January Recap: My Big Fat 100 of 2011 list

It's the big January Recap of My Big Fat 100 of 2011 list! I know, I know... I did a recap halfway through the month. I've decided that since most of this will be boring to all you out there in blogdom I will limit my recaps to one big monthly wrap-up. It's mostly to keep me accountable and motivated, so once a month will be a good pace to keep me on the move.

So, what did I get done, you ask? Let's take it section by section. Don't worry. It won't be long. I promise. (I wasn't THAT motivated this month!)


Household:
1. Make a budget. Jan '11
3. Learn to coupon and do it! Jan '11 BLOGGED

* Ok, so I didn't get anything else done in this category since my last update. Still, things are moving forward and I have two items checked off of this list. I'm feeling pretty good about it!


Faith:
1. Read through the Bible in 2011

*I haven't completed this yet, but I have included it because it's an ongoing project. I have other ongoing projects, but none as important as this. I'm struggling a bit in this area. I truly don't think that it's because of the daily reading or that I don't want to read. I love it! The reading plan isn't working for me. I'm looking at options right now of mixing it up a bit so that I can still participate with our women's ministry but read through at a pace and schedule that works for me. I'm considering using the 90-day schedule. Still processing it. I love reading daily, but having it chopped up is bothering me. I'm a "straight through till morning" kind of gal, and reading a bit of this and a bit of that is driving me batty.


Service:

*Nada, zip, zilch. I did sort through clothes for our clothing ministry at church only to find out that it is seasonal and not year-round. So, clothing went to the local Goodwill. Best of intentions... I'll get more spring/summer things organized for the next clothing drive with our clothing ministry.



Homeschool:
7. Create a better schedule so that we have more free time in our day Jan '11
8. Create our long term course of study for the high school years. Jan '11 BLOGGED

*While we are still a long way from having a traditional start time (we usually start by 9:30am or 10am) we have found a great routine! We've broken up our day into two sections: Mornings are for the basics - literature, math, Bible, writing, etc. Afternoons are for her concentrated subject work and elective. I've blogged a bit about our new routine but it was secondary to the topic. I'll write up something about it very soon. It's working great, and I love it!


Art:
5. Visit the local art museum at least twice per month.

*Ok, so it wasn't twice. And, I shouldn't include it. We were on a good pace with plans to complete this but were sidelined by my back injury. We got one very good, very enjoyable trip in. Next month we will be victorious!


Self:
1. Begin the Family Herbalist course. Again. (done when three units have been completed) Jan '11
4. Track food in WW's online tracker daily Jan '11
5. Be a better motivator and supporter to my mom and sister in our journey toward health Jan '11

*I'm making progress! I've almost made a few other goals, so hopefully February will bring those in an update as well. I'm thoroughly enjoying my Family Herbalist course. Thoroughly! I have a renewed focus and excitement about the subject matter. I've done well with tracking. I did get off track (off track with the tracking!) this week because I have had to adjust things a bit since I'm seriously sedentary while I heal, but I'm saying this bad boy is DONE. Woosh! I've been updating, texting, emailing, and chatting with my sweetheart of a baby sister, and life is good. I'm working with mom to create more meals that better fit her needs due to her health issues. Again, life is good. I'm content with my work in this area.


Reading:
3. Post two book reviews in January Jan '11 - Reviews blogged HERE and HERE

*Done! :) You can also find info and reviews linked in my "Reading" tab at the top of the blog.


Family:

*Yeah, nothing got checked off in this category. You'd think it would considering it's the second most important area. Yeah, no. What can I say. I suck. ;)


Blog:
8. Post a minimum of two book reviews per month Jan '11
9. Document progress on all of my goal lists once per month Jan '11

*Still slow moving in this area, but I got my January updates/goals in since I blogged mid month! From now on I'll try to blog an update on the last day of each month. Key word "try."


WildCrickets Shop:
3. List ten new items in January - fail!

*Epic fail. I'm not sure why I lost my motivation after the holidays, but I did. I have items finished and ready to photograph, but I just didn't get them listed. (And no, there aren't ten.) I am making it a goal to focus on the shop in February. Definitely.


So there you have it! My first monthly update on my first annual Big 100 list. Now to get moving so that February's update is a tad more impressive in certain key areas. :)

What are your goals for 2011? Are you meeting them? I'd love to hear about them so that we can motivate each other!

My first Big Fat 100 of 2011 check in post - January 14

I'm really excited! It's mid January, and I'm still checking items off of my list. Go me! ;)

Here's some updates to My Big Fat 100 of 2011 list.

Household Goals:
1. Make a budget. DONE! I made one in early January, and except for some minor tweaking as we "live" it for a while I can declare this finished. It feels good. It feels really good. January is a hard month for us with holiday recovery. We don't tend to go overboard with presents but Oh My Word the amount we spend on food and extra bills such as extra gas, etc. Woosh! Glad that is over for a while! February will find us doing better on our budget. But at least we HAVE a budget now!

3. Learn to coupon and do it! DONE! I'm having way too much fun with this. It's a game. No, it's an addiction! I blogged a little about it HERE.

Homeschool Goals:
8. Create our long term course of study for the high school years. DONE! I have been focused on this quite a bit lately, and I feel really good about our unconventional goals and plans. I blogged about it yesterday HERE. (I'm working on #2 along with this!)

