Pioneer Woman always makes her recipes sound so delectable, and she’s always right.

Because this was extremely delicious. And while my cream sauce didn’t quite thicken like how I’d expected it to, it was all finished nonetheless. For the recipe, I used white wine instead of brandy, and chicken thigh instead of chicken breast. But it was all super yummy either way.

4 down, 18 to go.

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The 22 recipes are part of my 22 list, a list of 22 things I’m working to accomplish while I’m twenty-two. Check out my other 22 recipes here.

22 recipes | rosemary balsamic potatoes

6 January 2014

During one of the weeks of my blog break, I really got on a roll with trying out new recipes. So I’ll be sharing them with you all over the next couple of weeks!

Rosemary Balsamic Roasted Potatoes by Let’s Dish Recipes

First up are these roasted balsamic potatoes.

I generally quite like balsamic vinegar, so this was a nice twist to regular roasted potatoes. I served this dish as a side for one of the dinner meals, and it was pretty good. Although I am may have been slightly enthusiastic with the balsamic vinegar so it was a little too tart for my liking. And my potatoes ended up needing much longer than 5-10 minutes in the oven unlike what the recipe stated, so I had to make adjustments to the cooking time.

But these came together quickly altogether, and were so easy to do!

3 down, 19 to go.

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The 22 recipes are part of my 22 list, a list of 22 things I’m working to accomplish while I’m twenty-two. Check out my other 22 recipes here.

Project Life | the plan for 2014

3 January 2014

Project Life and I have a little bit of a history.

I started Project Life in the middle of 2012, but quickly fell off the bandwagon a couple of months later.

In 2013, I determined to document life (both in my 21 list and my New Year’s Resolutions) but ended up failing miserably on both counts.

But in 2014, I’m determined to stick with it and finish the year. So I’m setting myself up for success.

Here’s how:

Decide on a core kit. This year, I’m using the Midnight Core Kit, together with the Cut & Paste mini kit and Maggie Holmes mini kit. I was torn between getting the Midnight or Sunshine core kit. But I eventually decided to go with a more neutral kit so I could mix the kits instead.

Have a system and make it work. Since I don’t have a photo printer at home (yet!), the plan for photos is to upload and print them online each week. I’m hoping to accumulate my journaling and thoughts throughout the week, so putting it together once I get my photos will be a breeze. I will probably put the week together in one sitting, instead of little bits throughout the week. Also, since I’m printing my photos online, chances are I’ll mostly be working on the week before, instead of the current week.
Have a limited selection of embellishments. I’m narrowing my slew of embellishments so there aren’t an overwhelming number of decisions to make later on during the year as the months go by.

Stick with one design of page protectors. I’m mainly using Design A pocket page protectors. Because I realized that having a variety of page protectors to choose from makes for far too many decisions which really end up stressing me out instead. But I might throw in a different design once I get the hang of things.
Blog about it! I’m sharing all these thoughts with you because I really want to be accountable and make it to the end of 2014.
Be flexible. I’m reminding myself that a plan is after all, just a plan. So while I may have this plan written out, I’m open to making changes to make this work once I actually get started.

This is a very rough idea of what I plan to do this year. But altogether, the key is just to keep things simple. The fewer decisions to make, the better. The pretty creative stuff can come afterward, once I settle down into a routine for this.

Here’s to documenting 2014.

The hope of a New Year

1 January 2014

Hope

image source

What I love so much about starting a new year is HOPE – another chance to start over, to believe in better things, another opportunity to change, to make new mistakes, to learn and grow.

The hope of a new year also brings uncertainty of the future. Uncertainty of what might happen, what could happen, what might not happen. There are so many reasons to fear what is ahead.

But this year, I’m embracing hope – the endless possibilities, the big dreams, the lessons and mistakes. All the anticipation, excitement, and thrill of what can and will be – that’s the hope of a new year.

From me to you, happy blessed 2014.

Here’s to 2014 and all that it will be. May it be the best year yet.

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“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.”
― Edith Lovejoy Pierce

2013: in retrospect

31 December 2013

As we reflect on the year that has passed, and contemplate the year ahead, I love being able to look back in retrospect and see how I’ve grown and changed through the year – the things I’ve done, the mistakes I’ve made, the places I’ve been, the relationships I’ve built…

This was the year I…

passed my driving test and got my license (!!)
stayed on the Dean’s List
finished my freshman year of college
did summer school
made new friends + got closer to old(er) ones
studied the book of Genesis
learned to embrace change + each season of life
did things on the twenty-one list
tried twenty-one new recipes
turned twenty-two
gave plenty of piano lessons
tried not to stress out about school
stepped out of my comfort zone, in faith
got an Instagram account for the blog
ran my first half-marathon
made thirteen DIY projects
vacationed in Hong Kong
started writing letters
had to adapt to change
reminded myself to be thankful in all things

I certainly think 2013 was much quieter, and not as dramatic or exciting as 2012. And I’ll confess that I certainly didn’t keep all my New Year’s Resolutions. But I’m still so so thankful for yet another year.

What a blessing to be able to look back on the year that has passed and marvel at all that was.

I can’t wait to see what 2014 has in store.

The Greatest Gift of all

25 December 2013

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. – Luke 2:10-11

The biggest reason that Christmas is pretty much my favorite season of the year, is the fact that I get to celebrate the birth of my Savior, and be reminded of the greatest Gift that was given during Christmas.

While it is sometimes easy to forget and get caught up in all the Christmas sales, shopping and stress of gift-giving, I constantly remind myself that Jesus is the reason for the season. What an amazing gift was given some 2000 years ago.

May your days be filled with much love, joy, peace and hope as we celebrate the birth of the Savior this Christmas.

Blessed Christmas to you and yours.

Post-a-Parcel | Christmas edition

24 December 2013

If you’re anything like me, each Christmas, you decide to start early on your Christmas gifts + wrapping. But somehow it happens later rather than sooner, and Christmas is just round the corner before you know it. Then it’s all a mad last-minute rush to get everything completed in time.

Since today is Christmas Eve (!!), I thought I’d share the packaging that I did for Post-a-Parcel a couple of weeks back. Earlier in December, I had the really fun opportunity to participate in Nia Neve’s Post a Parcel exchange. Post-a-Parcel is an international gift exchange of sorts, where you are paired with a partner and send each other five items. You can check out Nia’s blog post here where she explains more about Post-a-Parcel, or search #postaparcel on Instagram to see more inspiring packaging!

Aside from getting to go to the post office to send out my parcel, packaging these little parcels was one of my favorite parts. Brown paper packages tied up with string are some of my favorite things indeed.

I used some colorful twine from American Crafts. Then completed the package with a tag from Crate Paper’s Sleigh Ride collection.

Simple but classic.

I hope this post has inspired you to finish up your Christmas preparations pronto. Happy holidays!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

13 December 2013

image source

Oh my, I’ve been a terrible blogger lately, haven’t I? So terrible that I even missed my usual Hello, December post.

With the lack of posts and being MIA without a word, you would’ve thought that I’d fallen off the planet or something.

But I haven’t! I’ve only been swamped with the busyness that comes with college life and all that jazz – the last couple of weeks have been a flurry of finishing school assignments and a week at church camp. Now that it’s all over and I’m looking back at what seems like a blur, I’m so thankful for God’s goodness in sustaining me through what seemed like never-ending cycles of work.

I’ve yet to have a break this year where I haven’t had to worry/stress out about submitting school assignments and meeting deadlines. And since the last of the assignments are in and I’m officially on Christmas break, I can wholeheartedly join in the Christmas preparations and soak in the Christmas spirit.

Needless to say, I am beyond thrilled and excited to *finally* be done with school for the year and enjoy whatever is left of 2013.

It is truly the most wonderful time of the year.

Somehow, I’m really appreciating the holiday season this year and especially feeling the Christmas spirit. I’m remembering to soak it all in, each moment, one day at a time.

And I’ll watch with glittering eyes and enjoy the moments while they last.

Have a smashingly good weekend. I know I’ll enjoy mine x.

Thankful…

28 November 2013

I couldn’t find the image source – if anyone knows, please let me know!

Each year, I am reminded of how much I have to be thankful for:

For faith, love, family, friendship, God’s provision each moment of each day, all-sufficient grace, the ability to see the world, to laugh and appreciate life…

And the list is just beginning.

This year, I’m remembering to cultivate the habit of being grateful. Not just on Thanksgiving, but every day. Because when I truly stop and think about it, I know I can count my blessings in abundance.

I hope you remember it too.

Happy Thanksgiving!