Savoring the Simple Life
It was late January 2016 when Wildland Man and I officially purchased the Country Wife Chronicles domain. And though I was preparing and posting blog articles later that year, CWC did not have its official launch until February of 2017.
So, here we are at the start of 2018, and I think it might just be time for a bit of a celebratory blog post series. One that takes a look back at how Country Wife Chronicles has become what it is today. This little bitty dream of mine has become a reality!
It is a new year and as you might have noticed, I ended my 2017 a bit on the frazzled side. So, today, I decided to share with you a no-hassle quick and easy breakfast recipe. One that you can throw together in minutes and enjoy shortly there after. Perfect for a light snack on this Monday morning!
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that this recipe, though it is gluten-free, probably isn’t considered the healthiest option out there. It still comes from a baking mix, it still has sugar in it, and it is shelf-stable so there are likely preservatives that could be avoided as well. A better option would obviously be to make this recipe from scratch.
Happy New Year! Oh, just a few days late…
So, let’s dive in to today’s topic, shall we? My New Year’s Resolution FAIL.
Yup, you read that right; I somehow managed to fail at my New Year’s resolution just a few days into the New Year. I couldn’t even make it into February like the rest of the world…
And for me, this fail is kinda monumental.
You see, as you should already know by now, I am a planner. Which means I love goals.
And I’m all about intention, which means when I set out to do something, I complete the task.
Oh, and I’m a perfectionist, which means I hate the feeling of failure.
I looked it up, and Google defines resolution as “a firm decision to do or not do something.” So, I guess that means I could revise my resolution to say that I was NOT going to do what I said I was going to do, and then I’d be a success. Or is that cheating?
It is Christmas morning as this post publishes. I’m certain you are probably reading this after-the-fact. And I totally get it. In fact, I expect it.
What does your Christmas morning typically look like? The kids busting out of bed with excitement way earlier than you expected? A messy post-Christmas morning breakfast kitchen? A plethora of wrapping paper on the living room floor? Recipes to prepare for a family Christmas celebration?
So much for a quiet Christmas morning.
Are there any other fans of the Hallmark Channel during this time of the year? I’m not even joking, I could watch the holiday movie extravaganza that is the Hallmark Channel all day long.
It’s actually a good thing we don’t even get the Hallmark Channel because I would not be very productive. Like at all. Instead, I make myself earn a movie break during the holidays and watch online about once a week. I may have a problem, y’all.
I know that not everyone shares my affinity for all things Christmas during this time of the year.
Can you believe there are people that get sick and tired of Christmas music? I can’t even fathom. Though, I’ve been told this is because I’ve never worked in retail.
In the quiet mornings of the Christmas season I often find myself sitting with a hot cup of coffee by the light of our Christmas tree watching the flames of a fireplace flicker.
Ok, full disclosure…so while the picture I’m painting you with my words is all truth, I feel the need to share with you that, said fireplace is actually a DVD. But, if you put a little space heater in front of the T.V. you can fool anyone. 😉
Regardless, the point I’m trying to make is that, for me, Christmas often brings with it a time for introspection. The year is drawing nearer to its end, the stirrings of my faith are awakened with the meaning of Christmas, and the quiet solitude amidst the hustle and bustle of the holidays allows me a few moments of reflection.
I’m a terrible multi-tasker. I used to think of myself as skilled in this area. I no longer consider multi-tasking a strength of mine. I’ve even justified my poor abilities with the idea that multi-tasking is over-rated anyway.
Honestly though, when I get emotionally overwhelmed or just have way too many things on my plate at the moment I tend to get one-track minded. Even hyper-focused. So much so that all other things fall by the wayside. Even the basics like eating and drinking water.
Am I crazy?
Well, probably a little. This is who I am. Who I sometimes struggle with.
So, last week I sort of left you hanging. Sorry about that.
But to be honest, I wasn’t sure how well you’d take this third and final installment of “The Country Wife Recommends…Holiday Baking Essentials” post series.
As you can see by the title, we are revisiting my very favorite ingredients from last week and attempting to healthify them. And usually, for most of us, the holidays aren’t so much about healthifiying. It’s about giving yourself a break and enjoying the holiday season and those goodies that come with it.
However, if you’ve been following along with me here at Country Wife Chronicles very long then you also know that I’m on a bit of a real food for real life journey.
And while I will be baking with the ingredients I shared with you last week, I will also be doing some baking with the ingredients I’m sharing with you this week. It’s about moderation and substitutions where possible. It’s about keeping it simple while choosing health.
It was actually a couple of years ago, I guess, that I borrowed the book 100 Days of Real Food from our local library. I was trying to get on a health kick and I was just…so tired of dieting. The restriction and regulations, the “on the wagon, off the wagon” again approach. I was just so done with it all.
This real food concept seemed manageable. Simple and easy to balance when life gets real, and it always does, with busy days and improvised schedules.
The older I get the more I think I may be transitioning into becoming a minimalist. I feel like I’ve always had a love for simplicity and stillness, but today, in my mid-thirties, I feel like I am truly living it. Simplicity with intentionality.
There is a balance that comes when you are able to slow down and simplify your life. There is a freeing sense of contentment and joy that lies in just being still and knowing that God will take care of everything. I have experienced this joy. And, so I am sharing these tips with you today in hopes that you may experience that same joy in your life as well.