New Year, New Goals!

This year is really speeding through its gears. March is already at the halfway point! I had decided that I was going to set goals and make them happen. So many things have been vying for my attention thus far. So focus was the first trait I needed to work on to get these goals accomplished. More often than I care to admit, I find myself being a bit scatterbrained. I have my mind set on a future trip. First, Israel, then I want to see Colorado. And then to go back to the Tennessee mountains. They are on my Bucket List. Mountains! I'm thinking I don't really want to play in the snow. After the storm we had here, I'm satisfied with my snow experiences already.

Organization is key.

But back to my goals. I really wanted to get better organized this year. We have had books scattered everywhere. My daughters were the only ones with shelves for theirs. And it drove me nuts, especially in 2020. But this year, my husband got me something I'm truly in love with. Shelves! Christmas gift cards were put to good use in getting another DVD shelf - to finally separate the kids' movies from ours and give us more room.

Since we do not subscribe to streaming services or have cable, a lot of what we watch is movies we own or borrow from the library. So we have a lot of them. 

And then the book shelf he got me was perfect! I was able to put the boys' books and my own on it, while still having room to spare. So I pulled things from bins to display for a change.

I still have 2 bins more of books that I know I won't be able to fit all, but it is a great start. Since taking this photo, I have been sent more books from my mom and the shelves are nearly full.

Girl, look at that body!

I wanted to lose 45 pounds. Be healthier. My husband and I laid out the ground plans for this year and the changes we wanted to see. However, we haven't fully kept to our workout goals. Sickness and storms have interfered in one way or another. We started strong and then my body revolted. I liked working out because it gave me more energy. Sadly, the pain has been killing me. I tried for as long as I could. Now I'm going to switch tactics and work on those meals, smoothies and sleeping better. I really love skipping a meal and having a smoothie for it instead. I am also loving making skillet meals that incorporate cauliflower rice and veggies. Just wish they weren't so expensive!

Cutting back on sweets - Only 3 days a week are we planning to let the kids have treats. As for us, we are only having them on truly special occasions. But in addition to that, we are making sweets a little more on the health-conscious side. More fruit, less sugar. Got any recipes - I'm all ears! Leave me a comment below.

Reading more.

Once upon a time, I was such a heavy reader. I let it go for a while, but I'm back at it. I'm setting goals. I have lots of books to read. The local library had a contest that the kids and I were participating in. It was so much fun to log how many we read! Goodreads also has a Reading Goal function. You set how many books you want to read this year and it keeps track based on the book reviews you leave. I love being a part of Goodreads! So far, I finished 10 books for that goal. For the library contest, I've read more, but mostly for reading to my daughter. As of the time I'm writing this - I've finished reading Ensnared in the Wolf's Lair by Ann Bausum about the 1944 plot to kill Hitler and the children who paid the price for that coup. This was followed by Tales of the Peculiar, the first book in a series my mom sent me that is by Ransom Riggs.

I plan to continue that series as well as The Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore. If you loved the movies Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children or I Am Number Four, then these series may be of interest to you. With how I read lately, I'm flying through them.

Starting up date nights...

On my Bucket List, I decided I wanted to make a once a month date night happen. When you are in a relationship, especially with children involved, you need that time to reconnect. To be child-free and focusing on each other. No interruptions. January's date night was awesome! We went out to try Vietnamese food for the first time. February didn't have a date night because of the snow storm that disrupted life here for so long. And that is okay. We have had to get everything back on track since then. March isn't looking like we will have one either. My husband rarely gets Friday or Saturday nights off. And one of those is already booked for a camping trip. Hopefully in April we can pick it back up!

And finally...

I have decided to get a cane. I need something for days when it gets too hard. The pain has me struggling with just walking sometimes. And I have decided that I need to accept the help that a walking stick provides. However! With that being said, it won't be your standard walking stick. Oh no! See, I'm a cool nerd. Which means this stick of mine is going to be retrofitted to my personal style. I have been researching steampunk styled canes. Usually, these are for cosplay. Mine is going to be fully functional. I've been researching making one or buying one. I like something simple like this one. Would get through airport security easier!
 

Or I could buy one from Etsy. I found a couple styles that are pretty. And I could potentially add more to it. Check out this one. I'm stuck on whether it is going to be comfortable to hold. Probably not this one. But it is cool, don't you think?

 

What about you? What goals do you have? Any skills you want to learn? We are already a day away from March. No time like the present to begin!

How 2020 Has Changed Our Traditions

2020 - what a year! Such a year, that memes were made and it has become a household name to describe any bad event for the future. We are already making the, "that's so 2020" jokes in our house. Are you? But here we are moving through 2021. Most of us are hoping for a better year. Some of us may actually be believing that it can't possibly be worse. Me? I'm positive in my belief that it could be worse, but I'm hoping for at least some things to get better. I'd have to say I would be happy if I never had to wear the mask again. Social distancing doesn't bother me so much anymore. I guess I'm used to people not hanging out. Introvert! But suffocating in the mask, with my fear of having both nose and mouth covered at the same time... well, let's say I have had to focus hard on breathing more than once. If they go away, I can accept the rest of the changes as permanent features in our 'normal' society moving forward. 

