New Year Resolutions

Calvin and Hobbs by Bill Watterson

Will you be making New Year's Resolutions? The top ten New Year's Resolutions are
1) Spend more time with family
2) Get in shape
3) Lose weight
4) Quit smoking
5) Quit drinking
6) Enjoy life
7) Get out of debt
8) Help others
9) Organize something
10) Learn something new

You can call them resolutions, goals, intentions, plans, prayer requests. Many people just make a wish list but they don't follow through. Do you seriously want to accomplish something this year? Here are some important tips to help you keep your New Year Resolutions:

* Make a list. Be specific. Don't be too broad in scope. For instance, to "Be a better person" is a nice sentiment but HOW are you going to be a better person. "Take anger management class" is a specific step to becoming a better person. Your goals should be realistic. And they should mean something to you. You won't be motivated if you don't really want to change.

* Make a plan to accomplish your goals. "Quit smoking" is a great goal. But how will you measure your success. Be realistic and measurable. Plan how you are going to quit smoking. So under the "Quit Smoking" goal, write down the steps you are willing to take to work the process. Take baby steps, one at a time. Consider adding these steps to your calendar. For example: 1/15/2011 Make appt with doctor, 1/20/2011 Have you been to the doctor and discussed weight loss program yet?, 2/1/2011 Weigh in day, 3/1/2011 Have you lost 5 lbs yet?, etc.

* Write your list of resolutions down and write down your plan to accomplish those resolutions. Have it in black and white.

* Make a "pro" and "con" list to help you stay motivated.

* Tell someone else so they can help keep you motivated and accountable. Don't tell a person who will knock you down and discourage you. And don't ask someone to help you be accountable if you don't want them to. Some relationships or people can get under your skin. You automatically tend to think they are nagging or trying to hurt or anger you. For instance if your spouse asks you how you are doing on your weight loss program and it hurts your feelings or makes you angry and defensive then don't ask your spouse to help you be accountable. For instance if my husband asks me if I've lost any weight, I automatically get my hackles up. It's an auto response. My sisters could ask me and I don't get defensive or hurt. Another example, if I ask my husband if he's gotten his shop organized, his auto response is to think I'm nagging. His friend could ask him the same question and he wouldn't feel defensive. A parent can tell their child not to smoke and they brush it off and ignore it. But a peer can tell them not to smoke and they hear it. It's just that way. So be careful who you ask to hold you accountable. Choose someone you can hear, listen to and be honest with.

* Begin to think positively about your goals. Don't allow your mind to undermine you. If you hear your mind say, "You can't do it" then immediately counter that thought with something more positive like, "I can do it." If you want to get in shape then make your plan, begin to work the plan and talk to yourself in positive ways about it. "I can get up early in the morning and walk around the block"; "I didn't lose weight this week but I'm feeling better"; "I've been able to increase my repetitions"; "I missed yesterday but I'm going at it again this morning"; "I'm loving the feeling after I work out"; etc. If you have negative mindsets that means that your thoughts have followed a negative path through the forest of your mind. If you let that happen often enough, that thought path becomes well worn and easy. But it's not good for you, so you have to forge a new path through the forest of your mind. Create new positive thoughts. If you deliberately forge and follow a new path, then eventually it becomes the well worn and easy way of thinking. At first it's very hard to make yourself think this new way. But it's well worth the effort. The Bible calls it "the renewing of your mind".

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

* Find alternatives to a behavior that you want to change. For instance, if your resolution is to get out of debt then look at your spending habits and try to determine cheaper alternatives. If you eat out a lot, then determine to make some less expensive meals at home, or go to cheaper restaurants. If you buy your lunch everyday, try changing your habit by taking your own lunch. Make those lunches interesting and fun. It doesn't have to be a pbj (peanut butter and jelly sandwich). That's boring and you are tempted to toss it and go out. If you're fun on Saturday is shopping, then resolve to find another way to spend your Saturday that is equally fun but not so expensive.
 
* Don't demand perfection from yourself or anyone else. It's an impossible demand. Human beings make mistakes. So give yourself some slack when you mess up. Perfectionism is unrealistic. But don't give up either. Pick yourself back up and keep trying. And remember to keep up your positive thoughts.
 
