New Year Resolutions

Another year is coming to an end, it’s time to look at my New Year resolutions list (in excel) and see what I have accomplished and if I have accomplish anything at all. This has been a habit of mine for the past few years. A few days before the New Year, I write down what I would like to accomplish for the New Year in spreadsheet and then work on it.

It looks like I have accomplished one of the six New Year resolutions for the year of 2009. As I recall, the more effective way of getting your new year resolution accomplish is to see the goals each and everyday so that you are not side track.

Looking back at my daily to do list, I have been spending a lot of time doing everyday stuff like cooking, cleaning/organizing, food shopping, food preparations, baby sitting, bill paying, and more bill paying.

For the New Year, I will look at my goals everyday so that I am on track of it. When I don’t keep track of my New Year resolutions, the everyday stuff gets done first because they have to be taken care of. I probably have to sleep a little less...maybe get up a little bit earlier or go to bed a little later to get some of things done so that I can accomplish my goals.

Wish you have a better year in 2010 than in 2009!

The costs and benefits of not owning a car

When I decided to give up my car, I know I was ready to give up

The bad things:
1) paying auto insurance
2) paying for tickets (parking mostly)
3) paying for high gas prices
4) giving up on having to move my car every other day because of alternate side street cleaning rules
5) most of all avoid people asking for favorites just because I have a car in the city where it’s consider a luxury if you own a car.
6) Paying for damages to the car because people break into my car
7) Find parking space


The Good things:
1) Giving up on how much time I can save by driving to a certain place vs taking pubic
transportation and wait for it’s schedule.
2) In case of emergency, I can use my car
3) Have a car to buy bulky heavy stuff
4) Don’t have to ask other car owner for favors
5) Lower my daily expenses
6) I don’t have to plow my car out of the snow storm like what we have today

I think one of the health benefits of giving up my car is to walk everywhere I need to go – that is my exercise.

Home-made shelf for printer and fax machine

After many weeks of looking into different web sites and found nothing fits into what we want, my husband finally decided to build the shelf himself. Of course he did not volunteer, it was after many weeks of nagging and looking before he finally gave in. And look at how great the home-made shelf looks. It only costs him about $17 and 1.5 hours of time to get it done and it’s custom made to fit exactly.

We could’ve easily eliminate the fax if we have efax service but because I have to deal with people who do not use emails or computers, we have to keep the fax and thus a shelf is needed to save some space.

My first Black Friday shopping experience

So I finally went shopping on Black Friday and I got there at 4AM. I didn’t wait on the line for Best Buy to buy any electronics. I went to Kohl’s to look for baby clothing and toys instead. The line for Best Buy wrapped around half of the parking lot already. I was glad that I didn’t have to wait on the line to get into Kohl’s. I got the toy I wanted and picked up some clothing for our baby and myself. I wanted to go into Toys r us too but my husband called and asked if I can go to Staples to pick up the portable hard drive for him. So I went to staples and got on line. I waited for at least 40 minutes to get into the store and of course, they sold out the item long time ago. As my husband said, they might already sold out as most stores probably just carry a few of the advertised items to lure you in there to buy other stuff.

Then I hit home but unable to take a nap until my daughter takes her nap as well.

What is my experience on Black Friday shopping? It was not terrible. I won’t do it again if it’s not for something special. I might do it again next year…but all depends if there is anything we need and that I won’t have to go to work.

Black Friday shopping

Last week, I decided to go shopping this coming Black Friday to take advantage whatever low pricing there are for baby clothing. I have read and heard of people get stuff for great deals but they have to be waiting outside the store very early in the morning and in the cold. I am not a fan of all that. There is absolutely nothing that I want so badly that I want to sit in the cold and wait outside the store for deep discount for…at least I haven’t thought of anything worthy of my time and energy.

I don’t have much hand me down baby girl clothing so now we have to go shopping for her needs as she grows. I am looking into buying for next winter as well as for the fall and spring. And I am looking into shopping after the season is over for greater deals.

I have looked into a few web sites and this web site seems to be my favorite.

Learn to organize (clothing and accessories) from my unorganized other half

When it comes to organizing a home and documents, I think I am much better than my husband. However the other day, I realized there is something he does much better than I am in organizing – clothing and accessories.

My husband occupied much more space (although he gave me some drawers and closet space) in the closet than I am because I moved into his apartment after we got married. He organized his clothing by category in drawers and shelves. He puts all his white socks in one draw, another draw with all black. He has all his ties in one place, all his sweaters in another shelves all together, all shirts are together from light color to dark color and all of his winter accessories (hats, gloves, scarves) in one bag. I finally appreciate how he put all his accessories together in one place and makes it very easy to change a pair of gloves if he chooses to.

I bag (with label) all my clothing by season. I have 2-3 bags of clothing for the summer. And then I have another 2-3 bags of clothing for winter. If I need to look for something, I have to go through the bags to find what I want. I have casual, formal and sporty clothing all together in the bags. I have my winter accessories all mixed up in my coats and winter clothing. So when I put on my blue coat the other day, I was wearing a pair of completely different color gloves because I didn’t have time to look for the blue gloves I have.

I am in the mission of at lease put all my winter accessories together in one bag (with label) so when I need to change a coat, all I have to do is go through this bag and get the color that matches the best.

My next bigger project will be organizing the clothing I have. Summer, winter, fall, spring, bathing suit, scarves, gloves, dresses, formal wear, casual wear, sporting wear, winter coats, spring jackets, dressy coats and jackets etc…Who has the time for all of this!

Remembering My Grandma

I still think of my grandma who passed away this past February. I remember I packed up a box of soft tissue for her. She used a lot of tissue because she coughed every once in a while. I also packed a nail clipper to help her cut her fingernails; a comb to comb her hair; a new soft cloth (those that babies use to wash their face) to help her wash her face.

Unfortunately that Saturday morning before I got up to go see her and deliver all that stuff to her in the hospital, my mother called and told me that she already passed away. When I got there, she was already wrapped up in plastic and only her face was showing. I touched her face, her hair, her arms and her feet. She was still warm and then she turned colder. We were all very sad but I knew she was at peace finally. She was in too much pain the few nights that I spent with her in the hospital.

Doctors said she lived to age 98 that is like live twice for other people. Indeed she did live a long life but from seeing her go through surgery, rehabilitation, falls and to dead, I hope I won’t have to go through as much if I were to live that long. I hope to live a healthier life than her. She is always in my mind and reminds me of what life is all about and not to sweat the small things in life.