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How to Set Goals for the New Year (Plus my 2014 Goals)!

12/31/2013

5 Comments

 
China Barbie on setting goals
"Life is so busy, that if we never stop and take time to think about our lives, and what we want, the next thing we know, we're 50 and completely unhappy with our life! We need to take time RIGHT NOW to sit down, and make goals." -A quote by me on why setting goals is so important!

Your 2014 goals can be anything you want. As long as you really want it! Choose goals that you really really want to see happen in your life. It dosen't matter if they are difficult to achieve, or sound dumb to other people, as long as you really want it, and are willing to work for it! Make your goals clear, specific goals. Example: 'Get in Shape and lose weight,' is a very non-specific, unclear goal, that you will most likely never accomplish. 'Lose 10 pounds by April, then lose another 10 by July, then 10 more by December,' is a very specific, clear goal that you can measure your success, and can take specific steps to reach! That is how you reach goals! By setting realistic, specific, clear goals.

Your goals can be personal growth goals, fun goals, or goals to change the world!


The first thing you need to do to set great goals is to get a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle, and on either side write these seven different categories of goals, kind of like this:


Financial Goals
1.
2.
3.


Career Goals
1.
2.

3.


Learning/Development Goals
1.
2.
3.


Fun Goals
1.
2.
3.

Health Goals
1.
2.

3.


Relationship Goals
1.
2.
3.


Contribution Goals
1.
2.
3.




After you've written out all the categories, sit down and think about what you really want in each of those aspects of your life. Remember to make them clear, specific goals!

I'm going to let you have a peek at my 2014 Goals, because there's another aspect of goal-setting that I want you to think about. If you've read any of my goals from previous years, you will see that these goals are a little different. And that's what I want to talk to you about. 
In
 different stages of your life, you need and want different things. For example, in 2013 I had 4 fun goals, most of them focusing on traveling, and living life, but in 2014 I only have two fun goals set, and they're a lot less expensive and time consuming than my fun goals from before! 
This year most of my goals focus on; planning and saving money for my wedding, making a lot of progress with my business, and making and saving a lot of money for me and my love's future (buying a house, and stocking our emergency fund). I chose to go this path, because I sat down and thought about what I want out of the next 9 years of my life (yes I have a 9 year plan! You don't have to think that far ahead, but a couple years is probably a good idea), and then I set my goals according to that. I am certainly not done traveling, but for the next couple years I will not be a world traveling gal (besides my honeymoon), because I want to focus on all the big financial and life goals that I've set for myself, and then once those goals are reached, I will have more than enough money and free time to travel!
So before you set your goals for this coming year, I want you to sit and think about not only 2014, but your life, and what you want out of it. And then set your goals accordingly.


China Barbie's 2014 Goals!

Financial Goals:
Make $15,000
Save $3,600 for a house
Save $2,400 for my wedding
Put $300 in my Emergency Fund
Put $600 in my Car Fund


Career Goals:
Get 10,000 pageviews on this blog in one month
Have at least 3,000 pinterest followers
Have at least 500 facebook likes
Sell at least 10 ad spots
Vend at at least one craft show


Learning/Development Goals:
Be able to do a split
Study Mandarin Chinese 3 times a week
Be able to hold a conversation in Pennsylvania Dutch (I'm pretty good but not fluent)


Fun Goals:
Go to a drive-in movie with my fiancé
Have a blast flaunting being engaged as much as I can and make everyone jealous!:P


Health Goals:
Eat my vitamins every day
Drink 5 cups of water a day


Relationship Goals:
Plan my dream wedding with my fiancé-without going insane or breaking the bank!


Contribution Goals:
Give $900 to Compassion
Continue writing World Changing Wednesday Posts and doing random acts of kindness
Buy jewelry from Eden



Well there you have my 2014 Goals. Let that inspire you, and get you to thinking!


For some extra goal-setting inspiration;
Check out my 'Things I Want to Do Before I Die' List.
Not Letting Fear Control Your Life.
Financial Goals.
How to Check in on your Goals halfway through the year.
How to Set your 'Before I Die' List.
and
Setting Goals after Graduating.



Now that you've filled your head with all that information, it's time to get started! First sit for a while, pondering about not only 2014, but the next couple years of your life also. Figure out what you want your life to look like, how you want to feel, and how you want to influence the world around you.
After you've considered all these things, get out a piece of paper and make your 7 categoried list. Don't leave any category out when making your list, because every category is extremely important!
Once your list of goals is made, and you are satisfied with it, hang it up somewhere where you can see it every day. This list will be your blueprint for this entire year. 
Every once in a while, when you feel your ambition waning, take a peek at it, and remember why you set each and every one of these goals. These goals are not only going to help 2014 be successful, but will help sculpt the dream life that you want to build for yourself.



notebooks
ShopStyle

Hope you all have an amazing new years celebration tonight! Unfortunately I'm stuck at home with the flu, but I'm so happy that my man is gonna stay here and take care of me!
*And if you wanted to do advertising with My Peace Love Life, remember that if you purchase it before midnight tonight, you'll get a free 'bottom of post' ad (like the one up there^^^)! Go here to check it out!*


Happy New Years!!!  

Peace Love and 2014 Goals
Jess <3


5 Comments

...probably the most exciting news I've ever shared.....

