June 3 in 30 Goals…

Purge Files

• Go through each file in my desk, shredding unnecessary paper
• Clear my inbox {I’ve maintained this in week 1 too!}
• Complete data entry for business records for year-to-date {almost done!}

Put My Business through Boot Camp

• Complete the online training available to new consultants {this week’s focus}
• Facial 30 women {looking at my schedule, this is unlikely, but happy to be making progress at least}
• Update customers enrolled in special programs like Mascara Club
• Attend all local events in June {sticking with this one and so glad I have!}

My director thought this was a great idea so we actually have an accountability group tackling several specific goals this month, kickoff is tomorrow night.

Plan Meals

• Plan meals for at least two days in advance
• Plan meals for the week by end of month
• Adhere to dining out budget by using cash envelopes

I planned our meals for the entire week this last week and we had only slight adjustments. The rest of this month will be a little different since the kids will be gone most of it. We have not started using the cash system yet either.

20 Goals for 2013

Spiritual

• Find a new church to attend and serve there {found one we enjoy, no commitment yet}
• Read through the Bible using this plan {totally off track here…}
• Send monthly package to our sponsored child {completed through May}
• Journal One Thousand Gifts {Letting this one go since I started working Full Time}

Financial

• Increase average monthly income {pay raise took effect this month at work!}
• Payoff two debts

Physical

• Complete 90 day fitness challenge with friends {failed first attempt, might change to Couch 2 5K goal, decision by the end of June}
• Reach goal weight

Career

• Increase my business targets by 13%
• Increase workload to reach financial monthly target
• Complete 3 educational trainings {corporate events, online training, etc}

Personal Growth

• Read 50 books {While I have been reading, I haven’t tracked well.}
• Blog consistently {Obviously this hasn’t happened the last few months, I have ideas just need more writing time}
• Attend Allume Attend a Blog Conference {Looking for something more technical}
• Learn to shoot in manual mode with my new DSLR {considering finding a class vs trying this on my own}

Family

• Plan our 20th Anniversary trip {so excited that we can actually think about committing funds to this by August!}
• Preserve more of our family photos in albums {Completed a couple for my mom so far and a 2012 photo book for us}
• Visit with our extended family at least once per month {I didn’t want to take it for granted family was close and not actually see them, this has definitely not been a problem as we often see family 2-3 per month lately!}
• Attend extended family reunions this summer {one down, one to go at the end of June}
• Plan four adventures for our family of four {we made it to the beach for spring break and KitKat is currently RV’ing across country with her grandparents}

I love looking back to the goals I set and re-evaluating. I think it’s healthy to change a couple and miss a couple altogether. But it sure is fun to cross them off the list!

What are you proud to have accomplished so far in 2013 ?

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.

It was less expensive for me to choose FedEx shipping direct to my work address than to my home. I’m not sure if anyone’s considered this before, but I’ll be checking this from now on when shopping online. If you work from home you might see if shipping items to your spouse’s work location will work for you. Now, for the update!

June 3 in 30 Goals…

Purge Files

• Go through each file in my desk, shredding unnecessary paper
• Clear my inbox {I’ve maintained this in week 1 too!}
• Complete data entry for business records for year-to-date

I already told you I emptied my inbox, but I’ve actually maintained it this week too! I’ll be working on the business data entry this coming week.

Put My Business through Boot Camp

• Complete the online training available to new consultants
• Facial 30 women
• Update customers enrolled in special programs like Mascara Club
• Attend all local events in June {so far so good!}

My director thought this was a great idea so we actually have an accountability group tackling several specific goals this month, kickoff is tomorrow night.

Plan Meals

• Plan meals for at least two days in advance
• Plan meals for the week by end of month
• Adhere to dining out budget by using cash envelopes

We ditched all plans one night this week and went to Chick Fil A, but other than that we had what was planned and saved quite a bit of money compared to recent weeks. I’m slowly learning where I can find the types of items I’m seeking in our local stores and commissary. My goal for Sunday is to plan the menu for our entire week instead of just two days at a time. 

Can you list three meals your family eats over and over?

Connect with other bloggers at Aurie’s 3 in 30 linkup. 3 goals, 30 days, encouragement. “Choose up to 3 goals you’d like to work on. Then, throughout the month there will be weekly link-ups and opportunities for daily encouragement and accountability.”

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.

