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
Well honestly I felt this month we went backwards. The guest room closet is bursting at the seams and it is driving me nuts. Why do we have so much stuff just stored!? I need to purge!
2. Travel outside the state of Florida at least once.
Nope. I’m very sad this didn’t happen at all this year but so is life during COVID & pregnant.
3. Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
Oooo I’m not awesome about this during the holidays – too many other yummy things to drink instead! 🙂
4. Spend an average less than $650/month on groceries.
Week 1, December 1-4 (short week)
- On list:
- $0
- Off list:
- $0
TOTAL: $0
Week 2, December 5-11
- On list:
- $65.90 via Kroger Delivery
- $6.98 at Publix
- Off list:
- $11.47 at Publix
TOTAL: $84.35
Week 3, December 12-18
- On list:
- $40.11 via Kroger Delivery
- $27.53 at Publix
- Off list:
- $3.99 at Publix
TOTAL: $71.63
Week 4, December 19-25 (obviously a weird week with Christmas but we also went to South Florida the weekend before Christmas)
- On list:
- $226.03 via Kroger Delivery
- Off list:
- $0
TOTAL: $226.03
Week 4, December 26-31 (short week & my parents are staying the week with us)
- On list:
- $79.25 at Publix for continued Christmas feasting
- Off list:
- $0
TOTAL: $79.25
- Monthly Grand Total On List: $445.80
- Monthly Grand Total Off List: $15.46
- MONTH GRAND TOTAL: $461.26
5. Write 2 art history blog posts a month.
I am *almost* done with 2. I hope to finish them over winter break to publish in January.
6. Keep my potted herbs alive (& maybeeee add more green things to my backyard).
Some things are struggling (rosemary & one plant on the wall) but otherwise still green here!! I’m now getting gardening gifts for Christmas: my sister-in-law gave us 2 beautiful hanging planters to move our “wandering jew” plant into & Will got me a beautiful wooden plant stand.
7. Use my slow cooker at least every other week.
- Week 1: no
- Week 2: yeah no
- Week 3: still no
- Week 4: why is this another no?
- Week 5: actually YES! My mom got me a great new slow cooker for Christmas and we tested this baby out with a Loaded Potato Soup
8. Go for a jog or long walk every week.
Not the jog part so much because I walked a lot more! But I did jog like twice in December. . .I want to continue this goal next year but just the jogging part.
9. Practice yoga at least twice a month.
Yoga with the hubby: “Yoga for a Strong, Healthy Spine” (34:34). I actually pay $55/year for extra access to the website Doyogawithme.com because I like the extra videos AND I want to support their website.
And yoga with my momma (& baby): “Baby and Me Yoga for Energy and Joy” (21:56).
10. Read at least 5 books classified as “classic literature.”
Ok so maybe I’m coping out BUT how to we define “classic literature”? Is it only books written by old white European men? No! Is it only books over 100 years old? No! Soooo in an effort to “reach” this goal I am going to expand my definition. lol
Here are the books I am considering classics that I have finished & why I feel they deserve that title:
- Time Machine by H.G. Wells – this one fits the “old white male author trope”
- Catch-22 by Joseph Heller – this one is also written by a white male but is considered an anti-war classic of the 20th century
- Dune by Frank Herbert – still written by a white male but has arguably become a classic, at least a cult classic. Yes, I read it because the film was coming out.
- The Bible: A Biography (Books that Changed the World) by Karen Armstrong – ok this is a stretch but it is a biography of a book that is TOTALLY a classic, this book is written by a white lady but the books of the Bible were (probably) written by white male.
- Homer’s The Iliad and the Odyssey: A Biography (Books that Changed the World) by Alberto Manguel – ok sooo doubly a book written by (one old) white men but The Iliad and The Odyssey are definitely classics. I picked this book because I want to read The Iliad next. Like college-level academic analysis (considering I taught it in Humanities for 4 years lol) but I needed this primer before I dive into that in 2022.
11. Grow my emergency savings account to at least $5,000.
As I said before, I made the choice to close my savings to use that money to covered month of unpaid maternity leave (ahem we need paid maternal and paternal leave in this country!).
12. Vacuum at least once a week.
Yes I think so. Maybe I forgot one week but then made up for it around Christmas.
13. Focus on working out my arms more.
ummmm no 🙁 I think I am going to keep this goal, but redefine it a bit, for 2022.
14. Finish our patio decorating.
We need to add a few plants, in the new year. Perhaps.
15. Spend an average of LESS than an hour and a half on my phone per day.
Gave up on this once the baby was born #2ambreastfeeding BUT I think I’ll keep this for next year.
16. Buy no books (unless I have a gift card of course).
Good to go this month! But I received a few for Christmas:
- Just my Type: A Book About Fonts by Simon Garfield
- Maximize your Child’s Bilingual Ability: Ideas and inspiration for even greater success and joy raising bilingual kids by Adam Beck
- The True Meaning of Christmas: The Birth of Jesus and the Origins of the Season by Michael Patrick Barber (gift from our Church)
17. Do no school work on Sunday.
I am really proud of myself to keeping to this when the temptation was there when I went back to work after baby. Honestly, it makes my week so much better to have a “day off.”
18. Call someone out of the blue to chat at least once a month.
Yes! Well this one is an easy one to do with the holidays. lol
19. Finish decorating our two extra bedrooms.
Yes-ish, but the guest bedroom (briefly) turned into Santa’s workshop/storage facility during November & December before Christmas.
20. Organize an intentional date with my hubby once a month.
We’ve been really good about this when either staying with family or family is staying with us. At least once we go out for after-dinner drinks while the baby sleeps. This has been wonderful!
21. Start a family.
Baby just celebrated his first Christmas & is about to turn 6 months. I still thank my lucky stars I get to hold him in my arms every morning I see his smiling face in his crib. Man, parenthood has been a fun wild ride so far!
Not related to my December list but here’s the goodies from the Catholic All Year Liturgical Living Subscription Box for the season of Christmas!
P.S. yes it is STILL Christmas after Christmas Day y’all!!! I have strong feelings about this – READ HERE.
- Baby Jesus for Straw Manger (manger from Advent box)
- Nativity Socks from Delphina Rose Art
- Christmas Wreath Pavlova Recipe
- Christ Candle Set DIY Kit
- Chocolate Rocks for Feast of St. Stephan
- Wine Glass Dragon for Feast of St. John
- Mater Dei Pin for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
- Adoration of the Magi Print for the Epiphany
- Holy Name Camp Bracelet Kit f& Holy Name Alphabet Soup Recipe or the Feast of the Holy Name of JesusT
