My Goals For 2016
Below I’m sharing my goals for 2016! Everything from home goals, to personal goals, they’re all listed.
Hi friends! 🙂 I know it’s been a bit quiet around here. With The Vintage Whites Market at the beginning of the new year, I always turn my full attention to the market… and then when we get home, I am exhausted. I’ve taken the past few days/ week off, and it’s been amazing. You can only do so many things before the tank runs low. That was my case… My tank was lowwww.Â
Today, I wanted to talk about my goals for 2016. I have a few things I would like to spend more time focusing on, and things I would like to change. I’m not a person who makes “resolutions”, but instead, a list of things I would like to improve on. And since we’re still in January (this month has flown by!), I thought they’d still be appropriate to share… 🙂
My Goals for 2016
I’m sure I’ve missed a few things, and will probably think of a few more later, but here’s what I have for now…
Take Better Care of Myself & My Health:
2015 wasn’t the greatest year for my health, and I know I need to take much better care of myself this year. I found out I was allergic to gluten, had big thyroid/adrenal issues…. and, (now for the big one) really, really, really struggled with the West Nile Virus I’ve had since I was a teenager. I was bit over ten (10) years ago, but it made a steadfast appearance last year zapping my energy and taking a toll on my body. With no energy comes no desire to create… It’s a vicious cycle, and I know if I don’t change a few things, i.e. take better care of myself, my mom won’t let me have one moment of peace, and she shouldn’t. I love her for that, and I must spend more time on myself, as selfish as that sounds.
Finish Unfinished Projects:
Oye. I have always been an organized, clean, everything in order type of person. It’s hard to always keep things tidy when I’m constantly making new projects, painting the house, or switching things up. We have a bathroom that still hasn’t been painted…. (yep, the one with new tile and paint samples all over the walls)… I have a slew of projects just waiting to be finished, most with the materials already bought. Thus, the entire month of February will be dedicated to finishing them. Some are fun, some are tedious, and most of them just need to be done.
Organize The House & Closets:
Oye… again. Mind you it’s not horrible, but I need to get a grasp on organizing the house. I said I would take care of it last year, but I’m serious this time. My laundry room cabinets…. a mess…. Our entry closet…. a mess…. My office…. a mess…. My decorating closet…. a mess…. Our closet… a mess… I think you get the picture, and you’ll be seeing plenty of organization on the blog this year. If you have places that need organizing, let’s make a pact to get it done. 🙂
Share More Of Myself:
This will probably be the hardest goal I list. It’s not because I have something to hide, more like I don’t enjoy talking about myself… and I like my privacy. So much so, that most of my family just found out about this blog and what it is exactly I do. My goal, is to share more of my life with you. I’d like to share more about the other aspects of our life too: the business side, the farming side, the family side. I’m still figuring this all out, but I’ll share more about it when I do. And to be honest, sharing the first goal (above) was reallllly hard for me to write, it’s part of the privacy thing, but I know it’s time to open up.
Finish A Room I Start:
Oye… again. Because of the way I create, several of our rooms are half finished. The office, the laundry room, the mudroom…. the list could go on. I would love to finish a room. I can’t guarantee I will change this, but I do know it would just help to finish the unfinished projects (see goal number 2) I create in each room. If you’re still waiting to see a full room finished, know you’re not alone. I’m right there with you.
Freeze Meals:
I would absolutely, positively love to freeze more meals this year. I did a bit of this last year, and wow!, did it help out on crazy busy nights. It makes figuring out what’s for dinner a much easier thing… and much healthier. With that, I would really like to share more recipes on the blog… gluten free, because that is my life, and what I cook.
Plant A Garden & Can:
This was an ordinary thing in my life growing up. My mom always had a huge garden, and we would spend our summers canning and freezing the bounties of summer. In 2015 I didn’t do a single thing beyond freeze sweet corn. I’m sad about it, and a part of me is longing for summer, just to fill my pantry. I’d also like to share more about this aspect of my life, because it’s a huge part of who I am and how I stock our pantry.
Be More Thoughtful:
My hope for this, is to be more caring, thoughtful, and observant. Be that with family, friends, strangers, etc. I’d like to be a better family member, a better friend, a better servant, and a better person. I want to recognize when someone is struggling… and help if I can. I want to lift others up, letting the good of this word shine through. I’d like to be better at remembering birthdays, anniversaries and those special moments in life.
