December Daily Photos

Going to give this challenge a shot - anyone else in??

Pin It! or Pass

Over the last couple of weeks I was on a Pinterest Bing. Not just pinning either. I was actually using my Pins. Here's the scoop:

       
This was my inspiration (the purple) - like theirs better but it was still motivating. Sorry I can't get it to rotate... I think I just needed a bigger butterfly and a darker background. It would still classify as a PIN!





I did a little baking....

   
Pumpkin Poppers - original on left, mine on the right - I know, you can tell by looking at them they are a PIN IT!

Egg, sausage, and cheese muffin - big success! Easy to freeze and reheat too! PIN IT!

 

 Crash Potatoes - no picture because, well, it wasn't pretty. These were a lot of work if you ask me. And honestly, I couldn't get them to smash pretty like these and then they got too hard.... PASS!

Then I tried both of these...

          

Pumpkin Spice Latte  The first was pretty good actually. I prefer it with a little whipped cream added in (and I just used strong coffee instead of Espresso) The second was definitely better but it also took more prep. Both were PIN IT!

So that is my PIN IT OR PASS Update - it's great to actually use those PINS!

Gratitude

I first learned about gratitude in a book I read many years ago and still keep at my bedside - 'Simple Abundance' by Sara Ban Breathnach. In this book Sara talks about keeping a gratitude journal. I did that for a while but then I didn't want to keep an actual notebook and life got in the way (hmmm, have you heard that before?) and I stopped. But what I learned was that even on the darkest day there are at least three things I can be grateful for. Last year I downloaded the Gratitude 365 app - I missed a few days - like 27, but that was all. I love going back and seeing what I had to be grateful for. I love seeing the huge number of things I actually listed last year. So this goal is to maintain Gratitude 365 and try to get in each day this year. I am so blessed, I need to remember that every day!

Goals

There seems to have been a small shift in balance. Not sure what - some down time, some organizing.......whatever it was/is I am thankful for it. I can see the results on my scrap counter, in my pantry shelves, in the laundry NOT being piled up, deep down in my soul....

So tonight, as I sign off my computer and prepare to scrap, I look up. On the board, above my computer, that goal list from eight months ago sits and calls to me. I knew it was a great idea to stick it there for a reminder. So what if it took me this long to actually use that reminder - it still worked.

Five transferred recipes later I feel even more back on track. YES!

Balance...

Balance can be defined as a condition in which different elements are equal or in the correct proportions. Well I think balance is lacking in my life and has been for a while. I don't feel balanced - at all. I am out of whack.

I set these goals in January, followed them for quite a few months. Since then life got extra busy (as usual) and the goals fell by the wayside. Oh they are still there, thanks to the list I printed that hangs by my computer and this blog. But they haven't been in the front of my mind or my plans. I can feel the neglect.

No really, I can feel it! I went back to Zumba last night and believe me when I say I CAN FEEL IT! After I do that I always question myself. How did I let myself go like that? Why did I let myself go like that? What in heavens name was I thinking letting myself go like that? After one class I feel so much better (well relatively speaking of course). It amazes me how much Zumba affects so many aspects of my world.

So, back to balance... how do you balance it all? I mean, I get it - we don't need to be Wonder Woman. But I need a clean organized house, happy kids, and fun times. (No, really I NEED a cleaned organized house!)  I want to date my husband, party with friends and family, do things, go places, scrap, cook, bake, encourage my kids to do more things and try new things. Yet every day I run out of time.....

So I browse (come on you know you do it too) and see what I can come up with. I find this link - What is Life Balance 
I look some more and read this: "...I want to show you why my life is out of balance and why your life should be out of balance too." HUH? It SHOULD be this way? Feeling better all ready! Maybe I'm not as out of balance as I thought I was....

Pin It! or Pass

I find it funny that I forgot what it was that I needed to label with a big PASS. LOL I imagine I will find it later. What I do have for you are these two recipes:

Loaded Brownies

Loaded Brownies

 Strawberry Baked Oatmeal

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/42854633928476988/

Although the brownies are my favorite of the two - the baked oatmeal was also delish and lasted for a couple days.  Yes they are on recipe cards and stowed away in my cookbook - so it's a win-win with my goals!

I'm back.....

I always, ALWAYS, seem to disappear in March. Why? Two birthday boys is why and this year was no different. Luckily Easter does NOT fall in March this year! I love March, obviously, some of my favorite memories come this month. But I also hate it. I hate the busyness, the work, all there is to do. Although I am grateful for the month and all it holds I am also grateful to see it go and for life to return to a little more normal. (Be warned, normal does not mean less busy!)

