My game face for 2013

I am not typically a reflective person. I have the terrible habit of speaking without thinking and being very impulsive. It's how I've always been. So with 2012 coming to an end, I've become much more introspective. Maybe it's 2012 ending or maybe because I'm turning 30 this year or maybe because I'm ready for a change. Either way, I'm taking a long look in the mirror and figuring out what I want to look at for the rest of my life.

I like my family and job. I enjoy my day to day life and am generally happy with where I'm at in life. I certainly didn't know I'd be where I am. In my teens, I thought I'd be married with multiple kids... Living in a small house with a dog. You know... The typical all American dream. I don't know that my life has stayed on the same path but I am still living a very nice life.

However, as I mentioned before, I have become very introspective and reflective in my soon to be "old age". I am not necessarily happy with the way I act and how I treat some important people in my life. I think, like many, I tend to take many things in my life for granted. So this year, I am going to change my life. Figure out who I am; what I like; how I should act; what I want; how to simplify my life.

So listed below are very specific things I want to change about my job, my house, my family, my marriage, my finances, my attitude, my looks, my personality, and my life.

Simplify my house:

Noah and I want to move into a bigger house with a yard. I simply think that if we got rid of a bunch of stuff we could live in this house a little longer than we had originally planned. So there are many things we need to change... See the following list.

Clean out my closet and get rid of clothes/purses/shoes and donate

Clean out my dresser and night stand

Purge jewelry

Store Ayden's outgrown clothes in tubs downstairs

Clean out bathroom and closet in bathroom

Get rid of old makeup and toiletries

Go through Ayden's closet and reorganize

Organize the guest closet

Wash wedding gown and get set in box

Get rid of DVDs clean out junk drawer in tv stand

Go thru Ayden's toys and store/rotate

Purge games from behind the couch

Purge kitchen cabinets and red cabinet

Clean oven

Scrub cabinets

Clean fridge and organize- freezer included

Scrub kitchen floor

Clean my office and organize Ayden's workspace

Get rid of video games that aren't used anymore

Hang pictures

Hem curtains in guest room

Clean and paint back door

Make new recycling bins for outside- streamline the trash process

Clean out garage and organize all decorations and bins- purge purge purge

Hide tv cables

Noah's closet and dresser and nightstand

Fix chair rail

Fix corner

Caulk and 1/4 round in front of bathtub and Noah's shower

Fix windows in guest bedroom

Deep clean all carpets and start removing shoes

Go through coat closet

Organize binders for house stuff 

Streamline filing system

Simplify my job:

Plan at work and get things ready the night before

Don't waste time when planning/grading

Be a more positive force in school

Be in the moment with my family:

Read every night to Ayden and limit how much tv is on when he is awake

Take Mac for a walk each week

Eat dinner at the table with Noah and Ayden

Appreciate my marriage:

Be more intimate in my marriage

Tell him thank you so much more often and truly show your appreciation

Go on more date nights

Talk with him more- less venting

Organize my finances:

Pay off at least one credit card bill if not both

Track all spending for each month

Organize billing and switch to online bill pay

Cut down on grocery bill and monthly expenses

Cut down on Verizon

Cut down on any spending that is not necessary

My attitude:

No cursing

Ease up on sarcasm

Show people you care more often

Go to church and truly digest the information

Stop trying to "keep up with the Jones"- be grateful for what you do have

Listen 1000 times, think 100 times, react 10 times, speak once

My looks:

Bleach teeth

Lose 5 pounds

Wear clothes that flatter me

Create a better bedtime routine

Eat healthier food

Do yoga more

Face yoga

Simplify my online profiles:

Close twitter accounts

Delete Facebook friends

Close email accounts and blogs

Streamline email accounts and profiles

Make a list of important information and log in information

 

Projects to finish:

Wedding book

Mac's scrapbook

Start a new Ayden book for 2013

Make purse

Make duvet cover

Make coasters

Make recipe book

Finish dolman shirt

Make check your pockets

Cut bottom of bottles

Make hanging plants

Make survival kits

Make wooden mat

Make striped skirt

Make Noah's blanket

Make tie shirt

Plans for the future:

Figure out house plans and what we want as a family

Figure out the plan for schooling and licensure in counseling

 

These may seen to be silly goals and some are very small while others are much more involved. Either way, I look at 2012 with fond memories in mind and look forward to making 2013 a year of new beginnings. I'll be 30 and that is the only "certainty" I have. I know I am not able to control everything but I want to make some changes this year. That's exactly what I plan to do.

Happy new year to you all and I hope 2013 proves to be a very blessed year.