1. Get Organized.
Did I tell you Mrs. Hillbilly said I would be out of here in a year? When I was at her house last week she said I’ll be crawling the walls pretty soon because there are only a limited number of projects for me to do here at our new house. Apparently Girl Girl agrees. What a bunch of meanies!!
2. Run, walk or crawl a Marathon, half marathon, 10k, and 5k race this year.
Besides taking Lucy for long walks, I haven’t done any additional exercise LOL. And I need too because I am feeling super sluggish lately {although that’s probably because I have been stuffing my face with sweets and sitting on the couch catching up on Grey’s Anatomy and rug hooking instead of exercising}.
3. Remodel our Master Bathroom, Master Closet and Monkey Boy’s Bathroom.
We start demoing this weekend!
4. Finish Every Room in Our House.
My goal is to have all the rooms in the house furnished by the end of the year. I’m hoping to find a coffee table and tv stand this summer at a yard sale so I can finish up the living room.
5. Turn Spare Bedroom into a Cozy Home Office Space for myself.
I don’t see why I can’t just stay in the HH’s office and use the spare bedroom as my craft room. I mean really, it’s not like he needs his own office space. Right?
6. Create a Vegetable Garden.
I’m hoping to get my onion sets planted this weekend. The Home Depot has them on sale 100 for $3.99 right now.
7. Build a Path into the Hillside for Easy Access to the Upper Garden.
8. Limit my personal spending to $100 a month.
All I spent this past week was $1 on a box of Red Vines. 🙂 I’m headed to the East Coast again soon so I’m trying to be good and save my money for something exciting.However… if I come across those delicious Russel Stover Pectin jelly beans they sell in the stores this time of year, all bets are off. 😉
Total spent so far this month $29.91 Still have $70.09
In January I Spent $84.33
9. Purge… Weekly. Find 10 things each week to donate to the thrift store.
This week I got rid of:
- 2 Coffee carafes
- 1 box of crappy pens
- 1 glass jars {the hinges hurt my hands when I open them}
- 1 Good Dog Bell {It did not work for us}
- 1 Cow Bell from the Race for a Solider
- 1 tube of cross stitch thread {I’ve decided cross stitch just isn’t for me}
- 1 old Canon camera a battery charger
- 1 Fossil watch the HH gave me 10 {?} years ago {I don’t wear a watch}
10. Read 1 book a week. – My goal is to read 52 books this year
This past week I read The Last Lecture. I knew I would love it’s message of living life without regrets.
11. Slow Down.
I cannot stop rug hooking. Seriously. It has become my new addiction. I may need an intervention soon.
12. Canning
We are out of raspberry jam so I think I’ll try and get some canned this week using the last bit of last summers raspberries I have tucked away in the freezer.
Did you set any goals for this year? If so, how are they coming along?
~Mavis
Connie Wheeler says
I have to agree with Mrs. Hillbilly .. You need to just buy a 5 acre plot of ground somewhere there are no rules about what you can plant or not, or even have to ask permission to tear out a hedge or move a plant. I had a feeling this new place was too small and inhibited for you!! haha
Cecily says
Well Mavis, if you run out of projects at your place and start to go bonkers I have three acres and dozens of projects that you can do here! 😉
Diana says
LOVE the rugs! Good job!
I agree with Mrs. Hillbilly. Not having enough projects will make you stir crazy. Soon. lol… (I’m the same way)
Melissa says
I am plugging away at my goals but a lot slower. Admittedly, my goals for Lent are a little different than my goals for the year so I veered a little bit ‘off” track for the next 40-ish days…
Susan says
YESSSS! So excited for Russell Stover Pectin Eggs. BEST jelly bean. And only RS ones will do. Other pectin eggs are just not the same…
Mavis Butterfield says
I totally agree!
judy says
Wonder who takes all the pictures of you.
Susannah says
Mavis, you and I are candy cousins! All the things you like, I like (Brach’s cinnamon hearts, Red Vines, Russell Stover pectin jellybeans). If you haven’t discovered them already, I HIGHLY recommend stopping at Hebert’s Candy Mansion in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts at some point. (I’m already jealous!)
Mavis Butterfield says
My friend Heather from MA and I went there last February!!! 🙂 I LOVE CANDY
Lynne says
I think I see a possible career as a pet photographer before you, given all the beautiful shots you share of your precious puggle.
More than anything, your commitment to make regular donations to the Goodwill has inspired me this year. I have a whole lot of cleaning out to do at my house right now, including things that still have use to them. I have begun bringing boxes of stuff and bags of clothes to their donation center, where I know it’s processed and sold to benefit the programs that Goodwill offers. I also have had a few pick-ups from Vietnam Veterans of America, who I call when I have more bags and boxes than I can easily manage on my own. I guess I knew that Goodwill and VVA were out there, but your goal opened my eyes to making this my commitment, and I’m so glad that you shared that.
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m having a blast getting rid of all the “stuff.” You can do it!!
Teckla says
I have faith in you Mavis! I agree that it won’t take you all that long to get this new place whipped into shape, but I can’t help wondering what you already have up your sleeve for the future. I can only imagine some of the projects you may have in mind that aren’t totally home related! After all, you had all those secret plans lined up for last year. Surely this year will break that barrier! Hope the snow isn’t too bad by the time you make your trip east. You go girl!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thank you Teckla. 🙂 And yes, I already know what I’ll be doing next. 😉
jestjack says
Mavis I read that book the Last Lecture some time ago. I enjoyed it and tracked down Jeff Zaslow the co-author and told him what a great job I thought he did.,,,by e-mail. The crazy thing is….he replied, Over time he and I e-mailed back and forth about his other books, past work and work he was hoping to do. As memory serves his last book was about women’s friendships (the Girls from Ames?)…Sadly he was killed in a freak car accident on an icy road while campaigning for his newest book. He was a great writer and columnist with the Wall Street Journal. I miss his e-mails…
Maybe a good book would be some stuff by Mitch Albom…Tuesdays with Morty is a good read and makes you stop and think….
Judy says
Mavis I’m sorry to say that I have to agree with Ms. Hillbilly and Girl Girl. Not enough land or projects for you plus you have to deal and get “permission” to do anything to the yard or house. I feel this is only going to Stifle your Creative Juices!
Another thing i am wondering..Why did you buy a house that you TOTALLY are remodeling. Why not buy land and build exactly what you wanted? Then you could have like 5 acres to play!! I miss my 5 acres. LOL
Tammy says
I need to make a goal list…totally spaced it in January. And again, I love your rug designs!
SUSAN says
Over the past several months, I have cleaned out and donated half a houseful of “stuff”! Once I got started, I just want to keep going. It really does feel good to purge and donate. I donate most to the local hospital guild, as the money goes to the children’s therapy unit. Instead of having things stuffed into boxes and bins, being of no use, it can go to people who want and hopefully will use it, and the money from the sales is actually doiing some good! I went thru and got rid of: books, music, movies, clothing, shoes, purses, luggage, Christmas and other seasonal home decor, cookbooks, cookie jars, kitchen gadgets, wall hangings, scrapbooking/rubber stamping supplies, linens, picture frames, and so much more! Life is really easier and more enjoyab’le now that I can find what I am looking for and can dust in half the time. I love reading that you are doing this also. Love reading your posts! Thanks, from a fellow PNW’er.
Mavis Butterfield says
Aww thanks Susan! 🙂 I love purging!
Liliana says
I wanted the glass jars. They are rare here and expensive.
Marie says
I too agree with Mrs Hillbilly. I’m missing The Girl Who Eats Like a Bird so badly and Lucy stories. Your son? Graduating this year? Flipping houses is fun once in awhile (that’s really how we ended up in such a great location now) and it fills your time/energy. Yes, Home Depot rocks (especially when they used to stay open until midnight and there were lots of employees to help). But it seems like you need a space where your soul can roam!