Can I jump into scrooge mode for just a minute and say that I am so ready for this tree to be out of my living room?! Sorry I just had to admit that out loud. I love the coziness of Christmas, but the decorations really make me a little crazy by the end, and I don’t even have that many!
Admittedly January is not one of my favorite months. It’s cold and dark and reallllly long. Sorry, January. This year, however, I am trying my hardest to look at January in a positive light. Let’s swap the negative words for positive ones:
Pure
Refreshing
Minimalist
Crisp
Blank slate
Potential
Time
{Breakfast: Two eggs and whole wheat blueberry muffins}
I was looking for some new year challenges and stumbled upon the “Screw Your Resolutions” challenge put on by the Healthy Habits, Happy Moms ladies. They are doing a free 30 day challenge from January 2-31 with daily prompts for quick home workouts, meal prep ideas, self-love and self-care activities that all focus on YOU in 20 minutes a day. The program’s philosophy of anti-diet, balance, and moderation all align with what I write about here on KERF, so I signed up to participate because it seems like a great way to get inspired by a community of others who are starting the year with similar intentions to me. Healthy Habits, Happy Moms also does a larger program called Balance 365 that is a year-long course to living your best life. If you get your snowball rolling, you can keep going with that! Of course they have moms at heart, but anyone can participate.
MY OTHER RECIPES
{Lunch: sardine salad, garlicky massaged kale, Red, Hot, Blues}
Instead of resolutions, I am setting intentions for the new year. If I were a crafty person I might cut out photos from magazines and make a mood board, but that would feel like a chore to me, so let’s just close our eyes and make a mental mood board. What are your intentions for 2017? How do you want it to feel?
I am still pondering mine for a post to come about my 2017 word of the year!
{Dinner: frittata, roasted potatoes, frozen parmesan peas}
Happy New Year!
Oh do I ever share your disdain for all things Christmas post Christmas…. New Year’s Day is the official “Get this tree out of here” day, stuff the decorations back into the attic and toss the poinsettia that I stopped watering 2 weeks ago… I’m so ready for a fresh start – Thanks for some good ideas….
Haha “that I stopped watering two weeks ago!”
I really like how you have simple, positive words. They’re easy to keep in mind for the new year!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
My motto.. Can’t wait to put tree up and can’t wait to take it down… Day after Christmas it’s all down packed away until next year.
Haha yup!
Mine never makes it until new years (although, i also don’t have kids, so I suppose that makes it easier). This year, I actually took it down right before traveling for Christmas so when I came back I didn’t have ‘one more chore’ to do. It’s kind of scroogy but I’m cool with that.
I love your new header and your outlook! Intentions > Resolutions. I will reflect on this too as we enter 2017!
Thank you! #feelingmotivated 🙂
Same!
OMG Kath! I saw this and your photo on Instagram yesterday. Do you have a new desk set up at the new house? It’s fab! Such a cheerful and creative space.
We took down our tree yesterday, and while we’re still finding glitter all over the house, it’s nice to have it done.
Nope just outsourcing a bit because my desk is not nearly as pretty 😉
I bought that rose face scrub from a few posts ago…oh. my. goodness. Smells and feels amazing! I wish it was recommended to use more than once a week (but glad it will last awhile at that price).
Yay! I love it too : )
I was ready for our tree to come down the week before Christmas this year! It was really dry and looking ugly and scraggly and I was over it. Took it down yesterday!
We are having a little NYE party and my tree is still looking so healthy and perfect, I’m not taking it down until next week…. but believe me, I’ll be ready to get that stuff down too! Nice, clean spaces FTW! I signed up for the HHHM challenge, so thanks for that tip. Now I’ve got cute new New Balance sneaks and some new Athleta workout togs on the way – gotta have some fun inspiration, right?
Kath, I enjoy your posts year-round, but I so look forward to them this time of year – it’s like my daily/near daily check in to stay on the right track, stay balanced. Wishing you a wonderful 2017!!
Cheers!
Melanie
Thank you and love your motivation!
hi sweetie!!
I am doing what I always do in Jan. Read Proverbs and do NO sugar. 🙂 I have lots of people joining me, its simple and fun.
I agree, we take our tree down either the very night of Christmas or early Dec. 26! I was so ready to put up my pink/blue/gray colored items and say bye to our sweet treat and red everything. I love less clutter and a fresh begining!
I agree about January, but with the college kids starting back Jan 9 it seems shorter because it never feels like it starts til mid way. I am a summer girl at heart. Maybe because I live in snowy inidana. 🙂
Hope your 2017 is extra exciting and love filled, sweet Kath!
XOXO
I typed way fast and have a million typos. I apologize. XOXO
Oh, why must January get such a bad rap? My birthday is January 31 after all. lol Happy New Year to all!
Happy birthday month!!
Yep, I’m with you regarding the Christmas decorations. I absolutely love them (and I have quite a bit for how small my house is), but the second Boxing day arrives, they look tacky. Haha, it’s funny how 24 hours can make that difference. I always take them down the day or two after Christmas.
It’s always a pleasure to read your posts, and I know I’m not the only one who truly appreciates all the great info, advice, recipes, and honesty you provide. Happy New Year to you and all of yours Kath, and all the best in 2017!
Thank you for reading!!
Do you meal plan?
I do make a meal plan, but it is not a super strict one. Here’s a post I did a little while ago: https://www.katheats.com/all-about-groceriespart-ii
Thanks so much!
Love the idea of that screw resolutions group. I totally agree with that mentality!