We All Make Mistakes

So one of my resolutions this year was to use no plastic straws.

Seems easy enough? 

Just don't use them.

Yeah well today, 9 days into my list of resolutions and I've made a mistake...I used a straw.

I had a gift card to Starbucks so I decided to get a coffee (didn't break my resolution for this part) but then without thinking grabbed the straw on my way out.

As soon as I popped it into the drink I realized what I had done...now the quandary was what to do about it?

I couldn't put it back in the paper and return it to the shop...so I decided instead to make a $5 donation for each straw I take.

I don't mean this to be a way for me to keep using straws and then paying off my debt with a donation...but I thought I should have a stiff reminder.

I looked around and decided the South Carolina Aquarium Sea Turtle Care Center would be my charity of choice.  They do some wonderful work to help out the local population of sea turtles in South Carolina (turtles can have some very sad injuries from straws).

I am going to keep a tally on my resolution spreadsheet so that at the end of the year I know how much to donate (I am hoping that it is only $5).

So this is the first expansion to my resolution list but it is also a reminder that I need to stay on top of my selections for this year.  One item I was going to take care of was to sew a pouch to carry my stainless steel straws...looks like I need to get on that tonight.

What have been your remedies for not keeping a resolution?  Do you give up?  Or do you find a way to work with the error?

Hopefully you aren't too harsh and show yourself some grace.

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Happy New Year...Bah Hum Bug

The new year is upon is...we will be writing 2018 on paperwork for a couple of days at least...AND it is the time of year where people make resolutions to a fitter/better version of themselves.

My husband and I were walking on the beach yesterday and he asked "What is your new year's resolution?"

My flippant answer was "Nothing...these are just promises you make that you know you are going to break."

The conversation moved on, but I kept thinking about his question.  Perhaps I should be so crass with my answer and perhaps there are things I could do all year long to enhance the person that I am.  Perhaps I don't need one singular resolution perhaps I need a list of ideals that I could complete monthly (cum Gretchen Rubin) or perhaps I just make a list and take the year to make my way through it.

So I sat down and started to think of things and included a few doodles along with it because that made it a little more visually interesting to look at (I mean after all I am going to have to keep referring back to this to make sure I get everything in).

My illustrations are not spectacular but I think it helped my creative ideas flow and helped me make a list longer than I originally anticipated.

One of the resolutions I selected was to spend one month doing Kindness Tasks (a separate list was made for those).  I am most excited about this one and foresee it being an all year long list that gets added to as new things come my way (i.e. ideas from my kids who I want to incorporate in some of these activities) instead of just concentrating on it for one month.

My daughter read over my list and was excited to do a volunteer activity together at a local animal sanctuary but was shocked that I want to give up Starbucks for a year...she begged that that one only be a month.  I do love take away coffee, but I feel like I need this time to be more intentional with my purchases and what I consume (both food and products).

To that end to be more conscientious about my purchases I plan to purchase no new clothing, only second hand items this year.  I have whittled down and made a very minimalist wardrobe for myself but I can anticipate that I may possibly need to have a new to me item sometime this year.

As a family we will continue to minimize our possessions and work to have a home that we love and enjoy...not one that we dread having to take care of all of the items.  

So what are you doing this year?  Did you decide to make a resolution or two?  I would love to hear the things you are doing and if you have any suggestions for "Kindness Tasks" I would love to hear them as well (as I said I hope that list grows throughout the year).

I will continue to make posts and updates and let you know how various tasks and ideas are going.  

Until then Happy New Year my friends!

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Alternative Giving

This time of year at my church stewardship campaigns are ramped up full speed.

Everyone wants to get their budgets in line and know what we have to work with for next year.

But should this be a topic that we discuss just one month of the year?

Or instead should it be a topic that we constantly have in the back of our minds.

I was recently part of a discussion in which we discussed ways to give and the people in the discussion were mainly focused on money...but there are so many other great ways to give.

Volunteer

This is a really broad topic but narrow it down to something that interests you

1. Boys and Girls Club
2. Serving food at a soup kitchen
3. Delivering meals for Meals on Wheels
4. Mow your neighbors lawn
5. Lead a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop
6. Drive cancer patients to their treatments
7. Clean up a local park or streets
8. Check out local opportunities on Volunteer Match

Donate Yourself

1. Donate blood to the local Red Cross
2. Donate hair to Locks of Love

Alternatives to Money

1. Link your grocery card buyers card to a local school so that they receive a portion of the sale
2. Give away excess from your home through places such Freecycle or Goodwill or Salvation Army
3. Handmade items that can be donated (such as blankets for premature babies)
4. Old athletic shoes that can be made into playground surfaces
5. Donate old blankets and towels to your local humane society

As you can see these things just barely scratch the surface...BUT there are numerous ways to give you just have to look around, see what talents you have or take inventory of the items in your house.

