wallpaper apps

I don't make them. But I do try to do better than I did last year. And I try to get my shit together a little more each year. I've got a long way to go.

However, I was reading at this blog the other day about using January as your cleaning month. The only thing I have actually done is to clean up my inbox from all of those obnoxious e-mails and unsubscribing from them (Loft, Old Navy, Printstagram, Good Housekeeping, Ebay, etc.). And let me tell you, you will feel like a new woman (or man if Drew is reading this as my only male reader). Also, if you're like my friend Sarah you just need to clean out your inbox in general from the over 1,000 e-mails you're keeping "just in case." It stresses me out and it should stress you out.

Another thing Drew and I are doing this year is something I read on a blog whose name I can't remember but we are exchanging a list of 12 books we want the other to read and each month we're responsible for reading one. We have very different tastes.

Drew's all fantasy, sci-fi, and fiction. And I'm all historical, education, and non-fiction. So it shall be interesting. His first book is the Autobiography of Malcolm X and mine is the first of the Harry Potter's. Before you ask, the answer is nope. Never read them. If you know me you know my dear mama worried about wizardry/witchcraft/Halloweenie things in our youth. So that leaves my sister reading them at 20 and me reading them at 24. I hope they are still as magical at this age as everyone assured me they were in their tween years.

Other ways I'll try and better myself: being more thoughtful. I tend to get caught up in my business and forget that people are going through some serious stuff. Everyone remembers to check on you when your husband first leaves for basic training or when your divorce is freshly filed but what about in the months following. You still need a pick-me-up sometimes. My hope is to make more of an effort for all of my friends this year. Nine days in and it's a success. But we got a long way to go.

Also, the attempt to better myself that I know I'll break the fastest is the one where I say I'll try to enjoy cooking more. Yeah, it's all easy to research and prepare food when I'm sitting on my ass all day watching the Barefoot Contessa. But what about next week when I'm in class all day? I'll turn to Domino's, I just know it. But for now:

Chicken chimichimichangas (Drew insists on two chimis in his changa).

The filling and the finished product. Find the recipe here.

I'd like to share some things with you. Cool products. Recipes a generous term for what I'll really share And other people's words of wisdom.

First of all: Barkbox. This is a message from Ike for all of his doggy friends. We just recently signed up and just received our first box yesterday. I, of course, forgot to take a picture of it. But it 2 different bones, 2 bags of treats and a toy. Here he is with a new bone.


Second: Mocha Club. If you follow the link and watch the video you can get a brief overview of the idea. Essentially they support development projects in Africa. I pay $9 a month. That's basically me giving up 2 peppermint mochas a month to give to something that matters. Watch this video, you won't be sorry. You can join me here. And, this is totally not the point but I received this beautiful scarf made by African women as a gift for joining.


Third: Dinner. I don't do soup. My family has soups for Christmas dinner and my mom has already bribed me by telling me she'll order me a cheeseburger after everyone has left. This soup, admittedly was kinda like groul. But those little zucchini spears were little slices of heaven. Make them. Put them in a skillet with a little olive oil, add some seasoned salt and pepper when they're done and call yourself a chef. Drew fell in love with me all over again as a result of these. Totally worth the bad alleged "chowder" recipe to find this good one. (Thanks emeals!)


Fourth: New Girl. If you haven't watched it, just do it already. Don't put it off any longer. It's the second best decision you'll ever make after you make those zucchini spears.

Fifth: Duck Dynasty. My real thoughts (or some similar) are found here and here.

Sixth: Dip some pretzels and some Ritz peanut butter crackers in white chocolate and call yourself a candy maker. Don't make the peppermint fudge that the Pioneer Woman will tell you to. It isn't good. But if you make it anyway just because it looks festive, give it to your neighbors. (worked for me).



My husband is currently ice-skating with his bff. Enjoy that mental picture friends. I'm off to spend the afternoon with my friend JoAnn. (the fabric store)