I Hereby Resolve To…
by Jenners • 01/03/2013 • Lists • 88 Comments
What can I say? I’m a total cliche. I adore the whole New Year thing and making resolutions. However, given my repeated failures in the past, this year I am going to be more realistic.
Exercise and Diet
- I will go to kickboxing class twice a week. (I’ve been taking kickboxing classes for the past month and finally understand that whole “exercise endorphin” thing everyone has been talking about. Punching and kicking a Wavemaster is fun!)
- I will do one “at home” workout on the weekend.
- I will walk the dogs at least twice a day.
- I will not buy chocolate and snacks that I can’t resist eating. (If I don’t have it in the house, I won’t eat it.)
- I will plan weekly menus each Sunday so we don’t eat out as much.
- I will watch my portions.
Blogging
- I will review books after I read them. If I fall behind, I will do mini-reviews for all books I haven’t reviewed at the end of the month so I don’t have 40 outstanding reviews to write at the end of the year.
- I will attempt to visit as many blogs as I can each week but won’t stress if I don’t get to visit everyone every day.
- I will post only two to three times a week.
- I will take one day off from blogging each week.
Reading
- I will not set a reading goal but I will track the number of books I read.
- I will read what I feel like reading and will limit the amount of books I accept for review.
Entertainment
- I will go to matinees during the week when there is a movie I really want to see.
Housekeeping
- I will not procrastinate on putting the laundry away after it has been folded.
- I will use specific days for specific tasks (Monday = Grocery Shopping/Laundry, Tuesday = Bathrooms, Wednesday = Dusting/Vacuuming, Thursday = Financial Stuff, Friday = Sheets/Towels).
- I will work on one special project each week.
Why do I think that the Entertainment resolution is the only one I’ll keep? HAHA!
How about you? Did you make any resolutions for the year?
LOL! I wish we could go to the movies together
Me too!! And then lunch so we could talk and talk and talk…
Good luck with all of your resolutions Jenners! I’ve made quite a list myself, many of which are in a similar vein to yours. Here’s hoping we will both live up to our goals!
I’m rooting for you!
I love your goals, and the witty quips to go with them.
I wish I’d written the witty quips though.
I generally don’t make resolutions–as someone who runs on an academic year, I prefer to start fresh every September. Typically, my ‘promises’ are mundane: I vow to pack myself a nice lunch each day. I will respond to emails when I open them.
New Year’s Resolutions are made to be broken.
I dig your movie one, though. I could get on board with that one, especially at the AMC Dine in Theater up in Menlo Park. They have giant reclining leather seats, no under 21s allowed, pre-purchased seating, and waitress service. Yahoo.
I think I might have to start driving up to your AMC theater … that sounds amazing, espeically the no 21 and the waitress service. I haven’t seen anything like that here!
You have some fantastic resolutions! I want to take a kickboxing class! I’m with you on reading what you want too. I turned down all but about 3 review books this year and I’m so glad I did. Reading shouldn’t feel like a chore.
My second or third year of blogging, I realized that accepting review copies was starting to really stress me out so I cut back to almost none. It has made reading more fun again.
Oooo, bold resolution post! That’s quite a lot of things you have planned there. I wish you the best of luck with all of them
I figure the more I try, the more of a chance I’ll succeed at least a few of them.
That is the best “resolution’s” post I’ve seen this year! I resolve not to resolve–I’m doomed to fail if I write it down.
I hear you … but I’m doomed to fail if I don’t write it down so I might as well write them down and have people hassle me about them.
I didn’t make any resolutions this year. A first. Probably being sick and having to actually work a j-o-b during the ENTIRE month of December crushed my soul. I hope to get it back soon.
I hope you find your soul soon … and it isn’t in too bad a shape.
These are very realistic resolutions and good ones. I didn’t make any but I do hope to try and follow some of the same ones you’ve got. I find I make a resolution and then never keep it so this year I just promised myself to become a better and healthier me so we’ll see how I do. Good luck with yours – keep us posted on your progress!
Posting about my progress would help to keep my accountable. I have my kickboxing friend watching out that I go twice a week. And Mr. Jenners and BB are bothering me about the food and those are the ones I need the most help with. Good luck to you!!