Not only will you be helping someone out there are studies that show helping makes us happier and healthier people.  

What suggestions or ideas do you have for other ways to give?  I know there are so many out there :)

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Happy Friday to One and All

Well it is Friday and can you believe that the month of September is almost over?

My kids have been in school for a month and everything seems to be back to normal and schedules have fallen into place.  Life is good!

You know what makes life even better???  Gifts.

I am definitely a person who enjoys giving to others.  When there is a charitable opportunity available I like to do what I can.

A couple of weeks ago Angie at Big Bears Wife put up a post (here) for a raffle in support of Light the Night.

Light the Night is a walk where participants raise money for reseach and services for those who have been diagnosed with leukemia & lymphoma.

A fantastic cause as I am friends with a girl (who is now a teenager) but had hodgkin's when she was just 3 (we love you Katie!!).

I supported Angie's group and was actually a winner in her raffle of two prizes...AWESOME right (although I don't participate to win prizes).

The two items I won were a hand painted wine glass by Renee (Kudos Kitchen by Renee)

And this gorgeous apron by Debbie from The Hip Hostess:

Angie's goal is to raise $1000.  Her group isn't there yet and I would like to help get the word out and hopefully help her raise some more money.  If you would like to help Angie reach her goal you can go here and make a donation. 

If you do make a donation come back here and comment as I will be choosing one lucky commenter to receive the wine glass.  The glass is gorgeous and able to handle whatever libation you might choose to fill it with.  I will include a few bars of chocolate to go with the wine glass because I think those two items go together beautifully (you can tell me if you like dark, milk, or white).

Now there is a monetary goal the group is trying to reach so for every $1 you donate your name will be eligible to be drawn (i.e. $20=20 chances).

I hope you all are feeling generous as I will be keeping this opportunity open until next Friday September 30th when I will use random.org to pick the winner. 

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Tomato Recipe 1000 "Pico de Gallo"

Ok 1000 might be a stretch for how many recipes I have created and meals I have eaten with tomatoes, but it really does feel like 1000.

We have an abundance, to say the least, coming out of our garden every day.  It just seems that more and more ripen and come in the house.

Now don't get my wrong I LOVE tomatoes, but...

What should I do with these tomatoes?

Well I've already made 10 quarts of kitchen sink tomato sauce (recipe here), eaten numerous sandwiches and salads...then it hit me...pico de gallo.

Pico de gallo (also known as salsa fresca) is translated as "rooster's beak."  This has nothing to do with my recipe, but I think it is a fun little fact you could throw out at your next party.  It is so called because originally it was eaten with the thumb and forefinger, and retrieving and eating the condiment resembled the actions of a pecking rooster (so says Wikipedia..and who am I to argue with them).

The salsa is super easy to make and just requires a few ingredients.

Ingredients:

9 tomatoes
1 onion
4 jalapenos
1/2 bunch of cilantro
2 cloves of garlic
2 limes (juiced)

All of the ingredients were chopped and limes juiced and put together in a bowl.  Mix gently and then chill in the refrigerator (the flavors meld together so nicely when you do this).

You can include other fresh ingredients and increase or decrease other ingredients...make this fun and creative.  I would like to have added corn, but I was overruled (maybe next time).

Pico de gallo is one simple dish and looks so vibrant in a bowl

I happened to have on hand, what is now, my new favorite tortilla chip

I got these from my first trip to Trader Joe's (which was just this past weekend...so much fun and so glad I went, hopefully it will not be addictive to keep going back).

There was a lot of salsa so my husband and I canned 7 jars to have on hand for later (snacking and meals).

For canning:

1) Make sure your jars are sterilized (by dishwasher or boiling in a pot of water)
2) Fill jars with salsa
3) Place sterilized top and ring on jars
4) Place in water bath (boiling water) for 20 minutes
5) Remove from water and allow to cool on kitchen towel

While the jars are cooling you will being to hear a pop sound and that is the jar sealing...nothing to cause alarm.

If you have a jar that doesn't seal be sure to place it in the refrigerator and use just as you would an open jar of salsa.  It cannot sit on a shelf if it's not sealed.

I have fed your mind (and hopefully your belly if you make this recipe), now let me feed your soul. 

I would like to take a moment and share with you an opportunity to support a charity.

My friend Lisa at Lisa's Foods on the Move is running in a half marathon in 59 days...YEAH!  And at Disney no less. 

She is seeking people to sponsor her run so that she can help give back.  The charity she has chosen is The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.  For every $1 donated the food bank can supply $13 worth of food to households in need. 

So won't you band together with me and help her raise $250?  If you would like to join me (I donated this morning) click here for her fundraising page.

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