Goals 2019

I have started compiling a list of goals for each year, thanks to my amazing lifelong mom friend, Evan.  She is exceptional at crafting goals and making them work for her!  I have been following her example with goal setting, now I just need to follow her example in goal completing....

So, here's my list for 2019.  I want to focus more on taking care of myself and my health so that I can take care of my family and enjoy my life.

1. Read a book to the kids, with the kids at least 3 times a week.  Often, bedtime is so rushed and that time to connect needs to happen.  I need it and they need it too!
   
2. Exercise 4 times a week.  I'm going to make this a top priority because it will help with my physical, mental, and social health.  It makes me a better wife, mom, and teacher when I feel good.  And we all know what Elle Woods said about exercise and endorphins...
   
3. Plan trips, not gifts.  I want to put a plan in motion to go DO THINGS with my people.  I would like to cut back on the things and make a point to go to places with them.  See another later goal that ties into this...
   
4. Simplify things.  Clean out closets, storage containers, and cabinets.  Donate or sell items that can be useful and clean out garbage that is no longer useful.
   
5. Read 2 books a month.  One to help me and one for fun.
   
6. Track macro nutrients every day to maximize health and weight loss.  I plan to focus on my health this year and establish better habit with my diet and my fitness. 
   
7. Run 5 5 ks this year.  Health y'all.  It is so important and I plan to maximize mine this year.
   
8. Well checks and doctor visits for my children need to be a priority.  We rarely do those as recommended, because they are pretty healthy.  We need to schedule them as they should be done and follow through.  I will make that happen.
   
9. Have a friend night once a month.  With my new neighbors, with old friends, with women I love.  I love having a community and I know that I need to make connections regularly.
   
10. Join a small group at church and find a place to serve.  I love my church and our church family.  I have been out of the loop with service for a while, and I miss it.  I would like to find a place for that again!
    
11. I am going to prepare one new recipe weekly this year!  I love the kitchen and I love being able to cook new things, so I feel like this will be fun!
    
12. Host a family lunch once a month. 
    
13. Finish things.  The book shelves, the hanging of the decorations, printing of the pictures, projects I begin...
    

I am straight copying a few goals from people I follow via social media, but they fit me perfectly!  I cannot wait to journey through 2019 and improve myself as I go.  Thanks for following along and being a blog friend!

August-December 2017

My goal is going to complete the blog updates from the last million years and attempt to stay in real time from now on.  Blogging is something I really like, but it is so hard to maintain that on a regular basis!  I don't mean to neglect it, but it isn't something I can just sit and do unless I plan a time to do it.  

So thankful for this man and his health.

Open heart surgery in August and he was up and moving soon after.

My best friend lost her dad in October to the same kind of heart issue that Dad had.

Every now and again I catch myself thinking about Dad and Roy and how thankful I am.

I started coaching my girl last May and we had competitions through December of 2017.

It was a long season and it was hard, but we had fun!

I think she's ready to do it again and I am gearing up to coach again!

Hayes plays soccer and Libby does cheer.

The girls color on the sidelines while we watch soccer.

It is lovely.

Last season our soccer team was terrible.

As in, we never won a game.

This season was awesome and we went undefeated!

Cheer comp season was similar to LAST soccer season.

We didn't win one single competition during regular season!

We still had a GREAT time!

In October 2017 we put our house on the market and got full asking price in 10 DAYS!

Fall Festival at Winston is always a good time!

Our BFF Kinsley!

My Tangible Goals

Create 10 goals that can be TRACKED and checked. As in, tangible numbers with multiple check points. So I have a numerical goal. Or something of the like...

I'm working on a few personal development goals that I will track this year.  I'll post those later on!  

Tangible Goals as follows...  I feel like these are NOT a work in progress kinda deal.  These are pretty cut and dry as far as done or not done are concerned.  My goal this year is to create a goal for each month that I can successfully check OFF my list!  This is my goal list for the first 6 months of the year.

1. Organize family photos and prints from 2010-forward.  Place in boxes as needed.
   
2. Print and hang portraits for our home.
   
3. Paperwork for family secured in safe (purchase safe).
   
4. Prepare home for foster care/adoption process.
   
5. Track expenses closer than usual and put aside additional 401k savings.
   
6. Find a family service project to complete.
   
7. Research furniture renovations and complete the pine furniture first.
   
8. Buy a new dining table for our kitchen.
   
9. Buy a new mattress!

Goal Summary 2017

You can view my 2017 goal list HERE.

1. Started several books.  Didn't finish one.  ...sigh...
   
2. No crops.  Zero.  I did grow some awesome flowers though!  Does that count?
   
3. There was lots of purging and ridding of uneccesary things.  Not in an orderly fashion, but the effort counts, right?
   
4. I did sell some antiques.  I did buy new furniture on December 22nd, for our new house... but it got done y'all!
   
5. Home repairs done.  We sold that house and the repairs were required for the sale! 
   
6. Nada on the exercise.  Next....
   
7. Nope on the MK sales director and nope on the quit teaching.  I have actually found a renewed passion for that one lately.  The MK is still fun, but less passion is present!
   
