Motivational Monday - So Close!

My goal last week was to hit 100 sales in my Etsy Shop. I am up to 96 so I am hoping for at least 4 more sales this week to finish up this year. I am currently sold out of my girl card making kits but plan to have more for sale by Wednesday. And remember, to help me meet my goal I am offering all of you 10% off your entire purchase this week! Simply enter the Coupon Code: HolidayGift10 during checkout and it will automatically take 10% off you order (not including shipping charges).

So, this week I am focused on finishing up my Christmas shopping and crafty gifts. Another goal is for my family to be healthy...my little guy got a fever this weekend but is feeling a little better today.

What goals have you set for yourself this month? Anyone finished with their Christmas shopping? How about those Christmas cards...are they all sent? Make this the week to meet those goals!

Motivational Monday - Making it Happen

Hello all! I hope you had a great weekend! We were busy, busy celebrating my son's birthday...party, pictures, and a trip to the zoo...lots of fun! However, I didn't get much time to craft! :) But I was DETERMINED to achieve the goal I set last week so I asked my hubby to take care of my little one today while I created a few cards for the Paper Crafts Card Creations submission call. I am proud to say that I was able to create 4 great cards and got them submitted this evening...cutting it a little close, I know! But I did it! Now, to wait and see if any get picked up for publication.

Another goal I have almost reached is 100 sales in my Etsy shop. I really want to make that happen this month and I will be closing my shop on Friday, December 17th, so that I can enjoy the holiday without having to worry about my shop. That means I only have a little more than a week to get to 100 sales. So, in order to encourage you all...I am offering 10% off your entire purchase (not including shipping charges). Simply enter the coupon code HolidayGift10 during checkout to receive the 10% off.

Hopefully, I will be able to say that I have met my goal next week! :)
I'll be back tomorrow with a new Etsy Treasury that is sure to get you ready for the New Year!

Motivational Monday - Making Progress

Well it is snowing here in WA today and school has already been cancelled for tomorrow. My son is super excited, as I was as a child, but this mommy is kind of wishing for warmer temps so that I can get out and get some shopping/errands done! However, staying home today did allow for me to list some new card making kits for kids in my Etsy shop, which was my goal for this past week...so at least I did get some things accomplished.

Here is a peek at some of the cute handmade boxes that the kits come in:

I am really enjoying setting small goals for myself each week. It motivates me to write my goals down and share them with you all because then I feel more of a commitment to completing the tasks I set for myself. I hope some of you have been joining me and are making progress toward your own goals.

This week my goal is to work on a Christmas gift for my parents...I already worked on it a little today so I'm off to a good start! :) My other goal for this week is to organize my pictures and print some up. I LOVE my digital camera (Cannon Rebel xsi) but boy do I take a TON of pictures now. I am getting a bit behind with my photo albums. When I had a film camera I was always up to date with my albums. Gotta love technology! :)

Have a wonderful evening! I'll be back tomorrow with some Etsy Inspiration and great gift ideas!

Motivational Monday - Balance

Happy Monday everyone! I hope your weekend was filled with lots of quality family time! My goal this past week was to spend lots of time with my boys and hubby. We took time to play board games, read tons of books together, snuggle and talk, sing songs, dance, and have puff ball fights! :) You know those colorful pom pom balls that you use for craft projects...they are great fun to throw around!

Whenever you are working toward a big goal it is important not to forget to take time for your family. It's so important to have a balance. If you find your kids are acting out a bit more or you are feeling like you haven't been around much, set a goal for a week to spend good, quality time with them...you will never regret it!

I usually spend tons of time with my kiddos...sometimes to the point of not taking enough time for myself. But this past week I wanted to really make sure the time I was spending was extra special and engaging...not just homework, errands, sports, etc.

This week, with Christmas quickly approaching, my goal is to fill my Etsy shop up a bit more. Last year my card making kits for kids were a big hit and I have already sold several this past month. So, my goal is to get at least three more kits listed in my shop this week.

What goals have you been setting and achieving lately? Join me in a setting a small goal for yourself this week! I'll be back tomorrow with some Etsy inspiration!

Motivational Monday - Be Your Own Cheerleader

Hello friends! Checking in again this week to let you know how I'm doing with my goal setting. Last week I set the goal (again) to create and submit some projects for magazine submission calls and I am proud to say that I submitted some cards to the Paper Crafts May/June call over the weekend. Did you set and meet a goal this week too?

One thing I find helpful for reaching your goals is to become your own cheerleader. First you need to set goals that are important and meaningful to you so that you will want to work toward them. Then you need to be your own cheerleader...if you feel too tired one day, encourage yourself to just take a tiny step to meeting your goal. For example, one day this week I didn't feel up to working on any cards but I knew I needed to work on my goal a little so I could achieve it this week. So I just sat and looked through my papers and embellishments to find coordinating items and things that I might want to create with. Then when I went to make my cards I just needed to work on the design. If you are your own cheerleader you are also less likely to rely on others encouragement or opinions regarding your goals and thus more likely to achieve your goals regardless of outside influences. It is always nice to have family and friends to cheer you on but the first pat on the back should come from yourself.

Okay, onto my goal for this week...to take some extra special time with my boys and husband. This week my oldest has two days off from school and it is my husband's birthday so I am wanting to make sure to enjoy this week with them. Playing games, movie night, reading together...fun times!

I'll be back tomorrow with some great gift ideas and fun do-it-yourself projects!

Motivational Monday - Allow for Imperfection

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! We had fun taking the boys trick-or-treating and my little one is feeling much better...no coughing for 2 days now! Thanks for all your well wishes for him!

So for those of you who have started following my Motivational Mondays, last week I set the goal of creating 2 cards/projects and submitting them to some publication calls. Well, I did finish one card that I am quite happy with it but I didn't quite get to the second project. So, I will be setting the same goal for myself this week and hopefully by next Monday I will be able to say that I have submitted at least 3 projects to magazines.

In every goal you set, there are likely to be obstacles in the way...sometimes you yourself are your own obstacle. I am known to be extremely hard working and a bit of a perfectionist so sometimes I can be hard on myself when I don't do something as well as I had planned. However, I have learned to have more patience with myself and accept that sometimes I just can't do it all. I'm sure some of you can relate and I hope you will remember to allow yourself to make mistakes and have the same sort of patience for yourself as you do for your children/loved ones.

Please join me in setting a small goal for yourself this week...either privately or share it in the comments section with me and next week I'll be back to share my progress!

Enjoy your evening! If you enjoy winter, jewelry, or the color gray you are going to want to stop back by tomorrow!