* Surround yourself with those who can help you meet your goals. If your goal is to quit drinking, then don't go out with your party buddies. If your goal is to get in better shape, make some friends at the gym or look for a running buddy. If your resolution is to enjoy life more, then cut out those who drag you down or who negatively impact your life or those who tempt you to do things you shouldn't. Social support is important.
 
* Celebrate your success by treating yourself to something that you enjoy that does not contradict your resolution. If you are trying to lose weight and you've lost a couple of pounds, celebrate! But not with a dozen donuts! Find another way to reward yourself. Maybe a new book that you've been wanting; maybe treat yourself to a movie you've been wanting to see.
 
* Track your progress. Keep a food journal or an exercise journal. I often use Facebook and my blog for tracking my progress. I like telling my friends and family what I've accomplished towards my goals. My goal today was to organize and put away my Christmas decorations. I did a blog post a week before Christmas on how to organize and store your Christmas decorations. When I started to take them down, I made an announcement on Facebook. Then, once I was finished, I updated my status on FB.  And if you see someone on FB working towards something and they announce an accomplishment, give them some encouragement and pats on the back. If you need it then they need it too.
 
* Our intentions need actions or they won't go anywhere. Once you've made your list and your plan, it's time to work the plan. Take action. Do something towards accomplishment.
 
* As a Christian, I believe the most important thing is to pray about your New Year's Resolutions or goals. Pray about what goals to make. Then pray and ask God how best to achieve your goals. Pray and ask God's help in meeting your goals. Praise and thank God when you see success and meet your goals. We can have the best intentions in the world, but without God it's a fruitless endeavor. God gives us strength, helps us overcome ourselves, and blesses our efforts. He also forgives us when we mess up. Make your New Year's Resolutions your prayer requests.
 
Here are my New Year's Resolutions:
 
1) Read at least 52 books
 
2) Find a church home and get involved
 
3) Continue going to the gym and working in the pool 3-5 times a week
 
4) Organize and declutter my office
 
5) Pay off credit cards
 
6) Try HRT
 
7) We would like to change out our windows with new ones
 
8) Fix the backyard so that our dogs can go outside
 
9) I would love to have one of my bedroom windows changed to a door to the backyard
 
10) Take vitamins

Household Tips

Razor blade dullness stems more from oxidation and microscopic rusting, rather than actually shaving whiskers. Water that sits on blades between shaves causes the oxidation. Corrosion can cause metal on the blade to flake off and the edge to become blunted and jagged. By blotting your razor on a towel after use, you can extend the use of a blade. Or you can also rinse the razor, shake off excess water, dip it in alcohol, give it a good swirl, shake out and prop it in its holder.

Use jars for storage. You don't have to buy them. As you use items that come in glass jars, then recycle them by removing the labels and washing. You can use them to hold leftovers such as soup, beans, etc. They can hold office supplies. Baby food jars are great for holding paper clips, tacks, etc. Use one in the laundry or bedroom to hold your loose change. They will hold nails and screws. You can attach them to a shelf by screwing the lid to the bottom of a shelf. Then you screw the jar onto the lid so that it hangs from the bottom of a shelf. I use jars in my pantry for storing dry goods like beans, rice, popcorn.

Paper towel holders can also be used to hold spools of ribbon.

Household Tips

Here are a few frugal and thrifty ways to save some money. These things will not change your life at all so it's easy pennies saved! "A penny saved is a penny earned." -Benjamin Franklin

It's recommended that you use a quarter size dollop of shampoo to wash your hair. If you have short hair then a nickel size dollop will do ya! So using too much shampoo is a waste!

A pea size bit of toothpaste on your toothbrush is all you need. You will never notice the difference.

Each box of laundry detergent or bottle of liquid laundry detergent comes with a measuring lid or cup. Use them and measure it, don't just dump! And remember that those measures are determined by the laundry detergent company who benefits from overusage so try a little less than they suggest.

When you go to boil water, use your lid. It makes the water heat faster and saves power.
Thanks for the ideas Frugal For Life!

My idea: When you get ready to put automatic dishwasher soap in, use less than you think. You don't have to fill the cup.

