Jan. 1: Do not eat chicken today! Sure, sure, you might be trying to diet and chicken might seem like the smart choice... but according to Eastern European tradition, eating chicken (or turkey, for that matter) will leave you scratching for money all year long. Instead, opt for pork (which will leave your wallet "fat"). Black-eyed peas (no, not like Fergie) are also traditional dishes that are supposed to bring you wealth in the New Year!Jan. 2: Take down your Christmas lights... like now. If you don't take advantage of putting away all your holiday decorations over this long weekend, you will end up like my parents, and have the lights still strung on the fir tree in your front yard on Valentine's Day... and Easter... and July 4th... and Halloween. Although, that'll make it easier for you come next Christmas, so maybe you should keep 'em up after all...
Jan. 3: Eat all the leftover holiday treats in your cupboards today. Sure, you may have a dozen cookies, 4 candy canes, half a loaf of friendship bread, two turkey legs, a bunch of mashed potatoes, and some of that amazing Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash still hanging around... but I firmly believe that your body can only absorb so many calories in a day. So, believe me, I will be gorging on 8,000 calories today to avoid over-doing it each and every day this week!
Jan. 4: Ok, ok, so I know yesterday I told you to eat all your holiday leftovers... and now, I'm going to wreck your weight loss plans even more by urging... BEGGING you... to avoid the gym at all cost this week. Why? Because the first week of January is the single busiest week of the year for health clubs in the U.S.; instead of battling 17 women for the same elliptical trainer, try taking a long walk outdoors or playing Wii Fit. I wish I'd listened to my own advice... but how else do you think I came up with this tip?Jan. 5: Call up an old friend you haven't seen or talked to in a while, and invite her out to coffee... or tea... or in my case, a glass of steamed milk with a shot of vanilla syrup. Yummy!
Jan. 6: Put in all your vacation requests for 2010 while you're at work today (of, if you stay-at-home, tell your hubby to put in his requests); that way, you'll have something to look forward to throughout the year, and first dibs on time off. I, for one, am already counting down the days until the long MLK weekened...
Jan. 7: Get your W2's (you know, those tax forms issued by employers every January) together now. The sooner you send all your tax stuff off to your trusty dusty CPA, the sooner you'll get your refund. And who couldn't use an extra boost of money right after the holidays? (As for me, my refund won't arrive til May... because my dad does my taxes, and since I'm Jan. 8: OK, I think yesterday established that it's been a tough first work week of the year for a lot of us. So, treat yourself by not cooking dinner tonight! Instead, track down one of the gift cards you got for Christmas (I know I got quite a few!) and go out for dinner tonight. I am... Carrabba's, here I come!
Jan. 9: Take a day off... from everything! If you've had a week like I did, then you definitely deserve it. I thought I had spent the holidays relaxing, but once I went back to work last Monday, I realized I hadn't recuperated enough. So that's what I'm going to be doing today... enjoying the day with DH & G, and only doing things that are fun! Let's call it "Selfish Saturday", shall we?
Jan. 10: Celebrate un-birthdays! Not sure what an "un-birthday" is? Remember "Alice In Wonderland"? In my family, we've always celebrated our half-birthdays. The tradition dates back to when I was a jealous little kid; my favorite cousin's birthday was exactly six months apart from mine, and so on her birthday, my mom would give me a small cupcake and a small gift just to show me how special I was to her. We still celebrate my "un/half-birthday" to this day. And today just so happens to be DH's half-birthday... so we'll be having a special treat with dinner tonight!
Jan. 11: Here in the Dirty South-- and across most of the East Coast and Midwest-- we're stuck in the longest cold snap in nearly 30 years! (I got that fact straight from our chief meteorologist at the TV station) So what better way to cap off the first day of the work week with a night by the fireplace? C'mon, it'll be fun. Turn off the lights (you wasted enough electricity during the holidays!), turn down the heat, grab a cup of hot chocolate and snuggle up with someone special by fire light!Jan. 12: Buy birthday cards for family members in advance- way advance. This month alone, two sister-in-laws, a nephew, and two cousins all celebrate their birthdays. Coming hot on the heels of the holidays, there's no way I would remember to get them all cards... good thing bought them back in November!
