After moving 5 times in as many years, it’s been so luxurious to get to stay in one house for two and a half years. We are hoping to be debt free this year and who knows in 18 or 24 or 30 months, we may be moving. But for now, I’m completely content to be renting.
This year instead of having a list of specific goals, I’m making more overall goals of how I want to think about our home.
My main goal is to continue to be content, embrace risk and create a home that is a place of connection.
I also want to make home purchases wisely in light of the fact that way, way out in the horizon I can see our dream to have land/build/buy a shack and remodel it {and something even more exciting that could involve you, maybe?} coming closer into view. I love how when you get closer to a goal it makes you even more careful with what you do now when you can easily see how it could impact the future.
I do have one thing I want to continue to think about:: I’d love to have the boys rooms feel more finished–curtains? paint? They pretty much look just like they did last year.
One of the main things I accomplished last year that I’d like to continue is adding in natural elements in our home {more plants, hello stump tables, sailfish, antlers, natural light} and I love the focus on hand made, artsy stuff.
And, there’s one purchase I’m considering that I go back and forth about. I’d love LOVE to have an uphoslstered headboard in our room. I’ve put it off for years. We even had the cash specifically for a new bed a few years ago but we decided to see if we could use our bed for a while longer. But, the bed in the guest room is literally falling apart so I could justify trading out that bed for our bed. This is most likely not going to be a DIY project. I don’t ask my husband to do a lot for me when it comes to housey stuff because he’s not the kind of man who really enjoys doing a good DIY project. I figure if I want change, I’m not gonna nag him to do stuff for me or else he’ll come to hate my ways. And I can’t be having him hating my ways. And really, he’d rather work and make the money to pay for a bed than stay home on the weekend and take an entire day to DIY one. Plus my husband already works two jobs so he works on Sundays which is like half the weekend. Plus a bed is one of the few things {rugs and sofas too} that we’ve found are worth it to get the best you can afford. But maybe I won’t buy one. Or maybe I will. Or not. No matter it won’t be until our debt is paid off and I think that would be a nice little gift to us.
Enough about me, what are your home goals for this year?
I love how you always talk about paying cash for things…we’ve never financed anything with our home except the actual buying of our house and it feels so good. Staying within our means is so much better than anything else!
Eager to know about this “involves us” thing.
I was going to say the same thing. How are you involving us? I have an image of blog readers everywhere coming together to build a house, like an old-fashioned barn raising. Ha. :)
oh my, yes we should totally DO THAT!!!
ps…thanks for the linky party. always love a good nester linky party!
Thanks so much for hosting!! It’s great to have some goals for the year, and also a big reminder for hubby!
~Liz
YAY! I’m so excited to read through everyone’s goals. Thanks for hosting!!
Thanks for hosting all of these great parties! You’re so right about some things being worth the money!
Thank you for hosting! I felt really good to put some of my goals for my home in writing. You’re SO smart to be paying off debt, congratulations to both of you for your efforts! You’ll never regret it :)
Cheers, Andrea
Thank you so much for hosting! I can totally relate to your goals for this year…the word I picked for myself for this year is actually CONTENTMENT :-) because we are in a similar situation of trying to be debt free and renting. I can’t wait to see all your accomplishments for this year!
I like your goals! I’ve never been a good goal-maker, but this year I’m really trying. And my home goals are mostly about changing my attitude (with a few key behaviors to come along, I hope). I’ve realized that so much of my thinking about my house/home tend to center on me, me, me–the way I feel, the issues I have, blah, blah, blah. I need to realize that my home is just like every other good thing in my life–a gift from God. If it can be used to bless others, then yippee! My hope is to become grateful and gracious.
Thank you so much for hosting this party. The truth is, I probably wouldn’t have put together my goals if not for the incentive of your party!
Thanks for having us over for the party! Your goals feel very realistic. I’m afraid my eyes are bigger than my stomach, so to say!
Linda
itallstartedwithpaint@gmail.com
I’m here! Thanks for hosting, Nester! I’ve been trying to link up on my iPhone for 30 minutes now b/c I’m out and about. Hope it worked this time!
One of my goals is to be less “house-obsessed” and be more involved in the lives of my family and my relationship with God. I visit home decorating blogs a lot b/c, well, I like nesting/sprucing my home. But there are other more worthwhile things that I need to focus on, so that’s my goal, I do hope to get more organize, give away some things, and some other “home” goals that I think will help achieve my life/relationship goals. I especially enjoyed your post yesterday on intentional living, b/c I can easily spend way too much time online and in my actual life being what I call “house obsessed”. okay, the end. :)
Thank you for hosting this awesome party! Last year this was one of the first parties I ever linked up to and I loved it. A new house means new goals this year but mostly I just want us to make some great memories here and glorify God with our home!
