New Year's Resolutions

Ahh, the new year. A time of new beginnings. Of setting new goals. Of starting over. It always reminds me of the start of a new school year. Everyone starts out with an A but it's up to us individually to maintain, or not maintain, the grade we're given. To do our best to succeed, to accomplish whatever it is we put our minds too.

I've never really been one to make resolutions. It's just never been my thing. But this year it seems as though I have a lot. I like to think of it as making up for resolutions past. ;)  I always find that it's easier for me to meet a goal if I throw it out there for everyone to know about. That way, if I need to be held accountable, well, there are several people who can call me out and tell me to get with it. So, lucky readers, here is my list of New Year's Resolutions, in no particular order:

1. Continue on my creative journey, yet expand it to other areas. I won't be focusing on just simple, creative projects any longer. I'm extending my journey to the kitchen. Whether it's dinner or yummy treats, I want to expand my horizons when it comes to cooking for my family & friends. This also goes hand in hand with #2.

2. Stop wasting $$. By finding better techniques and recipes in the kitchen, I can start saving more money by using (and not throwing away) food that we have on hand. I also want to make less, so we have fewer left overs (I don't do leftovers after day 1-so this is critical). B introduced me to a great app (Big Oven) and so far we've loved it. We've used recipes that call for fewer ingredients (there's that $$ saving) and are too delicious to waste (there's that no waste)! I highly recommend the app for those who enjoy spending time in the kitchen.

Chicken Enchiladas with a Twist

Bourbon Street Chicken with brown rice.

3. Have a better attitude about my current working situation. Is it ideal for me? No. I never planned on being a stay at home mom, or an in home day care provider. But it's what is working for our family and it's giving me precious time to spend with Lily Anne. I'm fortunate to have this time and I know I'll miss it when I do end up getting back to work. So I'm determined to improve my attitude and appreciate how truly blessed I (and my family) truly is.

4. Write a biography about my G-ma. I have a title, a tentative outline and several ideas. So this year I'm going to make time to sit down and put it all together. She was an amazing woman, a regular woman, who lived an anything but simple or regular life. Yet no matter what, she had faith and happiness throughout. I truly think everyone who knew her was blessed by her and others deserve to know the story about a modern day woman of faith. Not someone famous, or rich, but someone just like you and me who never let life's ups and downs destroy her faith in God, family & friends. I honestly can't wait to get started.

5. To work on going green...a little at a time. I already use reusable grocery bags, make my own laundry & dish soap but I'm looking forward to finding ways to go green & cut down on costs for my family by doing so. I'm also enjoying finding new uses for things around the house. How can I improve it or use it for something else that's fun and functional? Part of the creative journey, yeah?

6. To get back in shape. After Lily, I've had a really hard time getting back into shape. I have a plan (cardio & pilates-that's what I loved in college) and I have the tools, now I just need to use them. I'm also going to focus on making a conscious decision to watch what I put in my mouth. The last few months I've done a lot of emotional eating (not something I've ever done before, or something I'm proud of) and it's my goal to put a stop to it.

7. To be more diligent in my blogging. Not only for myself but also for friends and family who don't have the chance to spend as much time with Lily (or us) as they would like. It's a great way to capture all the little moments I'd otherwise forget, and a fun way to remember all the ways I've challenged my own creativity.

I think 7 resolutions is probably enough, don't you?! Will they be easy? Some more than others. But that's what makes things worth while. If you don't have to work for something, you just can't appreciate it the way you would if you'd pushed yourself to it.

Good luck to all of you with New Year's Resolutions-we can do it!