Resolution: Make {week two}

Since it turns out that even in my own apartment I'm not the DIY diva I expected myself to be, I've had to reassess my make-iness.

Instead of setting my goal to be to do more DIY projects - because I quickly learned that just leads to me spending money on random Sunday afternoon whims - I've made it my resolution that when I do DIY, I will try to use supplies I already have.

Fortunately, I was able to test this resolution right as 2011 began.  I needed to write thank you notes for all of the Christmas gifts I received (thank you, by the way).  I had extra holiday cards, so I took glitter and glue, and turned them into holiday thank you cards.

Other than the guilt that the mailman's bag is undoubtedly covered in gold glitter, I was very pleased with how they turned out.

To all you lovely gift givers: open with care! They are constantly shedding pretty sparkles.

The next step in my resolution is to make something for our Etsy shop.

I'm not going to say what I'm making because I want it to be a surprise. But I'm putting it out there, so I can be held accountable.

Fortunately Courtney and Ashley bought the supplies, which is kind of a loophole in the no purchasing rule, but I had to start somewhere.  The first step to me successfully making this product, though, is learning to sew.

Once I master that, I'll unveil my creation! Until then...

Resolution: Eat {week two}

When it comes to most things in life, you could say I'm habitual.  When it comes to my eating habits, you could say it, but it would be a vast understatement.

Last year, I ate a veggie burger with avocado, tomato, cheese, lettuce and pickles every night for dinner from January until July.  I just don't get bored with food (my wardrobe, on the other hand, is a completely different story).

However, this year, I've made it my goal to be more adventurous when it comes to cooking.  Since I got my own apartment, I've loved trying new recipes. I've tried quite a few new things with vegetables (i.e. spaghetti squash), but only once have I cracked open a cookbook.

In this new year, I'm going to get more creative with dinner, whether it be by trying a new meal entirely, or just incorporating one new item. Or even by cooking an old item a new way.

In the 10 days we've lived in 2011, I've already made some progress.

I learned how to blanch asparagus. I made sugar cookies with wheat flour instead of white. And, what I'm most proud of, is that I found a recipe on one of my favorite blogs for Ina Garten's Irish Soda Bread and made it the same day (from scratch!).

I even took creativity one step further and replaced the buttermilk with nonfat plain yogurt, and the currents for raisins. And it still tastes good!  I also removed the zest, but that was an executive decision based on the fact that I was running late, and didn't have any sort of tool to zest my clementines. And even still, it tastes good!

Beyond having yummy bread for breakfast (and dinner. Ok and for snacks), I experienced an unexpected added bonus of feeling so proud of myself. I've never even baked bread in a machine, let alone kneaded it on parchment paper!

This resolution is really off to a lovely start.

*Below are two photos of my bread. Probably not quite as pretty as Ina's but I'm taking this resolution one step at a time.

Resolution: Play

I love doing yoga.

It is something that seems so indulgent and so personal.  It is one of the few things as a mom that is just for me.  While I do love doing yoga in our living room with our kids (and being astonished by just how bendy they are with almost no effort!) it is such a treat to go to a studio and enjoy an hour of sweating and also being still.

I was generously gifted a package of yoga classes for Christmas, and I resolve to go to a yoga class weekly this year.  I love so many other types of exercise, but there is something about yoga that is so restorative and healing.  As my body changes through this pregnancy, I look forward to the ways in which yoga can prepare me for labor, strengthen me and center me.

What will you do this year that is fun?  Or that is just for you?  Make a resolution to play more!!

Resolution: Nest

Last summer, we started composting.

It was easy and simple and compost was created before our eyes!

However, I have a confession.  As the temperature has dropped, so has our motivation to carry food scraps to our backyard.  What laziness, right?

So, as a resolution, my husband and I are working to continue composting on a regular basis.  It takes almost no time, costs us no money at this point and as spring approaches, we will be thrilled to have such rich compost to put in our garden.

