Well the first Friday of the year (and month) is here. But I just really want January to be over already. January, February, and March are the worst months in my opinion. Nothing happens, it is freezing, dark, and gloomy. That's why I am pretty sure climate might play in a big role in where I choose to go to school next year 😉 At least I don't have to go outside today because of the "big scary" snowstorm. You know, people should not get so worked up about snow when you live in the Northeast...and it is January...and it is winter...I though it was a given, right?
So I totally feel like listing the rambling thoughts going through my head lately. That's what blogs are for 😉 First off I have been looking into making some homemade gluten-free vegan bagels and that may just happen soon. I am also lusting over dehydrators! I know I just got a great blender but I really want to make raw wraps! I need to make my weekend to-do list and hopefully get 75% of it done...goals, right? I hope bloggers don't find it awkward that I send them personal friend requests on Facebook, haha! Feel free to send me one yourself. I have been pouring curry power and cumin on everything and drinking good old green tea like it is going out of style, plus I have a beautiful purple sweet potato calling me for dinner tonight! Why the hell do I need to know how to use long division and divide 4x+3 ÷ 2x^3+4x^2-12x+52. I just don't understand the logic there...Okay, I am done I think, haha! (P.S. make sure you read my "What I am grateful for" section at then bottom!)
SS Posts from the week:
Monday: Power Monday #26 Guiding Purposes For 2014
Tuesday: DIY Memory Jars
Wednesday: Peanut Chicken with Sesame Asian Veggies
Thursday: Soft Spiced Cocoa Pumpkin Cookies
Blog Posts I loved this week:
+ 50 Bite-Sized Resolutions For Better Health
It is all about the little things you do to make each day, count!
+ 5 Ways the USDA Puts Your Health at Risk
Just because it is a government agency does not mean you should give them automatic trust.
So many bloggers have done the one word resolution post, but I really liked Cori's choice! Fearless!
+ Allergen-Friendly Baking: Guide to Gluten-Free Flours
Cara has been posting these really great allergen-friendly guides over the last few weeks and this time it is all about GF flours!
+ Tuesday Top Five {New Year Edition}
Suzanne picks 5 resolutions at the end of the post that she wishes people would make! I totally agree with them, she is so honest 🙂
+ Exercise Smarter, Not Longer
Sometimes the shorter (but more intense) is the best way to go!
+ Words That Should Never be Used to Describe Food
O man, my biggest pet peeve is #3! Like really? Cheat food? Cheating on what, yourself?
+ How to Increase Your Pinterest Traffic
Photography and image attractiveness is probably the biggest things you can do.
+ 10 Things to Let Go of on Your Blog in 2014
Great reminders for every blogger!
+ My 2014 New Year's Resolution
I love Caitlin! She is such a beautiful and strong young women. Her resolution is absolutely perfect and not what you might think! (She also includes a link to Kaitlin's resolution post which is a funny but so true read!)
+ Diet Mentality vs. Lean Living
This is perfect! I hate the word diet! Being healthy, eating right for your body, and being happy is a lifestyle not an unsustainable time-measured diet!
+ Chana Masala from Strength and Sunshine
I got an awesome feature from Daily Dish! So grateful for the love 🙂
Favorite Pins:
(Follow me on Pinterest – RebeccaGF666)
Turkish Chestnut Rice Pilaf. I have never had Chestnuts before, but saw them at the grocery the other day in produce...maybe that will be my new food for the week?
Gluten-Free Quinoa Bread. Just quinoa and chia seeds! That is awesome 🙂
Spicy Cashew Chicken. Yum, this looks so good and I am still obsessing over cashews and have gallons left over from making my cashew butter!
Simple Black Dress and Jacket. So gorgeous and mysterious!
Seared Spice-Rubbed Salmon with Curried Red Lentils. Drool! 🙂
Cauliflower Crust Pizza with Black Mung Bean Curry. Finally a cauliflower crust without eggs! (Plus curry? Yes!)
