Photo by JasonGoodger

I read an article recently that mentioned the problem with a budget is that it doesn’t give someone the incentive to save money.

It’s not really supposed to. A budget is a tool. It doesn’t make you save money.

A diet plan doesn’t lose weight for you.

A home management notebook doesn’t clean your house.

An alarm clock doesn’t make you get out of bed.

All of these things are helpful, but they are simply tools, and you still need to find your own motivation to make any changes.

Sara at On Simplicity recently said,

Breaking a bad habit isn’t about doing what’s “right.” It’s also not about paying absolution. It’s about finding something you simply want more, and weighing that cost whenever you’re tempted. (Read more…)

When you want to make changes, the motivation has to be big enough that the long-term reward is greater than short-term satisfaction. That’s why bad habits are so hard to break, because we love instant gratification, and we usually don’t see the consequences until later.

So what is it that you really want? (Or what do you want to avoid?)

• If I want to drink more water, then a water bottle might help, but my vanity’s desire for pretty skin will motivate me to use it.
• If I want a clean house, my desire for peaceful surroundings will make me clean up more than a posted schedule will.
• If I want to save money, then I need to think about my reasons why, because a budget won’t do the work for me.

Overcome a big goal by getting started. Things often seem too hard at the beginning, but if you get started, you gain momentum. Just take that first step.

Keep your motivation reminder close by, whether it’s on a post-it note, or a photo, or an inspiring quotation.

What is it that you want, and what are you willing to give up for it? Just think about it for a little while today.

Photo by *Solar ikon*

This was the year I started blogging, and the year I found so many of the blogs I enjoy reading.  

When I found Megan’s blog SortaCrunchy, I knew I wanted to be friends with her. She writes with such sincerity and openness, and just when I think she’s written her greatest post ever, she tops it with another.

Secret Genius remains one of my favorites, the one I get excited about when I see a new post in my RSS reader. I like how Jill tells such a good story with just a photo and a few words. One reason I relate to her posts is we both have little girls. I don’t want to gush too much, lest she think I’m stalking her.

Sarah from Life in the Parsonage might tell a style secret that helps my wardrobe, and also share a thought-provoking post that sticks with me for weeks later.

Stephanie from Keeper of the Home writes about the topics I’ve been studying this year, and she even tried an experiment I had been thinking about too: can coupons work for a whole-foods diet?

Simple Mom’s practical advice helped me learn how to master my email inbox by introducing me to the five-sentence response. My emails aren’t perfect or as well-thought out as I’d like them to be, but I’m no longer far behind.

The Nester knows the philosophy of home, and isn’t afraid to make holes in the wall.

Missy from It’s Almost Naptime laughs at her family’s hijinks to encourage other women, and she sings Lisa Loeb as well as I sing Jewel. (Doug asked me if I would pick a Jewel song for karaoke, but I’d definitely do Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” instead — it already has a dance routine.)

Even though I thought of more blogs to mention, I’ll continue on another day. I do want to thank readers who have shared their ideas and experiences through emails and comments. You make Small Notebook so much better.

If this blog were a movie, then now would be when the band starts playing and everyone gets to dance, because this has been a really great year. Thanks, everyone!

We have one cabinet in the kitchen for most of our food, but I have to stand on a chair to reach the back of it. 

We decided to turn the wall under the cabinets into useful storage space, with easy access to food for cooking. 

Since everything is on full display, I wanted it to be visually appealing as well.

When I first looked for canisters, I couldn’t believe how expensive they can be. It makes no sense to me. I decided to go with canning jars in an assortment of pint, quart and half-gallon sizes.

Why I love them:

• Inexpensive (one or two dollars each, sometimes free)
• Glass doesn’t absorb food odors or stains
• No concerns about plastic
• Stackable (especially in the wide-mouth size)
• Easy to see if you’re about to run out of something
• Versatile to hold utensils and other odds and ends
• Smaller sizes store leftovers or snack portions

Putting the jars on display really warmed up the space, and they made the whole kitchen look better. The jars are found at Ace Hardware and some grocery stores, and I stick with the same lid size so they’re interchangeable. I sometimes label them with a piece of scotch tape and a permanent marker.

We used two shelves ($5 from IKEA), one on each side of the stove. With anchors in the wall, they’re very sturdy to hold six quart or pint jars. It’s so much easier to just reach for something you need, and have it right there.

Thank goodness there’s a week of holiday from Christmas to New Year’s, because I am not ready to go back to real life yet. Since nobody else is doing anything either, I can coast along with an oversupply of chocolate and a week full of get-togethers.  

We went to the park and played on Christmas morning, after opening stockings and gifts. Lane wore the tutu I made for her gift.

I had plans to take it easy for the new year. My only resolution I had in mind was to drink more water, and maybe drink less root beer. 

Because that seemed simple.

But then… we found out we’re having a baby! 

And suddenly my year looks so very different. 

This picture is 36 hours after learning the news. I’m thinking I can just put this baby in a sling and keep on going. Doug is wondering if he’ll worry this time as much as he did last time. 

We’ll be moving soon from the small apartment we have now to a slightly bigger apartment. We don’t know where it will be yet.  

I’ll consider my resolution to drink more water as checked off the list: done. That was easy. And now on to new goals of planning, packing, moving, and growing this family we started.

I love to get organized in January. Love it. So stick with me, because I’ve got plans to do some serious sorting and organizing. The plans, oh the plans! Be still, my heart.

My favorite family photos are always the ones we take ourselves, with one of us holding the camera at arm’s length.

There’s a trick to taking a photo this way, and I learned it from none other than Tyra Banks on America’s Next Top Model. Thanks to Tyra’s lesson of the week, my photos are much more appealing.

Here’s why:

When someone takes a photo of you, you end up with tiny posed faces and a lot of background.

If you take the photo yourself, not only are you more relaxed and having fun, but you’re closer to the camera.

The secret is to stay close to the camera.

Don’t try to lean back from it, or your smile will turn into a grimace, and your neck will look funny. Take as many photos as you want. Don’t worry about it being technically perfect, it’s not supposed to be.

Compare the difference between a posed picture versus a close self photo. 

The posed picture might be nice, but the one we took ourselves is more interesting.

Even if you miss the shot, it can still turn into something fun. We always take a bunch and then keep our favorites.

Sometimes the family photographer forgets to be included. If most of the photos you took this week were of the kids, be sure to take a couple of yourself too!