Food/Personal Goals of the Month and Year - January, 2010

Happy New Year!  Wow, a new decade.  What's in store for 2010?  Only time will tell.  It sure feels good to be home.  I'm ready to get back to normal life and get going with lots of kitchen work this month.  Since today is Jan. 1 I'm going to do goals for the month and some general goals for the year.

I guess I'll start with my goals for this month.  There are several, but they are all kind of connected.  So, that stand mixer I got a month ago...still hasn't been touched!  I took it out of the box to take a picture.  And that's about it.  I haven't read the instructions.  I haven't washed anything.  Just have not had time.  So this month I want to try it out, which means baking!  I'd like to try making a few kinds of bread.  I also have some upcoming cakes in Feb.  So I'll be using it for those (may do some of the baking in Jan.)...cakes, frosting, icing.  That will be such a huge help.  And I got an ice cream maker attachment and a grain mill attachment.  So I want to try those at some point as well.  Not necessarily this month, but maybe.

Whether I use my mixer or not I have some other baking to catch up on.  We're running low on a lot of staples.  I need to make more granola, more graham crackers and more hot fudge.  I also have to do some baking for a Kindermusik openhouse (scones) and a MOPS meeting (graham crackers and sugar pecans).  And I found a recipe for whole wheat vanilla wafers I'd like to try.

I had intended to start some more canning this month - beans.  But now I'm not sure I'll have time.  It's only Jan. 1 and I already feel like I'll hardly have any extra time before the month is over.  So we'll see how the baking goes and if there is some extra time for that.  Otherwise I'll work on it next month.

In terms of a food category I figured since it's winter and I want to bake lots of bread that soup and bread would be a good choice.  Plus you can make soup so healthy, incorporate lots of veggies, it's easy to make it meatless and you can do most soups in the crockpot!  Now I just need to do some searching for soup and bread recipes.

I mentioned a couple cakes in Feb. (my dad's birthday and my nephew's birthday).  This month I'll be doing the final planning and possibly start baking for those.

In terms of personal goals, I want to focus on Rebecca this month.  She's getting older, more mature, and she understands a lot more.  So it's time to get more serious about a few things.  We've already started on all of them to a degree but haven't been very diligent.  So this month I want to really work on time outs (she doesn't need them often, but I want her to understand what it means), clean up (she helps sometimes, but we need to make more of an effort to have her help clean up every night), self feeding (I just need to be better about letting her make mistakes and make messes...she's already getting better but still has a ways to go) and potty training (we're not forcing this one, just see what she's ready for and maybe try once in a while).  In addition, I want to refocus my own efforts of being a good role model for Rebecca of what it means to be a woman of God.  I want to be more patient with her and teach her how to trust in God for all things.

As time allows I want to do a few playdates/outings.  Tomorrow I might be meeting up with an old college friend and her daughter.  And there are a few other friends that I've been wanting to get together with but we didn't have time during the holidays.  I also want to make at least one trip to the farm to see my grandparents.  My aunt and uncle that usual help them out are down south for the winter, so I want to help them out a bit.  And if there is time I'd like to get to the library.  They have a toddler story time that I'm sure Rebecca woud love.  I'll have to check into what other community events are going on.  We are also planning on going to at least one Calvin basketball game with my parents (Jan. 9).  Rebecca has to try out her new jersey :)  That along with MOPS, Kindermusik and nursery cmt should keep me plenty busy.

Now on to the goals for this year.  They are not so much specific goals or resolutions, just general ideas to keep in mind.  I would like to continue to focus on health - both my own and my family's...and teaching Rebecca what it means to be healthy.  I would like to be a good role model for Rebecca.  I want to stay positive and encourage others.  I want to be accepting of others and myself.  I want to focus on strengthening relationships and letting people into my life.  After a long time of inner reflection and dealing with my own issues I want a more outward focus...how I can help others/how I can use my talents.  I want to make time for Justin - dates, communication, etc.  I want to live a life full of gratitude.  And I just want to live...not worry, not take everything so seriously, not be so concerned about the future, just live.

So here's the recap:

~ stand mixer
~ baking
~ canning beans?
~ soup and bread
~ plan/start birthday cakes
~ focus on Rebecca
~ playdates/outings

~ focus on health, being positive, relationships, serving others, making time for Justin, being thankful, living life

A new day, a new month, a new year, a new decade.  I'm anxious to see what God has in store!