Too Much?

Did you spend too much?
Did you eat too much?
Did you try to do too much?

Now that Christmas is over, it’s normal to feel a little bummed by the lack of routine and balance that has crept up on us. And that can make us feel just plain SAD. But! Turn that frown upside down; this is the perfect opportunity to engage is some lifestyle design and create a whole new routine and set of habits that will breathe new color into your life!

No, I am not talking about Resolution Delusion here…

Think for a moment about the good things you want to invite into your life. Go ahead, take out a sheet of paper and actually write them down. Yes, please don’t short cut this process…write down those goals!

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Are you stuck? Having a difficult time thinking of the positive changes you want to initiate?
Consider for a moment things you would never hear people say:

“My food choices and meals are too healthy.”
“I am entirely too organized.”
“I am too disciplined when it comes to money management.”
“I am just too fit.”
“My home is too clean and well managed.”
“I have too much time in my day/week/month.”
“I am treating my friends and family just too well.”
“My life has too much joy.”

Sounds crazy, right? Who on earth would/could ever say these things?!
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Now, make your plan.

Trying to tackle all of the things on your list at once will only overwhelm, and thwart any real movement toward positive change, so just try to improve in one of the categories. Whichever goal you choose to address first is up to you, just know that there are simple, incremental steps that you can take in each of these arenas that, when combined, will yield you big dividends in the change department!

So, the first step in real, effectual change is to identify which area(s) you want to improve. What are you desperate to have more of in your life? A trimmer waistline? A bit more disposable income? More time and serenity in your day? More full relationships with others?

Please give this some serious thought – the goal(s) you select will determine the next steps you will take. They will steer you, guide you and motivate (or not) you. You are not going to “marry” them, per se, but as with any big decision governing the course of your life, they do deserve your very best attention and consideration!

Since this blog post is approaching 500 words already, I’ll chop it up into several “installments” over the coming weeks. If you have ideas on a catchy name for the series, or comments on where you’d like to see the series go, please share! The next installment will address “How to make a goal your own.”

This blog originally published on the Army Wife Network's Loving a Soldier Blog.

Merry Christmas

From our Family to yours - Merry Christmas - purely & simply.

Anniversary

A week ago today, the Husband & I celebrated our very first wedding Anniversary. It's been a full week, but I didn't want for too much time to pass without acknowledging this happy milestone.

Happy Anniversary to my sweetheart! MUAH!

The Friday before our Anniversary - a small Christmas smooch at the 162nd Company's Dining Out Ball.

O Christmas Tree!

I just took a big step outside my comfort zone...and published the details of our first family Christmas Tree on the Interwebs. Holy Frijoles. Let's just hope that I somehow manage to escape public ridicule....

Here's the posting over at the Army Wife Network: http://lovingasoldier.com/o-christmas-tree/

Hope you enjoy a peek inside our home...

A

Big Win in the Kitchen!

Anyone who knows me, knows how tentative I am when it comes to domestic matters - especially those which relate to the kitchen.

Well, yesterday, I rolled up my sleeves and got serious - after consulting no fewer than 8 recipe sources, I pulled elements from each to put together this winning combination:

Chicken & Dumplings

Place frozen chicken breasts in crock pot on LOW
Add 2 cans of Cream of Chicken Soup (condensed soup)
Add 1 can of Chicken Broth (next time I will try Chicken STOCK).
At the 3 hour mark, chop 1 or 2 small yellow onions (course chop) and add to the mixture
Add 2 tbsp of butter
Add 1 tbsp dried parsley flakes
Give a good stir
Increase the heat setting to HIGH
After cooking on high for 2.5 - 3 hours, shred chicken in crock pot with a fork
Add a chicken bullion cube and stir
Immediately start working on your "dumplings"
Open up 1 can of refrigerated big/flaky biscuits
Lay out all 8 biscuits and cut each into 9nths - cutting 3 times vertically and across each biscuit
Add cut up raw biscuit pieces into crock pot mixture
Give a good stir
Add a pinch of garlic powder, salt & pepper
Simmer on HIGH for an addition 45 minutes to 1 hour
Serve up HOT and ENJOY.

Ingredients list:
Frozen chicken breasts
2 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Chicken Stock (or broth)
1 chicken bullion cube
2 tbsp of butter
1 tbsp dried parsley flakes
1-2 small yellow onions
1 can big & flaky refrigerated biscuits
Garlic powder
Salt & pepper (to taste)

It was a real crowd pleaser and the perfect wintertime dinner (in honor of our first SNOW yesterday!):)

Next time, I'll substitute chicken stock for chicken broth and I'm at least a little curious to try my hand at making the dumplings from scratch (although, I must say, using the flaky pre-made biscuit dough was a wonderful shortcut!). 

Tree Lighting Social

On Friday 30 NOV, Soldiers, Family members and Friends gathered at our Battalion to kick off the start of the Holiday Season. It was so warming (the wildly unpredictable Kansas weather truly meant that it was "warming" - temperatures were in the mid-60s!) and wonderful.

This event was the first of its kind - there was a tree lighting last year, but no one thought to invite the families, major bummer! - and more than 75 folks showed up to partake in the wonderful festivities! After a particularly rough year for the EOD Community, it was a great boost for morale to have a low-key ceremony and social! 

Tree decorating took 2 full days and endless creativity! (Note the "EOD" letters in the tree topper!)

Black matte glass ornaments tweaked so they resemble tiny bombs! Check out the tiny fuses!

Husband performs a final inspection of the Tree!

Welcoming Remarks

Angi reads fun facts about Christmas

Yours truly reads a Christmas Poem for the crowd

"Fire in the hole!" was shouted as the tree was lit via a remote detonation device as Christmas confetti sprayed out of CO2 canisters. A special guest flutist played "O Christmas Tree."

Families lingered around the tree, taking pictures and admiring the 2012 tree.

These tiny candy cane reindeer were on hand for the Social that followed the tree lighting.

Reindeer await...

Festive drinks and goodies...

...displayed and served in festive buffet fashion.

This is the flyer sent out inviting everyone to come!

It was a great time...lots of compliments....many smiles, laughs and good, good times:)

On the Naughty List...

...the very rebellious virus that infected my 8-year-old sidekick (laptop).

It took 2 days to remove the virus and revive my laptop. There's now 2 different anti malware & virus protection program installed so I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief!

Still, if you happen to get any suspicious email or messages from me, please don't open...& please let me know, won't you?