Achieving and Learning: A Comprehensive 2010 Goals Recap from An Oregon Cottage
As the year draws to a close, it’s always insightful to pause and reflect on the journey, especially when so much of our daily lives and aspirations are shared here on the blog. Looking back at 2010, the path we navigated at An Oregon Cottage became remarkably clear. We can easily pinpoint what we initially set out to achieve, celebrate the victories, acknowledge the pivots, and identify those lingering aspirations that will undoubtedly shape our goals for the new year. One profound lesson has emerged above all else: envisioning and meticulously documenting our goals is often the simplest part. The true test, the actual completion of these objectives, presents a much greater challenge, often requiring unforeseen adjustments and persistent effort.
Reviewing Our 2010 Financial Milestones and Food Journey
Our financial planning for 2010 focused on a few critical areas: reducing outstanding garage debt, accumulating savings for a newer used car, and meticulously refining our household budget. We’re pleased to report that we experienced considerable success in these endeavors, laying a stronger foundation for our financial future.
- We diligently worked towards lowering our overall debt throughout the year. While significant progress was made, the journey continues, and we recognize the need to accelerate our efforts even further in the coming year to achieve our ultimate debt-free objective. This ongoing commitment is a testament to our dedication to financial stability.
- The saga of our family vehicles took an unexpected turn in 2010. Our oldest used car, a faithful but aging companion, sadly reached the end of its road. Fortuitously, we were then given another older vehicle, which, a few months later, our son was involved in a minor fender-bender with – enough, however, to render the fragile car beyond economical repair. Despite these setbacks, these events unexpectedly allowed us to dedicate ourselves to saving enough for a used 2001 sedan. The excitement within our family is palpable; it marks a significant milestone as it’s our very first car manufactured after the year 2000! This upgrade has brought a new level of reliability and peace of mind to our daily commutes and errands.
- A major breakthrough in our financial management was the successful implementation of a computerized spreadsheet for our budget. This system has now become an ingrained habit, vastly simplifying the tracking of our expenditures and enabling us to effectively save for various specific items and future investments. We often wonder why it took us so long to embrace this efficient method; it has truly revolutionized our approach to household finances.
Closely intertwined with our financial health is our ongoing commitment to a healthier lifestyle, particularly concerning our food choices. Our journey towards eating only real food continued with dedicated focus in 2010, though a few beloved “holdouts” remained. Dark chocolate M&Ms still occasionally find their way into our pantry, and while Doritos are now a rare treat (primarily reserved for Brian’s football viewing sessions a few times a year!), we’ve made significant strides. My personal highlight in this area has been the consistent success of keeping my sourdough starter alive for over eight months! This vibrant starter has become the foundation for culinary triumphs, including the creation of the best sourdough waffles ever and, after a couple of initial failures, even some truly exceptional sourdough bread. The satisfaction of mastering this ancient craft has been immense.
- Exploring new avenues for sustainable food sourcing, I made my very first bulk purchase through Azure Standard. While an interesting experience, I’m still evaluating its overall effectiveness for our family, as that particular month saw us exceed our food budget. Moving forward, I anticipate placing orders only a few times a year, strategically planning to maximize savings and minimize overspending. Additionally, I revisited Trader Joe’s, but it continues to be a challenging store for our budget and discipline. The allure of their unique offerings is simply too strong; I invariably leave with irresistible items like lemon curd and those delightful sesame cashews, which, though delicious, are certainly not essential needs.
- The dream of raising chickens and pigs on our property remains a strong aspiration. While it hasn’t become a reality yet, the seeds of future homesteading projects are definitely sown, and we continue to research and plan for these additions to An Oregon Cottage.
Blog Achievements and Unexpected Home Transformations in 2010
From a blog perspective, I’m happy to report that I effectively accomplished all the goals I had set for the platform in 2010. This success was partly due to their realistic nature—they weren’t overly ambitious, allowing for focused effort and tangible results. However, the future holds much more! I have exciting and comprehensive plans brewing for the blog’s evolution, promising even more engaging content and resources for our readers.
