Showing posts with label new years. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new years. Show all posts

Monday, January 3, 2011

Resolutions or Goals?

I love the start of a new year.  Anticipation.  A clean slate.  A fresh start.  A new beginning.  But, resolutions vs. goals gets me and half of our world every January.  Hence, if you aim at nothing you hit it every time. You must have at least one resolution or goal.  What's your New Year's Resolution?  Hmmm....I have failed each and every January (much before the end of the first month) with such high expectations on myself in the past.  Often creating a million and one too many ideas.  And you?  Honestly speaking, I think one sets themselves up completely for disappointment, let-down, discouragement, and any of those things that all mean around the same.  I believe in REALISTIC GOALS

Over the last three days I have read blog posts, Facebook questions, and personally talked with people about what their outlook is on this subject, I was glad to know that I wasn't the only person on this side of the page.  When looking at what folks were saying here was what my statistics gathered for the top 4, number one being the first:
  • Exercise
  • Lose Weight
  • Save Money
  • Organize my home
I couldn't agree more with those top 4 from my scientific research gathered information.  Seems like those are the same ones I hear from folks every year. 

Well, let 2011 be your year!  Make those goals, try to keep them, find someone to share them with the will cheer you on.  Stop saying yes to all those commitments that make you crazy that you only regret days after you commit, stop being a push-over for everyone else's urgency (this includes your kids).  Don't allow all the clutter in your life become a detour for your goals (resolutions).  A friend shared recently with me a famous quote (not sure who originated it) that I heard often growing up, it goes something like this...

"Procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine." 

I get this one totally.  That's where I would say yes, I'll help, yes, I'll serve, yes, I'll pick up the pieces, yes' I'll be there.  There used to be a lot of yes's and not enough in the areas that mattered most.  This past year, I worked on SIMPLIFYING, which included a little a lot of saying "no".  That was my goal and theme during 2010. With a child that required multiple doctor appointments many times weekly, and working out of my home with not one business, but two, I needed to be ON.  I found myself barely being about to get it together.  I have since (last January) come to conclusion I CAN'T do it ALL-there I said it...ahhhh~  Delegation, saying "no" to personal things as well as things for my children, and learning to sit back and live somewhat in the moment needed to be on the fore-front.  I feel I have successfully accomplished my goal in several specific areas of my life this past year. WHA HOO!



This year I want to take that goal, continue with it so I know it is a habit, and be more intentional in my life.  Giving in where I need to and letting go the things I cannot control (sounds like the serenity prayer).

So here is my two-cents on GOALS:

1) GOALS GIVE YOU PURPOSE:  If there is no meaning to your efforts, there is no purpose.  As I mentioned earlier, "If you aim at nothing, you'll hit it every time" Purpose is important.

2) GOALS GIVE YOU ACCOUNTABILITY:  Whether you have them privately to look at or you share them with an appropriate friend or your spouse, they are there, and in your face.  Accountability has been proven to help with all sorts of things including business, weight loss, personal success, and so on...  People tend to be more invested when working along someone, sharing ideas, and helping one another.  You tend not to want to let the other person down, and then ultimately you don't let yourself go by the wayside.  Accountability is good.

3) GOALS CREATE AN EXCITEMENT with momentum.   You must write them down and look at them hourly, daily, weekly, monthly- whatever your style.  Track your progress...this keeps you going.  Even if you have a daily, weekly, monthly set back...you can see where you have been to keep you going.  Index cards work great they are easy to tuck in somewhere, just don't lose them.

Most of all DON'T STRESS about your expectations for yourself.  Create something that will work.  After reading all this and you think you have it all together and more...please fill out the comment section below on the post with your solutions...We would all like to know.  These are ideas that have worked for me and I wanted to share them with you.  Happy 2011!  Let the new year bring each of you more happiness, more peace, more love for those around you and your community, and most of all success in all you do and set out to accomplish!