Ok, so I haven't checked off that many. But, I have started on quite a few. Like Mr. Tortoise taught us, slow and steady wins the race. Gotta love my kind of progress. :)

My Big Fat 100 of 2011 list

Heather over at Sprittibee has posted her Big Fat Annual List of items that she'd like to accomplish. Since I've already been making my own sort of lists I decided that I'd play along. Plus, I function best under guilt and guilt is what I'll have if I don't cross items off of my list if it is public! I'm picking 100 so that I can have 10 goals in 10 areas. It's easy, and I'm lazy. (Look at the posts below... I've already completed a few areas so I'm almost cheating.) These are listed in no particular order. I may add some things and take away as we go. Goals are meant to be changed and updated. Unfortunately I can't peg what my year will be like (oh if I could!) so it might change, grow, and mutate. I'm labeling some items complete after three months of completion. Why? Because after three months (90 days) it should be a habit and part of my regular routine. I'll check them off as I complete them! I'm borrowing Heather's key, so look for that below.

So, grab a keyboard and type out your own. Link it over on the Big Fat Annual List post and you just might win a goodie that Heather is giving away!

Steph's Big Fat Annual List (even though this the first. Pretend it's annual.)

Key: BOLD Italics = current focus that month ; Strikeout =  completed

Household:
1. Make a budget. Jan '11
2. Stick to a budget for at least three months.
3. Learn to coupon and do it! Jan '11 BLOGGED
4. Work through the Declutter Calendar for at least three months.
5. Use the Motivated Moms chore calendar to stay ahead of the mess!
6. Organize our closet. Completely.
7. Organize the craft area. Completely.
8. Create extra income
9. Meal plan every week for three months
10. Create a weekly baking plan and complete it each week for three months

Faith:
1. Read through the Bible in 2011
2. Participate in one pastor-led Bible study
3. Develop a quiet time routine
4. Study and keep the Biblical holidays
5. Begin Bible study with my husband
6. Start - again - and complete the Power of a Praying Wife study
7. Complete the Power of a Praying Parent study
8. Read through my shelves (books on topics such as Holy Days, Hebrew roots of the faith, etc)
9. Begin keeping the Sabbath again
10. Read and utilize my Bible study books (How to Study the Bible for Yourself, and Discover the Bible for Yourself)

Service:
1. Cook a meal for the local Ronald McDonald House
2. Work money into the budget in order to regularly donate to our church's food pantry
3. Clean out closets and donate unused clothing to our church's clothing ministry
4. Choose one ministry to become involved in regularly at church
5. Mail already completed hats to my uncle's cancer treatment center
6. Create at least 36 hats for the cancer center (3 per month minimum)
7. Serve at least one meal at the local homeless shelter
8. Participate in Toys for Tots next Christmas
9. Renew my interest and support of our favorite missionary family!
10. Choose one ministry or organization to volunteer with regularly with the kid (her choice)

Homeschool:
1. Organize all of my materials (master list)
2. Create my record keeping system for transcripts
3. Plan three field trips for older students.
4. Write our goals for our daughter's education.
5. Continue our focus on the arts (links to my art goals)
6. Visit three college campuses
7. Create a better schedule so that we have more free time in our day Jan '11
8. Create our long term course of study for the high school years. Jan '11 BLOGGED
9. Prepare and utilize all of the information available at convention wisely
10. Journal, record, and photograph our homeschool life each month. (Completed after three months)

Art:
1. Learn to use my camera. Fully.
2. Learn to paint using watercolors.
3. Complete my "11 in '11" list on Ravelry
4. Sew a quilt
5. Visit the local art museum at least twice per month.
6. Attend one musical.
7. Attend one ballet.
8. Attend one play.
9. Truly study the life and work of one artist.
10. Work on at least two hand-stitching type of projects.

Self:
1. Begin the Family Herbalist course. Again. (done when three units have been completed) Jan '11
2. Form a habit of exercising at least three times a week.
3. Establish a regular bedtime routine/schedule.
4. Track food in WW's online tracker daily Jan '11
5. Be a better motivator and supporter to my mom and sister in our journey toward health Jan '11
6. Lose 10 pounds (total)
7. Lose 20 pounds (total)
8. Lost 40 pounds (total)
9. Maintain weight loss for three months
10. Buy one new (or new to me!) clothing item EACH MONTH

Reading:
1. Read one non-fiction title.
2. Read one fiction title out of my norm (scifi?)
3. Post two book reviews in January Reviews blogged HERE and HERE
4. Read one book on crafts as a business
5. Read one book on blogging
6. Read one homeschool book
7. Read one book about Christian marriage principles
8. Read one book about Christian homeschool principles
9. Join a book club
10. Read one book about health (that isn't required in the FH course)

Family:
1. Make time each day to talk with just my daughter
2. Make time each day to talk with just my husband
3. Call my sisters once a week. Each.
4. Choose one new person to write to each week. A real letter. On paper.
5. Have coffee once a month with my mom
6. Have a weekly date with my husband
7. Begin genealogy work again with mom and uncle
8. Start a card/game night
9. Paint the kid's room.
10. Don't let winter weather stop me! See my dad/stepmom at least two times over the winter.

Blog:
1. Create a blog calendar for three months.
2. Blog according to my schedule - as scheduled - for three weeks
3. Redesign the blog so it isn't so slow to load!
4. Have a banner, buttons, and logo created.
5. Become a regular reader on my favorite blogs
6. Understand and utilize statistics, etc
7. Blog the good, the bad, and the ugly.
8. Post a minimum of two book reviews per month
9. Document progress on all of my goal lists once per month: Jan '11
10. Learn how to blog WELL

WildCrickets Shop:
1. Redesign the shop banner
2. Understand and utilize social media
3. List ten new items in January Epic FAIL!
4. List ten new items in February
5. List ten new items in March
6. Clarify my goals for the shop
7. Create a plan for items, styles, designs (lines to be listed at certain seasons, etc)
8. Become a better team member
9. Attend one or more Etsy Virtual Labs per week
10. Understand and utilize Google analytics