I had been toying with the idea of changing my blog address. My blog traffic was in the toilet while I was only sporadically posting and it's been hugely increasing for the last few weeks. Before things take off too much, we're gonna skip on over to a new address. I've imported all the old posts and comments over there and will be posting over there from now on.
So bookmark the new link!
http://itbeganincamp4.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Goals for 2011
Let's face it, New Years Resolutions never work out too well. But goals...with a measurable objective and a regular progress update, that's another matter entirely. So I'm going to try my hand at planning, and sticking to, a few goals for 2011.
Save at least 10% of our income: This means cold, hard, emergency fund cash. Paying towards student loans or the mortgage doesn't count. Only money that is specifically transferred to a separate account we have that we never touch.
Complete 12 sewing projects throughout the year: It doesn't have to be one every month, but it does have to be 12 different things, no repeats. Right now, I'm planning on making my own Kindle cover, Finishing both quilts (though hand quilting that King quilt might be the end of me!) and sewing some diapers. Bonus points if I come up with, and finish, some Christmas presents months ahead of time.
Exercise: I want to tone up and get over the pregnancy aches and pains without losing weight. Success will be measured by not throwing my lower back out at any point after March 31, comfortably fitting into my favorite skirts by July 31, and the ability to run one mile without stopping at some point before the end of the year (even when I finished a half marathon in 2.5 hours, there was a LOT of walking involved)
Work my Brain: I need to send in my packet to re-certify as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant by February 28, 2012. I need to accumulate 75 continuing education hours for that and I want them all done in 2011 so I can send my packet in as soon as the forms for 2012 are available.
I plan to revisit each goal at least once every 3 months and perhaps add more if they're going really well. There are some more nebulous things like be more organized and drink more water that I want to work on, but I'm going to focus on things I can easily measure over the long term rather than those things that can get discouraging after one off day.
Save at least 10% of our income: This means cold, hard, emergency fund cash. Paying towards student loans or the mortgage doesn't count. Only money that is specifically transferred to a separate account we have that we never touch.
Complete 12 sewing projects throughout the year: It doesn't have to be one every month, but it does have to be 12 different things, no repeats. Right now, I'm planning on making my own Kindle cover, Finishing both quilts (though hand quilting that King quilt might be the end of me!) and sewing some diapers. Bonus points if I come up with, and finish, some Christmas presents months ahead of time.
Exercise: I want to tone up and get over the pregnancy aches and pains without losing weight. Success will be measured by not throwing my lower back out at any point after March 31, comfortably fitting into my favorite skirts by July 31, and the ability to run one mile without stopping at some point before the end of the year (even when I finished a half marathon in 2.5 hours, there was a LOT of walking involved)
Work my Brain: I need to send in my packet to re-certify as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant by February 28, 2012. I need to accumulate 75 continuing education hours for that and I want them all done in 2011 so I can send my packet in as soon as the forms for 2012 are available.
I plan to revisit each goal at least once every 3 months and perhaps add more if they're going really well. There are some more nebulous things like be more organized and drink more water that I want to work on, but I'm going to focus on things I can easily measure over the long term rather than those things that can get discouraging after one off day.
Monday, December 27, 2010
2010 in Review
At the end of 2009, I did a post to wrap up the year. Seeing as how the end of 2010 is upon us, it seemed appropriate to make up a new list:
Josh successfully defended his dissertation in January
I started a quilt and began a quilting 101 series in February (a little thing called "Secora" got in the middle of my grand plans with these, but they are nearing completion)
We found out I was pregnant in March
Hyperemesis hit and hit hard in April (One day I may tell the whole story. My lack of motivation, energy and sometimes consciousness kept the nitty gritty of the experience off the blog)
Josh graduated with his PhD, Sierra graduated Kindergarten and we moved to Montana in May
We spent June exploring Hamilton and enjoying my renewed ability to eat
We branched out in July by traveling to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and a Logging competition in nearby Darby
In August, we traveled even further to visit Seattle, Great Wolf Lodge and Mt. Rainier National Park
September was spent back in Texas preparing to have a baby
Sierra lost her first tooth in October
Secora arrived in November
We were back in Montana and enjoying snow in December
It will be interesting to see what 2011 brings! Between the weather and the new baby, probably less traveling, but we've gotten pretty good at road tripping and at stretching a buck to be able to do it, so who knows!
