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| I used Kit Seaton's Moss Green Handmade Paper for the background in this image. |
When it comes to genuine, long-term changes that will stick, I always support small goals rather than lofty, grandiose plans. There's nothing wrong with large-scale goals—they're dreams, after all, and I'm a romantic, life-long supporter of positive thinking and imagination—but their enormity imparts distance between the ultimate goal and the person achieving it. As long as your goal is massive and unattainable in the present, you'll always consider it something for in the future or in the long run, which doesn't hold you accountable for anything.
The best way to combat this is to divide your long-term goal(s) into multiple smaller goals, then further subdivide them into individual, easily achievable tasks. Set a monthly, weekly or daily plan for yourself and when you begin to accomplish the smaller actions, you'll feel a sense of accomplishment (that boosts productivity) and be well on your journey to attaining the end goal.
Or you could stick your nose in book after book, live in your head where fictional worlds collide and coexist, occasionally dream of future aspirations, then write about them in your journal. That's what my 13 year old self would recommend. In the end, you'd have a stellar vocabulary and reading comprehension, decent writing skills, plus a vivid imagination. In other words, a recipe for awesomeness. Your choice, though.
As for myself, I have quite a few plans for 2013. I'm thrilled. The most exciting thing is that all of my goals/plans-of-action are centered around my creative pursuits with some business aspects mixed in. For now I'll remain mum about them. Don't want to start yapping too early.
But first and foremost will be continuing this blog. A year ago I never would have imagined myself with a food-centered website all my own. I love it. I've learned so much (and continue to) in the process, which makes it all the more interesting. I'm proud to be a part of the thriving food blogging community and am humbled that my site is starting to grow traffic and readership. I look forward to sharing more healthy (and not-so-healthy comfort food) recipes with you all in the coming years.
For now, I'd like to look back at my top five most popular recipes since beginning this blog in August, plus five more that I've hand-picked as my favorites.
TOP FIVE MOST POPULAR RECIPES FROM 2012
Out of my growing recipe index, these five currently have the most views for two reasons:
1) They're simple (pizzasketti & shrimp pasta), comforting (emeril's beef stew) and/or helpful (hot lemon detox drink & pumpkin pie spice blend) and
2) they went semi-viral on the foodporn site, Recipe Newz, and are building popularity on Pinterest.
Oh and they're also amazing. Whoops, just tootin' my own horn now. ;)
5. Pizzasketti: Baked Pizza-Style Pasta
4. Effortless Winter Cleanse: Hot Detox Drink + Chia Seed Greek Yogurt
1. Emeril's Crock-Pot Beef Stew: 2.0
MY FIVE FAVORITE RECIPES FROM 2012
It was hard for me to choose only five recipes as my favorites, but I managed to narrow it down. These made the list because they introduced me to a favorite new technique (slow-cooking meat), ingredient (panko bread crumbs, nutritional yeast and acorn squash) or were simply such a hit that I made them repeatedly (chicken pot pie and crock-pot chicken with salsa).
5. Crock-Pot Chicken with Salsa, Black Beans & Green Chiles
4. Panko & Nutritional Yeast Crusted Oven-Baked Chicken Thighs
3. Two Methods for Slow-Cooked Pork Shoulder: Oven & Crock-Pot
2. Beef, Apple & Rice Stuffed Acorn Squash
1. Cast-Iron Chicken Pot Pie with a Puff Pastry Crust
And there you have it. Peruse the most popular, plus my favorites at your leisure. I'll see you next time with new recipes for 2013. Until then, may you have health,wealth and happiness.
Love,
Elaina
Question for Discussion: Have any favorites you think I missed or would like to chime in on a particular recipe? I'd love to hear from you!
PAID ENDORSEMENT DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. However, I ONLY recommend helpful products that I myself would use. And I'm really picky about what I share with you guys. Because I myself am super choosy about what I buy and consume. Recommending products that I love or want to own helps me cover the costs of running this blog and keep providing you with free, helpful information. And it costs nothing extra for you. Thanks!
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