How I’m Approaching My Goals in 2019

How I'm Approaching My Goals in 2019

Happy 2019!

Some people love the New Year and the anticipation of a fresh start. Many like to set resolutions and make goals as they consider the year ahead. Some would rather just continue on and perhaps even chuckle at the idea of starting and sticking with something new.

I hope whether you are a goal setter or not,  you find some inspiration and encouragement from this post.

Goals Work for Me

I do enjoy setting goals because I find them to be a motivator for me. They help me stay on track and keep focused. I realize they might not be that for each and every one of us, but I thought I’d share how I’m approaching my goals this year.

I have taken some time to consider my goals for 2019. There is nothing earth-shattering or heart-stopping about my goals. I have a number of priorities and desires for my life; in order to continue to pursue and cultivate those, I make goals.

A New Approach

I decided this year, though, to take my goals month-by-month. Each month I will write out my goals for that particular month. They are simply smaller pieces of the bigger puzzle.

I’m choosing to do this because I believe it will help me stay more focused. It would be easy for me to set big goals and then not reach them because I didn’t have a good action-plan or I didn’t pace myself correctly over the year. Monthly goals will help me tackle my big goals more efficiently and accurately.

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Because each month is different, I can accurately assess how much of my big goal I can accomplish in that particular month. I will be able to consider monthly commitments and activities when choosing how much and how many of my big goals to tackle.

I believe there will be satisfaction in breaking the bigger goals into smaller goals each month. I will see some progress and gains within 30 days or so.

With that satisfaction will come motivation and encouragement to continue on. Sometimes people give up on their goals because they don’t see progress, and they become discouraged. Breaking my goals into monthly goals will result in quicker milestones and more encouragement.

An example

One of my goals for 2019 is to read 24 books. (I realize this number is probably tiny for some of you and maybe a bit big for others. I believe it is just right for me.) In order to reach this goal, I will need to read 2 books a month, but because I am doing monthly goals, I can adjust accordingly. Looking at the monthly calendar might result in my choosing just 1 book for a certain month. I might have a month where I realize that 3 books is quite doable.

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Having a plan and looking at it monthly will hopefully result in reaching my end-year goal of 24 books. Breaking the big goal of 24 books down into smaller month goals will keep me focused, satisfied, and encouraged.

I’m looking forward to trying out this month-to-month approach and seeing if it is a good fit for me. Just a few days into the year, and I am already liking how it feels to consider my goals by the month. We’ll see what the next few months bring!

What about you? Do you have goals for 2019? What do you think about setting monthly goals? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas, so drop a comment below!

Until next time,
Charissa


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Money Back for Online Purchases?! Yes, Please!!!

Online shopping is one of my favorite ways to make my life a little easier. I enjoy shopping for household items, gifts,…and even groceries all online.

Because I do a lot of online shopping, I am always looking for ways to save money while spending. Much of that saving comes in the form of coupon codes and free shipping.

Saving money is great! Making money is even better, and it’s pretty easy thanks to Ebates!! You can shop through the Ebates website to earn cashback on purchases you are already making.

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If, for example, you are shopping at Old Navy, you simply go to the Ebates website, search Old Navy, click the Shop Now button & that’s it! You will be transferred to the Old Navy site and earn cash back on any purchases made there.

A few other important pieces of information:

  1. Checks are sent out 4 times a year.
  2.  You can install the cash back button on your browser. This way you don’t have to go to Ebates each time you shop.  Instead, a little icon will pop up when you are on a site that offers cash back through Ebates. You can simply click the “activate cash back” button.
  3. You can also download the app and shop from there.
  4. You can earn even more money by sharing your Ebates referral link with others.

Ebates is great to use all year long!!

What about you? Do you use Ebates? What are your favorite ways to get the most out of online shopping? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Until next time,
Charissa

 

 

 

 

25 Gifts For Kids–All Under $25

Last week I shared a gift list for women. I wanted to provide a list for kids as well and decided to also keep this one budget-friendly. All 25 gifts listed here are under $25. Many of these items listed below can be found in my home and are loved by my children. The rest caught my eye, so I had to share! You can click on the link in blue or the picture itself. I hope you find some fun ideas & creative inspiration for your gift-giving lists!!

25 gifts for kids

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

Games

Games are a great gift to give an individual child or even several children in a family as a group gift!

Trouble Despicable Me Board Game

Uno

Connect 4

Qwirkle

Simon

Arts & Crafts

Do you have an aspiring artist or crafty child in your life? Here are my suggestions for arts and crafts gifts!

Gel Pens

Magical Jungle Coloring Book

Plushcraft Personalized Pillow

Melissa & Doug Stained Glass

Scratch Art

Books

I think books are always a great gift idea!

5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything)

The 50 States

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Wonder  by R.J. Palacio

Who Was Amelia Earhart? by Kate Boehm Jerome

Creative Fun

These gifts are great options for the child who loves to build and create!

