I have to forewarn you. I’m all over the place today.
It might be because I haven’t written a real post in what feels like forever. It might be because after two magically delicious weeks with my man, I just said goodbye to the Hubby, who is officially on his way back to school. Stupid school in a different state. Grumble, grumble.
It very well might be my self-diagnosed ADD because there are so many words, phrases, and thoughts jumping all over my strange little pea brain, that I don’t even know where to begin. Don’t forget about song lyrics either; those are always up there, belting out at the most inopportune times. ♫ So I say thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing. Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing. ♫ Please tell me I’m not the only one with an ABBA soundtrack running through my mind.
I suppose I should just get right to the resolutions part of this post. It would make sense considering I just plugged it last week. Plus it gives me a chance to type up another list, and we all know how I feel about those. Sweet, glorious, beautiful, blissful lists.
I’ve been troubled with how to broach the Resolution Edition.
Should I talk about my 2013 Resolutions and how I knocked that shit out of the park or at least the infield, which for me, and my less than stellar upper body strength, is pretty impressive? Or perhaps it’d be best to just jump right into my 2014 Resolutions, knowing how much everybody loves a good resolutions post (snort). I could break them up into separate days, but resolutions posts are like band aids; you rip them off and you’re done. No lingering, no multiple publications. You get in, you get out, and then you move on (like a quickie, without having to redo your hair).
Since I’m unusually plagued with indecision, I’ve decided to do a resolution post that covers both 2013 and 2o14. Yep, it’s all about cross contamination, which means today’s post is going to be extra wordy. See, there’s the Meghan you’ve come to know and love. I recommend you take a bathroom break now, grab your beverage of choice and get settled in because it’s gonna be a long one (wink, wink). That being said, I’ll try to keep it short. Ha, ha, ha, ha. That’s funny.
Let’s begin with last year. For a full rendition of my 2013 Resolutions, click here. For the sake of brevity, I’m only sharing the highlight reel today. It’s like Plays of the Week on Sports Center, except not even remotely close. Sorry that was my one attempt at being sportsy; it won’t happen again, and no that’s not a resolution.
2013 Resolutions: Checked or Not Checked.
- Meditate once a week. This was tough one for me. While I didn’t actually sit in a corner and get my silent non-thought process on very much, I did a lot of yoga, which I personally think incorporates a whole lot of meditation. Therefore, I win.
- Belgium Trip. Check, check and check. I went to Belgium and it was a fabulous vacation. I ate bananas with my favorite nephew and managed to squeeze in a side trip to Amsterdam, where I smuggled home tomatoes; yes, tomatoes.
This is that same nephew at Christmas. He rocks in a very scary Darth Vader type of way.
- Blog Shit. I did a ton of “Blog Shit” last year. I created, perfected and published a bunch of new recipes. I met three awesome bloggers, who are all very different and remarkable in their own way. I love you all. I also created a Clean Eats Facebook page and an Instagram account and you should follow me because I am funny and sometimes wildly inappropriate. Ya know, the norm for me.
(Row One: Broccoli Cheddar Quiche, Blackberry Peach Grilled Goat Cheese, Orange Cranberry Granola)
(Row Two: Mexicali Blues Pizza, Stuffed Artichoke Soup with Brown Rice & Asiago and Strawberry Lemon Pasta)
- Participate in a Tough Mudder. “I am a Vanilla Gorilla,” she says while thumping chest wildly. I also have no shame, or very little considering I’m willing to write on myself with a Sharpie.
- More Spontaneity and Less Structure. I hated this goal when I set it last year. I didn’t accomplish any part of it, and I’m more than okay with that. In fact, I’ve decided to embrace the Planner inside me (it’s like a little green gremlin, but cuter). To hell with spontaneity. It can kiss my non-ass ass.
2014 New Year’s Resolutions
- Make Life Easier. I’m not sure how I’m going to achieve this one, but it needs to be done somehow, someway. The truth is I’ve been struggling the past six months or so, ever since the Hubby became a pharmacy student in a different state. Managing a full-time job, a blog, three crazy cats (and I do mean certifiable) a food share and a lovely, although too big for one person, household has been really hard for me. Sometimes my floors aren’t clean (shudder), and there are days when I’m fresh out of underwear, although I’ve always opted to wear pants on those occasions. See I’m practically modest. Needless to say, I’m still learning how to juggle it all, but I need to find a way to make it easier on myself in 2014. I’m open to suggestions.