12/24/2013

10 Comments

 
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I'M ENGAGEEEED!!!!!!
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Right about now, you might be saying to yourself, "Hold on, is he proposing in the middle of the food court in a mall?!" If you were asking that, you are correct! But it's not just any old food court in any mall, on some random day, no no no, my man is too wonderful for that! Now, in order for me to tell this story, I'll have to take us back to Black Friday 2008, in the Belden Village Mall Food Court. It was 2 in the morning, and me, my mom, and my sister were sitting in the food court taking a coffee break from our black Friday shopping. I was talking to my sister, when I looked up, and in slow motion (I'm not even joking, it was like a movie, I literally saw it in slow motion), saw the most gorgeous man I had ever seen, walking through the food court. I just sat, frozen in my seat, mouth open, staring shamelessly. Then (also in slow motion), he turned his head, locked eyes with mine, and winked. Not even joking. This is how me and my man first saw each other. I of course giggled, blushed, and turned away. Him and his group of friends he was with sat a couple tables behind us, and I didn't even notice, because I was so embarrassed at him having caught me gawking at him! Next thing I know, I hear a voice say, "Can I sit here?" I turn around, and of course it's him! Before I left the mall that day, I gave him my number, and we took a picture together, right in the food court (Below!).
The day my life changed
The picture we took right after we met!
The next two years we weren't together on Black Friday, but then Black Friday 2012, we went back to the same spot (right in front of Chick-Fil-A), and took another picture (Below!).
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So then this year on Black Friday we went shopping with my mom, my sister, my cousin, and my friend. At two in the morning, Nick nonchalantly suggests that we go to the food court to take "our picture". I didn't think anything of it, so we went to take the picture (Below!).
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We took a couple pictures, and I think it's so adorable, that you can tell he's nervous! 
And then I thought that we were done taking pictures, so I turned and said something to my sister... 
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I am absolutely in love with this picture, because you can actually see him grabbing for the box!
And then this happened...
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I was shocked! I was not expecting this at all (and yes, this whole time we had a huge crowd of people surrounding us!)! So being the extremely emotional creature that I am (I cry at commercials. Literally. That Extra Gum commercial with the paper cranes, I break down in tears every time I see it.), I of course start crying...
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I said yes, lept into his arms, and the whole crowd started clapping and cheering!
I said yes!
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^^^This is the short, story-book version of how he proposed! Hehe.^^^

*Sigh* So there it is! My amazing, wonderful, fairy-tale story of my Prince Charming asking me to spend the rest of my life with him!


kiss

Peace Love and I'M ENGAGED!!!!!
Jess <3



10 Comments

2014 ad rates!

12/23/2013

 
My Peace Love Life's 2014 Ad Rates
Hello loves! Well I've had a couple people ask about advertising on My Peace Love Life, so I thought I'd talk a little bit about that real quick!

Any ad spot you purchase will go on the right hand side of the blog under the "Our Awesome Sponsors!" Your ad will stay at the top of the line until a new ad is purchased, which will push your ad to the second spot (if you purchase a six month, or year long spot, it will be rotated back to the top once a month!). When you purchase an ad spot, you will need to send a picture of your desired ad (it must be under 5 mb, and be vertical).

And here is the 2014 Ad Rates!

1 Week Sidebar Ad= $5
1 Month Sidebar Ad= $10
6 Month Sidebar Ad+ *free*1 large 'bottom of post' ad= $50
2 large 'bottom of post' ads= $10
1 Birthday spot= $5


As you can see, the longer you leave your ad on for, the cheaper it is!

The above rates are the set rates for 2014, but I have decided, that since I love you guys so dearly, I am going to run a crazy awesome special from now until the first of the year!
Ready?
For only $75, your ad will be on My Peace Love Life for the entire year of 2014! Plus, throughout the year I will feature your ad as the large 'bottom of post' ad five times!

And if you don't want to purchase the year long running ad, but purchase a one week, one month, or six month ad before the first of the year, I will give you one free large 'bottom of post' ad!

And, you can even purchase an ad space as a gift! Just let me know if that's something you want to do, and we'll do it!

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An example of a 'bottom of post' ad!
^^^ If you're wondering what the large 'bottom of post' ad is, it's a large horizontal ad at the bottom of one of my blog posts! It's a great way to advertise, because it's very large and eye-catching! ^^^

These rates are great deals; Just look at our stats for 2013.

In 2013, My Peace Love Life had over 64,000 total page views! That's more than I could have even imagined! 2013 showed a steady rise in monthly views; we started off with 4,000 in January, then in November had the most views we've ever had in a month; 8,027!

I have no doubt that 2014 will have even more views than 2013; my goal is 10,000 views in one month!

Just think about your business getting scoped out over 64,000 times!!! So hop aboard, and become a sponsor today, and get your business out there for the world to see!


To purchase simply fill out the below form, and tell me what ad you wish to purchase! I will email you back as soon as I get it and get your ad up and running! Yay!

    Purchase an ad!

Purchase!
This ad spot is a great place for your business, etsy page, or even the at-home business you're trying to get started! You can rent out an ad space for an up-coming event, a special sale, and we're even doing Birthday spots now! You can rent a Birthday spot for the week of the person's birthday and it includes their picture, and a special greeting from you! You can also give an ad spot to someone as a gift! As you can see, the possibilities are endless! So hurry and purchase before January 1st!



Peace Love and My Peace Love Life Ads
Jess <3



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    I'm Jessica!

    I've traveled all over the world, but Ohio is where I call home. I'm a lifestyle & travel blogger, and author. I love setting goals, reading, and snuggling up with my fur babies. I can usually be found at my local thrift store, or in the hammock in my backyard.

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