My goals for 2017
Get 7- 8 Hours of Sleep Each Night
I had another really good week of getting at least 7 hours of shut eye each night and I’m thinking 7 1/2 hours is pretty much the max before my back hurts in the morning because I laid down for so long.
Make Saving a Priority, Not an Idea
Things we’ve done this month to save money:
- Had a no spending week
- Driving fewer miles {less money spent on gas/tolls}
- Cut our own hair
- Kept the thermostat at 63 degrees {I could actually go to 60 but I think my husband would flip out}
- Trying to get most “work” done during daylight hours in well lit rooms to take advantage of sunlight vs flipping the lights on
- Changed oil in our cars instead of paying someone else to do it
- Doing our own yard work {I have a neighbor that I swear has a landscape company over at their place 3 days a week working in their yard. It’s nuts}
- Made 4 extra principal payments on the mortgage
- Continue to not pay for trash, yard waste or cable services
I’m thinking about buying a printer so we don’t have to mail packages at the post office. I’ve gone back and forth about this for about a year.
On one hand it would be nice to be able to print postage at home and just schedule a {free} pick up. But on the other hand, do I want to spend money on a printer, ink, paper and tape to stick the labels on the packages? Do I want another machine in the house? One of us is driving past the post office on a daily basis and honestly, running in and using the self postage kiosk isn’t that big of a deal. I know owning our own printer would be “faster” but is it really a purchase I want to make? I don’t know. Maybe I’m just being silly about the whole thing.
Live a little
I liberated this from my parents fridge. 😉 Have you tried it? I’m going to try it today over grilled chicken.
Visit 52 REAL Bakeries
This past week I told you about Buttermilk Baking Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts {they have the BEST shortbread on the planet}. Next week I’ll tell you about another crazy delicious bakery we found while we were walking around Boston. Ahh pastries. Sweet delicious goodness, I’m going to be a wee bit sad when this goal is over.
Have 1 “no spend” week each month
I only left the neighborhood 1 time last week to run an errand {for someone else!}. Staying home totally has it’s perks, and not spending any money is one of them. 🙂 I don’t think owning 12 cats and talking to myself 24/7 is too far off.
Start a Line of Rug Hooking Patterns
WAhoooo! Another goal checked off my list! This morning I was able to list 4 more rug hooking patterns in my Etsy shop. I still have a few more in the works but my goal was to get 12 patterns listed this year and now I’ve done it. Pop on over HERE if you’d like to take a look.
Turn My Wool Stash into $2,500. Mission Accomplished!
This past week I sold $312.74 in my Etsy shop which brings my total so far this year to $9712.17. How crazy is that? I wonder if I’ll hit 10k? If you have an Etsy shop and would like to be featured on the blog be sure and leave the name of your shop on this post. Over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing Etsy shops in upcoming daily deal posts.
Purge 250 Items
I’m not even sure how it’s possible we have anything else left to get rid, of but this week I managed to fill another 3 bags full of stuff for the thrift store. Pairing down to just the things we enjoy and use has sure been a process over the past 2 years but it’s really nice not to open a cupboard or a drawer and fell overwhelmed because a bunch of stuff we don’t even use anymore is staring back at us.
Learn to Crochet
I learned that crocheting is not for me. 😉
Dote on My Husband Even More Than I Do Now.
After I finish this goal post I plan on making the HH a nice big Sunday breakfast in bed. And then when he’s finished I’ll hand him a big outdoor to-do list. Because seriously, 8 days of rain.
Lose the Muffin Top. {again} Mission Accomplished!
Let’s just hope Muffy stays away during the holidays!
Wear out {most of} the clothing I already own.
Yesterday I said goodbye to my last pair of Kut from the Kloth Natalie boot cut jeans. It was a sad moment. The bum {on both sides!} finally wore too thin and tore. And while I am a firm believer that if you are walking around with holes in your jeans you had better have earned those holes {and not bought the jeans that way} I draw the line at air conditioned bottoms.
Goodbye my perfect form fitting jeans, you will be missed. Maybe when I wear out all the other jeans in my closet I’ll splurge and buy another pair.
Try 52 New Recipes
A new and insanely delicious recipe will be posted on Tuesday. Stay tuned.
Read 52 Books Mission Accomplished!
I didn’t read anything new this week… Any suggestions? {I love autobiographies}
Give Back to 12 Different Organizations in My Community
Winter is coming and if I am going to donate a bunch of shirts to the men’s shelter in Tacoma I better get with it because so far I only have 1 shirt. St. Vincent De Paul in Port Orchard sells {almost} all their clothing for $1.25 a piece so I think I’ll head over there this week and see if I can find some nice deals.