- Tackle My Shelf of Shame. Correction: first I need to rename my shelf of shame to ‘Self of Someday’ and then I will tackle it, full on linebacker style. Oh look another sports reference; I have no idea where those are coming from. Anyway, I keep a pile of things I want to do/read on a shelf in the dining room. I thought having it in my face would offend my OCD and thereby motivate me to get through it all, yet still it sits and has sat for at least a year now. Hence the horrific name, which I promise to change.
Yes, that’s food on the top shelf. It’s the only safe spot for me to let things cool since the cats haven’t figured out how to get up there.
The bottom shelf is my pile of stuff to read and or do. And the second from the bottom shelf is the work I brought home with me this weekend that I didn’t do. Oops.
- More Blog Shit: I want to continue to develop more of my own recipes, tweak some things on the blog and get Food Gawker to accept a recipe; those pesky little rejection emails irk me to no end. Bunch of piss ants. I’m also going to perfect the art of the short blog post, which won’t be starting today. Just in case you were wondering.
- Host a Dinner Party. I’ve always wanted to put together a super fancy dinner party with friends. I’ve never actually pulled the trigger on this though because a) I don’t like guns and b) most of my friends don’t eat like me, so I’m not sure if they’ll enjoy it. Guess there’s only one way to find out. No, no I’m not going firearm shopping; I’ll just invite them over. Seems much simpler to me.
- Get Back to My Roots. I feel like I’ve strayed from my food philosophy roots, so I’d like to get back to who I really am and what I’m all about. This means a lot more rants coming your way and perhaps it’s time to dip my toe in some new pools; not the public kind because I hear little kids pee in them and that’s just gross.
- Junk In The Trunk. I’d like to grow an ass. I suspect squats of all kinds are necessary. I will keep you posted on the progress.
- Climb Mount Everest. Just kidding, I have no desire to do this, especially if it means there’s a chance I’ll break a nail or have to spend a night in the great outdoors.
Alright enough about me. Let’s hear from you. Get your list on and link up.
I want to hear about all your 2013 accomplishments. I want to see your 2014 resolutions, goals, words or lists of any shape and form. If you want to cross contaminate and smash them all together, far be it from to stop you, although I have been called Vanilla Gorilla, so I probably could if I wanted to. Just sayin’. 😉
I missed you all.
What did you accomplish in 2013? Did you set any resolutions for 2014? If so, what kind? Tell me all about them; feel free to do it in list form.
This post is linked with Diary of Semi-Healthy Nut.
Technically, I Resolve to Eat More Vegetables in 2014, starting with these Soy Sriracha Roasted Mushrooms, but when you only get 50 characters . . . editorial license is granted.
Thanks for mentioning me–it was lovely to meet you in 2013, too!
It sucks w/ the spouse gone, I know! I totally slacked off on the house cleaning as a way to simplify my life. Of course I started slacking off on the house cleaning about 2 decades before I got married, but it’s good to have practiced the skill. I’m half tempted to hit the delete key on the pesky 200 blog posts I still haven’t read from the past 3 weeks, but I know eventually the snow and the cold and therefore the houseful of people will return to the usual routine and I will have time to sit and read without anyone, other than the World’s Most Adorable Runty Wiener Dog, Oliver, wanting to do something to pull me away from the computer.
Sheesh, I’m all over the place, too. Oh right–ass. I’ve been doing this squat and push up challenge this month: http://shrinkingjeans.net/2013/12/squat-pushup-bootcamp/ . I’ll let you know. So far the dogs like to run under my face when I’m doing pushups in the kitchen while my water is boiling, and jump up on me while I’m doing squats while the tea is steeping. It’s a zoo. I love it.
Reminds me to submit some photos. I keep forgetting that part.
Thanks!
You crack me up. What a wonderful first comment today.
