December Goals

Here's how I'd like to finish up the year:

• Visit the Christmas market with family.
• Fondu night.
• Sort out the hobby room.
• Finish a crochet project.
• Make Christmas cards.

Currently...

...spending more time doing crafts with the kids.
...working hard.
...wrapping up warm.
...getting ready for Christmas.
...preparing to finish up a big long term project.
...starting a new novel.
...wondering what happened to Autumn!
...waiting impatiently for news.

November Goals

Here's what I'd like to achieve this month:

• Family day out
• Celebrate Joshua's birthday
• Lantern festival
• Lose weight
• Budget
• Complete a crochet project

Currently...

...getting back in a work routine.
...cycling in all weathers.
...reading lots thanks to my commute.
...drinking coffee to keep awake.
...making plans to get through the autumn.
...trying to keep warm.
...laughing and crying with my mini-me.
...wondering where October went!

October Goals

Here are my plans for the month:

• Fondu night
• Family day trip
• Lose weight
• Fill the planter in the garden
• Keep up the videos
• Three craft projects
• Fix up Isabella's wardrobes

Currently...

...enjoying extra cuddles with the poorly kids.
...gearing up for my new job.
...chipping away at the garden.
...getting back into reading.
...mulling over some ideas for Christmas crafts.
...looking forward to Dad's visit in October.
...preparing for hibernation in the colder weather.
...reconnecting with friends.

Currently...

...winding down for Summer.
...easing up on myself.
...planning the fourth birthday party of the century.
...watching European property shows.
...enjoying the slightly cooler weather.
...drinking more tea.
...learning while I teach.
...getting craftier.

June Goals

Here are my goals for this month:

• Finish, frame and hang my crossstitch.
• Keep up the videos.
• Celebrate Isabella's birthday.
• Three exercise sessions per week.
• Get caught up with my crochet projects.
• Get on top of the garden.
• 3 DIY projects.

Currently...

...enjoying the sunshine.
...drinking plenty of water.
...missing Isabella, but...
...loving some quality time with Joshua.
...working like mad.
...making the most of my fitbit.
...eating Paleo again.
...cycling in the sun.

May Goals

• 3 DIY projects
• Mummy dates with the kids
• Family cycle trip
• Plant the garden pots
• Keep up with the daily goals
• 3 sport sessions per week

Currently...

...cycling more.
...loving the daylight.
...getting to know my fitbit.
...drinking more water.
...laughing more with the kids.
...feeling busy but good.
...planning lots of fun this summer.
...creating again.

April Goals

Here's what I'd like to do this month:

• Get cracking in the garden.
• Keep up the cross stitch and daily videos.
• Mummy dates with the kids.
• Lose weight.
• Finish three DIY projects.

Quarterly Review!

How are we nearly a quarter of the way through the year?! Time really is flying!

I've gone from being home on maternity leave, going stir-crazy, to being run off my feet. Half of the house has been spring cleaned, I've done two new crochet projects and taken on a new role at the nursery/kindergarten. I got halfway to my goal weight and I'm loving Zumba.

The kids have come on leaps and bounds. Isabella's had her first sleepover and made so many friends at Kindergarten. Both kids have had growth spurts and Joshua is communicating more and using a fork.

Right now I'm working five jobs and life is a whirlwind. I'm using the holidays to get on top of work, sort the house and garden, and do some finances.

The new years' resolutions are going well and while I sometimes feel like I'm alternately treading water and drowning, it's nice to take the opportunity to see how far I've come since January.

And the year has still lots to offer - a hen do, a trip to England, two weddings, becoming a Godmother, and of course, the privelege to watch my two children grow and learn. Great times!

Currently...

...feeling grateful for my little family.
...missing my Zumba.
...finding my way at Kindergarten.
...eating well.
...reading more at bedtime.
...meeting new people.
...drinking wine.
...making plans.

March Goals

Here's what I hope to achieve this month:

• Finish spring cleaning the house.
• Keep up the daily videos and crossstitch.
• Get back to Zumba and dance classes.
• Have a one to one 'date' with Isabella and Joshua.
• Do the tax return.

Currently...

...enjoying the winter sunshine.
...making lots of progress.
...struggling on the work front.
...reading a new (to me) Ken Follett.
...getting better at Zumba.
...loving watching the kids and their progress.
...being more crafty.
...feeling busy, busy, busy.

February Goals

Here's what I'm hoping to achieve this month:

• Get all my new jobs up and running.
• Finish sorting upstairs in the house.
• Launch my online Dawanda shop.
• Continue with Paleo and exercise.
• Crossstitch and video every day.

Looking forward...

I'm struggling a little with this new month, new year. While I'm sticking to my two main goals, I'm having a hard time finding a balance with the usual healthy eating, more activity, less stress side of things. Maybe it will settle more when I get back to work full time. In the meantime I thought I'd jump on Amy Liz's bandwagon and describe what I'm looking forward to this year.

Getting back to work!

I know it will be stressful and bring on a new wave of working mum guilt but I am looking forward to getting into a new challenge, taking my career in a different direction and bringing a bit more financial stability to our family. I'm especially looking forward to meeting new people and enjoying conversation with other adults!

My sister's hen do and wedding.

This Summer I'll be heading to England twice for these wonderful events. The first should be a fun, girly weekend and the second is especially exciting as we're taking my mother-in-law with us and I'm excited to show her my home country and get all the family together again.

The kids' birthdays.

While Isabella's incessant talk of her birthday party and the guest list is incredibly annoying right now (she turns four in June), I am looking forward to it. As with Christmas, birthdays with children just seem more magical and both of the kids are a joy to watch as they grow and learn.

Completing some ongoing projects.

I'm really hoping this will be the year I finish my biggest crossstitch yet.

I'm carrying on apace with my crochet course and looking forward to finishing the blanket project.

I'm also really excited to see how the one second every day video turns out. I'm backing up weekly and week one had both of us grinning ear to ear.

Currently...

...cleaning my way through the house.
...enjoying getting back to Zumba.
...settling into a new routine.
...drinking lots of coffee.
...cycling more.
...keeping our family memories in old ways and new.
...gearing up to get back to work.
...cosying up by the fire.

One Little Word 2018

Following the success of my year of 'create', I want to share my new One Little Word for 2018 today. It is:

Refresh!

I thought long and hard about this and 2018 is going to be a whole different set up for me. Both kids will be in daycare, I'll be starting several new jobs and it seemed to make sense that I refresh several areas of my life in the process. Here are some of my goals for 2018:

• Refresh my work situation.
• Refresh my home environment.
• Refresh my attempts at One Second Every Day video keeping.
• Refresh my crossstitch efforts.
• Refresh my diet and fitness plans.
• Refresh my finances.

By the way, although I loved and acheived last year's goals - I'm actually enjoying creating and reading much more now that the pressure is off.

Also, I've decided not to have my mobile phone upstairs at night any more and after just four nights, I'm feeling refreshed!