My 14 Goals for 2020
Goal #1 – Take Full Advantage of Having My Husband Home 24/7
We had some serious conversations this past week… Earth shattering stuff like “Right Guard deodorant, it’s okay I guess, it does the job… but who in the world doesn’t shower for 72 hours… unless their camping or something?” ~HH
It’s conversations like this, that keeps the spark alive people… keeps.the.spark.alive.
Goal #2 – Take Better Care of Myself.
The puggle princess and I stayed on the couch yesterday and watched the movie Adrift {it’s included with Amazon Prime}. Have you seen it? I liked it so much, I think I’ll watch it again tonight as I rarely notice all the details the first time around because I am always hooking while I watch.
Goal #3 – Get Organized
September Goals
- Finish all Christmas ornaments {about 3/4 way done}
Finish at least 1 rug{done!}Pull everything together for turkey rug{done!} Started hooking. 🙂
Goal #4 – Get Proper Window Coverings on All Our Windows. Done!
This is the tutorial I used in case anyone is interested. I decided not to make any shades for the sunroom windows. All that sunlight…. it’s too beautiful to cover up.
Goal #5 – Master Bedroom Make Over {Done}
This year I’ve painted both closets, removed wallpaper, painted walls and trim, painted my writing desk, installed a new light fixture, plus added new curtains and rods. I am done with house projects and looking forward to a very restful fall and winter. 🙂 And that weather… as soon as it drops another 10 degrees, it will be puffy coat season. Wahoo!
Goal #6 – Kitchen Update Done!
We decided to leave the cupboards cream for now. Did I mention I am done with house projects for the year? 🙂
Goal #7 – Install Vegetable Garden Done!
The countdown for the Brussels spouts has begun! This week I’ll work on tidying up the remaining parts of the garden beds, cutting down the sunflower stalks and who knows… I might even be a few leaves to rake. 🙂 I LOVE fall!
Goal #8 – Explore More of Maine
The only place I went this week was over to our neighbor’s house and the beach. 🙂
Goal #9 – Host Some Sort of Get Together Done!
We had dinner with our neighbors! 🙂 And had a yard sale. And I think that will be the extent of my social calendar for the year.
Goal #10 – Read/Listen to 12 Books
The Dutch House finally became available last night and I’m excited to start listening to it today while I finish up my last batch of ornaments.
- Olive Kitteridge #3
- Olive, Again
- Evvie Drake Starts Over #4
- Good Neighbor: The Life and Work of Fred Rogers #5
- Birdseye: The Adventures of a Curious Man
- Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites
- Natural Color: Vibrant Plant Dye Projects for Your Home and Wardrobe
- The New Bungalow Kitchen
- Container Gardening by Stephanie Donaldson
- The Nightingale #1
- A Piece of the World #2
- The War I Finally Won
- Vertical Gardening
- Front Yard Gardens
- The Complete Cooking Light Cookbook
- Beach House Style
Goal #11 – Learn A New Skill or Craft Done
I learned how to make swizzle sticks with my neighbor last week and I think they turned out great for my first try {you can see the kiln pictures here}. I think I want to try making a beach themed nightlight next. 🙂
Goal #12 – Visit 12 Museums, Historical Homes or Botanical Gardens {and bakeries too!}
The year started off great… we were visiting a lot of new places and then things just sort of fizzled out. And well, now fall is nearly here and all I want to do is stay home and hook rugs. 😉
January
- Maine Maritime Museum
- Maine Mineral and Gem Museum
- The Island Market
- Cafe DiCocoa
- Hungry Hollow Country Store
February
- Two Fat Cats Bakery
- Portland Museum of Art
- Speckled Ax
- Atlantic Baking Company
- Rockland, St. George, Cushing and Port Clyde Maine
March
- Bar Harbor and Desert Island Adventures Day One, Day Two and the Summer Cottage Rental Tour.
- Tinder Hearth Bakery in Brooksville, Maine
May
- Puzzle Mountain Bakery Pie Stand in Newry, Maine
June
- Red’s Eats in Wiscasset, Maine
- The Bees Knees Honey Stand in Kennebunkport, Maine
- Rococo Ice Cream Kennebunkport, Maine
- Beech Hill Farm Hopkinton, NH
July
- Wallingford Farm in Kennebunk, Maine
- Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde, Maine
- The Gnome Lady, Thomaston, Maine
Goal # 13 – Reach 5,000 Etsy Sales by the End of The Year
As of this morning, I have made 4929 sales on Etsy. That’s up from 2804 on January 1st. Only 71 sales to go before I hit my goal! This past week I added some new Gingerbread Girl and Gingerbread Baby ornaments to my Etsy shop as well as a few more wool bundles.
