With a new year starting tomorrow (where did this year go?), I’ve started thinking about what I’d like to work on for the next year. Looking back at last year’s goals (and the updates I wrote about them), I’m super disappointed in myself. Because I did such a crappy job following through this year, my 2013 goals/resolutions list is pretty long - hopefully I can stick to them a little better.
My 2013 goals and resolutions, in no particular order …
* Learn to do new things - Thanks to Pinterest, there are quite a few things that I’d like to learn how to do. One of the top things on my list is to learn how to use power tools. I have come across quite a few things that I’d like to build (or at least assist in building) for our home, like a platform bed frame, end tables, and a shoe storage cubby. B’s dad is our go-to guy for all of our carpentry needs, but I would like to be able to help without being scared of the tools, plus it would be nice to be able to do some of the small stuff myself. I have also fallen in love with the gorgeous chalkboards, hand lettered signs, and calligraphy envelopes that everyone and their mom is pinning lately, so I’m hoping to practice my lettering technique this year. Another thing on my list of things I’d like to learn isn’t exactly new - I want to learn how to scrapbook. I mean, I kind of know how (you stick pictures onto paper and slap them in a book) - but I’ve never completed a scrapbook. Hell, I don’t think I’ve ever really even started a scrapbook. That’s going to change in 2013 - I have a ton of paper and other assorted scrapbooking supplies, and I’m going to use them (once I get my craft room clean)!
*Start Meal Planning - we do a watered down version of meal planning every week before grocery shopping, so I’m hoping this won’t be too difficult for us. I would like to build up a variety of recipes to draw from (we pretty much eat the same meals every week and it gets boring) and begin meal planning for a couple of weeks at a time. Hopefully that will help cut down on the amount of grocery shopping we have to do, and maybe even lower the amount of money we spend on groceries each month. B and I hate grocery shopping, so if we can do less grocery shopping, it’s a win for both of us.
* Follow the Budget - I guess to follow through with this resolution, we’ll first have to set up an actual budget to follow. We have a loose budget thrown together, but I don’t really know much about where our money goes, so I’d like to be more involved. I am really bad at walking away from extra expenses, so I want to work on that - I don’t need more clothes, more paper, fast food … I need to cut back. It’s definitely going to be a challenge.
* Keep up with House - I’ve started working on this a little already because we started having weekly game nights a couple months ago, but I have already been slacking again lately, so I need to get back on the wagon. Because of my split shift, I have plenty of time in the middle of the day to get housework done, but chores typically lose out to nap time. I’m trying to work on it. I would love to get organized in 2013 as well. My things are never put away where they belong - it drives B crazy, but he puts up with my mess. I really want to get myself under control in 2013.
* Post on Blog Regularly - easier said than done. My goal is one post a week minimum, which seems manageable … the only problem is that I’m super boring, so unless I get KU soon, I might not have anything to blog about.
*Make Healthier Choices - I’ve been a little more adventurous in trying foods I didn’t think I liked before. It turns out I love asparagus, spinach salads, and guacamole (not all at the same time). I want to continue trying different veggies and eating healthier, and definitely work on cutting down portion sizes. Skipping dessert once in a while wouldn’t be a bad idea either. My other stereotypical goal is to work on being more active. I haven’t been walking as much as I used to, so I need to start doing something - probably yoga. I have a few videos that I like to follow along with, but I don’t do them very often, so in 2013, I’d like to do videos twice a week. We’ll see how that shapes up.
*Take More Pictures - We have a ton of empty picture frames, and I want to fill them. B and I don’t have many pictures together (aside from our wedding pictures) because we aren’t the most photogenic people. I’m hoping to figure out a way to take more pictures of us and actually get them printed so we can hang them. I’m thinking about attempting to do Project 365 so at the very least I have some random things from our daily life to frame. If I follow through with it, I might even put together a family yearbook.
*Be a Better Wife - I’m still working on changing the way I talk to B. It’s a difficult habit to change, especially when we have the same sense of humor.
* Follow Through - the most difficult resolution of all. Obviously I failed at this in 2012 because most of my goals and resolutions were incomplete. I’m a work in progress when it comes to following through with things - I have great intentions and zero motivation. I’m hoping I can improve on this in the new year.
So there they are … 2013 is going to be a year of change. I hope.