I will check out the squat challenge if only in a vain attempt to get some bigger glutes. I will not drink protein powder to do it though. 🙂
Stay away from the protein powder! You get plenty with your cheese and eggs! I do have 2 qts of whey left in the freezer, though, that I could see thawing and throwing into a smoothie for lack of anywhere else to stick it.
LOL…I am with you on the junk in the trunk goal! I’m a girl sans butt, too.
On the life simplification, you just have to pick what takes priority and do that really well. Then let things that aren’t a priority be unperfect.
Happy New Year!!!
I don’t want to be buttless forever.
I have so many non perfect things right now, which I’m actually mostly alright with, but the struggle comes with juggling all the real life things I can’t dump from the list (cats, house, hubby, myself; you get the idea). I do have a couple of ideas I might implement and I’m hoping they’ll bring me some relief. Cross those fingers. I’d say glutes, but we don’t have any. 😉
It looks like there was lots of good food in 2013! It must be hard to have the man leaving to go back to school, I know I always miss mine during the week when we are in different states. I’ll be checking back to see how your able to make life easier, I could use some of that too!
You guys live in separate states too. Glad to know I’m not the only one. So tell me, how do juggle it all independently?
When baking at my house, the cooling rack has to be set back as far from the counter as possible or usually on top of the fridge. “Fat Dog” is a master at sneaking the noms.
Having junk in the trunk is fantastic. My husband told me yesterday after watching some Charmed that I have a butt like Alyssa Milano, only better. I’ll take that.
Hell ya you’ll take that. That’s an awesome compliment. Now pass some of that booty (literally) to me.
Just like a quickie..BAHAHA totally laughed out loud at that. I love this resolution post..and to be honest I normally hate them. Maybe it’s because I just love you so that makes everything better. I also laughed at your location of cooling things, cats..they are so crazy. Your resolutions for this year sound wonderful, and I love that a lot of them are more mindful. Those are my goals too.
Success! I got a non-resolutions person to actually enjoy a resolution post. Oh yeah baby, I am so happy dancing right now. I heart you too.
You need some mindful resolutions. They’re good for the soul; way better than chicken soup. 😉
Haha, I like your style of the letter 😉 I did squat challenge long time, and it really helped because I had no butt too 😀 I think Kim Kardashian and Beyonce inspired me;)
Now those are some beautifully curvy women. Great inspirations indeed. Guess I should go do some squats now. 😉
Come see me. I’ll help you get an ass worthy of an vanilla gorilla. 😉
I suspect you will. You might also get me drunk. I saw what you did to Sarah. Oh yeah, and I liked it.
I’ll come to your dinner party! You know I’ll love whatever you make, even if it doesn’t involve grilled cheese. But especially if it DOES involve grilled cheese. I like your goals–specific enough to get shit done, vague enough for interpretation without “failure.” I also know someday foodgawker will recognize the value of tightness and accept your glorious drool-worthy food photographs.
I think I’m going to do a Devil’s Reject post with all my Food Gawker failures. Piss ants.
You are welcome here anytime, although I would likely put you to work with dinner prep. I’ve done it before. 😉
I resolved to meet at least one other cool blogger and blog to read and hey! I met you 😉
But in all seriousness (puts on serious face) I need an ass more than you. And hips. And boobs. All lofty goals, for sure, but you are the wind beneath my wings. Let’s do this, thing!
We may have to fight over the ass. I need one pretty bad.
I am thrilled to have found your blog. You make me laugh out loud on a near daily basis and that’s only because you don’t publish daily.
As usual, you crack me up!! I love so much about this post (I am a huge list nerd as well), but I especially love the food on the top shelf. lol to cats.
And I am scared to enter photos into FoodGawker, etc for fear of rejection, but I did bookmark them and a couple of other sites like that recently so we will see if I get the nerve/motivation to submit photos!
Thanks for linking up! We linked to each other today haha 🙂
Those cats are a bunch of trouble makers. Always up to no good.
I’m glad I make you laugh; that’s always a wonderful compliment for me because not everyone gets my dry humor.
I say submit the recipes. The worst that can happen is the dreaded rejection email. You’ll shake your fist, curse the gods and then do it all over again. One day a recipe will get through though and that will be a magical day indeed.
