HAPPY NEW YEAR! Welcome to the first day of 2016 and all its untapped potential and mystery (and on a Friday, nonetheless!) I’m am 100% one of those people who gets the “post-holiday” blues and to help alleviate that, yes, I still have the Hallmark channel’s Christmas movies playing on the TV and Spotify/iHeartradio tuned on to Christmas stations (Christmas tree up till February, anyone?) Christmas came way to early and left all too soon and now we’re on to a new year. I am ready for 2016 though, that’s one thing I won’t be lamenting. However, the blog isn’t ready for 2016. Over the next couple of weeks, posting may be a bit spotty, so make sure you’re subscribed to my mailing list so you’ll get notified when a new post goes up! I will be posting something pretty ground breaking on Monday though, so stay tuned!
Until then, enjoy this last long holiday weekend with some loved ones and celebrate the beginning of a new year! Welcome 2016! Now go load up on black eyed peas and greens!
ICYMI – (12/21) Monday: Cranberry Pecan Spiced Skillet Granola
ICYMI – (12/22) Tuesday: Recipe ReDux #26 Syrian Red Lentil Skillet Bread
Monday: Black Eyed Pea Curry with Swiss Chard & Roasted Eggplant
Tuesday: Top 10 Posts From 2015
Wednesday: Seckel Pear & Pistachio Scones
Blog Posts and Links I loved this week:
Life, Mind, Body, Spirit:
+ 20 Ways To Reset, Reflect, And Refresh For The New Year
20 lovely things you can easily do!
+ 30 Things I Realized In 2015
This is a pretty stellar list!
+ Feel: Questioning A Fast Life
Are you really feeling the right thing?
+ Unraveling The Year Ahead 2016
This looks like a great workbook if you’re interested (it’s free!)
+ How I Took Back Control Of My Happiness And My Life
You deserve to have it!
Wow, this was wonderful! Just be. Don’t let go, but just “let it be”!
+ What Your F-Bomb Habit Says About Your Intelligence
Unless you’re constantly using it directed at someone in a hurtful way, cursing isn’t bad.
+ To The People Always Searching For The Nest Best Thing
Maybe you should slow down and just live.
+ 7 Ways To Boost Your Self-Confidence & Feel Beautiful Again
Yea! Perfect! Things things are wonderful!
+ Are You A New Years Resolution Maker? Read This
Solid!
+ 7 Choices You’ll Never Regret Making
I don’t think you ever will with any of these.
+ Why Setting Goals Often Doesn’t Work (And What To Do About It)
Maybe it’s just me, but I hate the word “goal” in the first place.
+ 57 Small Changes You Can Easily make To Improve Your Life
It’s about the little things (although some of these seem pretty big).
+ The Surprising Truth That Fuels Our Negative Thoughts About People
Very interesting!
+ How To Set New Year’s Goals That Actually Feel Good
If you are setting goals, make them something to feel good about!
Fitness:
+ DIY Guide To Relieving Sore Muscles
I feel like a lot of people may need this at this moment in the year 😛
+ 5 Ways To (Discreetly) Pee In Public
For when you’re on your run and ain’t got nowhere to go!
Food:
+ The “Extinction” of Bananas Shows Us Why Our Food System Needs Help
It may be time to panic all you smoothie lovers!
+ 17 Gadgets Every Messy Eater Needs
I need the washable keyboard!
+ 10 New Tricks For Favorite Ingredients
I already love eating the cauliflower leaves!
+ The Original Locations Of 30 Famous Food Chains
I love all this stuff! Pizza Hut looked so sketchy!
+ This Soup IS For You: Seinfeld Soupman Serving Up Nationally
Omg! You can get your own!
Health, Celiac Disease & Food Allergies:
You won’t outgrow it can be a tough pill to swallow. That’s why it is an autoimmune disease, not an allergy.
+ 5 Ways Your Gluten-Free Child Can Self-Advocate
It’s so important for any celiac at any age.
Blogging, Social Media, Tech & Photography:
+ The Anatomy Of A Highly Shareable List Post
You know lists make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside 😉
+ How Do New Bloggers Avoid The Naughty List?
To #5 and #7.
+ 5 Ways To Improve Your Facebook Page’s Reach Organically
Well organic Facebook reach used to be my “thing”.
+ Why Is Facebook Engagement Suddenly Dropping?
Well see now, that’s not the case for me (edited: now it is…).
+ 8 Powerful WordPress Security Tips
Keep it safe guys and gals! There have been way to many hackings going on.
+ Technology Is Literally Changing Our Brains. Here’s The Conversation I Wish We Were Having
Agreed!
+ How To Choose A Linkup & Know If It’s Beneficial For You
I will be doing an audit on this for 2016.
+ 16 Photography Projects For 2016
I always think it would be fun to do one just for fun!
+ Say Goodbye To Bad Habits: Five You Should Ditch In The New Year
Break those bad blogging habits!
+ Tax Deductions All Bloggers Should Know About
As the year has come to an end.
+ How To Create An Awesome About Page For Your Blog
We talked about updating this a few weeks ago. So here’s more help!
Other:
Well I didn’t read any of these, but I did read some good ones!
+ This Is The Best Way To Ask Someone For A Tiny Favor
Wow! I’ll be keeping this in mind!
+ Why Is There An “R” In Mrs.?
Learning something new every day!
+ Here’s The Devastating Our College System Fails Poor Kids
This just makes me so angry. I could talk about this for hours.
Favorite Pins:
(Follow me on Pinterest – RebeccaGF666)
Ginger and Mandarin Noodle Bowl. This long noodle bowl will sure bring you luck!
Sweet and Sour Chickpeas, Peppers, & Broccoli. Sweet and sour love!
One Pot Chicken Fajitas and Rice. This meal is such a great idea!
Vegan Cinnamon Roll Pancakes. I dare you to try NOT to drool 😉
Pomegranate Dark Chocolates. Now these are the perfect little healthy candies to have on hand!
Smoky Cajun Black Eyed Peas Pasta. Blacked eyed love and long noodles! Best of luck 😉
Cranberry Pear Baked Steel Cut Oats. Just a perfect warm winter breakfast!
Pineapple Fried Millet. Not feelin’ the rice? Use the next best gluten-free grain!
Hazelnut and Chocolate Mousse. Isn’t this one beautiful chocolatey dessert!?
A few things I loved about my week or am grateful for:
+ Top 5 Christmas gifts: KitchenAid Stand Mixer (made cinnamon buns on Christmas!), Popcorn maker (so fresh, so good!), mini Buddha statue (getting my zen on!), a new long dark blue robe from VS (so warm and comfy!), and a Dustbuster (may there never be a crumb again!)
+ REAL Chinese take-out happened yesterday! O.m.g, that’s all I have to say 😀
+ Diving into another new book. (Night Film, by: Marisha Pessl), a little weird, but keeping my interest!
So tell me:
+ Have you subscribed to my email list?
+ How was your New Year’s Eve celebration? What are you up to today?
+ What was your #1 highlight from this holiday season?
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Stay connected: Facebook: Strength and Sunshine Twitter: @RebeccaGF666 Instagram: rebeccagf666 Pinterest: RebeccaGF666 Bloglovin’: Strength and Sunshine Google+: Rebecca Pytell
Farrah says
January 7, 2016 at 4:53 amYay! Great roundup as usual! I’m off to check out that 2016 workbook and the 2015 realizations posts…and the blogging tips…and the recipes! (Basically everything. ._.)
I need a washable keyboard too! 😛
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 7, 2016 at 6:11 amThe workbook seems pretty interesting! I need to take a closer look myself!
Haha! A washable keyboard would solve a lot of my problems!
Emily says
January 5, 2016 at 10:21 amHappy New Year! Thanks for sharing all of these great resources; I’ve already flagged a few to read. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 5, 2016 at 11:32 amFantastic! Happy 2016!
Sandy Sandmeyer says
January 4, 2016 at 8:59 pmThat’s quite a little list of posts there that are going to keep my busy.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 5, 2016 at 6:10 amHappy reading!
Linda @ Veganosity says
January 4, 2016 at 10:19 amSo many helpful blogging links today! Thank you!!!
Happy New Year!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 4, 2016 at 11:35 amBlogging posts are in abundance right now as people are trying to “amp it up” for the new year!
Emily says
January 3, 2016 at 9:57 pmThe “How To Choose A Linkup” article was very interesting! I have cut down on linking up and the article gave me even more to think about!
I am setting mini-goals or striving for creating new mini-habits in 2016. I am going to set one (and blog about) each month. The goals/resolutions posts went along with much of my thinking! One of the posts said “Let’s figure out a better way to think about setting goals so they can really serve us.” Focusing on small mini-habits is what I have found to be most helpful!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 4, 2016 at 12:57 amMost of them are such a waste!! (And bloggers just don’t know how to run them anyway! Not that hard!) Haha!
Totally! Anything that’s much more doable in an actionable way and we can easily implement (i.e. the small things) are the most effective for making lasting changes!
Mandy says
January 2, 2016 at 8:40 pmWOW. WOW. WOW!!!! Total drool fest right here. I seriously have a LOOOOOONG list of your recipes to try, it’s ridiculous. Happy New Year, Rebecca! Ahhhh, the suspense! I’m looking forward to Monday’s post! XO
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 3, 2016 at 12:06 amHappy New Year dear!!! I have a feeling you’ll enjoy this post just as much as our friend Natalie 😉
lindsay says
January 2, 2016 at 3:09 pmi love that you got a kitchen aid! and i love that you are soaking up this new weekend! with loved ones. and I love ALL these links. I need to try your black eyed peas and swiss chard next!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 2, 2016 at 3:33 pmHaha, thanks Lindsay! I hope you’re having a great start to 2016! xoxo
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness says
January 1, 2016 at 9:34 pmOMG those pomegranate chocolates!! INSANE! I love your Friday Finisher posts. Always so many great links!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 2, 2016 at 6:56 amThey look like such a perfect “pop in your mouth” healthy treat!
Thank you dear!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton says
January 1, 2016 at 9:00 pmRebecca, You list is always my favorite place to spend some serious couch time, you have the knack for finding the coolest stuff. So, I had to be picked up off the floor when I saw your tweet, I couldn’t click over here fast enough. And there is was, in all it’s glory! Thanks so much for the shout out! We all do so much to future our blogs and find other bloggers to read and love, I want to make sure the time I’m spending is doing the right stuff for all included. Anyway, I sure hope that you are having a great New Year thus far, yes, Christmas was here and gone so quickly, too quickly! I’m settling in to watch a bunch of fun stuff over the weekend, Hallmark? Perhaps! Thanks for starting off my New Year with a bang!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 2, 2016 at 6:55 amHaha, thank you dear, that means a lot that you love these posts and I’m more than glad to feature you! You can bet I’ll be visiting your blog much much more!!! I can’t believe I’ve been missing such amazing content from one awesome lady!
I am mourning that fact that Hallmark isn’t playing Christmas movies at 4am now….ahhhhhh! I had no idea what channel to put on this morning!
xoxo Happy New Year!
Elizabeth Shaw says
January 1, 2016 at 5:40 pmI love your Friday finishers! I have to be honest, I too am a Hallmark junkie but I was disappointed this year. Perhaps because I watched far to many the year before and I only had one new one per week to look forward to ha!
We kept it low key last night but are looking forward to see where 2016 takes us, personally and professionally!
XOXO
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 1, 2016 at 5:47 pmI think I feel the same way! They didn’t play some of my favorites at all, and they seemed to play the same old ones over and over everyday. They didn’t rerun the new ones much after they aired…But still I can probably act them out word for word now 😉 I have them playing right now!
Ah, yup! That sounds like the same plan I have 😉 xoxo
Cris says
January 1, 2016 at 5:34 pmHappy New Year, Rebecca! 🙂 Have a magical 2016!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 1, 2016 at 5:40 pmYou too!
Natalie | Feasting on Fruit says
January 1, 2016 at 12:43 pmHappy 2016!!!!! I’m still a little torn up about the banana extinction situation, but other than that I’m excited for 12 more months of potential 🙂 I’m so glad take out was yummy (so neat to find some that is allergy friendly!) and a popcorn maker sounds awesome…now I’m craving popcorn! You have me very curious about whats coming on Monday too…? Haven’t heard from you in a while so I hope all is well <3
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 1, 2016 at 1:01 pmMerry New Year!
I think my post on Monday will cause a few more “banana deaths” if you will 😛 But you’ll be happy!
I’ve been snacking on popcorn every day now! You should have seen me the first time I tried it. I didn’t know what to expect so I was holding a huge bowl waiting for it to all some shooting out! Fun, fresh, and delicious!
And yes, I’ll talk to you soon 🙁
Susie @ Suzlyfe says
January 1, 2016 at 11:26 amHappy New Year! Those pancakes are calling my name!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 1, 2016 at 11:58 amHappy New Year!!
I know!!! Need!
Emily @ My Healthyish Life says
January 1, 2016 at 9:29 amIt’s hard for me to pick a highlight 😉 But graduation was pretty awesome. I actually have time to read all of these today… Yay for lazy days. Happy new year!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 1, 2016 at 11:57 amHaha, well that’s a good thing to have so many! Fantastic year for you dear 😉 Happy New Year! xoxo
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
January 1, 2016 at 9:25 amI’m going gluten free in the new year to see if I have an allergy, so those links were very interesting to me! Happy New Year, Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 1, 2016 at 11:56 amHappy New Year!
Leslie says
January 1, 2016 at 9:17 amHappy new year! Look at all the great links! I hope you have a great day.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
January 1, 2016 at 11:56 amYou too Leslie!