My goals for 2017
Get 7- 8 Hours of Sleep Each Night
I did a horrible job at getting 7-8 hours of sleep last week. I think I averaged more like 6 hours a night and paid for it because I was totally sluggish all week. I tell myself I have the HH to blame for this because of the long hours he put in but really, I know it’s my own fault. There are these things called naps, and I should take them more often. We all know I have the perfect snuggle buddy {Lucy} for them.
Make Saving a Priority, Not an Idea
I gave up Saran wrap, fixed a pair of shorts, drooled over these but didn’t buy them, picked up a few things second hand at a garage sale and pretty much stayed home most of the week. It was awesome.
Live a little
I popped by 2 garage sales on Friday and had two totally different experiences. At the first one {which was downtown} some lady was selling a bunch of jewelry and knickknacks, nothing I was even remotely interested in. Her stuff was grossly overpriced and I thought it was crazy that she was trying to sell a {made in china} wooden carved rooster for $35. It was something you could easily find at Target, Hobby Lobby or even Pier 1 for $19.99 new {even less if you had a coupon}.
At the second garage sale everything was priced right. And that always makes me happy. A new set of white bathroom towels $5 {perfect for staging a house} a really nice long woven basket $3 {perfect for rug hooking supplies}, a long carved wooden tray for $1 {the grandma there said she bought it when she traveled to Guatemala 40 years ago} a glass soap dispenser $0.50 and then there was the crème de la crème of the day… a vintage Holly Hobbie doll for $3 {be still my heart!}. I adored Holly Hobbie as a little girl. I had the big Holly Hobbie doll and the bed set and I even remember wearing a patchwork dress one year for Easter with white tights and piggy tails. THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!!
One mans junk, is truly another mans treasure.
Visit 52 REAL Bakeries
No bakeries this week but The Girl and I have a list one new ones we want to try… Stay tuned!
Have 1 “no spend” week each month
I was doing really well last week until I stopped by that garage sale. 😉
Start a Line of Rug Hooking Patterns Mission Accomplished
I am now up to 8 rug hooking patterns! And I’ve even added a bunch of hand dyed wool to my Etsy shop. I am currently working on 2 new patterns and am hoping to have them listed in the next few weeks.
Turn My Wool Stash into $2,500 Mission Accomplished
I was spending entirely too much time in my bedroom watching tv and rug hooking and was starting to feel like a bedridden hospital patient so The Girl and I moved the {ridiculously large and outdated} tv to the family room. Now I have sunshine and light and I’m not picking up the rug hook as much, go figure. Suddenly, with the tv in full view of the garden all I want to do is go outside. {Side note: This is the first time we have had a tv in a family room in over 11 years and it still seems a little weird. I think I’ll move it back at the end of summer}
This is my slow season for rug hooking… and I only sold $44.95 worth of goodies {2 patterns and 1 mini rug} last week for a total of $4204.73 for the year so far. But hey, I know it will be busy in the fall so I’m just going to start working on pumpkins and stashing them away.
Purge 250 Items Including Selling Larger Items We No Longer Feel We Need
I went through the entire house this past week and was able to find 31 things to get rid of. I’ll make one more sweep through the garage next week and then, for better or worse, call this goal done for the year. Silly me, I thought I’d be able to find 250 more items. 😉 So far I have purged 140 items this year.
Learn to Crochet Mission Accomplished
Dote on My Husband Even More Than I Do Now.
Every single day.
Lose the Muffin Top. {again}
Mini muffin is shrinking and I couldn’t be happier.
Wear out {most of} the clothing I already own.
I’m pretty sure your gardening clothes look snazzier than mine
Try 52 New Recipes
I canned beans {dried ones} last week for the first time. Anyone want the recipe/directions?
This past week I’ve been listening to The Lost Landscape on audiobook. I’m only about an hour into it but so far I like it.
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 – I know what I’m going to do… I just have to do it.
- May – $100 Tip to a waitress on Mother’s day.
And then, there’s those top secret goals we’re not talking about yet.
So. We sold our house on the east coast last week.
After spending time at the property over the last three years and more importantly, travelling all around the upper east coast during our stays, we have totally narrowed down where it is we want to spend the next chapter of our lives. We made the decision to sell the house {and all it’s contents} and honesty, it wasn’t a hard decision to come to.
We know exactly what type of property we are looking for this time around {HELLO, lot’s of land} and I’ve been searching listings in our target area daily for months now. We are not going to budge until we find the perfect fit. I have absolutely no regrets on the purchase and then sale of our first east coast home. It was a crazy good adventure, and honestly, what more could I have asked for?
Life, it has a funny way of unwrapping itself.
Secret Goal #1Sell East Coast House Mission AccomplishedSecret Goal #2Get 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.
Mrs. C. says
Yes, please post about pressure canning beans!
Em says
I’m also interested in the beans.
I can’t believe it’s been three years since you bought the east coast house!
Melanie says
Whoa! You totally threw me on the East Coast sale! I was expecting you to say that you put your current home on the market and that you were moving TO the East Coast home. 🙂 I can’t wait to see where your next chapter will take place!
Mrs. C. says
Mavis, what do you mean by “lots of land”?
Tammy says
Congrats on the sale of your house! 🙂
I had to laugh when I saw the title of the book in the picture of things you were getting rid of!
Mavis Butterfield says
Hey it’s a good book! 🙂 I read it, I’m done with it… now someone else can enjoy it. 🙂
UpstateNYer says
That book is worthy of you donating it to your local library so the knowledge can be shared with many others.
Lauren says
I giggled too 🙂
Lynn says
The Holly Hobby doll was the first thing that caught my eye in your post. Love ’em! All the girls I went to school with learned to sew using Holly Hobby fabric, making the cutest smocks.
Anne says
Congrats on sale of east coast home. How long was it on market befor it sold?did you come out ahead on the transaction?sellers market?inquiring minds would love to know
Debbie says
I started visiting the northern New England area a couple years ago with the hopes of relocating. Wondering what area you pinpointed and why? Would be very interested in your input of the region, I too want land.
Tracy says
Why was selling your east coast home such a secret?
Helen in Meridian says
How can you part with your Where Is Waldo hat? Such an icon with your looks. Why are you parting with your essential oils?
Mavis Butterfield says
I have another Waldo hat. I’m just keeping the oils I use {it was a set from amazon with 12 oils in it}.
Julia says
Dumb question about the make ahead meatloaf. Do you thaw it before you bake it or put it in the oven frozen?
Mavis Butterfield says
I tend to put mine in the fridge the night before to thaw.
Rebecca in MD says
Love your blog.
You purged 140 things this year, and was it 500 things last year? Then you pick up stuff from yard sales? Did you really need any of those things? Not meaning to sound too critical, but wanted to point out that in order to make progress with downsizing and decluttering, we have to stop bringing more stuff in to replace it……….Something my husband and I struggle with as well…….
Emily says
Does selling your home count toward your items gotten rid of total?
Mavis Butterfield says
Hey! I didn’t think of that. If I get desperate and need one more item I think I’ll have to add that one in. Thanks emily. 😉