 Work On/ Expand The Online Shop:
My goal this year, is to make our shipping process cheaper and more streamlined. I am a beginner with all of this, and I’ve had no previous experience in shipping merchandise. I ask for your patience while I figure it all out. I have received some really harsh e-mails about our shipping prices, and to address those concerns, our shipping prices are not hiked up so we get a cut. I charge what the USPS charges, and nothing more.
Onto a happier note, we are in the works of adding lots of new items to the online shop. We’re expanding the items we’ll be offering, and I am so excited about some of our new items. I have a bunch of really great ideas on how to make the shop more beneficial for all of us, so please be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and this won’t be either… 🙂
I am so excited for the future, and I wish you all an absolutely wonderful year… one where love fills your home, and your cup overflows. Thank you for being here with me!
Thank you for being so open an honest. Your sincerity comes through in your writing and I love that about you. I’m sorry about your health issues but it seems that you recognize the path you need to follow. Being a diabetic I hear that loud and clear. Your head and your heart are in the right place. Keep being you and let your light shine.
Great goals. I love your blog! I’m a new blogger and I am very inspired by your work. And I actually think you do a great job of balancing the personal vs. DIY. I think some bloggers go overboard on what they share, but you are doing a wonderful job. Keep up all the hard work!
Wonderful post! Take care of yourself, your health comes first. The rest will fall in place. Continued success in all you do.
I’m looking forward to learning more about the girl behind the beautiful blog!
I can relate and have many of the same challenges…taking better care of myself, my health and most of all finishing projects. I am a really shy and private person. I love to hear from others and talk to others about themselves, but I don’t really like to share or talk about myself.
I look forward to seeing how you meet your goals this year!
Thanks for sharing your heart, Shayna! I have many of the same goals as well ( especially health, finishing projects, decluttering and organizing). Your list seems pretty long, please don’t exhaust yourself! Your health is THE most important one. Take care!
I’m with you on the “taking care of yourself” goal. I think we spread ourselves too thin…we want to “do it all.” I have reluctantly admitted recently that when I try to do it all, I don’t do anything well! Good luck in 2016 although I don’t think you’ll need it. ~Ann
p.s. Shipping is the one thing about running an online shop that took me forever to figure out. It was hard at first but once I got my packaging streamlined, things got better. You are on the right track!
I felt kind of sad. Because you’ve been so sick and feel guilty for not doing more. I have a brain injury. It’s been a long time. I can feel okay so I redecorate my hutch and fix something that needs fixing, write a relative, study my Bible, pray for someone’s sad day, and then boom. I don’t feel well. I’m crying. My leg feels odd. My head hurts. I lie down. My husband brings water. And my head hurts but I just felt it’s okay to set goals. I joined these online challenges and that helped. But I have to be realistic too. I don’t take my own advice either! I feel guilty for feeling non productive. But if you and I looked around, others do not think us unproductive. Others do not think it terrible to rest. Take time off to do nothing. God did not design us to work our fingers to the bone!!! I perceive you as ambitious. If all you did was start up a new online store, that is big!!! Plus I’ve seen you featured on other blogs as the blog to follow!!! That’s affirmation you’re productive!! You can be private. You can!!!! It fits you!!!! I like you just as you are. I like your style. Your restful decor. ( mine is just the opposite. Very very colorful!). Please. Take time to count your list of things you did. Didn’t you do a survey??? Didn’t we all like you just fine??
And shipping is expensive. It just is. So as a start up company you have to decide what to do to encourage shoppers. I think some offer two days special–free shipping. You lose money but you get your customer base built up. Then you do a 20%off on a 20th of a month. (Shipping the same) and make turn around fast. I ordered this past year from three new start up decor companies. Two had shipping issues. The first gave stuff like huge percentage off next order, refund of part of price on this order for waiting so long. The others? No word. I just wait. So you see? Just lots of work for you. And we readers? We like your posts with the farmland in the distance. The visions you’ve done with your home simply amaze me. Keep on. We your supportive readers are here. You provide us so much joy. For a disabled woman who is housebound totally unless someone takes me and stays with me on an outing….reading this and that on your blog is my reward. Like a treat. Even though I forgot to make my bed today!!!
