I hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and are rested and ready for a brand new year. As fun and exciting as the holidays can be, there is something very nice about the last week of December. In our house, it is usually a week of sleeping in late, watching movies, and just being together before the chaos begins again. Honestly, though, after a couple of days of relaxing, I am ready to return to a routine and excited about what’s to come. Mardi Gras season is just around the corner, and here in the office, we will start working on the vast summer camp issue. The next thing you know, spring will be here! There is no rest for the revelers here on the Gulf Coast!
The realization that warmer weather, aka bathing suit season, is just around the corner inevitably leads many to set New Year’s Resolutions to get in shape. Unsurprisingly, nearly half of the resolutions made are geared towards physical health/fitness, especially after a season of over-indulging. Some other common resolutions are to spend more time with friends/family, get more organized, and improve finances. These ideas can help us improve our physical, spiritual, mental, and financial health. However, if you are like me, I can get overwhelmed with all the improvements I would like to make. It is the same feeling I get when I have too many errands or projects that I am working on. When this happens, I find it helpful to make a list. Sometimes, I first put things that are quick and easy to give me an instant sense of accomplishment. Other times, I get the most difficult or dreaded out of the way, so it is not looming over me. It might be helpful to make a list of specific action items to help us achieve our broader goals. Sarah Lyons has compiled an excellent to-do list for us in this month’s feature, Must Dos for the New Year.
If you have “Get more organized” on your list of resolutions, meal planning and prep are probably action items you will include. Planning family meals can be a daunting task, especially for busy families. We are so excited to feature a local family sharing their favorite weeknight recipes each month in our monthly Dinner’s Ready column. In every issue, you will find a different recipe to add to your rotation. Want to see some recipes you missed in a previous month? No problem! You can find all recipes on our website under the dropdown Articles > Dinner’s Ready. If you are interested in having your recipe considered for one of our Dinner’s Ready features, just send me an email!
As we discuss the upcoming year, I would be remiss not to mention school registrations. While we are only midway through the school year, many area schools are now accepting applications and opening their registrations for the 2024-2025 session. This month’s issue includes helpful resources for families looking at their options should the school they are zoned for not best fit their student. We have also included “Admissions Checklist for School Applicants,” a great feature by Robert Kennedy, with a list of considerations when schools require an application process.
Whether lacing up your tennis shoes for a run, filling freezer bags for meal prep, or combing through registration packets, we hope you find this month’s issue helpful in starting the new year right. Wishing you all a joy-filled 2024! Happy New Year!
Author: Lynn Knighton
Lynn has called the Mobile Bay area home since 2006 with her husband Brad and their 3 daughters. Following the sale of her Abrakadoodle franchise, Lynn still wanted to serve families and help them thrive. Becoming the Publisher of Mobile Bay Parents was the perfect opportunity. Now she invests into family's lives each month by providing the with the area's #1 go-to resource for moms and dads.
