Goals 2012 April Update

Goals 2012 April Update

I set some goals at the beginning of the year and I like to check back in each month to see how Im doing. With April over (how did that happen so fast??!!), its time for an update.  Heres where I stand.

Goals for my blog -

1)  Revamp.  I did that.  Again.  I like the new, simpler header.  And I like playing around with Pixlr.  So, Ill probably change it up from time to time.  Ill show you how I did it soon.
2)  Add new features.  I have.  And I have more coming up.  I have a couple more giveaways this month -  stay tuned.
3)  Introduce new blogs.  I didnt do that in April.  Ill have to share some of my favorites this month.
4)  Host guest bloggers.  None in April.  I would love to host your blog - just send me an email - kmwerynski@gmail.com
5)  Start a linky party.  I will be co-hosting a party really soon.  Ill keep you posted.


Goals for my house -

We have been tackling some small projects around the house.  I still have some posts to write about them.  And we have been able to start on some landscaping projects already.  I hope to start work on my living room soon - its a very boring rectangle that I hope to transform into a beautiful space.  And we hope to tackle our hall bath this summer.  Its the last major room to get a facelift.


Goals for my budget -

Saving has been difficult this month (read proms are expensive).  We are on track but Id like to do better.  In the earning more department, my little blog has started making a tiny amount of money.  Its really not much, but it feels great to be able to help with the bills.  And with two kids in college this fall, Im happy to be able contribute.

As I mentioned in January, I set a goal this year to spend $0 on Christmas.  How?  Well, Im earning Amazon gift cards through Swagbucks.  I have been using Swagbucks for years (long before I had a blog) and I love them.  I wanted to introduce my readers to their program so I searched out their affiliate program a few months ago and signed up.  As of right now, I have $120 saved.  I will get $25 more this month.  I hope to have about $400 in gift cards and Paypal cash by the end of the year.  Craig also has an account and has about $60.  I have received some emails about the program so I will do a more in depth post about how I have earned through Swagbucks.  If youre interested, you can click on the ad on my sidebar to sign up.  Its free money!

Also last month, I signed up at Sneakpeeq - its a social shopping site.  Just for signing up, I received a $10 credit (which I havent used yet) and a free gift.  The gift at the time was a pearl ring -

I receive it a couple of days ago and I have to admit - its super cute.  So, this will be put aside for Christmas.  My daughter will love it.  I placed the Sneakpeeq ad on my sidebar if any of you want to sign up.  Currently, the free gift is a bracelet.  Yay for free stuff!

I also received my first (of the year) American Eagle $25 gift card through e-rewards.

I have no affiliation with e-rewards but Ive been using their survey site for a few years.  I usually earn 2-3 of these cards in a year.  Not bad.  It all helps!

Im still trying to find new ways to make this Christmas free - free of stress and debt!  It is such a wonderful time of the year and I want to enjoy it!

Goals for my life - 

1)  Eat better.  Ive been trying.  But I still like snacking.  And eating bacon...Well, this topic really deserves its own post.  

2)  Be more confident.  Still working on this.  I did write about how shyness affects me.  Putting it all out there was a little scary but everyone was very supportive.  Thank you.

3)  Stick to my schedule.  Nope.  Complete fail.  Im going to start on this today.

4)  Start a small garden.  Yay - so far, so good - 

My little tomato plants are growing!  Im getting ready to move them outside soon - Ill keep you updated.

5)  Get more organized.  Ive been working on that the last couple of weeks.  Ive cleaned out the pantry, my dresser and closet and most of the basement.  Ive also worked on some kitchen cabinet clutter.  Still much more to go through but its a start.

  

Ok theres the update.  Some success.  Some things that still need to get done.  So with that - I think I need to get to work!

Have a great Thursday!

