Happy New Year!

Goodbye, summer and hello, fall! Although temps are still summery in KC, the crunching of the acorns on my walks and the sounds of the local high school marching band practicing in the distance tell me that fall is around the corner! I couldn’t be happier.

Now don’t get me wrong, I love the freedom that summer has always brought with it. Long days at the pool, late nights grilling with friends, and spontaneous trips to the lake. What could be better, right? Well, for me the start back to school brings the feeling of a fresh start, a clean slate, and the excitement of decorating my home for fall and lighting my favorite pumpkin candle.

new year

I have always worked as an educator, so for me, the start of a new year comes in August and September. I get giddy over a new planner and a new set of flair pens. I write down all of the birthdays, and color code all of the events. I get my planner set, and I feel ready to tackle the world.

Along with a new planner, here are a few more activities that help make August and September feel like a new year and fresh start:

Back to School: All the paperwork makes me so excited! I am one of the few people in the world who actually gets excited about all of the paperwork required for the kids starting back to school. Give me a good pen, and I love dotting my i’s and crossing my t’s. Shopping for school supplies, backpacks, and lunch boxes always made my days. Don’t even get me started about shopping for college dorm and apartment supplies. The newness of all of the fresh crayons and scissors scream “Happy New Year!” to me. The first days of school are a celebration of a fresh start!

Health Check: September and October are the months that I use to plan all of my medical visits. Appointments with the eye doctor, dermatologist, and dentist. Visits with my doctor for my annual mammogram and physical. These appointments fill my calendar, but I love getting them all scheduled in the span of 4-6 weeks, and then checking the box for the year ahead.

Meal Planning: The start of school means packing lunches and meal planning so that when I arrive home from school, there is something ready to cook for dinner. Things look a little different at this stage in my life with our children being grown and out of the home, but I remember when our children were younger. The evenings were always filled with baseball and cheer practices, so having a meal planned made for less stress during the dinner hour and more time actually spent face to face with the kids. Dust off your Pinterest boards, ladies, and start pinning all of those crockpot recipes.

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas: With August/September comes the anticipation of the upcoming holidays. We begin making our Christmas budget and even doing a little shopping…gasp! Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are filled with family and friends, so the arrival of fall gets me excited for what’s around the corner!

Goal Setting: Much like those January New Year’s resolutions, I tend to set some goals in August/September for the start of school and the oncoming season of fall. Fall is a new beginning for me, so it seems only natural to set some small goals for better living. Exercise more, eat more vegetables, spend less time scrolling on my phone, and more time face-to-face with those I love. Setting fall goals has allowed me to set some short-term goals and ease the transition from summer into fall.

Fall, with your start back to school and your cooler temps, I am a new person. Schedules bring me security and contentment, and I love exchanging the craziness of summer for earlier bedtimes and family meals. Goodbye, flip flops and hello, jean jackets. Fall, I’m ready for you!

Kim Manford
Kim has been married to her husband, Jeff for 26 years and they have two grown children. Jacob (their Christmas day baby) is 23 and their daughter Shelby is 20. Kim was born and raised in the NW suburbs of Chicago where she developed her love for Lake Michigan and all things 80's. Kim has her degrees in El. Ed. and E.C. Special Education from KU (Rock Chalk) and for the past 24 years, she has served as a Preschool Director in the K.C area. With grown children, Kim's mom gig has changed a bit. Less laundry and fewer carpools, but more impromptu shopping trips and travel. "Kids sure grow up fast, but the journey only gets sweeter. I still love being called, mom".