If 2020 has taught me anything it is that I have much less control over my life than I could fathom. Without further ado, my somewhat boring goals for 2021!
1. Build proper storage in our garage &/or attic (to finally get the stuff junk out of all our closet
We “finished” this last month but the guest bedroom closet isn’t as empty as I’d like it to fe before my sister comes for a month.
2. Travel outside the state of Florida at least once.
Hell no. I leave the house pretty much every day and interact with adults – winning!
3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
I literally cannot find a water bottle big enough. Breastfeeding is dehydrating work!
4. Spend an average less than $650/month on groceries.
Week 1, August 1-8
- On list:
- $75.41 at Publix
- Off list:
- $7.18 at Publix
TOTAL: $82.59
Week 2, August 9-15
- On list:
- $19.74 via Amazon (I needed tahini and I hate the ones in my grocery stores & ordered Brewers Yeast to make lactation cookies)
- $29.16 via Kroger Delivery (we have people thankfully bringing us dinner this week)
- Off list:
- nada
TOTAL: $48.90
Week 3, August 16-22
- On list:
- $77.58 via Kroger Delivery
- Off list:
- $0
TOTAL: $77.58
Week 4, August 23-31 (2 extra days)
- On list:
- $113.78 at Publix
- $106.74 via Kroger Delivery
- Off list:
- $14.45 at Publix
TOTAL: $234.68
- Monthly Grand Total On List: $422.41
- Monthly Grand Total Off List; $21.34 (getting groceries delivered helps a lot with this!)
- MONTH GRAND TOTAL: $443.75
5. Write 2 art history blog posts a month.
No. My attention is with the newborn baby.
6. Keep my potted herbs alive (& maybeeee add more green things to my backyard).
My same 2 plants are still alive…yay?
7. Use my slow cooker at least every other week.
This needs to be a priority with a baby in the house.
- Week 1, August 1-8: no because people brought us meals
- Week 2, August 9-15: same as week 1
- Week 3, August 16-22: still reliant on the meal train & frozen meals
- Week 4, August 23-31 (2 extra days): I used the crockpot to “cook” a frozen meal my mom prepared
8. Go for a jog or long walk every week.
- Week 1, August 1-8: walked 3 miles with a friend also on maternity leave & 2 miles with my sister-in-law
- Week 2, August 9-15: 3 miler again & near-nightly post dinner walks
- Week 3, August 16-22: I did my first *attempt* at a jog with the stroller!
- Week 4, August 23-31 (2 extra days): we go for nearly nightly walks with the stroller
9. Practice yoga at least twice a month.
Because of rising COVID cases the hospital cancelled all Mommy & Me yoga classes :(((
I just got cleared to work out at the end of this month so definitely starting up some doyogawithme.com postpartum classes.
- Postnatal Back to the Mat (33:27)
- Baby and Me Yoga for Energy and Joy (21:56)
10. Read at least 5 books classified as “classic literature.”
Working on Meditations by Marcus Aurelius in short spurts as I sit in doctors offices.
Finished:
- Time Machine by H.G. Wells
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
11. Grow my emergency savings account to at least $5,000.
So in a shocking twist, I closed my savings account and moved the money over to my checking. I did the math & with being out on maternity leave, especially for the last 6 weeks with short term disability (only receiving ~75% of my paycheck) we’ll be cutting it close. Next year to build it back up!
12. Vacuum at least once a week.
- Week 1, August 1-8: hmmm I don’t think so
- Week 2, August 9-15: yes! I did the kitchen a lot because we’re working on the backsplash & it’s messy
- Week 3, August 16-22: I ran the Roomba but couldn’t find the 20 minutes to vacuum with the baby; hmmm maybe I should baby wear him and vacuum???
- Week 4, August 23-31 (2 extra days): ummm no lol
13. Focus on working out my arms more.
I’ve been carrying a baby all month, lord that’s a workout!
14. Finish our patio decorating.
15. Spend an average of LESS than an hour and a half on my phone per day.
Definitely not, my phone is where I get things done while breastfeeding (like grocery deliveries, Amazon, Googling a million baby things, this blog post, etc).
16. Buy no books (unless I have a gift card of course).
So I technically didn’t buy the book, I reimbursed a friend for a book. Her and I are going to do a little book study with The Good Shepherd and the Child on raising Catholic kids.
17. Do no school work on Sunday.
I’m officially on maternity leave & they cut me off of everything – feels so weird but so so good!
18. Call someone out of the blue to chat at least once a month.
I’ve been reaching out to other new moms, not calling them but definitely communicating a lot & getting together to walk, coffee dates & just hanging out.
19. Finish decorating our two extra bedrooms.
I’m still waiting on a friend to finish hemming the nursery curtains. . .it’s been over 7 weeks.
20. Organize an intentional date with my hubby once a month.
Ummm yeah fat negative with a baby in the house & Will back at work but we do nearly nightly walks and have done some fun stuff together.
21. √ Start a family.
Now I just need to write his awesome birth story!
JMF
