Monday, January 23, 2012

2012 {A new year and new goals}

Wow!! Has it really been two months since I last blogged? Well I guess it has. With that being said, I offer my sincere apologies. I have had a lot going on these last few months and while a small part of me enjoyed the break from the blogging it is time to get back at it. So without further ado...

2012 is officially upon us and I have some lofty goals for this year. Yes, I completely realize that by this time in January most have already given up on their new years resolutions, but I am just starting. And just to clarify they are not resolutions, they are goals. Which means that I don't have to commit to starting all of them all at once. And if I don't accomplish them all I am ok with that. Obviously some are more important to me than others and if something doesn't get crossed off by the end of the year, I will just carry over to the next. I am all about flexibility. So hear goes...

learn how to sew
 I received a sewing machine for Christmas and I am super excited to start using it. Actually I already made myself an infinity scarf (with my mom's help of course) although I don't recommend making something like that your first project. It was very frustrating. But I finished it and now I will take some back steps and start with something slightly easier. Which means that I am off to the library to check out some books on sewing and scouring the internet for you tube videos on how to make something fun and cute. I don't know what it will be yet but I will be sure to let you know when I find it.

spend more quality time with my hubby
It is no surprise that this past year has been insanely busy for both of us. From working 60+ hours per week, taking the girls back and forth from school and activities, cooking, cleaning, entertaining family, etc. etc. it is often hard to find time for just the both of us. This needs to change. I have the most amazing husband and I love spending time with him. And I am not a fancy girl that needs an official date night out (although those are fun too) I am perfectly fine with having a picnic on our living room floor after the girls go to bed. But the idea is that this needs to be more intentional. We both need to start making more time on purpose or else time will get away from us and before we know it another year will have gone by and we won't be able to remember what was the last movie we saw together. (yes this has happened).

make my house a home without breaking the bank
I have blogged about our house before and believe me I have big plans for it. However those plans also require a lot of moo-lah. Which I don't have. I also don't have a lot of talent in the DIY arena to turn these dreams into a reality myself so it means that I will be working on the small stuff first and saving up for the big stuff later. I am at peace with the fact that I won't be remodeling our kitchen anytime soon but that doesn't mean that I can't paint the walls and hang up art work. The first project to tackle is our laundry room. Our washing machine bit the dust shortly after Christmas which means that we were able to get new machines. The walls have already been painted and the new machine's are installed, now I have to find a counter top that I like, have someone install said counter top, put up shelving and maybe then I can get all of the cleaning supplies out of my master bedroom. While paying cash for all of it. Wish me luck!

...and speaking of the bank... pay off more of our debt
Over the last several years, I have come to despise debt of any kind. Credit cards, car loans, student loans, mortgages, etc. You name it, I can't stand it. Now I don't claim to be a financial expert by any means, just someone trying to manage our finances in the best possible way we can. Which means attacking any debt we have head on and making it disappear. Last year we starting using Dave Ramsey's cash envelope system and so far it has been working great. But I feel that we could be doing more. So this year I want to get more aggressive with it. Student loans you are going down!!!

become a vegan
So this one might come as a shock to some of you. Me?? A vegan?? Yep! you read that right. But I don't plan on doing this over night. And don't read too much into this. I love steak and cheese just as much as the next guy. In fact a blue cheese crusted steak is my ultimate fave! But I am not doing this to save the environment, or Sally the cow. I am doing this purely for my own health reasons. I have seen several documentaries lately about the food we eat including Food Inc. and Forks over Knives. I have also been reading different books on eating a whole food plant based diet and I am intrigued by the health claims that come with it. I have had asthma and allergies for as long as I can remember and although my asthma is controlled with inhalers I would love to be able to ditch them all together. Is dairy the culprit? I don't know, but I am willing to give it up to find out. But I can't do this over night. So the first item to get the axe is meat. In fact I have already gone over a week with out eating any red meat, chicken, or fish. Although I did slip and make a pan of brownies with eggs in it. And they were delicious! But overall I am doing pretty well. If I can make is full 30 days without eating meat, then dairy will be next on the list. I will keep you posted as to how this goes.

And last but not least...plant a garden
Or at least try to plant a garden. It is no secret that I don't exactly know what I am doing when it comes to gardening. I can't tell the difference between a flower and a weed, I have a tendency to overwater or forget about them all together and not water them for weeks. We also live in a area where bunnies and squirrels run wild along with some other types of animals that are keen to eating up the fruits of my labor before I can get to it. Which means that I won't be starting a full fledge garden this year. Nope, I am starting much smaller by planting a few plants in pots on my deck. But heck, I don't even know what would grow good in a pot. Cucumbers maybe? I am not sure, but with a little more reading up on the subject I am sure to find something. Or if you have any recommendations I would love to hear them.

So how is that for a 2012 goal list? Sounds like I will have my hands full. But it is all a good kind of busy. Making more time for myself, my family, our health and our home? Count me in! I can't wait to start!