Generally in the new year I get the same itch: to start writing, to read more, to eat healthier, to be more physically fit; basically, to improve myself on all levels. As a new mama, with two children under two, I find myself focusing a lot on the babes, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. However, I also know that to be the best mama I can be, I need to work on my self-care. I often find that when several days go by where I practice little-to-no self-care, I get crankier and less patient, which is unfair to my babies, my husband, and myself.
I think I’ve started the year off right so far – only five days in and in addition to re-vamping this blog, I already finished a book since the new year, which makes me happy – check out my Goodreads updates on the right hand side to see what I am reading, along with my reviews! Also, I tried some new recipes, and signed up for some yoga classes. It’s a start!
I should also tell you that my family and I are on somewhat of a grand adventure: we decided to spend the winter away from our east coast home. In fact, we are staying in Utah for three months! Currently, we are about three weeks into our adventure and are loving the fresh air, the snow, and especially the majestic mountains.
This is the view from the local park we frequent with the kids and the dogs. It seems not to matter where we are, even someplace as simplistic as the grocery store has amazing views of these mountains!
My husband is an avid skier and has been skiing already a handful of times, and the really exciting part is that he has taken our daughter, who is not even two yet, up to the mountain. Our daughter, E, is absolutely fearless and loves this time with her papa; her favorite thing to tell him when he stops at the bottom of the hill is, “Go!” It is remarkable seeing her thirst for new experiences and her willingness to try new things.
I really enjoy cooking and especially since the kids were born, do so on a regular basis. We started the new year off right with some venison tacos!
To brag on my hubby a bit more, besides being an avid skier, he also enjoys to hunt deer and goose during their seasons back home. Before we left, he was able to get two deer, which now leaves us with a freezer full of venison. Naturally, since we drove out here, we decided to fill a cooler full of our venison and bring it with us to Utah.
This morning, we took the kids to the mountain and gave the baby his first smell of the mountain air, while the hubby took E on a few ski runs on the bunny slopes. Then the kids and I returned home while he continued to ski. For me, it was the perfect afternoon to whip up some venison stew!
It was a hearty choice and the venison was the most tender I’ve cooked yet; not sure if you’re familiar with venison, but it can dry out very easily and quickly. This was a new recipe I tried, but it will certainly go into the keeper pile! Stay tuned for a page dedicated to new recipes like this one; it’s one of my goals for the next several weeks.
Now that I feel caught up with everyone, and full from venison stew, I think I will go get some shut-eye. Tomorrow is another day and another adventure awaits!
Thoughts du Jour 