12 for 12- March Should Roar Like a Lion, Right?

     February's goals were surprisingly simple to keep, despite the fact that even now, going into March, the kids are STILL sick.  (At least this time it's just a cold they're sharing.)  I drank more water, walked more, meditated a bit, and my freezer is packed with all sorts of goodies.

March's 12 for 12:

1. Read more.  I rarely get a chance to read anything.  I have magazine subscriptions, newspaper subscriptions, blog subscriptions, and even buy books once in a while.  But I don't have a lot of time to just sit and enjoy the process of reading.  I love the feel of paper on my hands and the smell of ink.  So, I'm going to take a few hours each week (either divvied out or all at once) and just read for fun.
2. Eat lunch with my kids.  I'm usually up to my elbows in a project and manage to cobble together lunches for the kids with ease.  Then I finish whatever and grab a sandwich during nap time.  No more.  The kids need to see me display better eating habits.  So, I'll join them in their meals.
3. Pay off $200 in debt.  I have no clue how many debts that is, but if I work in smaller increments, I'm certain I can start picking away at the mountain.
4. Follow through with my own appointments.  I've rescheduled the same doctor's appointment FIVE times now simply because the kids' needed to go see a doctor more badly than I do and I only have so much money set in my co-pay budget.  I'm going to go see all my doctor's this month and not reschedule. 
5. Say "no" more often.  That's pretty self-explanatory.  I'm the one who always agrees to volunteer.  I'm going to start stepping back this month so I can enjoy more time with my family and less time as a "table decorator/cupcake maker/driver/babysitter" for everyone else.
6. Know where my charitable contribution is going.  I'm constantly being asked to donate to this or that or the other project.  Most the time I have no problem tossing a dollar in the bin or handing over the change in my pocket.  But after a lengthy funds drive from a group that singles out and excludes people based off their sexual orientation and religions I came to the realization that I can only tolerate so much (for lack of a better word) bull shit.  So, I'm drawing the line- I'll donate to a group that will give my funds to worthy people that doesn't exclude based off fear or hate.  If I simply MUST donate to a hate group, it'll be to support the member of the group I know personally in the form of paying their dues or uniform fees.  
7. Start something I love.  I used to take dance classes in college and I LOVED them.  So, despite the fact that I'm a hundred pounds overweight, I signed up for ballet at a local art school.  I'm looking forward to it.
8. Get out of the rut.  We eat the same meals over and over and over.  I'm going to start shaking them up a little.  For example, tonight we're having Beef Stew.  We have stew all the time, though.  So, instead of serving it with rolls or bread, I'm going to make some fresh polenta to serve it over.  Tomorrow night, instead of the same tacos we always have, I'm making taco crescents.  Hopefully, this will lead to us enjoying some new preparations for food.
9. Write a menu.  I need to be held accountable for meal planning, so I'm going to start posting my menus on the site for everyone to see.
10. Let my hair down.  I actually mean this one literally.  I have worn my hair in a bun or pony tail every day for the past five years.  I need to start taking the time to actually wear my hair loose.
11. Dress like a girl.  Last week, Hubby told me to go shopping for myself and not come home until I looked like a girl.  Puzzled, I looked at my clothes and realized what he meant.  I was wearing HIS shirt, HIS sweat pants, HIS socks, and I'm sad to admit- his boxers.  I was swimming in his over-sized clothing.  So, I went out, bought some girlier things.  Now I just need to wear them.  (This being said as I'm typing in yet another of Hubby's shirts.)
12. Stop trying to impress.  The local Mamas here are very particular with who they associate with.  They've known each other since childhood and since I'm a newcomer to these parts, I'm sitting on the edge of their vision.  I tried to impress them at first, but I'm beginning to realize that impressing this sort of person is just not worth my effort.  So, starting this month I'm going to stop going to the extended effort of impressing people that I'm not particularly sure I want to be impressed by.