The New Year...2014

I am linking up with the First Grade Nest to bring you my resolutions for 2014.  At church on Sunday, our pastor spoke about the new year and resolutions.  He mentioned that we all have great things that happened in the past year, but there are all of those things that we keep hidden from others or that we could've changed a year ago, but just held onto instead.  Isn't that so true?  In some ways I feel like I am making the same resolutions I did at this time last year, but hopefully this can be the year to make the resolutions stick!

Monthly Meal Planning:  This resolutions has two main goals (well, maybe three): 1.  Save money,  2.  Cut down on grocery shopping time.  My plan only requires me to grocery shop once a month.  and 3.  Be healthy.  I have researched numerous blogs and websites about the benefits of monthly meal planning and three reasons I want to do are the major benefits.  I officially made my first monthly meal plan yesterday and I shopped at Costco and Kroger for everything we need for this month.  NO more "What's for dinner?"  I have tried weekly meal planning and it worked very well, but I definitely got burned out of the weekly grocery shopping and the time it took to make a new menu every week.  Now I only have to do planning once a month, I think I can handle that!  This plan also requires us to eat at home and not out.  That will be a benefit to our waistlines and budgets!  As I get this first month off the ground, I will let you know how it goes and hopefully will be able to share more with you about monthly meal planning if it is successful.  Day one and so far so good!

Stick to a blogging schedule:  You know those days when school, work, kids...LIFE consumes you?  Well, that was me the month of November and December.  I neglected my blog, this I know.  I have come to terms with the fact that I am not a daily blogger, but I do want to assure my readers that I am still here and that they can count on new content at least weekly (and preferably the same day each week).  I am putting this on my agenda right away!

Keep up the laundry (and the rest of the chores):  I LOATHE laundry, but I despise the piles of clean laundry more.  I have got to get a handle on the daily chores and especially the laundry.  Any tips??

Date Nights:  I love my husband and we do not get to spend much time together outside of our home and especially do not have date nights.  I would love to make this a monthly event.  Now...to find a babysitter!

Pursue next step in my career:  I don't honestly know what this is at this point and I love, love, love my job that I have, but in my heart I feel the tug of the next thing.  My dream job is to become a special education teacher consultant and several opportunities have fallen into place this past year to keep that passion stirring.  I am considering going back to school to get my Rank 1, but I am still undecided which avenue to choose.  This year, through lots of prayer and more upcoming opportunities I hope to discover the plan God has set before me.

What about you?  What are your goals for 2014?  Join in with my friends and me let us know your wishes for the new year!  Click the pic below to join in!

Kim