HaPpY hUmP dAy, fRiEnDs! And more than that…Happy New Year and New DECADE! Linking up with Anne in Residence for Currently 01.2020. The first post of this shiny new year. Also sharing my winter goals and my progress on my autumn goals, you can review them, here.
Anne sends out the month’s prompts and then we all write a post around our responses. Love doing things like this. Remember The Blended Blog’s TBB Asks posts? They were lots of fun, too! And I am thinking I may revive them myself!
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CURRENTLY 01.2020
This month we are responding to these prompts from Anne…what are we currently resolving, reading, cleaning, creating, and planning? I give you, Currently 01.2020, in ABC order…
Cleaning…
Everything. Again. Funny how I clean things regularly. I blink. And they need to be cleaned again. Does that ever happen at your house? I just finished my spring cleaning 2019! And here I am planning my cleaning (no longer able to call it spring cleaning) for the new year.
For several years I have signed up with Taylor at Home Storage Solution for her Declutter 365: A Year Of 15 Minute Decluttering Missions. I would receive the day’s assignment and immediately - without even opening the email - to a folder in my email account. Last year, I planned to share some of Taylor’s tips and my decluttering efforts here, and that didn’t happen either. But guess what? Did you get the memo? It is a shiny new year, and this girl is going to try to get that plan in motion! Join me…click here to get your 2020 decluttering calendar and we can hold each other’s hand through this process.
Bonus…Taylor also hosts a weekly organization challenge. This first week of 2020 she’s jumping right in with kitchen organization. Having been a librarian to more than half my adult life, I consider myself pretty organized. But there’s room for improvement. As I declutter, too, I might need to rethink some of the ways I have organized our house. If you’d like to check it out, here’s the link to Week #1 Organized Home Challenge Kitchen Organization: Countertops & Sink. Been looking for a sink caddy and Taylor recommends this one.
Creating…
A blogging schedule. Did better last year than I have in the past about blogging regularly. But this year, I want to do my posts ahead of time. Novel idea, huh? Not writing them as fast as my fingers will type and then clicking on ‘publish’ after typing the last period. Creating that schedule in my new agenda/planner.
Purrsnickitty would not move so I could photograph my planner. At least she is color coordinated with my quilt and the cover of the book.
Planning…
The blog series I would like to host and those others host that I would like to participate in.
- Planning to continue my bucket list series. Created a mini Christmas bucket list, here. Now need to write up a winter bucket list for the remaining months of this season. Look for that on 01.21. Join me?
- Wellness Wednesday is going to become Wellness Weekend, and go live on the 3rd Sunday of each month.
- Sentence a Day on the first Tuesday of each month.
- Hope to continue World Through My Lens photography posts the beginning of each new month for the month prior.
- Tasty Tuesday at least once a month.
- My Fashion Haus will be open more often this year.
- The monthly decluttering post I mentioned above.
- At least one Thankful Thursday, Glossies Made Me Do It, Thinking Out Loud Thursday, and Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone and a Title Talk Book Review post each month. Oh, and Wordless Wednesday. Then there’s Style Imitating Art. The short story prompts. So many series, so little time.
Reading…
Thank you for asking. My virtual book club is just this minute voting on our January read. If you are reading this before 01.03.2020, there’s still time for you to join our group. And cast a vote for this month’s book. Just let me know if you’re interested in joining us. We are a very casual, read-at-your-own-pace and discuss if you like kinda book club.
Right now I am trying to finish 2 books, The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo and The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms. And before Cady heads for home on Thursday, we need to finish reading Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier.
Resolving…
To make this the year I finish things. All those craft projects cluttering my loft. Half-written books. Half-read books. I made some progress on this effort in 2019 but there are still too many incomplete projects hanging around my house and taking up room in my head. This is the year that I resolve to…
Which also happens to be the title of a children’s book! Who knew? Guess it’s been awhile since I potty trained anyone.
That’s a wrap for Currently, 01.2020, so let’s talk goals.