I really like your broader approach to the house this year! It feels more like a journey than a list of to-do’s to tackle, and that’s lovely.
I feel good about the goals I set. Thank you again for your encouragement for tackling projects in my home. I posted a photo of us from Blissdom last year. The nice person who took the photo for me didn’t know how to focus the camera, but I’m still happy to have taken a photo with you. excited to see what you have in store at Blissdom this year! Thank you for hosting and inspiring! :D
Want to chime in on appreciating goals in the broader sense. While I linked to some pretty concrete goals, our larger goal is to explore what it means to be a family and how home supports us in that. So, yeah–painting the house is a concrete thing we can check off, but it’s really not about painting the house. It’s about maintaining our shelter and protecting a financial investment. Same with our other goals. Thanks for hosting.
Nester, Thank you so much for hosting!
Back in October, when I committed to the “31 Days of 31 minutes to a More Organized Life!” series, I thought I was nuts. But, digging deep to write those posts has made all the difference.
I’m really excited about our goals for this year.
We really want to simplify. Make things useful or ditch em.
Really savor the family time – there’s never enough of it!
Thanks for hosting this party! I love seeing what everyone has slated for this year.
Its good to know in the world of blogging there are other husbands out there that have no real interest in DIY projects. My husband is the same in that he works really hard to provide the money to buy what we need and several things we want. He wants to rest and spend time as a family having fun when he is home.
go to http://modernmapper.blogspot.com/2012/01/diy-headboard-and-runner.html and make your own headboard.
I should’ve added “reading through everyone’s home goals” to my list of stuff I wanna get done in 2012. LOL. Thanks for hosting, this is a fun party.
Ugh, multitasking today led to me committing link party fraud – I forgot to link back! Sorry! It is fixed now! Have a great night,
Laura
Thank you for the idea to put some goals on paper (er… online!) and for the opportunity to link them up! Great idea!
I just found your website today through “Decor to Adore” (I think?) Wow. I can’t wait for the weekend to read my way through your archives.
Thanks for the party – what a great idea! I’m so new to this, so have made very small goals to start with, and as a chronic home apologiser I’m practicing positive descriptions about my home too! Off to grab a wine and some chocolate and scour those links!
I found you via Funky Junk a few months ago and bought your Tassel book, which I LOVE! Thanks so much for this opportunity to link up and share our goals! We have to finish up some things left from a decade ago {gulp!} after building our dream home. Talk about imperfect! Ha! But putting my goals out there should spur things along!
thank you for hosting such a great party! It was great motivation to think thru the home goals for the year … excited!
Thanks for hosting! Such a great idea for the beginning of the year. Nice to know we’re not alone in our need to organize, too!
GREAT goals! Came over from Shine Your Light. Off to check out more. Happy New Year!
I love your philosophy on your goals and completely agree about waiting to purchase items until the money is there. It makes it that much more enjoyable! In regards to your desire for an upholstered headboard- I made one myself years ago and it’s held up great. It was easy to do, didn’t really require help from my hubby and was about $50 for materials. Check out a tutorial here on a blog I co-author. Have fun!
http://www.planteatcreate.com/2011/10/how-to-make-headboard.html
What the heck!?! I can”t see the links….HELP!!
I don’t have a blog to link to, but I really wanted to share my goals anyway… We moved into our first house this past summer and didn’t get a chance to do much outside, so I’d like to catch up on all of those things in the coming year (re-painting the trim, re-painting the deck, putting in a vegetable garden). Like you, I’d also really like a new bed (since currently we only have a metal frame) but I’m thinking of building one from Ana White’s plans, as well as maybe adding a few more (Craigslist or DIY) pieces here and there where we’re lacking. My goal is also to get my home under control; get rid of clutter, establish some sort of order even if it’s far from perfect, and keep the place in loving condition. I’m hoping the tips I’ve been getting from FlyLady can help me with the last part.
Thanks for having the link party :) My main goal (that has to do with the house) is to get that Prince Charming up there (#250) sleeping in the loft bed we’ve promised to him :) I already have saved up almost enough $$ for the lumber and my mother in law has sweetly found some jobs around her house for him to do to help pay for the room he wants so badly. Wasn’t that the smartest/sweetest idea?!?!?
I love this link party! It’s so motivational and inspirational, and Lord I needs I need a whopping pile of both! Thanks for hosting!
