2016 - Here We Go!

It's a new year full of new possibilities! At least that's what the ad in my mailbox for a gym membership said. I am now using that ad as a coaster for my lime flavored La Croix, but agree with the sentiment wholeheartedly. Hello, 2016!

Me and my partner in crime with his binoculars from Santa. 

I rounded out 2015 with a nice long two week vacation at home in Charlotte, where I drank my parents' wine, hung out with my nephew, caught up with friends, and took in as many Christmas festivities as I could. It was nice to have someone else in the house who was as excited about Christmas as I was. He was three years old, but still. We obsessively watched the Santa Tracker together and, like me, he would spontaneously break out into Christmas carols. 

Now, it's January and I'm back at work. The cold weather and delayed Metro were brutal reminders that vacation is over. However, I'm looking forward to all that 2016 will bring (I'm looking at you, future Super Bowl Champion Carolina Panthers). 

Instead of making lofty new year's resolutions that I'll quickly forget, I've decided to make new month's resolutions so that I have something new to work on every 30-31 days. That way I'll have 12 chances to start fresh instead of one. Or, 12 chances to fail, I suppose. 

Hmm, we'll see how long this lasts.

First up: January

Stay Home, Save Money

I spent way too much money in December. With all the Christmas presents, traveling, holiday parties, gorgeous sweaters on sale in my size, friend reunions, etc., I went way over what I'd tried to "budget." I can justify every dollar, of course, but BB&T just doesn't care. 

As a result, this month, I resolve to limit my spending on social activities, especially since I already have fun trips planned the last two weekends of the month. Until those trips, it's wine at home, reading, and TV watching for me. Which, truth be told, sounds kind of perfect and possibly that not different than a usual non-December month for me. Maybe I'll even break out my now-cliché coloring book for grown ups. Fortunately, I live in a city that has lots of free entertainment options, like excellent museums and people-watching. I can even sit on the Mall and wave to the tourists as they go by on their segway tours. That's free and friendly. 

An added bonus to this resolution is that, by forgoing the many dinners out and happy hours, I'll probably eat healthier as well. Much to my own Friday-night chagrin, I don't keep delicious junk food or bread in the house. I also try to pretend like I don't know about the numerous start-ups that now offer services like "ice cream delivery." 

Plus, I inadvertently already cheated by pre-loading my Starbucks' card last week. That way, I can treat myself to a green tea (or my new favorite Oprah chai) since that money is technically kinda sorta already spent. Like that time I went to Europe and they gave me this fake money called euros that I spent on all kinds of fun things. 

Oh boy, this should go well. 

I'm not yet sure what my resolutions will be for the rest of the year, but I'm already brainstorming a few. Some months will probably be boring-to-you resolutions like "Take in the dry cleaning that has been sitting in the corner since 2015." I already know May's resolution will be "Finish grad school and drink copious amounts of prosecco in celebration." 

So far my list of potential resolutions also includes to:

• Expand upon my basic HTML knowledge.
• Figure out what the second light switch by my front door turns on and off. 
• Read some of the classic books I've said I've read.
• Beat my sister in Scrabble.
• Do 30 push-ups in a row without dropping to my knees. Well, maybe 20. 
• Learn how to get three new places without having to use my GPS.
• Create a recipe for a signature dish. Or, just learn to make someone else's signature dish.

I'll have to keep thinking, especially because I think that light switch one is impossible. Fortunately, I'll have lots of time in January to ponder my resolutions for the rest of the year. 

Let's do this, January. I already feel my wallet getting fatter and my waist getting thinner. 

Just kidding. I don't carry a wallet. It doesn't match my new sweater. 

Happy New Year!