Looking Ahead--2010 Goals

While I look at the following list of goals, I see potential in reaching every one of them by the end of the year with God's help and my determination. I realize that some of the goals are not very measurable right now so there will be some tweaking going on in the weeks and months to come.  However, I wanted to take some time to set some goals so I can develop my vision for the next year.  I divided the goals up into categories(thanks Toni for the inspiration) to help me sort through all the ideas floating around in my head.  I also did not prioritize these goals because a lot of them are dealing with being consistent in things every day.

2010 Goals:

Spiritual:

• Continue to be faithful to the weekly Woman’s Bible Study.
• Memorize at least 100 Bible verses. (that is 2 verses per week)
• Read my Bible daily and work at growing closer to God.
• Realizing and praising God each day for the gift of life and to living each day to the fullest with Him in control!

Personal:

• Exercise 4 times a week—bike riding, walking,  weights or aerobics.
• Drop my weight by 50 lbs.
• Have a consistent morning and bedtime routine every day.
• Read at least two books a month.
• Spend quality time via date nights with my husband once a week.

School:

• Get previous school years papers in binders for each child.
• Work with my daughter to get her fluently reading by June.
• Do hands on activities with my children at least twice a month.
• Be done with formal schooling every day at 3 pm. --I have two that like to drag out the day's work!
• Declutter papers and books that we have never used or are no longer using.

Homemaking:

• Keep consistent with menu planning. The last 3 weeks of  "flying by the seat of my pants" planning has not worked very well!
• Shop for groceries twice a month(other than for fresh items like fruits, veggies, milk & eggs). (more on this goal next week)
• Update and keep up with my household binder
• File papers every month.
• Work at sewing/mending twice a month.
• Work at doing more baking from scratch and cut out the processed foods.
• Try at least two new recipes each month to increase my “family favorite meal list”.

Financial:

• Pay off all three credit cards. (total $3825)
• Work at building a three month emergency fund (approx. $8100)
• Pay cash for the two major house projects (carpeting the rec. room/office & finish the 4^th bedroom) that we have planned for 2010.

 Blogging:

• Be consistent with writing posts (other than weekly Meijer deals) at least 4 times a week.
• Keeping a list of blog post ideas and schedule posts.
• Finish “ABC Parenting”  and “Kindergarten through the Alphabet” series
• Continue to keep a balance between computer/blogging and family.

This post is linked to:

• Goals Link-up at The Happy Housewife!
• Frugal Friday at Life as Mom!

Monthly Sam's Run--December

I was going through the archives working on figures and realized that I had not posted my December Sam's Run.  I guess that is what happens when one is in a "funk"/self-proclaimed vacation due to burn out and not really wanting to do anything on the computer or around my house.  Also my hubby has been working on a community service project through his work this week while supposedly on vacation for this last week so I have had to deal with his wacky hours as well.

Anyway, enough of the excuses and on to the list of items that I purchased at Sam's Club in December.

• 30 lbs French fries $16.98
• 36 double rolls Northern TP $17.89(with sales tax)
• 172 oz Wisk 2x HE detergent $15.78(with sales tax)
• 12 ct Red Baron individual pizzas $9.98
• 60 ct Swiss Miss hot cocoa $4.49
• 4.1 lbs Pepperidge Farms goldfish crackers $8.65
• 2 boxes Nilla Wafers $5.43
• 8 ct DelMonte canned green peas $6.48
• 48 ct Quaker granola bars (asst.) $8.05
• 48 ct Go-Gurt $7.64
• 12 ct. DelMonte canned green beans $8.98
• 1.5 lbs Oscar Mayer shaved deli turkey $6.78
• 48 ct. String cheese $7.79
• 36 ct 100 calorie Kudo bars $5.57
• 6 lbs spaghetti noodles $4.88
• 72 ct Kraft American cheese slices $6.72
• 16 oz. Garlic powder $3.87
• 16 oz Minced Onions $4.64
• 24 oz Kraft grated Parmesan cheese $7.06
• 36 ct Kellogg's Cinnamon/Brown sugar Poptarts $6.28
• 3 pk-44oz Heinz Ketchup $6.23
• 140 ct Totinos pizza rolls $8.98
• 6 lbs Ore Ida Hash browns $5.38
• 4.41 lbs boneless Pork Loin Chops $10.94
• 4.55 lbs beef round roast $13.47
• 7.5 lbs Country Crock margarine $6.44
• 12 ct. Swanson's Chicken broth $7.88
• 2 bags asst. chips $5.98
• 1 gallon apple cider $2.98

Total OOP: $232.22

The total was a little more than what I wanted to spend at Sam's, however, I am finding that with the local grocery stores not having significant sales I am relying on Sam's for the majority of my month's worth of groceries. You will find in the new year that I will doing less in the way of shopping each month.  I have been working at transitioning to once or twice a month shopping rather than a significant shopping trip every week.(more on this transition coming soon)