Are you one of the catrillion (yeah, I made up that word) people trying to lose weight in 2011? (Thankfully I'm not, but mostly because you're not supposed to drop the L-B-S's when pregnant!)
Or are you one of the bazillion (another made up word... I'm on a roll) people hoping to kick a bad habit? (I'm hoping DH will kick the "I always leave the toilet seat up and cause my wife to fall in during her numerous middle of the night trips" habit.)
I said last year that I don't really make "resolutions"--instead, I try to incorporate changes to my lifestyle. This year, I seem to have a lot of these lifestyle "goals," and I'm curious to see what your goals for the year are as well!
#1) Washing my face twice daily
Yes, I know this is a lesson I should have learned when I was a teenager: a clean face is a happy face. But these days, I am SO exhausted by the end of the day that I simply fall into bed without a second thought to my mascara and bronzer (the only two types of makeup I wear). This causes two problems: one, I end up with mascara all over my pillow case and two, I end up looking like a raccoon in the morning. So this year, I'm pledging to take better care of my skin.
#2) Being more accountable with our money
This is absolutely necessary, thanks to my new "stay at home mom" status. I've always been frugal, but I'm taking it to a new level these days, as we (obviously) have less discretionary income than we did when I was working a full-time job with benefits. My goal isn't so much to cut back, but to know where we're spending our extra cash--are we wasting it at Starbucks? (yeah, probably) Are we putting enough into our rainy day fund? (probably not) Are we keeping our utility bills to a minimum by turning out the lights when we leave the room? (definitely not) These are questions I want to be able to answer definitively, instead of simply saying, "Uh, I guess so."
#3) Cooking more
As I type this, DH is in the kitchen cooking breakfast... this should not happen. I feel that when I assumed the title of "stay at home mom," I also took on the title of "housewife" (aka, "Domestic Goddess"). While I have mastered the "house"-wife part of the title, I have neglected all too often to tame the kitchen. Quite frankly, I hate to cook. I would rather clean toilets than cut up chicken (it's so slimy!). But since DH puts in so much time and effort to literally "bring home the bacon," I feel the least I can do is learn to cook it. Any easy recipe websites would be appreciated!
I think those are pretty simple goals for the new year; there's nothing over-the-top on my list, just really being more accountable for my actions.
I had to use this picture, because it's from my alma mater; back in the year 2000, I stood on the Duke quad as part of the number "2004"; it's a tradition!
1) To simplify EVERYTHING.
2) To work REALLY hard on paying off debt and build our savings (Dave Ramsey!).
3) To lose 60 lbs. (1.5 down, so much to go).
I have a few more but those are the top 3!
Best wishes on yours. Hope you're feeling good!
Good goals!
Makeup removing wipes are a lifesaver...you can go to bed without makeup on and it takes very little effort. Sometimes I use one and then even put on a little toner afterward just for that extra clean feeling.
I also recommend the Fix It and Forget It cookbook-- lots of yummy crockpot recipes with very little prep time.
1)Happiness in the little things
2)Soaking up every minute with my 2 year old with lots of hugs & kisses
3)Save, save, save $
4)Little pieces of heaven (daytrips & lots of them)
5)Find some personal peace within some very tough decisions
6)Reconnect with those priceless friendships that I often wade through life without. Thinking I'm okay, but knowing I'm not. We all need friends.
I love that tradition!
As for me...
#1 is for IF treatments - give up sugar & caffenine
#2 is to stop & notice how much my husband does for me to show he loves me
As for your #1, I never have done that... Luckily, my mascara doesn't run (not even when I cry) so I don't have to worry about my pillow case getting all gooped up overnight either... :)
realmomkitchen.com
thegirlwhoateeverything.blogspot.com
Two of my favorite recipe sites.
I am a new stay at home mom, too! :) My last day of work was right before Thanksgiving. I feel you on the cooking thing. I clean the floors (like, on my hands and knees) every other day and do laundry every day... but cooking dinner? No thanks! lol I'm working on that. Another thing I want to work on is getting up at 7am. I feel terrible when DH gets up, while I stay in bed, then he get's ready for work, while I stay in bed, then he leaves for work, while I stay in bed! But, when our DD is happy in her crib until 8:30am, it makes it hard for me to get up! So, I want to make myself get up at 7am and have coffee w/ DH before he goes to work each morning. It's the least I can do, right?!
Jess, I totally commend you for making the effort to get up with DH! My mom did that for years for my dad, then went back to sleep for another hour! As for me... my hubby leaves for work at 5am... there's NO WAY I'm getting up with him :)
~Elizabeth
To lose A LOT of weight. 5 lbs down. A BAZILLION (like that?) more to go!
To stick to our budget in order to pay off our house. I LOVE Dave Ramsey.
To work harder on my business. BOTH businesses. Real Estate and Thirty One, in order to help us reach our goals.
To be more organized.
Not sure if I'll accomplish any of them, but it sure would be nice to accomplish ALL of them!
Mich