January – Donated to Quilts from the Heart in Memory of my brother.
February – Donated to Empty Bowls Fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club.
March – Donated to my daughter’s mentor who was in a horrible car accident.
April – Donated again to my daughter’s mentor who was in a horrible car accident.
May – $100 Tip to a waitress on Mother’s day.
June – Started collecting men’s shirts to donate this winter.
July – Donated to the Chew Dog Rescue
August – Donated to the Houston Flood Relief Fund
September – $100 Tip to our amazing server at The Grey House and bought a tin of caramel corn from a Boy Scout
And then, there’s those top secret goals we’re not talking about yet.
Secret Goal #1Sell East Coast House Mission AccomplishedSecret Goal #2Chickens! Mission Accomplished- Secret Goal #3 Working on it!
- Secret Goal #4
How about YOU? Did you set any goals for 2017? How are they coming along?
~Mavis
Read About My 2017 Goals HERE.
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Em says
Re: new book, have you read _My Life In France_ by Julia Child and Alex Prud’homme? Or _Dearie_ (Julia Child biography) by Bob Spitz. I think she had a fascinating life.
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, great book!
Suzanne says
Have you read “The Dirty Life” by Kristin Kimball? I just finished it. It’s a memoir about farming. I think you would love it.
Em says
Suzanne, I agree, good suggestion!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yep. Loved it!
nancy says
You may like The Dirty Chef by Matthew Evans. Evans was a big city (Sydney) food critique and decided to move to rural Tasmania and set up a hobby farm. He has a series on the BBC which can be found on YouTube called the Gourmet Farmer. Very enjoyable and the book is really interesting with stories and recipes of his move to Tasmania. Sorry if you have already read it but thought if you hadn’t you may enjoy!
Julie says
Other ideas for buying shirts (for cheap!) to donate, you could head to Value Village on Monday when their color tag of the week is $.99…and then Goodwill has their $.99 color tag day starting on Tuesday. I’m a little further south than you so call ahead to be sure!
Mel says
I’m still chipping away at my goal of handmade Christmas gifts. I made 2 sea glass collages last week, and I planned a third one. We live near river banks where glass washes up, so this is essentially a free gift (other than framing them). I also started sewing a bag for a friend for Christmas (sewing was another goal).
I finally got around to weighing all the tomatoes we froze this season, and they totaled 63 lbs. I then picked 2 more lbs yesterday, and the plants aren’t quite done. So, I’m taking a break from some goals this week to start saucing tomatoes. Our pumpkins failed this year, but I bought several sugar pumpkins and winter squashes, so I may also work on pureeing those.
Maria says
Save your swagbucks and get paypal money. Transfer that money to your checking account and use it eventually to buy another pair of jeans.
You could also try ebay, etsy and the second hand clothing websites to look for a gently worn pair at a discount?
Brianna says
Thanks on your ideas on how you save money each week in your goals. I have to travel 25 minutes to town and I’m getting better at planning my trips to do multiple errands to make it worthwhile. I was going to go grocery shopping for a few basics, but my parents bough 2 gallons of milk they couldn’t use (has lactose) so it saved me from a milk run!
I do sell seasonally on eBay and I got rid of our printer 5 years ago. I got tired of printing invoices and labels and replacing ink cartridges, paper, etc. I ship 80-100 packages annually and I just handwrite my labels and go to the post office during a non busy time. I haven’t had a buyer complain yet about not having an invoice or computer printed label. I wouldn’t buy a printer. If I need one I just go to the library or someone’s house who has one. I honestly print about 10 things a year, unrelated to shipping, and it reduces the paper clutter a lot. Plus it is one less electronic in the house with a bunch of cables and to dust around.
My purge pile is getting bigger as I continue unpacking from our move. I’m being very conscious to touch and think about every item and it has been slow. I’m going to have a huge sale in the spring since garage sale season is pretty much over here. I just have to get the hubby motivated to go through his stuff and narrow down his hobbies, I think he has gotten a new one every year we’ve been married. My movers packed all of our photo albums in a way that broke the bindings on all of them and that is a terrible job to sort through, but I’ve been shredding old boyfriend and other irrelevant pictures.
I know you have plans to donate shirts to a Men’s shelter, but new socks and underwear are also much needed items. Keep your eyes out at your thrift store for such items and consider buying them to donate too.
