1. Leave the state of Florida once.
Not this month but I am currently in planning mode! I’m also reading up a lot on plane travel with a baby! Yikes.
2. Complete at least 3 arm-specific workouts per months.
- Nike Training: Bi’s and Tri’s (14:00)
3. Spend an average of less than $550/month on groceries.
- $166.41 via Kroger Delivery
- $37.07 at Winn-Dixie
- $27.66 at Publix
- $90.67 via Kroger Delivery
- $35.81 at Publix
- $84.14 via Kroger Delivery
- $73.53 at Publix
- $19.03 at Publix
- $71.69 via Kroger Delivery
- $22.10 at TJ Maxx (yes I got food there)
TOTAL: $628.11 (over by $78.11)
4. Jog at least once a week.
- Week 1: negative, it was still the Christmas season & school started up again.
- Week 2: I got up on a Saturday morning & jogged an hour after sunrise
- Week 3: um no
- Week 4: yep no
- Week 5: you guess it…nope
5. Use no more than a roll of paper towel per month.
eeeekkk I have figured out what we are doing wrong. We need to not keep the paper towel roll in easy reach & I need to keep rags close to the kitchen.
I found a little container I was not using for anything else & put it under the kitchen sink with rags in it. Will wanted to keep the paper towels in the kitchen (for now) while we transition.
6. Complete a deep analysis of The Iliad.
I finished listening to the audiobook Homer’s The Iliad and the Odyssey: A Biography (Books that Changed the World) by Alberto Manguel in the first few days of 2022 as my first prep into The Iliad. I also finally managed to order the translation of The Iliad I wanted, thanks to a conversation with my uncle. And, accidently, I found that my library offered a 6 hour “course” on The Iliad from the Great Courses platform. I am a little over halfway with the Great Courses course to start reading the *actual* Iliad in February.
Funny story: I accidently ordered The Odyssey instead & had to return it to get The Iliad.
7. Grow my emergency savings account to at least $2,000.
So I am not going to pull over money into my savings until I have more saved up. Currently, I am focused on decreased spending to build up a surplus. I keep reminding myself that I will not get a paycheck this summer (normally I opt to receive smaller paychecks throughout the year to continue to get paid until the end of July). Our tax return will be decently large this year (thanks Biden & baby) but that’s pretty much already allocated to our Oxford trip.
8. Use my slow cooker at least 4 times a month.
- Chicken Breast
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Coconut Curry with Vegetables
- Zucchini Noodles with Marinara Sauce
All from The Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Cookbook.
9. Spend no more than $50 on frivolous personal spending.
- $0 Rewilding Motherhood: Your Path to an Empowered Feminine Spirituality ($12.89, bought with gift card)
- $0 Navy Blue Fishnet Tights ($14.99, bought with gift card)
- $2.00 Turmeric Iced Latte at Winn-Dixie
- $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)
- $0 6 beeswax tapers from Etsy ($22.99, bought with gift card)
- $0 Catholic Holiness tracker from Etsy ($.99, bought with gift card)
- $0 Pinafore Apron Dress with double-slit from Etsy ($23.50, bought with gift card)
- $0 The Rosary in Latin Prayer Cards Printable from Etsy (gift card for $1.90)
- $9 Catholic All Year Monthly Praying and Planning Membership (normally $18, I signed up at a discount but this payment model is ending for a new monthly model, more information in the February round up)
- $0 Jane.com Women’s Warm Thermal Tights | 3 Pack ($22 bought with gift card)
- $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)
- $0 Starbucks ($10.59 bought with gift card – I bought Will a “congrats you made it through the first week of tennis season” gift + a little something for me for also “making it through the first week of tennis season with a baby”)
TOTAL: $9.41 (I only made it because I used allll the holiday gift cards)
