Winter Aims Update

I started the winter with some particular things I wanted to do. It was not a traditional chore list, but a list of things I thought would make the colder and darker days a little more palatable. When I posted it, I thought it would still feel winterish at least the first couple of weeks of March, but it is feeling and looking like spring here now, so I think this is where I will end it and begin a new spring list.

1. Light a candle or use fragrance melts everyday.  ✓ I have been surprised how much I have enjoyed doing this. As the weather gets warmer and warmer I imagine I will change to using wax melts during the daytime more than candles, but I am pretty sure I am going to enjoy the flickering flames at night.

2. Bake something delicious every week ✓ I did bake some weeks and some weeks I did not. What we liked most was the low carb air fryer chocolate chip cookie. I made it several nights.

3. Inventory the kitchen Get rid of things I no longer need, use or want. ✓ This is done and over, at least for now. I have culled things I don't want and don't use, though I probably still have more than I need.

4. Look through and cull my cookbook collection. Cull the ones no longer used.  ✓ Completed in January

5. Redo personal handwritten cookbook ✓ After finding Mom's Grandmother's and MIL's handwritten recipes I decided to handwrite my updated book. Every day I am copying one or two recipes in it. My only nod to technology might be to make copies of it. 

6. Plan a joint activity with TheHub during the work week ✓ We have done something outside of the house each week. We actually are each planning things to do.

7. Do some self pampering ✓ This is happening on a weekly basis.

8. Learn something new every day.✓ This happens everyday as long as I am open to learning.

9. Start germinating seed for spring planting. ✖

8. Rearrange things around the house. ✓ This is an ongoing project. Right now it is more changing throw pillows, and moving artwork around. But spring will mean some curtains will change and bedding changes are coming.

9. Go through winter wardrobe and donate clothes ✓  Donated 3 garbage bags filled with clothes. I am going to start the big clothes changeover this week, which will mean getting rid of more things I did not wear this winter, as well as starting the process with warm weather clothes.

10. Keep up with the laundry ✓ This is ongoing. I have noticed since TheHub retired, even he will stick a load in the washer and dryer on occasion.

11. Organize all bathrooms closets✓ I have managed to organize only 1 bathroom closet. More to go at some point and time) Replace badly worn towels ✓ I bought 8 and got rid of 8 that were threadbare

12. Schedule a documentary to watch with TheHub weekly. ✓ This has actually been a fun thing to do

13. Volunteer. ✓ Independence Place is my favorite volunteer spot, but I have done things other places.

14. Play the piano for at least 15 minutes 4 times a week. ✓If I am being totally honest I only played maybe 5 times total in February

15. Read a minimum of one book a week.✓ Some weeks this works out and some weeks it doesn't

16. Have lunch with friends at least 6 times this winter season. ✓I am doing good with this and have been out with different groups of friends 4 times so far

17. Each month contact someone I have not spoken with in a long time. ✓ It is funny. By putting this in forefront of my thoughts, situations have arisen that caused me to reach out to a few people I had lost contact with for quite a while.

18. Go to church regularly ✓ Missed one Sunday when Son3 and DIL3 were here, and did not go one Sunday that is was so cold.

19. Laugh as much as possible. ✓ Between my sister, Son2, and a good friend it is impossible not to laugh a lot.

20. Maintain contact with my sons, DILs, and granddaughter. ✓This is done mostly by phone because of distances, but contact is often.

21. Try to not be petty. ✓ I try, I honestly try and am successful sometimes.

22. Have a road trip or day trip a couple of times a month. ✓ We had one in January and one in February. Hopefully we will have one in March, but if not, we are going to New Orleans for a few days at the end of the month.

23. Go to an actual movie theater once a month ✖ We have not been even 1 time.

24. Have coffee at a coffee shop a couple of times a month. ✖ Hasn't happened yet and I love coffee and love to have it in a shop. Not sure why I have not done it.

25. Enjoy every day, even if it is difficult. ✓ I have learned every day is a gift and I am trying to treat it as such.

26. Be more approachable, and willing to talk with people I don’t really know ✓ I have always been fairly outgoing, but I am making true efforts to be more engaging with folks I do not know very well.

27. Do something toward Christmas '26 each month ✓ I have done some things, but I have skillfully avoided the Room of Horrors so far.

28. Use existing products before buying more. ✓ There have been a couple of times I wanted to buy something when I still had plenty at home. My exception to this rule is laundry supplies. If the stores have products I use BOGO I will get them whether I am out of said product or not. And in February I am adding another exception. In December I bought some makeup that is a shade too light. I have been using it, but the other day I caught sight of my reflection while wearing it and realized I looked rather vampirish. I guess I just need to be thankful I could see a reflection.

29. Start getting rid of excessive book collection ✓ This is going to be a long term project. At last count we had over 2,000 books, not counting the 1,000+ we have digitally. I may have gotten rid of 20 so far. This is not good.

30. Grab a Sharpie and write the expiration dates on all dry storage foods ✓

31. Use oldest frozen foods first ✓ At first I was doing really well with this, but there have been days I pull something out to thaw, which I know is not the oldest.

32. Go to sleep earlier.  ✖ I love late nights and it is very hard for me to go to bed before 2. I am aiming to be in bed by midnight, but it is not happening very often. I am in bed by or before midnight maybe 2 out of 7 days in a week

33. Try to find a new hobby✖

34. Maintain a close relationship with My Beloved Sister ✓

Now I will see if I can't get rid of those ✖ marks in the March new
spring list.