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin



Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Top 5 Appetizer Recipes for New Year's Eve!


Let's ring in the new year - whether your throwing a house party or attending one (does anyone even go out anymore?) here are my top 5 recipes for delicious appetizers (most include my favorite of some sort of cheese-sorry dairy-free fans) to share among your guests or bring to a party!

#5 Buffalo Chicken Dip

2-8 oz blocks of cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup of blue cheese dressing
1/2 cup of ranch dressing
1 cup of Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Wing sauce
3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, boiled and shredded
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375.
In a large bowl combine softened cream cheese, ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, and buffalo wing sauce. Using a hand mixer, mix until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes. Fold in shredded chicken and 1 cup of shredded cheese. Pour into a baking dish. Top with remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese.
Bake for 20 minutes, or until dip is warmed through.
Serve with tortilla chips, bread, crackers, pretzels, and celery. Note: You can substitute one cup of either dressing or split between the two.

#4 Hot Caprese Dip (adorned from How Sweet It Is)

10 ounces fresh Mozzarella, cubed or Whole Milk Mozzarella
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and juiced
3 tablespoons freshly chopped basil (or about 1 tablespoon dried) + more for garnish
Preheat oven to 375.
Make sure tomatoes have as much juiced squeezed out of them as possible – this will prevent the dip from becoming soupy or watery. In a small baking dish, combine chopped cheese, tomatoes and basil and mix. Bake for 15 minutes, then broil for 2 minutes so cheese becomes bubbly and golden. Serve immediately with crackers, melba toast, or french bread.
Note: dip may appear “watery” which is why it is VERY important to get as much moisture out of the tomatoes as possible. Also make sure dip is consumed immediately, as the longer it sits, the more juice that develops. Don’t worry if there is a little bit of juice – it is still delicious!

#3 Brown Sugar Dijon Baked Brie

4 inch round-Brie cheese with rind
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup sliced almonds or pecans
1 French baguette
Additional sliced almonds to garnish

Slice brie horizontally, set aside.  Mix together brown sugar, Dijon, and almonds. With cut side up, place half of mixture on brie.  Top with second half of brie-cut side up (this is so that it doesn't melt all over itself when heating up) and layer with rest of Dijon mixture and sliced almonds on top.  Bake @ 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes until brie just softens.  Remove from oven and serve immediately with slices of the baguette and fresh fruit.

# 2 Gorgonzola-Onion Crustini - These are my absolute favorite appetizer!

1 container of Gorgonzola cheese
1 small wedge of domestic Parmesan or Romano cheese, grated
1 medium sweet onion, finely chopped
3/4 - 1 cup of mayonnaise (not fat-free)
1-2 garlic cloves, pressed
cracked pepper
1 French Baguette
fresh parsley chopped for garnish

Slice baguette in 1/2 inch slices and place on baking sheet. Combine the cheeses, mayonnaise, onion, garlic, and cracked pepper together.  Generously spread mixture on bread slices and bake at 350 degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until golden and bubbly.  Remove from oven to a platter and garnish with parsley. 
Note:  This mixure can be combined up to a few days before using.  Just remove from refrigerator and place on bread and cook.


#1 Easiest Elegant Chardonnay Cheese Fondue (okay so this is my favorite too...)

1 can of condensed cheddar cheese soup
1 – 1 ½ cups Cheddar/Swiss shredded cheese
¼ cup beer/wine/apple juice
1-2 clove garlic, pressed
1/8 tsp. Tabasco
Dippers- bread cubes, assorted veggies, apples, pears, ham cubes

Combine all ingredients except dippers in a microwavable bowl.  Stir together and microwave for 3-4 minutes or until smooth.  Pour into heat proof dish with sterno or a lit candle underneath.  Serve immediately with dippers.  Enjoy-EASY!

Some other favorites are:

Happy New Year Friends~ What are you making?

Linked up with lot's of delicious recipes...@ Your Homebased Mom