The Motherload Blog

Each year I make a list of resolutions for the New Year and I am usually pretty good at keeping to my resolutions. My resolution this year is really only one goal with a few subcategories… to merely simplify my life.

I have great ideas for how to implement my goals and would love if you would join me on my journey this year. These are the three main categories for my goals this year.


Simplify my life by bringing in more organizational strategies and reducing the clutter.



Simplify my life by gaining more control over my finances and committing to at least one no spend month this year.


Simplify my life by making my self-care a priority this year.

There are so many elements to this and with the new goal in mind, I am planning to take you on a journey by sharing how I work towards my goals of simplifying the routines in my life.

I have thought a lot about how I could take you on this journey with me and an opportunity has arisen to begin my own podcast show in this new year through Blog Talk Radio. Starting in January I will be broadcasting through an Eleven Moms channel through Walmart where we can each have our own show or partner up on shows with one another.

My show will be The MotherLoad Simplified where I will be sharing ideas and be interviewing other great bloggers on how I can reach my goals towards simplifying routines like home organization, beauty care/fashion, simplifying the dinner hour, and simplifying the family finances. I think it will be a great way to engage with our readers in a new way and will showcase our goals for the New Year. This new adventure will be starting sometime in January and I will keep you posted as details develop. Of course, I will be blogging my journey too and keeping to our website themes of basic home management.

What is your New Year’s Resolution(s) this year? Is there something you would like to simplify in the upcoming year?

(photo credit: Ani)


19 Comments

Comments

  1. 1

    I just posted about my resolutions this morning! As far as simplifying – I really need to simplify my blog reading time and my hobbies. I can get lost in blogs for hours because I want to learn so much! I have the same problem with hobbies – I just want to learn to do everything, and it’s impossible with running after a 16-month old, keeping house, and working part-time. I need to slow down and take one thing at a time!

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  2. 2

    Hi Amy! I’m so excited about your new venture with podcasting. how fun!! can’t wait to follow along with all the details.

    As far as resolutions….I haven’t really posted anything yet, but I’ve been on the pursuit of “streamlining” my life a little more, so it feels simpler. I’m always striving for more simplicity. But I’m thinking that this year, instead of resolutions, I may post a few “life list” kinds of things. Things I’ve always wanted to do, or someday hope to do.

    Happy (almost)New Year, friend!!

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  3. 3

    That is a great one too- I really need to work on that myself. It can be overwhelming especially when you have lots of hobbies. Thanks for sharing that, Rachel!

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  4. 4

    How exciting! I’ll be followiing along with your new pod cast adventure.

    I’ve been giving much thought to changes I want to make for 2009. As a family. I think by making changes together it will be easier and we can hold each other accountable. More on that later on my blog.

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  5. 5
  6. 6

    Great resolution, Amy! I’m working toward a similar goal – we wrote our family’s top 5 list, our core values, and my resolution is to prioritize those things above all else. The rest can get fit in as we have time, but I’m done stressing over the little things!

    I’ve written a guest post for Mom’s Marbles that will publish on New Year’s Eve about this, I hope you’ll check it out!

    I think it’s great that you’ll be sharing your journey with us, I look forward to your inspiration!

    Blessings,
    Steph

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  7. 7

    Amy – simplifying is worth the effort, especially the self care part! I like to have a “theme” for the year too. Mine is to live FULL OUT and Fearlessly, and to engage others to do the same. I have three areas of focus:

    1. Health and fitness
    2. Travel
    3. Giving more

    Thanks for being such a powerful role model!

    Charrise

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  8. 8

    funny, but this is pretty much what I’m aiming for this year.

    I have let so much go this year and I need to reel it back in. Taking better care of myself is a big one. I know that doing that will give me more energy to tackle the other projects… decluttering and simplifying my homemaking tasks.
    I’ve also been thinking about decluttering my obligations. I didn’t think I had a lot of responsibilities, but even excess blogs in my blog reader can be a time suck without realizing it.

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  9. 9

    Mama K- That is so true! There are so many obligations out there and it sometimes makes my life feel stressful. That is a wonderful goal… to declutter the yeses! I love it!

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  10. 10

    Hello!

    I’m with you on the New Year’s resolution of simplification. Oh, boy am I with you!

    Simplifying and continuing on our path towards paying the mortgage off early are our 2 biggest goals this year.

    I’m looking forward to all the helpful tidbits you will be sharing.

    Take Care,

    Trixie

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  11. 11

    Definitely one of our family resolutions is to declutter & simplify our home & lives! I think that will help with our other resolution to get our finances looking better, too!

    I'm curious to see how a no-spend month would work. Does that include no grocery shopping or are you meaning more of a no-extra spending thing? I mean, I can certainly do all my major grocery shopping in one trip, but we buy milk at least twice a week (I should probably invest in a cow with my kids!!). Maybe I'll try starting a little smaller with a no-spend week…day….hour?!

    I'm looking forward to your sage advice, my friend!!

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  12. 12

    AnneMarie- I have seen some other bloggers attempt a no spend month and I think January would be a great month to try it. People can take it to whatever extreme they feel comfortable with. For us, groceries would be fine (within our usual budget), but extras (like dining out) would not be an option. It would be a challenge to see if we could do it. Now I just need to figure out if my hubs is on board :)

    Amy F- Oh, you will get tired of this high pitched voice. I can guarantee it ;)

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  13. 13

    Amy, those are all great resolutions too!

    I can’t wait to hear your podcast – I know it will be full of information I can use (as with everything you write).

    I’m sharing my goals tomorrow and plan to journey through each one this year too. The others that hit my goals for 2009 is continue my growth in Christ and also truly do a better job at creating memories with my kids (crafts, events, etc) and doing a better job at documenting them too.

    I love your site! I know you will realize the resolution to simplify in 2009!

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  14. 14

    THe podcast sounds awesome, do I need high speed internet to get it? We’re frugal and on dial up. So that may be a bummer- please keep us low tech readers aboard via your blog! I’ve been reading a blogger who is trying a no year spend- what an adventure. Although I have to laugh, there are not many “unneccesary”purchases here anyway with such a tight budget. We are probably “no spending”without calling it that.

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  15. 15

    Heather- That was one of my main questions and I was told that people can actually call in and listen on the phone to listen to a podcast. They will also be available for free through iTunes for downloading and listening. There are tons of different ways that our readers will be able to access it- both high tech and low tech which makes me REALLY happy! I will also blog on things for those who prefer reading everything.

    This is such a great discussion and I love hearing everyone’s goals!

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  16. 16
  17. 17

    I am starting a no spend month with the beginning of the new year. I did one last summer and it was wonderful. Nothing gets you more creative than declaring a war on your wallet.

    The only exceptions—cash can be used to buy healthy groceries to feed the family and one tank of gas per week for hubby to drive to work so he can support us. No other money spent!

    :)

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  18. 18

    Amy, I'm so excited to hear that you'll be pod-casting – how exciting! And even better that it will be free through iTunes!

    This past year has been so difficult for us in lots of ways, and I feel like time & life just got away from me. So, my goals are much the same as they were last year; I'll be posting about that on New Year's Day.

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  19. 19

    Hi Amy! Happy New Year! Great Resolution! You can do so much with simplifying! That is awesome. Congrats on the pod-casting show!

    Blessings!

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