Have a Lucky New Year!

So, you already know I have been completely psyched for a week about the new year.  I have 2 things that have to happen on New Year's Day.  Number 1, my house needs to be clean.  I am like this about most holidays.  (I think it has to do with the fact that it is really hard for me to relax if my house is messy.  It's a disease, I think.)  But really, who wants to start the new year with a dirty house?

Number 2,  I have to have my Hoppin' John Soup.  I love traditions and New Year's Day is no exception.  For years I would have black eyed peas on New Years Day.  But if you are southern, you know it doesn't stop with the black eyed peas.  You are supposed to have greens and stewed tomatoes too.  A few years ago, I found a fantastic recipe that covers everything.  It's from the Neeley's and it's
Hoppin John Soup.  Honey, you want to talk about puttin' some south in your mouth?  Mmm Hmm.

It has:

• Black eyed peas - Brings you luck and good health
• Greens - Represents money in the new year
• Pork - Pigs are lucky, didn't you know? (I'm not making this stuff up!)
• Tomatoes - Represents love (I had to research how that happened, apparently tomatoes used to be considered an aphrodisiac!)

Serve with bread or cornbread, which represents sustenance of life, and you are all set for the new year!

Do I think all this works?  No.  I put my faith in God, who is slightly more powerful than a black eyed pea.  Would I feel crazy if I didn't have this on New Year's Day?  You betcha,  A little black eyed peas never hurt anyone.

Happy New Year, My Friends!
K

New Year, New You

I absolutely love the week after Christmas.  To me, it is the most exciting, hopeful week of the year. It's like I've taken a 5 hour energy drink.  Not that I ever have taken one, but this is how I imagine it feels. Maybe a little less jittery.

I love the feeling a new year brings, don't you?  There's so much promise, I kind of feel like anything can happen.  But we all know that nothing's going to happen without a plan.  Really and truly, sit down with a notepad (or better yet your dream journal if you did that this year) and think about the possibilities that await you.  And bring Jesus with you.  You'll be amazed at what He has to say!  Don't make plans and then ask God to bless them, make your plans with God and then you know they will be blessed!  Just so we are clear, we are not talking about New Year's resolutions, here.  We are talking about annual goals. For years, I have said that I don't make resolutions.  I think the reason I stay away from that word is because New Year's resolutions tend to mean something people attempt in the month of January and then they are done with it.  It's like people don't even expect them to stick.  Be done with New Year's resolutions. Start making annual goals to accomplish.  You have a brand new year ahead of you.  What do you want to do?  What would you like to change?  Don't wait for things to happen.  Make them happen.  All it takes is a plan.  But that is going to require some thought.

If you do make annual goals, review your goals from last year and see how you did. BE KIND to yourself.  If you have some things on there that you never got to, are they things you should try again this year?  Don't be discouraged.  And don't be afraid to look at the goals you set,  Be deliberate in looking back and think about what worked and what didn't.  Some of your goals might not have been reached because you forgot you even set them.  This year, make sure your goals are something you look at regularly and even more importantly, pick the top ones and put them on display so you see them everyday!  (more on this later)  Did you not accomplish some goals for another reason?  Are they unreasonable?  Are you truly vested in it or do you just feel like you should say "I need to get in shape"?   Don't be afraid to think about what you didn't accomplish this year and why.  Don't just transfer everything you didn't do this year to next year's goals.

Please, take time to pat yourself on the back for the things you did do.  If you didn't set goals, kind of just do a year in review mentally.  What are you proud of yourself for?  What made you happy this year?

Now.  Let's get to this year.  Set some time aside (no excuses on this one!) and take out a blank piece of paper.  I like to make 5 categories and start writing down goals for each.   Here are the categories I like to work with:

• Home - These are projects I want to do this year around my house or things I want to buy for the house.  It might be as large as re-placing your carpet or as small as making a photo gallery.  Think about your budget, don't just write down everything that needs to be done (that would be depressing!) and thoughtfully pick some things you would truly like to accomplish this year. 
• Me – Ladies, this is a hard one!  We tend to put everything and everyone in front of ourselves.  What are some things you want to do for yourself?  Do you ever go out with girlfriends anymore?  Is there something you have always wanted to learn how to do?  I usually have to save this category for last but once you get going, you may surprise yourself.  
• Health -  I was really proud of myself in this category last year. (Go me!)  Things that can go on this list....try infused waters, make one homemade something that replaces something processed you use (like coffee creamer), do your skin care regimen every night, get a skin care regimen, eat more fresh fruits and veggies, work out 1 more time a week than you do now (which for some of us would be 1 time a week...yeah).
• Social – These are things I want to do with other people, including the hubs.  Want to have date nights? Want to spend more time with friends?   Want to entertain more?
• Finances – Do you need to pay off some debt?  Want to go on a trip?  Start saving more money?  Start saving money period?

