Challenging Myself!!

Hello! Who doesn't love a good challenge? I know I do, however sometimes I'm not so good at sticking with it! I plan to change that this year. I have challenged myself to several things as part of my New Year's resolutions! Here they are....in no particular order.

52 Week Money Challenge

I was checking up on ProTeacher this morning when I stumbled across this idea. It is simple....basically, you save the amount of whatever week of the year it is. So, week 1 you put $1 in savings, week 2 is $2, week 35 is $35! Some folks are doing a countdown and starting with $52 the first week. It's up to you.....but simple, right? I don't know why I have never thought to do this before. Anywho, I totally went to the Facebook page to sign up for the challenge. Here is the link to go check it out for yourself. If you do it, at the end of the year, you will have saved $1,378.00!....easy peasy! 

Devotional Time

Here is my Instagram picture I made to remind myself that I need that quiet time with God each morning. I always say I'm going to do this, but never follow through. I'm trying hard this year to make it a priority! My Secret Santa at school gave me the little orange book titled The Chosen Path and it has a devotion a day. The other book, Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort & Joy is one my sister gave me over 10 years ago that I am rereading. It is an excellent book and really focuses on gratitude, as well as living simply and in the moment. I highly recommend it...:) It too has a page a day for the entire year!

Good Reads

This one I can thank my beautiful daughter, Miranda for! Here she is wearing her Smart Folks Read shirt! She is and always has been a reader! She devours books....makes a mama proud!

Anyway, she introduced me to goodreads and I just had to delve right in and sign up for a challenge! I challenged myself to read at least 25 books this year. It is hard for me to find time during the school year, but I have been trying to squeeze in a few minutes here and there because I love to read! Right now I am reading a sweet little fiction book called Candles on Bay Street. 

It's really good so far and I just found out that a Hallmark movie was made from it in 2006. Now I'm dying to see the movie! Next up on my list is Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks. I really want to read it before I see the movie....which comes out in February! Sounds like a date night with the hubs to me...:) More about goodreads though.....you can basically list books you have read and want to read, as well as rate books, take quizzes on them and so on. It a true book nerds dream...lol! Check it out!

Couch to 5K

Ok....so this one will probably be the most difficult, but I am determined to do it! I am starting the year out by walking every evening, drinking only water, and eating healthier. I am hoping to lost about 30-40 pounds and then start the C25K work-out. A couple years ago, I lost about 30 pounds and I felt so much better. I'm ready to do it again. Running a 5K is a goal of mine and it's on my bucket list! I'm not getting any younger so I figure if I'm going to do it then I better get started.....NOW! I can't keep putting it off. Wish me luck and I could use some prayers too!

Last but not least....my Pinterest challenge!

I don't know about you, but I love Pinterest! I discovered the treasure trove almost a year before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon and quickly fell in LOVE. I am such a visual person and pinning pictures instead of saving bookmarks totally works for me. I have well over 5,000 pins now, but haven't been as good as I could be at actually using the ideas, recipes, tutorials, etc! So....my challenge to myself this year is to actually cook at least one dinner recipe and one dessert recipe per week. ( I know I just talked about losing weight, but I don't go cold turkey on sweets...I love them and still eat them in moderation.) I also want to make some of the crafty things I have pinned, and try some of the organization and house-cleaning tips and tricks. Now....I have already made lots of the things I have pinned such as homemade croutons, vinegar & alcohol cleaner, chocolate chip cookies,  and the button monogram (see my V below...on the right) just to name a few! I want to make more though....there are so many awesome things! 

Here are a few I want to make, try, or do this year.....

Painted floor...for the new porch we hope to build this summer!

Source: The Sunset Lane

Swing bed.....for the future porch!

Source: Jane Coslick

My very own library.....I have the books, now we just need to build my floor to ceiling shelves and a ladder!

Source: Mini Manor Blog

Paint my bedroom furniture....I have this exact same French Provincial dresser and nightstands by United. I bought them at a consignment shop a couple years ago!

Formerly listed on ETSY 

Board and batten for my dining room wall!

Source: Just a Girl 

Well....those are my 5 challenges! I know it's a lot, but I'm going to do my best to keep up with them and hope to be able to report success at the end of the year! So....what are your challenges this year? Please share and as always.....