So, it's the last day of January and I thought I should check in on my resolution and monthly habit.

For Fly Lady the monthly habit for January was shine your sink. It honestly took me all month to get this habit. I know it's the first on the baby steps and should be habit by now already, but it's a struggle for me. The clincher on this habit was, believe it or not, my cat. My very over weight cat (whom I have on a "diet") has taken to scavenging the kitchen sink for food. I have seen her take out a garbanzo bean that escaped the can when I was rinsing and eat it. I have also seen her grab a piece of broccoli husk and gnaw on it until she realized it was a vegetable and had no protein. My habit used to be to keep dirty dishes in the sink until I felt I had the time to do them, but no more. She doesn't need to be eating anything else, much less people food from the dirty dishes (yuck!) . So there is a new sign above my kitchen instead of "Shine your sink" it says "NO dirty dishes in the sink."

My resolution for January was losing weight. Basically this meant through exercise and laying off all the sweets and pastries I had grown accustomed to eating over the holidays. At first I tried doing a 2 days exercise, one day rest routine. This didn't end up working out once my Winter schedule was in place. I knew that I would always be unable to exercise on Tuesdays, but I'd need to with the 2-1 rotation. So, for about one week I was a little lax about my exercise and eating. But then I was reminded that I have a beach wedding to go to this summer. Now my routine is 5 days a week, 3 days are double workouts with 2 short workouts, and the weekend I do longer workouts. And I never have more than 1 day rest in a row. So far that is working out far better than the other. I manged to lose 2 pounds so far. At that rate I will definitely hit my goal before the wedding.

So the New Year is in full swing. The new Winter Semester just started and it's the perfect time to get back on the Fly Lady bandwagon with my New Year's Resolutions.

I recently found and fell in love with the Unclutterer blog. For new years resolutions the blog author created 2 resolutions for each month (one clutter related for her blog, one personal). I really liked the idea. There's no pressure to keep a resolution all year, just for 1 month. And if it sticks that's a bonus. Since my blog is personal, and since I can't think of 24 resolutions, I decided I would just do 12. I also broke up many of them into smaller weekly goals to help me work on the resolution.

January is an exercise/lose weight resolution. I gained alot over the holidays and stopped routinely exercising some time last fall. So that is what is my #1 priority and thus January's resolution. In the mean time I did clean up my house this past weekend and I hung some of the art work I received for Christmas which is a great incentive to keep things neat and tidy. I've also tried to visit Big Tent on a regular basis.

Getting my home back under control is on my list of resolutions, but unfortunately since my health comes first, exercise and food are the first two resolutions being worked on. I don't want to overload myself with so many "have to" resolutions that I burn out. So right now, I'm doing what I can when I can on other things. And sticking to my January resolutions:

January Resolutions:
Week 1 - work out 2 days, rest 1
Week 2 - week 1 plus begin counting calories (I use My Fitness Pal on my android phone)
Week 3 - weeks 1 & 2 plus set reasonable calorie guidelines and stick to it
Week 4 - weeks 2 & 3 and begin working out 3 days, rest 1

Believe it or not, I did finish the 31 Baby Steps. I just never got around to posting the new and improved pictures.

Since then I also rearranged some furniture, giving me a bigger workspace in my "office" and a bigger dresser in my bedroom.

Unfortunately in the last month I started classes again, work picked up and I came down with bronchitis leaving me with little time or energy at home.

I have piles of laundry over flowing in multiple areas of the house. My floors are filthy and I have dishes in the sink again.

I'm pretty sad about this turn of events. But I'm hoping that now that I am well I can get back to it. I leave for vacation in 3 weeks, my goal is to leave a nice clean house so that I can come home to a nice clean house.

Really? Day 30 already? In three years this is the first time I have made it through the babysteps. Maybe I didn't do it perfectly, there are still thins I need to work on, but I've done it.

Day 30 is Check next month's calendar

This is a step for the end of the month. But I am glad I am thinking about it now. Because in September my work schedule will be looser. I'm going to a conference right after labor day, a vet appointment for the cats, two weddings and a visit from out of town friends. The summer is definitely winding down with a lot of activities and there is more coming up in the fall - a lot more.

I use Google Calendar. I can access it on the computer via email, and it is on my android phone as well. I have that one set to Agenda view so it shows me what I have scheduled for the day which is really nice. Then, I'm just two taps away from looking at the month view. I can also color code my different "calendars." My work schedule is one color, errands like the vet is another, as are social engagement, and school/lesson schedules. It's nice to quickly see what's going on and where I have time blocked or free.

Enjoy a weekly pamper session

This is a step that I will need to pay attention too. I don't know how often I tell myself that I need to give myself a weekly face mask, manicure, pedicure etc. But I don't. I find time some point right before a special event or something and I'm usually rushed so it ends up being kind of "slap dash."

I did take a bath the other day though. My legs were in bad shape - I don't think I had shaved in weeks - and with the BF coming home from a business trip, it was time to take care of them. I did scrub the tub first, but everything else was already clean and clear - so I put out some candles and had a nice luxurious soak with lots of bubbles and book.





At this point in the babysteps (I can't believe I'm almost done!) I know that I need a weekly plan so I am going to have to add this to it (when I finally make one).

Eat good food, drink your water, get plenty of rest.

The food and water part is easy. I have been eating healthy whole foods for quite awhile now. That is not to say that I don't like treats. I love treats. I just try to find the healthiest options for those treats. Dark chocolate, candies with out HFCS, chips or snacks that are made from real ingredients that I can pronounce and aren't a mile long - that kind of thing.




I take a glass bottle with me to work everyday that I know I have to drink and fill up twice to get all my water for the day. It works great and it's totally green.

The get plenty of rest is a struggle for me. I still have not been able to stick to an 11pm bedtime. But I am getting closer. It's a work in progress.

Today, I managed to get my 15 of zone work done. I have added it to my control journal in my after work routine. It's Master bedroom this week. I am doing both my mother's bedroom and my own - even though she is gone, it needs a dusting and general upkeep. Mine now that it's decluttered is a sinch to clean. I was able to do both in 15 minutes. I even dusted the venetian blinds! Go me :)

What's for dinner?

I admit to having a real problem with this one. I always have breakfast and lunches made ahead of time so that I don't have to think too much in the morning. I just heat up breakfast and make coffee, and grab a lunch out of the freezer (usually soup or chili, sometimes pasta - depends on what I made over the weekend).

But dinner? That is always a last minute effort. I used to be great about having frozen veggies and veggie burgers on hand to make quick meals. But I recently gave up processed foods (most things that come in a box or a bag). I still go for the frozen veggies because they are convenient.

Meal planning is not something I've never done. I hear about it everywhere. But I just can't seem to make a decision ahead of time about what I'm going to eat for dinner. The few times I do plan ahead and buy ingredients it's days, sometimes a week, before I get around to making that dish.

Needless to say... this is a babystep I will be working on for awhile.