This blog is the beginning of a new year for me and hopefully the beginning of a new way of life. I am and always have been a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants type. I'm a terrible planner, I am unorganized and I have always bucked against keeping to a schedule. This is not working nor has it ever worked for me. I want to change that and I want to live each day with purpose and with goals in mind. I have tried to change so many times but I have never had a plan. I'm hoping that this will help me keep on track and make it a little more fun so that I can stick to the changes I want to make.
Firstly, and the main reason for starting this blog, is I want to be prepared for next Christmas. This year was not a complete disaster, but I felt that I came up short. I had little money to spend because I did not save any. So, starting with this Friday's paycheck, I want to put aside $50 a week specifically for Christmas. That will give me $2300 on November 10th, 2017 to spend for the holidays without having to break the bank. This year I spent half that because it was all I had and really couldn't afford even that. I don't like that feeling and I know with some discipline, I can do better. I don't want to panic at the last minute anymore.
I hosted Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day dinner this year. Christmas Eve is always my day to have my daughters and their families, as well as my dad and his wife, over for a simple spread of ham, potato salad, relish tray, etc... My son in law Ryan has Ciliac's and therefore cannot eat gluten. I've known this for years now but since I don't see him often, I forgot and I didn't plan well enough. I had quite a few things on the menu that he could not eat. I was ill prepared and feel bad about it. I am determined to make sure that does not happen again.
Christmas Day dinner was more formal. The menu was well planned and everything tasted wonderful but I didn't have enough flatware, plates, drinking glasses or serving spoons. My mother in law ended up setting the tables because we were so busy all day making dinner. Everything was mismatched or we had to wash things so there was enough. These are other things I want to rectify, so I will be filling in those gaps throughout the year so that I have adequate place settings for at least 12 people.
So this is just the start. This is my year to wake up and die right.
So this is just the start. This is my year to wake up and die right.
