Hey, hey!
Let me take a moment to welcome the newest members of the My Purposeful Planning community and introduce myself. I’m sure you’ve either found me through one of my social media outlets or maybe you heard me speak this past weekend at a Women’s conference… but just in case you’ve found me randomly at some point and don’t really know who I am - let me just fill you in.
I’m Laney Barrett, homeschooling mother of 4, wife to Justin, and I run My Purposeful Planning. I am an INTJ, Enneagram type 5, and if you know what any of that means - you’re my people. Even if you don’t, you can still sit with us, and if you stick around, I’m sure I’ll talk about it again and let you know all about it at some point. ;-) Basically, I’m a nerdy girl who loves to read and learn new things. I also really love to problem solve- both for myself and for others. I think that’s why I began to share so much with social media, this email list, and then…
It started as a blog for me to share my heart, but God has grown it into so much more.
I added a podcast, which I haven’t been too consistent with, but the timing just wasn’t right at the time. I might be getting back into that soon, so we’ll see.
I also have designed my own Planner. It is kind of like a Life Planner of sorts because it helps women to be more purposeful in ALL THE AREAS… Spiritual, Home Management, Relationships, Financial, Health & Wellness, Work, Ministry, Leisure, Personal Development. It’s also got the regular Monthly, Weekly, and Daily Planning as well as sections for helping you set Vision and Goals!
Along with the Planner, I’ve written an online course where I can really break down each of those areas and teach you all the things I’ve learned over the years. The idea is that I believe God wants us to be purposeful and WIN in ALL the areas of our life. The online course really is a great space where I have video teachings and can share ALL of my favorite, helpful resources with you to help you find purposeful in whatever area(s) you might be needing help. I’m so excited that God has inspired me and helped me to put these things out there to help you!
Recently, I added another adventure to my portfolio. It’s “Plan your Purposeful Place” (because you know I like alliteration), and it’s where I come in and help you organize the spaces of your home! I offer this both in-home and virtually, in case you like a more D.I.Y. approach where I give you ideas for your actual space!
I guess we could add speaking to this list, but I’ve only actually had just the one speaking engagement as of now. I really enjoyed sharing with you guys, and maybe I can get past the nerves and do a little more of this in the future. We’ll see!
However you’ve found me, I am just SO GLAD you’re here! I would LOVE for you to hit this button and introduce yourself. This email platform is great because it can actually be an interactive way that we can comment and share with one another…. not just me sending you stuff.And if you’re here looking for the notes from my presentation this past weekend, here they are right here. It was such an honor to get to talk to you ladies!
I’m working on a Home Gym Organization & Design Plan for a client.
I’m working on creating a Little Boy’s Bedroom from an Office for a client.
I’m working on a Laundry Room / Storage Room Organization & Design Plan for a client.
I’m working on organizing my kitchen. This past month, I added a magnetic knife bar to the side of the fridge to use vertical space and get the knife block off the counter (one less thing to move around when I’m cleaning). I also got a new cereal dispenser and bins to organize all of the canned goods in the pantry.
I’ve also been organizing our master bedroom.
I was using crates to organize and display my shoes (which I LOVED!), but I painted them and used them in a clients’ space so I needed to replace them. Haha! I replaced them with a new bamboo garment rack with shelves on the side. This will gives me a bit more hanging storage, but I’m thinking I may use it to pre-plan my outfits and workout clothes for the week…. you know so I don’t stay in my pajamas 24/7?
I moved Lyndon’s clothes out of his dresser and into the boys’ shared dresser since they now all share a room. I brought his dresser in our room and put our T.V. on it. It was temporarily set on top of a desk and crates, but I like the dresser better. This gives us more storage (not that we need it really), but we’re able to separate our clothes and organize them better with the extra drawers. I will probably paint this dresser black or navy at some point and replace the drawer handles, but I’m in no rush.I also gained a writing desk by making these changes, and that eliminated the nine hundred books and planners and pens on my nightstand and gives me another space to work.