Please help hold me accountable to this pledge!  What type of resolution do you hope to make in your home this year?

Resolution: Pray

There are so many ways in which I could become more devoted and connected in my spiritual life.

It is hard to choose just one way in which I hope to make positive changes.  And it is also an area of change that I take very seriously.

Yet, I also know that all too often I pledge to make changes that are hard to maintain and I end up becoming frustrated.

This year, I resolve to spend much more time praying with my kids.

We spend a lot of time praying for our kids, but I realize what a huge and powerful impact praying with them will have.  Prior to each meal and before going to bed, we always pray with our children.  But, often in the middle of a stressful day, a big meltdown or even a happy time, I neglect to pray with my kids.

We always pray prior to traveling as we set out to leave town.  As we headed to the midwest this Christmas, my children and I prayed for safe travels and a good trip.  As I finished praying, Lily asked if we could pray for her Dada.  She wanted to pray that he would be ok without us for a few days and that he would make it safely to the midwest.  It meant so much to me that she wanted to pray for him and I realize that I need to give my kids more opportunities to pray for things that are on their minds.

It is a great way to connect with our children, to make them feel loved and secure, and to know the care and goodness of God.

I plan to be very intentional about setting aside time to pray with Lily and Finn this year.  And I resolve to be more open to praying together in the midst of chaos or busyness, when I all too often forget who is truly in charge and watching over us.

How do you plan to make changes in your spiritual life this year?

Resolution: Make

This year, Ashley, Whitney and I resolve to open an etsy shop together!

It is something we have hoped to do for a while now and we are preparing to take the leap together!

We look forward to creating together, connecting through our crafting successes and trials and working to use upcycled and sustainable materials to make new goods.

We each have very different talents and ideas in terms of the shop and we are excited to launch it at the end of the month.

So, stay tuned for giveaways, ideas and the opening of the shop!

What small change do you hope to make in terms of making and crafting this year?

Resolution Month

This month, Ashley, Whitney and I are each going to take a week to focus on things we hope to work on in the upcoming year.

I am not consistent in making New Year's Resolutions, but I never think it's bad to spend some time reflecting and evaluating your life.  So, we each plan to look a little more deeply into the areas of Eat, Make, Pray, Nest and Play and resolve to make even small changes to better our lives.

So without further ado...

Resolution: Eat

This year, I resolve to buy much more local produce.  

Sometimes it just seems so easy when I am making a big grocery store run to buy all the produce I need at once.  And while it is convenient, it is often genetically modified, covered in pesticides and has traveled thousands of miles across the country to reach my plate.  A little convenience for me, a whole lot of negative impact on our planet and bodies.

So, I really hope to buy much more produce that was produced in my backyard (relatively speaking) this year.  We have so many great ways to do so in our city...we have a farmer's market open from early spring until December.  There is a wonderful market that has very inexpensive and locally grown produce year round (and it is only a mile or two from my house!)  And we have participated in a Community Supported Agriculture over the last few years, and I definitely plan to do so again this spring.  

I hope to have better success this year with our garden in our own backyard, as well.  Last year, our garden yielded some peppers, tomatoes and basil, but the crop was not as fruitful as we had hoped.  I am optimistic that our success with be a bit greater this year! 

There are lots of great resources out there for finding locally grown produce in your area.  

A website we have used each year to choose the CSA most appropriate for our family is the local harvest site.  It is very user friendly and helps you to get a very in depth look at each CSA you are evaluating.

If you are interested in finding a farmer's market in your area, you can easily search for on in your area here.  It is so much fun to connect with the farmer who is supplying your food and you can get so much more than just produce at a farmer's market.

We recently watched No Impact Man and he spent an entire year living in a way that he hoped would make no impact on the earth.  If he could sustain himself and his family on food grown locally in New York through the winter, I am sure I can make steps to buy more locally throughout the year! 

What do you hope to resolve in regards to your eating habits in 2011?  

Happy New Year!