New Year

I actually enjoy making New Year's resolutions.  Most of them do fizzle out a bit, but for those that stick... your life can really change.  Last year at this point I was 20 pounds heavier.  Another of last year's resolutions lasted through May (when I stated a second job) and the others had good intentions but fell short of the success I had with my weight loss.   

If 2010 was the year of changing our eating habits and physical well-being, then I want 2011 to be a year that builds upon that but focuses on our mental well-being by creating routines and systems that cut down on the chaos the continues to creep up on us.  I also wanted to make resolutions that I could either list and cross of when they are acomplished or that could be quantified.  Some of my resolutions are on the private side, so I won't be sharing all of them on the blog.  But, there are a few I don't mind listing here and hopefully expanding on how well they are working (or not working) throughout the year. 

Family Goals:

1. Make the girls a morning routine chart.
2. Mount a large family calendar on the wall in the kitchen.  Color code the family's activities.
3. Create laminated chore charts that can be checked off as the tasks listed are completed.
4. Mount a weekly meal plan in the same location.
5. Eat dinner at home (at 6:00) 4-5 nights per week.

Financial Goals:

1. No new debt.
2. Budget every single dollar.
3. Utilize the envelope-cash system.
4. Utilize coupons, sticking to a reasonable (or allotted?) window of time for preparation and shopping.   

Personal Goals:

1. Read THREE books.  (A classic, something fun, and something helpful)   <- suggestions??
2. Continue the weight-loss, healthy lifestyle resolution from last year.  Focus on portion control, PIONTS, and working out at least twice per week.
3. Read through the entire New Testiment.
4. Attend church at least twice per month.
5. 365 day blog project!
6. Complete list of crafting projects.  [these will be on my crafting blog]

House: (These are projects aimed at the first 6 months of the year.)

1. Paint and finish backyard pergola.
2. Paint three areas of the house. (one large, two small)
3. Build stoneware and cast iron racks.
4. Get a daybed and storage for Claire's room.
5. Complete Hannah's wall decorations.
6. Epoxy last 2/3 garage floor.
7. Mulch flower beds.

It was actually pretty fun to sit down with John and write this out, each voicing our opinions about what we would like to see change or what had been working in the past but we had lost sight of.  It seems like a lot, but a good portion of it can be crossed off when it is complete which makes me feel like there is a better liklihood of success.

2/365

a job and an (incomplete) menu

Over the weekend I got a job. An opportunity presented itself, and while I don't want to work full time, I do need to work while John is on his "vacation". (Yes, subbing is still an option, but I am trying something else out for now)

My job is in the evenings. Nothing too crazy, but enough to kind of throw us off as a family in terms of dinner for awhile.

So, I guess I will be planning a menu for John and the girls for most nights. They might be having soup, spaghetti, and chicken nuggets for awhile.

Monday
Lunch: hamburgers
Dinner: captain crunch chicken... (good job babe)



Tuesday
Lunch: OUT - Sweet Tomatoes with coupons
Dinner: spaghetti



Wednesday
Lunch: chicken nuggets
Dinner: Mahi Mahi



Thursday
Lunch: Soup/ salad
Dinner: ???



Friday
Lunch: PB&J
Dinner: Fishsticks



Saturday
Lunch: Sandwiches
Dinner: Spades night potluck (table snacks), girls???



Sunday:
Lunch: Mac and Cheese
Dinner: @ my parent's

Well, I am still stumped on one day, but it is a menu and hopefully we can continue eating in as much as possible!

We made it! And, it's funny...

Well, a few posts back, I made a commitment that we were going to eat in for an entire week. I am so happy to say that we made it! No meals out and even better, no snacks out! And then today it was funny. We had planned on going out for lunch to celebrate a whole week of meeting our goal, but I completely forgot! (go figure) Then we had already planned our dinner menu and were looking forward to it, so we will be staying in all of today too :)

I do have to admit, by Wednesday I was getting the itch to go out and have a meal somewhere. John even found a 'free' $5 and decided he wanted to save it instead of spend it on food.

This upcoming week has a few challenges that will make eating in very hard (one being an out-of-town interview for John!), but I am confident that we can make good decisions and try to avoid the strain on our tight budget by planning ahead and eating in as much as possible.

So, in a way this has been our fast. A way of avoiding and refraining from something to see the bigger picture.

Recipes

Well, I now officially have two sick girlies on my hands. Claire woke up, ate a ton, and then has been laying on me and sleeping ever since. Poor baby! While I have been holding and rocking her I have been checking out various blogs.

I have come to the conclusion that there are millions of recipes I would love to try. I am specifically looking for healthful recipes that will freeze well. One of my friends successfully did some freezer cooking with some Weight Watchers recipes... and I might need to try a few of those. Even if the kids won't eat them for dinners, I can at least freeze them and have them for lunches.

LMK if you have any yummy suggestions for me!