Top Ten Tuesday: The whys and hows of goal setting

I talked briefly yesterday about the advantages of setting goals. (Which, in my opinion, differs from resolutions. It has been said that resolutions are just a to-do list for the first two weeks of January. :) But goals - or resolutions - don’t need to be plans to fail.) There are many good reasons to set goals, and ways to make them a practical reality. Here is a list of 10 great reasons to set goals, and how to stick with it:

1. As Emilie Barnes put it, “Without a goal and plans to achieve it, your decisions are left to chance. And who wants to live their lives by chance?” I don’t believe living by chance is biblical or practical!

2. Goals change your life. Anytime you’ve made a change for the better in your life (job change, weight loss, etc.) it has been through setting a goal and taking steps to achieve it, whether you meant it that way or not.

3. The goals you set can ultimately change many areas of your life. Financial, spiritual, practical, work-related….every area of life can be affected and changed for the better.

4. If you were in a boat, floating will either get you nowhere or take you where you didn’t want to go. You have to row and steer that boat to get where you want to be. Remember Anne of Green Gables? When she was floating, her boat sunk and left her stranded. Don’t let your life be like a floating boat.

5. Start small. Set a few goals for this week. When the week is over, re-evaluate how those goals went and set a few for the next week. Over time, you will see that you are able to accomplish a little bit more over time, plus have more time for other things! Need proof? Here are my first weekly goals...I’ve come a long way since then!

6. Find some sort of accountability. If your goal is to keep your dirty dishes cleaned up, as opposed to letting them pile in the sink, let your family know. If you are the only one that knows about that goal, you have no motivation except to please yourself. If your whole family is aware of your efforts, they will be quick to let you know when the dishes are starting to pile up!

7. Blog about it. I’m always encouraged when I hear that by blogging my weekly goals, I am encouraging others to keep up with their own. That is how I got started setting weekly goals, by reading the posts of others that do the same. There is a whole slew of them right here, if you need a place to start.

8. Think back to the beginning of 2012. Are you a better person now than you were then? Where will you be at the end of 2013? What are you going to do about it?

9. Consider the impact on your family. Financial goals could get you out of debt, provide better schooling for your kids, and put healthier meals on the table. Spiritual goals will always benefit you and every life you touch. Practical household goals can contribute to a happier, smoother family.

10. What are you waiting for? Grab a pen and paper and write a few goals for the rest of this week. Just 3-5 different things will get you started. Then leave them in the comments section so I can cheer you on!

How do you feel about setting goals? What plans do you have for 2013?

Last Top Ten: Christmas Links

Top Ten Tuesday: Christmas Links from the www.

There are so many bloggers that have it all together when it comes to Christmas posting. These peeps have some really fun events going on, and seem super prepared and ready for Christmas! Whether you are ready or not, Christmas is fast approaching...so why not take advantage of these great links to help you with your holiday planning? Here is a list of 10 Top Christmas Bloggers (in my humble opinion):

1. Christmas...your way (a Life….your way blog) has been and is currently running their 101 days of Christmas Event

2. My BFF Kati is hosting 25 Days of Christmas through December. Lots of great ideas, a giveaway, and opportunities to link up your own Christmas projects!

3. My friend Amanda ran a series in November with 30 Handmade gift ideas. TONS of super great ideas that I hope to try sometime!

4. Org junkie (and a group of organizing bloggers) has a Pinning party going on right now with tons of Christmas pins and links!

5. I {heart} Nap Time recently had their Crazy Christmas Event with loads of great ideas. Even though that event is over, there is still tons of fun Christmas things going on over there!

6. Passionate Homemaking always has some great posts on being intentional during the holiday season.

7. Still in need of some last-minute gifts? Shop from the homemade community! See Gussy’s Holiday gift guide for ideas.

8. Money Saving Mom is hosting A Handmade Christmas, with lots of ideas and links for Christmas ideas.

9. Leah over at Embracing Grace is currently hosting a giveaway for Christmas Cds! Hurry on over to enter (giveaway ends tomorrow!) and while you are there, browse her site for some other Christmasy fun. 

10. A Living Sacrifice (ever heard of them?) is going to continue to blog recipes, traditions and ideas during the rest of December, so stick around! Use the handy buttons in my sidebar to quickly locate the holiday posts

Do you know of any other great Christmas links? Feel free to link up your own posts as well, as many as you want!