But, I am back. Now you probably know I plan things, right? You probably know I pre-make my meals. You probably also know I menu plan, usually a week or a few days at a time. The weekly or few days of planning all started because Menu Planning for an entire month was too overwhelming for me. So I broke it down. Until now.

Last week I did a month of menu planning. Took me a while, made me nervous, oh the decisions that had to be made... but I have this freezer full of food and meals I've prepared. I've been having a tough time knowing what we were going to eat when based on what our plans were for the day. So I gave it a shot.

I have to tell you - I am loving it! No really REALLY loving it! I prepped dinner for tomorrow tonight - I know what I'm doing ALL WEEK! It's so freeing. I only have to make the decision one time and then not think about it until the night before. All supplies are on hand, the food is prepped, I know if it has to be a crock pot meal due to our schedule, a quickie, or if it's a night I have time to actually make the meal after work. Awesome! If you haven't tried it you should give it a whirl.

Here's the rest of our week:
Monday - Crock Pot Pizza and salad
Tuesday - we'll buy kaisers out as we're on the road
Wednesday - Venison Stroganoff and peas
Thursday - Sausage and eggs - late dinner or maybe leftovers
Friday - Parmesan Pork Chops, baked potatoes, salad and limas
Saturday - we are out and about ALL day and night

Send more cards...

Did you ever think of someone or someone experiencing something and say to yourself, "Boy I should send them a card!" and then you think about it and life continues on and you just never get around to it? Yep, happens to me often too. So this year I've decided Goal # 10 will be to send more cards. I've gotten back into making them with my scrapbooking scraps so there's no sense in them sitting in the card box now is there? Keep an eye out - one may be headed your way!

Pinterest

You've heard of it right? Pinterest - the site where you pin images and links of things you love and would love to do but probably won't - ever. I too have tons of pins. I mean, really, don't their photos of food just look fabulous. The hairstyles perfect and easy, the crafts so creative..... I plan on doing some of the things I have pinned. Then I will post about it with a rating - either a 

which means it worked out well and I would do it again or recommend it

OR

which means skip this one! Fail! You get the idea.

Today's Pin It! or PASS 

The food on pinterest looks so yummy and easy to make, right? How many recipes do you have on there anyway? Ever make one? Well I have made several different recipes, including this one I made today...

http://www.bakeatmidnite.com/2012/10/easy-cheesy-pizza-casserole.html

Have to tell you - it's a 

the homemade biscuits are delish and it was as easy as it says it was. I didn't even have pepperoni and it was still yummy! Going to go write out a recipe card for it right now. Enjoy!!

That Ole Recipe Binder update

This is the binder I picked - what do you think? 

I have to tell you I love it! 

Finally got some time so I opened it up, put the recipe cards inside for easy access/storage, emptied the old one and have it in a pile to donate. Several recipes already written in, a couple more to go to catch up to my goal. Will be caught up within the next hour. YES!

The sick week

The last week has been full of taking care of the sick. I have had three sick 'boys' in the past week. They all had the 'bug' - you know the one that is going around. It is NOT pretty! Then I had to go get the flu. What a week. Just when you think you are getting ahead........ Hopefully we are back on course now.

Goal recap time!

 We continue to work on this every week. A few dishes here, a small box of junk there.... it all adds up and I love paring it down.

 January Date was a LOT of fun. We did a lot in one day and enjoyed every minute of it. Looking forward to February's date as well.

 Ahhh Flylady - what can I say - I would be lost without which is never more evident to me than on weeks like this last one. Without routines I would be under Mount Washmore and a pile of dust bunnies!

Ok, when you've been sick and the weather has been bad this is a tough one. But overall this month I have made huge improvements in movement. Great release of stress as well!!

 I have completed four books, but my tracking system tells me I am falling behind. LOL Not to worry!!

 Again making strides - continuing to start over every now and then but am proud to say that my yelling moments are quieter when they do happen. Go me!

10 days in January I did something scrap related. I remember the feeling a couple weeks ago when I went to bed so happy and relaxed. Haven't felt that in a while but I continue to work on this goal. Have set up a couple scrap/friends things but they haven't worked out either. I won't give up though because I remember the peace it brings!

Time with friends and family (which I can't believe I don't have a picture for right now) has been going well too. We've had several movie nights (and another set up for this Friday), I helped one friend move, went out to lunch/movies with another, chilled with another. I love this goal!!

Sometimes the universe knows you are ready before you think you are...

