New Change: New Years (a little belated!)

(We're such rebels...except for Matt, because he's eating healthy!)

I can always count on spending time with Matt & Kay on New Years. They are not even my "fall back" they are usually my "go to!" Unfortunately, my dear husband couldn't join us, because he had to work. We were really lazy and just watched a (bad) movie and hung out.

The next day we watched the UNC game, played chicken foot (feet?), and made banana splits! It was quite a low key New Years, but I was in good company!

I started off my New Year with some of my best friends! I didn't really make resolutions, but I do have a few goals that I hope to meet this year. Here's my 2012 list:

 

Finish meeting my weight lose/health goals: I'm very proud to say that I lost a lot of weight in 2011 that I had put on in the last few years. I'm really only a few pounds away from meeting that goal. My main goal this year is to continue to eat healthy and get fit.

Pass my Praxis Math test & apply to ECU's distant education program

Read more: If you have any good recommendations or would like to share a book with me on my kindle I'd love to hear from you!

Be more crafty: I crafted a lot in 2011, but I hope to craft something new in 2012. Maybe a new skirt is in my future!

 

Budget & keep up with receipts

Visit my friend in Utah

Save some money

Backup up documents/pictures on computer & Burn VHS videos to dvds: I've been avoiding this one for way too long!

Enjoy the beach more

Celebrate Maria's 30th Birthday in a BIG way!

Take pictures with film: Now I just need to buy that film camera that I'm eying.

Be more faithful in prayer

Purge more!

Give more (unselfishly)

Try new recipes

Go somewhere for our Anniversary

Write more letters to family and friends

Get on facebook less

Appreciate family and friends more

I have plenty to do this year! I should probably get off the computer and start on my list ;)

New Change: Decorating & Simplicity

It's funny that my first post was suppose to be about our move to our new apartment. That post is still waiting to be completed. I didn't want to complete it until our apartment was finished being decorated. I am so close to accomplishing this. It's a huge deal for me, because I have never 100% finished decorating a place that I lived in. I can't wait to share photo's of our place soon!

In the meantime I have been trying to de-clutter and giveaway a lot of stuff too.  I have been doing really good at purging. We seem to manage to take quite a few bags to goodwill and I sale some items on Craigslist. My goal right now is to keep things simple. Here's a list of a few things I'm doing or working on:

• Minimizing the amount of kitchen gadgets that I have and probably don't use.
• I have donated a lot of plastic containers. We don't have a lot of cabinet space and I hope to buy all collapsible reusable containers in the near future. We already have a few collapsible pieces that I love! These are way more practical for me then the large bulky containers that take up too much space. Here's a few more that I'd like to purchase soon:

• I decided I no longer wanted to buy plastic vinyl shower curtain linings. Even though they are cheap they are not recyclable. I purchased a recyclable lining that you can also wash and reuse. The vinyl curtains seem to get really gross quickly and I would go through those pretty fast.

•  These are a few items I recently bought to help "complete" my house decorating/simplifying projects:

My Dean Smith autographed basketball FINALLY has a place to call home! I want to make sure I take good care of this one so I can pass it down one day!

I was very excited to purchase this mini food processor. I have been wanting one for a very long time. This will be so much easier for chopping up spices and other food items. I can't wait to try it out! I'm sure with the holiday's coming up I'll get to use it quite a bit. I love the color I picked out too!

I have been wanting one of these cool gadgets for a long time! I finally purchased a refurbished one and I love it! I have been so behind with my receipts this year, so this is going to save a lot of time for me. It will also help out around tax season!!!

We bought these simple curtains for our bedroom. We live right off of a main street and it can be pretty bright through our window. The curtains we bought aren't this long, but the same style. They are very simple and they serve their purpose. I don't like spending a lot of money on items like this when I know we're going to be moving in the near future. I am just glad we finally have something to block a little sunshine and street lights!

I can tell such a huge difference in my life now that we've tried to keep things more simple. I really hope to keep the concept of simple living in our future (even when we have kids). I also hope to stay aware of the environment and try to do small things like recycling and buying reusable items. This change is so good for Chris & I. It truly just makes me a happier person! I'll look forward to sharing  more soon!