Thinking about Goals in a New Way

I am a goal setter.

This news probably does not come as a surprise to any one who knows me well. You see, I am a life long runner and have been setting goals for myself for as long as I can remember. Setting goals gives meaning and direction to my running and helps me develop a plan on how to get there. Even now as my times have gotten slower, one thing has remained the same - my desire to push myself to achieve something which is just beyond my comfort zone.

Needless to say, when The Nester recently posed the question “Do you have goals for your home?” I was intrigued. For me goals have always been something reserved for running. Sure I constantly think about things in my house I would like to change (an ever growing and evolving list) or the next project to tackle but these ideas are never written down and certainly not planned out well in advance. We just kind of do them as they come.

Perhaps it is time to treat my home like running? Goals are a great motivator. They provide a roadmap to where you want to go, boundaries to help stay on a path to success, and a sense of accomplishment when achieved - all great things when applied to any aspect of life.

The hard part of creating goals for your home is to avoid making a laundry list of complaints and new furnishings to purchase. I don’t believe this is what The Nester intended. Rather, I think setting goals for your home is about appreciating your surroundings and using what you have to its fullest potential.

So, after thinking about the upcoming year in a new way, I came up with a few very simple home goals for 2011.

Be a tourist in my own town

I am blessed to live in a wonderful community. I need to do a better job of taking advantage of all it has to offer – parks, historical sites, museums, etc.

Organize and clean out

There is no point in keeping something I no longer use. The fact that there is nothing wrong is the reason it should be given away. Better to have someone else enjoying it than having stuff sitting in a closet collecting dust.

Plan my garden before planting

Our garden usually consists of tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs – all planted randomly as they are purchased. Brooke from Velvet and Linen planted a kitchen garden this past year and I love the idea of making the garden (even though it is vegetables and herbs) a more formal space. This year I will make a diagram before heading to the farmers market and buy plants which are designated on the plan. (Well, maybe one or two extra ones as well!)

Use the herbs I plant

The second part of the garden goal is to use what I plant. Herbs grow very well in my garden space so I tend to try out new varieties every year. The problem is I don’t use them for cooking. Sure they look and smell nice but the point of planting them is to cook with them.

Learn how to use my sewing machine attachments

I have had my Singer Featherweight since college and have yet to use any of the attachments. This is the year to try them out.

Learn how to use my camera settings

Same deal as my sewing machine. I have owned my camera for over a year and have yet to use anything but the auto settings. Centsational Girl has great directions on moving past the “auto” setting and I plan to take her advice.

Lastly, and most importantly, continue to remember a house is just a house. It is the people who live inside and the friends who come to visit which are most important.

Wish me luck on this new adventure. I will keep you updated as the year progresses and my goals are achieved (hopefully!)

How about you? Do you set goals for yourself and or your house? I would love to hear your plans for the coming year! Thanks Nester for the inspiration.

Pumpkins, Cornstalks & Spiders - Oh My!

Every year, the owners of this beautiful house put on a fabulous fall display. Their yard overflows with fall décor and is truly one of my favorite destinations this time of year. It is just too pretty not to share!

Take a look at the front entrance.

Have you ever seen so many pumpkins?

Love the wreaths with spider centers.

Notice the large spiders across the balcony.

Each lamp post surrounding the property is decked out with corn stalks, mums and cabbage.

The side entrance is just as festive as the front.

Lots of pumpkins here too!

There are even pumpkins in the flower beds.

A big thank you goes to the homeowners for sharing their fall/Halloween holiday spirit with the community! It truly has become a tradition for my family as well as many other families I know to visit this spectacular home during the harvest season. I can’t wait to see what they do next year.

Fabulous Fall Decorating

There has been some talk lately in the blogging world about fall and holiday decorating. Some people love it - others don't. Here are some pictures of a house that I have photographed before (Saratoga Style). I love what they have done - although over the top, I am sure for some.

Even though I, and most people, can not afford the volume of pumpkins and gourds shown here, there are some great take away ideas that we all can use. Keep your decorations natural - no plastic! Use a variety of materials - pumpkins, baskets, gourds, mums, cabbage, hay, and vines. Keep your decorating cohesive - every lamp post is done the same as are the displays lining the walkways and near the back gates. Decorate the entire house (if you can) - not just parts.

The walkway leading to the front of the house is lined on both sides.

Close up of the front walkway. Notice the jockey statue - a tradition in Saratoga Springs. Most are painted in the color of the owner's racing stable silks.

Looking inside the front gate. Look how big those pumpkins are!

Close up of one of several lamp posts surrounding the house. Notice the statue of the ballerina. I am sure she is a tribute to the New York City Ballet which is in residency here during the summer.

The front fence also is covered. If you look close you will see a horse statue in the background. This horse is one of several made by local artists which are on display through out Saratoga Springs. It is hard to tell from my picture but this is a chocolate horse with a gold foil wrapper. One of the ears has been "bitten" off.

Close up of the front fence. Love the hay hanging down and all the vines wrapping around the pumpkins and gourds.

The side gate also includes an abundance of decor.

Close up of the side gate including another jockey statue. This one is painted differently than the one at the front of the house - same colors, different silks pattern.

Finally - even the planters surrounding the house have smaller pumpkins. I hope you enjoyed seeing this beautiful house all decorated for fall. It is truly a treat to drive by and see. A big thank you to the homeowners for sharing their holiday spirit with all of us!

Saratoga Style - Part Two!

Here are some additional photos from my North Broadway tour. It is hard to believe that these houses were originally built as summer residences. Saratoga is known for it's world class thoroughbred race track and many of these houses were owned by summer track patrons. The first three photos are of a newer house. I decided to include them as the owners did such a beautiful job of reflecting the existing architecture of the surrounding homes.

Saratoga Style - Part One

Today I took a walk up North Broadway, one of the most scenic and historic streets in Saratoga. I brought along my camera and took the following pictures. With so many beautiful houses I have a hard time picking a favorite. Hope you enjoy the sights as much as I did!