Honestly, I try not to think too far ahead. I don’t want to wish time away, as anyone with kids especially will tell you, it flies. But I like to think this is a positive way of thinking ahead.
I’ve said a few times that I planned to bounce back from my pregnancy with Laela better than I did with Dekker. Quite a large expectation to lay on ones self before baby has even arrived, but it was a “goal” of mine. And I’ve done ok. Even in the hospital, I was walking around more and feeling better faster. Stitches heal and stretch marks fade. I’m a bit annoyed at the amount of baby weight I’m still carrying, but as my mom says to me so often, its much too early to be thinking about that too much. I know I carried an extra fifteen pounds of baby weight after Dekker and then at about six months postpartum it just disappeared. So I have time. Most importantly, I want my mental and emotional health to be back where it needs to be. All of these things, I am working on. Being the season it is, I am much busier than I’d be in other months of the year. So that brings me to the new year. Resolutions.
I’ve said for two Januarys of blogging now that I hate New Years resolutions. Because they suck. And I don’t keep them. My “resolutions” for the last two years have just been blanket goals to try harder to be a better steward of what I’ve been given, and to generally TRY HARDER. I did great in 2012! I tried lots of new meals, finished projects, got outside more, planned Dekker’s first birthday party, and felt motivated. 2013 wasn’t so hot for me. Granted, I was pregnant most of the year, and felt awful the whole time, physically and emotionally. And it hasn’t been an easy ride since then either. It doesn’t feel like I met my goal, however widespread it was. So I’m going to go a bit more specific this coming year. Not specific enough that it comes with consequences but not vague enough that I have no reminders or deadlines. I need some, I think. Some guideline anyway. So. Ideas.
I want to get in better shape. I love the ideas of the monthly challenges, like squats, planking, wall sit, etc. I know I said this a while ago, and obviously it hasn’t happened yet. But I’d like to try one of those every month. My mom reminded me that I have a Just Dance Wii game. I’m horrible at it, but the few times I’ve played it I work up a good sweat anyway. Maybe I’d do a monthly challenge, and then a month of dancing, and then another challenge, and so on. I just want to keep moving. I currently am holding eighteen pounds of baby weight. No, I don’t look at myself and see a large person. I look at my pre-pregnant body and think maybe I could stand to have a bit more on me. But not eighteen I don’t think. So I don’t plan to lose it all, or to eat any less at all, but I’d like to try and burn of ten pounds maybe.
Food. Just browsing Pinterest today, I realized how many great recipes out there consist of things I actually already have in my house! I love that! I’m trying to decide what my “challenge” regarding food should be. One new meal a week? That was my first idea, but what if we like the new meal and want it more often? 52 new meals in one year is a lot, and seems like overkill. So I’m tossing around the idea of new meals regularly, or one big crock pot cook day every couple of months, or even just the concept of meal planning. Do any of you do that? I feel like it would be a HUGE undertaking, but I would only want to do it once a month. Yet we’d still end up grocery shopping, for fresh things and milk at least. So is it worth it? What do you guys think? A few new meals every month, big cook every two months-ish, or meal planning?
Lastly, money. I saw this 52 week money saving challenge on Facebook a while ago and was intrigued. There are 52 weeks in a year, so the first week, save $1. Second week save $2. $3 in your jar. At the end of the year, you’d have saved around $1,300! Its not huge but what a treat! However, I’d likely move it around a bit so the $50/week part doesn’t hit at Christmas. Some people even suggest doing it backwards, so its expensive right in January and then easy peasy at Christmas. I think that would be so smart, since we’d be so used to putting in larger amounts, we might just throw in extra when we had it. This all averages our to around $25/weeks, which one challenge also suggested. Every Monday, go to the bank and ask for a roll of loonies. Drop it in a jar/coffee can/whatever you want and watch it grow. Once you get used to it there, throw your other change in there anytime you have it. Apparently it gets easier and easier to part with your change. One money saving challenge I liked was one that the writer said he had started out of high school. He chose a certain monetary denomination (in his case, five dollar bills) and every single time he came into possession of one, he was compelled to put it in his jar. Every single one. If he had to pay cash for something small, and all he had was a $20, he would have to take the three $5 bills and save them. No asking for specific change either! SUCH cool ideas! I’m just not sure which ones would be best for us. Have any of you tried these out?
Now that I’ve spouted that all off, I have to say that my “resolution” is to try really hard. If I live out a week and forget to cook a new meal, big deal. If my body hurts too much doing the challenge I’ve chosen, I won’t work out that way, or that week. And if the money isn’t there to save, it simply isn’t. This is a seriously no pressure type of challenge. But I think its really good to have ideas and goals. Support sure helps too 😉
So thats a lot to take in, and they’re all just ideas. I’d love your input! Does it sound like too much? I feel like it should be attainable to work out, save money, and cook food all at the same time! Which ideas do you guys like best? Anyone want to join me???