Resolution: Nest {week three}

On the morning of New Year's Day, I felt an overwhelming urge to organize and simplify. Clean out the closet. Organize the laundry room. Make a big pile to take to Goodwill.

I have no problem giving away and sorting through material possessions that we no longer need. However, I have a confession to make. My husband has declared that I am a hoarder. A photograph hoarder. I have a stack of memory cards that are full. I have folders and folders of images on my computer. I just fear that I am going to delete that one image that I will miss.

My resolution is to delete images on my camera that I will never print or post. Then, they will never make their way onto my computer. I won't have to scroll through them. I won't have a loaded down memory card. While this may seem like a very minor change, I think that the little things can make a big difference. And, the smaller the resolution, the easier it will be to keep!

Do you have any little changes you hope to implement?

Resolution: Pray {week three}

My husband is Catholic. I am not. While we are on the same page for the basic beliefs of Christianity, we have not been able to find one church that we feel fulfills both our spiritual needs. We attend the Sanctuary Downtown one week and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary the next. I've learned to appreciate the traditions and history of the Catholic Church, but the weekly sermons don't quite inspire me in the same way that the sermons at the Sanctuary Downtown do. My spiritual resolution is to be more intentional about seeking out inspiration.

Luckily, in this technological age, I can access the weekly sermons on our church's website. Last weekend's sermon about the power of love really spoke to me. Take a listen, if you have time. Let me know what you think.

I've also been thinking about some of the books that I've read over the past year that have stuck with me spiritually. I read Crazy Love and the Irresistible Revolution this year. There are some similarities between the two books and they've certainly affected the way in which I envision my future. So, not only do I want to seek out the inspiration, but I want to really implement it in my life or at least make a conscious effort to do so. It would certainly change the way this new year would look.

Resolution: Make {week three}

Sewing is all about patterns. Pants, napkins, purses all can be made if you find the right system by which to do it. One of my favorite things about sewing is to figure out how something is put together and to determine how I can do it myself. Once I find that pattern, if I make that item successfully, I feel a great sense of success. Then, I move on. My resolution is to produce multiples of whatever I sew. Obviously, an etsy shop is going to require this.

For example, I made birthday presents for Courtney and Whitney this year. When I decided to make something for one of my friends for Christmas, I actually followed the same plan I used for Courtney's birthday present. And, believe it or not, it worked quite well!

To increase my skills and passion for sewing, I know that I need to create the same thing over and over again. I learn so much about what I can improve on when I try to repeat a project. Lately, I've been all about napkins. Kid napkins. Dinner napkins. Upcycled napkins. And, soon you'll see them all in our Etsy shop. So, keep your eyes peeled!

And, share! What have you been inspired to make recently?

Resolution: Eat {week three}

I love to cook. And, let's be honest, I love to eat good food. I am lucky to have a husband who appreciates the food that I whip up and is willing to do the clean up. At times, however, I feel like the cooking and clean up processes just take too long. Luckily, Courtney gave me a crock pot for Christmas. So, my resolution is to make faster, easier meals that are still quite tasty. And, yes, my crock pot is going to be my weapon of choice.

The other day I made an enchilada casserole in my crock pot (similar to my tamale pie). It turned out to be quite tasty. It's challenging for me to cook without tasting as I go. I didn't feel safe trusting that my crock pot would do its job, but it did. So, here's a recipe to toss into your crock pot. Let me know what you think if you try it!

Ingredients
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs
1 chopped bell pepper (I used red)
1 cup frozen corn
3 tablespoons green chile (A vegetarian green chile is sold at costco. We use it in everything...eggs, bread, pasta sauce, tacos, etc.)
3 tablespoons salsa
A little salt

All of that goes into the crock pot. Cook on low for 4 hours.

1 cup corn meal
1 cup flour
1 cup shredded cheese
2 tablespoons green chile
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
Enough chicken of vegetable stock to wet all of the dry mixture

Mix all of the corn bread ingredients together. It should be about the same texture as corn bread batter typically is. Spread the corn bread mixture over everything in the crock pot. Cook for one more hour.
Serve with salsa or sour cream if that's your thing.
Eat it up!

Resolution: play {week two}

This year, I'm really into making small, doable resolutions, with the hope that they'll become habits.  This summer and fall, I was drinking water constantly. However, since it's gotten cold, I'm having a hard time remembering to do it.

I have decided to take on the gallon challenge for two weeks.  For 14 days, I will drink a gallon of water everyday.

While I don't anticipate it becoming a habit in itself, I do expect it to reignite my desire to drink water. I began Wednesday and so far I've completed it both days (though Thursday required some late night chugging, which led to some all-night bathroom visits...).

I'll report back in 11 days!

Resolution: Nest {week two}

The fact that I'm completely, utterly in love with paper towels is making me very nervous about my nest resolution.

You see, I used to dry my hands with paper towel[s] after washing them.  I would use four of them to eat one banana with peanut butter in the morning. Then I'd clean the spoon with an additional paper towel prior to putting it in the dishwasher.

I seriously love them.

And although I've gotten much better and have learned that towels do, in fact, work just as efficiently, I still kind of love them.  I mean, they're so superior to napkins in thickness and absorption. And much easier in the long run than towels!

I digress.

It's time that I begin to put this love affair to an end.

They say you can make a habit in seven days. So this year, my nest resolution is to go one week living paper-free in my kitchen.  I am not resolving that I will continue to do it beyond a week. And I am not resolving that I will eventually no longer rely on paper products in my kitchen.  However, I am resolving to give it a try.

And, if you truly understood just how many paper towels I use, you'd be very excited about the fact that this really will impact the earth.  (Yes. That many.)

I haven't set the date yet - I'm still too anxiety ridden. But once I feel that my kitchen is adequately equipped to ease me in and out of this challenge, I'm going for it.

Wish me cloth napkin loving luck!

Resolution: Pray {week two}

Just as my quest for a yoga studio took some work, so did my quest for a church. However, I have officially found a church that I love, just in time for a resolution.  This year, I resolve to attend church more frequently.

So far, I'm one for two. And yes, I realize that in the academic world, 50 percent is actually an F.  But, the first Sunday completely snuck up on me because of how to holidays fell.  And, with 50 more weeks left this year, I firmly believe I can get my average up quite a bit.

And in case you need a little inspiration to get to church, too, check out Lily a long time ago in her Sunday best.  If it meant I got to see her each week, I'd be the first in the pews.