Let’s Talk – New Years

Today I’m joining Erika & Andrea for the Let’s Talk series.  I just love that these girls put together fun little series like this each year.  You should totally take a look and follow along!  

So what are we talking about today?  2016….resolutions, goals, what we are looking forward to.  I always love the beginning of a new year; a fresh new calendar full of possibility and adventure.  

Earlier this month I chose the word RECEIVE as my focus for the year.  If that seems like an odd choice you will have to hop on over and read my full account. After choosing to be present in 2015, I knew there had to be something I was still missing.  Sometimes just being present isn’t enough but really taking the time to receive all the gifts that surround us takes actual effort on our part.  Already this year I feel like I’m taking notice and working to absorb the things around me whether it is at work, at home or with those outside my family.  Even at church and with my quiet time I feel like I’ve opened my heart to receive more.  

In order to be open to receive, I had to really take a hard look at myself and make some changes if all the things I say are important to me are really receiving the important spot they deserve.  Although I’m quite the nightowl, I decided the only way to have more time and less stress in my day was to go to bed earlier and become an early bird.  I’m proud to say since writing Grateful for Wisdom and laying out my plan, I have only slept in one morning (other than weekends of course). The result has been a clearer mind to absorb God’s word (I’ve been following along with the First 5 app which I highly recommend), time to knock out and organize a few blog posts and respond to comments more frequently and Carly Jo is happy about leaving the house before 7:40.  Less stress means more smiles and less cortisol and lets face it…at 46 I need to reduce that cortisol as much as possible! 

Every year I start out strong in January with clean eating and consistent workouts and this January has been no exception.  I’ve been meal planning and logging every morsel I stick in my mouth. Typically around June/July when schedules aren’t as tight, I tend to start cheating a little more here and a little more there.  The college students desert our little college town and we eat out so much more.  And then there is the fact that a cold beer just taste so darn good in the summer!    I’m hoping this year to stay on track more and cheat less.  This is not a diet….it is a lifestyle choice to be as healthy as I can but still indulge sometimes.  

Budget..oh my goodness how we need to get back on a tight budget!  Now that both my bigs are out of college and we have a short 4 1/2 years before we start all over again, it’s time to put a closer eye on our finances and set some goals for where we would like to be at the end of 2016 and after 5 years.   I would really like to knock out some car payments for sure before Dillon starts driving.   Hopefully Keith & I will be able to steal some time away to work on this soon.  

I’m looking forward to some family time this year and although we haven’t booked anything special I’m hoping for a vacation around spring break.  We will also be traveling to Springfield, Missouri in June with Dillon’s baseball team so if any of you have any suggestions for fun things to do in Missouri I would love to hear about it!  Vacationing with Bigs & Littles seems to continue to be a challenge but I hope to plan a trip at Thanksgiving or Christmas for all of us to get away somewhere we can all consider fun.  Cause y’all….the last time we all ran away for a week and just hung out together somewhere fun was in 2009!!  That’s way too long.  

Home Projects!  My list is always ongoing where my house is concerned but I’ve been saving up money and after 12 years I really hope to complete a few rooms this year.  

Remove box light in kitchen and add recessed lighting and pendants

Paint Carly Jo’s room and update bedding, wall art, etc

Choose a new closet layout for Carly Jo’s room

Retile master bathroom shower 

Retile kids bathroom tub

Paint kids bathroom

Okay, I’m totally stopping my list there before I get carried away; plus look how nicely it aligns and I didn’t even try!!  Somewhat of a cheat is the first item because it is all but completed but I still wanted it noted here. 

I’m slightly cheating by putting this on my list because this ugly box and the ridiculous light about my sink are, in fact, gone!!  The ceiling has been repaired and recessed lighting is in but I haven’t painted yet.  Once that is done I will share my entire kitchen remodel. 

See where else I am linking up today here.  Below are all the future dates and topics for the Let’s Talk series!  Join the fun.