Jan. 13: Can you believe we're almost half way through this (dreary) month? Every married woman's favorite day of the year-- Valentine's Day-- is just 32 days away... but consider making your dinner reservations now. This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday night, meaning most restaurants will be packed on Saturday the 13th. Don't get stuck eating at 10pm! Call your favorite restaurant now.
Jan. 14: Get a new bra. Every woman needs the right kind of support! A study by a top lingerie company found the average woman wears a bra with a cup that's one size too small, and a band that's one size too big! So, if you think you're a 36B, you're probably a 34C! Nice, huh???Jan. 15: Each year, $8 billion (yes, BILLION) in gift cards go unused, with the money going directly back to the company. Wondering how you'll ever spend that $50 gift card to "Coldwater Creek" your mother bought you? Fear not! There are a plethora of websites that will allow you to exchange your unwanted or unused gift cards to COLD HARD CASH. Click here or here to learn how!
Jan. 16: All right, now that you've exchanged all your unwanted gift cards for cash, it's time to get rid of those holiday gifts you'll NEVER use. Find the receipts, then head to the store to exchange them for merchandise or store credit. It's like a shopping spree that's already paid for!
Jan. 17: Monday is MLK Day, and most of you (and your kids) are probably out of work or school. Lots of museums offer discounts or even free admission on this holiday. Call ahead today to see what options are available tomorrow. For a list of children's museums nationwide, click HERE!
Jan. 18: Help Haiti's 8.8 million residents affected by last week's earthquake. The American Red Cross is making it easy for you to donate. All you have to do is text "Haiti" to "90999" and $10 will automatically be added to your cell phone bill. That money will go directly to the Red Cross's efforts in Haiti.
Jan. 19: This time of the year, I always find myself in need of a little "pick me up". In past years, I've embraced that by going overboard at the gym or with a diet plan. But this year, I'm taking a different route. I just contacted the pastor at my church and asked him about launching a new ministry for young families. What better way to get a little rejuvenation than with some spiritual renewal? Try it out for yourself; branch out, whether at work, in your neighborhood, or with a new play group!
Jan. 20: Plan out your meals for NEXT week... online! Wednesdays are typically when grocery store chains put their weekly circulars online. Every Wednesday morning, I bust a move to Lowes Foods' or Harris Teeter's website to create my "virtual" shopping list. A little of this, a little of that, and BAM, my list is in my email inbox, so nice and orderly that even DH can read it! I couldn't afford to shop at the ritzy supermarkets if I didn't follow this method, but once I combine double coupons and their two-for-one deals, it's actually cheaper than Walmart (and I don't have to shop with these people either).Jan. 21: In my household, we plan out meals on a weekly basis. It helps streamline our shopping, ultimately saving us time and money. But this woman takes meal-planning to the extreme. Might be worth a try, huh?
Jan. 22: I have finally realized that if you're going to have a blog, you have to learn some degree of HTML. Somehow, I managed to avoid learning ANY of this uber-important code in "Compuer Science I & II" in college (exactly what did I pay for, again?), but I've learned a lot thanks to this website, as well as this one. Check them out and have fun playing with your homemade blog today!
Jan. 23: I love to host parties... even though it always means more work for me! I'm already starting to think about my next venture: Super Bowl Sunday (although, it all depends on which teams are playing in the game). Whether or not you plan on throwing a party, start making plans for the big game now, even if you only watch the commercials!
Jan. 24: Pay it forward! I just wrapped up my Haiti fundraiser, and be cause of your support, you helped me raise $33.75 for that country's relief efforts. Whether you pay it forward by donating on your own, or helping another blogger raise money on her page, keep this generousity going!Jan. 25: Many pop psychologists widely consider today-- the fourth Monday of January-- "the most depressing day of the year". Why? The days are still short, the nights still cold, and you've probably gotten all your bills from the holiday season. What's a girl to do? Three words: sunshine and vitamin D... together, they are known to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder, better known as "SAD".