So... 14 goals is a lot right? I know, it is, but still, it's doable. There are soooooo many things I want to do this year. So as I thought of each goal I would start writing the post, go back in later when I was ready to start, edit, and post. Easy enough.

Well this post was going to be titled MOVEMENT and goes like this.....

Last year I posted about wanting to continue to do Zumba. I LOVE Zumba! I love my instructor, the music, the movement, and yes, even the sweat. But Zumba is only a couple days a week and sometimes life gets in the way and I can't make it there. Ok, most of the time life has been getting in the way and I haven't been making it there - for months! I don't want that to be the reason I am not moving. So instead of making Zumba a goal, I am making MOVEMENT one of my goals.

It can be five minutes or 55 minutes - it doesn't matter. What does matter is that I move, mindfully. Don't get me wrong, Zumba is at the top of my list, but I can't let it be the ONLY thing on my list.

So I have gone to a few Zumba classes but haven't felt motivated to really tackle this goal just yet.
Universe 0:Motivation 0

I haven't talked about this goal just yet either. HOWEVER, Friday there was a GREAT sale on a weight bench system. I didn't see it but DH did and after some research showed that it truly was a good system AND a good buy, he bought it. Universe 1: Motivation 0 

I am still not ready to tackle this goal but the Universe has other ideas. You see, today is my birthday. Guess what my dear friend gave me today?                 

A fitbit ZIP!

She said she didn't even know why it came to her mind to get it for me for my birthday but she got herself one too. Can you say Universe 2: Motivation 0?

My wish for you... One.Little.Word.

That Ole Recipe Binder

Years ago, many MANY years ago, Mom gave me a recipe binder for Christmas. I loved that binder. I didn't use that binder but I loved it. Oh there are about a dozen recipes put in there but that's all. It sits on my kitchen counter, next to my microwave, overflowing with recipes I either have tried or want to try. Recipes from others and new recipes I love. I also have a file of recipes on the computer that I go to ALL THE TIME. It seems ridiculous to me to have both things in two places, neither of which are finished.

Now you would think the smartest thing for me to do would be just to  keep up the computer one. Yeah, well, my luck with computers is not so good and I'm pretty sure all those recipes would be (and will be) lost. So I decided to make this Goal #8 to work on finishing that recipe binder. One recipe a week. I can do that.

I go looking for downloadable recipe cards on the net, you know, one of those activities that sucks your time up. I go back to look at my binder, thinking it would be nice if things matched and you know what? I don't like that binder anymore. I don't think it's pretty anymore and maybe that is part of the reason why I haven't done anything with it. So this will be a multi-part goal. Why you ask? Well did you know there are full page binders, mini binders, half page binders, accordion files, binder accessories...... Starting with Part A - find a binder I love that will motivate me to use it. And so the search beg
ins.....

Maybe this one??   Or this one??? Tooooooo many choices!

Time with Friends

Time spent with friends is time well spent - no truer words right friends? I haven't had a lot of time to spend with my friends in the past year or so. I've missed that, a lot and I plan on doing something about it in 2014! Goal #7...

Goal #1 Organization - reasons

Geez, I didn't know I had so many good reasons to get back to organizing this year. According to this there are at least 14 reasons and as I read it I had to agree! Love this site! Simplify 101

Read 52 Books - Goal 6

I love to read. I don't seem to ever have enough time to read but I love to read. I love when you're reading a really REALLY good book and you just can't put it down no matter how tired you KNOW you are going to be tomorrow. Can you relate to that one? My hubby is upstairs doing that right now LOL

Last year I did a book goal - I think it was 30. Give me a goal or a challenge and I am on it. I got in 30+ or so I thought. When I went and looked I think I was closer to 44 - stopped recording it after 40.

This year I was giving myself a goal of 36 - that's three books a month. Well if I could get 40+ in last year then I better actually challenge myself to 52 books - one a week. I am using Goodreads.com as my tracking system since it worked pretty good last time around. Put my books in that I have downloaded recently and have read two already.

Any books out there that you think I just HAVE to read? Let me know!!

Scrapping Time

this is how I spent my scrapping time this weekend - altering items. Years ago a great secret pal made me this board which is behind my computer... isn't it pretty and useful too!

So I get a brilliant idea that I should coordinate more of these colors and papers into my scrap space. Seriously, I don't know why I haven't thought of this before now! My hubby is laughing at me posting pictures of my altered items but I just think they tie is so nicely. 

Here are some jars I put labels on (after organizing stuff) and the address book I altered.

