With Christmas officially over (boo hoo!) I'm ready to get into the New Year mode. I've already been picking out some goals and resolutions for a healthier, happier 2012. I've never really been a resolution kind of person, being pretty pessimistic about change and self-disciple but this year will be different. I have decided to look at them as more of goals and plans rather than a cliche resolution. Plus, I'm following some good strategies to keep on task. I'm taking some advice from blogger Emma from A Beautiful Mess. She posted 5 Tips for Making and Keeping Your New Year's Resolution and it's quite helpful. My first strategy is to write them down/post them so I can be reminded of what I promised myself and how I'm gonna accomplish by this time next year.
Goal Number 1:
Run 300 miles. It averages out to about 5-6 miles a week. This can include races and regular exercise. It allows for some time off if weeks get busy but I can make up time during warmer and less hectic times of the year. I will aim for 6 miles a week to keep on track but I don't need to get discouraged if I fall short one weak.
Goal Number 2:
Make a new DIY/craft each month. I want to continue with the interest I have recently found in crafts and DIY projects. I have been reading great blogs and Pinterest always has fun ideas of things to make for decorating, organizing, gifts and just for fun. I'd like to make at least one craft each month to keep the energy and excitement as well as maintain a fun way of relaxing and escaping from any school/job search stress. It will also provide new decorations and things to blog about!
Goal Number 3:
Blog every week. I think with school I would be unrealistic to blog every day, but every week is manageable. I know I need to keep writing and I want to keep writing for me. I started doing pretty well with this last semester and I want to keep up with my writing and continue to grow.
This weekend I'm heading to Maryland to celebrate the New Year with my friends. I'm so excited to have some fun with the girls and get all dressed up for the night. When I get home on Sunday, it's time to tackle these goals!
Here's to a great 2012!
About Me
- maggiemchrist
- Salem, VA, United States
- I use this space for discovering and honing my passion for writing and sharing the best moments of my life. I'm a sister, a best friend, a roommate, a girlfriend, a writer. I'm a dreamer, a chocolate eater, a runner, a giver, a shopper. A reader and a hopeless romantic. I write when I can, I sleep when I can and love purple. Come share in my special moments and new adventures as life and love unfold for this twenty-something optimist.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
A Wonderful Christmas Time
Day Three of Christmas has just come to an end for me. After being home for a grand total of 1.5 days, I headed north with my brother to visit my grandparents. We helped with the baking, decorating and preparing for the weekend. We were joined by more family for a grand Christmas Eve dinner (of which I was the sous chef). We played a fun and dangerous game 'Fact or Crap' during which we had way to much fun making my grandmother and mother say 'crap!' and we opened a few gifts. Santa visited Elsa, so we woke up early to experience her excitement. After a nap, we had French toast, packed up and head back south, but not home. Boxing Day was spent at my sister Rebecca's. We had a day-long feast and opened more gifts with the rest of the family. With two more kids added to the fun, there was so much excitement and happiness.
Besides the gifts and family time, my favorite part of the weekend was trying new recipes. I successfully made and served five new dishes. Friday night I made a sun-dried tomato garlic break on Italian bread. Chopping oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes is no picnic. But adding the butter, minced garlic and Parmesan cheese was easy and it took only a few minutes in the oven before it was crispy and delicious.
Christmas Eve dinner is always a big ta-do at the Sorensen house. Grandma made the pork loin and I helped with all the sides. I made green bean casserole, nothing new or difficult but a great favorite of mine. It's the only way I enjoy green beans. I made my sister's recipe for sweet potato casserole which includes canned yams, brown sugar, and butter. Top it off with some oats and a few marshmallows before it comes out so they make a crispy-melty, yummy mess.
Caramel rolls were really new to me. I made the caramel with just brown sugar and butter melted on the stove. I poured it into a 9-inch pie dish and set aside. I took crescent roll dough and rolled it out, keeping it in four squares. You have to pinch the perforated lines back together to keep it whole (or my sister said you can buy uncut roles and cut your own rectangles). Sprinkle some sugar and cinnamon on and roll them up from the long side. Cut into 7 or 8 pieces and place them cut-side down into the caramel-filled pan. Bake for 15 minutes or so at 350. So yummy!