Autumn Goals Update
Speaking of poop, I really poo-pooed on my autumn goals. It was a tough season. Nuff said.
- Finish writing “Boxes from Betsy” - ❌ Did kind of write the ending and some more of the in between but didn’t finish.
- Scrapbook Lauren and Brennyn’s weddings and Lucia’s birth - ❌ Have started on Lauren’s wedding. Boo.
- Vlog 2x a month - ❌ Got started with this and then, LIFE. Really want to pick this up again for the new year.
- Write 2 lessons for Teachers Pay Teachers - ❌ Not even one. I think maybe it is time to close the shop.
- Conduct my VIPKids demo lesson - ❌ Have decided to put VIPKids on hold until after we get Cami born and settled into life.
2020 Winter Goals
Finish. Declutter. Organize. Finish or flush. Over these next few months I want to concentrate on finishing my book. No, really. And making the brutal decisions about which craft projects I care enough to finish and which I am willing, however reluctantly, to pass on.
- Finish “Betsy” - Have been writing on it for far too long. Either I finish it this year or I quit all together. Don’t need the pressure of an unfinished story lurking in my subconscious.
- Declutter crafts - Bye-bye old cross stitch projects, barely begun paint-by-number kit, oodles of odd scrapbook paper and stickers.
- Purge clothes - Adios to all of the fall and winter clothes I haven’t worn in 2 years. Time for a hard look at my spring clothes, too.
- Organize blog - Get all of my series planned for the coming months, get posts written before the day of, maybe look into a face lift for the theme. Plan some vlog posts!
Need to strap on my roller skates and take my vitamins in order to get through my short but ambitious goals. Think a good thought for me.
Your Turn
What are you currently cleaning, creating, planning, reading and resolving?? Did you make a resolution of some sort other than my old standard ‘go to the gym and lose 5 pounds?’ What goals have you set for the season? Please share with me in a comment below. And then be sure to pop over to Anne’s to see what’s she up to. I am also linking up with Mother of 3 at My Slices of Life and Linda at Apron Strings and Other Things.
Happy new year, new decade, dear friends. Thank you for starting your year here with me. I appreciate your friendship.
Hugs and kisses,
I am waiting for some shelf liner to come in from Amazon and then I hope to organize my pantry. I tend to purge, clean, and organize in spurts as the feeling strikes and I am always in a cleaning frenzy after the holidays making room for all our new stuff.
Ha, you have inspired me to look for new shelf liner!! Thank you! I need to get down and dirty - or clean - with my kitchen this month!!
Anne says
As a planner by nature, I love a good blog schedule 🙂 And I especially love your categories of Wellness Weekend and Tasty Tuesday - sounds like some great post material! Also excited to hear what the book club pick is (I’m always dying to know what other ones pick, as we make selections in my own!), and what you think of The Most Fun We Ever Had. That got a ton of buzz last year, but I didn’t get around to it. Instead I’m currently picking up another one with tons of buzz - Maybe You Should Talk to Someone - which I think seems very promising as I sat on the beach next to my mom when she finished it in the summer and watched her bawl… ha!
Thanks for joining in the linkup, and happy 2020 🙂
I saw that you were enjoying Maybe You Should Talk To Someone. Just saved it to Pinterest and Goodreads. Sounds like something I would benefit from reading. Wish I could find the perfect counselor for this season in my life. Was seeing a young gal but we were about 25 years apart in age, and about a million miles apart in chapters of life. I am very much enjoying The Most Fun We Ever Had. Praying it doesn’t have a crazy, unexpected ending. Happy New Year, my friend. So glad you are continuing with Currently!!
Dara says
I’m signed up for Taylor’s decluttering emails and I just delete them now. I did so badly on that challenge this past year! I always need to be more organized. I’m still thinking on my New Year’s goals this year. Happy New Year Leslie!
I have 3 of Taylor’s decluttering emails unopened in my email box right now. So much for good intentions. Ha!! Happy New Year, dear one!
