Random Thoughts & Tidbits: Part 22

Resolutions schmesolutions, aka, it's about to get real up in here.

I've never been a resolution maker.  Who wants to set themselves up to fail?  That being said, I'm an obsessive list maker and I believe in making goals for yourself, whether it's the first of the year or the middle.

My to-do lists contain obtainable things like: laundry, organize junk drawer (done!), clean baseboards, touch-up paint, make meal plan, kitchen backsplash, etc.  But I also have to-do lists that are more like wish lists.  New Kitchen was on that list for years.  It wasn't something planned for the immediate future, but it was a want and a hope.  Lucky for me, we had a major leak and a massive amount of mold in our wall and floor studs, which led to a complete DIY gut and remodel.  Ha!  I also had New Car on my to-do list when I found out I was pregnant with Baby #3.  Again, lucky for me, I was in a nasty car accident while 6 months pregnant. My car was deemed totaled and the insurance settlement paid for almost all of a used minivan.  Life always seems to work out that way.

So with that in mind, some of these are things I think about, but don't necessarily write down as actual to-do's. They're more just personal goals.  Things to be aware of and/or things that I need to remind myself to work on:

• Quit smoking.  
• Duh.
• It's something I think about on a daily basis.  I've had a packet of Chantix in my cupboard for months.  I had big plans to start it in December.  I sat down and read through all the paperwork, aka fine print, that came with it, and psyched myself out.  
• I have total anxiety that it will be like the Welbutrin I tried several years ago.  It made me so high I could barely function.  And didn't do a thing for helping in the quitting department.  Not my idea of a good time.
• It needs to happen and it's on the list.
• Stop yelling.
• That has been on my list for years.  I feel like I've had a really good start this year. I'm conscious of it and checking myself when it starts to get out of hand.
• Stop nagging.
• Again, something I'm very aware of.  I think, again, I'm off to a good start.
• Be more affectionate. 
• I'm not a hugger.  I take that back.  I like hugs, but I don't like to initiate hugs and I don't like to admit I like hugging while hugging.  It feels awkward and I don't know how to act.
• I'm pretty sure baggage is to blame for my lack of affection, but I'm trying.
• I could psychoanalyze myself all day, but I'll spare you.
• Spend more time "doing" with the kids.
• It's hard to find spare time.  You would think a stay-at-home mom has all the time in the world.  Not at my house.  I'm constantly mapping out my chores/to-do list in my head.  Anytime I sit down and do "nothing" with the kids, I'm thinking about what I could be accomplishing.  If they ask to do something with me, my response 98% of the time is, "In a minute."  The Girl wants to color.  The Kid wants to play a game.  Baby wants to play kitchen or read.  I'm "busy" putting a load of clothes in the dryer, writing a grocery list, cleaning the stove, vacuuming, prepping dinner, taking pictures, watering the yard, etc.  
• The goal is to let something go every day so I can say yes to them.  And not to feel guilty or stressed about what I didn't get done.
• Track grocery spending.
• I started this last January and didn't follow through. The plan is to write the amount spent on the calendar every time The Dad or I make a run to the grocery store, whether it's a big trip or just for potatoes and milk.  I feel like I'm really good at feeding a family of five on a budget, but it would be nice to know exactly how much is being spent every month.  So far this month, I've been to two stores and spent $62.  
• Any sort of fast food or restaurant outing will be included in the total.
• I do not plan on including wine in that calculation.  
• Ahem.
• My goal, once I can get a good idea of what's going out each month, would be to implement the envelope method.  Have any of you done it?  I've brought it up several times over the years, but it hasn't come to fruition.  I'm a fan of the idea.  You put cash in different labeled envelopes for the month, and if the money is gone, too bad so sad.
• I didn't use a single credit card for Christmas this year and I'm feeling pretty damn good about that.  I'm (The Dad is) still paying off a visa from my single days, so the idea of charging anything at this point in my life makes me cringe.
• Apparently we've moved onto the subject of money.  I don't feel like it's a sore subject at our house, but I will say, we don't have any.  At all.  Three kids, one income, translates to: paycheck to paycheck.  The bills are paid and that's about it.  
• BUT, the bills are paid, and that's sort of a big deal.
• Annnd speaking of money, I know the ads on my blog can be annoying, but the $12 - $20 dollars a month they generate is kinda awesome. I saved every penny and it helped pay for this year's Christmas presents, including contributing to the pot that got The Dad to the Rose Bowl.  So thank you.
• Moving on, I'm in a food frenzy right now.  After a month of sporadic home-cooked meals, I want to make ALL the things.  I'm kinda mad at Pinterest.  It's responsible for taking me away from my beloved cookbooks. 
• For about a year now, I'm been considering cooking my way through at least one of them.  Julie and Julia-style. Start at the beginning and try them all.  Okay, maybe skip over the egg/corn/mushroom/olive/shrimp pie recipes, but try making the majority of them.  Whatdya think?  I could post a poll and the most popular cookbook chosen would be the one I start with.  I think it sounds fun.
• That leads me to another question.  Does anyone have any opinion, or care, what I post about?  Not that I can guarantee I'll listen - ha! - but it would be interesting to know what you like best about my blog and why you come back.  Glutton for punishment, clearly.  Obviously, in our growing season, it turns into a full-on garden blog, but I go through some major food-heavy posting sessions at times, as well.  I throw kid stuff in on occasion, and family pics, mainly for my own benefit. The house projects show up now and again, when we're actually working on them.  (That's another thing I'm adding to my list...see below).  I'd just like to hear which are your favorites.  Or what you'd like more or less of.  Be nice.
• Finish all the started projects.  The Kitchen.  The Master Bathroom.  Those are the two major ones.  Then there are all the little things that I keep meaning to do, but haven't made time for.  I'd like to finish all of them before starting anything new.  What a concept.  That includes purging and organizing every room of the house.  I'm on a roll.
• Okay, that's probably enough rambling for one post. Off to heat up some leftover pulled pork and turn it into soft tacos.  Mmmmmm.