, I am officially quitting my day job. I’m clocking out. Going on full vacation mode for the next 365 days. After being a devoted housewife for the last 25 years, the time has come to cash in all those vacation days I’ve accrued.
Goal #1 – Take Full Advantage of Having My Husband Home 24/7
Things I won’t be doing this year:
- Cooking {canning not included}
- Washing dishes
- Grocery Shopping
- Laundry
- Any Sort of Cleaning What.So.Ever
Goal #2 – Take Better Care of Myself.
A totally cheesy goal this late in the game, I know, but I’m getting old, and believe it or not it wasn’t until I spent the night at Mrs. Hillbilly’s house back in November that it even occurred to me that I should be putting some sort of moisturizer on my face every night.
For 46 years… I never even washed my face before I went to bed. But then she gave me a little tub of old lady cream and I was like…. Ohhh this is nice. And so now, I’m putting lotion on my face like every morning and every night and what do you know…. my skin is looking SO MUCH better. Who knew?
So this is the year for taking better care of my skin, taking more bubble baths, sleeping in more {and totally waiting for breakfast in bed when I do!!} 😉
Goal #3 – Get Organized
What if I told you our bed is currently half way in our closet right now and the rest of our bedroom has been taken over by tables with bolts of wool on them? Like 300 yards of wool to be exact. It’s like something you’d see on an episode of hoarders and for some reason, I think it’s the most hilarious thing ever. I don’t really even care. But I know I should.
So while I don’t think I need an intervention or anything, I could really use some sort of storage system for all my wool. If only so we could live like normal people. But it’s just not the wool that I need to organize. It’s pretty much the entire house.
Goal #4 – Get Proper Window Coverings on All Our Windows.
You would think after three months I would have made all of the 30+ Roman shades by now, but I haven’t. Some windows are still covered in paper shades and some with sheets {OH THE HORROR}. So ya, getting the rest of the shades {20+ more to go} would be nice.
Goal #5 – Master Bedroom Make Over
We pulled up the carpet and painted out one of the closets when we first moved in, but haven’t had the time to do anything else since.
Goal #6 – Kitchen Update
We’ve decided to update the backslash and paint the walls for now as more of a wait and see strategy more than anything else. If we don’t think it totally changes the feel of the kitchen… we’ll probably go all in.
Goal #7 – Install Vegetable Garden
There is a small patch of herbs, a few blueberry bushes and a handful of flowers scattered about, but besides that the backyard is pretty much a clean slate.
Goal #8 – Explore More of Maine
We’ve been as far as Mid-Coast Maine, but we really haven’t gone inward all that much, visited any of the islands or driven to the Canadian border. This year though, the goal is to get a paper map and mark off towns as we go. Maine has to offer, and we’d like to see as much of it as we can this year.
Goal #9 – Host Some Sort of Get Together
It’s been a long time {like since the kids were in high school} since we’ve had a bunch of people over. Being a hermit is kind of fun and all, but we’ve already been over to the neighbor’s house 4 times in the three months we’ve lived here. I have no idea what kind of get together we’ll host, but having one is a goal for this year.
Goal #10 – Read/Listen to 12 Books
This is a really small number compared to years past, but who know’s maybe I’ll surprise myself and read a ton more.
Goal #11 – Learn A New Skill or Craft
I’m pretty much open to anything. Only time will tell. But glass blowing would be kind of cool.
Goal #12 – Visit 12 Museums, Historical Homes or Botanical Gardens
One a month seems do-able.
Goal # 13 – Reach 5,000 Etsy Sales by the End of The Year
Since opening my Etsy Shop in 2011, I’ve met so many nice, like minded people with the same hobby I have… rug hooking. And while I have never taken a single class, or really sat down and talked to anyone who is into rug hooking as much as I am, somehow I’ve managed to build a little shop on the internet over the past few years.
It wasn’t something I set out to do, it just sort of happened over time but I am really having fun with it. As of January 1st, 2020 I have made 2,804 sales on Etsy. How wild is that? So this year, as a way to reach the 5,000 mark {I’ll need to sell 2196 pieces to hit that goal} I plan on devoting my time to hooking like mad and coming up with a boatload of new patterns and other goodies to expand my offerings.