Last Top Ten: Christmas Classics

Top Ten Tuesday: Christmas Classics

This is the time of year to dust off those Christmas movies and enjoy some great Christmas stories! There are tons and tons of Christmas movies out there (it is seriously getting crazy...especially since a whole lot of them have similar story lines) but there are a few that must be watched year after year.  Here is our list of ten Christmas movies to get you in the Christmas spirit:

1. Rudolph the red-nosed Reindeer

2. Frosty the Snowman
3. Miracle on 34th Street

4. White Christmas

5. Its a Wonderful Life

6. The Music Box

7. Muppet’s Christmas Carol

8. Little House on the Prairie: The Christmas they Never Forgot (I’ll admit, this one is a bit of a snooze...but my sisters think it is the greatest thing ever.)

9. Christmas Shoes (snif!)

10. Charlie Brown Christmas

What classic Christmas movies do you watch each year?

Last Top Ten: Funnies

Top Ten Tuesday: Funnies

I decided we all needed a laugh today, so I compiled 10 humorous stories that I’ve saved over the years. #forsuchatimeasthis Some are groaners...I apologize in advance.(These aren’t original with me, but I don’t know where they came from either, so hows that for giving credit where credit is due?) Here are 10 things to bring a smile and a groan to your lips:

1. The president said we need more products stamped “Made in America.” OK, letʼs get the Chinese to get a stamp that says “Made in America.”

2. Football is back, signals and all:  A three-year-old regularly watched football games with his father. So much so, that he knew some of the signals the referee makes.  On a recent Sunday, the three-year-old attended church with the family. As the pastor raised his hands high to offer a blessing, the child interrupted the service by shouting, "Touchdown!"

3. My daughter just walked into the living room and said "Dad, cancel my allowance immediately, rent my room out, throw all my clothes out of the window, take my TV, and stereo, and iPhone, and iPod, and my laptop. Please take all of my jewelry to the Salvation Army or Cash Converters. Then sell my new car, take my front door key away from me and throw me out of the house. Then disown me and never talk to me again. And don't forget to write me out of your will and leave my share to my brother.” Well, she didn't put it quite like that.. what she actually said was... "Dad, this is my new boyfriend, Mohammed."

4. If you're choking on an ice cube simply pour a cup of boiling water down your throat. Presto! The blockage will instantly remove itself.

5. A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

6. You only need two tools in life - WD- 40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If i t shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.

7. At one point during a game, the baseball coach said to one of his young players, "Do you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?" The little boy nodded yes.
Then he said, "Do you understand that what matters is whether we win together as a team?" The little boy nodded yes.
"So," the coach continued, "when a strike is called, or you're out at first, you don't argue or cuss or attack the umpire. Do you understand all that?" Again the little boy nodded, yes.
"Good," said the coach, "Now go over there and explain that to your mother."

8. Some people are like slinkies: not really good for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

9. Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold while you chop.

10. A police officer pulls a guy over for speeding and has the following exchange:
Officer: May I see your driver's license?
Driver : I don't have one. I had it suspended
when I got my 5th DUI.
Officer: May I see the owner's card for this vehicle?
Driver : It's not my car. I stole it.
Officer: The car is stolen?
Driver :  That's right. But come to
think of it, I think I saw the owner's card in the glove box when I was putting my gun in
there.
Officer: There's a gun in the glove box?  
Driver :  Yes sir. That's where I put it
after I shot and killed the woman who owns this car and stuffed her in the trunk.
Officer:
There's a BODY in the TRUNK?
Driver :  Yes, sir.
Hearing this, the officer immediately
called his captain. The car was quickly surrounded by police, and the Captain approached
the driver to handle the tense situation......…
Captain: Sir, can I see your license?
Driver: Sure. Here it is.
It was valid.
Captain: Who's car is this?
Driver :  It's mine, officer. Here's the owner' card.
The driver owned the car.
Captain:  Could you slowly open your glove box so I can see if there's a gun in it?
Driver :  Yes, sir, but there's no gun in it.
Sure enough, there was nothing in the glove box.
Captain: Would you mind opening your trunk? I was told you said there's a body in
it.
Driver : No problem.
Trunk is opened; no body.
Captain: I don't understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn't have a license, stole the car, had a gun in the glove box, and that there was a dead body in the trunk.
Driver : Yeah, I'll bet that lying turkey told you I was speeding, too


Hope those bring a smile to your face! :)

Last Top Ten: Pet peeves

Top Ten Tuesday: Things that drive me bonkers

I think I’ve talked about my pet peeves before….but it is one of those things that is kinda fun and funny to read about. We all have ‘em….so stop giving me that pious look, haha! Here is a list of ten things that drive me nuts:
1. People cracking knuckles

2. Shoelaces not tied just the right way

3. Wrinkled clothes (use an iron, people)

4. People driving slower than the speed limit

5. People chewing with their mouth open, talking with food in their mouth, or in any other way opening their mouth with food inside. Barbaric.