8. Still working on the debt payoff plan.  We sold our Mason Falls Drive house and we will be able to use our profits to pay off most debt.  We are still waiting on the closing of our new house to do that. 
   
9. We did repaint all those rooms listed.  We didn't do any of those other major repairs because we sold that house. 
   
10. Good GRAVY--a  lot can change in 12 months.  Looking back at this list... I see some of the things I wanted to do were a good idea, but I have learned that I have to create TANGIBLE goals with a way to track them.  Be on the lookout for #goalpost2018 soon with measurable goals that I can actually track and achieve! 
    
11. Meanwhile, Merry Christmas!  

Summer To Do Lisit 2015

I figured since I had a year long to do list and I have an entire summer 'off' (more like 6 weeks)... I could make a to-do list for my summer break.

1. 1.  Work an extra 3 days on unit plans and tests in June with my colleagues.
   
2. Travel to North Carolina and see our favorite Marine and his bride.  While in NC, go see some awesome stuff and do some awesome things.
   
3. Paint the living room and finish the half bath.
   
4. Host a minimum of 10 skin care classes each month.
   
5. Figure out how to work exercise into my daily routine so that I can acclimate myself to that once school starts again.
   
6. Swim lessons and summer play dates at the pool for all of us!
   
7. Spend time on a day date with each child by themselves.
   
8. Encourge Hayes to try new foods before kindergarten starts.
   
9.   Organize my home office space and clean out my crap/craft room.
   
10. Buy a new chair for the living room.

Goal Update: Halfway Done

I feel like I should preface this by saying that I've never in my life been much of a goal setter or achiever.  I mean, if you don't SET goals you will likely not achieve them.  Duh.  I was inspired by a dear friend of mine to set goals and achieve the a few years back.  I have also been disciplined with my Mary Kay training to set goals and dreams for myself.  Goals are dreams with a deadline... and dreams, are just that, dreams.

Goals for 2015.

1. Lose the last bit of baby weight and keep it off this year, possibly forever.
   My body has been in a constant up and down lbs. battle since mid 2009.  Pregnancy, baby, pregnancy, baby, weight loss, baby, better weight.... to be continued.
   
   I am slowly but surely working on this one.  I do technically have about 10 lbs to go to get to my 'prebaby/husband' weight.  I am about 99% sure that if I actually made time to exercise regularly, I would lose those last few lbs.  Summer schedule includes early workouts so that I can do that.
   
2. Declutter the house, one room at a time.
   Now that we have reached the 'last baby' stage I feel like we will be able to gradually remove things that are no longer being saved for 'later.'  I will also be able to remove my 5-6 size range wardrobe and focus on a smaller selection of clothing.  Advocare and exercise will help.
   
   Declutter Cochran Casa has begun.  We are gradually working through each room.  This summer the focus will be the kids rooms and closets!  Also, my closet.  Yikes.
   
3. Finish decorating the living room, buy new couches/chairs, and paint that room.
   Finally.  We have lived there for almost 3 years.... long enough to have painted the rooms.
   
   Painted the front entry and bathroom.  Done with the girls' room.  Working on living room completion as well.  Planning to paint the rest of the front entry and living room this summer.  I cannot WAIT to brighten up that room!  
   
4. Become a Mary Kay sales director by April.
   This will require multiple steps, but it is a goal... with a deadline.  And that deadline opens up so many other doors that I can barely stand it.
   
   Not in a director suit, but actively recruiting and building my team.  I will be seeing an aubergine suit this fall.  I am CERTAIN of it.
   
5. Organize my home office and my 'room' at the house.
   The craft room/office/crap room needs a face lift.
   
   Yeah, still working on this goal.  I plan to do some summer cleaning and move things to the basement so that my office can move out of my dining room into the craft/crap room.
   
6. PLANT FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES.
7. I want to unplug myself once a month for a whole weekend and just be Carrie the mom, the wife, the cook, the cleaner, the house keeper.... and not respond to calls or texts or emails or any social networks.
   I feel like doing that in spurts makes me rely on that a lot less to entertain myself.  I look forward to it.
   
   Planted a LOT of flowers and bulbs this spring.  I have so much fun planting things.  Truly love that part of being a homeowner.
   
8. Disney fund growth.
   Deposit a consistent amount monthly into the account for our 2016 trip.  :)  I'm hoping for a February or Spring Break trip!
   
   Disney fund hasn't grown at all.  But debt payoff has been fierce.  I know that Disney will come easier once debt is gone.  Shooting for a Christmas with Mickey trip in December!
   
9. Establish a fitness routine that I can maintain with my mommy lifestyle.
   I am 100% certain this will mean me buying a treadmill or something before it happens because I'm not going to the gym.  I am also 100% sure this means I will be exercising in the early morning hours because that is the best time for me.
   
   Summer 2k15 will be the first time the exercise has happened regularly.
   
10. Actually complete tasks I start.
    
    Done.  Starting to be more diligent about completing things.  Life skills people.  Life skills.

