Healthy Living Goal Monthly Calendars #2016goals

Each year seems to come and go so quickly anymore. Each year of New Years resolutions go in one year and out the other...mostly because I haven't held myself accountable at all. So this year, instead of making a flat goal for the whole year, I'm taking it all on in chunks -- by month. I'm not necessarily looking to lose weight specifically, but I'm looking to improve my overall health.

To help in these goals, I created healthy living goal monthly calendars. Each month I will set 6 goals for myself to help improve my overall health -- physically, emotionally, and mentally.

 

This month's goals are pretty basic and very achievable, as long as I stay motivated. :)

1. Drink 3 bottles of water per day. (Maybe a few less sodas.) I have Camelbak water bottles and absolutely LOVE them. Not sure why - maybe the straw - but I tend to drink more water when it's in one of these water bottles.
2. Increase steps per day during the week. I bought a FitBit Charge HR in November and have challenged myself over the last month to increase my steps every day (during the work week). Being a teacher, you'd think I'd naturally have a lot of steps each day. Well, I'm sure most teachers do, but I majorly #FAIL at it. So if by the end of the day I haven't surpassed the previous day's step number, I go to my teammate's classroom and just walk basically in circles while we plan and chat. She thinks I'm ridiculous, but it's better than sitting and talking. ;)
3. 8+ hours of sleep each night. My FitBit helps me track this automatically. This is one of my favorite features about the new FitBit -- I don't have to remember to put it into sleep mode anymore.
4. Feel the gratitude. Last year my overall focus was gratitude. This year I'm going to continue to focus on gratitude, but I need to start feeling it more. Not just writing it in my gratitude notebook. Not just saying that I'm grateful for things. Actually feeling it inside me.
5. Meditate daily. This is a totally new thing for me. I downloaded the Calm app on my smartphone and have been taking a short meditation break each day over the last week. My biggest goal in doing this is to unplug for a hot minute, focus on myself, and just let it all go.
6. Stop biting my nails. 28 years of biting my nails has to be absolutely nasty in that stomach of mine. (Okay, I'm sure it's more like 23 years...who knows when it started.) I've had this goal far too many times. But maybe if I track it by day, I can motivate myself to stop.

Want to join in on making 2016 a healthier year? I have a free sample of my 2016 healthy living goal calendars {for the month of January} for you to download!

To get the complete set of calendars for 2016, visit my Etsy store.

Happy goal setting and conquering!

2014 Calendars Are Here!

I have created some new calendars for 2014!

As usual, I have a free version, as well as some for sale in my Etsy store.

Get the free 2014 black & white chevron calendar, here!

cursive chevron calendars

vertical & horizontal chevron calendars

vertical & horizontal polka dot calendars

2013-2014 Monthly Chevron Calendars, a Giveaway, and a Sale - Ends 6.22.13

Last night I uploaded the latest to my Etsy store: 2013-2014 monthly chevron calendars! June 2013 through December 2014 are included in this set, as well as two versions -- one with a Monday start for the week, and the other with a Sunday start. This item is an instant download, like most of my documents in my store. {Did you know that Etsy now lets sellers do that?!}

Prizes: 2013-2014 chevron monthly calendars {PDF file}

Number of Winners: three

To Enter: You must use the Rafflecopter widget below. It's really easy to use and makes giveaways a lot easier for me to manage. The widget will tell you what your commenting topic is! (mandatory)

Giveaway Ends: Sunday, June 23 @ 12:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). Three winners will be chosen using the Rafflecopter widget. The winners will be announced on the widget and will be emailed to claim their prize. The winners have 48 hours to respond to my email to claim their prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Rules & Disclosure:

• You must be a follower (through Twitter, FB, GFC, or RSS/email) of The Nest Effect to win.
• The winners will be chosen by rafflecopter.com.
• This giveaway is open to readers everywhere.
• Please make sure your email is either linked in your profile or on your blog OR that you include it in your comment. If I can't find your email address, I can't contact you as the winner.
• You must comment as your first, mandatory entry. All entries will be verified when the winner is chosen.
• This giveaway is not sponsored by a company. These are my files that I sell on Etsy.

To celebrate summer, I'm offering 40% off of everything in my Etsy store through Saturday, June 22. Use coupon code SUMMER40 at checkout to receive the 40% off discount.

I will not apply the discount code after checkout. Please do not purchase, then send me a message saying you couldn't figure out how to use the code. It's honestly a hassle to do partial refunds on Etsy for discounts. 

To use the coupon: on the cart page there's a TEXT link that says "Apply shop coupon code" {see image below for example}. Add the coupon code in the box that appears. Make sure there isn't a space after the coupon code in the text box. If you have any questions, please contact me before purchasing!

