2016 A year of Change

I learned a lot during the past year. I have done quite a bit of reflecting during my two weeks off from work and being home with Chloe. I love my resolutions and I honestly believe starting a new year with goals, a strategy and strong work ethic makes for a damn good start. During my reflecting I realized there are several things I'd like to change about myself. I have this bad habit of believing others will treat you the way you treat them. I was disappointed so many times this past year because I continuously expected a different outcome and it just never came. This year I am making a huge attempt to stop setting myself up for these failures. There are people who will lie to your face for no reason and I can't stop them. There are people who will not support you and I can't force them. There are people who after years of not speaking still try to ruin your happiness and I can't hide from them. They will put you down, they will cast you aside, they will stalk you, and they will never see what they are doing as wrong. That's just it though, all of these things are their issues not mine. So, in 2016 I am not going to let anyone else dictate my life. I will work hard because that's who I am. If you want to hang out, great! If not, that's okay too. If you want to spend the rest of your life blaming me for your decisions, good luck. I have a great life! We may not have it all together at times but we are happy and we see a future beyond tomorrow. I have an amazing husband and an adorable toddler. I have great friends and mostly amazing coworkers. My family is supportive, loving and a blast to be around. I'm not going to lose sight of that just because someone else has problems. That is my "Spiritual" resolution for 2016: Focus on those that make me smile and laugh at those that don't.
Pinterest had been my encyclopedia this week. I am bound and determined to get us organized this year. I have pins about canning vegetables, making my own cleaning supplies, organizing my business, couponing, selling, gardens, chickens, and so much more. I was out of control! We created a budget this year, which, is new to us and we are ready to kick this sucker into high gear. I downloaded ibotta and I already have over $15.00 in rebates ready to collect. I have calendars for personal events and a calendar for bills and savings. I am honestly so excited about this upcoming year. I have a feeling that we are going to make it our bitch!
I will give a quick run through of our family goals for the year. Billy already has the four chickens and two roosters. The chickens (Red, Spike, Coocooloca, and no name) should begin laying eggs in the next month or so. He built them a chicken castle with a nesting box and run (Chloe and I build the ramp). As soon as they are laying we will start having farm fresh eggs and raising a few chicks as meat chickens. He is also plotting a garden and beginning to plant the seedlings. Once his garden is established he is going to get a few rabbits for meat. There's also talk between him, my dad and my brother about getting a few pigs but nothing has been finalized. So, Billy's main goal is to have a self-sustaining farm that will yield enough food to cut our grocery bills down to nothing.

Chloe is beginning potty training this month. She already knows when she needs to go and she hates being in a dirty diaper so as soon as the school says they are ready we are off. She is so smart and cracks us up daily. I really enjoyed spending the entire week with her and most of it was just the two of us. She can be so helpful around the house and each errand we ran was like a mini-adventure. I realized how much I still baby her as I watched her march into her room and say, "I'll clean my toys". She came out a few minutes later and said, "clean my bathroom now". I never asked her to do any of that I was just cleaning the living room and she thought she should clean her stuff as well. How many two-year-old's do that?! Of course, I didn't let her clean her bathroom that is a Mommy job.

For the upcoming year I am going to blog my heart out. I'm tired of wondering who is reading or what I should or shouldn't say. Back to the beginning if they are concerned about what I write then that is their problem not mine. I like writing and it clears my head. I'm not going to let anyone take that away from me. Plus with all of my budgeting, couponing, crafts, and ideas I need an outlet. Somewhere I can talk about it and work through some of the problems that are bound to arise. I am going to hunker down and really focus on Rodan and Fields. It's an amazing company and I believe in the products. I am going to make it successful and follow through with my goal of having a second full-time paycheck coming. I also have an opportunity to get back to bookkeeping on the side so I am hoping for three incomes with this new year. Billy bought me yoga gear and I am excited to get back to exercising and calming my demons.

We are starting the new year with an amazing opportunity. We are flying to Tennessee in mid-January. I have to go for work to meet with Trane and discuss the upcoming prison project and I am taking the family. We are going to visit with some of my favorite people and take in the sights. New experiences for the New Year.
I hope everyone has an amazing year and I am already thinking about my next blog. With all of the research I have done this week I think it might be nice to watch someone start at the beginning so for those interested you can see our successes and failures along the way.