We’re all kinds of linked today. 😉
Hi there bff… I love your new year resolutions. I have no doubt you will nail them all before you know it. Besides need to add one more thing in there.. hanging out with me more often! I have already added that on my resolution list to visit you as many times as I can.. Love ya!
I heart you with a big old sloppy wet puppy dog kiss. No tongue though because that would be inappropriate. I think that’s a wonderful resolution and getting back to Buffalo more is definitely on my 2014 itinerary. In fact, I suspect I’ll be back in February for a little something something. 😉 Love you too.
😆 Oh I’ve missed your wonderfully delightful ADD posts <3 I only forgive you for being gone because you were enjoying time with your hubby, and I know how pesky those LDRs can be 😡
I didn't make any resolutions this year, but now I kind of want to because I feel like -not- making resolutions has become all the rage these days. I usually pick a word or mantra to kind of direct my mindset for the whole year, and this year it's "treat yourself like something that matters." 2014 will be a year to work on some self-confidence and self-care.
I’m tickled pink you missed me.
You’re right. Throwing resolutions to the wind is ALL the rage, but you know me. I will never pass up an opportunity to write a list. Besides rages are overrated.
I like your 2014 phrase. It’s a really good one and I think once you start to believe you are someone that matters, how you treat yourself naturally follows. I’m also pretty sure you’ve actually got a good handle on this one already. One way I try to “treat myself like something that matters” is to spend the first few minutes of every day doing something for myself. According to one of your links some time ago, it sets the course for the rest of your day. So thanks for that.
I’ll come to your dinner party!! Seriously just send out pictures of anything you’re planning on feeding people and they would be crazy not to come 🙂
I didn’t do a resolutions post this week because I reviewed all the things I didn’t do instead (so I’ll party with you next week?)
I think on top of all the squats you should continue to twerk in the gym because that picture of you still makes me smile.
Hang in there without the Hubby… that has to suck sending him back but I know you’ve got it in you.
Well now staged food doesn’t exactly look the same as what I would probably end up serving, although you can bet your sweet glutes I would try to make it look as close to beautiful as possible. I’m all about presentation.
You can party with me any day of the week you want, which includes dinner parties as well. 😉
So I kind of cheated and linked up my resolution/goal post- Hope that is alright- also your button wasn’t working so I had to use your old one. Fail Whale.
I will totally gatecrash your dinner party- I like your style of eating and will have no complaints. Unless there is not enough cheese, but your humour can make up for it. My mum told me in Iran, if a kid pees in the pool, everyone knows because the pee mixes with some liquid in the pool which produces a different coloured hue. Ha, embarrassment right there.
ASS = squats. The downside- Squats = death.
Off topic but I’m stoked you did this post- i’m currently digging through the broccoli archives in my downtime and now can go through your old posts too- Who goes to Amsterdam and brings back TOMATOES?
That is totally fine with me, although this button not working business isn’t, especially since I don’t know what that means or how to fix it. Eep.
There will always be cheese.
I’m glad you dig my humor; I can be a little dry so I’m not everyone’s cup of tea.
Only a girl who is head over heels for veggies and fruit because tomatoes are technically a fruit. I was so stoked about them too.
As I already had listed everything I felt free to link-up my last week’s post. I am very much looking forward to reading a lot about your goals this year. Especially your progress of your shelf of shame. I was laughing hysterically at it as till very recently I had a huge room of shame which has deveoped into “only” a dresser of shame over the last 4 weeks 🙂 Maybe I can get some (not so) serious recommendations how to get rid of all the shame….(I thought about burning the whole thing but then remembered we had smoke alarm and I am pretty sure my insurance doesn’t cover arson)
And I need to tell you that I love your obsession with lists. I am totally the same. I even think about having a list of my lists (OCD alert)
Have a lovely day 🙂
A list of your lists!!! Now there’s an idea.
From a room to a dresser is pretty impressive. I’d say there is no shame there. In fact, you went from a Room of Ruin to a Dresser of Down Sizing. You’ll be able to tackle that in no time.
Me, on the hand, we shall see. Perhaps one cold and snowy Saturday I’ll be able to devote some hours to my reading pile. Cross those fingers for me.
Feel free to link up any time; finding other list lovers is a thrill for me.