Goal #14 – Once a Month Menu Planning {for 2}
- The HH’s meal plan for the month: Snacking & BBQ {out of charcoal, boo hoo}
- My meal plan for the month: Ice Cream, Pie, Salads and Pickety Bits
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Have YOU made any goals for this year? If so, DO TELL! We all want to hear about them.
Have a great Sunday everyone, enjoy the sunshine.
~Mavis
Mel says
This past week I finally accomplished my goal of making yogurt with our sous vide machine, and it turned out perfectly. It was super easy, and it holds the temperature, so it can’t overheat and get grainy the way my yogurt maker did. It’s the best yogurt we’ve ever had.
I haven’t gotten around to making spice mixes yet (something easy that I just haven’t had time for), but I picked a bunch of cayenne peppers yesterday and dehydrated them in our air fryer, so I did make red pepper flakes. I also chopped and froze a bunch of our bell peppers and jalapenos.
I haven’t kept up with my original sewing goals, but I have done a ton of sewing this year. This weekend, I’m finishing up 12 more hydration face masks with matching clip-on carrying cases for reusable straws for the students I work with.
I’ve also kept up with running and my health goals overall, but last week was a little hectic due to work, so I need to get back on track this week.
Mavis Butterfield says
Did you make plain yogurt or flavored?
Mel says
I made it plain, but it smelled as if I’d already added vanilla. It was mellow enough to eat plain, but I made parfaits with it (some honey and granola, some apple pie filling and crushed Nilla wafers).
jj says
I just love your swizzle sticks. Practical and beautiful. Think of all the other things you can make. Have a great day.
Holley says
I’m not supposed to be spending money right now but I think that gingerbread girl needs to come live with me in Georgia with her brother!!!!
Michelle says
My hubby and I just had the same convo about 72 hour deodorant . Do they offer a money back guarantee on that??????
Michelle says
Sadly took out my LOL faces. 🙂
Lavinia says
The sticks look amazing!!!! Keep making them.
Vicki in Birmingham says
Mavis, You are always asking about our goals and if we have made any. I am always amazed at how organized you are at planning your goals and how well you accomplish them.
I am curious if you have any advice for the ones of us who seem scattered to the wind when it comes to getting a goal list going…I need to start on next years list now…while I have a few months to work on it!
Thanks in advance!
BTW, I LOVE my lobster ornament! I may have to zip over to Etsy sometime this week to browse some more!
Lisa says
I love the swizzle sticks!! What a fun thing to do!!!
Julia Park Tracey says
I started the year with goals but then CV hit and I lost track. Since then my MIL became very fragile, and then passed away through hospice. And we bought a house and sold our other one. So right now the only goal left is to finish this renovation and move into the “new” house (it’s from 1880).
Mavis, I really want to hook a house with “Est. 1880” on it, for a pillow or rug. Any suggestions? I don’t have anything but a hook and one practice kit (yours!).
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m sorry to hear about your MIL. I am planning on doing a house rug {and pattern} this winter, and I’ll be sure and post a picture when I finish.
Linda Practical Parsimony says
I am intrigued with the glass kiln and the results. The swizzle sticks look great.
Emily says
Your swizzle sticks came out so cool! Do the edges naturally round in the kiln or is there some shaping involved while they are hot?
Mavis Butterfield says
Nope, that’s just how the glass fuses. Pretty cool if you ask me. 🙂
Wendy M says
Old married couple of 23 years here. I can totally relate to that convo. I got a sample of 72 hour deodorant and I was thinking to myself, why is 72 hour staying power a necessity? Who resists bathing that long?! HH brings up a good point, camping. Hadn’t thought of that.
This may seem kind of personal but I just want to say that I’ve been a long time follower of yours and I live vicariously through your goals. 🙂 My husband has chronic health issues and it’s been a very challenging time. It’s difficult to plan anything when it seems like all you can do is try to hold your head above water. Recently I’ve been working on trying to get my mojo back in spite of our circumstances. I know you faced a similar challenge a few years ago and I was wondering if you could share how you bounced back. If not, it’s fine. Appreciate your blog!
Mavis Butterfield says
Hi Wendy,
Let me think about this… and I will likely answer the mojo question in an upcoming bits and bobs post. 🙂