Erin @ Cracker Crumb Life says
I need to be a little more prepared with my blog posts as well. Lol. I kind of just go in blind most days. 🙂 And I think I need that Poop or Get Off the Potty book! We are about to begin that here…
Bless you, as you begin potty training. Actually, it isn’t as bad - for most moms - as it is made out to be. I am sure you will do fine. We found little rewards like M&Ms or Skittles (one or two at a time) helped encourage our little ones to go to the potty over and again each day. Even if they didn’t ‘do anything’ when they got there. Good luck to you, sweets!!
OK - so I’m gonna need you to join in with me the 3rd Wednesday of every month to show me more about that planner 🙂 You know I love me a good planner!!!
Yes, yes, yes…I love the planner, keeping you straight posts that you and Lauren do. I will share my planner this month. You guys always inspire me.
Since September, I’ve been a couple of weeks ahead on my blog posts and it is SO nice… it helps me to be a lot less stressed!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Oh, Carrie, I have to get more organized on my blogging or just throw in the towel. This last minute scrambling is killing me, girl!! Hope to follow your good lead.
Ooh I might be able to do your Wellness Weekend now - I need to work on that. I’m glad you’re going to try and do the Glossies link-up. 🙂 And like Rebecca Jo said, we need to see more of your planner (and cats make all posts better haha). I need to figure out my bucket list for Winter. I didn’t do that great on the Christmas focused one. Oh well…
-Lauren
Just sent you the Wellness info. Hope you can join, even once in awhile. I really have gotten to a healthier place because of the wellness posts. Sent out the bucket list email today, too. Trying to get ahead of the blogging game this year. Will share about my planner for your planner series.
Nancy says
Happy new year dear Leslie! I hope it will be a fabulous year for you and your family.
Happy new year, Nancy!!
Deb says
Happy New Year Leslie! Looking forward to seeing how you tick off all those ‘to do’ projects as the year unfolds x
Thank you, my friend. I will tick things off my list with the support and encouragement of my blogging friends.
“Cleaning” reminds me of my need to clean our house. I have to give my husband Bill plenty of warning so he can mentally prepare himself for the rigors of cleaning. I told him early next week we would give the place a good post-holiday scrubbing!
I read “The Overdue Life of Amy Byler” and liked it this fall. It was a fun read! Just finished “Becoming” by Michelle Obama and liked that one too.
Always glad to hear what others are reading. I am so sleepy-headed lately, I just get started reading “Amy” and I doze off, which is not a reflection on the book but just on my state of exhaustion and old age!! I always go room to room cleaning in the spring but this year, it is time to get rid of some stuff along with the cleaning. Hard decisions.
You have so many great goals for the year ahead! Good luck with them all! 🙂
I have all my blog posts written and schedule din advance - it’s the only way I’m able to blog as some weeks I have no time to write anything with the little ones!
Hope that you have a lovely weekend ahead of you! 🙂 We will be having a quiet one.
We enjoyed a very nice quiet weekend. Much needed. I am trying very hard to get some posts written as we are on baby watch. If you don’t hear from me - as in no blog posts - you will know I failed. Boo!!
Yes I too plan on being more focused this year and I am even going to set up a schedule!
Allie of
http://www.allienyc.com
I take meds to be more focused and less OCD and all over the place. But here I am all over the place!! Going to really try to make 2020 the year I finally got on my game.
Daenel T. says
Happy New Year!! Hope you had a great holiday! Love the picture of you and your husband.
Speaking of pictures, I’m looking forward to your pictures in the coming year. You took some fun shots last year.
I’m not a planner. I never have been. I try. And then I quit. Then I feel like a failure. So this year I resolve to just let it happen. Whatever it is. LOL
Letting life happen is a great way to go! I like to think I am a planner but then LIFE…and when LIFE hits, I hate that my plans are messed up. So maybe your approach would be better for me. Looking forward to your lovely photos of this new year, too. Thank you!!
I wish I could be better about pre-writing blog posts, too! It seems like I do and then life gets in the way and I’m back to the starting point! Good luck with your organization and decluttering! I tried to do a run through of most of the house after Christmas, but it is never ending!