Making Your Own Children's Books

I got a wonderful email from a reader of my blog and her question was how to make a family book for her small daughter:

"I wanted to make her a small booklet or something similar...even something like pictures on a keychain, that would be waterproof and somewhat durable for little hands to play with. I want to have pictures of every member of our family in it... Do you have any idea where I would find something of this nature?"

Thank you for reading my blog and for taking the time to ask this question. For those who are deeply into scrapbooking, we know about the chipboard books you can buy and then decorate as you want. You can find these at scrapbook stores or craft stores that have a good scrapbooking section. You can also do a Google search on "chipboard books" to find a place online to order from.

I actually did this for my grand nephew. His father is in the Air Force and got transferred way up to Illinois so our niece and grand nephew are about a 16 hour drive from us. It was very hard for us because we are a close family. I was afraid he would forget us and so I made him a family book. I took a few pictures of each of our family and did a book that included his grandparents to his great grandparents and all his aunts, uncles and cousins. So I can attest to these chipboard books. Unfortunately, I didn't take a photo of my book so I can't show it to you.

Chipboard is a stiff cardboard made from the same stuff that they make puzzle pieces with. So it's stiff enough for children to handle and play with. If you buy the kind that is held together with D rings or key rings, then you could laminate it. It wouldn't be completely waterproof but should last through sticky fingers.




If you laminate them you will need to keep it simple with no 3D embellishments. But photos, stickers, fun scrapbook papers should be slim enough to be laminated.


These chipboard books can be mini scrapbook albums but if you are creative, you could even make personalized children's books. For instance, if you want to teach your toddler to count you could take photos of things around your own house and then create a counting hard page book. So little Junior is learning to count with things he knows from around the house. For instance I have 5 dogs and I could use small photos of our 5 dogs for the number "5". Same with alphabet books. You can get real creative by making your own hardboard books. But remember they are being made for children who WON'T treat them like heirlooms. So don't overdo because they could be accidentally dropped in the bathtub, spit up on, or have things peeled off by little fingers. And don't put anything on it that could be choked on like buttons and little ribbons and such. It's pretty for us but don't tempt fate with children.



Another idea for my reader is a smaller regular photo album. You can buy one and fill with your photos. You can also have them made just like a picture book at most photo development places. You can order them online too where you can select your photos and arrange their placement and then order the book and it's very reasonable.

Or you can buy a regular photo album and place the photos in yourself. So it can be as simple or fancy as you like.

After placing family photos in the photo album then use it for bedtime stories. For instance one or two pages devoted to each family member so that when you turn to that place in the book it has all photos of brother (or other family member). This book would be used only under supervision and you could tell family stories with each photo. It's small enough to bring to the bed and for the child to handle (under supervision). For instance a photo of Grandpa and tell the story of Grandpa building his own tree house or a photo of Aunt Sue and tell the story of how Aunt Sue met Uncle Ben. This not only makes your child sleepy but gives them faces of the family and cements it with family stories. Soon they should be able to name the people in the album and even tell the stories. And I know you know different stories for each family member so it won't get boring.


I hope I've given you some ideas and thank you, again, for your kind comments and your question.

How To Replace Six Vital Documents

How To Replace Six Vital Documents
This is a good thing to know so check it out. (Thanks, Anna!)

College Dorms

College dorms are notorious for being small rooms with 2 or more teenagers trying to live. Teens today go to college thinking they have to have all the conveniences of home. They think they need all of their clothes and shoes, plus a full kitchen and all their electronics. But with one small closet, 1 desk and a twin bed, it gets hard to stuff all their belongings into their assigned areas.

Try to explain to your Freshman that they don't need as much as they think they do. 4-5 pairs of shoes is more than enough, they only need their winter clothes, they only need one coat, etc. Try to get them to strip down their wardrobe. Also remind them that there are common areas. Everything doesn't have to go on in their dorm room. They can treat the cafeteria as their kitchen/dining room. They can treat the TV room/living room/lobby as their den where they watch TV and gather with their friends. They can treat the library as their study area. The dorm room can basically be their sleeping and storage area. It doesn't have to be their all-in-all.

An mp3 player can take the place of a stereo. A Laptop can take the place of a desk top computer. A flat screen 19" TV is more than enough in a dorm room. These take up less space, they have a smaller "footprint".