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
31 December 2012
14 February 2012
Be Mine
Because Valentine’s Day fell on a Tuesday this year, we decided to enjoy an early Valentine’s celebration over the weekend. On Saturday, we ran some errands, ate at one of our favorite burger places, saw a movie (Chronicle - it was goooood!), and did a little shopping. It was pretty perfect. Then on Monday, B surprised me with my Valentine’s card early. Inside, there was an extra little note and love coupons. So sweet.
Today, I gave B my love coupons. That’s it. My poor Valentine didn’t get anything special :(. He shouldn’t feel too bad about it though, because I didn’t take any Valentine’s for my kids at daycare either. I’m an awful teacher. I had the best intentions - hell, I even started putting some together (the plan was to DIY that stuff using some of the materials I already had at home) - I just never got around to finishing them. Making 26 Valentine cards by hand is a bitch. I should have just bought some cheap ones like I usually do. The kids were kinda naughty today, so that made me feel less bad about not bringing cards. Hahaha.
I have to say that this year, Valentine’s day was pretty great. We didn’t do anything fancy - like our trip to Chicago a couple of years ago - but it was nice to eat a homemade dinner and sit on the couch and watch tv with the man I love.
Today, I gave B my love coupons. That’s it. My poor Valentine didn’t get anything special :(. He shouldn’t feel too bad about it though, because I didn’t take any Valentine’s for my kids at daycare either. I’m an awful teacher. I had the best intentions - hell, I even started putting some together (the plan was to DIY that stuff using some of the materials I already had at home) - I just never got around to finishing them. Making 26 Valentine cards by hand is a bitch. I should have just bought some cheap ones like I usually do. The kids were kinda naughty today, so that made me feel less bad about not bringing cards. Hahaha.
I have to say that this year, Valentine’s day was pretty great. We didn’t do anything fancy - like our trip to Chicago a couple of years ago - but it was nice to eat a homemade dinner and sit on the couch and watch tv with the man I love.
27 December 2011
New Year's Resolutions
I do not usually make New Year’s resolutions.
Actually, I say I’m going to do something, and then I come up with excuses for why I didn’t follow through (remember this, it will be on the quiz). Sometimes I even convince myself that instead of starting on January 1st, I should wait until my birthday in March. I get 3 extra months to do as I please, and then when it’s time to start the next year of my life, I lose motivation and fail. I’m a clever one.
This year, I am going to make more of an effort to change my ways. I really want to follow through with my resolutions. Here’s the list I’ve come up with so far:
*Be a Better Wife - B puts up with A LOT of crap from me. This year, my goal is to do better at keeping up the house (Hubs is a neat freak, I am not), to stop being so negative (I bitch and moan to him all the time about work, and it drives him crazy), and to be more loving and less sarcastic.
*Follow Through [SURPRISE!] - This is the thing I get the most crap from B about. I have a hard time actually finishing things - I write letters over and over, but never finish them or mail them. I start projects and then give up on them (with the exception of our bedroom makeover and such). It took me nearly a year to write and send a letter to my cousin who lives in Arizona. I think I wrote almost the same letter about 80 times before I finally sat down, wrote, and decided it was “good enough” to send. Ridiculous. Another thing I’m going to try to follow through on … this blog! (and the potential sister blog documenting my pregnancy and the baby and whatnot … you know, whenever that happens).
*Keep in Touch with Friends and Family - I do an awful job of keeping in touch with the people I care about most (as mentioned above, I’m not very good at following through). Even if it’s only through Facebook or an email, I want to have regular conversations with my friends and family.
*Be More Mindful About my/our Spending - B is due for a promotion and a raise soon, and it sounds like I should be looking forward to my first raise in 2 years in the beginning of the year. Instead of throwing this extra money away on frivolous things, I want to work on putting more money into savings.
*Read More Books - Probably the only resolution I will follow through on, thanks to our Kindle Fire and our subscription to Amazon Prime (it gives us access to the Kindle Lending Library, so I can “check out” one free book a month).
*Make a Decision about Grad School - I think it’s pretty self-explanatory. I had been planning on going to graduate school for most of my high school and college careers, then lost the motivation to do it … and now I need to decide if that’s the path I want to follow or not.
I’m going to try my hardest to follow through on these resolutions - we’ll see how it goes. Maybe I’ll even post about my failures. Ha!
