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

Now I lay me down to sleep...no wait, now...no...now...

I was just reminded of the difference between how a mom goes to bed and how a dad goes to bed.  I'm sure you've all seen the joke make the rounds but in real life it really is like that!  Dh decides to go to bed, he gets up, brushes his teeth, takes off his clothes, sets his alarm and goes to bed.  I have to...tuck in J., this can be a long process depending on how many worries she is struggling with, whether or not she knows what she wants to wear, whether or not we can FIND said thing she wants to wear, feed her fish (I know she should do that but she has killed fish from overfeeding so it's easier to do it myself), maybe do a little "Ree-kay" on her (to help with the worrying), kiss her a bunch, hug her a bunch, help her find her sleep mask and her friends she sleeps with and finally shut out her light.  Then I have to go check on Max (who is long asleep), cover him up, check out the temperature in his room and turn on or off the fan, rearrange his pillows, and shut off his light.  THEN I have to pee, pick out what I'll wear tomorrow (hunt down items sometimes) right down to shoes and underwear (it's bad when I leave all this till morning), put on my pj's, take off my earrings, take off my makeup, put on moisturizer (it's hell to get old), brush my teeth, take my pills, inevitably go downstairs to put something on my "launch pad" (it's a www.flylady.net term for items you need to take with you) or find something, come back upstairs, pee and finally get into bed where I fall asleep with the tv on (much to Larry's irritation).  It usually takes me at least 3 nights to get through one 60 minute show because I keep falling asleep.


So who's with me?  Does it take you that long to get to bed?  Do you follow flylady?  What's your best tip for getting your morning off to a good start?  Mine is laying out clothes the night before and packing lunches and backpacks the night before.

It's 10:20pm and about 1/2 my list is done so I better shut off the computer.  I have to pee and then I have about 15 minutes of Top Chef waiting to lull me to sleep.