2009

A new year is looming right around the corner. I can hardly believe it!! I have decided that 2009 will be the year of "me". Not in a bad selfish way, but in the way that I want to take better care of myself. I have 20 pounds to lose, I need to spend more time with devotions/meditation, I need to exercise (I think I can count the number of work-outs in 2008 on one hand, when it used to be that many a WEEK), and I need to just check in with myself more often.

I am working on a loose schedule for each week, to help both me and Nat. She is at an age where she would really enjoy planned arts and crafts. I need to figure out a schedule for work, so that it's just set times and the rest of the week I can do housework/play with Nat/spend more time relaxing.

I also want to get more into the money-saving game. It's time consuming, which is why that comes and goes. But using the Grocery Game, coupons, and learning more about the whole CVS program would really help us financially. Every penny counts!! I am pondering starting a blog that is just for money-saving endeavors. This isn't a novel idea, there are a lot of those blogs out there, but I learn from others, and maybe I can help others too! In this economy (and I don't think 2009 is going to get much better) we all need to work together and help each other out. I'll post a link to that blog if/when I start it.

A look back at 2008 -- my goal in 2008 was to focus more on the positive aspects of relationships in my life instead of obsessing over the negative. Done! I opened myself up to make friends, and I have finally made some friends here in the desert. I have also grown closer to the friends/family that I have in my life. It's amazing what can happen when you let go of the bad and open yourself up to the good.

I also broke my Starbucks addiction! I now make my chai at home each morning, which saves me about $20/week!! Not too shabby.

In the environmental aspect of things, I did join the community supported agriculture, but did not like it so much. It took over an hour to get down to pick up the veggies each week, and the selection wasn't great. There were lots of weird green leafy veggies that I wasn't sure what to do with. So I am not doing that again. Instead, in 2009 I want to plant a vegetable garden in my backyard. I need to map out a plan for that.

Happy New Year to anybody who is reading this! :) I will post later with a new blog address with all my adventures in saving money, planting a garden, etc.