Actually, I say I’m going to do something, and then I come up with excuses for why I didn’t follow through (remember this, it will be on the quiz). Sometimes I even convince myself that instead of starting on January 1st, I should wait until my birthday in March. I get 3 extra months to do as I please, and then when it’s time to start the next year of my life, I lose motivation and fail. I’m a clever one.
This year, I am going to make more of an effort to change my ways. I really want to follow through with my resolutions. Here’s the list I’ve come up with so far:
*Be a Better Wife - B puts up with A LOT of crap from me. This year, my goal is to do better at keeping up the house (Hubs is a neat freak, I am not), to stop being so negative (I bitch and moan to him all the time about work, and it drives him crazy), and to be more loving and less sarcastic.
*Follow Through [SURPRISE!] - This is the thing I get the most crap from B about. I have a hard time actually finishing things - I write letters over and over, but never finish them or mail them. I start projects and then give up on them (with the exception of our bedroom makeover and such). It took me nearly a year to write and send a letter to my cousin who lives in Arizona. I think I wrote almost the same letter about 80 times before I finally sat down, wrote, and decided it was “good enough” to send. Ridiculous. Another thing I’m going to try to follow through on … this blog! (and the potential sister blog documenting my pregnancy and the baby and whatnot … you know, whenever that happens).
*Keep in Touch with Friends and Family - I do an awful job of keeping in touch with the people I care about most (as mentioned above, I’m not very good at following through). Even if it’s only through Facebook or an email, I want to have regular conversations with my friends and family.
*Be More Mindful About my/our Spending - B is due for a promotion and a raise soon, and it sounds like I should be looking forward to my first raise in 2 years in the beginning of the year. Instead of throwing this extra money away on frivolous things, I want to work on putting more money into savings.
*Read More Books - Probably the only resolution I will follow through on, thanks to our Kindle Fire and our subscription to Amazon Prime (it gives us access to the Kindle Lending Library, so I can “check out” one free book a month).
*Make a Decision about Grad School - I think it’s pretty self-explanatory. I had been planning on going to graduate school for most of my high school and college careers, then lost the motivation to do it … and now I need to decide if that’s the path I want to follow or not.
I’m going to try my hardest to follow through on these resolutions - we’ll see how it goes. Maybe I’ll even post about my failures. Ha!
23 December 2011
I am a Scrooge
Last weekend, I spent nearly 2 full days baking Christmas cookies and listening to Christmas songs and I was completely miserable. (I have to admit, the sweets were a pretty nice trade off, even though I really should avoid them.) I can’t stand shopping during the holiday season (which I guess starts after Halloween now? Yeesh! It gets earlier and earlier every year!) because of the relentless crowds and holiday muzak. It’s the worst.
And then there’s the other problem. Hubs and I are challenged when it comes to Christmas gifts.
We just don’t do it right. We buy ourselves lots and lots and lots of gifts (because we love ourselves the most, obviously), but we wait until the absolute last minute to buy gifts for others, and they always lack creativity. This year: $25 in cold hard cash for everyone!* Kind of pathetic. And cheap. I’m pretty sure this makes us horrible people, but really, we can’t help it. The youngest people we’re buying gifts for are 17 - basically, we’re all adults and we’re all over it. Next year, I think the plan is to pick names and set a $50 limit. It’s so much easier to buy for one person than it is to buy for 6. Bah Humbug.
*Hubs was able to think of an awesome gift for one of my sisters - tickets to a wrestling Pay-per-View event. That’s the only non-cash gift we’re giving this year.
And then there’s the other problem. Hubs and I are challenged when it comes to Christmas gifts.
We just don’t do it right. We buy ourselves lots and lots and lots of gifts (because we love ourselves the most, obviously), but we wait until the absolute last minute to buy gifts for others, and they always lack creativity. This year: $25 in cold hard cash for everyone!* Kind of pathetic. And cheap. I’m pretty sure this makes us horrible people, but really, we can’t help it. The youngest people we’re buying gifts for are 17 - basically, we’re all adults and we’re all over it. Next year, I think the plan is to pick names and set a $50 limit. It’s so much easier to buy for one person than it is to buy for 6. Bah Humbug.
*Hubs was able to think of an awesome gift for one of my sisters - tickets to a wrestling Pay-per-View event. That’s the only non-cash gift we’re giving this year.
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