Last Call 2012

Trite though it seems, I spent yesterday reflecting on the year soon drawing to a close.  What have I done well or not?  How can I improve myself and thereby the daily lives of my family members?  Here's what I narrowed it down to:

• Personal: Self Control and Discipline


• Nutrition--More plant-based whole foods.  Less meat, and the meat we eat will be local, fresh, and/or organic when at all possible.  Less sugar.  Less processed foods.  No GMOs--if I am what I eat eats, then I'm still eating rather a lot of GMO corn.  Read labels for hidden MSG.  We won't waste what's in the pantry (see budget bullet below), but I will change some shopping habits.  Take advantage of the two farmer's markets nearby.  Replant our own herbs.  Take note of what I'm missing.  This past year, it was too much caffeine, not enough iron and B vitamins (big no meat kick), and not enough vitamin D after the summer.
• Activity--move moving, walking, running, yoga, hiking.  More being outside.  Less TV and computer (after I finish this post).  How I live will influence my kids for life.  Get brave enough to let Isabelle ride her bike around the block with us walking.
• Routine--make one and stick to it.  Have a loose plan for the day, don't laze around in PJs then scramble to meet the household needs.  Pick outfits for the week for me and the kids on Saturday or Sunday.
• Interactions with Frank, Isabelle, and Will--be nice, be calm, be patient.  Listen more.  Talk less.  No more yelling in frustration, aggravation, or just across the house being lazy.  Give what I want to get.
• Finishing--this is a biggie for me.  I'm a professional procrastinator, an 85 percenter.  Almost finished is not the same as finished, as evidenced by the 2 recovered kitchen chairs that sat outshining their 4 shabby comrades.  Finished the other 4 yesterday. 
• Add a doula and/or basic lactation certification to my existing LCCE to reach more women around me.

• Family: Budget and Plan

• Cash budget--the only way I can stay honest on a budget.  It's going to be hard to reel in after this last quarter of 2012.  It's probably going to limit our intake of adult beverages, as hinted at with the title.  It's easy to feel like too much is never enough and forget that the pride of saving and smart planning is far more satisfying than consuming in excess.
• Meal plan--see the above.  It's amazing how much less I spend and how much more healthfully we eat when meal planning happens.  My goal is to have a written plan for two weeks at a time.  Shop for no more than 3 meals at a time since all these fresh fruits and veggies spoil faster.  Buy organic and see what I mean--scary to think what's in and on the other stuff to make it last.  It's not cheap to eat clean and healthy, but junk isn't cheap either.  Everything is pricey at the moment.
• Set savings goals--the first goal is to pay off the credit card and actually START saving again.  Make the habit even if the amount set aside is negligible in the long run.

We've had a lovely first day of 2013 despite too much Mexican food topped by too much champagne last night.  At bedtime, I deleted Facebook from my phone and have not missed it at all.  I'm detoxing myself from the smartphone.  It is still just a phone after all.  Real life going on around me is exponentially more interesting and more worthy of my attention.

Spending the morning in the woods on a hiking trail with the kids was so nice.  It's been so long since I was outside like that.  I'd almost forgotten the quiet reverence of the woods.  We covered backyard pinecones with peanut butter and seeds for the birds (and squirrels).  Now it's time for naps all around.  Happy New Year, indeed!