Update.

Wow, I haven't posted for over a week! I am actually doing a great job sticking with my goals, I'm just not doing so hot at regularly writing about them, I guess. {eeesh.}

I CANNOT believe I have cooked dinner every night for a week. As long as I keep it simple, and plan ahead, it's easy peasy! What was I so worried about?

So far, we have had Kyle's parents over twice, and we've had some new neighbors over as well. We REALLY loved getting to know them better, and I have to say, in keeping with my new revelation that less truly is more, it was so nice to just have an intimate conversation at the table. Normally, we tend to invite two or three couples over at a time in an effort to make things lively, BUT, I am finding that I prefer the one on one stuff SO much more!

With multiple couples, it's fun and feels party-ish, but I don't feel like I come away from the experience actually knowing anyone better or on a deeper level. With less guests, it's very much about the "quality" aspect of our interaction. Love, love this.

It has also been a wonderful blessing to spend more time with Kyle's parents. We decided to make a weekly date of dinner and family home evening every Monday night, and we are LOVING it. Kort so looks forward to their arrival and is always sad when they have to go. He also gets disappointed when "We aren't having ANYBODY over tonight? Not ANYBODY?!!"

I need to be taking more pictures. I have been doing a good job of CREATING nice table arrangements, but again, not so diligent in capturing this on film. Pictured, is a simple table setting I put together for the week. Kort loves it. He gets to blow the candle out each night when the meal is finished. Tonight the hubs even sang happy birthday and told Kort to make a wish, you know, just to keep it interesting.;

Tennyson likes it too! {and then he gets distracted by something else...like fingers...ha ha!}

Back in business

Wow, was it just me, or did the holidays get a little bit hectic there at the end?! Whoa. Well, I am excited to say that the tree is down, the décor is in boxes, and life is getting back to normal. I can’t even tell you how excited I am to get re-focused on the goals we’ve set and start adding new challenges as well.

Since the whole “start cooking more” goal was smothered half to death by the holiday season, I’m going to start back there and start cooking {or trying to cook} all of your recipe suggestions, so definitely keep ‘em coming if you have them. I will rate the dinners as we try them out. The rating system will share how easy I thought the meal was, how tasty I thought the meal was, and whether or not I could get the Kortmeister to eat any of it! {That’s the toughest part.}

2 additional goals I am adding for the month are:

1. Have guests over for dinner at least once a week. {This is so good for your soul, and you don’t even have to get a babysitter, so WHY on earth aren’t you doing it more often?!} Part of this is going to be focused on simple ways to make my table more beautiful, and like, such as, and so on, and such. And another part of this will be on maaaaybe trying out fun and different foods, things to do post-dinner and so on. I will give you detailed updates.

2. Teach gratitude and live gratitude. {More on that very soon.}

I’m ready to get down to business!

Goodbye bathrobe, (yes, I reverted… a little. Don’t you juuuudge me!} and hello shiny sinks, un-broken windows, the power of ten, and my sanity! Woot! Woot! {And yes, in case you were wondering, I am going back to doing all of those things bright and early Monday morning. 3 power of ten sessions {spread out throughout the day}

How were your holidays?
Is your sink shiny?
Are you going to jump on board with any of these goals…or do you have a few of your own up your sleeve?
Spill it.

the goal.

The goal is simple.

A little less THIS:

And a little more THIS: