Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Inspirational quote

"If you’re bored with life, if you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things, you don’t have enough goals." -Lou Holtz

Monday, January 22, 2007

Goal:Earn extra $5,000

Free Money Finance decided to create a goal for himself to make an extra $10,000 this year. That’s outside of his regular salary.

I got to thinking that maybe I could have a similar goal. After all, last year I made at least an extra $1250 by winning an award, having my craft design published, and a few other ebay and etsy sales. And that was without really trying.

So I’m going to make my own crazy goal:

Make an extra $5,000 in 2007.
This does not mean ask for a raise.
This does not include work bonuses.
This is not a goal to "save" $5,000.
This does not include earned interest or stock earnings.

How?
Sell craft designs
Freelance work
Lottery ( ha ha)
Sell crafts
Ebay sales
Book sales
??

What will I do with the money?
Maybe start the House Fund.

Progress
Jan 16: Amazon book sale $26.79 Total = $26.79
Feb 2: Slot machines in Puerto Rico $8.00 Total = $34.79
Feb 27: Discover card cash back $20.00 Total = $54.79
Mar 8: Ebay sale of mat cutter $17.82 Total = $72.61
Mar 22: Etsy sale $4.97 Total = $77.58
Apr 17: Ebay sale of african mask $6.40 Total = $83.98
Apr 23: Discover card cash back $20.00 Total = $103.98
Apr 24: Ebay sale of jewelry box $6.98 Total = $110.96
Apr 26: Amazon book sale $11.94 Total = $122.90
May 1: Amazon book sale $164.06! Total = $286.96
May 5: Played piano for first communion $25 Total = $311.96
May 13: Gambling in Indiana $251.50 Total = $563.46
May 21: 2 Discover card cash backs $40 Total = $603.46
May 31: Amazon book sale $86.64 Total = $690.10
June 4: Amazon book sale $11.92 Total = $702.02
June 9: EBay sale, rubber stamp $3.84 Total = $705.86
June 18: Half.com book sale $7.40 Total = $713.26
June 19: Discover card cash back $20 Total = $733.26
June 21: Discover card cash back $20 Total = $753.26
July 9: Credit card reward $5 Total = $758.26
Aug 3: Pack-O-Fun payment for craft design $125 Total = $883.26
Aug 4: I won $100 cash at Mike's work picnic Total = $983.26
Aug 6: e-search payment $1.00 Total = $984.26
Aug 13: Divident payment from State Farm (unexpected) $65.20 Total = $1,049.46
Aug 27: mySurvey.com rewards check $10 Total = $1,059.46
Sept 14: Associated Content payment $4.49 Total = $1,063.95
Sept 18: eSearch.com payment $3.00 Total = $1,066.95
Sept 23: Amazon certificate for survey $10.00 Total = $1,076.95
Sept 28: Cox cable rebate $100.00 Total = $1,176.95
Oct 3: Mysurvey.com reward $10.00 Total = $1,186.95
Oct 16: Bonus for opening account $25 Total = $1,211.95
Oct 25: Discover card cash back $20 Total = $1,231.95
Oct 31: half.com sale $7.48 Total = $1,239.43
Nov 5: half.com sale $9.18 Total = $1,248.61
Nov 12: half.com sale $6.46 Total = $1,255.07
Nov 13: mysurvey.com reward $10 Total = $1,265.07
Nov 26: Discover cash back, two of them $40 Total = $1,305.07
Nov 30: Starbucks gift card reward $10 Total = $1,315.07

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

To Do list for 2007

I kinda give up on the 31 posts for January thing. It's making me feel guilty for not posting and I'd rather move on!

You know I don't do resolutions, but I have come up with a list of things to do in 2007. Some of them involve Mike, some are just for me.

To Do in 2007
* Get married
* Eat at a celebrity chef's restaurant (Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck, etc.)
* Attend the opera
* See a piano concert
* Continue my 2006 theme of Quality
* Live out my theme for 2007 Design: Make it pretty
* Have a craft design published again
* Do something at work worthy of adding to my resume
* Designate April as Career Readiness Month. Make a portfolio, update resume, etc.
* Save up and pay cash for my wedding.
* Get in shape for the wedding.