I’m working on our Living Room Design Plan. I replaced the rug and added a few plants and decor items recently, which made a huge impact in the space. I’m currently saving up to buy us a new sectional because we've needed it for some time. Ours has a big ole hole in it now just from the leather wearing, then with kids and a puppy who can’t resist the temptation the hole gets a little bigger gradually somehow, and so we just cover it with a throw blanket. Last semester of small group, I would purposefully sit in that spot so that no one else had to. Lol. (You know you’ve been to a restaurant where the booth seating had tears in the leather - yeah, that’s no fun to sit on. You know, I’m right! Haha.) So anyway, as soon as we can save up the cash for it, we’ll eventually replace our couch with a bigger sectional so I can fit more small group booties in my living room. Hehe.
Habits I’m Tracking Right Now…
Switch on Your Brain 21-Day Detox
I am following Dr. Caroline Leaf’s methods for detoxing my brain of toxic thoughts, specifically those related to my anxiety.
Verse-Mapping Scriptures on Anxiety & Peace
The Miracle Scale: my action-based exercise and nutrition goals
Workouts - I went back to CrossFit because I was just NOT being successful with making myself do the home workouts, no matter how hard I tried to make myself. I knew I wanted to go back at some point this year, but I’ve been back about a month, and I’m so glad I just decided to go ahead and do that now. Currently, I’m tracking the days I go to CrossFit as well as my total reps and calories for the month (because I’m nerdy like that, and I like data).
Nutrition - With my nutrition, I started with baby steps. Seriously…. just one thing at a time. If you try to do it all at once, you can’t pinpoint what actually works for you.
-I started by limiting myself to one treat a day.
-Then, I tried to add in a protein shake every day.
Then, I started limiting myself to 3 treats per week, whether planned or spontaneous like when we’re at a meeting and snacks are provided or we’re out and about, and I grab something fun.
-For the past two weeks, I’ve been getting consistent with logging my meals and staying under my calorie goal.
-So my next baby step that I’m working on this week (in addition to those listed above) are to have protein with every meal. I know that’s so elementary and simple, but I’m guilty of just grabbing something carby sometimes because it’s easy. Well grabbing pre-cooked chicken from the fridge is just as easy if I prep ahead!Share some of our new Homeschool Curriculum that has arrived for our next school year. This is the time of year that I get really excited about homeschooling again, and I can hardly wait to get started with all the new things. So if yall see me introducing new subjects, it’s because I just couldn’t wait. Hehe!
Go camping with the family! I think this is finally going to be the weekend that the rain finally stops long enough for us to go! We’ll see!
Follow up with current clients on project plans. Get some of those Work Days added to my calendar.
Clean off the front porch, and make plans to fix it up to enjoy this Summer.
Post my old car for sale. We’ll probably be selling it for parts because it has too many issues for us to afford to fix. We were already able to replace it this past week, and we are so thankful to God for providing it. It’s our 5th SUV that we’ve been able to pay cash for. In the time that we’ve been married (11 years), we’ve NEVER had a car payment, and we really intend to keep it that way. Of course, usually that means our budget is really low, and it’s a little more difficult to find the vehicles we need to fit our family of 6, etc. but each time our budget is a little higher, and we’re able to find something just a little newer and nicer than the last one. God helped us find this one super fast (within a week!), and even though it’s not fun to have a car die and have to spend the money on a new one, we felt a peace about this decision. God was definitely in it, and He’s brought us a long way in our financial situation!
Do some podcasting! Woo hoo! I’m not promising that I’ll release episodes weekly or anything like that just yet, but I just bought a new microphone (after my kids broke the last one…. kids - why we can’t have anything nice. haha). I’ve got LOTS on my heart to share right now, and our home routine is working really well at the moment where we get our school done by lunch time and we have what we call Quiet Time after that. It allows the toddler to get a nap and me to squeeze in some work time.
And all of the usual things… homeschooling, homemaking, and spending time with my favorite people!
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Let me know if there’s anything I can help you with! Simply reply to this email, and let’s chat. I’m so glad you’re here, and I’d really love to hear from you!