January 8, 2020

How to Start the New Year Off Right

There’s usually a rush to have resolutions set and solid goals written down on the FIRST of the month. For me it’s impossible to have it all mapped out on January 1st. The holiday season takes a lot out of me and all of December is dedicated to creating holiday magic here and at home. I need a little pause to reflect and process the year that has past before jumping right into a new one. But here we are. It’s January 8th and it’s time for me to plot out the year. This is How to Start the New Off Right, or at least what I like to do to set myself up for success for the year!

As you already know, I’m a paper gal. My brain doesn’t process things well unless I write things down. My whole life is organized in a series of notebooks and journals. It’s how I function, even when I live a lot of my life online.

Here’s my productivity arsenal:

My Essentials:

Let’s me show you inside some of these important productivity tools I use as a paper loving gal.

LISTS

January 6, 2020

Intentions for the Week:

Intentions for the Week- Week 2 of 2020

Here’s what Week 2 looked like last year.

Happy Monday, friends!

This weekend we had a basketball game, a hike, a family dinner out to eat, CHORES, baseball practice, cat snuggles and movies as a family.

I also did some meal prep!

View this post on Instagram

First #shutterbeanmealprep of 2020!!! Swipe to see what I’m using to set myself up for some good salads/snacks this week!

A post shared by Tracy Benjamin (@shutterbean) on Jan 5, 2020 at 4:25pm PST

Meal prep this week includes:

lemon ginger elixir
mom’s vinaigrette
washed kale
washed lettuce
celery
iced tea
garlic in olive oil
crispy chickpeas
roasted sweet potato
baked tofu
wild rice

Also, this is my Intention for January!

View this post on Instagram

How are you taking care of yourself this January? This is what I’m working on:

A post shared by Tracy Benjamin (@shutterbean) on Jan 4, 2020 at 1:04pm PST

That’s right! No gluten, dairy & alcohol for the whole month. It’s been a good challenge so far. Restriction breeds creativity! I am already starting to feel like I have more energy and my body is processing food WELL so YAY.

This week Cooper is back in school and life goes back to normal. I am ready to have our routine back! I thrive when I’m in our routine.

Here are my Intentions for the Week:

my everyday life, Photography

January 5, 2020

My Everyday Life Week 1

Here’s what this past week looked like: My Everyday Life Week 1

I spent some time the day before the New Year writing down 1oo things I am grateful for.

I accidentally wrote MY KITCHEN twice.

But really, I am thankful for my kitchen. I get to work in the kitchen I learned to cook in. The kitchen my Mother used for many decades. I am GRATEFUL to be able to use it every day.

On the first day of the year, I always try to go to the beach.

This year I brought my friend Tammi with me. She’s the one who inspired me to write my gratitude list in the first place!

RESET.

We enjoyed an incredible lunch in Pt. Reyes.

I am grateful for her!

LISTS

January 3, 2020

I LOVE LISTS

Did you get yourself a Currently Workbook for 2020? It’s not too late! You can follow my adventures on my Instagram account @thehandwritingclub (where I share my pages!)

Inspiration

December 31, 2019

Currently December 2019

Currently December 2019

December was a busy month. I shipped out soooooooo many packages (THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!). Quite a lot of us will be working on a food journal (more in the shop soon!) together in January as well as the Currently Workbook throughout the whole year. I’ll keep you accountable if you keep me accountable. We can practice our handwriting together.

The biggest thing that happened this month was bringing home a kitten!

We have named him HUGGY because he is SOOOOO HUGGABLE. He’s a cuddle boy.

Here are all of this current nicknames:

HUGGY has been the best medicine for our family.

Let’s dig into some self-reflection, shall we?

Here’s what my December spread looked like in my Currently Workbook!

LISTS

December 30, 2019

Intentions for the Week

HAPPY MONDAY, FRIENDS!

This will be the first week of the new Year! HOORAY. Do you have any big plans? I think we are laying low this year. We’ve done so much peopling this holiday season and this house of introverts needs some alone time. Cooper has the week off of school and we are hanging out as a family together, reading, watching movies and doing some house projects. I also have a TOOOOOOON of food journal orders to get out this week (thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) so I’ll be keeping busy with that. Are you going to join me on this adventure? I am hoping with the power of the internet, I’ll be accountable and keep my food journal religiously for the entire month of January. Should I throw in a no gluten/no dairy clause too?? Restrictions breed creativity and I am slowly working my way out of a food rut!

This week I am going to be starting on my Currently 2020 workbook! JOIN ME in self-reflecting in 2020!

You can read more about it here!

Also, I dunno even know what day it is. We are on that part of our vacation break. OH. It’s Monday. That’s why I am writing my Intentions for the Week!

Here they are: