Monday, January 10, 2011

Kindness-word of the year

Body
1) Eat nourishing food
I know this needs to be done and I need to take the time to plan my breakfasts and lunches as well as my dinners. I get so rushed at work sometimes that I forget to eat and then I'm starving so I just have a co-worker pick me up fast food. This does my body no good.

2) Move, move, move
I have a goal to walk a 5K this year as well as run one mile without stopping. That's a huge undertaking at my size and I need to start moving to do it. Working until 7pm is not the way to do it but this also the time of year that I earn most of my money. I have to set aside some time to at least move 15 minutes a day.

3) Solo dance party at least once a week, maybe more
I think it will do my body and soul some good to sneak away for a solo dance party every once in a while. I used to do it all the time before I was married. I miss it.

Mind
1) Read 50 books this year
I love to read more than any other activity in this world. I could lose myself in a book all day ever day if I had the time. I want to carve out at least 30 minutes a day to read. I miss reading as much as I used to.

2) Silence
I am surround by words all day long. I hear them, I write them, I read them, I speak them. I need to spend more time appreciating the lack of them. I am going to actively seek out comfortable silences. I'm going to spend some time closing my eyes and relaxing with absolutely no sound. I'm going to spend more time driving around listening to nothing.

Life
1) Simplify
I'm getting rid of clothes that I hope to never wear again. I'm getting rid of books that I'm never going to read again. I need to get rid of toys that are never going to be played with again. I'm tired of having so much stuff taking up my valuable space.

2) Organize
I desperately need functional furniture in our house. I need a dining room table that can hold more than 4 people comfortably. I need bookshelves for all of my child's lovely books. He deserves to have his toys "put in nice places" as he likes to tell me.

Marriage
1) Plan date nights
My hubby consistently amazes me by what he knows about me. Sometimes I feel like that I need to know him a little better. I'm going to try to schedule one date night a month. I'm going to need some help with this one but I also think I'll be just as happy if we order some take out and play a card game at home.

2) Speak well
Rarely will you hear me speak ill of my husband. I find that the little things don't bother me as much as the larger things amaze me. However, I do find myself snapping at him or passively aggressively insulting him when I am tired or upset. I'm going to try to take a moment to breathe and think before I speak. It's necessary.

Son
1) More planned activities
I used to plan things that we could do on the weekends but I have slipped out of that mode. I need to get back into that and plan at least one fun activity per day on the weekend. Memories need to be made.

2) More outdoor time
Now that he can actually walk for a mile, it's time we spend more time walking and exploring outside.

Friends
1) Birthday cards
I love getting and sending mail. I'm going to spend time thinking of my friends and sending them mail. Who doesn't love getting real mail?

2) More one on one time
I love my friends dearly but we always congregate and rarely spend time alone. My time is the most valuable thing to me and it's time I share a little more of it.

I have a few ideas for random acts of kindness. I love doing these. I'm also going to involve my son this year.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Golden Pork Chops

INGREDIENTS

* 3 pork chops
* 1/8 teaspoon seasoned salt
* 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1/2 onion, chopped
* 1/4 cup fresh sliced mushrooms (or one 4 oz can)
* 1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed golden mushroom soup

DIRECTIONS


1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Rinse pork chops, pat dry and place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. In a separate small bowl, combine the onion, mushrooms and soup. Mix together well and spoon over the chops.
4. Cover and bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes, then uncover and bake for 15 more minutes. (Note: Time could be less or more depending on the thickness of the chops.) Pork chops are done when their internal temperature has reached 160 degrees F