January 2014 | Page 2

Happening Now

January 10, 2014 by tjdoyle0811 Leave a Comment

Listening to Twin Forks.

Trying to love my coffee with vanilla almond milk instead of creamer.

Reading The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty.

Focusing on my One Little Word a lot.

Loving a new Nate Berkus basket I got at Target for 50% off.

Making quinoa this weekend for the first time ever. Baby steps to eating more healthy.

Planning to slowly redo our master bedroom. It’s in desperate need of a makeover.

Running again three times a week and it feels good.

Wishing for Spring. It’s been so cold here. Insert sad face.

Admiring a few couches in West Elm that I would love to buy…someday.

Watering my plants (often it seems) and wishing I had shelves so I could get some more.

Wondering what I can create using my husband’s new Dremel tool.

Appreciating the little quiet moments throughout the days.

Working on my cover page for this year’s Project Life album.

Searching for some new, inexpensive artwork for our living room.

Drawing an owl for our son’s room. He’s obsessed with owls.

Looking forward to a date with my husband tomorrow. We’re touring a brewery.

Have a great weekend!

One Little Word: Choose

January 9, 2014 by tjdoyle0811 Leave a Comment

I mentioned in a previous post that my One Little Word for 2014 is Choose.

There are so many reasons that I picked this word.

I don’t always make the right/best choices. There I said it. That’s right. More times than I care to admit, I choose to check my phone, surf the web, yell at my kids instead of being calm, not exercise, eat poorly, overreact, etc.

Today though I’m specifically talking about Choosing to put down the iPhone.

This year I want things to be different. I’m so over having my iPhone right there all. the. time. I hate how it seems to control me. At this point, I don’t even realize that I’m picking it up every free moment I have. DUMB. I am choosing to put my phone up on a shelf in my living room and only check it a few times a day. I’ve already stopped checking FB, but now I need to stop checking my email and Instagram. It will still be there when I check it later.

Instead of checking my phone…

I want to read. I want to read books or magazines; anything not on my phone or computer.

I want to work on projects around my house or personal projects like Project Life, which I’m seriously behind on.

I want to play with my kids.

I want to learn something new.

Once the weather is nice, I want to sit outside and just be. Be in the momentt.

I realize that when I check my phone, I don’t usually spend more than 5-10 minutes looking at things. Most of the time it’s even less than that, but sometimes it more. But if I’m doing that a bunch of times throughout my day, it adds up. I want to have something to show for that time.

On the days where I’m really busy and consumed with jobs around the house, I forget about my phone for a couple of hours at a time and it’s awesome! I want that every day.

So, my first intention for my word is to CHOOSE to put down the phone and to do something better (for me) with my time. I’m choosing to live more in the moment. Live more in the little quiet moments.

A New Year, A New Menu

January 7, 2014 by tjdoyle0811 Leave a Comment

One of my goals for the year is to find some new recipes that will hopefully become permanent staples for our family.

I’ve been in a major cooking rut lately. I’ve become very bored with all our regular meals and need to spice things up a bit. And although I find a lot of fantastic recipes on Pinterest, I want to try something else.

My plan for the year is to make at least four (maybe more) meals out of each section of this cookbook. I chose four recipes instead of the entire cookbook because some of the recipes call for appliances or tools that I don’t have. For example, a stand mixer. I don’t own one. I wish I did, but they are expensive little boogers! So, I’ll be passing on those recipes unless they can be adapted.

The cookbook is divided into nine sections.

Breakfast

Lunch

Soups

Starters, Party Food, and Drinks

Pasta and Pizza

Supper

Sides

Sweets

Canning (I will not be making any of these unless I purchase canning equipment at some point)

image source

I love the Pioneer Woman. I’ve made some of her recipes in the past and they’re always delicious. Plus, I got this cookbook for Christmas last year and still have made one recipe out of it! The time has come!

I can’t wait to get started. I’ll be blogging about each recipe and plan to document my progress on Instagram with the hashtag #tashiacooks. Exciting, I know. But it’s a way for me to keep track of my accomplishments and maybe inspire others too.

Wow. I have a big year ahead of me and this is just the beginning! I love new years and a fresh start!

I’m excited!

14 Books in 2014

January 6, 2014 by tjdoyle0811 Leave a Comment

I’m starting my challenge again and I’ve added another book to the challenge. I’m more determined than ever to accomplish it this year. There are three big reasons why this is so important to me.

1. I’m too distracted by technology. I spend way too much time looking at garbage on my phone. It’s totally out of control, and honestly, I’m over it. I need to be more present in my life, so whenever I feel the urge to “check” my phone, I’m planning to pick up my books instead. Reading is much more productive than Facebook or Candy Crush.

2. I love when I find a book that I can’t put down! Reading is a great escape from reality, but in a healthy and educational way. The smartest, most well-rounded people I know are readers, and that’s how I aspire to be.

3. I want my kids to be readers. I was a big reader as a kid. I have always loved books. I figure that the more my kids see me reading, the more apt they will be to pick up a book. They are actually already very interested in books. We read at least three books to them every night before bed and sometimes during the day if they ask. I catch them sitting together “reading” books a lot. I want it to stay that way. It makes me so happy!

Sidenote: Do you/did you watch The Gilmore Girls? I want my kids to turn out like Rory. Is that weird? I didn’t think so.

I plan on blogging my progress again. I like how it keeps me accountable. Plus, I would be fun to look back and be able to see everything I’ve read.

I would love it if you joined in the challenge with me. We could swap book reviews! And you don’t have to read 14. You could set our own goal. Maybe you haven’t read a book since 1998. That’s cool. You could totally set your goal at two books and rock it!

Anyway, I read all types of books, so if you have any suggestions, I’m all ears!

Happy Reading!