My resolutions are about the same as yours. Striking similar now that I think about it.
I am here for you if you need support or something, or to just bitch too before making dinner or something.
Woo-hoo! You can do it doll baby!!!
This is exactly why I post this stuff … so I know I’m not alone and I know who to go to when I need to vent! Good luck and I’m here for you too!
Love your lists and e cards. My only resolution is spend more Quality time with TBG. Now that he’s 71 and with his family history of Alzheimers, I feel like time is getting really short for us. Thursday we actually went to the movies at 11 AM, no less, to see Cirque De Soleil in 3D.
Good luck with all your resolutions, I hope you keep us updated on how they are all going.
I think your resolution is the best one you can possibly make. I wish that you get to make this resolution for many more years than you expect. And yay for matinees! I’ll be joining you in spirit!
I think your resolutions are great. With respect to housework, I find it helps me to have specific days to attend to specific tasks. My big thing is vaccuming. I have three floors and two furry cats. Something has to be vacced every day. Not the whole house, but something. So breaking it down into 1/2 hour tasks almost every day helps me stay on top of it. I love your open ended reading resolutions, movie resolution and commitment to fitness. Fitness is so important and once you find a form of exercise you enjoy, just let it rip!
Best of luck with everything. I know you can do it!
I agree with you — having specific days helps you keep on top of tasks and not forget something. And three floors and furry cats — sounds like you lug a vaccumn around a lot — or do you have one for each floor??? : )
I will try to help with the kickboxing resolution. But what are these “special projects” for once a week you speak of? Good luck with all!
You’re already a big help with the kickboxing. I would have skipped last week if it wasn’t for you. And special projects are things like “work on organizing all the photos upstairs that are heaped into a big box” and “get rid of toys that aren’t played with anymore without having their disappearance noticed by the kid.” Stuff like that. Also, I’m in CIA Black Ops and sometimes I have special missions. (Just kidding on that last one in case you were worried.)
I am impressed with your resolutions list especially since I rarely make them. I like the use of the someecards – they are hysterical! Good luck with the resolutions and happy New Year!
I love those someecards. I can almost always find one the fits the topic and makes me laugh. Happy New Year!
Great goals Jenners! Kickboxing class is fun and gotta luv the exersize adrenaline rush. I’m gulity of leaving the laundry in the dryer overnight. lol
Oh I leave the laundry in the dryer for DAYS sometimes if it is the last of the loads. The worst is when you leave stuff in the washer!
Good luck with your resolutions! I never make them anymore because I think I jinx myself. I do have a 2013 reading goal of 52 books, but other than that – just reading what makes me happy. Also, not keeping junk in the house has worked wonders for me. People even comment on how empty our frig and pantry are, but breathing oxygen and drinking water are calorie free!
If I don’t have it in the house, I can’t eat it. I should have added “don’t go grocery shopping when I’m in a bad mood/hungry/upset” because then I buy all kinds of stuff I shouldn’t.
At least you’re a funny cliche!
And I reward myself for cleaning with WWF.
I tend to reward myself with all my little iPad games — including WWF.
I like your goals! I’m glad you’ve taken up kickboxing. Let us know how it is.
I’m actually really liking the kickboxing — and that is saying something because I tend to hate all exercise classes. They do something different every two minutes so that keeps it from being boring. And the workouts change up. And the music is pretty good. All in all, I realize that it is what I needed in an exercise class — variety anad short bursts of stuff before you switch it up.
I think that I have made the same blogging resolutions as you did. The biggest thing is that I will take a day off a week in blogging and post less. I need to help keep the house clean more often and help a friend who needs me, so blogging is going to be different this year for me. I admire your resolutions and like that some of them are the same as mine!
I think, after the initial high of blogging wears off, all bloggers need to cut back so they don’t get burnt out. Plus it helps with keeping stuff in balance. I know when I started, I was way out of balance because I was so excited by it.
I don’t do resolutions because I know I will never keep them, but I admire those who do. If I did make them then tops of my list would be the housecleaning ones – especially the laundry and having certain tasks get done on certain days.
