Happy New Year and a Wish for a GREAT 2011

Resolutions don't always go as planned but I always set some.  I don't always complete my resolutions but it is imperative for me to have goals, no matter how small and if I have a few at least one will get completed.

• Loose 15 lbs
• Master a list of homemade foods
• Spend more time with friends
• Manage the budget better and do I dare say.......
• Get a job? #$%;* Writing it down is even scary :)

Now that the holidays have come to a close it is time for me to get focused and figure out how I want 2011 to be.  I started my planning of what I want out of 2011 the first of the year but it wasn't officially kicked off until two weeks ago and not to the best of my ability until this Monday. The daily walk, check, grocery shopping while watching my budget not to go overboard so I don't waste food, check, better healthy choices (this coming Monday) and I applying for various jobs each week, check.  Not a bad start so far but now here I sit on the computer.  The computer is probably something I need to curtail, not waste too much time on it.  Maybe this is another resolution I should add. 

• Don't waste a lot of time on the computer.  Set time limits per day to 1 hour max, not including job stuff.

What I need to do is focus on what I really want out of life.  So many of us do, do, do but don't realize that want we are doing doesn't fulfill us.  I know there are things that will never give me any fulfillment, like cleaning the house or doing laundry, but I know it must be done and after it is done I am glad if a guest pops over.  Beyond the chores we all must do things to sustain our self, I want to spend the rest of my time doing things that make me happy, fulfill my life, my passions and not spend time on stupid things that are not appreciated by me or anyone else.  What are those things, that is what I really need to figure out.  OK another resolution.

• Figure out what fulfills me
• Spend my time doing things that make me happy, fulfill my life and my passions.

One thing I know is I love to write.  I love going to and learning about new places, meeting new people and entertaining, trying new dishes and mastering a favorite dish at home.  Maybe my blog this year will be more about me.  Towards the end of the year it was all about shopping.  I became obsessed.  It was a great shopping tool for me and I think going forward when I need to purchase a present this will be a great resource to start my shopping adventures but I would like to get out of the spending money mode now.  The other side benefit of posting my shopping finds was it gave me less paper clutter, another new years resolution.

• Get more organized and stay that way.

So follow me along my adventures of 2011 as I discovers what works and what doesn't, what I love and what I hate, who I spend time with and who gets cut from the list, where we spend our money and what we can live without, etc., etc., etc.

I am going to try do my best at least most of the time.

The first  week of January was a slow start for me.  Hubby's finally back to work so I can get back into my regular routine.  It's funny how when he is home I feel that I must sit by him and entertain him.  Even when that is not what I actually do "entertain him".  But for some strange reason, I feel I can't do what I would normally do.  It's strange because it's nothing he does to make me feel this way I just feel I can't do what I would normally do.  I guess I feel this way when guests are over also.  I must entertain or at least be in the room with them doing nothing.  Week two went pretty good, cooking, looking for a job and accomplishing most of my daily/weekly action items.  What I didn't do is cook healthy enough.  We had mac and cheese, short ribs with mashed potatoes and heavy cream, broccoli beef with spinach and rice.  Some of these were not too bad but beef two times in a week is something I try and stay away from and mac and cheese although my favorite is something I try and not do too often.

Now it's week three, as I make out my weekly menu today I'll try and do healthier options.  Wish me luck!