 

My husband and I have started structuring traditions we want to continue no matter how the world changes around us. 2020 showed us how intense the revisions to normal traditions could be. I can't remember another year where extended family wasn't together for Christmas! How about birthdays? Thanksgiving? And Easter? When did we last have those without everyone getting together? But with this being the reality we faced, we saw things we wanted to keep going. Especially in case our next move does take us out of reach of family. I'd like to share some of our ideas with you and see what you are doing. 

We can start with Christmas, as it is the biggest for me. 

Christmas fun starts the day after Thanksgiving for our family. That is when we are allowed to pull out the Christmas decorations and begin the cheer! That is when I'll get out the card hanger to show off the cards we get and remember the love we have from others. 

Christmas Eve in 2020 was spent having desserts and warm beverages with some of the in laws. A chance to wish each other a nice Christmas. I'm not sure how we want to handle it in the future. I do know, however, that we have decided to put the children's Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers out on Christmas Eve going forward. Not before. Not because they can't handle them being out without touching them. I'm a no-nonsense Mama who doesn't mind taking away presents when they can't leave them alone. So they know better. No. We decided we don't want to hear anything like this anymore - "Look how big your box is!" "My stocking has more than anyone else's in it!" "Did you get more gifts than I did?" Nope. Not having that next year. Doesn't matter how often I remind them that it isn't size or quantity that matters. Doesn't matter that I have told them they should be grateful they are getting anything at all. They still can't stop the comparing. So the gifts are going to stay hidden until the night before. 

Christmas day is going to start with eggnog and a baked breakfast item (strawberries and cream cinnamon rolls or a coffee cake). We will gather as a family in front the tree and open gifts together. My husband and I haven't laid out many plans past this point. But we have started deciding which foods need to be a Christmas staple. His mother and grandmother usually make date balls. That is a recipe I'm going to learn to make to complete this holiday!

Bringing in the New Year

New Years Eve is one day of the year that my husband has never worked. And never plans to. We stay up together to bring in the New Year.  We haven't held to anything beyond that. One year we spent it drinking with the in laws. And that signaled the time we decided that getting drunk was no longer something we wanted in our future. Then we spent the following one drinking a single Smirnoff and enjoying video games together. The children couldn't handle staying up long enough. This year, we went with sparkling juice. We don't care for the New York countdown and Ball Drop. I never understood it. I also don't get the Texan tradition of eating black eyed peas (NOT a bean I like). So having a beverage of our choice and playing video games with each other, and whichever of the kids that can manage to stay awake with us, is how we plan to bring in each New Year. We also like to reflect on the good things from the previous year, and dreams for the new year.

Valentine's Day (Or Singles Awareness Day)

This holiday doesn't hold a special place in my heart. High expectations that are met with higher disappointment has been my view. Personally, I see it as another reason to get my husband a gift and hopefully have him home from work. I'm trying to find new traditions to turn this around for us. Since we have kids, I'm looking for a family idea. Have any? Leave it in the comments for me!

Easter

When we first moved to be nearer to my in laws, this was a family gathering. Food, Bible reading and an egg hunt for the kiddos. After 2020, I think I prefer the scavenger hunt idea. I hide things and clues and they have to go search. In addition, we don't have to worry about how much candy they are getting. I can hide things they really want. Yugioh cards, Bakugan toys, Barbie accessories, glow sticks - or other useful things for their entertainment. If family gatherings are still a no-go this year, this will be my plan!

Mother's Day

My husband makes sure the kids sign the card. Sometimes they even help him pick one! They are still a bit young or not quite reliable in the kitchen, so it may be too much to hope that Mom can take the whole day off. But my husband does try. And when he cooks dinner, I'm always impressed and completely happy!

Father's Day

I have the children make his card with me. I can't drive to the store without him, so surprising him is very difficult. My favorite thing to do is get him something. I only have so many times in the year that I can give him a reason for allowing me to buy him a gift. Otherwise he tries his best to refuse gifts. 

Independence Day

Since my Uncle Bob died of lung cancer, I haven't liked this holiday. It just isn't the same. And when we moved to Waco, well, even more reason to hate the holiday as we can't use fireworks. Nothing more than sparklers and firecrackers. We don't even have a grill to cookout on. So why bother? But my husband has promised that one day we will live in a place where we can get fireworks and a grill, and put on a show of our own for the kids. Until then, I'm meh about this one. What do you do for it?