I know I'll add more as the year goes on. If anyone wants to go to an opera with me, you know how to contact me!

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Jan 5 - 10

I’m a little behind with my 31 days of posts Here’s a quick run down.

January 5 — Habits and Personality Traits. Every niche attracts a certain type of people and a certain kind of customers. What do they have in common?

I think readers of my blog are all friends of mine! That’s my niche ;)

January 6 — Link to Posts that Stuck with You. Share the posts that have stayed with you.

One post that has stuck with me for a long time is Pam Barsky’s post about there being an infinite amount of creative and good ideas out there. Not to waste your time copying others. (if I can find the post again I’ll post it)

January 7 — Post a Quotation and Disagree with It.

“Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” I’m no expert on love but I know that when you’re wrong, saying sorry is always right.

January 8 — Pose a Question. Make it one that you don’t know the answer to.

What is my crafty identity, or specialty? I hope to find the answer to this in 2007.

January 9 — Write a Post Based a Comment from Your Blog or Another. Pithy and insightful comments are everywhere. Use one to inspire a blog post.

Well I just discovered I had a bunch of comments that didn’t get posted! Thanks a lot blogger. Ellia was commenting about the Lemony Snicket books, and yes I have read all 13. When I first wrote created the goal there were only 11.

January 10 — Show off a Cool New Tool.

Hmm. That’s kind of funny cause today I talked to our E-Media guy about creating a new tool for our web site. It won’t happen until April. It’s just funny that I never use the word “tool” and yet today it’s all over the place!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Jan 4

Day 4 of 31 days of posts

January 4 — A Tour of Your Blog. Give a tour of your blog, the way you might give a tour of your home. Throw in a few memories.

Project Vicki is supposed to be a virtual representation of my goals, crafty aspirations, and a few of my own random thoughts. On the sidebar is a list of goals divided by category. Not to be missed is my ever-growing list of Accomplished Goals. I think it's pretty simple, although it needs some updating!

Jan 3

You may have noticed my dates and posts don't exactly match up. The new and powerful Blogger doesn't work on my computer at work. So all posting will be done from home. That is, until we get OSX at work.

From the 31 days of blog idea posts

January 3 — Predictions the 30,000 Foot View. So much about blogging is wide open, make a prediction about blogging or about your blog.

I think the reporting of blogs will slow down, as the hype decreases. Those who blogged before 2006 will continue to blog into 2007.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Jan 2

Continuting the 31 days of blog posts

January 2 — Words I Resolve to Avoid for a While. Every person and every industry has overused words. Pick few and write about why they’re off your list for 2007.

"yes dear" - while this is stereotypically used by husbands to their wives, I use this too. And it probably sounds condescending. I resolve to avoid this phrase for awhile.


"huh?" - I confess, I hate it when other people use this grunt instead of saying, "i didn't hear you, please repeat." But i can't change the world, I can only change myself. So I will use words like, "pardon me?" and "Excuse me, could you repeat that?"

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

31 days of blog posts, Jan 1

Liz Strauss at Successful Blog posted a 31-day calendar of blog post ideas for January. It's a day late but here's my post for Jan 1.

January 1 — Blogtipping for January 1. Here’s how it works.

* Choose three bloggers you admire and link to them.
* List three reasons why you admire each one.
* Then add a tip at the end.

I get very excited when I see new posts from the following blogs:
Pretty Pretty Things
* The likeliehood of seeing something pink is pretty good.
* I see things on this site I don't see a million other places.
* She uses a "little miss" character on her bio page.

Tip: Add some chocolate brown products to the pink ones and I'm in heaven!

Posie Gets Cozy
* Love, love, love Alicia's photography.
* Love her aesthetic, her house is full of vignettes which has inspired my theme for 2007 - Make it Pretty
* She writes very honestly and humbly and I always feel better after reading a post.

Tip: My only suggestion would be to post more of her hubby Andy's work, he's a talented guy too!

On My Desk: Creative folk share the stuff on their desks
* You get to see other artists' work spaces.
* I love looking for organizing tips.
* The site is monitored by somebody so there's never promotional stuff.

Tip: Where's the post about my craft room? (oh wait, guess i should 'make it pretty' first)