I told you this last year but it bears repeating...you HAVE to write these goals down.  My goals take up a whole page. Some are really "small" and some are going to require more work.  Now that you have them written down, you have to look at them.  At least monthly, if not weekly.  You can't just say "I want to go out with my girlfriends more" and wait for that to happen.  But re-reading it weekly and seeing it on the list will make you say "Hey, I'm going to text Kim and see if she wants to do something next week!" (she does, trust me)

This year (2015), I decided to put my most important goals in a picture frame.  I saw this idea here originally New Years Goals Photo Display and totally loved it.  I changed it up a little bit. My categories look like this:

• Start:
• Stop:
• Learn how to:
• Be More:
• Project:
• Trip:
• Bucket List:

I loved how this covered my "main things" and felt it was a great way to focus for the year.  Buy a collage picture frame (mine is from Hobby Lobby, $12).  I simply went into PicMonkey, to design and selected 4x6 canvas.  There you can make a background color (or keep it white and just print it on color paper.  You can put text in all different fonts.  You can make patterns, frames or add pictures like hearts, stars, etc.  It's pretty fun to work with!  Print those bad boys out and trim to fit your frame. Word of advice...you may want to think about where you are going to hang it.  Mine is in my bedroom, in a place where I see it often.  Unfortunately last year, I thought about this AFTER I printed it and it totally did not match my bedroom at all!!  But that's ok, it still worked.  It's also nice that you can write notes or check marks or anything you want on the glass with a dry erase marker.  Hopefully you can see my pen marks on the one from 2015.

2016 Goals...Already on Display and Ready to Rock It!

Be fierce in 2016.  Aggressively go after the life you want.  You have to have a plan and you have to take the time to figure out what you want.  Then you need to review that plan, OFTEN.  I truly pray that God helps you start living the life you have always wanted!  Be blessed!

Here's to Being Unstoppable in 2016~
K

December's Menu

I have some great recipes for you this month!  And I am happy to say that after 6 hours, I have 23 meals in the freezer, ready for one of the nuttiest, busiest months of the year!

It's pretty overwhelming to do that many meals at once, I'm not gonna lie.  There were 6 of us this time and while that makes for more work, it also makes for more hands.  I don't think I would have gotten 23 meals done by myself in that time!  And I certainly would not have enjoyed myself so much!

If anyone is interested in doing freezer meals with a group and wants to know "how we did it", feel free to email me and I will send you some info. If you are local and want to join a session, that's cool too.

With freezer meals (maybe with all meals!), the key is organization.  And man, it takes a whole lot to get organized for a month of meals.  Feel free to take it small and freeze a couple things on the weekend.  Several meals made 2 bags so you can have one now and one later:

• Honey and Spice Glazed Pork Chops
• Orange Beef Stew 
• Best Ever Meatballs
• Bacon Jalapeno Stuffed Grilled Pork Tenderloin
• Monterrey Chicken
• Cilantro Shrimp

That's like a two-fer.  Just sayin'.

As always, you can bypass the freezer and just throw it in your crockpot the morning of (or mix it up the night before and turn it on the morning of).

Here is this month's menu.  The Bacon Jalapeno Stuffed Grilled Pork Tenderloin is special enough to make for Christmas Eve or Christmas day.  I have shared my Christmas Day menu with you as well. It's pretty fancy, but the rest of the meals are quick, easy and delicious!  Please share if you tried any and how you liked them!  I love feedback!

December Menu

Grocery List by Recipe

Master Grocery List - All

Take some time to get prepared this month.  It is so crazy with the parties, errands and running around.  If you take a minute to do some planning, you might avoid spending a fortune on eating out! Take it from a girl who learned her lesson (and gained extra pounds!) last year.

Now, bring us some figgy pudding!

K

What's On Your Table?

Thanksgiving.  It's one of those great holidays that is full of traditions.  I am a traditions kind of girl and Team Holmes has no shortage of them!  I love the things that make our holidays special to us but I also like to throw in one or two new things each year.

We always start our Thanksgiving by watching the Macy's Day parade.  I am usually able to mostly watch it (meaning I don't have to start cooking yet).  I try to make something for breakfast the night before so it is ready in the morning.  Besides, who wants to cook breakfast when you are going to have to make Thanksgiving dinner all day?  Not me.  Here are a few of my fav, EASY overnight breakfast ideas you can throw together Wednesday night:

Pumpkin French Toast Bake

Easy French Toast Bake

Easy Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

One thing I am thinking of adding to the docket this year is Apple Cider Mimosas.  I love the thought of having these while watching the parade.  HOWEVER....champagne is not known to be a great motivator so...not too sure about this one.  This might turn out to be an epic fail.

