Following a cue from In the Little Red House blog, I decided to make a list of the 11 things I do not need in 2011. It’s SO easy for me to need and want and buy and make and trade, etc to get what I think that I need. So, today I’m taking a moment (while kids play semi-quietly with a remote control puppy, the only puppy we’ll ever have) to make a quick list…
1. I do not need MORE than 2 cups of coffee a day! This semester I had begun drinking coffee at a ridiculous rate. In fact, by finals week I was so sick of the taste of coffee but thought that it was helping me to survive. I’m gonna break that habit and stick to one cup in the a.m. and one at the 4 ‘o clock crank.
2. I do not need to have stressed out mornings. I have to make kids lunches and my lunch the night before… I just have to. I can do a lot at 7 in the a.m. but I’d rather sit and enjoy my 1 cup of morning coffee. So it’s decided… lunches are made at night.
3. I do not need to jump on the fast track to success. There is such a push for nurses to continue education (when getting their ADN). Everyone is asking what you’ll do next, what your specialty is, etc. While I really really enjoy studying and learning I will be very happy to take a few years to work as a nurse. I cannot wait, in fact! I’ll take more classes if the hospital I work for needs me to but I will not create more work for myself than I need.
4. I do NOT need to put others before my family! I love to be involved in lots and lots and lots! Sometimes my husband will say, “Lauren stop, don’t make that [project] better. Just relax and take care of your family.” Whew… so glad he can set me straight! He gets me off the hook, lots!
5. I do NOT need more jeans, until I get rid of some that I already have.
6. I do no need more shoes. It’s more of a want… ahhhhh… shoes. I am so happy that my feet stay toasty in the shoes I already have. I don’t need more shoes to make me feel more toasty.
7. I do not need control. As a busy mom, I need things (and people) in my home to be the way that I want it to be when I want it to be. I NEED to breathe more and pray more and release this control more.
8. I do not need to buy any more furniture or decorative stuff.
9. I do not need to put another craft project on my list of to do crafts until I finish these:
-Reupholster Antique dining chair
-Make ‘farmhouse’ table out of table I picked up last week
-Sand and repaint the end table/entry table in living room
-Sand and do something with the dresser from yesterday’s post
-Finish curtains in kitchen AND Babushka’s room
-Finish baby quilt made from kids old clothes
Whew… I’m exhausted just thinking about it… definitely do not need more projects! 
10. I do not need Starbucks. I always love going to local cafes better than Starbucks.
11. I do not need to go to the store at the drop of the hat on any day of the week. I seriously need to prioritize my trips to the store to save money, energy, time and gas!