The last recipe I made was rosemary carrots. I cut up some carrots and green peppers and sauteed them. The carrots take longer than the peppers so I put them in first. I just added some rosemary, pepper and salt before serving.
Most of these recipes I found from Simple & Delicious, a magazine I receive as a gift every two months. I always am so excited to come home and find the newest edition and lots of ingredients in my mother's kitchen. It always has way more than I could ever make, but it provides clear instructions, shopping lists and how little each recipe costs. Plus the pictures make my mouth water :)
Happy baking!
Besides the gifts and family time, my favorite part of the weekend was trying new recipes. I successfully made and served five new dishes. Friday night I made a sun-dried tomato garlic break on Italian bread. Chopping oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes is no picnic. But adding the butter, minced garlic and Parmesan cheese was easy and it took only a few minutes in the oven before it was crispy and delicious.
Christmas Eve dinner is always a big ta-do at the Sorensen house. Grandma made the pork loin and I helped with all the sides. I made green bean casserole, nothing new or difficult but a great favorite of mine. It's the only way I enjoy green beans. I made my sister's recipe for sweet potato casserole which includes canned yams, brown sugar, and butter. Top it off with some oats and a few marshmallows before it comes out so they make a crispy-melty, yummy mess.
Caramel rolls were really new to me. I made the caramel with just brown sugar and butter melted on the stove. I poured it into a 9-inch pie dish and set aside. I took crescent roll dough and rolled it out, keeping it in four squares. You have to pinch the perforated lines back together to keep it whole (or my sister said you can buy uncut roles and cut your own rectangles). Sprinkle some sugar and cinnamon on and roll them up from the long side. Cut into 7 or 8 pieces and place them cut-side down into the caramel-filled pan. Bake for 15 minutes or so at 350. So yummy!
The last recipe I made was rosemary carrots. I cut up some carrots and green peppers and sauteed them. The carrots take longer than the peppers so I put them in first. I just added some rosemary, pepper and salt before serving.
Most of these recipes I found from Simple & Delicious, a magazine I receive as a gift every two months. I always am so excited to come home and find the newest edition and lots of ingredients in my mother's kitchen. It always has way more than I could ever make, but it provides clear instructions, shopping lists and how little each recipe costs. Plus the pictures make my mouth water :)
Happy baking!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Christmas in the kitchen
It's exam week at Roanoke College and for most that means long nights, high stress and lots of Sheetz. But not for me. I had my two horrible seminar exams (10 hours total) last week and this week I only have Business Comm (finished this afternoon) and Spanish on Thursday. I took advantage of this light schedule by picking up extra hours working at the library. Between that and running, I still have some extra time on my hands, so I decided to delve into some pre-Christmas baking.
I had some extra pie crust in the fridge from my pumpkin pie-making and our kitchen is overflowing with apples so I combined a few recipes online and made three mini pies. (Lucky I only have 2 roommates!) I chopped and peeled a large apple and mixed in some cinnamon and about 3 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of sugar. I used a small bowl to cut out three smaller round crusts 3-4 inches in diameter. I made tiny pies in a cupcake pan, added my apples (there were some left over to nibble on), and used a few extra pieces of the crust to lay over the pies. Then I just baked them at 375 for about 20 minutes.
I had some extra pie crust in the fridge from my pumpkin pie-making and our kitchen is overflowing with apples so I combined a few recipes online and made three mini pies. (Lucky I only have 2 roommates!) I chopped and peeled a large apple and mixed in some cinnamon and about 3 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1 tablespoon of sugar. I used a small bowl to cut out three smaller round crusts 3-4 inches in diameter. I made tiny pies in a cupcake pan, added my apples (there were some left over to nibble on), and used a few extra pieces of the crust to lay over the pies. Then I just baked them at 375 for about 20 minutes. While that was baking, I made some hot cocoa in the microwave. I threw in some toffee bits to make yummy toffee hot cocoa! I will definitely be doing that again. I might even try it in my coffee!
Do you have any fun recipes you like this time of year? Or something new you've tried recently? I'm always looking for neat new things to try during this holiday.
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