Goal #14 – Once a Month Menu Planning {for 2}
The Girl is here less than half the time, and since our schedules are totally flexible these days, we’ve turned into total slackers when it comes to sit down meals. Which, isn’t necessarily a bad thing at this stage in our lives, I guess.
So this week I intend to come up with some sort of menu/food plan that will hopefully offer a little more order to our lives so we’re not living off BBQ and frozen pizza all year.
This is the year my husband takes over all the kitchen duties after all, but still, a few normal meals would be nice.
Here’s to a creative and Happy New Year!
~Mavis
Have YOU made any goals for this year? If so, DO TELL!
Lissa says
WOW. He must really love you :). Will be fun to follow along with you all year.
Maryw says
I cannot wait to see how this year goes!
Tulip says
Yes me too esp the meal planning hope you will be sharing those with us!
Marcia says
I feel like we are practically twins in some ways. Right before Thanksgiving, I legitimately went out and bought myself some moisturizer and serum. I started the moisturizer once a day and just added in the serum before it two days ago and it feels so good! Who knew? I’m 49.
Linda says
I’m 52 & also just started using moisturizer & a serum!! And that was because my 24 year old daughter was horrified that I wasn’t using anything but cleanser on my face! Ha!! I do like it though! : )
chicken grandma says
I thought the same thing- After the last kid left home-permanently-I would take 5 years of accrued vacation time. Ha Ha didn’t happen- husband became disabled and I had to work full time. Well, for the past 3 years I have been retired-to help out our son with his kids.
It is hard to plan some goals for the year since my husband is having major foot surgery next week. I will become an unpaid nurse.
I love to scrapbook, so I will be working on the thousands of photos I have. I also will work on my heritage albums. It is getting harder to find people still living that can give me information .
I would also like to plan meals better. We waste too much food by not planning for leftovers.
And I would like to do some sewing. I will start making food shopping bags-6 of them. Will need that many for once a month shopping.
Happy New Year everyone. It is kind of like a clean slate. Fill it with good things and good people .
Sue says
My goodness, you almost gave me heart failure. My first thought you are shutting down the blog.
Happy New Year! It’s going to be interesting one, can’t wait to read all about it.
Peg says
Sue, that’s exactly what I thought too! Huge sigh of relief after I read the post.
Mama Cook says
Same here!!!! Phew!!!!!
Rita says
Me too!
Julie says
Definitely shocked me at first!
Emily B. says
DITTO! So glad it’s just using her hubby to his full potential. 🙂
Nekey says
Me too! I look forward to her emails every morning. 🙂
Delores says
Me too! I thought she was going to be done blogging and there was a momentary panic! 🙂 But this options is better. Although, in all honesty, I am not sure if I could handle my husband doing those things. While he is awesome, I think I could not handle his cleaning schedule, or his cleaning/laundry/cooking/shopping methods.
Carolina Cooper says
About Goal #8—Please consider Monhegan Island. Maine. It is the farthest out of the islands — about 10 miles off shore and an hour boat ride–but well worth the trip. Boats leave daily from Port Clyde, Booth Bay, and New Harbor. For “day trippers” I would recommend Booth Bay. You leave your car behind at the dock ($7 +/-) for the day. It is like taking a step back in time—a one room school, general store, an adorable library, a local craft shop, great hiking trails, and lots of places to ear lobster (for the HH). It is probably my favorite place on the face of the earth — no exaggeration. If you want to stay longer, there are a few quaint hotels–the Island Inn and the Trailing Yew come to mind. There are great views everywhere in the 1 1/2 mile by 1/2 mile slice of paradise! Check it out–there are many photos online.
Mel says
I see a lot of similarity in our goals for this year, so I’ll be right there with you on many of them. I have a bunch of little goals this year that seem to fall into 6 categories.
1. HEALTH: I need to finish healing my broken finger, which has been a real nuisance. I also want to continue running, be better about hydration and skincare, catch up on doctors appts. (delayed due to an insane 2019), eat better and lose 10 lbs (holiday/broken bone weight), and be more relaxed.
2. HOLIDAYS: I want to learn to carve springerle cookie molds to give as gifts. I also need to reorganize our holiday stuff so it’s easier to decorate.
