New Job, New Goals

Unfortunately, I was laid off from my job effective September 15th. I was given two weeks notice, so I had time to see how to file for unemployment and look for work. My husband and I had just discussed about a week or so before I got the news; how perfect it would be for our lifestyle for me to work part time at a local job when our child was in school so I could take care of the house more and be there for her. Child care, although not quite as expensive as if she were not in school was about $80 a week and gas to and from work for just myself was between $120-$200 a month depending on how much gas costs, if I could find flex fuel when it was time to fuel up and if we went anywhere special on the weekend. My job didn't really make me much money and my boss gave me a hard time about things in addition to my not having much time to do housework or exercise because I was either tired or just didn't want to before or after work. Fortunately, on my last week of work, I had two job interviews and was offered both jobs on the spot. I decided to take one of them working for not much money, but part time and with a boss who seemed to understand my family needs coming first. So, I start a new job on Wednesday but before that, I have a couple days to get things in order at home and start our new routine, which I am extremely excited about!

Goal 1: Eat better! 
Isn't this everyone's goal? I am a picky eater. I blame it on my parents for letting me eat what I wanted as a kid and fixing everyone different meals every night and not having a lot of lean meats, fruits and veggies in the house to offer.
I started this weekend (well, a little). My husband went to Sam's Club yesterday and brought me home a Ninja Auto-IQ Kitchen System since my smoothie maker broke last weekend and I wanted a new one so I could try having smoothies. So far, we have made smoothies 3 times, made salsa and made (unhealthy) ice cream flurries. I went to the store and purchased frozen and fresh fruit, some kale and spinach and other various fresh veggies to both eat and pop in a smoothie. I have also been pinning smoothie recipes on Pinterest!
Tonight we had a grilled chicken (on the George Foreman Grill) caesar salad with some whole grain veggie pasta for dinner.
I feel like I am on my way already!

Goal 2: Exercise at least 3 days a week! 
Many of us struggle with exercise. We either don't want to get up early or don't feel like it after work. I am one of those people. Although I don't mind getting up early, and actually like to work out in the morning, I have a hard time with it because I need to shower after I exercise and that can be a struggle trying to get up early enough to do that plus get the kiddo up to take her to school.
Fortunately for me, my new job will allow me to take the kid to school at the start of school (instead of having to get her to morning program before school and try to make it to work half an hour away by 8:00am). So, if I still get up at the same time I always did, I can work out and then get the kiddo up and get her starting to get ready and still have time to shower and get myself ready on time. We also tend to neglect walking the dog, I plan to change this, which would be better for both of us.

Goal 3: Clean the house!
I know, this seems like a strange goal, but really, I am a bit of a pack rat and it is very hard for me to get cleaning done on the weekends when my husband always wants to go somewhere since it is the only time we get to have family time. It is also hard for me to do much when I get home from work because first we have to eat, then I clean up and load the dishwasher and make sure lunch for my husband is ready to go and get the kiddo to clean up and by the time that is all done, it is snack time then time for bed almost!
So this goal is really going to be a challenge, even working part time, I will not have much time extra to clean, but I need to get down to it and really work at it. We haven't even unpacked everything from moving in 2 years ago, and I don't get time to "deep clean" things a lot. We also have a full shed, a messy office and a disorganized kitchen! My husband says we have "too much stuff," I say we just need to have better organization!

So here's to my goals!