Batch Working Towards Productivity in the New Year

Happy New Year!  I love this time of year because it is great to reset and prioritize my goals and objectives.  And while I have several goals for 2019, my focus on batch working is going to help me accomplish those goals more efficiently.

Healthy Eats #Celebrate365

Now that all of our Christmas gatherings are over, it is now time to get organized for the New Year, and I'm not just talking about how to fit all the new toys into our house...  The most popular New Year's Resolution is making healthier choices, so my Celebrate 365 co-hosts (Carlee from Cooking with Carlee and Jan from Tip Garden) and I have decided to host a Healthy Eats Recipe Blog Party!

The New Year is a great way to have a fresh start and as I have been thinking through my goals for 2018 I have been thinking about making healthier choices.  2018 actually marks the first year in many years that I have not been pregnant or nursing.  One of my body's main jobs has been taking care of kids over the last six years literately and while yes, one of my main jobs will continue to be taking care of four kids, my body at least isn't physically supplying nutrients for more than one person.

Now while I said for the first time I'm able to concentrate on my body, I am still feeding my growing family three meals a day, so I would love to see all bloggers link up their healthy meals and recipe ideas for individuals and families.  Feel free to share all of your 21 Day Fix, Keto, Paleo, Weight Watchers, high-protein, clean, etc. recipes so we all can get inspired to be healthier in the New Year!

Are you making plans to be a healthier you in 2018?  What is your favorite healthy recipe or food to eat?  Be sure to link up in the Blog Party and Comment for a Cause!

An InLinkz Link-up

Bloom Where You Are Planted

It doesn't seem possible that it is Friday after the New Year already.  I normally do a New Year Goals post at the beginning of each year but I got to thinking as the New Year rolled around that I really didn't have any new goals.  I concentrated on eating healthier and being more active after Miss R arrived this summer, and I plan to continue doing that.  I wanted to continue to focus on mine and my family's routine this year.  And I wanted to continue to simply build a happy home.  At first, I didn't know if this was a good thing, or a bad thing.  But then I read my morning devotion, which I started as a goal this past fall, on January 1st and the first line said, "Lord, guide my choices today so they will bloom blessings for the generation tomorrow."

Fun Fact! Those are soybean flowers

I thought WOW!  How perfect!  I love and live by the saying, "Bloom where you are planted."  And then to read, and remind myself, how my choices will impact me and future generations, just seem to work completely.

Another Fun Fact! This a row of corn
sprouting out of one of our fields

As a Wife and Mom, I work hard to provide opportunities for my family.  I want to see my husband and all four of my kids succeed both now and in the future.  How can I do this?  Share God with them.  Show my love to them.  Spend time with them.  Can it really be that simple?  I think so.  And I think it is one of the most important things I can do right now.

As a Farmer, I'm working hard to make the right choices and decisions for our farm, so our land and animals are the best and healthiest they can be.  I also want to do this so my kids can be the sixth generation of farmers in our family.

So how are you blooming blessings?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!  And I hope you all are having a great start to your New Year!

New Year. New Goals.

One of my favorite things about New Year's is that it's a perfect time to have a fresh start and set some new goals and habits.  This year I've set some personal and blogging goals that I wanted to share with all of you, because I don't know if any of you are like me, but when I have to be accountable for my goals I work harder on them.

Personal Goals:

• Learn Spanish - When I was in high school I didn't take any foreign language because I thought I'd never need it because I was going into agriculture.  The truth, twelve years later, knowing Spanish wouldn't just help me as a farmer understanding others we do business with, but it'd also help me as a member of my community, as I live in a diversified area.
• Be Financial Savvy - As baby #3 JP should arrive any day, and as I am decreasing my consulting work, and as the farm markets look shaky, 2015 will be the year to stay on top of my family's finances.  One of my roles on the farm and for my family is taking care of all of our financials.  I want to do a better, more timely and better organized job of doing this task.  Things I'm going to do include utilizing our financial software all year long and not just at the end of the year as we are get ready for taxes, and I'm going to monitor our expenses to help create a budget as the year goes on.
• Pray - I would already consider myself a disciplined prayer but in the New Year I just want to refocus what I do and how I do things through my faith, and to receive support and guidance through prayer.  Prayer is an amazing thing and helps you accomplish anything.

Blogging Goals:

• Country Fair Blog Party - I am so excited to join several other blogs this year as a co-host of the monthly Country Fair Blog Party!  I have participated in this blog hop several times over the last year and was excited when the hosts invited me to join them as a co-host.  Each month has a different theme and is a great way to check out new blogs.  And if you blog yourself, a great way for new people to see your posts!
• Become Self-Hosted - I'm ready to step up my blogging game and become self-hosted.  Last year I made some contacts about going self-hosted and now this year I'm planning on actually taking those steps.  I already own my domain of www.cornbeanspigskids.com but have it redirected to my blogspot address.  By becoming self-hosted I have full ownership of my blog and have more freedom to do more with my blog.
• Daily Routine - Now I might not be making the best start by not getting this post out till 11pm... but I'd like to do little, simple, daily tasks in relation to my blog and my social network, rather than having certain days where it seems all my free time seems to go towards blogging.  I enjoy blogging and find it as a personal outlet in a way - why not make it part of my daily routine, rather than every few days.

I am excited!  How about you?  What are you looking forward to the most in 2015?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

March Forth on March 4th

Today is March 4th and every year on this day I take a look back at my New Year Goals.  March 4th is a great day to "March Forth" and re-establish your goals, rethink your goals, celebrate your accomplishments and set new goals.  Many people make goals or resolutions on New Year's Day.  I think that those that practice that tradition should also add March 4th to their calendar as a check-point date.  Here's a look at my March Forth goals:

• Family dates - I'm going to set a date for My Farmer and I today for later this month.
• Me time - I have been enjoying sending things to friends and family members but need to be more consistent on waking up early.
• Journaling - I have been doing a good job of journaling as part of a Bible Study I'm in for myself but haven't been doing a good job of journaling for the kids.  Today I'll make an entry in their journals!
• Google + - I have been doing a good job of sharing on Google + but I'd still like to learn more about the social media.
• Comments for a Cause - It has been going great.  I could probably be a little better organized for it but overall I have been happy with the program.
• Getting together with Bloggers - I have gotten together with my local North Iowa group of bloggers once this year and we're getting together again next week.  I'm also hoping and planning on getting together with some Iowa "foodie" bloggers later this month and some Iowa bloggers next month.  I still haven't found a conference to go to yet that works well with my tractor schedule and travel budget but I still have hope!

Here's some inspirational music for all of you on this March 4th!

How are you going to celebrate March Forth?

Be sure to Comment for a Cause!

New Year. New Goals.

The New Year is a perfect time for a fresh start, a clean state, or a new beginning, and that is why so many people look forward to this day.  Some people transition into the New Year by declaring a resolution, making predictions, choosing three words to live by or doing nothing.  For me, I set goals.

Goals are great because they help you think thoroughly through your ideas.  I can't help but think of making goals for 4-H in my youth when I write down my goals every New Year.  A goal must contain 1) the action, 2) the result, and 3) the timetable.

New Year.  New Goals:

• My goal is for our family to go on dates with each other, My Farmer and I, My Farmer and LP, My Farmer and MP, LP and I, and MP and I, four times each this year.
• My goal is to create more me time by waking up at 6:30 am daily to do things I find enjoyable.  I will also plan on connecting with friends by doing something special for a friend monthly.
• My goal is to preserve memories and special dates for my children by journaling in specific journals for each kid.  I will keep the journals in my office where they are easy to get to.  I will plan on journaling at least once a month.
• My goal is to promote my blog more by sharing each post on Pinterest and Google+.  
• My goal is to start a Comments for a Cause program by choosing a new organization monthly to donate 50 cents for each blog comment to.
• My goal is to attend a blogging conference or gathering by the end of the year to help me learn more about blogging and make more blogger connections.  I will ask other bloggers what conferences they recommend to help me determine which one to attend.

Happy New Year everyone!  What do you do to transition in the New Year?