Have them coordinate with their dorm mate on decorating and sharing appliances. For instance one can bring a small refrigerator while the other brings a small microwave. One can bring the area rug and the other can bring the curtains. One can bring an iron and the other can bring the ironing board.

Think how best to organize in small spaces. Think vertically. Can you use underbed storage? Cubbies? Plastic drawers? Hangers that hold 4 prs of pants vs. 1 pr? Get them a basket for their shower supplies that they can carry. Another basket for a girl's makeup. Make everything do double duty. Stretch your imagination to come up with ways to make that small space work.

You may not be able to paint the walls but you can add color in the bedding, curtains, accessories.

Do It Once...

There are things that we do repetitively and they waste our time. Sometimes we can streamline something and save time. The goal is to manage your time and make your time more productive.

For instance, if you have multiple email accounts and you spend too much time going to the different email services to check your email you are wasting time. It's inefficient. Get a program that will show you all your email in one place or filter by individual accounts. Or can you forward incoming emails to one central email account? I do this. I have 3 email accounts and I have two forward incoming email to my main email account.

Another automation that I do with my email: I set up some folders and after I check the email, I go ahead and drag it to the correct folder or delete it. I have my email account set up to daily permanently delete any emails in the Delete folder that are over 2 days old. I never have to worry about cleaning out the "Delete" folder.

Are there other things you can automate? If you can think of ways to stop duplicating and start automating, you can save time.

Here are some suggestions:

* Don't write a check, spend money on postage and walk to the mailbox to pay your bills. Your bank will have a bill paying feature online. Or you can use Quicken and pay your bills within your Quicken software. Using Quicken allows you to enter the transaction one time and it will not only schedule your bank to pay the bill but enter it into your checking account. You can even schedule bills to come out every month and you don't have to do anything (except work to make the money to PAY those bills, LOL!)

* Record your TV shows on DVR so you avoid commercials and you are watching only the shows you are interested in and not channel surfing.

* Maximize your car time. Pray. Take your mp3 player with you so you can listen to praise & worship music, or listen to a book (including the Bible) on mp3 or CD. You can be learning as you drive.

* Maximize your waiting time. If you know you are going to be waiting somewhere like a doctor's office or for little Suzy's dance class to be over, you can make that time productive. Take a book, write a letter, pull out your Bible, update your schedule, etc.

* Always put things back where they belong. Don't waste time looking for your pocketbook or car keys because you always put them in the same spot when you come in. Don't waste time looking for the scissors or the duct tape because you always put it back where it belongs. Have a place for everything and keep everything in it's place. People spend, on average, 6 minutes looking for their keys in the morning. Don't waste that time!

I hope I've given you some ideas. Time management is the key to efficiency. Getting more done in the same 24 hours. It means making choices, being open to new ideas, planning ahead, automating repetitive tasks, discipline. If an Efficiency Expert came into your life, how would they advise you? Are there things you can cut out of your life? Are there better ways of doing things? Can you learn new behaviors? Can you tighten up your daily activities?

Think about it and see what you come up with!

By the way, there is one task that is repetitive and it's driving me crazy! When I go to the grocery store I have to pick up the item from the shelf and put it in my cart (1). Then I have to pick up the item and place it on the checkout counter (2). Then I have to put the items in the cart to go out to the car (3). I have to place the bags in the car (4). Then I have to unload the items and take them to the kitchen (5) and then I have to unpack and put them up (6). I'm handlng these items 6 times and I keep thinking there has to be a better way. If you have a suggestion, please comment!

Some Great Summer Activities

This is a good website and they had this list of summer activities. Check it out!
http://aprongirls.blogspot.com/2010/06/102-summer-boredom-busters.html

Happy Birthdays!?!

It seems that birthdays have turned from a special day to a walloping HUGE event and children expect it now every year. Many families end up shuffling between birthday parties every weekend. Skating parties, themed parties, bowling parties, water park parties, movie parties, etc. Sometimes I wonder how much is just "keeping up with the Jones". It becomes an epidemic. Little Sally has a big party and invites everyone in her class at school, so the other mothers feel obligated to have a similar, or bigger, party when it's Suzie's birthday. And it snowballs. Children have come to expect all this now.