Jamie says
Years ago, I read an article saying to avoid touching things, or holding them for an extended amount of time when you are decluttering. Touch is one of our senses and how we often build connections. One reason they have volunteers rock babies at hospitals is the touch helps babies thrive. There was some experiment where they showed the correlation between how long someone held an object and if they ultimately decluttered it. It was amazing what an influence touch was. It also talked about how stores display certain things to be touched. The more people touch, the more they buy.
I try to look at but only touch an object after a decision has been made and it’s just being moved. At least 7,000+ things gone from my home!
What has helped my husband finally let go is for me to show him just a few things everyday and have him decide while I hold the object. I then get to dispose of the item. If he has a box where he is sorting through and physically holding everything inside, we will be keeping the broken vacuum cleaner for another year, don’t ask me how I know! Lol.
Good luck!
sharon says
When you hand write your labels do you lose the discount ebay gives to sellers to print from there site? If not how do you do it? Would you share? I would love to have a step by step. Thank you so much!!
Paula B. says
The roasted pineapple and habanero sauce is delicious! My husband and I tasted it as a sample at Sam’s a couple of years ago. I was worried about the pepper being too much but it is perfect. It is really good on pork and chicken, but we especially love it on salmon.
Dawn says
A house in the sky by Amanda Lindhout. Gut wrenching but a teastament to human spirit. About a woman held hostage for 420 days.
Karin says
How is it possible that you don’t have a printer??? I use mine all the time for so many things. I think we went through 2 reams of paper just for my son’s Eagle Scout project and application! I admit they are a total pain and the ink is way too expensive but I don’t see how I could do without one.
erin in ia says
I hated buying ink cartridges too because of the cost. Finally discovered just the ink on amazon earlier this year. Watched a you tube video on how to fill my exact cartridge type and now I can refill all my ink cartridges for next to nothing! Check it out….and wear gloves when filling them!
Jean says
I bought a black and white laser printer on Amazon a couple of years ago for $30. It’s a Brother 2270W. I can go through a couple of reams of paper without refilling the ink (myself). I purchase half sheet printer labels for my shipping that I do on eBay. I’m a top-seller on eBay so I get a 20% shipping discount through USPS. It saves me a ton of money to be able to print my labels at home.
Lolly says
Buy the printer and a postal scale. You can order priority mail boxes and/or envelopes to be delivered to your front door. And you can schedule a package pickup from the post office as long as you have at least one priority package going out. So….you save gas $ and wear and tear on your car, can stay home, and do all your mailing! Oh, and no more standing in line at the PO!!!! Lickety-split, and you are done! Easy!
Lolly says
Oh, the priority boxes and envelopes are FREE.
Thelma says
Have you read Wild by Cheryl Strayed?
Mavis Butterfield says
Read it! 🙂
Tammy says
I laughed out loud over your comments on the jeans. Too funny.
Congratulations on the great Etsy success this year! I love those sunflowers you make!
Carolina says
I have NO doubt that you will get to $10,000 on your Etsy shop, what with 2 1/2 months to go and less than $300 to reach that amount. So sorry that you are looking at so many days of rain ahead. I almost feel guilty that here in seacoast New Hampshire the high today was mid 70s and sunny and we have NO rain in the 10 day forecast. Just temps between 55 – 75. As for the men’s flannel shirts, what about having your readers ship some to you, was done when you collected the garden gnomes for St. Judes?
And now I have a question. There was a gardening book that you posted recently, and I can’t remember the exact name of it. But it was about raising much or all or your own food on 1/4 acre. I would like to buy this book for my son, who is a chef, loves to garden and is about to buy a house on a little over 1/4 acre. Thank you in advance for the name of this book.
Mavis Butterfield says
Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre 🙂
Julia says
Just wanted to say that I loved the Happy Hollister book series as a kid. I downloaded the free one fir my son to try. I’m also gong to try your ham bean and make soup this week. I have all the ingredients except the beans!
Katherine says
Our home renovation is done! There are a few cosmetic things to finish up but I’ll work on those after we get all the furniture placed and the rest of the tubs and boxes unpacked and put away. No matter how much stuff I sold, gave away or donated prior to packing things up for the reno, I’ve donated 3 trunks full of stuff to the GW this weekend.
Earlene says
Book I recommend is called “ Across the Endless River”, actually I got on one of your Amazon deals . So good, I’m not done but 75%
Linda says
I highly recommend “The Kite Runner” and “A Thousand Splendid Suns” both by Khaled Hosseini. Not biographies, but wonderful stories about a people in a part of the world I knew little about.
