I suppose this is where I should apologize for my absence. Perhaps I should offer an explanation? Or maybe I should just be one of those people who waltz in (post) and pretend there never was an absence at all.
Hmm. Y’all, I’m not sorry. Sorrynotsorry, as they say. December was crazy busy, made even more crazy by the fact I was hosting Christmas for the first time ever for an insane amount of people in the new house most of my family has never seen. Y’all can imagine the depths to which my crazy reached. I packed 6 months of home improvement, cleaning, and decorating into just a few weeks.
Yet I still didn’t manage to hang one thing on my walls? And I forgot about the hole my husband and brother knocked into the wall whilst moving furniture? And I made a wonderful olive and appetizer platter and completely forgot to serve it? And my toddler had a wildebeest meltdown during dessert?
Fun times.
Anywhoodles, the holiday recap can wait until later. Because I know most of you have moved on, but I’m sure you’re dying to know how my husband did on the gift giving front this year. (As opposed to years past, when I got NADA and we didn’t speak until after New Year’s.)
I’m copying my girl Shawn and posting my list of 52 things I want to accomplish in 52 weeks.
Don’t be fooled by this list. I’m predicting I wait until Thanksgiving, and then I’ll try to cram 50 of these goals into 4 weeks of pure insanity.
HOME
1. Hang pictures/etc. on the walls.
2. Decorate the dining room. Purchase a new light fixture for the dining room.
3. Paint the downstairs bathroom.
4. Decorate the playroom.
When I showed my husband this list, he laughed at my goals. “Goals? Those aren’t goals. They are to-do lists.” WHATEVER, HUSBAND. I haven’t gotten it done in 6 months so to me it is a goal.
Let’s review how much I procrastinate, shall we? When we first moved in, I painted a swatch of turquoise paint on the downstairs bathroom wall to see if I liked the color. That was in July. That swatch is still in the bathroom. I even purchased the paint and supplies, and I still haven’t moved farther than that swatch.
ORGANIZATION
5. Get craft supplies organized.
6. Get papers/filing organized and keep it that way!
7. Set up a filing & bill paying system.
8. Set up a family calendar.
9. Create a home organization and meal planning binder.
10. Make a running list of pantry/freezer items.
11. Organize/clean garage.
12. Organize the master closet and keep it that way!
13. Do laundry 2x a week. Fold as soon as it comes out of the dryer and put it away.
14. Prepare breakfast/lunches at night.
15. Put together Cooper’s and my outfits each night (including accessories) before I go to bed.
My garage is a place where things go to die. Roaches, ants, and broken electronics are never seen again. It will be a miracle if I pull this one off.
HEALTH/BEAUTY
16. Cook/eat at home at least 5 nights per week.
17. Take breakfast/lunch to work instead of eating out – at least 3-4 days per week.
18. Lose 40 pounds in 2012.
19. Take better care of my skin.
20. Keep my nails painted at all times.
We eat out… a lot. Like a shameful amount of money is spent on eating out. I’m embarrassed to say how much. Which is why my butt looks like cottage cheese, I’m guessing.
I’m getting the wrinkles, y’all. Must avoid old lady lines in forehead.
Jason laughed at #20…. but I feel polished when my nails are polished. (Hah.)
COOPER
21. Organize Cooper’s closet. Put outgrown clothes & shoes in bins.
22. Create a “lesson plan” for Cooper. Focus on one topic per week. Spend time each day on that topic.
23. Do one craft project with Cooper per week.
24. If weather allows, spend time outside with Cooper each day.
25. Do one family activity together per week (park, zoo, Monkey Joe’s, etc).
26. Create a meal plan for Cooper. Introduce new & healthy foods.
27. Create a chore chart for Cooper.
28. Set limits on TV watching for Cooper. Watch 2 shows per day (1 hr of TV).
29. Read a bible story to Cooper each night.
I know #22 sounds like I don’t teach my kid, but I really need to focus more on specific topics to feel like he’s learning something from me.
Coops has turned into quite the picky eater, and I must expand his current palette of fruit snacks and Cliff bars into something slightly healthier.
We have a tendency to hibernate on weekends, so #25 will force us to get out of the house and do something productive as a family.