The most surprising revelation during this annual review came when I revisited the list of house projects we had outlined for 2010. The initial shock was undeniable:
We did not accomplish any of them!
How could this be, you ask? A momentary lapse in memory or a profound shift in priorities? As it turns out, while the listed projects remained untouched, an entirely new set of ambitious home improvement initiatives unexpectedly took center stage and were brought to completion. This divergence from our original blueprint underscores the dynamic nature of renovation and the need for flexibility.
For instance, what about our son’s incredible Extreme Room Makeover? This wasn’t on the original list, but it became a significant undertaking, transforming his space into a functional and stylish haven he truly loves. This project involved careful planning, creative solutions, and a good amount of elbow grease to bring his vision to life, resulting in a dramatic reveal that exceeded expectations.
And let’s not forget the triumphant conclusion of our year-and-a-half-long Master Bath Remodel, finally capped off with the ingenious creation of this Dresser-Turned-Vanity. The master bath project had lingered, a testament to the complexities of home renovation, but its completion in 2010 brought immense satisfaction and elevated the functionality and aesthetics of one of our most used spaces. The custom vanity added a unique, personalized touch.
Ensuring a sense of fairness among our children, we also dedicated time and effort to giving our daughter her very own bedroom makeover. This personalized transformation allowed her to express her style and create a comfortable retreat, mirroring the attention given to her brother’s room. Both of these fantastic children’s room makeovers, incidentally, featured our highly acclaimed brown-paper DIY flooring option. This innovative and budget-friendly alternative to traditional wood floors was meticulously detailed in our popular how-to video, which became our most viewed post and video of the entire year. The technique garnered so much attention that it’s even slated to be featured in a prominent magazine in the coming year – a truly exciting validation of our DIY efforts!
And to cap off a truly transformative year for our home, we undertook and completed a whole-house exterior paint job. This massive undertaking dramatically refreshed the curb appeal of our Oregon cottage, protecting it for years to come and giving it a vibrant, renewed appearance that truly reflects the spirit of our home.
So, upon reflection, it appears I may have inadvertently chosen the wrong set of initial items for our “to-do list” last January! While the projects we ultimately completed (the children’s room makeovers, the master bath, the DIY flooring, and the exterior paint) were indeed significant and highly beneficial, we regrettably did not address some of the more pressing structural and aesthetic issues that had been on our original list:
- We did not replace the undeniably grody living room carpet, which continues to show its age and wear. This remains a prominent item on our mental list of necessary updates.
- Similarly, the doubly grody kitchen counters also remained in their original state, patiently awaiting their much-needed overhaul. Their condition, while functional, certainly leaves much to be desired and impacts the overall feel of our kitchen.
- Our back deck continued its precarious existence. Rather than being fully repaired or replaced, we continued to navigate its crumbling surface, or, more accurately, gingerly walk around the various holes and temporary boards covering them. The thought of fully refurbishing or replacing it still looms large.
- And as for refinishing the existing wood floors, a task I am frankly quite dreading due to the sheer effort involved, I’m somewhat okay that this particular project was postponed. Sometimes, procrastination has its hidden benefits!
Nevertheless, as I articulated last year, goals are not rigid resolutions destined for failure. Instead, they serve as guiding lights, aspirations to aim for, providing direction without the pressure of absolute success or failure. This philosophy allows for flexibility, enabling us to adapt to unexpected opportunities and challenges, much like the exciting, unlisted home projects that materialized in 2010. Therefore, there will be no stern resolutions for the coming year, just a renewed list of “things we’d like to see happen,” embraced with an open mind and a spirit of possibility.
Perhaps.
So, be sure to tune in tomorrow for a fresh set of goals for the new year. I have a feeling you might be able to guess a few of them, especially those lingering house projects! And in the meantime, I’d genuinely love to hear how you fared with your own goals last year. What were your triumphs, your surprises, and your lessons learned?