Jan. 26: Update your resume. Whether you're a working mom or a stay at home mom, you never know when your family will hit a rough patch and your potential income could make the difference between security and financial ruin! That said, I better get back to updating my own :)
Jan. 27: Inspired by this week's bout of illness in my family, I'm urging you to schedule all your annual health check-ups for 2010. Sure, you may not be due for that pap smear (which, by the way, you only need to get every other or every third year, depending on your age and health history-- HOORAY!) until October, but scheduling now will enable you to get an appointment on a prime day at a prime time (and not 7:30am on a Monday morning like I always end up with). This is especially important for appointments like the eye doctor or dentist, where you're competing with school kids for those coveted time slots. January-March is "slow time" in most doctors offices, since kids are still in school!
Jan. 28: Well, once again we're preparing for an impending winter weather disaster (aka, two inches of snow) here in the Dirty South... which means it's time to weatherize your car! Last time the temperatures took a plunge, the warning light on two of my tires went on. Just like a helium balloon, the air pressure in your tires drops when it's cold out. But did you know, that dip in pressure can cost you at the gas pump? Fill your tires to the correct pressure, and you'll improve your miles per gallon by 3-4%, and extend the life of your tires as well.
Jan. 29: End a grudge that's been bringing you down. A few months ago, my cousin asked me for career advice. She's an adult, and I figured if she wanted to know about the world of TV news, she was old enough to hear the truth. Well, apparently she wanted the sugar-coated, all-is-happy-in-TVland version, and hasn't spoken to me in six months. But you know what? Today is her birthday, and I will call my 23 year old cousin to wish her a happy birthday without bearing any semblance of the grudge that's kept us separate for too long!
Jan. 30: I don't know why, but Saturday mornings always have me craving a big, calorie-packed, 7-course breakfast... and it always has DH craving a day off from cooking! What's a girl to do? Well, on February 23rd at least, I'll be heading to IHOP. Why, you ask? On that day, the International House of Pancakes will be giving all their guests a FREE short stack of pancakes. All they ask is for a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. A pretty great breakfast for a pretty great cause, if I do say so myself!Jan. 31: Last tip, I better make it a good one, right? Actually, I'm going to make it a simple one: call your mother-in-law. DH has a tough time remembering to call his mom (I bet he's not the only man who can say that!), so each Sunday, I remember for him. It's a great "phone date" to keep in touch with his family, and bring his parents up to speed on what's going on in our lives, even though we live more than a thousand miles away. So pick up that phone... NOW!
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Oh no I am making chicken ceasar wraps for dinner!! And we just did our budget and vowed to start the Total Money Make over. Looks like I need to find something else for dinner. I do not need any bad karma starting out the new year. Thanks for the tip and I love your blog!
But it's too cold outside to take down the Christmas lights...can't it wait 'til Spring Break? :)
Now this is wisdom -- Unfortunately I read the no chicken post too late. We went to Chick-fil-A on New Year's Day. Oh well, there's always next year.
Here's hoping you have a great 2010!
:-)
Loving the post!! Although I already ate chicken, I still have my Christmas tree up, haven't eaten all my leftovers! LOL :D
Loving these tips. My ornaments were taken down yesterday and the rest of the tree will hopefully be down today...leftovers are long gone;)
I love your tips. I have to admit that the outdoor lights are still up at our house and we keep trying to get to them but at this rate it may be Valentine's Day before we do. My son was born the same month as your daughter and I am also a full time working Mom. I stumbled on your blog from another Mom's site and am looking forward to reading more!
Call me slow (although in my defense I must say that I've been very sick) but I just realized that you and Julia were posting DIFFERENT tips for New Year, New You. BTW, I'm LOVING the tips! They are great! I guess I just thought that you were collaborating and then sharing the results with the rest of us. LOL Oh well, glad I caught on now and not at the end of the month. I'd never be able to go back and catch up!
I can understand why they say it's depressing...the Christmas bills come in! lol
I find I am more tired these days and lack energy!