LEGO City Heavy Cargo Transport

LEGO Classic Creative Bricks

Brain Flakes

Magnetic Tiles

Squigz Starter Set

Outdoor Fun

To encourage outside play, I’ve included these 5 items!

Giant Yard Dice

Chalk Set

Playground Balls (Set of 6)

Disc Swing for Tree

Hopper Ball

What about you? What are your gift recommendations for children? I’d love to hear your ideas, so drop a comment below!

For more gift guides, you can click here!

Until next time,
Charissa

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25 Gifts for Women –All Under $25

25 Gifts for Women-- All Under $25

I’m sharing a list of gift ideas as you consider buying and giving gifts this holiday season. I wanted to keep the items budget-friendly, so all 25 gifts are under $25!!! I have put the 25 items into 5 different categories. To see more details or purchase the item, simply click on the item name or the picture!

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

Clothing & Accessories

All 5 of these items come in a variety of patterns/colors!

Pom Pom Beanie Hat

Wallet

Cardigan (with pockets!)


Faux Fur Lined Suede Slippers

Plaid Blanket Scarf

 

Books

I have read & loved all 5 of these books!

Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner

The Magnolia Story by Chip & Joanna Gaines

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

One Beautiful Dream by Jennifer Fulwiler

 Wolf Hollow

Beauty

These are 5 unique beauty items! And yes, I included a toothbrush because I have it and LOVE it!

Hair Scrunchies, Set of 36

Burt’s Bees Gift Set

Wet Brush

Toiletry Bag/Makeup Pouch

Oral-B Electric Toothbrush

Cozy

I found some gifts that can add a little coziness to life!

Scented Soy Candle

Plush Throw Blanket

Large Ceramic Mug, Set of 2

Velour Robe

Slipper Socks

In the Kitchen

Here are 5 unique & fun kitchen-related gifts!

Mixing Bowls, Set of 3

Magnolia Table Cookbook by Joanna Gaines

Granite Mortar & Pestle

Kitchen Dish Towels, Set of 12

Spatula Set

 

Other/Miscellaneous

A few other unique ideas including the ever-popular gift card!

Amazon Gift Card

2019 Planner

Contigo Travel Mug

1000 Piece Puzzle

Decorative Woven Basket

Anything on the list catch your eye? What gifts are you giving this season? Share your ideas in the comments below.

And for more gift ideas, you can click here to see previous gift guides!!

Until next time,
Charissa

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Holiday Socks & Slippers, BOGO!!

I’ll be sharing a number of gift ideas & super deals from Cents of Style over the next few weeks!

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

I have purchased from Cents of Style in the past. I appreciate the variety of items, the price &….FREE SHIPPING!

Today only they are offering a BOGO deal on their holiday slippers and socks with code SLIPPERSTYLE.

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Such fun & festive styles and colors!

The slippers are $16.95 & the socks are $14.95. Use the code SLIPPERSTYLE & you can BOGO with FREE SHIPPING too!!

Check out all 5 different styles with 20 different color & print options over at Cents of Style!

Happy Shopping!

Until next time,
Charissa

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7 Laundry Tips to Keep Your Clothes Looking Good & Lasting Longer

Laundry Tricks(1)

If there’s something I do a lot of, it’s laundry. And I’m sure that’s true for you, too!

The other day, as I was going through my laundry routine, I was noticing all the little things I do (without thinking about it) to keep my clothes looking good and lasting longer.

Today I’m sharing my 7 tips with you!

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through the links. Thank you for supporting the blog!)

1) Don’t overload the washer

If you want your clothes to get clean, overloading your washer will defeat the purpose. Overloading is a normal temptation because it equals less loads, but if you keep the load on the lighter side, your clothes (and your machine) will thank you.

2) Use a stain spray

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It’s inevitable that clothing will get stained. I do my best to treat these stains as soon as possible. I have tried a number of stain sprays over the years. Shout happens to be my favorite. I find that it gets out most of the stains we have on the first try.

3) Use the delicate cycle

I use the delicate cycle for every load except for my bath towels. I enjoyed reading this article from mamaslaundrytalk.com about the difference between washing cycles and how to choose your washing cycle.

4) Turn your clothes inside out

This does require a second step, but I have found it to be beneficial. I don’t turn everything inside out, but I almost always doing this to jeans, graphic tees, and clothing with extra embellishments (like sequins or sparkles).

5) Hang your clothes to dry

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I don’t hang all my clothes to dry because we don’t have an outside line. I do, though, hang many of my shirts and other delicate items on hangers and allow them to air dry.

6) Dry on low heat

I dry almost all my items on low heat. I have found this to be a gentler option for my clothes.

7) Use a garment bag

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I shared this tip in a previous quick tips post. I really do love my garment bags. You can purchase them in a wide variety of sizes, so even larger clothing items can easily be washed in these bags.

That’s it!

Those are my 7 simple tips that have really helped to keep my clothes looking good and lasting longer! There will always be laundry, so we might as well do it as best we can!

What about you? What are your best laundry tips? Drop a comment below!!

Until next time,
Charissa

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