Josh successfully defended his dissertation in January
I started a quilt and began a quilting 101 series in February (a little thing called "Secora" got in the middle of my grand plans with these, but they are nearing completion)
We found out I was pregnant in March
Hyperemesis hit and hit hard in April (One day I may tell the whole story. My lack of motivation, energy and sometimes consciousness kept the nitty gritty of the experience off the blog)
Josh graduated with his PhD, Sierra graduated Kindergarten and we moved to Montana in May
We spent June exploring Hamilton and enjoying my renewed ability to eat
We branched out in July by traveling to Glacier National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and a Logging competition in nearby Darby
In August, we traveled even further to visit Seattle, Great Wolf Lodge and Mt. Rainier National Park
September was spent back in Texas preparing to have a baby
Sierra lost her first tooth in October
Secora arrived in November
We were back in Montana and enjoying snow in December
It will be interesting to see what 2011 brings! Between the weather and the new baby, probably less traveling, but we've gotten pretty good at road tripping and at stretching a buck to be able to do it, so who knows!
Quick Lunch Wraps
It's cold here in Montana (surprise, surprise), so we've been doing more hot meals, even for breakfast and lunch. Last week, Josh and I made up a batch of wraps to keep in the freezer. We've been using this recipe for about 7 years now. We go through periods where we eat these for lunch every single day for months at a time. They're tasty, and reasonably healthy and very easy to "grab and go"
Quick Lunch Wraps
2 cups uncooked rice
2 cans pinto beans
2 cans black beans
2 cans kidney beans
1 pound cheese (we use monterrey jack or pepper jack), shredded
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can ro-tel tomatoes (or 1 can petite diced tomatoes and one small can diced chiles)
tortillas (the number depends on the size you get, around 40-50 soft taco size, more if they're fajita sized, less if they're burrito size)
1. Cook the rice according to directions
2. Dump all of the beans into a colander and rinse
3. Pour corn and ro-tel on top of beans (do not rinse)
4. In a LARGE pot or bowl, mix rice, bean mixture and cheese
5. Fill tortillas and wrap each one in plastic wrap, then put in gallon ziplocs and freeze
6. To eat, unwrap and heat on reduced power in the microwave for about 2 minutes if frozen. If you are taking these to work, take them out of the freezer in the morning and take them with you. They'll thaw by lunchtime and just need a quick zap in the microwave to be warm.
**You can use any combination of beans you want, add more chiles if you like your food spicy
**Sometimes when we're craving this, but I don't want to roll all those tortillas, I'll use this as a veggie enchilada stuffing instead. Just layer with corn tortillas, enchilada sauce and more cheese casserole style. I usually get two or three 8x8 pans that freeze well and can be warmed in the oven at 350 for a quick dinner.
Quick Lunch Wraps
2 cups uncooked rice
2 cans pinto beans
2 cans black beans
2 cans kidney beans
1 pound cheese (we use monterrey jack or pepper jack), shredded
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can ro-tel tomatoes (or 1 can petite diced tomatoes and one small can diced chiles)
tortillas (the number depends on the size you get, around 40-50 soft taco size, more if they're fajita sized, less if they're burrito size)
1. Cook the rice according to directions
2. Dump all of the beans into a colander and rinse
3. Pour corn and ro-tel on top of beans (do not rinse)
4. In a LARGE pot or bowl, mix rice, bean mixture and cheese
5. Fill tortillas and wrap each one in plastic wrap, then put in gallon ziplocs and freeze
6. To eat, unwrap and heat on reduced power in the microwave for about 2 minutes if frozen. If you are taking these to work, take them out of the freezer in the morning and take them with you. They'll thaw by lunchtime and just need a quick zap in the microwave to be warm.
**You can use any combination of beans you want, add more chiles if you like your food spicy
**Sometimes when we're craving this, but I don't want to roll all those tortillas, I'll use this as a veggie enchilada stuffing instead. Just layer with corn tortillas, enchilada sauce and more cheese casserole style. I usually get two or three 8x8 pans that freeze well and can be warmed in the oven at 350 for a quick dinner.
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