My goals for 2017
Get 7- 8 Hours of Sleep Each Night
I did good 6 out of 7 days last week with getting enough sleep. The one day I got 5 hours of sleep I showed up at Mrs. HB’s to make recipes and I was a total incoherent mess. 😉 It was kind of funny actually. It was like I couldn’t form sentences and I almost fell asleep at her table. When we were done I went home and crawled into bed for a 2 hour nap {and felt much better afterwards thank you very much}. Sleep. It’s  a good thing.
Make Saving a Priority, Not an Idea
Yep. I’m rockin’ that department this month. I also found a quarter in a drawer in the garage too. Which if you ask me, was a totally weird spot to find loose change. But whateva… it’s mine now.
Live a little
Guess who went to the thrift store this past week and scored some pretty sweet deals? Me. That’s who. Here’s what I bought/paid:
- Caslon sweater for $6.99 {new about $70} for a savings of 90% off retail
- Wamsutta Sheets for $6.99 {new about $60} for a savings of 88% off retail
- Random Tablecloth for $2.99 {new $10?} for a savings of 70% off retail
I LOVE the sweater. But I have no idea what pants to wear it with or what kind of shirt to wear underneath the sweater. Can I get away with wearing one of my white Gap long sleeve tee’s? Help! I need your advice.
The barely used sheet set will go on the guest bed and I plan on turning the tablecloth into reusable napkins.
Visit 52 REAL Bakeries
We didn’t go to any new bakeries this past week but I’m looking forward to the next one.
Have 1 “no spend” week each month
I was going to try to do a no spend week last week but we ran out of milk so I think I’ll aim for the last week in February.
Start a Line of Rug Hooking Patterns
I have finished 6 patterns so far and plan to share them as soon as I have all the samples hooked up. I’m a little surprised at how easy this have been for me. I only wish I had started it sooner.
Turn My Wool Stash into $2,500.
I sold $374.87 worth of my hooked rugs on Etsy this past week which brings my total to $964.71 for the year. I love, love, love that I have a hobby I can make a little extra money on in my spare time. It makes me feel less guilty when I binge watch back episodes of tv shows on Netflix. 😉
Play in The Dirt
My poor aching muscles. I was outside for 6 hours yesterday and have plans to get back out there again today once the ibuprofen kicks in.
Dig for Your Dinner – My spring bulbs are popping up. Are yours?
Purge 250 Items Including Selling Larger Items We No Longer Feel We Need
While I was getting something in the garage yesterday I noticed this sander in a drawer and couldn’t remember the last time I used it so I tossed it into a garage sale box. I’d like to get a new palm sander eventually but since I don’t need one right now I think I’ll hold off on buying one.
So far I’ve purged 36 items this year. It doesn’t sound like much, but you should see my cupboards, they are down to the bare essentials.
Learn to Crochet
I’m working in it. 😉
Dote on My Husband Even More Than I Do Now.
Yes, yes this is going well.
Lose the Muffin Top.
This goal is not going so well. Mrs HB and I have both gained weight and we think it’s because of all the “Sunday” type dinners we’ve been making {and consuming} every week. That, and all those delicious pastries. I thought maybe drinking more water would help but so far it hasn’t. So I guess this can only mean one thing. I need to stop putting so much food in my mouth.
Totally lame, I know.
Wear out {most of} the clothing I already own.
I’m working on it.
Try 52 New Recipes
Oh my word. Mrs. HB and I tried out a new Chicken caesar pasta salad recipe the other day and we were freaking out about it because it was so tasty. I can’t wait to share the recipe with you. It’s freakin’ awesome.
Read 52 Books
I’m still working on the books I checked out last week.Â
Give Back to 12 Different Organizations in My Community
My mom and I are still working out who we want to give back to in February.
And then, there’s those top secret goals we’re not talking about yet.
- Secret Goal #1
- Secret Goal #2
- 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.
Tami says
Yes…. The long sleeve white shirt would work! That would be my style too. You scored a real steal there!
pam says
A place for inexpensive bedding is Pacific Coast Feathers outlet store on Fouth Avenue, south of Hanford Street,in the Sodo neighborhood. For example I have gotten new king size down comforters for $10 when i time it right.
Susan says
I’ve been wanting to do this! Do you have any tips on how to time it right?
Lindsey says
I would wear a cami/tank with that sweater. I also would pair it with skinny jeans or leggings. I know that’s not really your style so it could go with most pants and still be cute.
Dawnelle says
I would totally wear the sweater with a simple white tee and jeans! And I’ve been reading for awhile, but I still don’t know how you manage to get so much done in a day (or week). It’s amazing.
Delores says
I think your white tee under the sweater with black jeans would look great. Your busy days make me feel like a slouch– I have just got to start doing more. Good luck on the muffin top– wish I could get motivated- stomach, thighs. If I don’t get motivated there will be no choice but to buy new jeans. Maybe having to spend the money can motivate me. Really don’t want to spend it. Looking forward to the pasta recipe.
Courtney B says
I love your goals update posts! These and your shopping saving money with Mrs. HB are my current favs!
Rhonda says
You are the 2017 version of Wonder Woman! You are so ambitious and you get it done! Don’t be too hard on yourself with that little muffin top, 90% of America has a muffin top, I think.
Carmen says
A white tee would be fine, but I think pale grey would be much better. And with black (or grey) skinny jeans or pants.
Leslie says
I think the sweater would work over a button-up, too. I’m seeing chambray.
Karin says
I love the sweater! I think it would look great over a regular black long sleeve tee shirt ( I think you have a few of those 🙂 Probably any slim fitting pants or nice jeans would work.
eliz says
Looking forward to the Chicken caesar pasta salad recipe, my husband will like it.