3. COOKING: I want to try making yogurt by sous vide (my yogurt machine started malfunctioning), learn to make brioche, and make our own spice mixes (I keep mixing them every time I make a recipe, and it’d be so much easier to have them pre-mixed.)
4. HOUSEWORK: I wanted to deep clean this week, but I can’t due to my broken finger. So, I want to have a deep cleaning extravaganza over Spring Break. I also need to stay more on top of folding/putting away laundry (our laundry room is tiny, and winter involves many more layers and blankets, so it piles up FAST), and I need to reupholster our living room ottoman.
5. SEWING: I want to finish 3 ongoing projects, and then sew carrot bags for Easter, Valentine’s Bags, two skirts, and a Christmas stocking for our cat. I also want to try making a new kind of reusable wrapping paper, make my own pajama pants pattern, and learn to sew zippered pouches.
6. DIGITAL STUFF: I want to read two books that have been sitting on my Kindle for months, organize photos into albums, and clean up my Pinterest boards.
Here’s to 2020!
joely says
Have you tried making yogurt on the stove? There are lots of recipes online for using the stove and oven or even a heating pad overnight! It might be fun to investigate…
Mel says
Yes, but our kitchen temperature is hard to regulate due to the way the house is laid out, so anything without its own stable heat source unfortunately does not work and leads to a lot of wasted milk. Yogurt machines tend to overheat after a while (ours worked twice before it started doing that), which results in grainy yogurt (okay for cooking but awful for eating straight). In theory, the sous vide keeps it at an perfectly stable temperature, and it takes up less cabinet space than the yogurt maker anyway. We’ll see.
Cindy says
Would love to see what valentines, Easter bags will look like.
Mel says
Since we don’t do too much for Valentine’s, those will probably just be using up a yard of heart-print fabric to make a few gift bags like the Christmas ones I shared before:
https://www.onehundreddollarsamonth.com/sewing-instructions-for-reusable-fabric-gift-bags/
I used the same method to make birthday bags out of balloon and happy birthday print fabric this fall. It’s nice to be able to quickly wrap gifts when we have them without any mess or waste, so the Valentine’s ones will be there when/if we want them.
We do have Easter baskets though, so I think I’m going to make carrot-shaped drawstring bags for those and maybe some fabric berry boxes. So, a little more exciting.
Brianna says
I guess my main goal this year I have been putting off for years, almost a decade. I haven’t ever printed off a baby picture of my kids or even done anything with all of those digital photos. It is time to finally sit down at a computer and start sorting. My kids are 5, 8, and 10, so yes Im awful for putting it off so long. I am not a scrapbooker or anything like that, so I am seriously challenged. Digital pics are so confusing to sort, compile, and deal with.
Laura says
Brianna–I highly recommend starting with a site like Shutterfly. You can organize everything and make huge albums, either one per year (or two or three depending on your photos). Every so often they have unlimited page albums (actually limited to 110 pages but you only pay for the 20 page album). Make your albums in the winter in the evenings and then you can order when the sale shows up. You could make a family album and make 4 copies, one for each kid and one for mom and dad. Takes some of the pressure off.
Good luck! This is a goal of mine but I have some film pictures and the rest digital which complicates things….
Jules says
Looking forward to seeing how it goes for you! One of the great things about your blog – I can follow your goals and not make any of my own.
tia in boise says
I usually try to stick with 5 or fewer goals…but for some reason (inspired by Mavis’s usually lengthy list?), I thought 20 for ’20 would be fun. I think they’re all attainable. I went with some yearlong goals and some that I can cross off as we go.
1. Organize 20 areas of the house. (We don’t have a huge house–I’m counting one drawer or cabinet as 1 area!)
2. Pay down 20% of debt on one card. (Had to make this a small amount as I have some medical debt, just had our house reroofed, still paying off a fridge, and just had the garage door fixed—so that all needs to be dealt with first.)
3. Cut back on refined sugar. (This will be a tough one–but hoping to celebrate small wins–like one full day without sweets–one full week….baby steps.)
