Setting Intentions: A Comprehensive Look Back at 2011 and Ambitious Goals for 2012

As another year unfolds, it’s a perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and chart a course for the future. For years, I’ve made it a tradition to openly set goals here on the blog, spanning various aspects of my life and work. This practice of articulating aspirations, putting them into writing, and sharing them with this wonderful community (you can explore past goals here) has proven incredibly powerful. It serves as a constant reminder, a benchmark, and a source of motivation. Last year, our focus was sharply defined across three core pillars: Home, Financial, and Business. I can wholeheartedly attest that the simple act of committing these goals to paper significantly enhanced our awareness and progress throughout the year. I truly encourage all of you to consider embracing this practice – choose a few meaningful, achievable goals and let the act of writing them down ignite your journey for the coming year!

While the journey was largely positive, it’s also important to acknowledge the realities of goal-setting. Around the six-month mark, it became clear that some of our ambitious plans simply wouldn’t come to fruition within the original timeframe. And that’s perfectly okay. Life happens, priorities shift, and sometimes, unexpected challenges or opportunities reroute our path. Learning to be flexible and forgiving with ourselves is just as important as setting the goals in the first place.

To keep things concise and engaging, I’m excited to share a brief, yet thorough, review of our achievements and challenges from our 2011 goals. This reflection will naturally lead us into an exciting outline of what we aim to accomplish in the upcoming year, structured once again around these foundational areas: Home, Financial well-being, and the growth of our Business, which includes this very blog.

Recap of 2011: Reflecting on Milestones and Lessons Learned

Looking back at 2011, it was a year marked by significant transformations, hard work, and rewarding progress, especially in our home and financial life. Not every goal was met, but the momentum and the lessons learned were invaluable.

Home Transformations and Unfinished Projects

• A Carpet-Free Home: This was arguably one of our biggest triumphs! After seven long years of planning and patience, we officially removed all the carpet from every room in the house. This wasn’t just a cosmetic change; it represented a huge step towards creating a healthier, cleaner, and more aesthetically pleasing living environment. The feeling of finally checking this monumental task off our list was incredibly satisfying, transforming the entire feel of our home.
• Back Deck Redesign: We bid farewell to the old, worn-out back deck, making way for a far more functional and inviting outdoor space. This significant project included the installation of a charming gravel patio, a dedicated herb garden for fresh culinary additions, and the beginnings of a gazebo-like room, which is still coming together but already showing immense promise for outdoor living and entertaining. It’s truly becoming a much-loved extension of our home.
• Kitchen Update (In Progress): Our kitchen renovation began with great enthusiasm, but alas, it wasn’t completed as planned. The primary hurdle was an unexpected delay from Ikea in providing the specific countertops we needed. While this was a frustrating setback, it highlights the unpredictable nature of larger projects. We’re eager to pick this up as soon as those elusive counters arrive, making the kitchen the heart of our home it deserves to be.
• Anticipated Additions: Unfortunately, our dream of a chicken coop didn’t materialize last year – a slight disappointment, I admit. Similarly, the laundry room makeover remained on the “to-do” list. But these aren’t failures; they’re simply fantastic candidates for our new list of goals, reminding us that some projects require a bit more time and planning.

Financial Achievements and Strategic Growth

• Achieving Debt Freedom: This was a truly monumental accomplishment for us in 2011. We successfully paid off our garage debt, which means we are now completely debt-free, with the exception of our mortgage! This milestone brought immense relief, greater financial flexibility, and a profound sense of accomplishment. It was indeed a day to celebrate, knowing that our hard work and discipline had paid off.
• Building Future Funds: We’ve been diligently growing both our Jeep replacement fund and our vacation fund. It’s comforting to know that our trusty Jeep is still running strong, but we’re prepared for when it’s time for an upgrade. More excitingly, the vacation fund is well on its way to fully funding our upcoming family trip to Arizona for spring break, allowing us to create cherished memories without incurring new debt.
• Consistent Food Budget Management: For the most part, we successfully kept our monthly food budget to $400. This required mindful planning, smart shopping, and a commitment to cooking at home, proving that with attention and effort, it’s possible to manage household expenses effectively without sacrificing quality or enjoyment.

Blog Development and Unfulfilled Aspirations

• Blog Refresh and Celebration: The year began with an exciting refresh of the blog’s design and functionality, making it more user-friendly and visually appealing. We also celebrated our two-year anniversary, a wonderful milestone that allowed us to reflect on the growth and community built here.
• Content and Collaboration: I was thrilled to publish a couple of guest posts, one of which has even evolved into a regular contributing gig! This expanded my reach and brought fresh perspectives to the blog. Of course, I continued to share a steady stream of new recipes, practical gardening ideas, inspiring DIY posts, and helpful tutorials, all designed to enrich your lives.
• Unfinished Organizational Tools: What regrettably didn’t happen were the comprehensive indexes I had envisioned. My goal was to create easy-to-navigate directories for recipes and projects, making it simpler for you to find exactly what you’re looking for. The much-anticipated ebook also remained an unwritten chapter. I’ve often pondered why I haven’t found the dedicated time for these crucial projects, but I am determined to change that in the coming year.

