18 Goals in 2018 | 1st Quarter Check-In

PROFESSIONAL
Last year, I juggled three different side hustles and it was stressful and exhausting. I want to focus my attention on one or two things that I can do well and support our family with, and that's it. Side hustling is not my jam.

1. Obtain a job that allows me to incorporate my blogging experience. Honestly, I'm not sure what I was thinking when I came up with this goal three months ago. I have been thinking lately about when I want to return to work full-time, so who knows what that will look like whenever the time comes.

READING
I really started off this year strong in terms of reading (hallelujah!). 

1. Read 42 books (12/42). In progress. I'm actually 2-3 books ahead of schedule! I was quite the little bookworm in February and hope to keep the streak going.
2. Read 3 books published before 2000 (2/3). In progress. I have to admit, my two books barely qualified for this category, but I'm pleased to say that Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (1999) and Tuesdays with Morrie (1997) fit the bill! 
3. Re-read the entire Harry Potter series (1/7). In progress. I read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to fill a book challenge category, and it got me excited to continue reading the rest of the series. Since I started with the second book, I think I'll probably skip around rather than reading them chronologically.

FINANCIAL
Last year was incredibly difficult for us, financially speaking. We became a one-income family so that I could stay home with the boys. I juggled multiple jobs, we applied for government assistance, and we were hit by a few too many curve balls. We're really hoping that this year will prove to be more financially stable and that we can finally stop treading water and start making progress toward paying off all our debt.

1. Pay off a credit card (0/3). 
2. Pay off medical bills from Crosby's birth (0/3). In progress. 
3. Complete our household budget every month (2/12). In progress.

BLOGGING

2017 was a phenomenal year for this little blog of mine. Somehow, I made over $2,500 and I'd really like to see if I can beat that in 2018.

1. Earn over $2,500 from my blog ($150/$2500). In progress. I haven't seen much happening in terms of ads and affiliate income. I also haven't had any new sponsored partnerships. Apparently, the first quarter of the year is pretty slow in terms of sponsored post opportunities.
2. Have a post receive 5000+ pageviews (4400/5000). In progress. I wrote What to Wear For Your First Infant Swim lesson after we'd started swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School. A few months later, it's my most popular post ever!
3. Meet another blogger friend in real life. I haven't left my house in three months so yeah, this hasn't happened...
4. Hit 1,000 Facebook and Instagram followers (585/1000 and 690/1000). In progress. I had a huge spurt of growth on Facebook at the beginning of the year, and I continue to see steady growth on Instagram, gaining a few new followers each week.

HEALTH

Perhaps my scariest goal, but also the goal I'm the most excited for!

1. Run a half marathon. In progress. I began "training" at the very end of February when we had a few days of nice weather. I got three weeks in before the weather stopped being cooperative and my knee started bothering me. I'm a little concerned about my knee because the pain has occurred every time after my last few runs. I think the problem is my shoes, so I'm hoping to get a fancy new pair of shoes for my birthday next month!

HOME

We've lived in our house for 2.5 years and it's ever so slowly coming together but there are a million and one things I'd like to do to make it more of a home. However, since our income is still quite limited, I chose smaller, more feasible projects for my 2018 goals.

1. Paint and finish decorating our master bedroom. In progress. I've bought a ton of frames, bought new bedding, and had some pictures printed. I'm waiting to hang everything until we finally paint the walls. We haven't had the time or energy, but I don't think it's unrealistic to hope that we'll get it done within the next 3 months.
2. Install railing on our front porch. 
3. Paint and finish decorating our living room. In progress. We painted! We love the color. It's a big improvement to the boring beige it was before. I'm just waiting to hang up a few more items of wall decor, and I'd like to get an area rug, but it's so close to being done!

TRAVEL

Our main focus this year will be on paying off debt, so I don't anticipate any kind of international jet-setting. We do have a few weddings planned for the summer, though, which I'm hugely excited about!

1. Take the boys to Sesame Place or Planet Snoopy.
2. Have a kid-free weekend getaway. We did get two nights in January without the kiddos, thanks to Chuck's parents. However, since we spent that time painting our living room, I don't really count it as a kid-free weekend getaway.
3. Have a girls' weekend for my 30th birthday. It just to happens that one of my best friends is having her bachelorette party the weekend after my birthday in Ocean City, NJ. Chuck and I were already planning to travel for her wedding in June, so I probably wouldn't have gone, but Mama needs a girls' weekend. I bought my plane tickets early this year as a pre-birthday present for myself!

I may not have checked any goals off my list yet, but I'm making definite progress!!!

1st QUARTER GOALS COMPLETED: 0

TOTAL GOALS COMPLETED: 0