The one thing I know for sure (thank you Oprah) is that setting goals personally and financially can impact your life in tremendously positive ways. You wouldn’t drive cross-country without a map, right? So why go through life without one?

In last week’s episode of Rebound, the hubs and I talked about setting financial goals and provided this worksheet to help you get started on your own financial goals.

We’re 4 hours in and almost finished and all I can say is, 2010 is going to be an awesome year.

Are you setting your 2010 goals? How’s it going for you?

The only other boss I listen to besides Bruce Springsteen gave me a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble for Christmas, so I went and picked up Respect the Spindle and the latest issue of Bust. The latter introduced me to Window Farms, and thus, inspired today’s tutesday.

If you live in an apartment or a space with little to no land, you can build your own window farm at a minimal cost. It’s sustainable small-scale farming at your fingertips! Head over to windowfarms.org for a full set of directions to get you started and to connect with other window farmers.

The hubby and I were invited to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party this weekend, and since we found out last-minute that we would actually be able to make it, I had one evening to come up with a party-worthy creation.

I grabbed a sweater from the back of the closet, some black acrylic paint, leftover felt,  sequins, thread and super glue, then got to work. Whaddya think?

(I know, the photo’s a little fuzzy. You try getting your 10-year-old to take a steady shot in low lighting next to a lit Christmas tree. Next to impossible. )

Here’s how I did it:

• I made a Christmas tree stencil with contact paper ala Pee Wee Herman.
• I painted trees all over the sweater using a sponge brush and black acrylic paint with the contact paper stencil
• I cut stars freehand out of felt while the paint on the sweater dried
• I sewed the stars to the tops of the trees and attached a sequin to the middle
• I then super glued sequins to the trees all random like

I was really happy with the result, and it only took me a couple of hours from start to finish.

The party was excellent. We scored a huge pirate flag for the boys playing dirty Santa, and since the flag also included a Lady Nelson and the Lords LP, I’m dying to find some good vinyl craft ideas.

Know of any?

This Tuesday, I’m taking a break from posting tutorials and making these lovely 8 Point Origami Stars instead. The tutorial comes from Brooke and was posted at Craft & Creative last week.

Finally, a use for the filler pages from my vintage knitting magazines.

Have you read Craft & Creative lately? It’s full of handmade crafts, tutorials and crafter interviews. In fact, if you’re a crafter or artist and would like to be featured on the blog, get in touch! I’m always on the lookout for new talent.

• Lovely book necklaces from The Black Spot Books
• Alyssa Ettinger’s porcelain knitware
• An interview with Heidi from Storyline Design
• A holiday tutorial from Brooke of Rightleft Studio
• New designs from ReLoved Designs