#28 – Cooper is capable of picking up his toys, filling up the pups food bowl, and helping me unload the silverware out of the dishwasher. I figure this will be a fun way to teach him age-appropriate responsibility.
FINANCES
30. Really work on only buying what I NEED and not what I want.
31. Discuss purchases with Jason.
Jason busted a gut when he read these. “52 goals and only 2 are about money?!” Well, husband, they are an important 2, no?
FAMILY
32. Have a family meeting one time per week to check in and discuss goals/schedule/finances/etc.
33. Do a weekly devotional with Jason.
34. Have one date night (out) per month. Have one date night (in) per week.
35. Take Cooper to visit his great-grandparents at least once a month.
36. Be more “in the moment” when I’m with my family.
37. Do a small act of love/encouragement for Jason per week.
38. Compromise more in my marriage.
#36 – aka put the dang phone down and stop tweeting during family time. The end.
SPIRITUAL
39. Spend time in prayer each day. Pray for others as much as I pray for myself.
40. Join a church!
41. Read a devotional daily.
#39 – I’ve noticed lately my prayers are 90% me and 10% others. Me thinks I need to worry about others as much as I worry about myself. Self, it is not all about you.
BLOG
42. Blog at least 4 times per week.
43. Create a Facebook fan page for my blog.
44. Set aside time each week to return comments. Be better about responding to blog email.
45. Explore ways to monetize my blog.
Are y’all laughing at #44? I promise to try harder!
FRIENDS
46. Send 4 handwritten notes per month to friends.
47. Get involved in some sort of women’s group.
48. Put myself out there when it comes to friendships.
I am so shy when it comes to friendships. Friendships are a little like dating, I think, and it involves making that crucial leap from “we should get together one day!” to “hey, want to go for coffee on Thursday?” I need to work on putting myself out there more when it comes to friendships.
OTHER
49. Take more pictures of Cooper!
50. Create photo books of Cooper’s first and second year.
51. Participate in project 365.
52. Learn to use Picnik.
Y’all, it is sad the amount of pictures I have taken lately of my kid. Poor poor baby. He will have no pictures to document the past 12 months.
Yes, Picnik confuzzles me. Photoshop would really blow my mind, huh?
What are your goals/resolutions in 2012?
13 comments:
These are great! You have a lot to do but I know you'll get it done!
Wishing you success!!!
Great idea! I need to do some of these myself!!! :)
Awesome list! Yay 2012!
xoxo,
megs [at] Shine On & Skinny Up
Whew! Great list! And you've got more than 2 money goals. Not eating out as much=loads more money (although we probably eat out more often than not, so you're not alone in that).
You could take Cooper outside and teach him what color things are... kill two birds with one stone! :)
I told my husband I want to research homeschooling information. I'm all for public schools, but I want G to have a head start.
This is a great list! I really need to organize my shizz better too.
And I ESPECIALLY need to work on buying only things I need and not just want.
I sometimes feel like I put myself out there more than my friends. I feel like I'm a better friend than they are. But then someone comes along and does nice things for me and I have to rethink that. lol
#47 - I don't know if you're looking for women's groups to join or if you know of some that you want to get involved in, but I thought I'd pass on a site. I discovered Meetup.com when I Google'd a local book club. It's a fantastic site that has so many different groups (pugs groups, book clubs, mommy groups, politics groups, yoga groups, etc). I've found all the ones I've joined so far to be very warm & welcoming. Good luck on your goals! You can do it!
Those are some great goals! Wishing you good luck in reaching them this year!
I am definitely like you in the friend thing. I am all too happy to just stick to my little circle instead of trying to branch out and do new things with new people!
We rarely eat out, can't afford it!! I make my hubby take his lunch and me, my son and daughter do too!
That is one huge list, woman. And for some reason as I read it I picture you with an English accent, kind of like Super Nanny. Beats me.
I have to say being at home has done wonders for being in the moment. Not having a cell phone works too. Also, kids learn so fast you wont have any trouble. I draw pictures and now my little one can recognize even an octagon. Wishing you much success.
What a great list! I need to make one....Lists are my thing.
I am such a bad bloggy friend....how many posts have I missed?
My favorite on your list is #36, I need to be more in the moment too, we can work on that one together.
THose are very attainable, most of them anyway, good luck and happy 2012!
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