My Dunkin Donuts Habit

Dear DD Coffee,

I am breaking up with you as part of my New Years resolution. I love you, you taste great but I need to pay off a bit of debt and between me and my husband we are spending about $2000 a year buying a cup of coffee from DD each day.

I may purchase you by the bag when on sale and make you at home in my french press or on occasion treat myself to a cup after church.

Sincerely,

Addicted to DD

2012 New Year New You!

I loved reading friends posts on Facebook yesterday - all filled with optimism for the New Year! That is what amazes me about Americans - optimism! It has been a tough year for so many but everyone looks to this New Year with promise and hope.

I have been working through my Push homework. Chalene's first assignment was to create a priority statement. The idea is that you refer to this priority statement to measure other goals against. If you set goals that really don't sync up with what your priorities - then you either feel unfulfilled or simply don't hit your goals. She goes into a lot more detail and it makes sense to me. I encourage you to buy the book. 

What is my priority statement? I admit I did borrow a bit from Chalene. What I like about her is how connected she is to her family and makes them her number one priority. In addition she finds ways to create income that both creates a secure home and satisfies her interest.

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My Statement: 

My number one priority is to be present and actively involved in the lives of my husband and children; to demonstrate through my actions that my children and husband are more important than any personal pursuit; to work to strengthen my loving, respectful, and supportive relationship with my husband as a way to provide the best possible environment for my family; to raise children that are self-sufficient, confident, good citizens that believe they can do anything; to live a well-balanced, healthy, active life, spend my time efficiently; maintain an organized home, and look for creative forms of income that satisfy the entrepreneurial spirit  in me but ultimately creates a secure home.

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Side note:

When I had my first child a 7 years ago I swore to myself I would stay home with my children and when they eventually went to school I would be the person who drops them off and picks them up from school. It is my priority that I am the one raising my children. I certainly can get very opinionated on this subject - staying home with my children has been the best decision I ever made. 

I love New Years Eve - the idea of starting fresh gets me excited! I love it! I love goal setting, I love reading about people who reach their goals, I cry when I read or watch stories about people who have a dream and achieve it,  I LOVE it!!!

So then what the hell happened to me last year?

I got a message from godaddy.com that my url (makemytodolist.com) was going to expire. They started emailing me a few months ago.  I was simply not ready to commit. Now, I am. I don't care who reads this blog - I now see it simply as my outlet to document my progress.

I cannot say that I fully accomplished last years goals. Well, I did have a less chaotic home by following the flylady's plan. Definitely still room for improvement but much, much better. If you have a home that needs help - I encourage you to go to www.flylady.net and check her out.

Where I did set very specific, smart goals I succeeded. I have more social media clients and just got another inquiry today for my service! I take that as an omen for a positive, prosperous year.

Last year I set a goal to pay off a credit card. To start off I set a goal to create a budget. I did! The problem, I got so caught up in the to do list I forgot to create a SMART goal  to take me to the next step! I need goals! I need small achievable goals that create momentum!

Where do I go from here? What is my plan for 2012?  I did see a ton of improvement last year. Fact is, you will get more done with a to do list than without. On days I did not have a written to do list  I suffered!

What I can say is you have to continually set goals and focus on those goals daily and weekly. I did get caught up in the daily to do list, BUT  it's LIFE and  there is always something to do!. Let's face it - life gets busy and those to dos can take over your life until you feel like you are simply a machine crossing things off your list. I got burnt out with to much to do on the to do list!

What I have not done is lost faith in Chalene Johnson's plan to reach the goals you want to accomplish. I purchased and received her book a couple weeks ago. That is where I begin. My focus this year will be to simply follow this book and its theory of how to achieve "a bangin' and the life you deserve" word for word. I give it up to you Chalene.

Here we go. Welcome 2012. I am ready.

Day 305 - 316 Where have I been?

If anyone is reading this blog than you might think I have given up. I have not. Yes, I have hit a bump. I have not been without a TDL for the last week plus. I have scribbled my TDL on paper and busted through. Was is the the best way to manage my day and what I needed to do. No. I got things done I needed to do but it left a lot to be desired for long term goal setting.

My question to myself was this - why have I been so resistant to post my TDL. Sit down like I have for months this year. Easy answer. I do not feel like I am hitting my goals. Which means something simple. I am doing something wrong.

Where do I go from here? Onward to success! That is where! I have managed to make my home much more chaos free. It will never be perfect and I am ok with that. I have not made a dent in my financial situation. I am not using credit cards but that debit I do have has barely moved. The ONE thing I can make sure happens this year is to lose the 30 lbs. I lost 17 - gained back 8 (major feet issues) - I still have 22 to lose. I can not go into the new year with that goal. It is my only goal from now til January 1. My ONLY GOAL!

First step: Call doctor tomorrow. I need another cortison shot for my feet.
Step 2: Turbo Fire

Every post from this day until January 1 will be about reaching my goal of losing that 22 lbs. Come hell or highy water it will be done!