Today she says to me…fall.

And it’s like she knows that I just Skyped with our oldest who finished three days of college campus orientation. That she knows this mama’s heart is all caught up in the changes, and challenges, and conversations like, “Hey mom, I signed up for a course called Vampire History.”

For real.

Part of me can’t stop thinking about all the choices he has to make over the next few months. Job applications, interviews, change of address forms (this time without us and not as a result of a set of military orders). Part of me wants to get all caught up in the worry and the mothering and the fear.

But I keep thinking about how exciting it all is.

He’s managed to drive himself to college and make new friends and register for courses. He even thought to make his classes all land on Mon-Wed-Fri so he has time for something besides classes.

Fall is coming. This will be the ultimate first day of school. Not the one with the baby-tooth grin and a backpack way too big for Kingergarten needs. Not the first day of middle school with shoulder straps designed to channel headphones. Not the first day of school when he was capable of driving himself.

This Fall holds the first day of school where I will replay the same questions in my mind that I did on all the others, but I can only hope he decides to call me and tell me all about it that evening. Icing on the cake if it’s Skype.

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.

Right now that level of organization seems about as impossible as having a husband who puts his shoes away at night. But unlike the scattered shoes, meal planning actually has a significant impact on our family. It affects our budget, health, and schedule. When I find myself comparing my best moments to my weakest, I usually find a solution by acting somewhere in the middle of the two extremes. As I work to make progress this week on my 3 in 30 goal of meal planning, I asked myself this question:

What can I do today that will help me plan tomorrow’s meals?

Cook two things at once.

I can’t cook two complex things at once, because one of them will end up burned. In fact, that is likely to happen even if I’m cooking one thing at a time! However, my oven has two racks and I figure I might as well maximize the space.

Last night I made cornbread muffins to serve with dinner. While the oven was baking at 400*, I prepared bacon for us to have at breakfast this week. Since I first tried this cooking tip from Pinterest, I haven’t prepared bacon any other way. (It’s important to take it off the baking stone immediately to drain on paper towels if you like the bacon extra crispy.)

Other examples of double up cooking for simple meals:

• double the recipe and put half in the freezer before serving
• double the appliances and use your slow cooker to cook chicken while cooking tonight’s dinner on the stove top – the chicken can be used in fajitas, bbq sandwiches, or salad
• double the number of veggies you chop during prep time and freeze them for future use

How do you make the best use of meal prep and planning?

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.

It’s been over 20 years since I began to really understand the phrase never say never. I never imagined I would marry a military man (or get married at the ripe old age of 18 for that matter!) I never imagined I would love being a stay at home mom, or that I would want to work from home instead of an office, or that I would be happy to go back to a traditional job after years of flexibility in order to meet a goal.

The list goes on and on…I never imagined my life looking like it does today.

I can’t say “I wouldn’t change a thing.” I would. I would change the many short-tempered responses, the impatient attitude towards my toddlers, and several decisions that came with long-term consequences.

And despite the fact I often joke that you should “never say never,” I will say it regarding my past:

I would never want to change what God has done in my life. The good and the bad, through the mess I’ve created,  and the mess others have given me make me who I am today.

Not because I’m all that. Lord knows there is more than enough room for improvement.

But because the greatest things, the most blessed gifts, were the things I never imagined. In fact, most of them aren’t things at all, but people.

My husband.

My children.

My friends.

My adventures.

Thank you God for doing and being abundantly more in my life than I could ask or imagine.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.

I’m also trying a strategy I’ve seen Crystal use at MoneySavingMom with her 10 Goals for This Week. I’ll be listing the steps to each goal and crossing them off as I complete them. Hopefully it’s easier for you as a reader and more specific for me.

June 3 in 30 Goals…

Purge Files

• Go through each file in my desk, shredding unnecessary paper
• Clear my inbox
• Complete data entry for business records for year-to-date

Put My Business through Boot Camp

• Complete the online training available to new consultants
• Facial 30 women
• Update customers enrolled in special programs like Mascara Club
• Attend all local events in June

Plan Meals

• Plan meals for at least two days in advance
• Plan meals for the week by end of month
• Adhere to dining out budget by using cash envelopes

I didn’t want to waste a day, especially a perfectly good Saturday, so I got my jumpstart today on the inbox…

Connect with other bloggers at Aurie’s 3 in 30 linkup. 3 goals, 30 days, encouragement. “Choose up to 3 goals you’d like to work on. Then, throughout the month there will be weekly link-ups and opportunities for daily encouragement and accountability.”

