Four lessons learned in January

I’m not really sure why, but the month of January has seemed to drag on FOREVER! Maybe it’s the cold weather and many inches of snow, or maybe it’s that our schedule has been all over the place this month. Either way, I was starting to think that January was never going to end. But here we are, the final days of January. And I, for one, can’t wait to turn the calendar page and start anew.

As I have done in previous months, I am once again celebrating the end of the month by sharing a few lessons I’ve learned over the past 30 or so days. Here we go….

Kid birthday parties STRESS ME OUT! Our daughters turned 6 last week and they really wanted to celebrate by having a party with a few of their school friends. The party is scheduled for this Saturday, and I can’t wait for it to be over. I’ve been obsessively worrying about the details for weeks now. Where would we have it? When would we have it? How many kids could each of our daughters invite? Food? Activities? M wanted to invite a girl from B’s class, was that okay? The list of worries goes on…and on….and on… I would rather host a grown-up party for 20 or 30 friends then a kid’s party for 10 Kindergarteners. I can’t begin to describe the levels of relief I will feel once this party is over.
I am obsessed with Sharpies. I’ve always had a thing for Sharpies but now I think it’s crossed the line into obsession. I recently bought those cool metallic ones (first in gold, then in silver too) and I LOVE them. So much fun! I keep looking for excuses to use them. Now, the only problem I’ve ever had with Sharpies is that they bleed through the paper. And they can be hard to write with. Okay, that’s two problems but who’s counting? But then I discovered Sharpie pens! Yes, that’s right…a sharpie that writes like a pen. I couldn’t believe it either! They come in all sorts of colors, they are super easy to write with, AND they don’t bleed through the paper! It’s the little things in life, am I right?!
Routine and structure are necessary for my sanity. As I briefly mentioned above, our schedule this month has been a mess. And not because we’ve added a bunch of new activities. We haven’t added ANY new activities. The mess stems from the disruption of all of our normal routines due to snow delays, snow cancellations, already scheduled school breaks, and other random routine changes. I hate it…I really, really do. I’ve been cranky and completely unproductive. I can’t seem to remember what I need to do or where I need to be. The house is a mess, I haven’t been blogging as much as I would like to, and I can’t seem to focus on anything. Oh, and did I mention that I’m cranky? Here’s hoping that February brings more routine and structure because I need to actually get something done around here!
The Fitbit Flex is fabulous! A few years ago, I realized that I am the type of person who likes data. I like to know details and information and I like it to be presented in an organized way. I like to make lists and I like to chart progress. I don’t know why, it just makes me feel better. So I’m always looking for new ways for me to keep track of information. Additionally, as part of my plan to “Take Action” in 2014, I’ve been trying to focus on healthier living. Now, let me be totally honest here – I will never be the poster child for healthy living. I hate to exercise, I love desserts, and I have to force myself to eat fruits and/or vegetables. I am many things, but healthy really isn’t one of them. But as I near the end of my 30s, it has come to my attention that I need to take better care of myself. Enter the Fitbit Flex! I got it a few weeks ago for my birthday and I couldn’t be happier with it. It tracks how many steps I take each day, how many calories I’ve burned, how much sleep I get each night (as well as the quality of said sleep), and my level of activity each day. It also allows me to set weight goals and then track my daily food intake. I find this all to be very helpful and motivating, especially when I realized that I wasn’t even close to taking 10,000 steps each day. Yikes!! I’ll update you in a few months and let you know my progress and if I’m still as happy with the Fitbit as I am today. (Note: In case you are wondering, I have no affiliation with Fitbit at all. The Fitbit folks have no idea who I am or that I’m writing this. I’m just really happy with my new Fitbit!)

So, what have you learned this month? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!