The Turkey
I make many of the same things for Thanksgiving every year and have for a looooong time.  You will never believe what I change up every year....the turkey!  I have been brining it (soaking in a high salt marinade) for years now and I love this method. But I keep finding recipes that sound too good not to try!  This year, I am going in with this one  Maple Cider Brined Turkey.  Did I mention the recipe comes with a Bourbon-Cider gravy? Be still my heart.

The Sweet Potato Casserole
No, the old miniature marshmallow thing is not for me.  I seriously love my yams though!  I adore this recipe and would chop my arm off before I went without it.  With nuts, coconut and amaretto...nothing can go wrong!

The Mashed Potatoes
Also one of my favs AND another recipe I change up every year!  (Don't ask about the year we decided to make gruyere mashed potatoes and my neice and I searched the town over for gruyere cheese!)  This year, I am going to try this recipe.  They had me at make-ahead.  

Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes

The Stuffing
Our stuffing has sausage in it because that's how we roll.  I have made this stuffing recipe for as long as I can remember.
This year, I am gonna try changing it up with one I recently got in a cookbook...dried cherry and sausage dressing.  See, I kept the sausage.  Can't change too much!

The Green Beans
Forget about french fried onions. This is another one that I would chop my arm off rather than go without.  If you want to try just one of my recipes, THIS IS IT!  This is a cold green bean salad that is absolutely amazing!

The Cranberry Sauce
I hated cranberry sauce for years.  That's because my mom bought the jellied kind in the can and sliced it.  (For the record, that is not cranberry sauce... eww)  Geez, the 70s...who knew any better?

Well, cranberry sauce is such a great compliment to turkey.  And REAL cranberry sauce is delicious!  If you have never tried it, you really should.  This homemade sauce is TO DIE FOR!  AND...it is super easy.  You could have it on other things too! (think english muffins, ice cream...etc)  If you have leftovers, by all means bake some brie and put this on top!  Yummm!  I said IF you have leftovers...

White Wine.  No recipe needed.  Add more as necessary.

The Pumpkin Dessert

Dessert has always been my maple pumpkin cheesecake.  I am pretty well known in these parts for my cheesecake,  I gotta tell you.  This recipe is fairly easy as far as cheesecakes go but if you've never made one before, this is not the time to start.  Again, I have decided to buck long-standing tradition and try a pumpkin tiramisu.  I haven't announced this yet.  Not sure how it is going to go over.  I am pretty sure my BFF is crying right now.

So there you have it.  A run down of the HolmeStead menu, the old and the new.  I hope you found some recipes you can try!  Whatever you do, don't overdo.  Enjoy your time with your family and friends and don't be stressed.  The day is not about the meal, it's about the fellowship.

After sharing our meal and cleaning up, we of course, like the rest of the nation, want to take a nap.  But we don't eat until about 3 so by the time our show is over, it's just too late for naptime.  We do get into our jammies and hit the couch though!  We really love Christmas but I just can't get down with it until Thanksgiving is over.  Well, almost.  Our last Thanksgiving tradition is our holiday season kick-off.  We sit on the couch in our jammies Thanksgiving night, all fat and full and thankful, and watch A Christmas Story.  There is no better way to start the Christmas season than learning how to NOT shoot your eye out.

I'd love to know of any favorite recipes or traditions you have for the Thanksgiving holiday!  Don't be afraid to try something new once in awhile.  Go ahead!  I triple dog dare you.

Have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving!  Gobble, Gobble!
K

Finding our Bridge

This past Sunday, hubs and I celebrated our 12th anniversary.  We had one of the most relaxing, nicest anniversaries I can remember.  Maybe it was because we were out of town.  Maybe it's because we celebrated friends getting married the day before.  Or maybe it was just because we found our bridge again.

Inn at Corolla Light

The past couple of months have not been the easiest for us.  Hubs' classes this semester are killing him, which is therefore killing me and it's not doing much for the "us" either.  We went from a season of never fighting to having arguments like we were just dating again.  We went from being "here" (as in "we're here" - mentally) to you're here, I'm there and I don't know where that bridge is that goes between us. Someone throw me a line.  Please.

These last few months, things have been hard and stressful for us and I finally had to recognize that we are in a different season now.  And that is ok.  The reason it is ok is because I am hopeful.  I know that this too shall pass.  I know that the end result will be worth this brief time of struggle.  We have a plan.  No one said that plan was going to be easy.  Most things that are worth it aren't.  I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. So many things are temporary and we just have to stay hopeful and positive in the waiting.  Which ain't easy, believe me, I know.  And this weekend, as we walked down a pier together in the morning and stared at a lighthouse, I knew, as I had all along, that everything will be ok.  We found our bridge again.

