2012 Goals: February Check-In

How are your 2012 Goals going?  February was rough for me.  While these monthly check-ins have been helpful, but I need to up the accountability.  Any ideas?  I'm thinking of posting them near my bed or on the fridge to keep my goals on the forefront of my mind.  How do you remember to focus on your goals?  How is your progress?

These were my 2012 Goals and how I did in February:

Personal:

*Keep a consistent devotional time, memorizing verses through my discipleship group.--I'm still struggling with this.  But the consistency of my discipleship group is helping.

*Memorize 12 verses with the kids.--We've done one so far in the past two months.

*Read 24 books.--I read 4 in Jan, and 3 in February.

*Tackle 12 DIY projects.--Tackled Homemade Hand Scrub in Feb.

My Marriage:

*Plan a bi-weekly time of being together.--No date night this month.  :-(

*Read 2-3 books together.--not yet

*Plan a yearly getaway.--Planning for this summer

My Kids:

*Plan a once a month date with each of the kids.--Took Lydia to get groceries a couple of times, and Noah to get a treat

*Homeschool/supplement preschool for Lydia and 1st/2nd grade for Noah.--Still working with Noah and started pre-reading with Lydia, although with other items

*Read through the Magic Treehouse series with them.--Not yet

*Go on a field trip once a month.--Missed it this month

Health and Wellness:

*Convert 4-5 items on our grocery list to organic, as budget allows.--Not yet

*Develop a gym routine of 4-5 days a week.--Going twice a week so far.  Love my Turbokick class.

*Eat more seafood.--Bi-monthly so far

*Learn to make an incredible loaf of sourdough.--Not yet

Writing:

*Plan posts one month in advance and write posts one week in advance.--Planning is good, but writing is hard right now.  Usually about 4-5 days ahead.

*Spend 2 hrs a week writing on something other than the blog.--Ooops for Feb

*Budget my blogging time more appropriately.  Do less work when the kids are around.--Getting into a better routine.  But it's so hard as we all know.

Link up below and just let us know how you're doing.  Let's work toward real change in 2012!

*Linked to these Parties

You're Already Amazing {Review}

I'm a huge fan of {in}courage.  For about a year now, I've followed along as every day women share what God is doing in their lives, all in an attempt to encourage each other in our walks with the Lord.  So when co-founder Holly Gerth came out with her new book, You're Already Amazing, I was excited to review it.  

You're Already Amazing is written in a very informal style as the author invites you to sit down for coffee with her and have a chat.  The author speaks to a woman's insecurities with herself and her roles in the world.  As women we often find ourselves wrestling with the question: "Am I good enough?"  And Gerth tackles this one straight on with a resounding "YES!"  Yes, you are enough.  God made you with your own unique set of strengths, weaknesses, passions, skills, and dreams.  He has no backup plan, no plan B, no calvary coming in.  You are it!

While I love the message of this book, I felt like I had heard it before.  Oh, yeah... I have.  I've read many Christian women's books in my life.  Some are great.  Some simply hold the same message in a new format.  This book falls in the second category.  While there are some great tips like writing down your LIFE purpose, You're Already Amazing sounded a lot like many of the books I've read before: figure out your strengths, surround yourself with community, you can do it!  

This book does however come with a study guide in the back for sharing in a small group.  You may find it much more beneficial in that format.  Additionally, {in}courage just announced today that this will be their spring Book Club selection with videos by the author.  Perhaps, that will enhance the reading.  But for now, this one is a pass for me.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy for review from the publisher.  All opinions are mine.

**Linked to these Parties

Monday Muddle

Hey Everyone,

How was your week?  Did you have gorgeous weather like we did?

Our weather lately has been absolutely ridiculous.  It's hard to believe that it's early March when it's mid-70's here.  My kids are playing outside all the time and even had a small scale water fight on Saturday.  Crazy!

Our week flew by.  Gymnastics, library, visits for baby, church events... it all pulls our week along.  Saturday we had antiquities photos.  Have you heard of Antiquities?  One of our local MOPS groups uses this as their yearly fundraiser and the photos are incredible.  My kids get to dress up in overalls and old hats.  Then the photographer poses them like you would an old fashioned portrait.  They come out so good.  I can't resist having them taken.  

All in all, it was mostly a relaxing weekend.  Homework and lounging around the house.  The kids and I made ice cream this evening.  Two thumbs up, one thumb down.  But Noah and I thought it was yummy.  It was the first vegan recipe I've tried and it was good enough to try more.  I'll have to share the recipe soon as it was easy, low calorie, and inexpensive.  And yummy!

What did you do this weekend? 

Our menu for the week:

Breakfasts:
Cereal and fruit
Oatmeal
Overnight Chai Banana Oatmeal
Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll Cake

Lunches:
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sammies
Salads
Carrots and dip, cheese sticks, fruit

Dinners:
Monday: Chicken Enchiladas in the crockpot
Tuesday: Taco Soup
Wednesday: Salsa Black Bean Soup
Thursday: Grilled Veggie Sammies
Friday: Personal Veggie Pizzas
Saturday: Tacos
Sunday: Potluck: Cabbage Salad or Fall Harvest Salad

Extras:
Bite Size Banana Splits
No Bake Nutella Cheesecake
Homemade Wheat Thins

Projects I'm working on this week:
Ordering photos for scrap retreat
Earring holder
Garden project
Paint some jars
Reading review book & Shepherding a Child's Heart

What are you working on?

Lee's To Do List

First Sunday of the Month and it's Party Time!

Fairy Party

Bee Baby Shower

Down on the Farm Birthday

Lego Birthday Party Round-Up

Ballerina Party

Taco Soup (A Rainy Day Treat)

We've had an unusually mild winter this year.  The sun has been shining and we've been spending days at the park.  What a turn around from last winter where we actually had snow a couple of times.  But this week the weather changed and we've been enjoying the rain.  This is finally soup weather!  So we've been enjoying this taco soup.  It's so easily, adaptable, and you can even throw it in the crockpot if you want.

Taco Soup

1 lb ground beef

1/4 c. chopped onion

1 pkg taco seasoning

2 cans of tomatoes

1 can kidney beans

1 can hominey (or corn)

2-3 cloves minced garlic

Salt & Pepper to taste

1. Brown ground beef and onions with taco seasoning.

2. Add everything else and simmer all together.

3. Top with cheese, tortilla chips, and sour cream.  Yummy!

We love to add hominey to ours.  It adds such a wonderful flavor and texture.  It's just incredible.  So I would strongly encourage you to give it a try.  But if you're not ready to take that jump, corn will work good too.  

This recipe can also be easily throw in the crockpot and simmered for 3-4 hours.  I love doing this on a long day.  It really is great comfort food.  Enjoy!