Many people feel the need to come up with resolutions for the new year. I was reading a blog the other day and the writer used the word “intentions” rather than resolutions. I liked the term “intentions” because, to me, intention implies that I’m trying…. and that’s what change and improvement is all about… TRYING. No one is 100% perfect but everyone can try to give their best effort. So here are my intentions for the new year.

• BE KIND
• Journal every day
• Exercise 60 minutes a day at the gym, if not the gym.. take the dogs for a long walk (It’s all about moving.)
• Track the food I eat
• Eat no white food and keep the sugar low
• Limit TV to 8-10 pm
• In bed by 10pm and lights out by 11pm
• Continue to strengthen my relationship with Eric

That’s a long list,but I have to say I’m feeling really good about them. It seems every year that I have a list of things I want to change but I don’t really give it a 100% effort. This year is different. I’m not doing the same ‘ol same ‘ol thing to make the changes. I’m more committed than I have been in the past. I want to really get these things under my belt.

I’ve got a good way to implement them. Eric and I have been talking a lot over the holiday about how to REALLY change the things we want to change, both individually and as a couple. So here’s the plan, I’ve made separate calendar for each of us listing the “to do’s” for each of us. For each of us, each day we do all the things we’ve got on our list (3 each) we put a sticker on it and get a reward. When we have stickers for the whole week, another reward. These calendars are posted in the bathroom for us to see every day. In addition, we’ve also got our list on the frig and the mirror.

Wish us luck. I’m hoping to post more than before to let people know how I’m doing on my goals, share what I’ve learned, and keep myself accountable.

Today I did it. Nope, haven’t gotten a job yet but I did something that I’ve been wanting to do for about two years now. I love our house and I love our kitchen the only bad thing is the tile in the kitchen and more specifically the grout. Whoever decided to put cream tile and light cream grout in a kitchen was nuts. Ok, it HAD to be a man. Anyway, Eric and I are avid “foodies” so we like to cook a lot which means the kitchen gets used A LOT which means, stains on the grout even when you’ve sealed it.

Today the solution was implemented. I re-grouted most of the kitchen (just have the counter with the wine frig on it and the counter between the stove and the pantry left, oh and the bar) with this stain-proof grout from Home Depot. I’ve been wanting to do it forever because the kitchen always looks dirty even when it’s clean because of the grout. I thought it was going to be a pain in the but and take forever but it didn’t. To do most of the kitchen took about 3 hours which wasn’t bad in my mind at all. Now the grout is curing and looking wonderful. Every couple of hours or so Eric walked up while I was finishing and commented that it looked great. I can’t wait until it’s all done and then the problem is solved.

Hey, Julie… Want me to come up and do your kitchen while you’re on bed rest and I’m still looking for a job? I’d be happy to do it.

Off to bask in my accomplishments for today and a big drink of water. Tomorrow I’ll tell ya what’s up with the weight-loss and eating better. Hint… it’s going well.