A brand new year

So it's 2012 already and time for some New Years Resolutions.  I find it interesting that my last post (a long time ago) was about the exact same thing I'm about to post.  The Great Pantry Challenge of 2012.  I gave it a snazzier name so that I would be more successful with it than I was with the Pantry Challenge I did last year.  So January 1st a time of new beginnings.  I have decided that for this year's resolutions rather than having a bunch for January that I don't achieve because there are too many, I will focus on one a month for 12 months and hopefully be more successful.  The theme for 2012 should be focus I think.  But before I get to my first resolution I need to talk about what else will happen in January.

1. The Great Pantry Challenge of 2012 - I am again going to try to use up what I have in my cupboards and my two freezers in an effort to be able to see what I have, use up things that will expire an save money.  The downside of trying to extreme coupon is that you need a place to put your great buys and my cupboards were already groaning so now they are downright dangerous!  My plan for January is to take $200 cash and put it in an envelope and use that for all the groceries we will buy in January.  We will only buy the staples of our people.  You know, important things like bread, milk, bananas and diet coke.  I will only extreme coupon for things that are free, nearly free or a staple that I need that is at a stock up price.  This doesn't count the things I need to buy for my meal swap meal.  My first activity for this will be to use my new app on my new iPad to make a monthly menu.

2  The second thing happening is that it is "No Buy January".  December is always a month when (pardon my language) "money pours out my ass" so January is a time to stop spending.  This means no buying things that weren't already planned to buy.  No new books, no new music, no kitchen gadgets, no clothes etc.  I'm curious to see the bottom line at the end of January.

So now on to my first resolution, it's pretty easy since I'll be busy with the no buying and using up my pantry in creative ways.


January - Take off my makeup before bed and moisturize.  I am 42 years old and this seems like something a 42 year old mom should be doing.  My face says thank you.

Part two of the January resolution is getting more sleep.  I am a terrible night owl and NOT a morning person at all but I know that more sleep will only benefit me.  So I'm going to make it my resolution to be in bed, ready for sleep by midnight or earlier at least 5 nights a week.

So here we go, hope to have some good reports to give over the next few weeks.  My job for today is to investigate my pantry and freezer and make that menu. 

What are your resolutions?

Tami

On the road again...

One of the frustrating things in my life right now is all the time I spend driving.  Poor Max has had so many trips to the ENT 2 hours away as he's had to deal with nosebleeds and then getting his nose cauterized TWICE.  We splurged on the factory installed DVD player in the new van which is great when there is a second person to run it.  Almost all my trips with him have been just him and I which means he either has to suck it up and watch the show he chose originally or he screams till I can't stand it and pull over and change the show.  This stop and start makes an already long trip even longer.  So today we go for our (hopefully) last trip to the ENT for his post-op follow up.  All signs look good that this last cauterization did the trick so I'm VERY hopeful that we won't have to make this trip again anytime soon. 

So today after I get home from that 4 hour round trip I get to head off in the opposite direction 2 hours to visit my sister.  We are taking a Reiki I/II class tomorrow in Downeast Maine and I couldn't bear to leave my house at 4am so I'm going tonight.  I am grateful that I have some new books on the ipod so I can at least be entertained during my travels.  I think I'm going to start with, "The Year of Living Biblically", it got lots of good reviews and some friends suggested it as well.  I'm hoping it's entertaining.  Anyone read it?

I'm very intrigued by the Reiki class and am going into it with an open and curious mind.  I am hopeful that it will help me be more centered and less frenzied as I cope with everyday life.  I'll keep you posted on how that goes, it's a pretty tall order!  My sister and I are just hoping that we don't look like dumbasses and if we do I'll leave that part out when I tell the story :-)


Ready, set, zoom...here I go...