I don’t know why I never think of going to a matinee while the kids are in school – probably because I’d have to go by myself.
I actually prefer going to movies by myself. It totally feels like playing hooky. Its wonderful!! I found a theater that starts movies during the week around 10:00 so it is perfect. Plus they only charge $5! I’m going to be totally movie literate this year.
I’ve been hesitant about making resolutions but I like the way you’ve got these organized. As always, the humor helps too! My favorite ecard is the one about rewarding yourself for cleaning house :p and my 2nd favorite is the one about binge eating
:) Way to put it all into perspective.
I adore those someecards. They are replacing Face in Hole as my new “go to” silly graphic.
Love the resolutions. I don’t like making them because I never can keep them. My husband and I are giving up pop…but allow ourselves my cup of coffee and his 1 Mt. Dew in the mornings, then water for the rest of the day. Small steps.
Good luck.
Small steps are the key to success I think. If you deprive yourself too much, then you get antsy and quit earlier. I don’t always keep my resolutions but I still make them because who knows, maybe one or two will stick.
Wow! You really do get into the resolution-making business!!!
I believe your final one under diet & exercise might be the most important “food” decision anyone can make. It’s made all the difference in the world for me.
It really is. You can eat pretty much anything if you watch your portions and keep it in moderation. I need to remind myself of that over and over. I can have a little if I only have a little.
Whew! Lots of resolutions. All good ones. I don’t really make any although I have a lose one to actually write SOMETHING this year. I put the pressure of a novel aside and have decided to write short stories to get the juices flowing. If I write one, I will be happy.
As for your entertainment one, I NEVER go to the movies anymore. That’s made the Oscars a real boring affair for me and it’s usually a fun time predicting the winners. Can’t predict them if I haven’t seen the movies! So, I approve of your entertainment resolution and it is the one you will most likely do!
I used to see almost every worthwhile movie that came out and then I stopped going when I had BB. Now that he is in full-day school and I found a local theater that has morning movies, I have no excuses. It is good treat at the end of the week — especially if I do my exercising and the housecleaning.
Ha ha, I thoroughly enjoyed this whole post
Great luck on your resolutions!!
Thanks! I need all the luck I can get.
Wow! I have not been able to bring myself to make resolutions for the year. You are so inspiring. Dividing them all into the specific areas of your life and everything. I take it back. You aren’t inspiring. You are depressing me…..
Don’t be depressed. Chances are that I will fail on most of these within a month. But if I can just get one or two to stick, then I’m golden!
Oh – afternoon matinees! That is one thing I miss about the city. If I pop a video in at home in the country, does that count? (It doesn’t really feel like it.)
If you really want to try those first few resolutions, Mrs. J., have a look at SparkPeople.com I’m finding their nutrition and fitness trackers to be a great incentive to keep on track.
I LOVE the ‘blog down?’ cartoon!
Isn’t that blog down cartoon hilarious? It is funny because it is true! I used to be so bad about blogging but I’ve gotten my “habit” under control now. And an afternoon matinee is definitely not a country thing.
I’ve been thinking about the whole blogging/writing balance thing, and I think I might let myself come back to blogging sometime this month but tell myself I’m only allowed to blog if I’ve gotten my writing stuff done for the day.
We’ll see. 
Love your goals!
I think keeping a moderate posting schedule to keep your hand in and not feeling obligated to comment and read every blog you like is the key. Maybe you set aside some days for blogging and others for writing.
No resolutions for me anymore but I like yours! One habit I developed over the past year was listening to audiobooks while I clean. Makes a hated chore seem almost attractive. Good luck striving to make your goals happen
I totally started doing that this year (listening to audiobooks while cleaning). It makes a world of difference. In fact, for Christmas, my husband gave me a tiny little wireless Bluetooth speaker so I can carry my book around with me all over the house and I don’t have headphone wires to get tangled up in stuff.
I love the idea of the Bluetooth speaker!
It is perfect. It is called a Jawbone Jambox. They are teeny tiny and very portable and the sound is great. If you’re in the market for a wireless Bluetooth speaker, I’d recommend this one.