Wow!! Thank you so much for being willing to host a party where we can link up our collective todo lists for the new year!! What an awesome way to start the year!!
~Jessica
Nester. Thank you. Thank you for hosting this party. Thank you for your generous encouraging spirit. Usually I’m trawling through blogs looking for ideas to glean for my home, but I’ve visited a few places from the link party where I could see we are on a similar journey and I might be able to offer some ideas. That felt good.
Also, thank you for talking about how your husband isn’t that into the DIY stuff. I had to let go of the idea that my husband and I were going to do all these labor intensive DIY projects. It is NOT his thing. So in order to get things done, sometimes I have to pitch DIY for GID (Get It Done!). In those moments, I am deeply grateful for the skilled tradesperson who has spent years honing their skills and who saves me money by seeing a flaw in my genius plan.
Dixie
Thank you for keeping your blog so REAL…you’re a great inspiration with your thoughts and projects. I look forward to the year ahead and for all of us in blog land to share great ideas with eachother:)
To share a home with my husband again – after a few years of a long distance relationship, wow, it is the deepest desire of my heart that my home includes this precious man before 2013 rolls around. Waiting expectantly!
Thanks for hosting this party. I love making plans and lists – even if I don’t end up doing them all – it gives focus and direction to life.
two things:
1) you STILL haven’t gotten that headboard? what about doing another girls’ weekend and y’all make one together? you know, like your slipcovers? or is that a once in a lifetime opportunity? because i really want you to have your bed. and i keep checking for you. still nada.
2) you should tell oreck to just pick me as the winner next time. i just got a rug on OKL for my living room and it’s now the only carpeted surface downstairs and i really don’t want to lug my 9,000 pound vacuum downstairs just to do one lousy rug.
okay, three things:
3) have you ever explained why you have to move so much? is your hubs in the military? not sure i know that story…
“I can’t be having him hating my ways”
Perfect reminder of the attitude that needs to be in the home. That sense of mercy is the foundation of anything that adorns our house. I pick that for a goal!
Ok, you totally just described my husband and his way of thinking! And that makes me so happy because reading thru all these blogs I sometimes I feel like I am the only one with a husband like that! I’m not angry about it, it’s just the way it is. And if you have a Restore in your area check it out because I just went to one last week. I think they had a bunch of stuff from hotels, lots of headboards for 20,00. All you would need to do is cover or paint it! Good luck with those goals
I love how when you get closer to a goal it makes you even more careful with what you do now when you can easily see how it could impact the future.
Yes! My husband and I are saving up for a down payment on a home, and it’s amazing how much more aware of all those little purchases I am these days. We can either go out for Thai food, or we can be in our own home that much sooner! It’s an especially exciting goal since we’re currently staying with his parents, and are eager to have our own space.
Wow I’m having SO much fun looking at everyone’s goals for the year! It’s giving me even more ideas for my home. Some of these homes are so beautiful already! I too have a husband who is NOT into DIY & doesn’t really care that much about how the house looks. He grew up in a home where his parents NEVER changed anything in their home… yep. Crazy to me! Sometimes it’s really flustering, but I’m really good at getting things done on my own because of it! As long as I don’t paint any of “his” stuff, we’re good!
I love the dresser in the first picture. Do you happen to know the paint color you used? It would be perfect for my master bedroom dresser. Thanks!
I needed this,we have moved into a rental for residency and I want to create a home for our children.almost finished with sons room and master now to make a beautiful room for our daughter.
I love this idea! Thanks for hosting us. Lots of great ideas and inspiration here:)
I love your first goal. Sometimes it can be really difficult just to be ‘content’.. but I think it’s so important to find happiness in the now. I love that you focus so much of your blog on that- thank you!
I would love to be a part of this year’s Home Goals Party. I had to make the EXTREMELY hard transition from a 4 bedroom 3 full bath home to a teeny tiny one bedroom apartment with my 18 year old and 10 year old daughters. Contentment has been super hard for me but after purging down to what I really needed and some things that I really wanted, I am happy to say we have made a way to make this place home until we can upgrade. My biggest goal this year is to make the apartment a place to be proud of and a place where we feel comfortable, even in it’s smallness. I have found a new passion in breathing life into discarded furniture and diving into DIY projects.
Well, we are about 6 wks in! I just wanted to let you know that it was you who inspired me to set my goals on paper for this year. And it has made such a difference. I knew these things needed to be done, but wasn’t getting very far. Now that I have them in list form and saw others’ goals big and small I am so much more motivated. Thank you very much!