6. When my last name is mispronounced, which is all.the.time.

7. When my browser crashes with approximately 50 tabs open (which also happens all.the.time.)

8. Things being uneven...pretty much anything...because I’m OCD like that :)

9. Things that should be organized and aren’t

10. People in my bubble- reaaaaaaaly big pet peeve!

C’mon, admit it...we all have pet peeves. What are yours?

Last Top Ten: Music

Top Ten Tuesday: Music

If God has given you the gift of music, and in this case specifically the ability to play the piano, I believe it is your responsibility to use it! In my experience, the opportunities to play the piano for different events seem to come out of nowhere, and are endless! Here is a list of ten ways to use the gift of piano playing:

1. Church - obviously! :) My long-time readers know that I play the piano for a small church that previously had no pianist. Even though it means traveling 45 minutes every Sunday, I love it and wouldn’t trade the opportunity for anything!

2. Funerals - I’ve even been asked to play for some outside of my own church

3. Weddings

4. Nursing home - I currently go every Tuesday morning and play for the residents, then help a friend with a Bible study there. My brother plays for a service in a nursing home once a month. Again, tons of possibilities here!

5. Local events - depending on what you have in your area, a school or another public event may need a pianist for a certain event.

6. Mall - especially around Christmas, shopping malls will have live entertainment at certain parts of the day. Our children’s choir in NC got to sing for an evening in our local mall one time. This would be a great way to get some good music in the mall for a change!!!

7. Recording - Missionaries may want a certain song for their video presentations. This would be an easy way to help in this area. Of course, if you are really ambitious, you could record your own Cd! :)

8. Hospitals - Ok, so maybe most hospitals don’t have pianos...but maybe you could take in a small lap keyboard? Or at the very least, you can sing with no piano...I’ve done this many times!

9. Shut ins - during high school my sister and I would go sing to two different shut-ins each week. We would also read portions of scripture to them. This was a great way to learn to serve and appreciate the older generation!

10. Your own enjoyment - don’t forget playing for fun! =)


Can you think of other ways to use music?

Last Top Ten: Things I {heart}

Top Ten Tuesday: Things I {heart}

You know those things that make you smile every.single.time you look at them? Those random things that really don’t deserve a list of their own, but you still enjoy them (and maybe can’t even explain why?) Here is my list of 10 things I love for no apparent reason:

1. Butterflies

2. Candle flame

3. Clean sheets

4. New toothbrush

5. Snowmen

6. Bolts of fabric

7. Clean kitchen counters

8. Birds at my feeder

9. Blog comments

10. Globes


What random things do you {heart}?

Last Top Ten: Fall Foods

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall Foods

After enjoying 3 Thanksgiving dinners last week (wow, I'm a pig!) I have a decided opinion about what my favourite foods are at this time of year! Some things seems decidedly "Thanksgiving-ish" while some just seem to fit the weather and mood of fall. Here are 10 of my favourite fall foods:

1. Sweet potato casserole (I'll take this any day of the year, but it seems like I only get it at Thanksgiving. Thankfully a sweet lady in the church knows how much I love it and sent me home with the leftovers. Yum!)

2. Turkey - duh

3. Cranberry sauce

4. Cherry pie

5. Pumpkin pie

6. Squash

7. Pretty much anything pumpkin

8. Hot apple cider (oh wait, this was supposed to be a food list)

9. Apple pie or crisp

10. Sweet potato casserole...in case you missed that. :)

What are your favourite fall foods?

Last Top Ten: Thankfulness

Top Ten Tuesday: Thankfulness

Yesterday was Canadian Thanksgiving, so I thought it only appropriate to list some things I’m thankful for. Over the course of the last 365 so much has happened for which I am thankful! (And yes, I am thankful every day, not just on Thanksgiving, haha!)  Here are 10 top things I’m thankful for from this past year:

1. Safe arrival of Judah Scott

2. My new church family

3. Good friends, both here and far away

4. Lots of visitors!

5. An amazing week of VBS/special meetings (and the decisions that were made)

6. Salvation of 4 children at my dad’s church and 3 adults at the church I attend

7. Being able to attend a friend’s wedding and spend an unexpected week in Maine

8. The acquaintances I’ve made through blogging - I seriously look forward to interacting with you guys each and every day!