Or a true story, “Same Kind of Different As Me by Denver Moore, Ron Hall Very inspiring!
Pauline says
Hi Mavis et al —
I thoroughtly enjoyed the book by pathologist Judy Melinek, MD — “Working Stiff” — which is about her 2001 fellowship in the NYC medical examiner’s office. Not for the squeamish, but for the rest of us a thoroughly engrossing read. I admit that the details of her work following 9/11 brought tears to my eyes. Dedicated professionals, one and all.
Pauline in Upstate NY
Mavis Butterfield says
That was a REALLY good book!
Cecile Hoare says
Hey Mavis, a quick read that I loved, mainly because it was quick is, ‘The Dirty Life’ by Kristin Kimball. I think if you have yet to read it, you will love it too! It’s on homesteading and self sufficiency. I actually liked it so much I bought two additional copies and gave them to two girlfriends I knew would love it!
Katie says
“This House of Sky” by Ivan Doig is a wonderful, touching memoir. I think you’d enjoy it. I’ve also recently read Anna Quindlan’s “Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake,” Ted Kennedy’s “True Compass” and “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen. All good, but Springsteen really stayed with me. The first couple chapters felt a little flowery, but after that, it was terrific. It’s a book I’ll read again.
Jamie Scheer says
Mavis, I would LOVE to know more about “making 4 extra payments on your mortgage principal” Is this something you budgeted for, did all at once, or do week by week? Do you do this every month or is this the first time? I’m very curious! Thank you for your great blog!
Gigi says
If you’re into aprons, I just saw a idea in a magazine for a denim apron. Of course they wanted you to buy it but it looked easy enough to cut up a leg and attach a tie string. A while back I saw a quick video of turning the waist and back pockets into a tool belt (no sew). But that’s only if the pockets are deep enough.
Carrie says
I started reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. I watched the Hulu series and was blown away – I had to read the book too.
I am also reading a Animals Make Us Human by Temple Grandin. Grandin is an autistic college professor and has years of experience working with farm animals. She shares some interesting points on the brains of animals and what motivates them. Her insights into meat packing plants has been eye opening as well.
Delma says
I have a couple Etsy shops and let me just say – when I finally broke down and bought a postal scale and began shipping from home it was life changing! Downloading and printing mailing labels = seamless. Etsy mailing prices are a bit cheaper than the ones you get going to the post office so consider that, gas , and more importantly time, saved when thinking of getting that printer. Also – on more than one occasion an address given by the buyer has been flagged by the Post Office link through the Etsy labeling – I double check with buyers and have saved them and myself the troubles associated with mistakes. Just my 2 cents worth. : )
Wendy L. says
The book, What She Ate, by Laura Shapiro is about 6 remarkable women. I am
only half way finished with it and agree with those reviewing the book that it is
worth the read. You may enjoy ordering it from the library. It took me several weeks
to get my copy. Enjoy!
Kim says
Check out “Travels with Charlie” by John Steinbeck. I especially enjoy the audiobook. Once upon a time John Steinbeck decided he needed to get out in America to get back in touch with the way real people all across the nation live. He fixed up a camping truck and hit the road with his dog Charlie. It’s awesome.
Heather says
I’m a top rated seller on eBay & ship over 100 packages per month. Printing my labels from home and having the free pickup saves me tons of time (and eBay gives a discount for buying postage through them). I highly recommend a Dymo printer if you just need to print postage – there is NO ink to buy and it is super fast and clear (no trouble with barcodes not scanning). I buy off-brand thermal labels on eBay with no problem!
Nicola says
Mavis, I wanted to buy a rug hook from your shop, but it seems you don’t ship to Canada. I hoped to help you reach your target and you also seem to be the only person with the coarse hooks 🙁 .
Mavis Butterfield says
I can ship to Canada if you’d like to share your postal code I can see how much shipping would be. 🙂
AlysonRR says
We have pretty much given up on owning a printer. It would be convenient sometimes, but we’ve always been able to find a way around it. Every now and then I’ll send a few documents to my mom’s printer (it has it’s own email address, though she has to turn it on first), but most of the time we can email or scan then email or even fax (from the computer) any documents we might otherwise print.
We were printing so infrequently the ink kept drying out before we could print more than a few dozen pages. So we came up with work-arounds, then the work-arounds became easier, and definitely cheaper!
Hmm – maybe I should get it out of the house, you think? I definitely should unplug it… I’ve noticed we’re using the same amount of electricity, but it’s costing more, so I’m on a mission this next month to unplug everything that doesn’t get daily use.