January, 2017 at Urban Home Blog

Here are some of our plans for the back-to-business month of January at Urban Home Blog. 

• Celebrate New Year's Eve with martinis, Champagne, and a pizza from Palermo.
• Celebrate New Year's Day with the last of the holiday gravlax, hot coffee, bagels from Western Bagel, and day-long classic film marathon to include Ocean's 11, Viva Las Vegas, and one more seasonal screening of White Christmas.
• Dedicate first days of new year to getting household ready for upcoming year. Go through paper and electronic files, magazines, correspondence and keep, archive, or destroy every item therein. Duck into The Abbey or The Pikey early evening to reward selves with break from working.
• Schedule medical, dental, and financial appointments and car maintenance for the year. Enter appointments, deadlines and seasonal events onto electronic and paper calendars.
• Meet with MD to determine 2017 health goals. Seek trainer for help in creating and implementing fitness regime.
• Prepare for 2016 taxes by spot-checking the filing box that was set up last new year for the purposes of doing the taxes and storing the records afterward. Ensure that all transactions, especially online, are included and categorized appropriately.
• Set up 2017 tax folders to file receipts and records as they are incurred. Put recurring note in online calendar to remind selves not to let the filing go undone.
• Print out and update contacts lists.
• Take historic records (5 years or older) to storage along with holiday decorations.
• Re-store holiday decor in large snap-top plastic tubs dedicated to the purpose. Wrap lights for storage, discarding any that are burned out or otherwise compromised. Keep list of each storage box's contents in home holiday file, including noting new items obtained during 2016 holiday season.
• Go through December's holiday cards to save special messages or images for memory keeping. Clip addresses as needed, and place in December well of greeting card pocket file along with 2017 holiday card list.
• Store holiday dishes in cushioned china box. Separate flat pieces with felt separators; wrap cups, bowls, and serving dishes with flannel or bubble wrap as indicated.
• Deep clean quilts and comforters. Replace bed pillows; wash and thoroughly dry them before using them. Replace the mattress pad.
• Inventory household linens, including bed, bath, kitchen and dining, in anticipation of January white sales. Repurpose as able, including donating usable goods to human services organizations or animal shelters.
• Spend birthday in Solvang. Enjoy annual birthday dinner at The Hitching Post. Musts: Sides Hardware and Shoes, Mandarin Touch, Solvang Toyland, Solvang Restaurant, VinHaus, Loring Tasting Room, and Pea Soup Andersen's. 

Reading List: Holiday Gift Books (thank you Ann, John, and Oliver)! Sharks, Michael Muller; LA's Legendary Restaurants, George Geary and Barbara Fairchild, The Broad Collection, Francesco Bonami and Annie Cohen-Solal

Listening List: George Michael: Faith, Listen Without Prejudice, Patience, Older

January, 2016: American Table
January, 2014: Grandma's Kitchen, Homekeeper's Bookshelf, Urban Bar
January, 2013: Birthdays, Home Electronics, Winter Gardens, Urban Bar
January, 2012: Urban Bar, American Table, Cooking for One, New Year
January, 2011: Weeknight Dinner, Field Trip, Birthdays, Home Movies
January, 2010: Weeknight Dinner, Homekeeper's Library, New Year