4. Soda only on pizza night. “I think I can, I think I can…”
5. Create and implement cleaning schedule. (Made it already–just need to type it and fine-tune and then share with everyone else in the house…)
6. Set up sewing machine and complete 20 projects. (not 20 different projects, but total items)
7. Go on 20 dates with DH. Looking forward to this one!
8. Lose 20 pounds.
9. Exercise 20 minutes every day. (The intent is to exercise longer, but I was sticking with the theme of 20–and if I just focus on that to get started…..)
10. Make 20 new recipes. (Last year’s goal was a new recipe a month, and I crushed it.)
11. Get rid of (trash or donate) 20 things. (I’m not counting items that I’ve stashed to sell.)
12. Never be without water.
13. In bed by 11:00 on weeknights.
14. Complete 20 acts of kindness.
15. Purchase and use journal–food, exercise, gifts…
16. Classroom: Tidy 20; plan/prep 20; grade 20. (I’m hoping if I dedicate one hour each day and stay focused, I can get more done in less time and stop procrastinating? Again, I’m loving the focus on 20.)
17. Stop swearing. (By 10:00 this morning I’d already muffed up this goal twice–just goes to show how badly I need to work on it!)
18. Read 20 books. (Since I read over 20 books this past summer, this should be an easy goal—maybe it should be 20 non-summer books…..)
19. Track found money and items and freebies. (I have tried tracking my found money for the past 3 years–but technology keeps messing with an accurate count—it’s from between $7 and $9 each year. This past year I took photos of everything I found (leash, bandana, golf frisbee disc…) and obtained free by using deals and coupons—plan to make some sort of collage of it.
20. Put stuff away once used–each day. (I’ve gotten better about this the past year and want to continue to improve in this area.)
Happy new year to you all—good luck on all your goals–whether you formalize them or not!
Leslie says
I love your goals. I may borrow several
Delores says
This is great! I am rethinking mine now. I love the 20 in 20 and using 20 as a measurable number for many of them! Good job!
HollyG says
When you head up the coast toward Canada, please keep going (not to stay, just to visit). We drove from Oregon to spend a wonderful week on Prince Edward Island. The people were lovely and Charlottetown was gorgeous. Lunenburg, NS is on our list for the next trip – it’s a Unesco Heritage Site and looks like an amazing, colorful village on the sea.
Cathy says
Not sure where in Maine you are but fun gathering in alfred Maine in the spring for a weekend all rug Hookers or the last saturday in Jan a gathering in Eliot Me (one day). It is great to be with like minded people for inspiration.
Lynne says
I have a friend whose job includes visiting small towns all over our state; he’s had similar jobs in other states. He has a large road map and highlights every road he has been on and uses it to plan his trips so he can drive as many roads as possible. It motivates him to keep traveling (although he does love his job; he’s in historic preservation).
Sheryl says
Love this idea
Pj says
I love your 2020 goals! I think you’ll relax and enjoy more with these goals over last year. My goals this year are all focused on improving my health and enjoying life! There are also home repairs and retirement planning in my future. Good luck! Following your goal progress is one of my favorite parts of your blog.
Elle says
1. Give my organic garden beds a well-deserved rest and feed them well. I have 1 bed that has been resting for 2 years so it will get a workout with tomatoes 🙂 ( am open to suggestions for how best to feed the beds BTW).
2. Spend our 40th wedding anniversary enjoying Glacier NP and Banff. First time visits for us and a long roadtrip.
3. Eat well out of our freezer and canned goods. We buy a CSA share so we’ll have plenty of freshies May-Sept.
4. Exercise! Lose some fat accumulated the years my badly injured knee awaited me to get that knee replacement-love it! Wish I hadn’t waited.
5. Cut, Sew, Quilt. I have plenty of stash and lots of ideas and the time to do it.
Linda Sand says
I made one of your pickety bits meals for visiting family over the holidays and it was a huge hit. I bet your neighbors would like that, too. It’s such an easy way to host a gathering. Thank your teaching me to do that.
Kathy says
I went on strike once, for 6 weeks. My HH and 2 boys were totally flabbergasted by it. BUT, my boys learned to cook, clean and do laundry, their father teaching them. It was fun. My goals for 2020? Health, happiness and prosperity. Health as in total hip replacement in late spring. Happiness because I’ll be pain free. Prosperity? I’ll be paid while on medical leave from work, kind of like found $$! Here’s to a kick-butt 2020 for all of us cheers!