Instant Downloads Now Available with Etsy Purchase

All orders in my Etsy store are now available for instant download, after purchase, with the exception of the create your own sets. {The create your own sets I still have to manually fill.} After you complete your purchase, you'll receive an email with the link(s) to your purchased item(s). CraftHub.me is the service I use to automatically fill orders. For instructions on how to download your purchase, click here.

And don't forget... the flash sale ends tonight!

January 2013 Challenge {Finance: Week 2}

Budget - a word that automatically makes me feel anxious. I've never been a fan of having a budget because, honestly, we never follow it. It seems like a great idea, but always falls through for us.

Dave Ramsey has been the turn around for us with money management. For us, his plan makes sense.

Dave Ramsey has a free budgeting tool and free budgeting printable worksheets on his website. He also has great information on budgeting here. I started using his free budgeting tools before subscribing to My Total Money Makeover.

I wrote a post last year about budgeting and sell printables/fillable budgeting forms in my Etsy store. Here is one of the monthly budget worksheet pages {from the finances & home information set}. The expense categories are based on Dave Ramsey's budget plan.

This fillable form is from the finances set.

Your challenge today is to create a budget.

Disclaimer: I am not a financial expert, nor am I claiming to be. What works for me, may not work for you.

January 2013 Challenge {Meal Planning: Week 1}

Making dinner was always a struggle us. I don't like cooking. I'm not very good at it and always seem to find a way to mess it up. Then there was the issue as to who was making dinner each night - and what we were going to have. Most of the time, we'd end up just going out. Lots of wasted money there.

We finally started meal planning on a weekly basis and agreed that Chris would cook every night since he works from home and I'm on clean up duty. I'd rather clean up than cook, so this deal has worked out well.

Why meal planning? It saves time and money each week. We menu plan - together - before we go grocery shopping for the week. We also go grocery shopping together. While shopping, we come up with new meal ideas for another week and stock up on anything that is on sale and doesn't go bad quickly. We do not plan out breakfast or lunch. I have an English muffin for breakfast everyday and usually take left overs or a salad for lunch. But if you make breakfast and lunch for your family everyday, this may be a good option for you.

Tip #1 - Choose a specific day to meal plan each week and add it to your calendar. You'll be more consistent at meal planning because it becomes part of your weekly routine. 


Tip #2 - Meal plan before grocery shopping for the week. Add ingredients needed to your grocery list so you have everything you need for the week. You won't have to run back to the store to pick up dinner anymore!

This is the grocery list I use. It makes shopping easy since everything is categorized for me already. This document {in a different font and in color} is fully customizable with your own categories and available for purchase in my Etsy store.

Tip #3 - Keep a list of your family's favorite meals handy. This makes meal planning a breeze. I have some of our favorites in my home & life binder, under the meal planning category, along with the ingredients needed for that recipe. While I'm planning, I can choose a meal and quickly view what I need to make the meal, without having to go through my recipes to find the info. I also have a list of dinner ideas that simply lists meal choices. The images below are examples of what mine look like. These documents {in a different font, but same colors} are available in the grocery & meal planning set in my Etsy store.

Tip #4 - Plan as far in advance as you need. I plan by week. Others plan for two weeks at a time or by month. I have planned out a whole month in advance before. It was last year right after Chris was laid off. We planned the whole month of April to have money. It worked wonderfully and I wouldn't be opposed to it again, but for now weekly is good.

Tip #5 - Choose a system that works well for you. You can plan online with something like Google Calendar or on paper. We plan on paper and post it in the kitchen. This way, we're always able to quickly look at the weekly menu and see what we need to take out of the freezer, if needed.

This is the page I use to write down our weekly meals. {Download}

Ultimately, meal planning is a necessity for us because it saves us time. I suggest trying it to see if it works out for you and your family.

Your challenge today is to try out some of these tips, if you think they'll work for you. Save the printables that go along with meal planning. =]

Free Printable {for a limited time}: Colorful Polka Dot & Chevron 2013 Calendar - EXPIRED

Who doesn't love a little color with a cute design?

From now until Wednesday, December 26th @ 9 P.M. {MT}, you can download my colorful polka dot & chevron 2013 monthly calendar for free.

I've noticed lately online that there are lots of you who prefer a Monday start week, so I also have that version available.

Please feel free to share this post, but do not share the file directly with others. Do not upload this file to the internet. Thank you!

Be sure to download the files from Google Drive{from the file menu within Drive, not your browser - then select download}. After Wednesday night, the calendars won't be accessible through Google Drive.

download 2013 calendar - Sunday start

download 2013 calendar - Monday start
These calendars are no longer available for free. Available in my Etsy store for $3.