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.

May 3 in 30 Goals…

Host Family for Mother’s Day Weekend

May has long been a time of celebration for my mom. It holds Mother’s Day of course, but also her birthday and the anniversary of her marriage to my stepdad. Since this is the first May after losing him, she thought it would be great to have all her daughters {and families} together for the weekend. We are hosting in our home on Mother’s Day weekend. The weekend was a great success full of food and family.

Workout Goals

Last week I started going to the gym again and began a squat challenge with a co-worker. I plan to visit the gym three days a week for the rest of the month and finish the squat challenge. Yeah, not so much…

Celebrate SkipperClanJr’s Graduation

This actually involves many dinners, the actual ceremony, and hosting a celebratory cookout on Graduation day. We are so proud of SkipperClanJr! He sang in a trio during the ceremony and his revival of swing dancing for the local community was noted in the Valedictorian’s speech. He’s looking forward to a little downtime from school before he starts college in the Fall.

What did you do to celebrate your Graduation?

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.

I love that SkipperClan man of mine and he loves me. That doesn’t mean we always act like we love each other. Join me over at A Biblical Marriage today where I’m talking about

One Reason to Forgive Your Spouse

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.

But I am here to tell you, the closer this day comes, the more I see this.

Seriously, how my parents handled the fact that I was engaged at this same age is mind boggling. {Even with the hindsight that we are now approaching our 20th anniversary}

What does all this have to do with my 3 in 30 update for May? Well, pretty much everything centers around families and celebrations this month, including a graduation party. It’s been pretty difficult for our kids to move twice during their high school years, but they are both handling the challenges well. It will be exciting {and a little scary} to see them grow and transition to independent life over the next few years. For now, let’s just talk about May, shall we?

May 3 in 30 Goals…

Host Family for Mother’s Day Weekend

May has long been a time of celebration for my mom. It holds Mother’s Day of course, but also her birthday and the anniversary of her marriage to my stepdad. Since this is the first May after losing him, she thought it would be great to have all her daughters {and families} together for the weekend. We are hosting in our home on Mother’s Day weekend.

This week I will do a little prep each evening in cleaning or food. I’ve already shopped for the ingredients and just have a couple more things to purchase.

Workout Goals

Last week I started going to the gym again and began a squat challenge with a co-worker. I plan to visit the gym three days a week for the rest of the month and finish the squat challenge.

I am already behind this weekend on the actual squat challenge, but the yard work I did today in removing old plastic sheeting was a great substitute! I find it easier to do the squats on the gym days so I plan to do them first thing in the morning on the other days.

Celebrate SkipperClanJr’s Graduation

This actually involves many dinners, the actual ceremony, and hosting a celebratory cookout on Graduation day. We got gorgeous invitations from Erin Condren.

Other than one dinner this week, I won’t be focused on Graduation until after Mother’s Day weekend is behind me.

Are you attending any celebrations this month?

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.

April 3 in 30 Goals…

Read through Ephesians

In March, I have journaled my understanding and thoughts for each verse of Galatians. I asked online for recommendations for the next book of the Bible and every single suggestion included Ephesians. It is very refreshing to spend time on this during my lunch break at work and helps me come back for the afternoon renewed.

This seemed to be the only goal I made real progress in during the month of April. Journaling through the scripture has truly been one of the most encouraging parts of my week and I was glad to see it shared over on Brooke’s page this week.

Couch 2 5K

I know how relaxing a short run is for me and I want to get through the entire Couch 2 5K plan before our family reunion in June.

My complete lack of progress proves how uncommitted I have been to this goal.

Capture My 365

I am very slowly improving my photography skills but the perfectionist in me is letting the details of aperture, shutter speed, and iso keep me from just. taking. photos. This month I want to take the photos…even if they are all in auto mode.

Our family reunion this weekend gave me a great opportunity to work on this goal.

What’s your favorite way to study the Bible?

Thank you for welcoming the SkipperClan into your inbox. As our way of saying thank you, we invite you to get your free copy of Glorifying God in Your Finances. This collaborative book includes a variety of spiritual and practical tips for bringing you and your spouse together while managing the resources God has given you.