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2014: Happy New Year!

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2014: Happy New Year!

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

One of my favorite parts of New Year celebrations is viewing other countries’ fireworks and light displays.

Seeing the Sydney Opera House and Eiffel Tower glowing in the background amid the beautiful light displays mesmerizes me as I bask in the splendors of all the color combinations.

Planning to spend time with my family ringing in 2014, I am taking the day off. As we enjoy watching the bowl games, playing games, and hanging out together, I wish you all the happiest of New Years as we venture into 2014.

My heart is overfilled with gratitude for each of you. I am amazed at your kindness in reading and commenting. Using Time Wisely is a great place because you are here. How blessed I am to be a part of the Using Time Wisely community. I look forward to learning more from you in 2014.

Happy New Year!

Tying up 2013 and Ringing in 2014

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Tying up 2013 and Ringing in 2014On this last day of the year, our family is looking ahead while tying up 2013 and ringing in 2014.

As we are underway in our current remodeling project – redecorating our children’s bedrooms – and out-of-town family is still visiting, we are glancing back and pressing forward.

Tying up 2013

The end of the year is a good stopping point. Though I may not be done with my 2013 goals, I take time to reflect and evaluate.

As I was thinking about the lessons I learned, I realized the growth I’ve experienced this year by focusing on my priorities, investing in true friendships, and refusing to feel guilty when I declined an opportunity that conflicted with my priorities.

In tying up 2013, I found these two exercises fun and helpful:

1. 2013 Time Capsule from Amy McGuire @ The Finer Things in Life

This fun printable is great for each family member to fill out. Hide the pages away or stuff them in a paper towel holder with aluminum foil rubber banded on each end. You can either bury it or store it away in your Christmas items for next year.

This is our first year filling out a time capsule form, so we’ll see if this becomes one of our family’s traditions. I think we will store our forms with our Christmas items as we keep our decorations up until after the start of a new year.

2. 20 Questions for a New Year’s Eve Reflection written by Tsh Oxenreider @ The Art of Simple (formerly Simply Mom).

These 20 questions focus on the specifics of 2013. If you journal, these are great starting points. Not into writing and journaling, no problem. Tsh included a printable form with the 20 questions if you would like to record your answers and then look them over next year to see how far you’ve grown.

Ringing in 2014

Miss 6 is ready for New Year’s Eve night. One of our favorite traditions is to eat crackers with “squirt” cheese – making smiling faces and mini towers – while we wait for the ball to drop. Usually we all huddle into the master bedroom bed and snuggle up together watching the firework displays outside.

Yes, crumbs get everywhere, but that is why we have a vacuum cleaner. 😉 It’s one night, and these together moments bring excitement and enjoyment to the start of our new year.

If you are looking for ideas for ringing in 2014, check out these additional resources:

1. Dixie cup party lights from The Krazy Coupon Lady to spice up any room in your home.

2. Party ideas from Celebrations.

3. A midnight dinner idea from Money Crashers.

4. 6 different New Year’s party themes at International Business Times.

Whether you are throwing the bash of the year or spending New Year’s Eve quietly at home, may you continue using time wisely tying up 2013 and ringing in 2014. See you in the New Year!

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Question: How you are planning to ring in 2014?

Kicking Off 2014 with Using Time Wisely

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Kicking Off 2014 with Using Time WiselyIn planning for a great new year, let’s start kicking off 2014 with using time wisely before January 1st. Taking a few minutes to prepare and print off calendars and worksheets gets us ready to hit the ground running after the ball drops.

Having set my priorities and taking some time away from blogging in 2013, I am ready to jump into 2014 focused on using time wisely. Instead of staying tied to my predetermined posting scheduling, I will stick to the same topics, but I will no longer break up series.

The January 2013 series on Planning for Success, the April 2013 Birthday series, and the Summer Reading series in June 2013 brought good feedback regarding how you, my loyal readers, prefer series unbroken. I heard your feedback and have been brainstorming how to adjust. I also missed posting some great freebies because I learned of them after a Friday post and the deal went live before the next Friday’s post.

Since the posting schedule tool is no longer working for me, I am changing tools. This blogging journey has its ups and downs. For me, 2013 was a dip down as I needed to go back to the drawing board.

Though I am not sure this new change will produce the results I desire, I am willing to work through the kinks to find what works. One tool that continues to work for me is a blogging calendar as well as a personal calendar.

Review your Planning Tools

In kicking off 2014 with using time wisely, prepare your calendars. If you use apps or electronic calendars, then review those you use to determine if you want to continue with those into 2014.

Print your Planning Tools

For those of you who prefer a paper version, then here are a couple of FREE printable resources for your reference:

File your Planning Tools

As I prepared for 2014, I printed out each month for my personal calendar. I stapled all 12 months together and placed the bundle in the stackable tray by my desk. I also printed another set for my blogging schedule and filed those in my blog notebook.

The 12 menu planners and 12 water and exercise logs are stored in my kitchen notebook where I will need them at the start of each month.

With our planning tools chosen, gathered, and put in a designated place, we are ready to start. Knowing where these items are located will help us use these tools to navigate our way through 2014.

Thank you for taking this journey of using time wisely with me. I definitely don’t have all the answers, nor do I have this blogging thing figured out. I will share more of my plans for Using Time Wisely as we get 2014 underway. Finish 2013 well and prepare for 2014 while using time wisely!

Question: Are you waiting until January 1, or are you already preparing for 2014?

2013: Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year

Celebrating the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, we pulled out the sparklers. My children “wrote” in the air and designed creations when not watching our neighbors set off fireworks.

As you complete 2012, I want to thank you for reading Using Time Wisely. Each of you are greatly appreciated. I have enjoyed the ups and downs this year and continue to improve as I learn the ropes of blogging.

In ringing in 2013, I am making a few changes to Using Time Wisely. For the first quarter of the year, I plan to keep the same posting schedule with a theme each month. When April approaches, I will evaluate the progress and adjust as needed. The first quarter themes chosen are as follows:

Using Time Wisely Monthly Themes

January: Planning for Success

February: Investing your Time

March: Springing into Action

Thanks for taking this journey with me. Wishing you and your family a fantastic 2013!

Happy New Year!

2012: Happy New Year!

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Ringing in 2012 with my husband and two older children snuggled on my bed watching Ryan Seacrest and Dick Clark for the countdown. My children are giddy with excitement waiting for the ball to drop. It is a special time for our family as we look forward to what the new year will bring.

Wishing you and your family a fantastic 2012!

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Kenny Teo)

Happy New Year!