10. Make a meatless dinner at least twice a week, especially Friday.
- Week 1: Peruvian Seafood Soup & Sopa de Ajo
- Week 2: Broccoli Cheddar Soup & Coconut Curry with Vegetables both from The Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes
- Week 3: Fattoush & Koshari from Cooking with the Saints, Black Beans & Rice (beans by my aba), and Zucchini Noodles with Marinara Sauce from The Easy 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes
- Week 4: Lentil Shepherd’s Pie (meal dropped off by a friend & in my freezer) & Savory Quinoa Salad from Around the Catholic Table
11. Go to church every Sunday & Holy Day of Obligation.
- Week 1: Sunday 8 am
- Week 2: no go this week, Will had a sore throat so we stayed home
- Week 3: Sunday 8 am (we sit outside & it was breezy and chilly)
- Week 4: we stayed over my mother-in-laws for the first time for my niece’s birthday & there was just too much chaos (in a good, family way but I know my limits)
- Week 5: Sunday 8am in the FREEZING COLD (we sit outside because of COVID) & it was the blessing of the throats
12. Send someone a surprise postcard once a month.
ummm *runs to go do that*…sure
13. Travel internationally at least once.
Officially told the Oxford people YES! To read about the trip of a lifetime that was robbed because of COVID click HERE.
14. Listen to at least 1 hour of Spanish language learning a week.
- Week 1: no, back to school week is just crazy
- Week 2: 2 15-minute episodes of “Coffee Break Spanish Podcast” while cooking
- Week 3: no :/
- Week 4: negative
15. Listen to at least 1 hour of Italian language learning a week.
- Week 1: no, back to school week is just crazy
- Week 2: 2 20-minute episodes of “Coffee Break Italian Podcast” while cleaning
- Week 3: mmm no
- Week 4: no
16. Go out on a date with the hubby at least once a month.
Nothing beyond couch “coffee dates” during weekend nap times – it’s tennis & science fair season!
17. Do yoga at least twice a month.
- Yoga for a Strong, Healthy Spine (34:34) – with baby
18. Only shop second-hand for clothes I want (& do not need).
I’m actually going through stuff I want to try to sell to a local consignment shop. Just things I didn’t love pre-baby and that don’t feel right anymore.
So I am not counting these 4 pairs of tights I bought as stuff I wanted, versus needed, because now that I am wearing dresses & skirts more, tights are a NEED in the chillier weather. Plus, they all cost me $0 thanks to gift cards.
19. Vacuum at least once a week.
- Week 1: nothing this week
- Week 2: definitely enjoyed vacuuming up all the Christmas tree pine needles
- Week 3: a quick vacuum + Roomba on Saturday
- Week 4: Saturday vacuum, much needed
20. Write at least 1 art history blog post a month.
21. Waste more time with the baby (& hubby).
Yes! We have definitely enjoyed lovely walks & couch snuggles when I get home from work. I’ve been really please with the way we have handled work and family life. Shockingly wayyyy healthier than we did without a baby. Work to live, don’t live to work!
Not related to my January list but here’s the goodies from the Catholic All Year Liturgical Living Subscription Box for Ordinary Time after Christmas!
- Olive Branch Wreath Kit
- St. Sebastian Skewers – one of my favorite saints!
- St. Agnes Wool Felted Lamb Kit
- Pin-St-Paul-on-the-Donkey Game
- 51% Beeswax Taper Candles – lol I did not see this before ordering some 100% beeswax candles on Etsy
- Blessing of Throats Ribbon
- St. Josephine Bakhita Print & Recipe
- Lourdes, France water (not holy water)
- Vatican Coat of Arms Vinyl Sticker
She’s changing the boxes from each of the liturgical seasons to monthly, but it’s still $75.99. Too expensive for me to do every month (goes over my $50 promise) but am keeping my monthly digital membership which is changing to $24.99 a month. That;s half my “frivolous: spending allotment per month but these resources are important to me. I will reevaluate after a month or two.
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I can receive some compensation.
JMF