The problem with this is many families can't afford to do big parties for all of their children every year. Or they can't afford to buy gifts for every birthday party they are invited to. Competition (children and parents) gets expensive. It doesn't take long for children to begin to expect big to-do's and to begin to compare their parties and presents against those of their friends.

Spoiling our children with overwhelming parties and presents will more likely lead them to expect big parties and presents for all birthdays and then to other events like graduations (I've seen big parties given for kindergarden graduations), Sweet 16's, Engagement parties, Weddings (and all the showers, luncheons, rehearsal dinners, Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, etc), Housewarmings, Baby Showers, Sporting milestones, etc.

We are raising our children to have unrealistic expectations. They become the Bridezillas on the TV shows. They are spoiled rotten! Which means they will grow up to be spoiled rotten adults. Girls will think their boyfriends have to come up with even bigger and better ways to "propose". Children expect their parents to foot the bill for all this extravagance and they expect parents to spend major money on gifts for all the holidays, birthdays, and special events.

And it's not just our own children. Their friends have parties and expect nice gifts too. We are raising selfish consumers with high expectations and life doesn't always meet those expectations. This handicaps children. They are immature, spoiled, hard-to-live-with adults that will have problems when life doesn't go their way or their spouses, children, siblings, co-workers, and friends don't do what they want them to do.

When I was growing up, my sisters and I never had giant birthday parties with all our friends. I think we might have had a pajama party with some select friends once. I had a Sweet 16 outside with BBQ and loud music. That was it. On our birthday, Mom would make us a cake and have a special dinner for us. Her family lived near us and we had family get togethers for birthdays sometimes and that was always fun. Mom bought us a gift but it wasn't always on the exact day. If we saw something earlier or later, she went ahead and got it for us and told us it was for our birthday. And then it had to be affordable and was the one gift. When I graduated from high school I sent out the announcement but we didn't have a party and I was grateful and surprised by the gifts I did get. My wedding was very low key and the showers were fun and practical. My sisters were the same. We never felt hurt or unloved because we didn't get HUGE parties every year. We didn't expect it and when we had something special it made us feel special instead of entitled. I think my parents had the right perspective.

As adults, I expect my husband to do something special for my birthday but it doesn't have to be anything more than just taking me out to eat. My sisters and I gave each other 40th Birthday parties with friends and that was fun because it wasn't something we did all the time. It was truly special instead of just another big party.

I like to get Stan a gift and make him a card and wish him a "Happy Birthday". That lets him know I remembered, I think he's important enough to make it special. But we don't expect a big deal and it's special when we do have something extra special. Stan will usually take me out to eat and sometimes there are cards, or flowers, or a gift. But I know he remembers and he loves me enough to do something different.

It's the same for our holidays. For Christmas we do like to get each other nice gifts. We don't have children so we can splurge. My parents and my sisters and their husbands rarely give each other Christmas gifts and yet they love each other dearly. Valentine's Day is always special. He takes me out to eat and I make him a card. Sometimes there are flowers or small "remembrance" gifts. Our anniversary is the same. Every 5th year anniversary we love to take a little trip and get away. This is our personal way of celebrating. But it's pretty low key compared to most of the young people today. They expect the cards, flowers, teddy bears, jewelry, perfume, trips, expensive dinners, and much more.

Celebration is a business. Quit reacting to the marketing ploys. Those bridal shows are just big commercials enticing our young people to expect the $100,000 weddings. The ads and articles with the glossy pictures in magazines are appealing to our selfish desires. Holidays are getting bigger and bigger. Everyone is out for their part of our consumable income and they are demanding our children's attention in order to get our children to demand their products. Don't give in and waste money and spoil your children.




It's time to tone things down a little. There is nothing wrong with a homemade cake, a special dinner and a night at home together to celebrate their birthday. Keep a budget on gifts for your children and for their friends. Don't try to make everything perfect. Keep a balanced perspective. Just fun and special. You want them to know you love them and they are valuable to you but you don't want them spoiled. Try to keep that balance. Keep it simple and loving.

Stress

I found a very informative article on stress and how it affects your health. Check it out! http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm

A Simple Way To Keep Up With Your Bills

This is a good simple way to keep up with your statements, bills, check stubs (or check carbons).
http://www.beato.com/2009/10/super-simple-filing-system/