Resolution 1: Become a more skilled and patient baker.
After three long weeks, Scarlet is back in school and I’m back to work. Luckily I can do things like bake all day and call it “work.” I’ve always been more of a “cook” and less of a baker, because I have neither the patience nor obsessive attention to detail of my cohort Jacinda (world’s best baker). Thanks to my resolution to become patient while learning my way around a packet of yeast, I’ve become obsessed with baking bread, which is totally contradictory to my resolution to eat better, but whatever. Fresh bread trumps all. I tried to improve upon my mom’s classic monkey bread recipe (seen rising above), and while I can’t say it’s necessarily better, I did put a fun twist on it, the recipe for which I will share next week.

I also finally got into baking no-knead bread that rises overnight, seen below. This is so simple and INSANE DELICIOUS with a crispy-crackily crust and thick, chewy insides. It’s a new staple in this house. Have y’all seen this type of recipe enough or would you like to see a step-by-step for my method?

Resolution #2: Begin reading the classics to Scarlet.
When I am not stuffing my face full of bread, this has been my favorite and most rewarding resolution. Scarlet is a voracious consumer of books, but at “four-and-three-quarters” she is not quite ready to snuggle up alone reading long form chapter books to herself. I decided that I would pick a classic volume that I think she could understand and replace one of her three bedtime stories each night with one chapter. We began with Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Little Princess. These Puffin Classics are so beautiful, I am looking forward to collecting them all as we read.

I think next up will be Anne of Green Gables.

Resolution #3: Become a more skilled and patient eater.
I’m turning 35 this weekend, and feel it’s time to up my healthy quotient and work on a plan for my own longevity. Which, for me, really comes down to discipline. I’ve set myself up with a healthy eating plan (basically, I’m going the tried-and-true weight-watchers style route of eating a little less junk and a lot more good stuff while paying attention to everything that goes in my mouth). I actually started this one before the holidays and I’m proud to say I’ve dropped eight pounds since mid-november. Next up is sticking with the healthy eating, and getting a workout regimen in place. I must remember my own advice: Discipline in your mind, extravagance in your heart.
Easier said than done, but I have found that once you commit, it gets easier with each passing day. If y’all are at all interested in this, I could post more about it or maybe we could do some kind of club or circle of encouragement.

Resolution #4: Learn more about music with Scarlet.
I am tone deaf. It’s always been a great desire of mine to be able to sing, but alas I was not born with that particular talent. One year I will make it a resolution to really learn to sing, like in front of other people with sounds that don’t hurt their ears, and actually take lessons. I will, but not this year. As it turns out, my daughter is actually not tone-deaf and appears to maybe have some musical skill, or at the very least, musical leanings. So I want to take her to see more live music shows (she loves The Hollow Trees so much), to a children’s symphony performance, and listen to music more at home. My hope is that by this summer she may have an idea of what instrument she most wants to learn, and I can find a way to sign her up for lessons. In the meantime, this toy, a Christmas gift from her beloved Meemah, has been an AMAZING learning experience for both of us. It’s called the Symphony in B, and what it does it play a song using whatever instruments you put into the “orchestra pit” – so it allows you to understand what each instrument sounds like and what it contributes to a piece of music. Scarlet loves this toy, but I might actually enjoy it even more.
And just FYI, every two-year-old that comes over is obsessed with it. OBSESSED.

Resolution #5: Learn how to do eye make up.
This is a pretty silly resolution, but I’ve always wanted to know how to put on eyeshadow properly. I got this Urban Decay Smoked Eyeshadow Palette as a holiday gift and it came with a book of instructions.

I’ve been playing around with it, and I love it! The step-by-step illustrated instructions really, really help. Is it lame of me to post a photo of my smokey-eye practice session? And say that I am kind of impressed that I did this myself? If so, scroll down really fast.

I can’t be the only woman who never learned how to do her eyeshadow? Maybe I should do some videos for newbies so you can all laugh at my make-up-putting-on-face, ha.

Resolution #6: Clean out and organize my office/craft room/repository of crap.
THIS ONE IS DONE. OMG, if you follow me on instagram, you have seen some work-in-progress photos. Well, the work is done. All will be revealed on Prudent Baby in the coming weeks. I CANNOT WAIT to show you what I’ve done. There is literally not a single craft supply un-boxed, not a single box un-labeled, not a single stray brad, pin, or fabric scrap. I FEEL LIKE A NEW PERSON. This also means a new surge of creativity, and lots of new tutes to come on PB.

Resolution #7: Spend more quality time with the hus.
I have made no progress on this one yet. TBD…

Resolution #8: Spend more time outside.
It’s beautiful out there.

So there you have it, the inner workings of my mind for the beginning of 2013. I think it’s gonna be a good year. Wish me luck! If you want to see what my 2012 was all about, click here. Now tell me, what’s on your agenda for the new year?

by Jaime