Resolution for 2011

I am really bad at resolutions. I think because there is so much I really need to resolve to accomplish, I become paralyzed with the depth of the ever growing list. Unlike my highly organized, efficient husband who sets goals and actually works toward them, I sort of just do what needed to be done 5 minutes ago. This year I changed tactics.

No resolutions - not specifically anyway. I chose a word from a talk by Elder Uchtdorf:

Create

That is my word for this year. I can do a lot with it. I can create order (organize all those dumb closets in my house). I can create health (get back in shape). I can create memories (trips and time with the family). Lots to do with this word. And it doesn't matter how much or how little I do, I can still accomplish.

In Elder Uchtdorf's words:

improve
beautify
extend
smile
cultivate
develop
CREATE

Project Day - Take 1

Every Wednesday my sisters, mom and I spend the afternoon going to lunch and hanging out.  This "hanging out" usually involves the mall and spending ugly amounts of money on things we don't need (my latest weakness: kids clothes).  In an effort to control this spending before the husbands rally together in protest of sister day, I created "project day."

Here is the idea:  we all meet at my house, we each take an assignment for lunch and we bring a project that we need to work on.

Here is what we accomplished:

Erin made an acrylic scrapbook and Cyd painted a metal garland (no pictures - won't happen again) 

Mom made necklaces for each of us girls:

I made a flower garland.  It is a great project for all the scraps you have around the house.  

Want one?  Here is the link

And Ella painted this:

Here is what we ate:

Warm Bread

Chicken and Brown Rice Salad

Dressing:

1/2 cup rice vinegar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 T. Dijon mustard

2 large garlic cloves, minced

1/2 t. each salt and pepper

1/4 t. sugar

Salad:

1 cup whole grain brown rice

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 lemon, juiced

2 whole chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

1 bunch green onions, minced

6 to 8 ounces snow peas, ends trimmed and cut into thirds

2 ripe avocados, chopped

1/2 cup pecan pieces or slivered almonds, toasted

Combine the rice, chicken broth and lemon juice in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil and reduce heat.  Simmer, covered for one hour, or until rice is tender.  Drain off liquid, if any is left.

Add the green onions, snow peas and dressing to the rice.  Chill for two hours or more.  Add avocados and toasted nuts just before serving.

 

Strawberry Shortcake for dessert

Girls ate, babies played. It was awesome!