I’m trying my best to live seasonally and I’ve started setting some seasonal goals and today I’m sharing my goals for the fall.

You can also check out my birthday goals video I shared a few months ago.

For these seasonal goals I’ve decided to help set myself up for success and I’ve broken up my goals into smaller actionable steps and little sub-goals.

This way I can have the feeling of accomplishment as I get closer to reaching my end goal.

MY AUTUMNAL GOALS

complete 2016-2020 photo albums

This was on my goals list for the beginning of the year, well, pretty much, I’ve checked one year off so far, but I have a lot more to go.

participate in NaNoWriMo

This one is going to really push me out of my comfort zone! The goal is a 50,000 page novel (probably middle grade), or at least 50,000 words towards a novel.

I’m only planning on doing this one if we don’t have BB8 and if we still have R2D2 then my expectations will probably be lowered a bit.

complete fall cleaning

I feel like I really need to get on with this, I’ve got a few specific things I want to get to for sure.

make ten sketches or pages in my mixed media art journal

I’ve already got one page done, only nine more to go!

go on three autumnal outings

I’m totally up for more but there are three things I really like to do here in the autumn and I would like to get to all three! (We actually got one checked off this weekend, score!)

lose some weight

I think this is the first time I’ve ever put this on a goals list. I’ve decided to not share the exact numbers here but I have a specific number I am aiming for and I hope to make some healthier food choices in the next few months.

And that’s all I have for goals for this season! Do you set seasonal goals?

Okay, so this post is a month behind when I would have liked to have it up but it’s time to share my birthday goals!

I’ve been making birthday goals for the last ten years and it’s time to change things up a bit.

Previously I set the same number of goals as the year I turned (so when I turned twenty-six I set twenty-six goals), but obviously that can get a little overwhelming and I knew I did not want to set thirty-five goals this year.

So, I decided to scale back and only make ten goals for the year.

Even that was a little difficult, for the longest time I only had one goal on my list, but I did manage to think of a few more!

I also made trackers for myself this year and have kept them visible, you can see them at the end of the post!

 

 

 

MY GOALS FOR THIRTY-FIVE

 

 

READ THE BIBLE CHRONOLOGICALLY

I have said before, I am better with faster read throughs of the Bible, like 90 or 60 days instead of an entire year, and I want to do it again this year, but this time I want to read the Bible chronologically. I’ve never read it through this way and I’m looking forward to it!

I am looking for a good chronological Bible though, if you have a suggestion (I’d prefer ESV, CSB or NLT), let me know!

 

 

WEAR DRESSES MORE OFTEN

I actually really like wearing dresses but I’ve gotten lazy in the last year so I would like to get back into wearing them. I have some really nice looking ones ordered that I am excited about!

 

MAKE AN APRON

I want to sew an apron this year! I’ve been loving this one from Farmhouse on Boone, so I just need to get some material. Worst case scenario I buy a similar one from Amazon but I would prefer to make one. 

 

LIVE IN THE PRESENT

A hard one to measure but it is something I would like to work on!

 

 

MAKE TWENTY HOMESCHOOL PRODUCTS

I re-launched my homeschool online shop last month and from now until my next birthday I would like to make twenty products to add to the shop.

 

SHARE 52 VIDEOS* ON EACH OF MY THREE YOUTUBE CHANNELS

*so we are a month from my birthday already so I’m actually editing this to 48 videos.

Yes, I have three channels, my personal one, a BookTube one and a homeschool one. And I want to post fairly regularly on each of them.

 

BATCH MY DAYS – HAVE A GOOD RHYTHM

My general plan is:

Mornings: kid time, homeschool time, random stuff around the house time

Afternoons: nap time, quiet time, older kids play with friends time, work time for me

Evenings: family time, relax time, reading time

I used to always try to squeeze work into all the different times and I want it to have more of it’s own time so that I am not always so distracted (and can live in the present like my other goals states).

 

 

GET FAMILY PHOTOS TAKEN

We got some done last fall and I would like some more this fall since we have BB8 to add in!

 

JOIN AN ONLINE MEMBERSHIP GROUP

A bunch of ladies on YouTube have a membership together that I would like to join in if they open it up again. I’m also thinking of joining Sally Clarkson’s membership group. We’ll see!

 

MAKE UPGRADES TO OUR YARD

Specifically we are thinking of finally going grassless in the front yard which has been our plan for years but it was lacking some inspiration, I think we have some now. In addition, I would like to put a small greenhouse in the backyard so we can put our compost in there and start seeds earlier.

 

That’s all for my goals!

Now, here’s a look at some of my trackers that I’ve made:

 

 

I think these will help remind me of my goals (because I’ll put them somewhere where I can see them often) and help me to actually hit the goals I set!

 

Do you make goals for your birthday each year?

Another year has gone by and it’s time for me to give a final update of my thirty-four birthday goals.

I did not do well with my goals this last year, I think there are a few reasons behind this:

#1 COVID – this really got in the way of life

#2 fostering – this affecting things a lot more than I realized

#3 forgetfulness – I simply forgot about some of these goals

 

How I Plan on Doing Better Next Year

I still like setting goals though and just need to figure out a way to set things up so I do better next year and I have two plans:

#1 set less goals – I’m not sure an exact number but I’m not going to set my age worth of goals. I’m finding this way just makes me add in filler goals that I don’t really even want to do.

#2 make goal checklists – this will keep my goals visible and hopefully be the reminder I need.

 

 

Right now I’m compiling a list of goals for this next year, we’ll see what I end up with.

For now, let’s look back on thirty-four in goals.

 

#1 GO ON A HOME TOWN TOUR

This is one I had planned to do on my birthday last year but the weather was bad and we still haven’t done it! Mostly because things were weird with COVID and I didn’t really want to wander around. I want to do this sometime in the next few years though.

 

#2 WRITE 12 POEMS

Initially my plan was to spread this out over the course of the year but in true Chantel fashion I sat down at the beginning of this month and pounded out all twelve in less than twenty-four hours. They aren’t anything special but it was kind of fun. It reminded me why I liked writing poetry as a teenager and also showed me that my poetry is no less angsty these days as it was twenty years ago which should maybe alarm me but I’m leaning into.

 

#3 SPEND MORE TIME IN THE BACKYARD

Did I? Maybe a bit? The toddler liked hanging out back there last year but then winter hits and we didn’t use the backyard for six months straight. We’re just getting back into the habit of using it again.

 

#4 THRIFT MORE HOME DECOR

I barely went thrifting at all and don’t think I got any home decor.

I blame COVID and my dislike for shopping with a toddler.

 

 

#5 SPEND UNDER $100 IN BOOKS (FOR MYSELF)

Bahahahaha! Yeah, no. I spent more than this but I also got a lot of my books for free.

 

#6 HAVE “LOW TECH” DAYS EACH MONTH

Nope, I don’t even remember attempting this once.

 

 

#7 DO SOME THRIFTED ITEM REDOS

I did one and it was a major fail.

Rae and I decided to try to make a play kitchen out of a TV entertainment unit thing we got for free. It took a lot of work and she never used it. It kicked around in our basement for about five months before we trashed it.

It was a good realization that while I used to enjoy this a few years ago I don’t any more.

 

#8 GET FAMILY PHOTOS DONE

Yes! Holly got some photos of us in the fall!

 

 

#9 THRIFT IN DIFFERENT TOWNS

Nope, see thrifting home decor above for excuses.

 

#10 MAKE PIZZA SAUCE FROM SCRATCH

I didn’t. My tomatoes were once again a flop and I had to buy tomatoes from the store just to make my pasta sauce.

Maybe this year my tomato crop will be good again.

 

#11 SHAMPOO THE CARPET

I have a shampooer all picked out that I want to buy but I haven’t done this yet.

 

#12 DO MORE ARTSY PROJECTS USING THE SUPPLIES I HAVE

Yes! this has mostly been in the form of art journaling and at time decorating my penpal letters.

 

 

#13 TAKE AN ONLINE CLASS

Um, I actually don’t remember if I did this or not . . . I don’t remember taking an online class but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen . . .

 

#14 READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN 90 DAYS AGAIN

Yes! Kind of. I accidently read through it in 60 days instead but I figure that counts.

 

#15 PAINT MY BATHROOM DOOR

The hair dye is no longer visible because the door has been painted a dark grey, I love it!

 

#16 VISIT AT LEAST ONE GHOST TOWN

Um, nope.

 

#17 READ A POEM A DAY FOR A MONTH

I did! I actually read a decent amount of poetry and have decided that so far, Emily Dickinson is my favorite poet, let me know if you have any recommendations that are similar to her style.

 

#18 EAT LESS CARBS/FIND LOWER CARB ALTERNATIVES

Naw, I still love my carbs.

 

#19 MAKE MY OWN LIGHTROOM PRESETS

I did! I’ve used them for the last few months, I like bright photos and the presets I created help with that. I think my original intention with this goal may have been to sell my presets but I didn’t include that in the goal so I’m good.

 

#20 GO ON A DATE WITH A KID EACH MONTH

No, thanks to COVID lasting forever and so many things being closed this didn’t happen each month.

 

#21 BUY THE MAJORITY OF MY CLOTHES FROM THRIFT STORES

Once again, COVID really got in the way here. I definitely bought some from the thrift stores but since they were closed for awhile and it was harder to get to them I ended up buying the majority of my clothes new online.

 

#22 LEARN TO WATERCOLOR FLOWERS

Not really.

 

#23 USE THE BACKYARD LIGHTS

Yeah, also no. Why do I always forget how bright it is here in the summer? For us to use the lights when it’s warm out means we need to be sitting out there at midnighit.

 

#24 MAKE A VIDEO LUT

I didn’t do this one but I’m also not using an editing program that would really work for this right now.

 

 

#25 START BIBLE JOURNALING

Yes! I’ve been doing this for a year now!

 

#26 FIND A HAT THAT FITS MY SMALL HEAD

I actually found one! Now I just need to get brave enough to wear it in public . . .

 

#27 BUY A VLOGGING CAMERA

I guess so, I didn’t realize the camera I’d been using was purchased after my birthday. I got this one and really like it.

 

#28 SEW SOMETHING USEFUL FROM THRIFTED FABRIC

I don’t think I did any sewing this year.

 

#29 DRAW A (VERY SIMPLE) CARTOON VERSION OF ME

Nope.

 

#30 GO ON A TRIP THAT IS NOT ALBERTA OR SASKATCHEWAN

This didn’t happen. Between COVID and fostering it just wasn’t possible.

 

#31 SET PRAYER REMINDERS TO GO OFF THROUGHOUT THE DAY

I did for awhile but then I got so used to the reminders they didn’t work any more.

 

#32 FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A SMOKEY EYE

Nope, this is a magic trick I will never figure out.

 

#33 LEARN ABOUT ONE NEW TOPIC EACH MONTH

I’ve learned about a lot of new things but I wasn’t intentional about learning about a new one each month.

 

#34 BUY OR MAKE COASTERS

I almost purchased some a few times but I realized NO ONE CAME OVER FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR so it felt pointless to buy some. Maybe after we have people over again I’ll buy some.

 

That’s all for thirty-four, now on to thirty-five!

Every year around my birthday I make a set of goals and I thought I would actually do a mini update now of my goals that I set back in May.

This is my “six-ish” month update, okay, maybe more like almost eight months.

Since it’s not that far before I’ll do my final update, I think I’ll just briefly touch on the goals that I have not reached yet, well, I’m also not going to include the goals that I am no longer interested in reaching. Then in May I’ll do a full update sharing how I did with each of the goals.

 

 

BIRTHDAY GOALS I HAVE NOT COMPLETED YET

 

GO ON A HOME TOWN TOUR

I had wanted to do this last May or June and we never did. Hopefully the beginning of May after the snow is all gone we can do this.

 

WRITE 12 POEMS

Yeah, I haven’t written any yet. But I have been studying poetry a bit and I know what kind I like to read and I therefore I think I have an idea of what I would like to write.

 

THRIFT IN DIFFERENT TOWNS

I’ve only done this in one town so far, this has been a weird year for shopping, I’m hoping I can still do this though.

 

MAKE PIZZA SAUCE FROM SCRATCH

Normally I have an excess of tomatoes so this year I wanted to make pizza sauce as well as my normal pasta sauce but this year I didn’t get a single tomato from my garden, it was really strange.

 

SHAMPOO THE CARPET

I’m totally putting off figuring out how to rent a carpet shampooer but I really need to do this.

 

 

READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN 90 DAYS AGAIN

I haven’t finished this one but I am in the middle of it! Actually, I’m reading it in 60 days this time (kind of accidently).

 

VISIT AT LEAST ONE GHOST TOWN

We haven’t done this, and that’s kind of annoying because last summer would have been a great time for this. Maybe this spring.

 

EAT LESS CARBS/FIND LOWER CARB ALTERNATIVES

Nope, I’m definitely enjoying all the carbs. Do I even care to find alternatives? I’m not sure I do.

 

MAKE MY OWN LIGHTROOM PRESETS

I’m not sure I will do this, I actually bought some that I really enjoy and currently don’t feel the need to make my own, that may change yet though.

 

GO ON A DATE WITH A KID EACH MONTH

I did this for a few months but things have been so strange this year that this has been hard to do. Ephraim and I wanted to go to The Old Spaghetti Factory and hopefully we can do that soon.

 

USE THE BACKYARD LIGHTS MORE

Nope, maybe we just aren’t backyard people.

 

 

SEW SOMETHING USEFUL FROM THRIFTED FABRIC

I’m not sure I want to do this, I think I’m realizing that sewing is not my thing at all.

 

DRAW A (VERY SIMPLE) CARTOON VERSION OF ME

Not surprising to me, I’m still terrible at drawing.

 

GO ON A TRIP THAT IS NOT ALBERTA OR SASKATCHEWAN

We haven’t been anywhere yet. I’m hoping to do a road trip to BC in the summer but that will be after my birthday.

 

FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO A SMOKEY EYE

Can I just admit that I don’t understand makeup? Thanks.

 

BUY OR MAKE COASTERS

Oh, I forgot this one was on here! I should see if I can find a good DIY project for this.

 

For the last ten years or so I have set the same number of goals as the age I turn, so last year I set 34 goals, and I’m realizing I can’t keep this up. It ends up being too many goals that I can’t remember them and I struggle to think of goals and just end up setting random ones I don’t really even want to make.

My plan is to start thinking about my goals for the next year now and think about them and revise them for the next few months before my next birthday. That way I will hopefully only set goals that I want to achieve.

 

Do you set goals on your birthday? I’d love to hear some of them!