The thing is, it can happen to anyone.  You know how people say marriage is work?  I think that's the work part.  Keeping it up.  It's not that loving someone is hard.  The work is not getting caught up in routines and life and neglecting that other person.  It's making sure you take that time to nurture the relationship.  That's not easy because we are all so busy.  I made it a point this year to schedule a date night for every month on my calendar in January, when I got my calendar.  I just picked the last Sat of every month.  It might not sound romantic to schedule dates, but it's the only way I can make them happen.  And it worked.

People often tell us that they envy our relationship.  This always makes me smile.  Not because that statement makes me feel good, but because I know the truth behind our relationship.  Hubs and I are very close but we have gone through a lot.  And I am okay with that.  I wonder if people would be envious if they knew all the tough times that we went through?  Maybe not.  But no one said that marriage was going to be easy.  Most things that are worth it aren't.

Take time for each other on a regular!
K

I Like Coffee with My Cream !!

The only thing I love more than coffee is creamer.  I used to be completely obsessed with Coffeemate Vanilla creamer.  We went through a large 32 ounce container in 2 weeks or less.  I mean really, I could have been their poster girl.

I really felt like creamer was way too expensive and had often thought of making my own.  Then, one day, it happened.  Like any other thing in my life. Someone who was trying to lose weight was trying to cut out creamer and I laughed to myself at what a little thing that was to cut out.  Is it really that many calories?  Then I did it.  I turned my bottle around.  I don't remember how many calories or grams of fat it had, but I saw the list of ingredients.  Eww...what?  What is sodium stearoyl lactylate and do I really want to drink it?  I'm going to guess no.  Um, my beloved creamer was pretty gross if you got down to it.  So...just like other things I have started making, once I get grossed out, there is no going back for me.  And thus I began the hunt for the perfect homemade creamer.

I found a lot of websites that had quite a few creamers.  Some pretty simple, some more complex.  I have tried quite a few flavors and have pretty much liked all of them. I have to admit, my first cup of coffee without my store-bought creamer did not make me happy.  But I very quickly got used it and now, if I used store-bought creamer, that does not make me happy.

I always start with a half and half base.  I have seen all kinds of bases out there, many of them combos (1/2 c sweetened condensed milk to 1 1/2 cups half and half).  It looks like you can use any type of milk, half and half, whipping cream, or combination thereof that you prefer.
One of the reasons I wanted to make my own creamer was that creamer was really expensive.  (At least the way I was tearing through it!)  The reason I did not like the sweetened condensed milk option was for the expense.  From what I have read, it adds a creaminess and I felt like I could live without it.

It's funny, but before, I liked vanilla and peppermint mocha flavor and that was it.  I thought the other flavors I tried tasted too fake and rarely liked any of them. Now, I have a different flavor each week!

I guess the trickiest part for me has been the spices.  I have tried straining these suckers out every way you can imagine.  I have gotten the finest strainer I can find (think tea ball infuser), I have strained multiple times.  I have tried straining thorugh a coffee filter (epic fail).  And I have tried just shaking it up and living with the spices.  If you go this route, might I recommend that you never take the last sip of coffee in your mug.  Just trust me on this.  I am currently in search of some cheese cloth and will let ya'll know if I ever solve my straining dilemnas.

Some have sweeteners added and some do not.  I generally am ok with just adding my own sweetener.  Another thing I learned through this journey..brown sugar is much better in my coffee than white sugar.

Here are my favorite flavors I have tried, with links to their websites:

Caramel Coconut Creamer

Pecan Pie (a little more labor intensive!)
Pumpkin Spice
Cinnamon Strudel
all found on:  Homemade Healthy Coffee Creamers


Chocolate Almond
Cappucino
Cinnamon Bun (one of my VERY favs!)
Pumpkin Spice
all found on:  Bacon in my Pocket

And, I even invented my own!

Butter-nut Maple Creamer
2 c base
1 t vanilla butternut extract
1 t maple extract

There are some on my radar to go to next:

Vanilla Caramel
Almond Joy
Salted Caramel
Eggnog
Peppermint Patty
Mrs. Happy Homemaker

Hoping yours is good to the last drop!
K

Freezin' with Friends

So I have started a new adventure...doing my monthly freezer meals with friends.  And I gotta say, I love it.  It takes a lot more planning with others but it's really nice to have some company and see how excited everyone is to have their meals all planned out!  I learn something each time I do it, and I think we will have this down to a science really soon!

We had to delay this month due to the hurricane that wasn't.  So without further ado, here is our October menu!

October Calendar

Remember, you can always try your hand at freezing a few things, or just make the recipe straight in the crockpot if you don't want to freeze at all!

List of all Ingredients (entire list)

Ingredients by Recipe

Let me know if you try and enjoy any recipes!  I love to hear from you!

Happy Fall, Ya'll!
K