My 13 Wishes for 2013

I don’t believe in resolutions. I’ve rarely kept any of my own, and don’t know anybody who has experienced a major life change after making such a claim at the beginning of the year. But I suppose I believe in hitting “reset” on your own internal agenda. I think the beginning of a new year is a good time to evaluate what’s working and what’s not in your life. So with that, here are a few things I hope to accomplish in 2013.

1. A better smelling house. With two children under four, a dog, a cat and a man living in this house, it’s often difficult to tell just where exactly the unpleasant smell is coming from. My house doesn’t have to smell like Bath and Body Works, but I’d rather it not smell like a dirty diaper/sweaty feet/funky feline parfait.

2. Less Cheerios on the floorboard. I often joke that if I were stranded somewhere with my children in our car, we could eat for a week with the food shoved under the car seat lining and littering the floorboard. But, the reality of this happening is slim to none, so I’d better err on the side of a food-free car. But then again you never know…

3. Less TV time for the kiddos. Since my kids have been sick for literally weeks, the streaming Netflix has been going round the clock. When Curious George is the only thing that will calm your feverish toddler, that monkey’d better dance! So, when things calm down around here, and we have decent weather again, the remote will get “lost.”

4. More girlfriend time (preferably with wine and board games). I really have no interest in going “out” with friends. It’s really far to drive into the city, it’s difficult to have meaningful conversations in public places, and when you’re on a budget, it’s hard to relax when you’re spending money you don’t have. But staying in? I’m in!

5. More nights out with my man. Now, while I wouldn’t mind staying in with my girlfriends, I’d like to get out with my husband! When we do get a little extra jingle in our pockets, we like to splurge on a good sushi dinner. Even if it only happens twice this year, it’s well worth it!

6. Perfect the art of cinnamon roll making. This might be a dangerous one. If I perfect the recipe, I might just want to make them all the time. And if I make them all the time, I might want to eat them all the time. Oh, who am I kidding? Pillsbury’s taste pretty darn good.

7. Take more photos. Don’t get me wrong. I take enough photos, but I want to get better. And since practice makes almost-perfect, I’d better get to clicking!

8. Get rid of half of my clothes. I’m a bit of a clothes hoarder. Not expensive, fancy, or even relevant clothes. We’re talking stuff from garage sales, clearance racks, and back when I was a few sizes smaller. I keep thinking, “I might need this someday.” I don’t. I won’t. They must go.

9. Organize the rats’ nests. Let’s be realistic. I can’t simply “organize” my whole home. Not when it’s not in my nature, and not when I have two little ones. But, I’d like to at least get a handle on the super dysfunctional areas of my home: the closets and the “pile” on the kitchen counter.

10. Finish the girls’ toy room. My husband has busted his tail turning our old attic into a toy room for the girls. It went from dark, dusty, and floor-less  to a spacious, carpeted kid haven. With plywood still on the walls, though, there’s some work to be done. I’d like to finish it up so when they’re a little older, we can send them up with food and instructions to not come down for many, many hours.

11. Host a big-people party. I want to go all out for my friends and family. Make a bunch of food, send out fancy invitations, stress about the details, and feel completely exhausted when it’s all over. The ones I love are worth the effort.

12. Take a family vacation. Maybe something simple, like Great Wolf Lodge. Just a little getaway, the four of us. Or, a tent on the back of the property might work, too.

13. Stop trying to create long lists and running out of ideas before I get to the last one. 🙂