Goals 2012 April Update

Quick Update

Quick Update

Work has been manic which combined with coming down with a nasty cold (possibly not entirely unconnected with the former) has meant not much time to make progress on the various projects.  As it is I am slowly progressing the basing on my Montrose horse and commanders but it will be a week or so before I can start posting pictures of those.  In the mean time my Muskets and Tomahawks figures have reappeared and are sitting alongside the Montrose and early WW2 Polish troops on the workbench - so expect updates on those some time around the Montrose ones.  Once Ive cleared that lot it will be onto the next phase of French foot for my WSS project.  Im also hoping to fit in the construction of a few more 4Ground buildings.  Thats cramming a lot in given that work isnt likely to calm down for another couple of weeks - so Im expecting some slippage of this new programme (youve been warned).

Whilst Im trying to progress all of that Ive decided to try a little experiment - Im going to create separate specific blogs for my current major projects.  Dont panic that doesnt mean I wont be posting about them here!  What these specific sites are intended to do is capture all my material relating to the project and is likely to go into somewhat more detail than I typically do here.  These will take some time to put together with enough material to make them worth a visit - so watch this space.

Right - back to basing...


Quick Update

Chilly Shed Update

Chilly Shed Update

So...found a company to do the insulation under the floor, probably next week unless the weather goes completely wonky.  Almost $400, but it will save on electricity (and cranky, frozen Kate) in the long run.  The one that was going to call me on Monday 2 weeks ago never called, even after another contact, so I imagine how dependable theyd be to actually do the work.

(At this point, all but one of the rigid Styrofoam panels have let go and are lying on the ground under the shed.  Grrrr.)

Still planning to put a wool rug in there...this is the one I want, LOVE the Renaissance feel it has and soft sage green, but having trouble finding the owner of the booth to find out the PRICE.  Must be out of town...

Kinda like the goofy rooster, too...J. thinks Im nuts, and it IS a lot darker than Id planned to use in there.  I like checkerboard, though...and I KNOW how much this one costs (very affordable.)

I bought a cheap, small throw rug to put under the desk where I work, and the difference it makes is amazing.  Like between comfort and not.

Meanwhile the ground feeders and squirrels are much appreciating our bounty.  It was 45 degrees this morning, below freezing and snowing now...

And fooey, although it seemed as if the waterlogged board had FINALLY dried out and I put spar varnish on it, mentioned in THIS POST, this is now it looks now.

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER USE RECYCLED MATERIALS THAT ARE NOT SOUND.


Chilly Shed Update

Update On A Japanese Style Shed

Update On A Japanese Style Shed

One of the more popular posts in this blog has been 

A Japanese Style Shed,

and we were recently given a tour by the current owners of the property,

and got to see the many improvements they have added.

The gardens have been lovingly tended and greatly expanded upon

as one approaches the east facing door.

And the 12 x 12 "shed" has been converted to a Jin Shin Studio...

...with only the addition of electricity for light and a small heater.

A pond and flagstone patio accentuates the north side of the shed

 and provides a focal point for the whole backyard.

And finally the parking area side on the south and west.

I designed the shed to be 12 x 12 to avoid getting a building permit.

It is quite gratifying to see ones work expanded upon and enhanced.

When we build I think it is important to provide for future evolution 

and not think of buildings as stuck in time.

Update On A Japanese Style Shed

Shed Skin 0 0 6 Status Update

Shed Skin 0 0 6 Status Update

Just a small note to anyone interested, that I am hard at work to get Shed Skin version 0.0.6 ready before the end of the year. It already supports an almost unmodified OO raytracer of about 350 lines (pygmy, with a speedup of about 40 on this sempron 2200+), as well as some other larger new programs. Simple inheritance has been improved by a lot. I am currently working on exception handling, which will probably be supported well in 0.0.6. Thanks to bearophile, a huge amount of bugs have additionally been
fixed. I will probably release a 0.0.5.8 or 9 within the coming week.

Please let me know if you have interesting use cases of inheritance and/or exceptions, and I would be glad to look into any problems. In that case, please ask me for the latest version of the compiler first (I have no access to CVS currently.)

Btw, I will probably be working on some method of accessing much not too weird standard library functionality soon, but Im not sure whether I will manage to get this working well before 0.0.6.


Shed Skin 0 0 6 Status Update