haiku friday - resolutions

my resolutions

be the change you want to see

live, laugh, love always

new year's resolutions

when i was younger, i was a terrible nail biter.  i can remember making the same resolution year after year to stop biting my nails.  it took a few years, but eventually i met my goal.  these past couple of years i haven't really made any resolutions.  i guess i figured i didn't need a certain day dictating my goals and if i really wanted to change or do something, i'd just do it.  while this is still essentially the truth, i decided that it doesn't hurt to make new year's resolutions.  there's nothing wrong with saying your goals aloud, or putting them out there for other people to see (and possibly help hold you accountable for).  perhaps just the very act of making the list is enough to help manifest the change, even if it takes a few tries.

so here is my list for 2011...

1. more handmade - make and buy more things that have that special touch
2. quality over quantity - this is with regard to my hobbies;  i tend to start multiple craft projects, books, scrabble games, etc. and therefore never give myself a chance to get really good at any of them.  i just need a little more focus.
3. write more - journals, blogs, thank you notes and letters
4. money matters - i'm not bad with money.  i have savings and investments and my debt to income ratio is pretty darn good, but i could always be better.  this year i'd like to really boost the good habits and maybe cut back on a bit of the excess expenditures.
5. be more supportive - i'd like to think i'm a good cheerleader for my family and friends but sometimes i wonder if there isn't more that i could be doing to let the people i love know that i'm here for them.  maybe it's being a better listener, or spending more time together.  whatever it is, if i can do it i'd like to.

i think that's a pretty good list.  i didn't pick things like "lose 20 lbs" or "learn a new language" because those are daunting tasks that a lot of people list because they think they should, and then don't really make an effort to achieve anyhow.  nothing i listed is that difficult but they will all go towards making me a happier person who can in turn make the people i care about happier.  sounds like a win to me!

what are some of your resolutions?

what's for dinner wednesday - dessert!

ok, i didn't actually make dessert for dinner but i really wanted to share this ridiculously easy and delicious dessert.  it kind of overshadowed dinner anyhow.  it's the most dangerous chocolate cake in the world and by the end of the recipe you'll understand why.  like everything else i make, this is very easy to tweak.  i use dark chocolate cocoa.  and this particular night i didn't have any regular milk so i substituted 2 tablespoons of soy milk and 1 tablespoon of eggnog.  i also didn't use the chocolate chips.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. add the egg and mix thoroughly.  pour in the milk and oil and mix well.  add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.  put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes on high.  the cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed!  allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT! (technically, this serves two).

i love serving this with vanilla bean ice cream.  i can't believe how quick and delicious it is...

so now do you understand why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?  because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

end of an era

well, someone went and shaved off his beard!  while i thought the beard was kind of cool, i must admit i missed his face and i'm so very glad it's back.  a certain little miss may be wondering what to grab now that the beard has disappeared but i'm sure she'll figure something out. ;)

anyhow, i know it's not haiku friday yet but i thought an ode to the beard was apropos...

fuzzy and manly

established viking status

but i missed your face

christmas festivities

saraya got very excited when i told her we were going to meet santa.

at first she was just fine as long as daddy was in sight.

but she soon decided she was over it.  on to christmas presents...

i just love her expression here!

so what if this is a little more for me and justin right now?  she's still getting a kick out of it, and it makes a nice addition to her instrument collection... 

saraya helped daddy pick out this pretty necklace for me.

a delicious eggnog flavored cupcake from cupcake love.

touch - redwood

2010 christmas card

baby's first christmas!  mom and dad broke out the makeshift couch studio to capture saraya's cute little smile for this year's card.  as you can see by some of these test shots, it was a little bit of work, but pretty funny!

hey!  what's going on here!?

oh mom, pictures again?

well at least make sure you get my good side...

next year's goal, the dogs AND the baby!  merry christmas!