As I have been looking ahead to the new year and trying to figure out where I want to be at the end of next year, I found it easier to narrow down the list of things that I want to see accomplished.

Here are my top five for this coming year:

1. Pay off ONE student loan
2. Pay off two credit cards
3. Get into better shape (hoping to shave five minutes off my run time)
4. Eat healthier
5. Declutter my house

Simple. Easy. Attainable. Make a plan. Write it out and put it where you can see it. I have already laid out the goals for each month and what I have to do see it through. I calculated what I needed to put on each card and the one student loan to see them paid off. They are laid out in my ledger, and ready for a jump start. Meal planning has been on the go, and new recipes are being hunted and printed off for future use. The gym is already in my daily cycle, but I looked at what I wanted to achieve, and researched some running programs that would help to shave that time off. Different exercises will help build muscles and stamina, and in short, help bring that run time down.

The declutter on the house is my big one. I have decided that I will go one room at a time. Find what I need, what we use and what we don’t. What has not been used/worn in over a year can be donated. I can get rid of the items that are just sitting. Of course, there are some sentimental items that will not be leaving the house, but some things that we hold onto, we do so with the idea that we can use them at some point in the future. Ask yourself, have I used it? Can I use it? Will I put it to good use? If you cannot think of how to incorporate it, get rid of it! I tend to hoard clothing with the thoughts of “I will get back into that.” I have been saying that for a while, so right now there is a huge pile of clothing just waiting for me to take to goodwill, for someone else to put to good use.

What are you goals going to be? Well, now is the time to figure them out, write them down, and start tackling them one day at a time!

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I currently have a few inches of pine needles dispersed throughout my living room (the darn disadvantage to having a fake tree… and cats that won’t leave said tree alone!) and I have glitter for days…anywhere you could possibly imagine. That could be from the Christmas tree ornaments, or it could be because I have a 5 year old princess obsessed with glitter but either way, can you imagine my struggle here??

So I’ve decided that nope, nu-uh, NO. I am NOT bringing in the New Year like this. I am PURGING!!!

First things first, I know what you are thinking. Toss the rotten pumpkins! Okay, done, but besides the typical housekeeping basics, I tried to figure out how to really get my house in order. And believe it or not, I started in the attic.

Let’s talk holiday decorations!!! You may store them in your attic, or basement, or garage, wherever, but the majority of us have decor that we don’t even put out on display, right?? It just sits in that same tub or box… and I decided it has to go. If you haven’t used that stuffed snowman that grandma gave you, or the flashing lights that you bought at that yard sale – let it go! A good rule of thumb is to donate or dump anything that you haven’t used in the past 2 years. Cleaning out the junk now will make you feel fantastic when you go to put everything away after the holidays have passed and the new year has begun.

The next battlefield I had to tackle was my children’s toys. How in the world do they accumulate so much stuff!?

Now, I had a really neat idea for getting rid of old games and figurines that haven’t seen the light of day in a while. I suggested to my daughters that we pack a box full of things that they no longer use and we leave it under the tree for Santa with a note explaining that we would like him to take the toys to share with other children that he may visit and find that they don’t have much. My 5 year old loved this! She feels like she’s got some sort of Secret Mission with Santa, that he will have her box in his sleigh and if he goes down the chimney to another little girl’s house and sees that she doesn’t have many toys, he will pop back up and grab my daughter’s goodies and leave extra treats behind for the child. I love that she loved it!!

As for what to DO with that box of toys – I would take them to a shelter or orphanage and give them to the children there. I guarantee just because it may be a few days after Christmas, those kiddos will be so thankful and grateful that it won’t even matter. Or switch up the story with Santa and just ask your children to clean out the things they no longer play with and then you can adopt a child this holiday season and brighten someone’s life that way!!

Lastly, I think it’s fair to say a fresh start is probably needed in most of our closets, isn’t it? I can’t be the only one that has a dream about one day being 3 sizes smaller than I am now… and holding on to that dress from college that I am determined to fit into again at some point! And the high heels from my pre-baby days that I’ve been saving for some special occasion that is never going to come…or that might, but my feet wouldn’t be able to tolerate those 4 inch pumps anymore, anyway! It all had to go!! I shuffled through every hanger and asked myself, “If I put this on right now, would I look ridiculous?” If the answer was yes, I set it into a pile to donate! And, to be honest, I pulled out things I had completely forgotten that I even had. But my hangers aren’t all bunched together anymore! I have room to slide things around! I can see the shoe boxes organized neatly on the shelf! I feel like a new person!

It’s funny what picking up a bit will do to ya…Start the new year off right with a clean home and less clutter. Consider donating used toys to less fortunate children to make room for the new things your kiddos may get this holiday season. And if you’ve been putting aside throwing out those jeans from 2005, just go for it. It feels fabulous. Don’t forget to check your local base installations for drop off locations to help other military families in need, but if that isn’t an option, find other great charities nearby to support with your donations.

May your days be merry and bright!! Happy holidays!!

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