Do you like walking? Instead of putting less food in your mouth, long walks with Lucy could help with your
“lose the muffin top” goal. Or maybe also make vegetables a bigger part of your meals.
Marcia says
I like reading about your goals! Yes, cooking good food is helpful with money but not always with the waistline. Husband and both kids have had the stomach flu, so that means a lot of rice, pasta, crackers. I think I single-handedly ate all the veggies from our box last week.
Honestly I’m 46 now, and I’ve pretty much come to terms with eating salad for lunch every day for the rest of my life, to maintain my weight. Veggies, greens, homemade vinaigrette, 3 olives, 1/2 ounce of feta, and sunflower seeds.
My “temperature” crochet blanket is coming along. I’ll probably go through April, 120 days will make it 10×12 blocks. Then keep going on another blanket, but I’m thinking of doing a heart shaped granny square pattern with only 2 colors per block (day’s high and low temp) instead of 3.
My exercise goals…running is going okay but I haven’t been to the pool in a month (sick family) and haven’t biked to work since December (rain, which we desperately need).
Other goals: lunch dates (none), family hikes (none), eat vegan 2 days a week (yah, no, not with stomach flu…lots of pasta with butter). I’m plugging along anyway.
Delores says
I agree about the salads. I realized last year that now I have to fight just to maintain, let alone lose anything. It takes twice as much effort now to actually lose anything.
Ruth says
I have collected several crochet/knitted sweaters.
Dress them up and Dress them down!
Jeans or dress trousers.
Summer with a tank top for a covered, dressed look ( but stay cool and comfortable)
Winter with a long sleeve tshirt.
Add scarfs, beads, or even a minimalist naked neck
Amazing how a loose flowing fit glides over a muffin top ; )
Didn’t you mention a dressy HH business occasion coming up? This with a little black dress and a string of pearls…You look like you spent a month of grocery $
In my book, you cant go wrong with a classic.
And, the sander! My Dear when you finally are free from the HO Association….wont you ever use it again??
On that note, I have recently come across some HOA’s that require guests to park down the block, no more than 1 car in your driveway!
Delores says
I really like that sweater… I think either a long sleeve white or black shirt would look fine with it.
I did okay this week:
*finished a book: Gut. It is really interesting!
*am up to 25 sit ups, which was my goal… to I guess I made it. But they are not pretty, nor fast, so definitely will keep working on them!
* up to 50 squats (goal is 100)
*can jog (very slowly) for 18 minutes…. I have no idea how far that is, but I am assuming I will make it to a 5k distance eventually.
* lost 3 pounds. Which likely means a gain for next week… I think this is just the way my body works. I am keeping the long term perspective though!!!
*I didn’t do so well with the daily habits, it was just a crazy week and I didn’t sleep well, which threw off my days. Anyway, I think since the beginning of the year there is improvement, and I will just accept it as life and start again tomorrow!
* started more seeds. I need to order sweet potato slips, and would like to order grape vines, but then I think I am done ordering stuff for the year. At least until the next seed catalog comes along!
I wish I could find stuff at the thrift stores near me like you find at yours. Maybe I don’t go often enough. I really like those sheets as well!
Have a great week!
Katrina says
Fun posts–Thank you! RE Sweater: What a versatile find! I would say pair it with skinny black pants or jeans or leggings. For shoes, wear boots or black flats (sandals in the summer). A white t-shirt would go okay, but better would be a grey or black tank and I really envision a drapey sort of T in grey–why not try dying one of your white ones?! You already have the dye for your wool stash, right–and it would maybe give one of your white tees knew life!
Katrina says
Also–you could get away with a nice black shift dress or maxi/tank dress in the summer with sandals! So many options and such a pretty sweater…
Julie says
Hello Marvis,
Thank you for offering the deal on the low odor bully sticks. I can’t wait to try them. We adopted a six month pup that is chewing on anything but dog toys.
Wanted to share this website with you: http://www.buymeonce.com. One of our family goals this year; when we need something new, the new purchase to have a longer lifespan (and purchase from a company with good morals and hopefully made in the USA). Over the past few years we have been trying to live a more minimalism lifestyle and found this as a good resource.
Love your blog!
Julie
Lisa says
Hi Mavis,
Thanks for your inspiring goals! I have set several and they coming along pretty well:
1. Clean out/ organize every room. So far I have cleaned/ perged/organized the office, several much needed cupboards/junk drawers and today the pantry! Whew! Off to a good start!
2. Write personal, life giving, encouraging Birthday notes to family. My son and his wife do this every year and it is so nice. Really celebrating someone on their birthday this way is so special! I have had three birthdays so far and completed this. The response is awesome! I have always
thought we go through life never really telling loved ones how special they are.
3. stick to budget. Doing very good at this so far!
4. Reduce grocery budget. Going well. Cleaned out 2nd fridge, working on using up food in extra freezer and haven’t had to hardly buy any groceries I. The last few weeks! Signed up for ibotta and already have 20.75!
5. Be home at least every other weekend(don’t over book). So far going well, we’ll see how summer goes.
Sorry if this was too long, but you keep asking about our goals!
Shelle says
Love these Goal Posts!
Are you going to give us any hints about your four Secret Goals? My mind has gone all over the place wondering what you’ve got up your sleeve. I’m sure your actually goals are far more practical and realistic than the ones I’m imagining for you!
Mavis Butterfield says
I highly doubt that. 😉 No, I will not be giving any hints but I will be sharing after each one is accomplished.