It’s amazing how you are so honest and kind. Your goals are some even all that I would like to adopt. I understand your health issues, my daughter has Lyme Diesease. Very similar symptoms of what you go thru. Im so happy to have found your blog. Your very honest and normal. I love that. I pray for your health and happiness.
What wonderful desires for the new year!! I’ve followed your blog for awhile and this is the first time I’ve ever left a reply. First of all you need to focus on all you’ve accomplished and be proud!! You are building a beautiful home & life and that’s an ever evolving task. Taking care of yourself shouldn’t seem selfish but I understand and have set the same goal for myself this year. I think women in general feel guilty for taking care of their needs, we are THE caregivers after all right?? But if we neglect ourselves nothing else is truly 100% if we don’t give 100% to our needs as well. I blogged in the past and have the desire to begin again in this new stage of my life I am now learning to embrace. You have been an inspiration to me to get it moving again….you are an inspiration to many of us I’m sure. Just do what feels right and everything else will come as well. Be well in body & mind and can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store!! ~Kriss~
Absolutely love this list if goals. Thank you for being so real, open, and honest. Can’t wait to see what 2016 has in store!! 🙂
-Megan
http://www.lifeonshadylane.com
A great post! Thank you for being so open, honest and transparent….I know that’s not easy – we all, at least to some degree, like our privacy and being quiet from time to time. I not only enjoy your blog, your pictures and your wonderful ideas, you’ve inspired me with your post today! I, too, need to take better care of myself, to organize my home, to share more of myself, to be more thoughtful…..thank you for sharing and for the challenge! Blessings to you today!
A great post! Thank you for being so open, honest and transparent….I know that’s not easy – we all, at least to some degree, like our privacy and being quiet from time to time. I not only enjoy your blog, your pictures and your wonderful ideas, you’ve inspired me with your post today! I, too, need to take better care of myself, to organize my home, to share more of myself, to be more thoughtful…..thank you for sharing and for the challenge! Blessings to you today!
I think you are an amazing Christian woman who has accomplished so much and I believe all of the woman above agree with me! With social media today, people seem to feel the need to share everything, but you don’t have to. Share only what you want! Your subscribers love you for who you are and what you do. As we all know, there will always be a few who have to complain about something. But those are few and nobody is forcing them to buy from you. You seem to have a wonderful husband and family, a beautiful home and a gift for writing and making things! Take care of yourself, keep your values and everything will fall in place. Blessings.
Thx for sharing. We have a lot in common – gluten free, thyroid issues, I have Lyme -you West Nile. I cannot do, then overdo. Create in an unorganized fashion – bunch of projects going on at once but never finishing a room, And I already knew we shared the same taste in style as I love your house, your blog, the items in your store, etc… thank you for posting today. May God bless you as you take steps reaching, and obtaining, your goals
What a lovely blog post. I just discovered you and your business this past week. It is hard to open up sometimes. I’m reading a wonderful book called Quiet. It is certainly helping me not only accept that I tend to be more of a thoughtful, quiet, reflective type of person, but to also celebrate that abou myself. Anyway, thank you for sharing. People always enjoy a truthful, humble individual. I look forward to following your blog and hearing more about your goals and you continue on your journey! And I can’t wait to check out your shop! I just opened an Etsy shop right before Halloween bi can relate to so many things you shared!! Have a great day. Melanie
Bliss = no can share due to the privacy thing too. I can share what happened years ago, but not yesterday. I’m not sure how to get past it, and 90% of my friends and none other than my immediately family know I blog either.
Great goals! I predict you will be highly successful. I have been looking for blogs to fill in where Young House Love left a hole in my heart, lol. Glad to have found your site – this will be one that does the filling. Cant wait to delve into it.
Take care!
It’s so hard for us to put ourselves out there sometimes. I appreciate you taking the time to share as hard as it may be and I look forward to this year with your blog. I really need to adopt some of your goals; several of them speak to me.
Thank you so much for sharing. I read through many home decor blogs and feel so frustrated that I have so many unfinished projects, it feels like it takes so long, and not one room is completely finished….it is nice to know I am not alone and that even someone with a beautiful home decor blog goes through the same struggles. It makes me feel even more inspired to keep tackling them one baby steps at a time!