Merry Christmas! =]

Giveaway: 2012 Holiday Planner & 2013 Calendar Set {5 Winners!} Ends 11.20

I am giving away my latest PDF set - 2012 Holiday Planner & 2013 Monthly Calendars Set - to FIVE lucky readers.

Here's a preview:

Prizes: 2012 Holiday Planner & 2013 Calendar Set

Number of Winners: five

To Enter: You must use the Rafflecopter widget below. It's really easy to use and makes giveaways a lot easier for me to manage. The widget will tell you what your commenting topic is! (mandatory)

Giveaway Ends: Tuesday, November 20 @ 12:01 a.m. (Eastern Time). One winner will be chosen using the Rafflecopter widget. The winners will be announced on this post and will be emailed to claim their prize. The winners have 48 hours to respond to my email to claim their prize.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway Rules & Disclosure:

• You must be a follower (through Twitter, FB, GFC, or RSS/email) of The Nest Effect to win.
• The winners will be chosen by rafflecopter.com.
• This giveaway is open to readers everywhere.
• Please make sure your email is either linked in your profile or on your blog OR that you include it in your comment. If I can't find your email address, I can't contact you as the winner.
• You must comment as your first, mandatory entry. All entries will be verified when the winner is chosen.
• One entry per method per person (4 total).
• This giveaway is not sponsored by a company. These are my files that I sell on Etsy.

 

The Holidays Are Coming... & a Free Printable!

I just can't believe it. It was 70 degrees in Salt Lake City today. 70 degrees in November. Wha-? But don't be too jealous -- tomorrow's high is 47 degrees, with a chance of snow. Boo.

I was at Target two weeks ago and was blown away to see Christmas decor everywhere in the store - and holiday items available for purchase. I just can't get into the holiday spirit until it feels like it's here. The weather hasn't helped...and I think that's the issue. Perhaps tomorrow it will feel more like Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming.

I realized that I should probably update and relist my Holiday Planner set. So I just did. =] Check it out!

Purchase this set for $10 in my Etsy store!

And how about a freebie from the set? Download below!

Finances & Home Information Binder: Debt, Savings, & Home Information

Miss the first two posts? Click to read: Bills & Calendar :: Budget, Income, & Business Expenses

Disclaimer: Don't take any of my "finance" related posts as expert advice. I'm not claiming to be an expert. Eh, I'm far from it actually. This post...and the few that are coming up next...is purely for me to show you how my husband and I handle our finances. We're a financial mess, but this is how we organize it in style.

{Due to not wanting to blur out all of our financial info, I'm just going to show you screen shots of the forms I used, where applicable. I'll use actual photos where I can.}

The sixth section is for tracking debt. Boo. Who likes debt? Not me, but unfortunately we have quite a bit. Thank you, student loans.

debt repayment plan

This sheet comes first and is simply for quick reference of our debt snowball.

credit cards overview

Credit cards are truly the worst idea ever for a college campus. It should be illegal, the way they stand around, handing out flyers for free sandwiches, pizzas, blankets, etc. - all if you go to a fast food place or wherever and sign up for the credit card. So sketch. We're almost done with our credit card disaster.

credit card repayment log

Love this form. Keeps me motivated because I can see the payoff happening each month. Just keep logging...and paying.

student loan overview

Welcome to my biggest financial disaster ever. You wouldn't even be able to fathom the amount of student loan debt Chris and I have together. It's nauseating, but we're determined to pay it off ASAP. The best way to do it? By being organized, of course!

student loan repayment log

Again, this form informs and motivates.

 

The seventh section is savings.

savings log

I have one of these forms for each savings account we have. I track monthly additions to each account and am motivated to add, not take away, as I see the current balance increase each month!

yearly savings

This form serves as a quick overview to see how we're doing, overall, on our savings goals.

The eight, and final, section is home information.

important account numbers

Kind of self explanatory. I keep all of our bills and utilities phone numbers and account numbers on this form.

home services

This form includes all services for our home, such as water, gas, electric, landlords {we live in an apartment}, etc.

insurance policies

I list all insurance policies here: medical, dental, life, auto, renter's, etc.

membership information

All membership info all in one spot for easy renewing.

vehicle maintenance checklist

This form helps me remember when our next oil change is due! =]

to-do list

To-do lists are so versatile. I have them everywhere, so why not in my binder as well?

I hope you enjoyed reading about my new Finances & Home Information Binder. It's only 9 days into July, and I feel like I have a clear vision of where our money is going so we can get our debt paid down off!

If you're wondering where you can get such amazing forms like these, let me tell you. I spent the last two weeks working on a new set with this new font. Maybe not new, new, but new from what I usually use. It's called GeosansLight. This whole set, called fiances & home information set, has the same usual colors I use, but this new font

Free Printable: Membership Numbers

Last week I had a request for a printable that was like the important account numbers document, but for membership numbers. You've got it!