My Monthly Challenges for 2012

Instead of making hard to keep resolutions this year, I have decided that each month in 2012, I am going to learn or do something I have been wanting to do, but have been putting off for whatever reason. It doesn't have to be something huge, but I would like it to be something that requires me to learn a new skill, or maybe something I have previously started, but not completed. Since each thing will be something I want to do, and will find enjoyable (if challenging), I am hoping that it won't be so tough to keep going on this project all year.

So far I have lots of ideas, but I am not sure which ones will work out each month, so I am going to keep this goal-of-the-month idea fairly loose. That way it will stay fun and not be high-pressure. I want the kids to be able to participate as much as possible, and to see me developing new skills and trying new things. That way they will get the idea that we are lifelong learners, and that if we put our minds to something, we can accomplish a lot and do things we never imagined we could...even if they are something we never thought we could master.

I want the kids to see me finding different ways of developing the new skills: from consulting friends, to looking in books, from watching videos on youtube, to taking a class. I also want them to understand that working at something can be FUN, not just drudgery. We are only given a certain number of hours here on earth...why waste them doing frivolous things when we can be doing things that have value to us and to others?

Here are some of my ideas:

• Learn to crochet dishcloths
• Learn to crochet towel toppers (the ones that button onto your oven handle)
• Learn to knit a scarf and/or hat
• Finish the yoyo quilt top that I plan to use as a tablecloth for our dining room table
• Make my own bath soap
• Make my own natural cleaning supplies and beauty products
• Make baking mixes and soup mixes from scratch (and store them for easy use)
• Organize our household library
• Get good at making bread using the Bosch mixer and Nutrimill grain mill
• Edge a hankie with the vintage supplies I got at the antique mall
• Learn to do fun girlie hairstyles on my daughters 
• Make a skirt out of blue jeans
• Make a skirt from scratch
• Trim and hem my lace curtain panels
• Learn to can veggies (I do freezer jams already)
• Learn to play another classical tune on the piano (I have a limited repertoire)
• Sew a set of cloth napkins for our family
• Go geocaching with the kids
• Sew a replica of the stitched picture I bought my SIL for Christmas (I wanted to keep it sooo badly!)
• Get my camera fixed and actually read the manual to learn how to use all of the settings!
• Clean and fix up our enclosed front porch so we can use it this spring/summer
• Get certified to foster/adopt

I will add more ideas as I think of them. If you have any suggestions of things you like to do that you think I might like to try, feel free to comment!

Blessings,