Lol. Arman’s link-up with the zucchini is cracking me up 😀
I like your lists for both 2013 and 2014. Awesome job on tackling last year’s list. Still completely jealous by your Belgium recaps. There was some amazing food going on there. Blog stuff… I need to get on making a Facebook page. Hey, at least I finally got an Instagram! Now if only my phone would work for more than an hour a day I could actually post/comment more frequently…
2014- Short blogs posts… Heh, good luck with that. I love your long ones, so I am rooting for you to fail in that regard 😉 Foodgawker– psh, I would love to get accepted by them, but I love your photos no matter what. And Healthy Aperture accepts mine without killing my self esteem. Haha. Dinner party- ooh, am I invited? Lol. Just kidding. However, I would be a great helper since I can’t eat the food anyway and you wouldn’t need to worry about me licking the spoon. (Probably). Looking forward to those future rants. Sounds good to me. And squats? Ya, I need some of those too. A little toning never hurt anyone.
Of course you can come to the dinner party. Hell, I’d host one in your honor. I’d even make you chicken. 🙂
I know writing a short blog post is going to be troublesome for me. Half the time, I can’t even write a short comment, but I’m going to give it a whirl anyway, although it’s nice know someone (i.e. you) enjoys my long windedness.
Out of the two, I’d say Instagram is the more important one to join, so you’re covered.
It’s amazing all that you accomplished in 2013! I’m excited to see what you have planned for blogging in 2014 – yours is one of my favorites, and your sense of humor is fantastic. Definitely looking forward to more posts, short or long. 🙂
Aw thanks Liv. I really appreciate that and I’m glad you linked up.
I’m sorry, but my ABBA soundtrack stops with Dancing Queen…as in I know the chorus and that’s about it…and that’s really only because I LOVE Mama Mia! 😉
DUDE! You should totally have a blogger dinner party! I’ll help plan it and Kirsten and Allie (and of course, your favorite broccoli kisser) are at the top of the invitee list! Omg, can you imagine?! There could be quiche and cheese and mimosas and green beans…because I KNOW you have plenty in that freezer of yours! Ohh, it could be a freezer and we could all put our bras in the…oh dear, what am I doing here?! But seriously, I do need to come for another visit. Yes, I just invited myself.
I just want to say that you totally kicked ASS on the blog shit and I know you’re gonna bust out some awesome ninja moves this year…or gorilla moves if you want to get all rough and stuff! (snort)
I’m not one for resolutions. I’ve tried that in the past…I’m just not really up for the whole setting myself up for failure thing! 😉 I like my more “spontaneous” approach to things. It definitely worked for me this year since I traveled to what, like half a dozen different cities, knocked a few things off the good ol’ bucket list (hurray for ziplining), and basically became a granola master after rubbing elbows with the best! 😉 Oh yeah, and I totally kicked IE’s ass, didn’t I? There were plenty of ups and downs, but for the most part, I’d say I OWNED 2013 and I’m ready to make 2014 my bitch! *fist bump*
You are welcome to visit anytime. In fact, since you’ve actually been once, self invites are now totally allowed, although you might actually have to stay with me and ditch the Man Friend so we can spend hours watching Sex and the City Episodes while nibbling on green beans (oh yes, there’s ton in the freezer) and cheese. Matter of fact, I’ll just put both on a pizza.
You know what I’d say about that. If it doesn’t work for you, don’t do it. I also think you really branched out, especially travel wise, in 2013, and I can’t wait for you to do it again this year, which means come back to Cleveland of course.
Is it wrong that I am singing “Cleveland ROCKS!” in my head right now. And that I’m commenting about it despite knowing you probably hear it all the time. And that I don’t think I’ve ever actually BEEN there so I can’t really stand behind it right now.
Never been to Cleveland. Why you need to rectify that.
Please write a post on your food philosophy. Unless you have already and I just haven’t read it. I would make one of my resolutions to actually read blogs more consistently, but that ain’t gonna happen.
I actually did one last year, although I want to make my philosophy more prominent on the blog in 2014. I feel like it’s been hidden.
Here’s the post on it: http://cleaneatsfastfeets.com/2013/06/05/wiaw-the-verbal-purge-edition/