A few things I loved about my week or am grateful for:
+ I am now officially a Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador! I got the surprise email on Wednesday night and had forgotten I had even applied and was shocked! I applied right when I started my blog and knew I probably would not be accepted, but look at that, a few months go by and now I am 🙂 They are doing a whole redo of the site and program for 2014 so things are a little unsettled right now, but it will all come together quick and will be amazing I am sure 🙂
+ Snow Day today! So I basically had a really long winter break except for the fact that I had to go to school yesterday...total buzz-kill.
+ I am really stoked about the awesome posts I have lined up for you this month, like really! I hope you love them 🙂
So Tell me:
What are your weekend plans? Are you snowed in?
What month do you think is the worst or you least favorite?
Irina @ wandercrush
Hiya, thanks for the mention and I hope you try (and love!) chestnuts in 2014. Here's to hoping that this January isn't as bland as most tend to be 🙂 Lovely collection of links here!
strengthandsunshine
Haha it is pretty bland right now, but I am trying to make the best of it 😉
Caitlin
i am so so so humbled by your kind words about my post and me! xo
strengthandsunshine
You are simply amazing and beautiful 🙂
Kate
I totally agree, all of these months suck! Nothing really gets good until April when the sun starts peaking out again!
strengthandsunshine
It only starts to get okay in April haha. It needs to be June for me to be totally content!
Health, Love, and Chocolate
These are such great links! I am checking out the gf flours one asap, goodness knows I could use some help in that department. I am also dying over that curry cauliflower crust pizza, I am obsessed with curry right now and have failed at egg-free cauli crust multiple times so this is perfect.
Congratulations on the GGS ambassadorship, I know a few bloggers who work with them as well and I love the posts that come out of it!
strengthandsunshine
I've always wanted to try the famous cauli-crust and am still so skeptical but would totally give this a try!
Thanks Gina! I hope it will be a fun experience 🙂
Julie
Cheat day was my least favorite word too! Great links!
strengthandsunshine
It just sounds so stupid! Thanks for stopping by Julie 🙂
Kristy @ Southern In-Law
I have a dehydrator but I hardly use it because it takes so long, takes up so much counter space and often doesn't work as well as I wish it would.
My least favourite months are the winter months as I hate being cold - but unfortunately, living in Australia also means that my birthday (August 12) is smack bang in the middle of winter!
This weekend we're soaking up the final moments off our time off work before we're straight back to work on Monday!
strengthandsunshine
I hear if you are going to buy a dehydrator it has to be a good quality Excalibor, otherwise you might as well have not gotten one at all!
(It is so weird that would seasons and months are reversed, haha!) I am lucky and my birthday is June 6 right in the beginning of the glorious summer 🙂
Have fun with this final relaxation time! We all deserve it so I am hoping to take full advantage of mine 😉
Davida @The Healthy Maven
that spicy cashew chicken looks delish! Have a great weekend lovely and welcome to GGSA 🙂
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Davida 🙂 It totally does...maybe that is why I haven't cut chicken from my diet entirely 😉
Carly @ Snack Therapy
Thanks for sharing all of these amazing links. Wahoo!
strengthandsunshine
You bet 🙂
HourglassAndBloom
Loving you blog - very inspirational!
xo
strengthandsunshine
Aw, thank you so much 🙂 <3
olivetorun
Thanks for sharing my post, I am now starving with a lot to read! 😉
strengthandsunshine
Haha! I should put a disclaimer on these posts 😉 "Caution: bring food and lots of down time before proceeding to read!"
4loveofcarrots
Thanks for sharing my post! Glad you liked it! I am indeed snowed in and so happy about it! I only had to work one day this week 🙂 enjoy your snow day!
strengthandsunshine
You too! The more time off the better right?! 😉
jillconyers
Snow day here too. Love the beauty and strength image! Congrats and welcome to GGSA! It's a great group 🙂
strengthandsunshine
Thanks Jill! I am looking forward to meeting all you lovely ladies 🙂