Yard work

Spring Break we had trees cut down!

We acquired this AWESOME mulch pile as a result.

AKA:  Mount Cochran

It was the best idea ever.

This was the scientific butterfly lesson over Spring Break.

Not sure when my kids learned some of the things they learned, but they are smart.

Too smart for their britches...

Training.

This is totally normal right?

Everyone uses their preschoolers to help around the house....

I mean, we should teach them good habits early, right?

The funny thing to me is that Hayes used to be TERRIFIED of the vacuum cleaner.

Ran from the room and screamed, terrified.

I guess he's gotten over that fear.

Either that OR he's just not going to let his little sister show him up.

She wasn't about to let him have all the fun.

She ran into the room and demanded her turn.

Here's hoping that they both still enjoy the vacuum when they are 12.

At that point, it will be a requirement that they vacuum all the time.

Its just a fireplace...

Its just a fireplace.

That's what I say to myself while I'm sitting in front of it....

But as I sit perched here letting my hair dry, I think of every fireplace.

I love my faux fireplace and fire here.

I remember back to making a fire by myself in my very own grow up house.

I remember teaching my husband how to use egg cartons, newspaper, and dryer lint for starters.

I reflect back to Girl Scouts and how my mom taught me all those things.

I remember begging Daryk to go out into the rain and snow and get more wood.

I loved the fire.

I hated the gathering and transporting of the wood.

I think back to sitting in front of a fireplace with my grandparents.

They would sit in their recliners and we would all watch Wheel of Fortune.

If we went to fetch the hair dryer, Grandma would dry our hair for us.

If not, we roasted our backs and let the fireplace dry our hair.

I remember marveling at Grandma Ouida and her vast vocabulary.

She never missed a phrase and she would have won Jeopardy too.

Any day of the week...

I remember way far back to a tiny house in Powder Springs.

I remember sitting in front of a fireplace there too.

I recall sitting in itchy, scratchy, pajamas there.

I know I shared that hearth with Kathryn.

I know we had matching pajamas.

I feel bad for a minute because I know I'm the reason she crashed face first into the hearth...

Sorry Sissy!

I know that we sat there during the coldest nights while our hair dried.

That probably took hours, because it takes forever now.

We have always had ridiculously thick hair!

Hayes asked me tonight about our fireplace.

He asked me if it was real.

Yes, it is.

It is a real fireplace.

It makes heat and flames.

It keeps our toes toasty and it could help dry our hair.

As the seasons drag us deeper into the winter I know our fireplace will become more real to us.

I am hoping that Hayes and Libby will remember the fireplace as I do.

A place of comfort with lovely memories.

Helping Daddy

Yes.

The garbage can experience is a family affair.

And yes, Libby picks her own clothing and I don't argue with her.

Do I really care if she is wearing pink & red?

Probably not.

Waving at the neighbors as they drive by.

Usually the Blackstones see us in the family affair of trash collecting...

Nobody got stuck.... Yet.

I live in fear that the two of them will re-enact that episode of Full House where someone got stuck.

I feel like I'll pull a Gibbler and probably need a stick of butter.

That was Full House, right?

Either way...

Terrified that will be my lot in life.

It only takes them a minute to find or make trouble.

I figure it is just a matter of time until I find someone stuck in the rails.

But they are so cute when they look like they are in prison!

The dryer.

We have lived in the new house since August 2012.

I love the new house.

I do not love my appliances in the new house.

The fridge we bought from Craigslist was a STEAL.

It is also my favorite appliance to date.

It is HUGE and amazing.

And y'all know I love to cook, so an awesome fridge is a requirement.

No major issues with the fridge.

The icemaker didn't work, but that was a cheap fix and now it is glorious.

Ice, water dispenser, and tons of storage.

The dishwasher is also amazeballs.

It is a BOSCH and came with the house.

It grinds up food so I don't have to pre-rinse plates.

HOLLA---I hate pre-rinsing plates.

That's why I have a dishwasher, hello?

But the electronic board on that had to be replaced in January...

Thank you Elizabeth, curious child who pushes all the buttons....

It was NOT a cheap fix.

I do not love the dryer vent in the new house.

It has caused all sorts of issues for me and my dryer.

Dryer has worked fine until we moved.

It is a 2006 dryer... so it is getting older.

Do appliances age?

My dryer has had two fuses trip/blow/whatever since August.

Thankful that my Dad is super handy and able to help me fix it.

This past weekend it bit the dust again.

I removed the switch (with Dad's help and coaching)...

Switch is fine.

Heating element works.

Dryer will not TUMBLE clothes....

But it will heat them up and catch on fire in a heart beat.

So, we have disassembled the back of the dryer to take it ALLLLLLLLLLL to the store for testing.

Also, we cleaned out the dryer vent as best as we could.

Holy smokes.

Daryk used a shop vac to 'blow it out' the side of the house from inside last night....

And the kids and I watched about 90 years worth of dryer lint fly.

It was soooooooooo nasty.

Here's hoping that we get the dryer fixed soon 'cause carrying wet clothes around is crap.