What day is this?

I am not intentionally neglecting the blog, just trying to keep everything in motion here.  The kids have gone back to school, dance and basketball have started back in full swing, hosted a birthday sleepover this weekend, and hubby has the flu which means I'm doing EVERYTHING!  Plus that pesky job thing too.

It should be bedtime, but there is still laundry to fold and a kitchen to clean up. Will catch up when I can.

Day 2 - Not throwing in the towel

Just not my day.  Nothing bad happened. It just seemed like every path had a roadblock or two, and a couple of critical comments were hurled my way.  The 2012 me would have just gone to bed and started over tomorrow.  The 2013 me is sticking to the plan...I still have a couple of hours to prove that I am a LMCOBQOCGTDM (lean, mean, counter-of-bean, queen-of-clean, getting-things-done machine).

Oh Yeah!!  I've got this!

Quick Tip to Start the Year!

Whether you're trying to save money or just avoid the daily "What's for dinner?" quandry, experts say meal planning is the answer.  If you shop with a meal plan you'll spend less.  If you have a meal plan, you'll avoid the stress of making that decision on a daily basis.  But where to start?

Print out a blank calendar for each month in 2013.  Write down every meal you cook/serve that month.  Then in 2014, your entire year's meal plan will be done for you!  At least, the basic outline. I can't imagine it wouldn't need a little tweaking, but at least you're not starting over from scratch!

Here's my favorite place to print a free calendar:  Calendars That Work

First entry in 2013?  Ham, black-eyed peas and cornbread.

Fashionably Late to Carla's January Challenge

I'm biting the bullet and putting myself out there on this one.  I pondered, hesitated, rationalized my way out since I know life is going to get super busy in just a couple more days once the kids are back in school and the extra-curriculars start up after the holidays.  I know work is going to be nuts. But I also know I could say this EVERY.SINGLE.MONTH!!!

So I'm joining Carla's challenge, and I will just do what I can do.  It will be more than I would get done if I didn't even try, right?

For the decluttering part of this challenge, I am going to tackle the large room that functions as a home office, crafting studio, kids' video gaming room.  The paperwork is out of control as well as all the crafting supplies.  It's a big room....about 13x20.  And it is right beside our front door, so I would feel much better when people show up if it looked a little nicer.

For the financial part of this challenge, I am going to get back to my couponing ways for the entire month.  I have really fallen off the wagon on this one, and our grocery budget has gotten out of hand.  I'm not going to limit myself to a specific dollar amount because I don't want to hold back if I find a really good deal I need to add to the stockpile.  But I will coupon every week, try to take advantage of the good sales, and track my savings.  I will consider it a success if we can keep our grocery spending at or under the SNAP level of $668 for a family of four.  This will not include paper goods or personal toiletries since those would not be covered under the food stamp program anyway.  And I promise we won't eat out every night either. LOL

Thanks Carla!  I'm anxious to get started! 

Ready for a New Year!

2012 has not been a very productive year.  I feel like I've been back pedaling all the way.  My father's illness and death set me back financially (FOUR unplanned and unbudgeted trips) and emotionally more than I could count.

But 2013 is just around the corner.  I always try to come up with a motto for what I want the new year to bring.  And my totally corny, highly ambitious motto for what I want to do?????

Be a Lean, Mean, Counter-of-Bean, Queen-of-Clean, Getting-Things-Done Machine in 2013!

Lean:  Yep.  Lots of stuff to purge.  A little body fat, lots of excess clutter.  Less is more.

Mean:  I'm not talking mean in the hateful way.  Mean as in disciplined.  I've given myself way too much slack in 2012 - some of it was needed to help me get through the bad months, but it's time to get back on track.

Counter-of-Bean:  Whew!  The finances have really been the last thing on my mind.  I honestly have no idea where things stand on this front.

Queen-of-Clean:  Another area things have fallen by the wayside.  Things have improved just trying to get ready for the holidays, but there is always more to be done.

Getting-Things-Done:  Over the year, I developed a great deal of apathy whether things actually were finished or not.  Deadlines didn't even matter. But it's time to get back to making lists and marking stuff off!

If you're reading this, thanks for sticking around while I festered in my funk.  But 2013 will be a turn-around year.  I can just feel it!  Hope you'll hang out while I post the progress.

Long Shot

Anyone reading know anything about exercise/fitness games made for the Xbox Kinect?  The kids got an XBox 360 for Christmas....and I'm wanting to buy one of their video games to help me get in shape.  Remember....I have 50-year old knees and a bad back so it can't be TOO much impact.  But I'm thinking anything will be better than nothing.  Any ideas?

Still Swimming

Yep!  I'm still alive although much of 2012 has felt more like drowning than swimming.  I want to get back in the blog habit, just need to make the time to do it.  More to come....