Freezer Meal - Orange Chicken

Well... this was one of the freezer meals that I prepared earlier this year. The night before I placed the frozen bag in the fridge to defrost. The next day, I came home from work during lunch and dumped the bag into the crockpot. Once home from work - dinner was ready - per se.

Boiled some plain white rice and heated some frozen wonton appetizers in the oven. Dinner was served.

My take: ehhhh.... not so great. The "sauce" was more of a thin liquid than "sauce" as I was expecting. I'm not sure I liked the mix of orange and onions and such. The chicken was moist and tender and flavorful --- but not sure I liked the flavor.  I don't think we'll be doing this one again.
Ems take: "a 2 out of 10".  She wasn't impressed either.
Overall take: we're tossing this recipe and not planning on doing it again.

I hope the remaining 6 freezer meals are better!! Stay tuned to see!

New Recipe - Ranch Pork Chops

This one is simple! simple! SIMPLE!

Take a packet of dry ranch seasoning. Dump in a bowl. Sprinkle a dash of black pepper. Sprinkle a dash of paprika. Toss your pork chops in this dry mix. Once they're coated, bake in the oven til they're done. I used thin chops, so it didn't seem to take long at all.

      

Once they're done, we paired them with mashed potatoes and baked beans. Yummo!

We "grilled" them on a grill pan in the oven.... so they had the grill marks and all!

 

Bon Appetite! 

2015 Reading Challenge - Summer of My German Soldier

I chose this book for the category "Banned Book".  Discussing the challenge with a co-worker one day, we got to looking through a list of banned books and wondering why each one was banned....  We came across this one, set in "Jenkinsville Arkansas".  No worries - there is no such place. But, the storyline sounded interesting.... so I decided to bookmooch it.

It was a quick and easy read. A good story as well. I'm guessing the reason for it being banned is because it talks about Nazis and N*ggers.  The story is told from a 12 year olds viewpoint. She meets a Nazi prisoner and ends up becoming friends with him. He escapes and she provides him shelter and food.

I enjoyed it. It was neat to read about places in Arkansas that really are..... Jonesboro, Cummins Prison Farm (although it's no longer a prison "farm" per se), Little Rock, etc....

New Recipe - Kale Chips

Another Pinterest curiosity....  Well, not COMPLETELY Pinterest inspired.

My co-worker, Deanna, made these a while back and brought some into the office for us to try. I loved them!! And....the word on the street is that these things are good for you. So, I've been wanting to try to make some on my own.

Well, Kroger had their organic kale on sale this past weekend.... so... what better time to try this.

I browsed around on Pinterest and a few other websites -- to make sure I knew what I thought I knew about how to do this.  It's simple..... clean the kale, dry the kale (I used my salad spinner), chop it up into "chip" sized pieces (maybe a lil bigger than bite-size, because it shrivels and shrinks). Once you have your fresh, cleaned and dried kale chip pieces, toss them in a bowl with some olive oil and a lil salt. I added a little sprinkle of garlic powder as well.

Once they're tossed ---- lay them out on a cookie sheet.

 

Aren't they so pretty!! So bright and green!

 

 

Next you pop them in the oven ... I set it on 250 degrees... for about 18-20 minutes.

 

And.... this is what you get.  Sad looking kale chips...... shriveled up.....

 

 

BUT --- don't let the look deceive you............they. were. yummy! Crispy and crunchy....and perfectly done!

 

My take: DEFINTELY doing this more often.

Ems take: She liked them....thought they were pretty yummy.

 





New Recipe - OMG! Crock Pot Chicken

I came across this recipe on Pinterest...looked good, sounded good... so I thought I'd give it a try.

The recipe:

Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless skinless Chicken Breasts
• 1 Can cream of Chicken Soup
• 1 Packet of dry Italian Dressing
• 1 Packet of dry Ranch Dressing
• 1 8oz pkg of Cream Cheese

Instructions

1. Throw everything in the crockpot on low and cook 6-8 hours.
2. After about 4 hours of cooking I usually stir everything together- but if you're not home it's no big deal.
3. Just stir about 20 minutes before serving to really mix together the cream cheese and dressing packets.