9. My families health and safety

10. The things the Lord has taught me about trusting and waiting on Him

What things are you most thankful for since last Thanksgiving?

Last Top Ten: Favorite things about Fall

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Things About Fall

While summer is my absolute favorite season, Fall (or is it autumn?) can be fun and beautiful in its own way. There are some things to look forward to during the (very brief) fall months! Here are 10 reasons I love fall:

1. Pretty colors and leaves

2. Thanksgiving

3. Wearing fleece

4. Crisp air

5. Pumpkins

6. Apple crisp (just might be my favorite dessert!)

7. Fresh garden produce

8. Fall decorations

9. Apple cider

10. Crunching of leaves under my feet

What are your favorite things about fall?

Last Top Ten: Reasons to love being a camp counselor

Top Ten Tuesday: Reasons to Love Teen Camp

Last weekend I was a counselor at a teen retreat at this camp, and I had a great time! I always enjoy every chance I get to influence and impact lives for Christ. Even though a one-night teen retreat doesn’t provide a whole lot of opportunity to work with these girls, I am thankful for the small moments I did have, and the one opportunity to take a girl aside and give her Biblical solutions to her needs. Here are 10 reasons I love being a camp counselor:

1. Seeing the Lord work in hearts

2. Praying with and for these girls

3. Sitting under great preaching

4. The camp “atmosphere”

5. Staying up late as if I was a teen :)

6. Watching the teens playing games in a sopping wet ball field and not having to participate. (I hate being wet and cold...and those kids were definitely wet and cold! They certainly didn’t seem to mind!)

7. Spiritually uplifting chats with other ladies and counselors

8. Meeting new people

9. One-on-one counseling with a teen

10. Mopping up toilet water...oh wait...well, I’m still thankful we have washroom facilities right in our cabins!! :)

What service opportunities do you enjoy?

Last Top Ten: Handy Tools I use {almost} daily

Top Ten Tuesday: Handy Tools I use (almost) Daily

Part of my goals for 2012 included simplifying my life and living a more minimalistic lifestyle. I love the simplicity of living with less and not feeling that I need to have all the latest and greatest things. There are a few things that, for this time of my life, I can’t live without. Well, I could...if I had to...but they do make life a whole lot easier without cluttering it up. Some of these things do simplify my life!
Here is my list of handy tools I have:

1. Hair straightener

2. Iron

3. Computer

4. CD player

5. Sewing machine

6. Serger

7. Bed lamp

8. Aim-n-flame (weird, I know, but a lit candle is so terribly relaxing!)

9. Camera

10. Sharpie markers - because I get so frustrated with pens that won’t write!

What must-haves would be on your list?

Last Top Ten: Comforting scriptures

Top Ten Tuesday: Comforting Scriptures

I can understand why people in the world commit suicide. (What a way to start a blog post, huh? :) Without the Lord and His Word, there would be no reason to live on this earth! I don’t know what I would do without the very words of God to sustain and feed me each day. I am realizing more and more how very vital the Bible is to my daily life!

Recently I have been dwelling on some particularly comforting passages of scripture, the kinds that I can return to over and over and always find comfort in them! Here is a list of 10 passages that are comforting to me:

1. Psalm 27

2. Psalm 37:3-11

3. Luke 22: 31-32

4. Proverbs 21:1

5. Isaiah 64:4

6. Romans 8:35-39

7. II Corinthians 4:8-9, 17-18

8. II Corinthians 12:8-10

9. Psalm 118:6

10. Psalm 55:22

What passages of scripture are especially comforting to you?

Last Top Ten: What I want people to remember about me

Top Ten Tuesday: What I want people to remember about me

What are people going to say about you when you die? It is a good questions to ask yourself, so that you can be working on those areas that need a little more help! For today's Top Ten Tuesday, I am asking myself that question. Here are 10 things (and there are probably more I could add) that I want people to remember about me:

1. That I smiled often

2. That my time with the Lord was #1

3. That I was a hard worker

4. That I acted unselfishly

5. That I was a lady

6. That I knew how to have fun

7. That I could laugh at myself

8. That I demonstrated patience

9. That I showed compassion

10. That I gave freely of my time, money and talents

What would be on your list?

Last Top Ten: Favorite Non-fiction books (at the moment!)

Top Ten Tuesday: Things to Learn

For TTT today, I made a list of things I would like to learn to do someday. I don’t know how many of these I’ll actually be able to accomplish in my lifetime, but we’ll see! It would be fun to be such a well-rounded individual, wouldn’t it? :) Do you know how to do any of these things? What things would you like to learn to do?