Halloween

We have done a couple things for past Halloweens. 2019 saw us trick-or-treating with my Mother-in-law in her neighborhood. My joy for this holiday comes only in the fact that I'm allowed to dress up in my cosplay and it is completely normal. I'm at the point that if 2020 is any indication of how the rest of the years are going to be, then I'm going to need another time to dress up. I LOVE cosplay. And I missed wearing it so much this year.... Aside from that, we are thinking that a scavenger hunt in the dark is in order again. The kids loved it! They ran around with glow sticks searching for the hidden candies and trading cards. Even the toddler was included. Their Dad and I just stood back laughing and watching. It was great fun for all of us!

Being Thankful

Thanksgiving is one holiday I love. It isn't complete without a pecan pie, for sure! And it also marks the time when I think it is acceptable to start drinking eggnog. I love eggnog! However, I don't like too much of it. So, usually, I have one carton on hand around Thanksgiving and another for Christmas morning. Any more than that is just too much for us. My husbands family serves watergate salad, pineapple stuffing and a delicious broccoli and bacon salad that I will have to learn to make, starting in 2021! We have decided that our Thanksgiving turkey won't be enough without those three options. Oh and yeast rolls with my cinnamon honey butter!

So there you are. 2020 has rearranged how we are treating some of the holidays. Who knows what 2021 will bring? But if getting together with the family is out for good, or if public events stay canceled, what are traditions that you are willing to adopt permanently? I'd love to hear about them!

Moving Through the New Year!

So how is your 2019 coming along so far? Can you believe that we already completed a month in this new year? Wasn't last night when we celebrated New Year's Eve? *sighs* Time keeps getting faster. Or maybe I'm just slowing down... I did turn 31 last month, after all. Now, I'm also planning a birthday party for my younger son who is turning 9! He wants a Plants vs Zombies party.

Did you have a resolution? I didn't. I mean, let's face it, resolutions have high failure rates. I did have goals. Things I want to accomplish. And so far, several things are falling in to place to make those goals come to fruition. 

• Move 
• Be more organized
• Begin homeschooling again
• Get on a new program to get my back fixed
• Create my steampunk cosplay
• Try out Urban Exploration
• Start a garden

 My husband and I are moving next week to be closer to family. Next week! *insert happy dance here* This has been a dream long in the making. I started packing months ago. And now, I'm happy to report, we should have everything completely boxed by Thursday. I've been weeding out the junk we can live without and boxing up everything else. We found a beautiful little duplex with a fireplace, spacious closets EVERYWHERE and a carport. My husband will miss his garage space, but he will have an outdoor storage room instead to put all his tools in. We also had to give up a yard, but will be near two family members' homes that have large yards. Plus, there should be some parks close by. My dashing husband took my advice and got a suit for interviews use.

$20 at Goodwill led to impressing his new boss and landing the transfer he needed to get us up there. Plus, he hopes to start looking for a job in the engineer field, so he will need to have a suit for the interviews to come. Well worth the investment! The first dream is coming true!

I have also been planning to get more organized. The realization has come that as the kids have grown, so has my need to keep things in order. They all have needs and I have to adapt to those needs. So with this move, I am planning on ways to keep everything together in its proper place. No more random clutter and junk everywhere. I find that I stress out more when I look around and see things everywhere. I love being a minimalist. However, with kids, that isn't always possible. So I want to make everything more manageable. I've found ideas on Pinterest to keep me on track.

Homeschooling has been on my mind lately. The public school system is frightening to put it lightly. And if we are to be perfectly honest, all they are learning is how to take and pass a test. That is the main goal. But there is so much more that our children deserve. I want them to excel. I want them to grown mentally as well as physically. To surpass the limitations of mainstream society. I want them to know how to succeed in college and in life. So, with that dream, I am thinking that if it is possible I want to start teaching them at home. I've begun to research curriculum. I started a Pinterest board for that as well (love Pinterest!) that has all kinds of projects, helpful tips and websites I could use to get started with. My husband agreed that he would like this as well. We will teach more than just the required subjects. We will study life skills that have been lost in the recent generations. 

My greatest dream is to get my back fixed so that I can be healthy and vibrant again. In order to do this, we have to get me somewhere that has a spinal clinic included in the program that services poor people. Where we are now, I can't get help. They closed down the spine clinic right when I finally got my referral. 

My Mom sent me so many amazing things to help me create my ultimate steampunk cosplay.

This year, I'm finally going to complete it! I have a fully finished top hat and all the trimmings to turn my dress, skirt, shirts into my time traveling inspired outfit! Cannot wait!

Urban exploration is a bigger sensation than I ever thought below. And I think we have a good chance of seeing some great abandoned places where we are moving. It is like walking through history sometimes. From things as simple as a condemned house to an amphitheater. Or as grand as the abandoned Soviet hanger with shuttles still parked inside?! It is so exciting to me!

And finally, I want to start growing things. It will be a bit trying as we don't have a yard. So I'm looking at ideas to build a platform garden. Pinterest, again, came through for me on this one.