WendyinCA says
Hey Mavis & friends! Long time lurker here. I, too, about had a coronary when I thought you were throwing in the towel on blogging.
I like the idea of setting 20 goals, but for me, less is better, so instead of 20 individual goals, my goal is to paint 20 paintings in 2020, as I can achieve that.
Also want to thank you for the guest post you had about 6 months ago on batch/freezer cooking. That has been the most impactful blog post of 2019 for me, so THANKS!!! It’s just awesome to pull out a frozen home cooked meal on those days I can actually paint.
Lisa says
Here are my habits I am working on developing in 2020
Daily
1. Drink water w lemon each morning
2. Journal
3. Really limiting my sugar intake and lowering triglicerides; eating less
4. Stay completely offline from 4-8 p.m. to focus on my family
5. Start dinner and evening routine early (dishwasher, sink, bath, face yoga, reading)
6. Hold a plank for as long as possible before turning on the TV each night
7. Read/listen to twelve books this year; 1 book each month
8. 200 calories or lower of sweets per day five days a week – watch the milkshakes (I just discovered custard shakes!)
9. To bed by 10pm except for Friday Date Nights
Weekly
1. Weekly dates w DH on Friday nights
2. Saturday go for meditative walk; review my week
3. 30 Minutes or more five days a week of cardio
Monthly
Visit 1 Museum, Historical Home or Botanical Garden
Karen Phanco says
Being a new rug hooker, of course, I am excited about your commitment to your Etsy shop. Completely selfish, I realize, but at least I know where to get quality stuff!
Karen
Cass says
Mavis, you are an inspiration. I have never written down “goals” for a year in my life and you know what happens to New Year’s resolutions. But, inspired by you, I am actually writing down some goals for the up coming year.
1. Keep better Garden records. (ANY written record would be an improvement.)
2. Keep better records of the food on hand. (Lost so much food in freezer to freezer burn. OUCH on losing food, double ouch on wasting time on preserving it to be lost in the back of the freezer)
3, Lose 5 pounds (I need to lose much more than that, but 5 is a start)
4. See my new granddaughter monthly. They change so rapidly, I want to KNOW her when she gets old enough to join me in child friendly outings.
5. Remove clutter from my living space. (OMG, I have a 3 bedroom house FULL of crap. Not a true hoarder, but So close the show has me on their wait list LOL)
6. Learn to post pictures to Facebook. (Mostly so I can sell the clutter, but also to share my chick pics)
There, I said it. I have them taped to the top of my computer. Now to DO THEM.
Here’s to a wonderful 2020
Vicki in Birmingham says
Well, it sounds like a wonderful plan for this year Mavis! It’s a good time of life to experience and enjoy the pleasures life has to offer!
Julia Tracey says
Your goals keep me focused every week. I truly look forward to reading them and seeing how you work toward them.
Our big goal this year is to start the renovation of our new house, a falling-down Victorian, and clean up and sell our current house and guest cottage (retirement income). All of this will happen smoothly or poorly, so to facilitate these milestones, I have smaller goals:
1. Get up by 7 or earlier (I never used to sleep in but this past year I have stayed up later and later, hence sleeping later)
2. Open all mail when it arrives (no more putting it off til later).
3.Lose 10-20 pounds. Starting Nutrisystems this week when husband arrives home.
4. I love the 20 minutes of exercise per day goal so I am taking that one on. We got Fitbits for Xmas so something is watching and tracking us.
5. Visit 12 new coffee houses in our new town.
6. Make 10 things — anything from curtains to a greeting card. I want to be more creative this year.
7. Bake.
8. Blog/write
9. Lay out and plan/plant a garden at new house (this is a longer than one-year goal)
10. Read 20 books (easy, but I haven’t been counting them so it’s a good number to aim for)
Marcia HEIN says
Mavis, you might enjoy reading Louise Penney’s Inspector Gamache books. These murder mysteries are set in Montreal and a small village in northern Vermont. You’re in for a treat. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Penny
Enjoy!
Shelle says
I love following along on your yearly goals and am inspired to write down some of my own.