 

 

 

So ---- seems I have to tweak almost every new recipe I try...

My tweak: I did only one package of dry Ranch dressing. The dry dressings are so strong to me --- so I couldn't imagine having both packages in there. And, well, I didn't have 2lbs of chicken --- maybe closer to 1lb.

 

Once it was done, I served it over white rice...making sure to add some "gravy" to my bowl.

 

 

My take: It was pretty yummy. I like chicken 'n rice meals --- this one was good.

 

There was enough leftover for Em and I to have it for dinner the next night.

 

Her take: She liked it.

 

We'll probably do this one again. 

 

 

 

2015 Reading Challenge - The Outsiders

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

I chose this book for the category: "A book you were supposed to read in high school but didn't". I don't recall that I read it, and after chatting with my friend Melissa about this challenge - she mentioned this book that she recalled from high school. Well, if she read it in high school - chances are highly likely that I was supposed to read it as well. So, I did for this challenge.

I "read" this book as an audio book. I wasn't overly impressed with the story. It was a good story -- but nothing too spectacular in my eyes. But - now I can say I know the story....after many years of not knowing it.

Pinterest Project - Homemade Laundry Soap

Homemade Laundry Soap

I've seen these recipes floating around pinterest for a while now.... and I recall several years ago that my sis made some laundry soap. From what I recall, it lasted her a while. She gave me some to sample during that time... and it was ok. But it was never anything I wanted to tackle on my own. Well, in my organizing and starting the new year with a different outlook, I decided I'd try it. My "word" is REDUCE... so maybe by doing this, I can reduce my spending... 'cuz we all know buying laundry detergent isn't cheap! So... below is the recipe I followed and the link to the blog I found it on.

Here is what you will need to make 2 gallons: 

• Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
• Arm And Hammer Baking Soda (the big 4lb box)
• 20 Mule Team Borax
• Oxi Clean (2 of the 1.3 lb containers, or 1 3lb container; generic is fine)
• 3 or 4 bars Fels Naptha Laundry Soap (people have had success with both - I used 3)
• 2 containers Downy UnStopables (I'm a Gain fan, so I did 2 containers of Gain Fireworks ) 
• garbage bag (or a garbage bag-lined 5 gallon bucket)
• food processor (to make your life much easier) or cheese grater (worked fine with a grater) 
• container to store your soap 
• measuring scoop

http://aprons-n-pearls.blogspot.com/2012/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html



So -- I spent a couple hours last weekend mixing all this together. The hardest part was probably shredding the Fels Naptha bars. They're a golden yellow color -- and I couldn't get over the fact that it looked like shredded cheddar cheese! Fun! And the Gain Fireworks looked like corn! Ha! Corn and Cheese Laundry Soap!

This batch filled my laundry bucket. I wasn't really impressed. Typically a full laundry bucket only lasts me a good month or two, maybe three. So -- how was this bucket of "corn and cheese" supposed to last me a while longer than the expensive stuff?? The total cost of all supplies was around $28. I managed to find coupons for the OxiClean and the Gain Fireworks - so that helped.  But, $28 seemed a bit expensive for a bucket of laundry soap. We figured it up -- and this bucket should last me until May...for it to be actually a money saving adventure. I have my calendar marked --- we'll see how long it lasts.

 

One thing my sis mentioned about the soap... and why she only ended up doing it once... is that it didn't really suds up/bubble up like they wanted it to.  Well... this is true. There is VERY minimal bubbling as it's running through a load. But several times throughout the cycle, I dipped a few fingers into the water, just to see how it felt. Each time the water felt - and smelled - soapy, so I think it's still doing it's job. I was worried that the detergent would clump on the clothes -- but I didn't experience that either.

I'm going to have to play around with it a bit and figure out my scoop size.  It's not supposed to take a full scoop like the expensive stuff does... so I'm still working on that - finding the perfect size scoop. BUT -- so far, I'm ok with the results. The clothes are clean... and smell nice... so, if this is an actual money saving thing, I will probably try it again. We'll see where we are in May!







2015 Reading Challenge: The Omnivore's Dilemma

 

 

THE SECRETS BEHIND WHAT YOU EAT

“What’s for dinner?” seems like a simple question. But do you really know…

- What happens to a field of potatoes destined to become french fries … or
- In how many disguises corn sneaks into your food? (Hint: it’s in your soda, your burger, and that Twinkie!)

- Do you know what that “organic” sticker on your banana actually means … or
- Where the chicken in your nugget grew up?

Do you know the secrets behind what you eat?

In this book, you’ll go undercover at the supermarket. You’ll delve behind the scenes of your dinner, and by the time you’ve digested the last page you’ll have put together the fascinating (and sometimes disturbing) puzzle of what’s on your plate and how it got there.

This young readers edition of Michael Pollan’s bestseller The Omnivore’s Dilemma includes a brand-new introduction and afterword, an exclusive author Q&A, and a variety of fresh visual “evidence.”

MY REVIEW:: I loved this book!! It was soooo interesting and informative. It certainly opened my eyes and has inspired me to really pay attention to the foods that I'm eating ...and how I do my shopping at the grocery store. It's even got me interested in shopping the local farmers markets and such. I've got to check into that ... I think there's one that goes on in Conway - but I know there's one that goes on in Little Rock. Maybe I can work that into a Saturday routine. I was just simply fascinated with this book and highly recommend it to anyone interested to know more about the foods we eat and where they come from.

OneWord 365 - new word

 

 

I don't think it's part of the game.... to change your word after a couple of weeks --- BUT --- rules are meant to be broken, right?....wait... is it a rule?

 

Anyways.... after the first few days of the year and being so productive around the house .... cleaning and organizing and all that.... I found myself saying a different word than "verve" ---- so I decided I needed to shift my focus to another word, before the year got good and started.

 

I am changing my word to "reduce".

 

Sounds a little .... off.... BUT.... so far this week, it's been oddly amazing. I've continually had this word in my brain....incorporating it into my every day.... and almost my every thought. Here's a few of my thoughts on this.....REDUCE....

 

 ~ clutter and stuff lingering around the house. If not used, then recycle or rid.

 ~ spending on frivolous things. If no real purpose, then don’t spend/purchase.

 ~ waistline by eating healthier foods.

 ~ dr. pepper/soda intake….by drinking more water.

 ~ junk food intake.

 ~ health risk by taking better care of myself – eating better, being more active/proactive.

 ~ stress.

 ~ idle time....tv time....

 

The list seems to go on and on and on..... so, I think this will be a better word for me to actively focus on and who knows --- I may even accomplish something with it. 

2015 Reading Challenge: three little words

"three little words"  - a memoir by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

An inspiring true story of the tumultuous nine years Ashley Rhodes-Courter spent in the foster care system, and how she triumphed over painful memories and real-life horrors to ultimately find her own voice. - Amazon blurb

This book was one tucked away in my bookcase....and I decided to read it for the challenge under the memoir category.  This ended up being a quick and easy read. It was a touching story with a great ending.

Finished in just a couple days and marked it off my list. I placed the book on bookmooch.com and have already gotten a request for it.

New Recipe ...kinda... Lasagna Roll-Ups

Lasagna Roll-Ups

 

So, this wasn't necessarily a "new" recipe...more like a frequently used recipe done a different way. I've seen this on Pinterest several different times....and didn't really follow a specific recipe to tackle this dinner tonight. I felt certain I could use what I normally use and just roll it up, instead of stuffing like I do with the manicotti or shell pasta.

 

Here we go... I simply made this just as I would normally make stuffed manicotti or stuffed pasta shells...boil the noodles, stuff them with filling, top them with sauce and bake them....the stuffing I use is a base of Ricotta cheese, shredded Mozzarella cheese, and Italian spices... depending on what else I have on hand will alter the recipe a little. I typically stuff the manicotti or shells with the cheese mixture and top it with the spaghetti/meat sauce (a jar of Ragu and a pound of ground turkey). This time, before rolling the lasagna noodles, I did a layer of the cheese mixture and a small layer of meat mixture on top of each noodle, THEN rolled the lasagna noodles up. Placed each "roll" with the end down, topped it with more meat sauce and shredded Mozzarella cheese then popped it in the oven for about 10-15 minutes.

 

Ems take: too much noodle and the shells/manicotti usually have more cheese.

My take: not too bad. I do think it could use some more cheese ... rolled in the noodle and on top!

Final take: we'll do this again. It was simple...not to much different than the shells and manicotti.

 

One final thought on this.... I made 6 rolls. We added a side of green beans and garlic bread for a yummy meal! I have plenty left over for lunch tomorrow and even a little left over for dinner tomorrow night. 

 

 

 

 



2015 Reading Challenge: Murder in Little Rock

 

 

"A book that takes place in your hometown" is the category for this one on the Reading Challenge. This book was a fairly quick read. I found it interesting...and actually quite fascinating to read the names of people I know or have heard of as well as places around central Arkansas that I'm familiar with. I'd vaguely heard of this story and a few random rumors and comments made over the years - but never really knew the story...so this was a brief Arkansas history lesson as well.

I'm marking this DONE on my list!  50 books to go!

New Recipe - Cheeseburger Soup

I came across this recipe on Pinterest....thought I'd try it - since it involved burger meat and not chicken like so many of my other recipes....  I had majority of the ingredients on hand, but I had to tweak it a little to fit what ingredients I did have. We contemplated back and forth a bit trying to decide what to eat this with -- cheese toast, bread, grilled cheese sammich, crackers, chips - but decided on plain ole Saltines.

Ingredients:
1lb ground beef, browned (I used ground turkey)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped bell pepper
1 can diced tomatoes (I used Rotel for a lil extra kick)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp pepper
3 cups beef broth (I used 2 cans and a little water)
4 cups diced potatoes (I used a can of corn - didn't have potatoes on hand)
(and although the recipe doesn't call for it - I did a squirt (about tsp) of yellow mustard and a squirt (about two tsp) of ketchup --- you can't do "cheeseburger" without those two things!)

1/4 cup flour
1 cup milk
8oz cheddar cheese, shredded

Combine beef, onion, pepper, spices, tomatoes, broth and potatoes in crockpot.
Cook on low 8 hours.
30minutes before serving - combine flour and milk - whisk until no lumps, stir into soup.
**I didn't go the flour/milk route - I added about 1/2 cup of potato flakes as a thickener.

Add cheese, stir again.
**I didn't use shredded cheddar - I had a small chunk of Velvetta and a few cheddar cubes on hand, so I stirred them in until they melted.

Cover and cook until soup thickens.

My say::  ehhh... It was... ok.  I wasn't too impressed.... and it may have been that I veered to far from the original recipe. Who knows? ..there was just something about it that wasn't so great... Definitely sounds better - and smells better - than it tasted. Maybe it was the mustard??
Ems say:: she didn't like it....although she ate two bowls of it!  She said it needed LESS tomatoes and more onion.

Final say:: Tossing this recipe. We won't be doing this one again.

Arkansas Travels Bucket List

So - I snagged this -- from TieDye Travels. Blog... http://www.tiedyetravels.com/2014/12/arkansas-bucket-list.html (mainly because it's a good list so I wanted to save it somewhere handy)

I think it's a great basic list for Arkansas. Only one thing on this list that I've done - and I've lived in Arkansas my whole life (37 years) the rest listed, sad to say, are things I haven't. I'll add my thoughts to each number - in red. ...and if I happen to mark any of these trips off my Arkansas Travels Bucket List, I'll be sure and share my thoughts and adventures!

The Arkansas Bucket List - 8 Must-Take Trips for 2015.

Everyone has something they've always wanted to do.  These days, that collection of daring acts and adventures is often called a "bucket list" (things to do before you kick the bucket) -- and it usually includes a good deal of places people want to go, see and do in their lifetime.

When I talk about places I go here in Arkansas, there's usually a person in the crowd who mentions they've always wanted to go there, or eat something I had there.  Rather than wait for my next adventure, here's a suggested list of things that should be on your Arkansas bucket list.

1. Dig for diamonds at Crater of Diamonds State Park.  The only place in the world where you can pay a small fee and go search a big field for diamonds to your heart's content.  There have been some pretty big diamonds found at the park, but most folks go away without a large specimen to take home.  Still, it's fun and it's a good story for later. Click here for park information.
TO DO -- never done this and always wanted to!

2.  Float the Buffalo National River. The very first national river, this free-flowing stream cuts through the heart of the Ozarks, and when the water is high enough to float (spring to early summer and fall), it's a wet path to glorious views.  There are outfitters all along the river, so you don't even need to own your own canoe.  Find one to book, here or here.
DONE - been there, done that...even tried it a second time, but failed. I suppose I'll gladly go again - IF - someone is in the canoe with me that is stronger than me.

3. Ride a motorcycle through curvy, mountainous terrain.  The Ozarks and Ouachita Mountains sport great two-lane blacktop for challenging riding.  The Arkansas Dragon (Highway 123), Push Mountain Road and Talimena Scenic Byway are all really great scenic runs. Check out some great routes, here.

TO DO...if someone has a motorcycle and wants a nervous passenger, sure!

 4.  Make a culinary pilgrimage.  While many of the places I talk about at Tie Dye Travels are great unknown diners and barbecue joints, there are a few that have obtained national renown and even presidential visits, including AQ Chicken House in Springdale, McClard's Bar-B-Que in Hot Springs, Jones Barbecue Diner in Marianna and Rhoda's Famous Hot Tamales in Lake Village.
TO DO! This will take some planning... but sounds yummy to me!

5.  Ride the Arkansas and Missouri Railroad in the fall. The excursion train through the Boston Mountains takes passengers from Van Buren to Springdale and back, and in autumn the colors are glorious.  It's a pretty cool ride even when it's not autumn. Book your excursion here,

TO DO! I didn't even know this was a possibility here in Arkansas!

6. See where Johnny Cash was raised.  Head to Dyess to visit the town where the Man in Black grew up.  Visit a museum that talks about the Dyess colony and then ride out for a tour of the Cash family home, restored to the era when Cash was a boy. Learn more about the home, here.

TO DO! Hasn't this recently been restored? I'm not a huge fan of Johnny Cash.. but, history is history, right?

 7.  Walk in the steps of the Little Rock Nine.  Visit the Central High School National Historic Site in downtown Little Rock.  Learn about desegregation efforts in the 1950s and take a tour of the high school itself, where you'll hear tales of the nine brave black students who attended and the turmoil they experienced. Find information about the visitors center, here.

TO DO! Shame on me for not having this already checked of my list!

8.  See the elk at Ponca.  These majestic beasts come out to feed in fields at Boxley Valley and along the upper Buffalo early in the morning and late in the afternoon.  Viewing the elk has become very popular for folks who head out into the Ozarks.  Get educated on elk at the Ponca Elk Education Center.

TO DO! Nature at it's finest!

 Have an item you think should be here?  Leave your suggestion in the comments.

 

Looks like I've got a few things on my TO DO list when it comes to seeing and doing in Arkansas. I would say one more thing that should be on here --- is Crystal Bridges Art Museum. It's a must see! We've been twice and each time I enjoyed it. It's a pretty big deal...at least to the art lover in me!

Pinterest Project - Menu Board

While browsing on Pinterest, I came across this idea. Since I've been browsing recipes and one of my challenges this year is to try new recipes, then I've been trying to figure out how to do a "menu" for the week. I've tried doing a menu several times before --- but, it seems our schedule doesn't always allow for that... Maybe with the new year and the few things I'm doing with getting organized (with my recipes and freezer meals and such), then we can try the "menu" thing again. I think this way will be a little more...relaxed.... just jot down a general plan for the week.

This project was quick and easy --- mainly because I had all the materials on-hand.

1 8x10 frame, with glass
1 8x10 colored/designed paper - trimmed to fit the frame if it's larger
Stickers for the title and the days of the week --- or you can handwrite these.
Ribbon to hang... or some sort of way to hang. I chose ribbon tied to the frame hook and a Command Strip hanger -- jussst in case I want to move it from where I initially started.

You'll also need a dry erase marker. The one I have pictured is a wet erase...and will get a dry-erase when it dies.

I did my stickers for the titled and the days of the week on my paper. I drew lines with a black pen to give me the sections for each day. Once I got my page done, I just popped it in the frame. TaDa!

I tied the ribbon to the frame hook, allowing some to dangle behind for the marker and a loop up over the top to hang it.

Simple. And, well, I'm gonna tag this project to my "oneword365"
 challenge --- because VERVE, again, is "creative enthusiasm".  You can ask Em how silly  I was when this project was completed. I saw it on Pinterest, gathered the stuff and within 40 minutes the project was done! It was such a quick and easy project....and so far I'm pleased with the results.

Now.... the challenge will be to actually USE it on a regular basis!!

2015 Reading Challenge: A Play

When I first read through the list of the 2015 Reading Challenge... one of the challenges that I thought would be a bit of a "challenge" for me would be to read a play. I'm not sure I've ever read a play before....maybe I skimmed through one in high school, but I don't recall for sure.

On the Reading Challenge Facebook group page, a new friend had posted a link to the play, "No Exit".  I thought I'd check it out and see what reading a play was all about.



https://archive.org/stream/NoExit/NoExit_djvu.txt

Not too bad. It was a quick read with only four characters...and a pretty interesting little play.

So - I'm marking this challenge DONE!  51 more books to go!

7 Chicken Freezer Meals

As I've mentioned in an earlier post, I'm addicted to Pinterest. I can spend hours scrolling through the DIY/crafts section.... then spend a few more hours scrolling through the recipes. I currently have over 900 recipes pinned.  How many of them have I tried since I've been on Pinterest (3-4 years, at least)...oh... maybe 2 or 3...at the most 5.  Sad, huh?  So -- my plan, this year, is to TRY MORE recipes!! I found a pin that has several recipes for freezer meals. I scrolled through and wrote down a few that I thought Em and I would like. I came up with a total of 7... and they all ended up being chicken recipes. That's ok. Chicken is good for you, right?

So, here you have it.  7 "EASY-to-throw-together-and-pile-in-a-Ziploc-freezer-bag-with-the-plans-to-throw-them-in-a-crockpot-later" freezer meals. Each of these listed below don't have "serving sizes" --- I've catered them to a meal for two.... so mainly each bag has 2 large chicken breasts or 4 small breasts. For each of these recipes... it directs you to thaw the night before and drop in the crock pot the next day for 4-6 hours on low. (I'll know more about how THAT works once we get into cooking these meals)

BBQ Chicken
chicken breasts
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 cup bbq sauce
(added about 1/4 cup chopped bell pepper, cuz I had some left over)


Chicken Terriyaki  (plan to serve with white rice)
chicken breasts
1 cup soy sauce (used the "light")
1 cup sugar
1 tsp garlic salt


Honey Garlic Chicken
chicken breasts
5 garlic cloves
1 tsp oregano
3/4 cup soy sauce (used the "light")
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup bbq sauce (calls for spicy honey, but just used regular)
1/3 cup honey
pinch salt
dash pepper

Orange Chicken (plan to serve with white rice)
chicken breasts
1 orange
1/4 cup soy sauce (used "light")
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/8 cup honey
1 tbsp. minced ginger (I omitted)
1 tbsp. minced garlic

Chicken Fajita (plan to serve between tortillas)
chicken breasts
2 bell peppers (sliced into strips)
1 onion (sliced into strips)
1/2 cup chicken broth (I used a whole can)
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp salt


Chicken Brocoli Alfredo (plan to serve over noodles)
chicken breasts, cut into chunks
16oz frozen broccoli (I used 12oz, that's how the pkg comes)
16oz alfredo sauce
1 green bell pepper, chopped (I used about 3/4 bell pepper)


Cilantro Lime Chicken
chicken breasts
juice from 2 limes
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
16oz frozen corn (I used 12oz, that's how the pkg comes)
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
pinch of salt
dash of pepper
*I would probably add a little bit of chicken broth to this recipe... it's not really "juicy" -- so when we drop it in the crock pot, I'll be adding some broth to it.

In preparing all of these freezer meals, the main thing I learned...and I'm glad I did... was to do the Cilantro Lime LAST. My hands smell strongly of lime and cilantro... which isn't a bad thing, but I'm afraid if I would've done it first, then the rest of the meals would've had a hint of lime and cilantro.

After about 3-4 hours in the kitchen, each bag is labeled and tucked away nicely in the freezer .... ready for the crockpot!  I can't wait to try these new meals! I actually think Em was a bit excited as well!  I'll be posting our reviews as we try them.

One Word 365

One Word 365

This is an interesting little ...challenge. Sounds simple enough...

Chose ONE WORD.

One word to focus on every day, all year long.
One word that sums up who you want to be or how you want to live.

Make a commitment ... and focus. BUT - if you stick to it, then it will shape your year...
...and potentially your life.

How big of an impact can ONE WORD make in your life?

I'm interested to see how this will work in mine. After some thought and a little research, I've decided to accept this challenge and chose ONE WORD.

The word I have chosen is:

VERVE

Definition: creative enthusiasm; the spirit and enthusiasm animating artistic composition or performance. Energy, vitality.

I want a year full of energy, full spirit and enthusiasm into everything I chose to do....and with this new focused energy, I feel this will open doors for me to do even more...
learn more things, explore new things, etc.

So, with this word in focus now, I'm interested to see what will become of it and how I will incorporate this word into my world. I do plan to incorporate this word into my "twentyfifteen". Below is the link to the website and more information.
Forget New Year’s
http://oneword365.com/

New Year, New Challenges!

#GRATEFUL 2015.

http://benandme.com/2015/01/2015-grateful-challenge-free-grateful-journal.html

This challenge seems quite simple... write down one thing for which you are grateful each day. At the end of the year, you'll have 365 blessings, some that you may have forgotten about through the year.

I have printed off this challenge and will tuck it into my calendar (aka my life) and will work through this through out the year. 

I'll be charting the progress...the blessings... here!

New Year, New Challenges! - NewRecipes

I'm no chef when it comes to cooking... .BUT... I'm addicted to Pinterest and then TONS of yummy looking recipes there. I'm always open to trying new foods and new recipes --- but can't seem to be diligent or disciplined about it --- so 2015, I plan to try some new recipes...new crockpot, easy cooking, quick fixing meals. I'll be charting my progress --- the good eats and the not-so-good eats -- here!

New Year, New Challenges!

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” ~ Neil Gaiman

1. Write a handwritten note and post it to someone you haven’t been in touch with for a while.
2. Make someone a Birthday or celebration cake.
3. Volunteer for the day, a local dog shelter, home for the elderly or at a soup kitchen for the homeless.
4. Take a bus or train to a town, village or city that you’ve never visited. Just go to the station and get on the next one that comes in.
5. Learn meditation, yoga, Pilates or something new that you’ve never tried.
6. Make a scrapbook, print out photographs, emails and attach keepsakes.
7. Go to an outdoor weekend music festival. And sleep under the stars.
8. Learn to play a musical instrument.
9. Spend a whole day in bed watching movies, reading books and snuggling with a loved one.
10. Look up your family tree and find out what you can learn about your ancestors.
11. Sign up for a local community class, learn something new and meet other people who live in your area at the same time.
12. Forgive someone who has hurt you. And maybe let them know.
13. Plant seeds and grow something in a window box or the garden. If possible start a small vegetable garden.
14. Compliment a stranger, it will possibly make their day.
15. Read an old classic. Choose one that’s always caught your attention and be patient if you don’t get into it straight away.
16. Start your own or join a book club.
17. Go to a museum, the cinema or a restaurant alone. Enjoy your own company.
18. Bake cookies and share them at work, when visiting friends or give them to a neighbour that may be on their own.
19. Make your own birthday, anniversary, valentines or celebration cards.
20. Go mountain climbing, hiking, or a long forest walk.
21. Eat lunch outdoors, pack a picnic in a hamper, sit by a lake, the sea, go to a local park or lay out a blanket in the garden.
22. Roller skate. Hire or buy a pair and have fun while toning up.
23. Let someone else order for you in a restaurant. Or cook something you would never normally try.
24. Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while and make plans to visit.
25. For a period of time, a week, a month or all year, only shop locally. Purchase free-range, ethical and fair-trade goods, buy from independent retailers, at farmer’s markets and give handcrafted creations as presents.
26. Invent your own cocktail, purchase your favourite ingredients and try out something new. Adorn it with umbrellas, fancy stirrers and edible glitter.
27. Play a board game with friends or family. Scrabble, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit sadly get forgotten due to technology. They are timeless classics and a great way to spend quality time together.
28. Swap the car for a bike for the day. So much more can be absorbed when cycling, plus it’s great exercise.
29. Attend an open mic night. Great entertainment and can be the perfect way to meet new people too.
30. Donate to charity, whether it’s clothes you no longer wear, blankets to the local dog shelter or a sack of carrots to donkeys in India. There are charities everywhere grateful for anything. Even if it’s a $1 donation—it all helps.
31. Make homemade bread. It’s very simple and completely delicious.
32. Switch off all phones, laptops and technology devices. Find different ways to communicate with those close to us and spend quality time with yourself or with others.
33. Have a major clear out. De-clutter, if it’s not pretty, useful or it hasn’t been used in the last 6 months, be ruthless, let it go.
34. Write out a will, a little morbid to think about but it will give you great peace of mind.
35. Take all old books and magazines to a local waiting room, for others to read. Write a note in the front of a book and leave in a public place for others to take on and enjoy and then they can do the same when they’ve finished.
36. Take your camera with you for a whole day and capture everything and anything that takes your interest.
37. Attend a food or wine tasting festival. Most cities hold these events and they are usually free to attend and a great way to try new tastes.
38. Hold a mini movie festival at home. Invite your best friends, tell them to bring a movie they love and spend a whole afternoon and evening together curled up chatting, eating and drinking and sharing old favourites.
39. Organise a clean up with neighbours. Choose a particular hot spot that has turned into an eyesore and get a few people involved to help out. It won’t take long, will be enjoyable working together and you’ll be amazed at the difference a few hours teamwork can make.
40. Get a few friends together and take a ball to the park. Play soccer, rounders, cricket or basketball and ask everyone to bring something to add to a small outdoor snack/picnic afterwards.
41. Make your own soup—nothing tastes better. Especially if you add your homemade bread.
42. Learn a new language, especially if it’s of a country you plan to visit.
43. Go for a swim (if you don’t already.) Or try a brand new water-based activity, water/jet skiing, surfing, canoeing, sailing, kayaking.
44. Skip! It’s free, burns a heap of calories and can be done anywhere.
45. Take a road trip—pack a few necessities, take a map and set out on adventure with no set destination. Explore and investigate different places along the way.
46. Camp out—choose a time when the weather is good, take a barbeque set and sleeping bags and a portable radio. Relax with nature and leave all technology behind.
47. Read the community newsletter or noticeboards. Find out what’s going on locally and get involved in a new activity.
48. Try a new look—choose a new hairstyle or try wearing clothes that you like but wouldn’t normally wear.
49. Write a list of everything we appreciate. Sometimes things can go unnoticed and it’s a great way of becoming more aware and then passing on the gratitude.
50. Watch a sunset, sunrise or both. Find a spot with a good view and settle down with a friend or loved one and enjoy.
51. Write down your life plan. It doesn’t have to be specific, or even achievable. Just a guide for all the things you would like to do and then you can tick and cross off the ones that you want to work towards.
52. Take time out to let those around you know they are loved. Call up, write letters, visit and send the message out strong and clear to those that are most important to you.

 

I will be blogging about THIS as well. This will be the main "meat" of this blog... I do believe.

New Year, New Challenges! - Money Saving

Saving Money!!   I suck at this! Maybe this will help... although I wonder if it should be flip-flopped -- I tend to have more money at the beginning of the year than I do at the end.  Which, I guess, is where the "CHALLENGE" part comes in to play!!  I plan to chart my progress here on this blog.

New Year, New Challenges! - Reading Challenge

The 2015 READING CHALLENGE!  The list is long... and challenging.  A total of 52 books to read. I plan to READ this year... and chart my progress and book reviews here!

http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-Challenge-2015-36071458