Now on to my goals for the year. I make a lot of goals. Every Sunday, I sit down with my planner and list out my daily goals for the upcoming week, and every January I write down my goals for the coming year. I've found that putting my goals in writing, as well as having a plan of action, makes me much more likely to achieve my goals, both big and small. This year my list of year-long goals is a little longer, but two are simply building on 2018.

1. Try a new recipe each month. This was the goal that I felt like I truly smashed. We went from eating out 3-4 days a week to eating out mostly on weekends (December does not count). However, I feel a little stuck in a recipe rut and would like to branch out. One of my Christmas gifts was an Instant Pot so I'm excited to try out some new dishes with it! To hold myself accountable, I'll be sharing recipe posts here on the blog each month!

2. Another carry-over from last year, schedule daily technology-free time. I made a conscious effort to not be so attached to my phone. Having this new job really helped, especially since I'm not on call ever. I also felt freer to go to lunch or dinner or an event and leave my phone in my purse or even my car. This year I would like to have dedicated technology-free time every day to focus on really connecting with my daughter or husband.

3. Cut back on soda intake (again). It's no secret that I'm fond of Mountain Dew. Typically I limit myself to just one a day, but as the end of the year got busier I found myself drinking as many as three Mountain Dews or sodas each day. I also got a single-serve coffee maker for Christmas, so I hope this will help curb my soda habit by jump-starting my day.

4. Attend at least one kid/family event a month. This one should be pretty easy. A big part of what I do for my magazine is put together a calendar full of local events that are perfect for families. We've published five issues (counting January), and I can count on one hand the number of those activities my family has actually participated in.

5. Last but certainly not least, have date night twice a month. It's so important for couples to have time outside of their kids. We do a pretty good job of getting that alone time but when it comes to going on an actual date, not so much. I would love to be able to do weekly dates, but with the way my husband's schedule works it's not really possible.

I would love to know what goals you have for 2019. Share them in the comments section! Happy New Year!