1. Read or listen to 100 books (I’ve done this the last two years, so this goal shouldn’t be a stretch)
2. Lose 30 pounds (DH is finally on board with making dietary changes, so I’m hoping teamwork makes the dream work)
3. Complete 2 home improvement projects (We have a list of about a dozen to chose from and will prioritize based on need and finances)
4. Pay off 50% of remaining home equity loan (It will feel sooooo good to get this balance down)
5. Complete 25/52 sewing projects from the 52 Week Sewing Challenge. (I’ve never done a weekly sewing challenge, so I’m just aiming for half on my first attempt.)
I’m also excited to read about your Maine adventures. When the fam and I were in Maine this summer, we spent some time up north in Aroostook county and loved it! Check out Eagle Lake for the most pristine and beautiful sunrises over smooth, glass-like water. If you keep driving, you can visit the super cool Blockade House in Fort Kent. The history of the fort is really interesting!
Lisa says
I have to agree but I do happen to live in Fort Kent (the beginning of route 161) and my dad is from Eagle Lake & we used to camp there in the summers when I lived out of state. In August Fort Kent has their Ploye Festival where they cook a gigantic ploye outside. It is beautiful to watch the potato harvest in Sept/Oct. If you like snowmobiling then we have the most extensive trails to ride.
Marcy Twing says
Mavis-my husband is a glass blower/lampworker. I’d suggest taking a few classes as there are several types of glass blowing & several types of glass for glass blowing. Type of glass drives the equipment & the expense. (kilns, torches, oxygen, propane, glass). Depends on your end goal of what you want to make. Vases, bowls, ornaments, beads, figurines, functional vs. non functional.
Soft glass for making beads, figurines, etc is very popular and the least expensive initial set up for the home should you get hooked….it’s so easy to get the fever too. LOL!
For sure it’s fun & endlessly fascinating the things they can do with melted glass! It’s also a big community of people willing to help & so many varied walks of life to meet! Our adventure into the culture has been amazing!
Sharon says
One of my (20 goals for 2020) is menu planning also. I am starting to work with menu themes, and am thinking this will work! So each day will choose something like Mexican Nite, Italian Nite, Breakfast for Dinnert Nite, Soup & Sandwich Nite, etc. Oh yes, and Leftovers Nite & LET’S EAT OUT Nite!
Looking forward to a great 2020!
Delores says
I was inspired by the 20 in 2020! So I am doing the same. Some I will just have to do anyway, so I know I will have some success!
1. paint inside new house (we’re moving about May/June)
2. sump pump cover in new house
3. hand rails in new house
4. redo master bath in current house
5. redo garage ceiling in current house
6. replace windows in current house
7. Read 12 motivation/self improvement/how-to books
8. plan and start garden at new house
9. make at least 1 Christmas gift per person
10. lose 25 pounds
11. walk a 5k, 10k, half marathon, full marathon (Thanks, Mavis, for this idea! You’re an inspiration!)
12. Listen to Beethoven’s 9 syphonies
13. Daily stretch and strength exercises
14. Daily thankfulness and examen
15. Daily Rosary
16. Write to children not living at home 12 times
17. Video call with grandson 12 times
18. Adhere to No S Diet
19. Front door decorations for church seasons and holidays
20. Join a book and/or movie discussion group (or start one if necessary)
Christa H. says
I might have more but here’s my current list for 2020:
1. Do things to support the local birds, butterflies, and my bees
2. Start seedlings with my grow lights and plant a pollinator garden
3. Continue learning about beekeeping to support my hives
4. Start vermicomposting again to support my garden
5. Help my rescue cats live their best lives
6. Design or carve an address stamp for holiday mail
7. Do something with the postage stamps I collect from our mail
8. Practice wood burning crafting
9. Reframe old stitchery
10. Make some holiday crafts/art to display
11. Complete or give away my ornament craft stash
12. Beautifully wrap all and personalize all presents
13. Try 20 new food items
14. Clean out magazine stash and tear out recipes I want to keep
15. Do something for my health and/or husband’s health
Ruth says
With respect to meal planning, I saw a post once from an empty nester couple that liked to have an active social life. Their solution was to plan and shop for 4-5 meals and then not plan/shop again until those meals were consumed. Not sure how they dealt with lunches or breaj=kfasts, but, it kept the food waste to a minimum while allowing them to eat out.