"Dream Life" Check-In

Hi Everyone! Happy Tuesday!

So you may remember, last month instead of resolutions, I made a little list of how I want my dream life to look (here, with pictures). Thought it might be a good idea to check in with that on occasion. Since January 1:

• Dream Home: We found it, we're just hoping we get it (long story I will tell when it's over). I have a good feeling about it, though. Lots of energy has been going into this process...not only buying the house but dreaming about how we'll decorate, etc. It's mid-century modern, which I am soooooo excited about!
• Girlfriends (specifically, new friends in my new town): Have been making a list and checking out resources for when we move...stuff like Mommy and Me classes, writing resources, book clubs, etc... Not much else I can do until we actually move. I AM excited to meet new friends.
• New Office and Work Schedule: This is a post in and of itself for someday soon. But our new house, I'm going to have a lot less of an office (will be combined with the guest room). Have been having fun thinking about what I really need. And I'm feeling OK about it...when I worked 60 hour weeks and didn't have kids, a big nice office was really important. Now I'm doing 20 hour weeks (or will be) and work is not so central to my life anymore...it's fine that my office reflects that. Have also been thinking a lot about what computer set-up I want...it's almost time to replace my technology and I am going to find a good IT person and get everything set up perfectly.
• A Finished San Franciso Book: This is my current creative writing project, and I did get all my files (paper and electronic) organized, which is a big step. This is on hold until we are in our new space...too much going on right now...
• A New Baby: Our current plan is to start an FET cycle with my next period, in about 2 weeks. Which puts a transfer mid-April-ish. Deep breath and fingers crossed!
• Everyone I Love Healthy and Happy: Not much I can do about this one. Thankfully all is well...
• Celebrations: We had a fun New Years, with sparklers on New Years Eve before the kids went to bed and dinner out my husband and me. New Years Day I made beef bourguignon out of my new Julia Child cookbook...think that's going to be a New Years Day tradition...nice to have a special meal. Also, for Valentine's Day, I made some cute Valentines with the kids...fun. And I'm planning their first birthday, although also trying to be realistic about what we can do as we will get keys to our new house the day before. Thinking a rainbow theme with multicoloraed balloons and a cake similar to the one above. Should be easy to order the cake, pick up balloons, have a cute outfit for each of he twins and a present or two to unwarp...maybe invite our new neighbors...I'm thinking simple but special...
• All Things Good With My Mother-in-Law (and by this I mean all of us happy living together, as she is moving to ABQ with us so we can all be close and she can help with the kids when I work and/or my husband and I go out in the evenings): Our new house doesn't have the size space we wanted for her...we didn't really see anything that matched our ideal while we were house hunting. But it does have a bedroom and bath and another small room (craft room? TV lounge?) that will be all hers and is in another part of the house, private from us and the kids. Also, the house we are buying is at the low end of our budget, so if she's not happy in such close quarters with us or if we all feel it's just too much and there's not the privacy she/we need, there is the option of an apartment/condo for her...but I have a good feeling about everything working out great with this set-up (all in one house)...she is lovely...excited to finally have her with us...
• Time With My Best Friend: I'm determined to see her in person this year. Nothing planned yet though.
• Pictures: Been using my camera and doing some reading about photography. Will be sharing more in this space soon...
• Time with Family: Living with my mom and dad right now until the house situation sorts itself out...so great to have this time. Will also be visiting my brother and his family on my way to ABQ (even though it's not really on the way).
• "Happy Little Blog": I am posting pretty regularly, which is the baseline for this. There are other things I want to do...once we're settled want to turn some attention to this.

By the way, I'm finding it VERY helpful to have these things together on a Pintrest board...when I look at my TO DO list for the week on Sundays, I also look here and think about items that should be added to make these things a reality. I can't do everything every week, but I AM trying to make sure at least some of these things get attention on a weekly basis.

Did you guys do resolutions or something like this? How are they going?

XOXO

Image credit: 100 Layer Cake.