2014 To Do’s

A New Year means new beginnings. Now that we’re a few days into 2014 it’s time for me to get started on my 2014 To Do List. This is going to be an amazing year for me. I speak it and I claim it.

Kill the Vice. I have a bad habit that I drastically will cut down on. For some things I think if you say you’re gonna quit then you set yourself up for failure. This I know. But with focused determination and what I like to call replacement therapy and reconditioning, you can cut something down and before you know it, it’s been cut out. I digress.

Read more. I have a thirst for knowledge again and I want to read a lot more this year. I love to read and when I’m reading a good book I can’t put it down. I want to read more memoirs, self improvement, parenting, relationships, food, finance…so many things!

Cook more. Something changed in 2013 when it came to cooking for me. I found that when I wasn’t required to for our monthly Sunday dinners, that I enjoyed cooking a bit more. And I started a Recipe Binder and everything with meal ideas and wanted to do weekly meal planning. Key word is started because I barely made it past a week. That’s something I want to focus on this year. That not only feeds my family a variety of meals that I know they will eat but it also saves money on the grocery bill.

Because I’m cooking more I am finding I need more to cook with so I’m looking forward to adding more to my kitchen as far as cookware, serving ware, gadgets and more. Gotta have the right tools. In 2013 I learned how to make pan gravy and I discovered the joy of butter. All these years I used margarine but now butter makes everything better. I’m not going crazy tho, no 2 sticks like Paula Deen would use, but it really does add that special something. Also in 2013 I became a Grill Master in my own right. In 2014 I want to learn how to grill ribs and I want to start using other cuts of meat in my cooking. Pot roasts and things of that nature kinda intimidate me so I want to take that on this year.

Save more. I already did really good with my couponing in 2013 but I wasn’t perfect. I got lazy at times and definitely didn’t keep track of my savings. I’ve started a 2014 Savings Tracker and plan to stick with that this year. I want to stick to a grocery budget and put the extra into savings. I want to coupon even harder this year which means I need to put more time into it. So far this year I’m off to a good start there!

I am opening my Holiday Fund for Christmas shopping this year. I’m saving to move. I’m contributing to my 401K. I have a ton of things that I want for my family this year that aren’t super expensive but I have to save for. I want to live way under my means so that I can make these things possible.

Size 6. There’s no way around it…I’ve let myself go after all the progress I made last year. It’s time to take care of my body and I want to reach and maintain a size 6. I’ve had enough. Cut out all of the excess sugar, take my vitamins to help my body run in it’s best shape, drink water and push my body to get the body I want. I’m gonna get the Fitbit to track my calories and I also will commit to being consistent with tracking with My Fitness Pal. When I reach my goal I will reward myself to a Coach or Michael Kors bag 🙂

New Position. I’m ready to take another step in my career and this year will be the year for that to happen.

Move. This is in relation to the new position because irregardless we need more space so moving has to happen. The new position determines if that will be in our current city or elsewhere. This also rolls with Saving More in order to afford the higher cost.

Blog More. Always on the to do list. I go thru phases but it is my true love and hobby.

Domestic Diva. Always a struggle for me is being Suzy Homemaker as it doesn’t come natural to me. But I’m tired of the disagreements and the expectations and dammit I just am gonna have to find a way to pull a rabbit out of a hat. I have to find a way to keep on top of my household.

Beauty Queen. As much as I love beauty and clothes sometimes you wouldn’t know it. So this year I’m putting more of an effort into myself. I want to be my size 6 so I have no excuses with clothes. From shoes to sneakers to earrings to necklaces. From church clothes to work clothes to weekend clothes. From hair to nails to makeup. From bras to sleepwear to socks. That about sums it up.

Those are the big things for me this year to focus on. Like I said, it’s gonna be a great year for me. Some other things that are on the To Do list are:

Take more pictures.

Take family pictures.

Go on more dates with DH.

Go on more family outings.

Just overall get out of the house more if that means driving to Raleigh to walk around the mall and only buy a couple of things, it’s something to do.

Keep growing stockpile and keep it organized.

Get organized neat and tidy.

Go to State Fair.

Go to beach more.

Go to ECU and Carolina Panthers game.

I’m looking forward to all of the great things to come for me and my family in 2014! A fulfilling year for sure 🙂

What are your goals for 2014?