September. It’s the ninth month of the year. I am continuing on my Happiness Project by having monthly goals to focus on. Below is a review of each of my goals for this year. I am not going to lie, it’s hard trying to live a balanced life! It helps to set these goals and review them each month. They remind me of the areas I am lacking and help remind me to focus on them. Remember, we are only human. But, as I see it, I’ve got this one life to live so I am doing my best while I am here for the ride!
September: Homeschooling
You can read about my decision to homeschool my three year old for preschool here. I feel silly even calling it homeschooling because it’s just three year old preschool but at the same time, a lot of families are sending their kids to preschool at three now. It took a lot of thought to get me here but I am excited about our adventure in learning this year! This month I want to work out the kinks in the lessons and set-up that I planned. Then I can make changes and move on!
Review of 2012 Goals
January: Health
(learn about Gluten Free Diets, start taking wheat grass shots, dry brushing, smoothies and hot water with lemon in the morning)
Follow-up: addicted to wheat grass and dry brushing. Smoothies and hot water (along with tea) have been easily incorporated into my daily routines. I have learned to cook with less gluten but by no means am I completely gluten free or do I want to be.
February: Romance
(focus on my marriage, making time for each other, schedule date nights and make dave feel appreciated!)
Follow-up: Every other week date nights has been unreaslitic with an unpredictable newborn at home, but we have done really good on every other week lunch dates! We have also been making a lot of time for each other on the weekends, whether it be with the girls or not. This last week with the weather being so nice, Dave and I have been having a cup of coffee before the kids wake up on our back patio (or an evening beverage on our front patio after the kids go to bed!)
March: Aim Higher (work)
(revise my current programs, develop outlines for my new programs, work with Pure Heart Studios on new blog format)
Follow-Up: March was a great month for work. I had almost 100 student letters written to me that I “promised” to answer and I have! I revised my current programs, didn’t get an outline for my new program yet and have launched a new program on my blog. I continue to aim higher in work. I have booked several schools for Fall 2012 and Winter 2013. Follow-up (May) still aiming high!
April: Parenthood
(being present, a role model, say no less (lighten up), write my 10 commandments)
Follow-Up: I had an excellent month focusing on parenthood. We went without tv on most days and because I was so focused on the kids, it didn’t make a difference that I didn’t have the break on those days. I was able to talk to friends on the phone during nap time more and less while my girls were awake. I used a technique I read in The Happiness Project and I feel like it’s a part of my daily language now! Instead of saying No, I say Yes. For example “Yes, you can have another cookie, tomorrow.” Instead of contstantly nagging! We went to church on Daughter’s Day and I gave the girls little gifts:)
May: Me, Me, Me
(focus on myself, more time for creative outlets, take time to learn new things!)
Follow-up: This portion sounds so self-centered while at the same time, it is really hard for me to find time for myself and let it be all about me, me, me! This month I got a hair cut. I painted my nails several times. I started yoga (again) and have been 4 weeks in a row now! I also signed up for a photoshop class (oh, how I love digital scrapbooking). I found that a mini-bucket list really inspired my creative juices! I wanted to go to sleep earlier and I didn’t accomplish that one. That’s the beauty of these monthly goals, I can refocus on this in the months to come!
June: Mid-Year Health
(focus on these healthy tasks: buy a dark glass bottle for my olive oil, (benefits here.), replace a few of my condiments with products that don’t contain high fructose corn syrup, buy alternatives to using so many ziplock bags, make my own seasonings, organize my pantry and get rid of any expired items)
Follow-Up: I did it! I made a lot of progress this month thanks to my weekly bucket lists. I also made a bucket list for my LIFE here!!!
July: Religion
(sign up for the second class at our church to become a member, complete the workbook, schedule a meeting with a member at the church to learn about joining a small group.)
Follow-Up: I signed up for the second class but did not complete the workbook. It didn’t make a lot of sense to me so I need to wait until I take the class. I did meet with a church member and have signed up for a Mops (Mothers of Preschoolers) small group that meets every other week in the fall.
August: Composting
(purchase a compost system and get started)
Follow-Up: This was a funny one to look back on. I ordered the wrong compost bin and it was too big! So I did some research, talked with my hubby about what would work for him and came up with a system that would work for our family.
Here’s what I ordered. It is called Ucan. It’s cute and goes right under the sink. You put your compost into the bin that is lined with compostable bags. Then you seal this bag and put it in a 5 gallon bucket in our garage. When that bucket is full, I will dump it somewhere. I am thinking either a local compost farm (it will cost me $1.50 per dump, hilarious that it costs me money to save the earth) or I might see if I can dump it into my sister’s compost. My brother-in-law had a good idea that I could mix it in with our grass clippings because they get composted, so I want to look into that. Eventually when we start our vegetable garden, I will just throw it in there and let it compost to make nutritious soil for our veggies, but for now, I want to do something.
So far I have noticed fruit flies. I am not sure if it’s from the bin or the fresh fruit and vegetables I have been buying in bulk each week from our local farmer’s market. I know some poeple will think, geesh, this sounds like so much work Maria! But here’s the thing, it’s comparable to my cloth diapering. I want to do something…cloth diapering is great. I don’t do it 100% of the time but what I do helps us financially and it helps our the environment.
Are you familiar with composting? Please share your tips with me!