Resolutions Update for March:

Soooooo, in effort to keep me accountable I have decided to post them today and then I also thought that each month I will give a status update to show how it is all coming along!
So, without further ado:
My List

Personal:

1. Start an exercise routine and stick with it - Well So far this is coming along well.  I have started the Ripped in 30 program and I am down to the last few days.  To keep me accountable I have been doing a daily posting to mark my progress and to keep me motivated.  To continue with this goal I have been toying with the idea of doing the Ripped in 30 again.  But this time at the advanced level (I have been doing the beginner).  More on this at the posting of my progress in a few days.
2. Cut down/out sweets - yeah......umm......Not doing so well on this one.  But there is a Meal Plan with Jilliam Michaels.  It has been on my "to do" list for about a week to go check it out.  But.....yes, ok ok ok, I kind of been procrastinating on this.  ......I don't know why.......

3. Join/participate in a Book Club - I have been participating in "Booking It" on Lifeasmom.com.  However, I haven't even started the book for this month and the review is on April 10th.  Opps.  March was a tough month for the Burt's with illness striking again and again.  I am still hopeful to get this done for this month but we shall see.
4. Blog regularly (at least weekly) -  Definitely have been improving on this.  I was looking back and not only have I been doing weekly, I actually have been ALMOST daily.  I say almost because there were a few times that I had to back date some of the Ripped in 30 posts to keep them in chronological order.  Some days I even posted more then once!  Yes, you can applaud now.......:)

Family: 1. Do a monthly "Date Night" with Norm - Sadly, this didn't happen this month.  Kinda got bumped by the attack of the illnesses.  BUT - we do have an anniversary coming up.  So I am pretty sure we will have one this month.  .......Or ELSE!  (kidding) - but I am hopeful

2. Increase playtime with Renae and Dakota - Definitely been more focused here.  I tweaked the daily schedule and have been more consistent with getting up at 4am to exercise and do daily chores.  Which has opened up more free time for the girls.  Also, Renae has started back with swimming lessons which is something that she enjoys.  I do think that I can still improve more so in this area by sticking with the schedule a little more closely.  I don't think it has to be rigid or anything but a little more routine would help.
3. Do a mommy/Renae date once a month - Sadly this too has been bumped.  But I will try to place it as an official date for this months calendar.

4. Increase teaching with Renae and create a teaching plan - March wasn't as focused as I would have liked but we did get some time to focus on the topic of Transportation.  We read some new books and did some activities.  However, I am more ready to go for April.  I have started organizing a daily plan for what I want to cover.  AND.....this next preschool pack is all about gardening!  Which I printed from homeschoolcreations.com. I am so pumped to tackle this.  Plus, now that the weather is improving it will be great to do some hands on/tactile projects outdoors.  Like the Garden Challenge that I have started.  Which I mentioned on a previous post and you can see what others are doing by clicking on the button to the right or this link http://www.thehomeschoolvillage.com/category/hsv-garden-challenge.  I plan on posting more about our teaching throughout the month of April.  So you will have to check back on the progress!

Home:

1. Create a cleaning schedule and stick with it - Well this is something that I have had to tweak as well.  I felt that having laundry and floors on the same day was just too much to get done.  But, by changing it to Monday - Laundry, Wednesday - Bathrooms and Dusting, Friday - Floors.  (with Tuesday and Thursday being my 12 hour work days) that this seems to be working better. 

2. De-clutter - I have started to work on our master closet.  Norm and I gutted a huge amount of clothes that were either too big, too small, or we just didn't wear.  Because of all my weight loss, I actually don't have that much left in the way of clothes, so it looks like there will be a shopping trip in my future.  But, by clearing out the excess clothes, it became a lot more apparent of our paper clutter.  SOOOOO, I have started doing a 15min. daily closet clean up.  Meaning, I set a timer for 15 min (usually during nap time) and whatever I can get done in 15min. is what I get done.  Once that timer goes off......I stop.  So far I haven't noticed much of a dent but I am hoping by next months resolution update that I will have a lot more to report.

3. Get more indoor house plants and keep them alive for one year - This hasn't happened.  In fact, .....I kinda killed another one.  However, we did get some outdoor plants.....and they are still alive.......for now. :)

4. Create a homemaker binder - I have done this and been keeping up with it since January.  I plan on posting this in more detail this month.

Financial:

1. Decrease eating out - I was doing well with this.  But....as Norm pointed out today.....I kinda have slid back to my old ways and I have been frequenting Starbucks again.........opps.  Gotta try and reign this in some more.  Going to try and keep up with the no eating out challenge that is done on couponingtodisney.com to keep me accountable.  Wish me luck!  There is even a random draw for $50 gift card at the end of the month!

2. Start using envelope system (David Ramsey) - Ok, funny thing.  Bought this new handy dandy wallet to implement the envelope system......haven't used it.  I also, withdrew the "allowance" for groceries and put it in an envelope at home with the intent of drawing money out of it each time we went of groceries.  But, time and time again.....I didn't remember this plan until I was already at the grocery store.....no cash in hand :( 
So.....I will try again this month.

3. Create/stick with a budget - Again, I could be a lot more focused on this.  I think if I did put the envelope system in place I would be better at sticking to the budget.  But I was also guilty of buying items like plants and such without actually "budgeting" for them.  So, I will try to focus more on this.

4. Increase savings/have a fully funded emergency fund - I am proud to announce that despite what I just described above, we are now only a few hundred dollars short of a fully funded 3 month emergency fund!  Whoohoo!
5. Restart Investments - We did meet with our financial consultant last month and will now be starting up our investments this month!

6. Start college funds for the girls - This is also going to be kicking in in April!

7. Start increase in payments for house pay off - This hasn't happened as of yet.

8. Save for new car for Norm - .....nor has this

9. Cut grocery budget in half - .....again, see above with problems with my envelope system


Well, that is all of it.

All in all, I think I did pretty darn good with my resolutions. Yes, room for improvement, but not too shabby.....if I do say so myself!


I made this list with the thought that most of this needs to be done by the end of the year. Not necessarily started on January 1.

So come May 1st-ish (considering this post was supposed to be done yesterday....hehe) I will give you update/progress report.

How about you? Did you make any resolutions? If so, how are they coming along? What are you doing to keep your motivation?