resolutions

(yes, resolutions. on january 6th. just go with it.)

Last year, I made no resolutions.  I was new to parenting, new to working full time while parenting, and didn't want the additional stress of unfulfilled resolutions weighing on my conscience. I gave myself a pass to do my best without any specific goals in mind. And you know what? My best was good enough.  It was a great year. 

Our family of three was really my focus this past year and I think we're all better for it. While we didn't take any exciting vacations or check anything big off life's to-do list, we spent time together. We celebrated the every day moments. Walks in the wagon, park trips, bedtime stories, football games on the couch, blowing out birthday candles, and pancakes on Saturdays.  It was simple but it was special. 

This year, with 16 months of parenting and a full year as a work-outside-the-house mom under my belt, I'm ready to tackle some resolutions.  Who says you can't enjoy the every day moments while getting some shit accomplished? Not I. 

I jotted down a few goals for 2013 on New Year's Day.  I figured I might need to save them somewhere more permanent than the notes app on my iPad, so I'll log them here for future reference. 

1. Less caffeine, more water. Let's be clear. I am NOT giving up caffeine. But my current intake is insanely high. I'd like to replace some of that coffee and Diet Coke with water. 
2. Learn to edit my photographs.  I purchased Photoshop Elements 11 but I have no idea how to use it. I need to spend some time teaching myself how to edit my pictures.
3. Maintain my weight loss.  I lost 85 pounds in the year after Blaire was born.  I'd like to maintain my current weight or lose a little more in the next year.
4. Sell our home and buy a new house.  We love our little house but it's just that - little. It was for sale for three months last year but we took it off the market for the holidays. We plan to list it again soon and we'd love for it to sell so we can find something larger for our family.  I'm desperate for more closet space and storage.  I want room for Blaire to play - and somewhere to put all the damn toys. So. Many. Toys.
5. Take care of my skin. My skin care routine is practically nonexistent: face wash I pick up at Target and a daily moisturizer with sunscreen.  And to be honest, I go to bed with makeup on my face as often as I go to bed with clean skin. Seeing as how I'm not exactly 19 anymore, I know this is ridiculous. I recently purchased some anti-aging eye cream. I suppose I need some wrinkle/anti-aging cream for the rest of my face? I have some dark spots I'd like to get rid of, so a trip to the derm is in order. And I definitely need a skin cancer screening...since I've never had one. (I KNOW.)  I was going to purchase one of the Clarisonic face scrubber-mabobs but then I saw Olay makes one for about $100 less. Does anyone have one? Is the Clarisonic worth the extra cash? Are these things just a gimmick to make old people like me feel as if they're doing something?  Those of you who know of these things, please share your skincare knowledge with me. Please.
6. Be a better friend.  I wish I could say my friendships haven't suffered since I've become a mom but they have.  We're all busy and many of us live far apart from one another. The hours in the day seem to pass more quickly now and too often I don't make the calls or send the emails I want to. I buy cards to mail "just because" and they sit in my desk, unsent. Dinners and trips with my girlfriends are too infrequent.  I want to make an effort to keep in touch and get together more often. My friends are awesome and I need more of them in my life.
7. Go on vacation with Brian.  This is probably the hardest one for me. Brian wants to go on a short vacation this year - just the two of us. This sounds good in theory but in reality, I can't pull the trigger and agree to leave Blaire for more than one night. The thought of leaving her for a long weekend just breaks my heart. I'm sure she'd be fine but I think I'd be a mess without her. By the way, I know this is completely cuckoo.  I never thought I'd be the mom who doesn't want to leave her kid but here I am, all bat shit crazy. (For the record, I've left her overnight before. I'm fine with overnight. It's the 25th hour and beyond I'm having trouble with.)

I'm sure I'd benefit from more resolutions but this is what I settled on in the 20 minutes or so of thought I've given this matter. 

2013, I can't wait to see what's in store!