That darn LIFE sure complicates blogging, huh? Decluttering and organizing is never ending. And after Christmas there is always more!!
Jeez, Leslie, your goals - accomplished as well as shiny/new - overwhelmed me. I do not spend nearly this time thinking about things intentionally! I can relate to wanting to write blog posts in advance - rather than the pressure of “I haven’t written anything recently, what can I write about…type, type, type.” Not sure I’ll do it, though.
I just finished, “The Most Fun We Ever Had” and really liked it, although it took a while to get into it.
One of the true benefits of our downsized life is that cleaning/organizing takes little time now. And, our space(s) are so small that we need to keep things organized, clean and put away to avoid the walls closing in.
Happy 2020!
Thank you, Nancy, for the kind comment. I am enjoying “The Most Fun We Ever Had” but it sure is long!! I am listening to it via Audible and just don’t have enough down time to listen.
We are trying to work toward paying off our home in less than 3 more years. Still seems like forever but not bad considering we bought it in 2008. At that time we had 2 children still living at home. A his child and a hers child. PC’s son and my daughter. Now that the kids are all launched, we kind of rattle around in here. Will probably think of downsizing in the next ten years. But we just got the pool 2 years ago. So there’s that.
Come join us for bucket lists, or stepping outside my comfort zone, or wellness weekend posts this year. If you would like more info, let me know. I send out the link up codes and graphics for each.
Joanne Long says
We have been away for a month so there will be cleaning and laundry. Hopefully, our strata renovations will be complete so I can touch up paint around our new window. I just finished reading The Dutch House by Ann Patchett and March by Geraldine Brooks. I enjoyed both books. If you have seen the new version of Little Women, you would find March interesting. It’s a fictionalized account of the absent father in Little Women. Bronson Alcott, LMA’s father was a friend of Emerson and Thoreau and there is some correlation with his life and the novel. I’ll be substituting a bit as well. I’d like to write more blogs but I find often that I am at a loss for topics. I should try using some links. Wardrobe maintenance is ongoing. Walking is essential. Wow! 2020 already sounds busy. Happy New Year!
We just saw the new Little Women so I will add March to my list. And The Dutch House keeps popping up on all the blogs I follow. I need a speed-reading course!! My father was a huge fan of Emerson and Thoreau and took us to Walden Pond and the Alcott’s home when we were children.
Joanne, come do Sentence a Day or Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone with me. Both are monthly posts. Let me know if you are interested. We are doing Wellness Weekend, too. And bucket lists. All posts that practically write themselves!! Holler back if you would like to join me for all or any.
Good for you making goals and having a schedule, good luck with that. I find that having a calendar of upcoming posts works good for me. Since I can’t post on a particular schedule due to my health issues, I have drafts about this and that, all waiting on me to finish and post them. When an idea pops into my head I draft it and finish it later.
I am following your good advice with preparing drafts on posts that I know are upcoming. I need to finish my short story today. But we are on baby watch and I am on pins and needles. Baby is due to be delivered by C-section on Wednesday. This is the second child for my daughter that has many of the same health issues you face. Praying she does ok and both mom and baby are healthy.
Congrats and wishing the best for your daughter and your new grandbaby!!
Thank you!!
A very nice heading photo of you and your husband, Leslie. Very interesting about the 15 Minute Decluttering site. I will check into this. Quite the “planning” list. I don’t think I took a breath reading it. You are an inspiration. Very funny on your Poop cartoon, words of wisdom. You remind me Leslie, how we can have goals and yet it is okay to amend them when life throws curveballs. A great post!
Thank you, Erica. I have to amend and edit my goals and dreams and to-do about every 15 minutes!
Shugunna Alexander says
Happy New Year Leslie!!!! I need some of your organization over here, I’m really trying to get in gear lately but must energy level needs a boost… Hopefully I can kick in gear in February, looking forward to 2020 blog post Leslie, take care my blogger pal!