The Big White Farmhouse

intentional living, little by little

No.63: My 2018 Goals & Projects List

Happy New Year!  After a year of rest (except for that whole buying and selling a house part), I’m ready to roll up my sleeves again and get to work.  This list is ambitious, but exciting.  If I can complete even half of it, I’ll be happy.

HOUSE TO HOME PROJECTS

I’ve spent six months getting a feel for how we use each room in the house and I’m ready to get started on all of the projects I’ve pinned on Pinterest!  The list in my head is a mile long, but I tried (tried!!) to be realistic for one year.  
  • Paint the first floor. // I’m leaning toward Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray throughout.
  • Paint Sophia’s and the little boys room. // Colors TBD.
  • Paint the shutters and the exterior doors. // Color choice is Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron.
  • Strip and restain/seal the front porch.
  • Add one more rocking chair and a porch swing to the front.
  • Plan out and create front flower beds. (Possibly hire out?)
  • Have dead and fallen trees removed from our property.
  • Buy a console table for the front hallway and decorate.
  • Hire an electrician to replace the living room fan, front hallway light, dining room chandelier and outdoor lanterns.
  • Hang curtains in the dining room.
  • Create a gallery wall of black and white family photos in the living room.
  • Work on the little boys room: paint their headboards, purchase one more mattress and decide on bedding.
  • Find a special piece of artwork to add to the master bedroom.
  • Build a 10-foot table for the back porch.

HEALTH AND FITNESS 

Pace myself. // I tend to go full steam ahead for a few months and then crash and burn.  (Rinse and repeat.)  Hoping to avoid that this year by giving myself permission to slow down, taking frequent social media breaks and finding pockets of quiet, alone time to recharge.


Drastically reduce my sugar intake. // I am, no joke, addicted to sugar.  But I’m not getting any younger and I know it’s time to make some big changes.  This is one of those goals that I know is good for me, but I’m definitely not excited about, hah!

Make major progress on the Amerithon Running Challenge. // The Amerithon Challenge is a virtual fitness challenge which has you spanning the United States – 3,521 miles!  You can choose your mode of travel (run, walk, swim, bike, a mix of all, etc.) and there is also the option to do the challenge as a team.  I decided to go it alone, solely tracking my running mileage.  I’ve been chipping away since July and predict that it will take me two years to complete.  I really want to be a better, faster runner and this is just the challenge to help me toward that goal.  
Run another half marathon and decide about running a full. // I’m excited to visit the same course I ran in 2015 and see if I can beat my first time.  I’m still undecided about the full marathon and probably won’t make that decision until further into the year.    

Learn a few self-defense techniques. // I recently read a handful of scary stories from female runners, so I’d like to learn some things to stay safe.  My husband and boys are learning Jiu-Jitsu – I’ll have to start paying attention. 

FAMILY

Learn new things directly from the source. // I’ve been thinking a lot about things my grandmothers passed down to me and how thankful I am for both the skills and the time together.  I really want to continue that with other family members this year.  So for example, my mom makes delicious strawberry jam.  Instead of just Googling for a recipe, I want to put a date on the calendar and learn right beside her.

Start a savings account for traveling to see out-of-state relatives. // This goes along with the idea that close relationships are a choice, regardless of distance.  Time to save those pennies for plane tickets!

Brainstorm new ways to spend time with my siblings.  // With my baby sister turning 20 this year, we’re turning a corner – they’ve all finally joined me in adulthood!  I’d like to explore new ways that we can spend time together, both with and without spouses and children.  Ideas: monthly Sunday dinner at my parents, meeting for breakfast and giving experiences as gifts (an escape room sounds right up our alley)


Create new memories with my husband and my kids. //  More traveling.  More exploring.  It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive, as long as we’re together.

A HODGE-PODGE OF EVERYTHING ELSE

Keep up with a year-long photo project. // I started a project a few years ago where I photographed what I was doing while drinking my morning coffee.  Thinking it may be a good year to try again.

Start a One Line a Day five year journal. // I’ve always wanted to do this!  I like the idea of having five years of memories in one little book.


Check off tasks on my 100 Little Things list. // As of this writing, I’ve completed 19 tasks since August.  I hope to keep chipping away – there are a lot of interesting things still to do.


Read 25 books. // I’m reducing my number (I read 38 in 2017) in an attempt to focus on quality vs. quantity.  There are some large books I’d like to get through this year. (I also think I should maybe start focusing on my to-read list on Goodreads.  The total there is 441 books!!)

Dip my toes into homesteading. // I don’t see us getting farm animals anytime soon, but I do love the idea of having a big garden, regularly making homemade bread and learning new skills.

Invest in our new community. // Join the local Facebook group.  Attend the parades downtown on Main Street.  Meet the neighbors.  Shop from small businesses.  Volunteer at church.  Take the first steps to know others and have others know us.

Dive deep into faith. // One of my favorite priests always says, “You can’t fall in love with someone you don’t know.”  My faith is precious to me, but I also know that there is SO much more to discover and learn.  I’d like to read, watch and pray widely this year.

Be creative again. //  This goal is purposefully vague.  I’m allowing myself the freedom to let it unfold naturally.  Maybe more blogging?  Scrapbooking?  Revisiting favorite handcrafts or trying something new?

Comments

  1. Great list! I love making lists for the new year. I find it exciting and a good way to help me decide how I want to spend my time. Happy New Year!

    • Same here. I love the process of dreaming big and then working that down into smaller goals. Wishing you a fruitful 2018!

  2. That giant table sounds like a dream!
    So excited to follow you for another magical year!

    • I cannot wait for summertime meals outside around that table! We're hoping it will be the perfect thing for entertaining.

  4. i love how your list is so detailed and specific. You are going to be crossing this off in no time!

    Possibly considering a full Marathon ?! YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR!!

    Can out-of-state-(blog)friends be added to the visit list? hahah, but seriously – is there a way we can meet halfway someday?

    invest in your community – LOVE.

    vague creative goal – also, obsessed.

    just so good, all of it. cannot wait to be inspired by all your intentional living, as always. thank you for sharing and letting me pull from your incredible ambition and gratitude. I am so grateful for YOU!

  5. This is so inspiring! Reading others goals always fuels my very own. Thank you for sharing so candidly and in such detail too.

    • I am the same way – reading about goals always fires me up. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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