Goals for 2012: Intentional Growth and Enhanced Living

Inspired by our successes and motivated by the areas where we can improve, we’ve set a fresh, invigorated set of goals for 2012. These aims are designed to create a more functional home, strengthen our financial position, and significantly enhance the blog’s value and reach.

Home Improvement and Intentional Living

1. The Long-Awaited Laundry Room Completion: This is at the very top of the list! We are finally going to finish the laundry room. This isn’t just about painting; we actually need to re-do the floor. My initial choice of cream and green painted diamonds, while charming in theory, proved to be an impractical pairing with the realities of a large, active dog. This year, we’re prioritizing durability and practicality without sacrificing style, ensuring the laundry room is both beautiful and functional for our family’s needs.
2. The Coveted Chicken Coop: “Chicken coop…chicken coop…chicken coop.” Yes, it’s a repeated mantra, and for good reason! This dream project is finally getting the attention it deserves. We’re envisioning a cozy, secure home for our future feathered friends, promising fresh eggs and a delightful addition to our budding homestead. We are absolutely committed to making this happen this year.
3. Kitchen Update — Final Push: With hopeful anticipation, Ikea should have the counters we need in stock. As soon as we can coordinate the timing, the kitchen will undergo its much-anticipated update. This will involve installing the new countertops, completing any remaining cabinetry, and adding those finishing touches that will transform it into a truly modern and efficient space for cooking and gathering.
4. ELIMINATE: My Guiding Word for 2012: This year, my personal word is ELIMINATE. This isn’t just about decluttering in the traditional sense; it’s a deeper, more mindful approach. I intend to systematically go through every area of my house, scrutinizing each item with a fresh perspective. My aim is to eliminate anything I don’t truly love, find genuinely beautiful, or know to be undeniably useful. This process is about curating our environment to reflect intentionality, joy, and purpose. It’s about making space, both physically and mentally, for what truly matters. I will be diving into this concept in much more detail later this month, sharing insights and strategies for adopting an “ELIMINATE” mindset.

Financial Prudence and Future Security

1. Sustaining Generosity: One of the most profound benefits we experienced after freeing ourselves from debt last year was the increased capacity to give more. This brought immense joy and a deep sense of fulfillment. We are absolutely committed to maintaining and even increasing our charitable giving this year, recognizing the importance of sharing our blessings.
2. Strengthening Our Financial Foundation: Our next crucial “baby step” in our financial journey is building a robust six-month emergency fund. We’ve been making steady progress on this vital safety net, and once it’s fully funded sometime this year, our focus will shift to significantly upping our contributions to our retirement funds, securing our long-term financial future.
3. Cash-Funded Experiences: Continuing our commitment to financial discipline, we are actively saving to pay cash for our family’s spring break vacation to Arizona. We’re already halfway to our goal, and the thought of enjoying a memorable trip without the burden of post-vacation debt is a powerful motivator.

Business and Blog Development

1. WordPress Migration: This is a big one! I have a strong desire to migrate the blog to a self-hosted WordPress platform. This move promises enhanced functionality, greater control, improved SEO capabilities, and a more professional foundation for future growth. Will 2012 finally be the year we tackle this significant undertaking? I certainly hope so!
2. Improved Navigation and Content Accessibility: I promise this year there will be comprehensive indexes for all our recipes and projects! My aim is to create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience, making it much easier for you, my readers, to navigate the wealth of content available here. Better navigation means a better experience for everyone.
3. Ebook Creation: I’ve been cultivating a couple of exciting ideas for ebooks. My primary goal for this year is to make dedicated time for these projects a priority, carving out consistent work blocks to bring these valuable resources to life and share them with you.
4. Elevating Visual Content: I worked diligently last year to improve the quality of my blog photography, and I am determined to continue this growth. High-quality images are incredibly important to almost every post I write, as they enhance engagement, clearly illustrate DIY steps, and make recipes look utterly irresistible. My focus will be on refining my skills and investing in better equipment if needed.

In addition to these specific goals, I’m also beginning to brainstorm and put together some exciting series ideas for the year, alongside more of your beloved “Back to Basics” posts. Your input is invaluable in shaping the direction of this blog.

So, I genuinely want to know: What would YOU like to see here at An Oregon Cottage? Are there specific areas you’d like me to explore in greater detail, or projects you’d love to see broken down into easy-to-follow steps? Your comments and suggestions are incredibly important to me. I absolutely love hearing from you all and have learned so many fantastic tips and inspiring ideas from our community over the years. You have truly enriched my life far more than I ever could have imagined when I first started blogging, and I am so grateful for your continued support and engagement as we embark on this exciting new year together!