New Year’s resolutions, my new Life Planner, and yummy Puppy Chow

I’m back dear friends.  I meant to write a post Sunday evening, but I was plain tuckered out from Christmasing at Grandma Helen’s.  We are so happy that she is feeling better.  It was a fun day of eating great food, visiting with family, and enjoying Christmas with Grandma Helen.

Now, it’s back to reality and school is back in session.  Well, kind of.  The boys went back yesterday, but got out 2 hours early due to the snowstorm coming through.  Then, they had a late start this morning.  And if I were a bettin’ woman, I’d lay fifty bucks down that tomorrow will be a late start OR no school due to the frigid, dropping temperatures.  I believe this is what they call “Welcome to Iowa winters”.

Being a new year, you are probably wondering what my New Year’s resolutions are.  Well.  That’s a good question.  I haven’t written any of them down.  But I have a pretty good idea.  So let me start…

*  Be present with my family.  Not distracted by social media, laundry piles, etc…

*  Work on being more joyful and grateful.  I may start up my One Thousand Gifts journal again.  (Ann Voskamp’s book is great and she shares about the importance of writing down and numbering your gifts or blessings that God has given you.)

*  Continue reading the Bible by using the website IF: Equip.  You guys, I’ve talked about this site before and I LOVE how easy this site is at helping one read the Bible. It makes reading the Bible interesting and not so daunting.  Monday through Friday, they send you what the verses are for that day.  Then, I watch the 2 minute video and read the comments to see what stood out to other people.  Since last February, we’ve read through about five books of the Bible.  And I’ve learned so much!

*  Pray more fervently about things that are on my mind.  Not just think them.  Or worry about them.  PRAY about those things.

*  Cook healthier meals.  Or maybe just…cook more.

*  Work out more consistently.

*  Be content.  This goes along with being grateful.  But I’m so blessed (aren’t we all?) and I want to be more content.  Thankful for where I am, what I have, and joyful with who I am.

*  Read more.  To the boys and by myself.  I love books and I love reading books to the boys.  I need to take time to do this more consistently.

So, those are a few of my “resolutions”.  We’ll see how it goes.  But.  Please don’t keep me accountable by asking me “How are the healthy meals going?”  Friends, I can’t deal with that kind of pressure.  I’m fully aware of my inconsistency and short comings.  I realize that come February, we may be going back to eating pizza twice a week for meals.  Until then, we’ll party and eat all kinds of crazy vegetables and greens.

On to other items…

I have a few things I’d love to share with you.  First of all, this:

I LOVE this...The Erin Condren Life Planner.  And the markers...

I LOVE these two things…The Erin Condren Life Planner. And the marker pens…Staedtler marker pens.

Before Christmas, I bought this online at Erin Condren life planners.  You really should check it out.  I am a BIG fan of planners and WRITING IT DOWN.  I know.  The iPhone has a calendar and all that, but I am partial to writing it down.  Because I have experienced the not so great thing about technology…it can sometimes ERASE everything.  Nothing is more frustrating then when this happens.

So, I bought this planners because I’ve heard many people RAVE about them.  I’m all for it.  I love a little something that is fun and will help keep me organized.  And I can’t forget to share about the GREAT Staedtler marker pens.  Friends, seriously.  These marker pens are amazing and you can buy them at Target.  Colorful marker pens make your planner all colorful and pretty.  It’s bringing out the inner child in me.

Disclosure:  just because I have a planner, don’t think I’ve got it all together.

This was my post on Facebook yesterday:

Screen Shot 2015-01-06 at 5.26.13 PM

Clearly, I need to look at my planner before I go to bed to see all that I have scheduled for the next day.  But being the positive person that I am, I am REALLY believing this planner is going to help me.  🙂

advertisement

Now that I’ve shared my love for life planners and colorful marker pens, let’s talk about another random thing.  Puppy Chow.  Not the real kind that dogs eat.  No.  I’m talking about the Rice Chex powdered sugar snack for people.  (This fits right in with my ‘healthy meals’, doesn’t it??)

IMG_4131

Over the weekend, I made Puppy Chow for Hubby and the boys.  (And maybe myself.)  It’s something I love to make over Christmas break.  An easy dessert-like snack that we all love.

Anyway, I made it and I realized something.  Not all Puppy Chow is delicious.  I’ve had Puppy Chow other people have made.  I’ve purchased it at convenience stores (at Nate’s request).  I picked some up while purchasing things at the bakery.  I’ve glanced at the recipe on the back of the Rice Chex cereal box.  But.  I had NO IDEA that I have THE recipe for the best Puppy Chow.

Rather than going on and on about how great it is, let me go ahead and just share the recipe with you.  You will thank me.  (Actually, you should thank my mom.  She gave me the recipe many years ago.)

Puppy Chow

1 stick oleo

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup creamy peanut butter

10 cups Rice Chex

3 cups powdered sugar

Place the Rice Chex onto a cookie sheet.  In a microwave safe bowl, melt oleo, chocolate chips, and peanut butter (or you can melt the mixture in a pan on the stove top).  Pour the melted mixture on top of the Rice Chex and stir until cereal is coated with chocolate mixture.

Put 3 cups of powdered sugar into a brown grocery bag.  Add the chocolate coated Rice Chex mixture to the brown bag.  Shake well. (*I usually step outside in the freezing cold to do this.  Powdered sugar will puff EVERYWHERE.)  Lay the Puppy Chow on wax paper to dry.  *Store in a Tupperware container. **There will be an excessive amount of powdered sugar, but this is what makes it so good.  You might want to use a slotted spoon to separate the Puppy Chow from the powdered sugar when transferring it to a Tupperware container.

Speaking of tasty recipes, I was going to share my Oreo Balls recipe with you, but I don’t want to be too unhealthy with this New Year’s post.  I’ll save that for another day.

So, please…won’t you share?  What are some of your New Year’s resolutions?  How are you planning on making it the best year yet?!

With my Life Planner and Stuedstatler marker pens, I’m ready to take on 2015!  And, maybe a bowl full of Puppy Chow to go with all of that planning.

 

 

 

 

 

advertisement

2 Comments
  • Tracy
    January 9, 2015

    Stopping by from Momfessionals. I just started using the IF: Equip site for my Bible reading/quiet time and love it!

    • Angela Banae
      January 9, 2015

      Hi Tracy!
      Thank you for checking out my blog! I’m so glad you are using the IF: Equip site! Isn’t it AWESOME!!??! Today, we finished the very last chapter of Genesis. Joseph’s story is so amazing! I’m anxious to see what book of the Bible Jennie Allen picks out next! Thanks for stopping by…it’s always encouraging to hear from other bloggers 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


eighteen − 6 =

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.