New Year, New Goals

I've never been one to set New Year's Resolutions...even as a teenager I thought they were kind of lame. I've seen so many people set them and fail, and it just never appealed to me.

But this year is different. This year the hubby will be TDY/Deployed for most of the year. I have found in previous deployments that the best way to get through every day is to have a routine. So I'm challenging myself to keep on top of things. And I think that by setting these few goals for myself, it will make me a better mother, wife, and person.

This is my plan for the year and I'm going to use this blog to keep myself accountable.
*Be more positive. I'm a huge pessimist. Always have been, just ask my mom. But as I said on facebook the other day, this year I am forcing myself to think of at least one positive thing every day, and write it down so that I don't forget what I'm blessed with. It's going to be a long hard road for us this year and I think that keeping a gratitude journal will help me stay upbeat despite hard times.
*Be more organized. I found a printable blog planner online, my notebook for keeping track of Etsy orders and of course I have my planner that I cannot live without. I intend to spend a few minutes at the beginning of every week planning my blog posts, days that I need to run errands (so that I'm not going to the same stores every.single.day like I do now), and I'm hoping it will keep me better on top of my Etsy orders so that my turnaround time is faster.
*Keep my house in guest-condition always. I have made dry-erase chore charts for the kids, and I am also going to make a weekly chart for myself. It will have one or two major tasks a day so that I'm not spending an entire day just cleaning the house.
* Complete one project each week. Whether it be for the kids, my house, or a gift...I want to have something to keep me busy and creative aside from my Etsy shop.
*List 1-3 new items every week in my Etsy shop. I would love to be able to list something new every day, but lets be honest...I just don't see that being feasible when I have orders coming in. And I know that some weeks will be busier than others, so at least one new listing may be the only thing I can do once and awhile. But I think that giving myself a reasonable goal will be much better for my shop!

You are all given permission to get on my case if I start slacking. I plan to post pics of completed projects each Saturday, and I will have a What's New series with links to new items in my shop. So if you see that I go a week or more without updating, feel free to nudge me back into reality!

Friday Finds on Etsy: Organization

Having just moved into a new house recently, organization is at the forefront of my thinking. I'm trying really hard to get my craft supplies set up functionally. This is no easy task, as I went from having a full room devoted to my crafts in the old house, to having it all in my (VERY LARGE) bedroom. Currently I have bins scattered in my closet, bedroom, and hall closet.

I'm also trying to organize the boys' room as well...again we went from having a playroom at the old house to having a huge bedroom for the boys, so the toys are all in with them now. Organization is key to keeping a 6 and 8 year old boys' bedroom tidy!

This thing is a serious need in our house. The hubby has accumulated quite the collection of neckties over the last few years due to coaching hockey. We're always searching high and low on game days for a tie...but this tie organizer by markumswoodnglass would save so much time!!

I must have one of these. I mean it. MUST. I have a notebook in my purse for all the little things I need to get on my errand running. Then, in one of my purse pockets I have coupons for stores like Michaels, AC Moore, Babies R Us, etc. I'm always digging around for those suckers and presenting them to cashiers all wrinkled and sometimes even torn. How perfect would this Mini List Taker from Bits N Pieces Etc be to keep them all together with my lists??

How about these handy closet dividers from The Paper Party Design Co? They come in sets of 5 and can be made to show sizes or have words on them. I'm thinking of getting some for the boys' closests with labels like "Short Sleeve Shirts", "Long Sleeve Shirts", etc on them.

While looking around for organization helpers, I came up with a couple of my own ideas so maybe I'll add some to my shop sometime too...keep checking back!