Going to the movies during the week is something that my husband and I said we were going to do once he started working from home about 8 months ago but, yeah, we’ve been … once. I really HAVE to see The Hobbit though so we’re going to have to go next week or I won’t get to see it in the theater!
And, FYI, I’ve had the endorphin rush ONCE. I work out all the time now and have felt it once. I must be doing it wrong.
I never ever had the endorphin rush EVER before but I’m getting it with kickboxing. I feel really good afterwards and like I can move mountains. It wears off after an hour though and then I get really tired. But still, if I can harness that hour, I’ll do great things. And you need to resolve to see more movies during the week!!!!
So, we totally were going to go to the movies on Weds but now something else has come up. Oh well! Maybe next week.
If at first you don’t succeed, try try again!
That is a lot of resolutions-good luck with them all!
I love the last picture-that is sometimes how I work.
Me too! I’m trying to up the cleaning and downsize the reward but it always seems to be off balance!
I loved the e-cards. I took the housekeeping one for my facebook page. The only resolution I’m pretty sure I’ll keep is to keep on reading.
That is kind of a no brainer, isn’t it? : )
can i just put a picture of you on my blog and under 2013 Resolutions say “see Jenners…”
and I wasn’t sure if you were joking or not, but the kickboxing thing rocks! I did it for a month with my daughter and had to quit when she kicked me into the trash can….true story!
I’m not joking about the kickboxing. I really signed up for classes (at my son’s karate school) and I really like it. I like that it changes what you are doing every two or three minutes. Plus I have a friend who goes with me and that helps a lot (no excuses). I need to hear about this trash can incident!
I like how organized your goals are. I still need to write mine down.
I like trying to figure out what I need to work on in different areas — that way, at least one or two might stick and I’ll feel successful.
Oh Jenners – how I have missed your humor in my life.
I resolve to read more of your posts in 2013
Oh wow … hi!! Hope all is well with you! I’ll have to swing by and see what you’ve been up to.
I am so impressed! I got sick and tired of breaking every New Year Resolution that I ever made. It’s just too depressing for me. However, I am totally impressed by people who can do this. I always hope that some good behavior will seep into my life
Trust me … I’ll probably break most of these but I gotta keep trying because sometimes one or two do stick and then it is worth it.
Wow, that’s quite a list! I love the ecards you put for each category.
I hope you reach all of your goals, even though it will lead to a lowering in MY self-esteem as I fail to make goals, let alone achieve them.
Well done!
Actually, my resolution is to be kinder…mostly to myself. So forget the whole lower self-esteem thing; I was kidding about that part.
Good for you …. you do need to be kinder to yourself. You’re awesome, don’t you know!
I’m a sucker for resolutions too, although I don’t always write them down. I will be cheering you on because really, almost all of your resolutions are mine too, especially the health-related ones. Good luck and have fun!
There is something so satisfying about trying to organize and “fix” things each year. It feels like a fresh start — even though it is kind of arbitrary.
No resolutions for me but I sure like yours! If you lived closer, you could go to matinees with me and my movie going friend! It’s usually us and a few old people, so we call it the senior citizen matinee.
I went with a friend over Christmas break and it was only $5.00 and we thought maybe they were giving us the senior price. I’ll be joining you in spirit!
I enjoyed reading this; you are my “super hero” – what I mean is “your resolutions are admirable” LOL – hope you can stick to them without going mad!
Mine is “try to lose weight and eat healthier — again this year, since it didn’t stick last year!
If at first you don’t succeed, try try again. And I’ll fail on most of these but if I stick to a few, I’m ahead of the game.
This is quite a list! Good luck implementing all of these ideas. I could never be as organized.
I tend to organize better than I implement … which isn’t the best thing.
That’s a great list and I will cheer for you, especially when it comes to the “exercise and diet” part. I would also like to take an extended break from sweets (that means chocolate), eat less meat (now I have it almost daily) and exercise more. In fact I’m off right now to start my home workout. Your post was just the kick I needed. I have a mat and dumbbells and this site: http://www.acefitness.org/exerciselibrary/
Oooh…that exercise library is cool!! We got a Wii game that looks helpful … and I plan on trying new dance workouts on Just Dance 4!