10. Drive a stick shift vehicle

9. Skydive

8. Knit

7. Quilt

6. Shoot

5. Drive a tractor

4. Snorkel

3. Speak another language

2. Change a tire

1. Make homemade bread

Last week's TTT: Pins to try

Top Ten Tuesday: Pins to Try

I completely missed posting a Top Ten Tuesday the last 2 week I was gone, but I'm back on track today! Here is a pictoral list of pins I {heart} and want to try! What pins are you eyeing these days?

10.Sprucing up my sewing corner:

Source: iheartorganizing.blogspot.ca via Nicole on Pinterest

9.Taming doll hair that has been ruined:

Source: itswrittenonthewalls.blogspot.com via Nicole on Pinterest

8.Planting a pineapple! Who knew??

Source: modcloth.tumblr.com via Nicole on Pinterest

7.Organizing the drinking glasses we use every day:

Source: beeinourbonnet.com via Nicole on Pinterest

6.Homemade sushi. ohtheheavenness

Source: aliciashomemaking.com via Nicole on Pinterest

5.Cheesecake in strawberries!

Source: thesweetslife.com via Nicole on Pinterest

4.An easy way to find the end of a tape roll:

Source: mykotori.com via Nicole on Pinterest

3.Storing cards in a soap box:

Source: blogs.babble.com via Nicole on Pinterest

2. Nutella coffee milkshake:

1. Thread organization:

Source: craptastickatie.blogspot.co.uk via Nicole on Pinterest

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Hymns

We’re having an Old Fashioned Hymn Sing at our church tonight, so in honor of that I’m sharing 10 of my favorite Hymns. It is hard to pick just 10, but these are the ones I’d rate among the best. What about you?

10. Come Thou Fount

9. I’d Rather Have Jesus

8. Amazing Grace

7. Joy Unspeakable

6. He Arose

5. A Glorious Church

4. So Send I You

3. Wonderful Grace of Jesus

2. Victory in Jesus

1. It is Well with my Soul

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Activities

Summer is my most favoritest season! The warmth, the sun, the outdoor activities, the warmth...pretty much love it all! Here is a list of 10 of my favorite summer activities. Hopefully I’ll be able to work them all in this year! What do you like doing during the summer months?

10. Going to the beach

9. Hiking

8. Swimming

7. Bike rides

6. Walks in the park

5. Picnics

4. Vacation with the family (Growing up we always spent a day at an amusement park each summer. We won’t be doing that this year, but we will be going to a music conference, which I’m looking forward to!)

3. Parades

2. Frequent stops to get ice cream :)

1. Sitting in the sun reading a book

Top Ten Tuesday: What's Still On my Bucket List

Last week I told you some of the cool-to-me things I've been able to do throughout my long, long life. (Ha ha!) This week I'm sharing 10 things I still hope to do someday! What about you?

10. Go to Europe

9. Ride in a hang-glider

8. Go to Israel

7. Go to Hawaii

6. Ride a camel

5. Be able to play the violin well (I know, I know...I just have to practice to make this one come true! :/ )

4. Go camping (yup, its true, I've never been camping before. Sad, eh?)

3.Write a book

2. Learn to really quilt

1. Go on a bike trip-vacation

Top Ten Tuesday: Cross That Off my Bucket List!

From Pikes Peak, Colorado

I guess we all have “I want to do {such and such} someday” moments, but how often do we really make those things a reality? Here is a list of things I *always* wanted to do, and actually had the opportunity to do them! (I have to laugh at myself for saying “always”...makes me sound old, haha!)

10. Go out West - went all the way to California and back during the summer of 2007

9. Ride in a hot air baloon - I got to go up and come back down...not a real ride, but it was still thrilling!



8. Go to South America - went for 3 weeks in 2006

7. Ride in an airplane - first time was in 2006, but I’ve done it many times since and love it!

6. Have my own blog - duh

5. Have my own room - finally got this when we moved to Canada! And I still love it!

4. Take a trail ride on a horse - been on a few small-barely-a-real-trail ones, but went on “real” trail rides in 2006 and 2009

3. Go to summer camp - I never got to really go as a camper, but I worked for two summers as a counselor and now help out with retreats often.

2. Go to Disney - went as a family in 2004. {funny story: all growing up, I would beg my parents to take me to Disney, and they would always say, “we’re waiting until your siblings are old enough to enjoy it, too.” Good thing we finally up and went, or I’d still be waiting a while!}

1. Live by the ocean - where we live now we can see the ocean!

What things have  you "always" wanted to do, and have actually done?