A New Year, but the Same Me

Last night my husband and I celebrated the New Year at about 8:30 pm with a bottle of champagne saved from our wedding (two and a half years ago!). We discussed our New Year's resolutions as well as what we've been thankful for in 2007. I had to admit to him that although I have grand plans for 2008, there are some things that are just in my personality that I don't think will ever change completely. For instance, I never do my own laundry until I have an avalanche of clothes--both the dirty and the clean ones that I decided not to wear but threw in there instead of hanging them back up--cascading from my laundry basket and closet. This has always been the case, whether I'm being reminded by my mother, college roommate, or husband about "when are you going to do your laundry?" So... I'd love to be more organized, but I honestly don't know if it will ever be fully attainable.

I also believe that if there's something you want to change in your life, you should start right then and there instead of waiting for a given day to do it. One thing I've been working on for several months now is cutting down on the amount of trash I throw away. Here's what I've been doing so far:
1.) Eating more leftovers before they go bad and we have to throw them away.
2.) Buying what I can in bulk so that there is less packaging.
3.) Trying to make more dishes "from scratch" so that there is less packaging.
4.) Buying less items packaged in plastic, even if it's recyclable plastic.
5.) Recycling--this can sometimes be frustrating, though, because there are many restictions in our county for what you can recycle (for instance #1, 2 plastic BOTTLES only).

Now, here are some goals that I have not yet been able to get to and would really like to do soon:
1.) Create a compost pile.
2.) Do more baking, especially of bread so that I don't have to buy it packaged in numerous layers of plastic bags.
3.) Apply the "reuse" and "reduce" categories of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle more frequently.

I know I'm on my way to leaving less of a mark on this Earth, but there is always more I feel that I can do.

I'd also like to apply the phrase "quality, not quantity" to all areas of my life, including what I eat, how I spend my time, the knitting projects I undertake, what I read, etc. For instance, since my "free time" is limited, I want to make sure that I work on knitting/craft projects that I REALLY ENJOY. That way I won't feel guilty about spending my time or money on something that I'm doing half-heartedly.

Which brings me to an update on Lady Eleanor--I am loving this project! I am on tier 7 of 33, and each row takes me about an hour, but I really don't mind since I'm enjoying it so much. I like having the small goal of finishing one little rectangle at a time, and before I know it I have another row completed. I highly recommend this project!

I hope that the New Year brings all of you much happiness, joy and peace. :)