Then I decided I was liking it so much I would alter my previously altered storage container - you know, like a letter holder thingy?? Here... a picture is worth a thousand words since I don't know what to call it LOL

.3

These are looking so nice along with a journal I altered years ago and a matching tin which was also a secret pal gift. I love when things come together!!

More Dates

Yep you read that right - I want more dates in 2014. But before you get all 'shame on you' on me, I just want those dates to be with my hubby! When you get busy what tends to take a backseat - other than your poor feet that need pampering but that would be a later goal? Your spouse, especially if you live in a house with two teens boys and a mother-in-law. Towards the mid-end of last year we instituted Date Night (or Day) a couple times and truly enjoyed reconnecting. My goal this year, Goal #5, is to do it more often.

We sat down with the calendar and picked out Date Nights for January and February - they are scheduled in PEN! I can't wait!

Scrapbooking is Cheaper Than Therapy

Or at least that is what we scrappers tell ourselves and our spouses... I always have said scrapbooking IS my therapy and I need some therapy bad! I'm a little unsure of this goal. I know I need more therapy, I mean scrapping, I just don't know what goal to set. I think I will set 15 minutes a day doing something scrapping related and see how that goes. I also have some projects on my mind and in storage here that might become a goal. Will see how it goes. All I know is I NEED to scrap more!

Orange Rhino Challenge

If you have never yelled at your kids and felt bad about it you can just skip this entire post and every post about it in the coming year. There, got rid of those people, now it's just us yellers.... if you've never heard of the Orange Rhino Challenge you NEED to go here:  http://theorangerhino.com/

I don't yell every day, I don't yell like a crazy woman (most of the time), but I do yell and I hate it, with a passion. I'm not doing this one just for my kids, I'm doing it for me as well. My word this year is PEACE and this challenge will help me get some more peace in my world. Hang on, it won't be a smooth ride, of that I am positive. BUT it will be worth every backslide and every peaceful day!!

Calendars

Yes I love a good calendar to keep me organized. We have one in the house that MOST of us use and the rest of us SHOULD if they want to know what we are up to on a daily basis (hint hint). I have one that travels with me to work and back home so I can always see what we have going on. But when I sit at my computer I like to be able to just look up and see what day it is or what the next day off is going to be. I just LOVE these -

Pretty, clear, and FREE!  http://www.thetomkatstudio.com/2014printablemonthlycalendar/

Flylady - Back to Basics

Have you ever heard of Flylady? Oh come on, some of you MUST be flybabies. I am a flybaby. I owe so  much of my organization and a house you can just drop by with no warning to to Flylady. But I have noticed that in the past year I have dropped most of my routines and it shows. So Goal #2 is to get back on track with Flylady - back to the basics - back to my routines.

Working on Goal 1 - Get Organized. Found a Declutter Your Home in 15 Minutes a Day calendar and have been working on that. Most of it isn't taking 15 minutes, thankfully. If I miss a day I just do two another day. Loving it!! It's not a lot of clutter,  but clutter didn't make it's way here a lot at a time.That's how I'm going to get rid of it too, a little at a time.

14 in 14 - Goals Throughout the Year

Last year I started a project 13 in 13 - which was 13 goals set throughout the year 2013. I didn't finish but loved the idea and what I did accomplish. So in 2014 I am going to do 14 in 14. I will post as I add new goals and updates as well to help keep me on track.

1 - Get Organized -now if you know me you know I'm a fairly organized person and you may be wondering why I would make this a goal. Well, the past year has thrown me for a loop and I've gotten off track. I can see it in all aspects of my life and frankly, I don't like it, not one little bit. So I am taking all kinds of steps to get reorganized and back on track. I work so much better and feel so much calmer when I am organized and into my routines. Maybe it will help add some PEACE to my world as well.

One.Little.Word.2014

PEACE - that is my one little word for 2014. I had several words that called to me the past few days, all of which revolved around needing to find some peace and reduce the stress that has filled my days. Organize, calm, mindful, relax, chill, and more. Tonight I settled on peace because, as I think back at things I say, I am always saying I need a little peace and I think I will work on getting it in 2014.

Happy New Year!

in 2012 I blogged until March - 2013 last blog post was August. So I improved - yea - go me! 2013 was a tough one. It was the year I lost my Dad. It was also a time for creating many many memories to get us through our time without him. I have no regrets and for that I am ever thankful.

Do I have hopes for the new year? You bet I do. Will I set some more goals? Yepper! Will I pick a new word for the year to live by? You know it! Guess I better get busy then!