1. Leave the state of Florida once.
Not this month. But we have an idea in the works for this summer.
2. Complete at least 3 arm-specific workouts per months.
ooofff. Honestly tennis season requires me to be essentially a single mom and I don’t know how to balance that yet. Yes, I know when I get home from work I could work out with the baby as my activity but that hasn’t been happening. My hands are so full with baby, laundry, cooking, keeping the house from being a mess & general life. I do not do school work at home though – I’ll take the wins where I can get them.
3. Spend an average of less than $550/month on groceries.
- $62.77 via Kroger Delivery
- $21.90 at Publix
- $200.47 at Publix – this is why I should not be sent in unaccompanied
- $88.01 via Kroger Delivery
- $9.47 at Publix
- $8.47 at Publix
- $161.91 via Kroger Deliver
- $50.19 at Publix
- $90.62 via Kroger Delivery
- $36.28 at Publix
TOTAL: $730.09 (so over out budget but in our defense the last Kroger Delivery & Publix were on the second to last day of February sooo really apply to March)
4. Jog at least once a week.
- Week 1: nope
- Week 2: I just need to have my clothes laid out so that when I get home in the afternoon with baby there is not excuse
- Week 3: we had 2 doctors appointments this week + walking with my neighbors soooo it did not happen
- Week 4: mmm no BUT I went on THREE stroller walks
- Week 5: lots. of. walks. I’m hiding away from runs for a few reasons: 1) I hate running 2) The afternoons are hot 3) I need a new sports bra for my new mom boobs 4) I’d rather do anything but run
5. Use no more than a roll of paper towel per month.
We actually did a great job this month! Keeping rags in the kitchen under the sink really helped.
6. Complete a deep analysis of The Iliad.
It was goal to start the actual Iliad on February 1st & I did just that! I only read 3 pages that first day but I started. At this point I have to be the most prepared person before reading it (2 audiobooks/courses, teaching it for 4 years, & I watched Helen of Troy enough times)
7. Grow my emergency savings account to at least $2,000.
We’re getting a SIZABLE tax return (thanks to the baby), but it’s not all going to be dumped into savings (like some people will probably argue it should be). Instead, we are using it to go on my Oxford trip (see goal #13 for more details).
8. Use my slowcooker at least 4 times a month.
9. Spend no more than $50 on frivolous personal spending.
- $4.58 for a year-long membership to Doyogawithme.com – I bought this in December of 2021 sooo it technically doesn’t count for this goal BUT it should because I am using the membership in 2022 ($55 for a year-long membership, so I am splitting up the cost per month to be fair)
- $2.83 National Geographic History Magazine 1-Year Subscription (6 issues – $34 for a year-long membership, so I am splitting up the cost per month to be fair)
- $24.99 February Catholic All Year Digital Membership
- $1.50 coffee sold at school by our ACCESS students (can we call this charity??? lol)
- $2.50 fancy chocolate milk while on a solo grocery run
- $7.99 Cafe Bustello Cafe con Leche K-cups for work
TOTAL: $41.89
10. Make a meatless dinner at least twice a week, especially Friday.
- Week 1: Mac n Cheese (from a box) & I ordered a Vietnamese Egg Sandwich on Uber Eats on Friday (we were at an AirBnb for a wedding)
- Week 2: Tuscan Skillet Gnocchi & French Onion Soup
- Week 3: Shrimp in a Tomato Sauce with Sourdough Bread and Sautéed Green Beans with Radicchio & Fried Fish Tacos
- Week 4: Truffle Mac n Cheese (from a box, this was for lunch) & Apple, Goat Cheese Spinach Salad
- Week 5: Matlaw’s Frozen Stuffed Scallops with Salad with a Loaf of Bread & Vegetarian Taco Bowls & Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash in Coconut Milk Rice
11. Go to church every Sunday & Holy Day of Obligation.
- Week 1: Sunday 8 am
- Week 2: We did not go this week because we had a wedding Sunday night and it was too much to check out of the AirBnb, drive home, unpack, prepare for the work week, dead with baby AND go to mass
- Week 3: Sunday 8am
- Week 4: Sunday 8am
- Week 5: Sunday 8am
12. Send someone a surprise postcard once a month.
I think this is going to be a major year-long fail lol
13. Travel internationally at least once.
We officially booked our VRBO accommodations in Oxford; under my estimated budget too! Read HERE to catch up on why we are spending 3 weeks in Oxford. The major change this time around from 2019 is the baby. We had to make some adjustments, & ask if all this was possible, but baby & hubby are coming with me. Will is going to be, what we’ve started calling in this house, “a full father” and watch him while I am in class and at program specific events. The sucky thing is that the program would not let me back out of the dorm cost so we are having to acquire a dorm PLUS a house for rent. It’s a crap ton of money (wasted) but at least they did give me a $7,000 scholarship to even be able to do this program.
14. Listen to at least 1 hour of Spanish language learning a week.
- Week 1: I speak in Spanish a lot to the baby…does that count?
- Week 2: mmmm nada
- Week 3: nope
- Week 4: 2 15 minute episodes on the podcast Coffee Break Spanish
- Week 5: mmm no
Note: I grew up speaking mostly Spanish to my grandparents but I want to strengthen my formal Spanish to keep ties to my Cuban roots
15. Listen to at least 1 hour of Italian language learning a week.
- Week 1: nothing
- Week 2: nothing :/
- Week 3: nope
- Week 4: 2 20 minute episodes on the podcast Coffee Break Italian
- Week 5: negative
Note: Italian was my minor in college so I know enough to be conversational(ish) but I want to strengthen it to have a multicultural household, if not multilingual
16. Go out on a date with the hubby at least once a month.
I think attending a fabulous wedding totally counts as date night!!! Especially when we are staying in a nearby AirBnb, within walking distance to the wedding, while my parents babysit.
And we had a legit date February 11th! Two of my students were putting on a comedy skit to the song “Waterloo” (I show them the clip from Momma Mia when we do Napoleon) so Will & I went to the talent show. We decided to dip out early to a great bar, Can & Bottle, for a few drinks and one round of trivia.
17. Do yoga at least twice a month.
I’m really disappointed I didn’t get to this. I always feel much better emotionally and physically when I incorporate yoga. Plus I pay for a yearly membership, so I really should use it.
18. Only shop second-hand for clothes I want (& do not need).
I had to toss 2 pairs of shoes this month, a pair of loafers & wedges. I don’t typically buy shoes second hand but I’ll be on the look out.
19. Vacuum at least once a week.
- Week 1: nada
- Week 2: ran the Roomba…
- Week 3: I think so
- Week 4: negative
- Week 5: once
20. Write at least 1 art history blog post a month.
Took me a few nap times to actually get it out! I don’t like being on the computer when baby is up but his naps are so sporadic & short!!!
21. Waste more time with the baby (& hubby).
Not as much as I would have liked, but we did work it in on easy going Saturdays and Sundays.
Not related to my February list but here are the goodies from the Catholic All Year Membership Welcome Envelope!
- An 18 x 24 inch laminated paper calendar
- Custom adhesive index tabs to make your copies of The Catholic All Year Compendium and The Catholic All Year Prayer Companion
- Custom liturgical year extra-wide dividers and adhesive tabs
- A cover and spine insert to create your own liturgical living resource binder
- The Catholic All Day prayer booklet
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I can receive some compensation.
JMF
