Welcome! My name is Kara. You can click this link to learn more about me and why I write this blog.

Here is the week I hope to have:

• 8th – Elvis’ birthday, David Bowie’s birthday
• 14th – Wombats: Fix Yourself, Not the World (2022) Christopher gave me the eco edition vinyl for our 22nd-anniversary last summer

First things first …

• What is essential?
• Do I need help?
• Where can I compromise?

To Do / Enjoy / Remember:

• January low/no spend $
• Back to home sweet homeschool
• Take down the Christmas tree A bit later than usual, but I wanted to leave it up until all of our extended family celebrations were held
• Continue organizing, downsizing holiday decor as I’m putting it away
• Family movie/game/Lego night – something to take the edge off of the holidays being over and the college kiddos being gone
• Declutter creative spaces/craft projects
  • Make decisions about UFOs (unfinished objects)
• Go over the seasonal calendar and get dates written down for Winter / early Spring
• Plan any Spring travel (rental, hotels, dog boarding, budget forecasting)
• Start planning rest of 2023 vacations and breaks – nothing “set in stone” just a general timeline and budget estimate
• Go through magazines, add to seasonal folders
• Buy any needed bedding during annual sales I’m on a low / no spend budget currently, so unless it’s a bargain that I currently have cash for, I’m noting what we need and saving up for future purchases
• Check expiration dates on driver’s licenses, license plates, car registration
• Tidy up the kitchen
  • Organize the pantry
  • Replace dish sponge
  • Clean the toaster
  • Clean stop-top fan with hot water and Dawn
• Vacuum HVAC fan vent covers
• Clean the box fans, stand fans
• Be prepared for late Winter snow Replenish anything the “Major Lizard” used up last month
• Start compiling 2022 income tax info
• Update Roku screensaver – I use family photos and rotate them frequently

I plan to put up my feet and knit along to:

• The Barefoot Contessa, catching up with past seasons on Discovery +
• I started Frasier February, my annual rewatch, early this year

My current influences:

• Martha Stewart’s monthly calendars from her magazine (no longer in print).
• Alison May’s Brocante Home website and online community as well as her seasonal home books.

Thank you, sweethearts, for how kind you’ve been to this little blog of lists.

I want to approach blogging differently this time around. No pressure on me and no pressure on you. Just a basic but truly helpful site.

This space is finding its audience, thanks in part to you sharing my links and pinning my lists on Pinterest. Thank you!

A habit I’m carrying into 2023 is doing good things for myself. Writing here is good for me.

So, thank you for reading and thank you for spreading the word!