Thank You

by Liz Heather in

Just so we're clear, I am grateful to you.

I know that sentence isn't enough - and that thought makes me so mad. I want to express so hard to you just how much it means to me that you would ever want to read any of these words or posts or anything that I've put up on this site over this past year. Any of it - the stuff you've liked and especially the stuff where you've been all "Meh, not my thing," 'cause you still came back to see what else I got - and for that? Man. That's really fucking nice - and I thank you from the pit of stomach. I don't think you realize how kind it is and how much I bask in knowing that even one person gave a shit about anything written here. We're all busy and we all have a million things to do, and this blog has been one of my major things to try and maintain this year because it's brought me a great deal of happiness to try and do. And it makes me fucking blush to think of anyone smiling for a millisecond because of something he/she has read on here. 

Andrew Hamm, I'm especially thankful for you and your Mom Says illustrations each week. They are my favourite part of the site. Just to clue the rest of you in, Andrew drew this first Mom Says and sent it to me as a gift just because he wanted to. And obviously, I loved it. Who wouldn't? And when I selfishly asked if he could keep doing them each week, he agreed and here we are. This man has more important things to do, but still does these for me and he's incredible for it. What kind of person receives a gift and then responds with, "Man, this gift is amazing. But you know what would be greater? If you continued to gift me with things just like this one EVERY SINGLE WEEK into the foreseeable future. Thanks." That's essentially what I said to him. One day he'll get sick of doing them and stop because that's what a sane person would do and I'll still be thankful for all this hard work. Andrew, you're the best.

I want to hug all of you.

Yours,

Liz

New Year's Day Checklist

by Liz Heather in ,

The following things must be done on New Year's Day to ensure a prosperous year ahead:

  1. Wear red. This brings luck.
  2. Nothing should leave your house - so don't take out the garbage today - because if things leave, then that means things will be leaving you all year.
  3. Don't do your laundry or wash your dishes or wash your hair because you'll wash away luck. And don't you dare sweep at all.
  4. Don't use scissors today or they will cut off your good fortune.
  5. Good Foods To Eat:
    • Incorporate some black eyed peas into one or all of your meals today. When eaten today, they bring enormous good luck. 
    • Lentil soup because lentils resemble coins.
    • Pork because poultry scratches backwards, a cow stands still, but a pig roots forward, ergo those who dine upon pork will be moving forward in the new year.
    • Chicken should not be eaten on the first day of the year or you will have financial difficulties for the rest of the year.
    • Any greens such as collard greens, peas, chard, cabbage, kale, spinach, broccoli, etc. (because the greens resemble money).
    • Eating cornbread is supposed to bring wealth.
    • Some good recipes can be found here.
  6. Wearing new clothes today (especially socks and underwear) is extremely lucky.
  7. Do not lend any money to anyone today or you'll be giving away all your money throughout the year. And try not to spend any money as well.
  8. Avoid breaking anything today or crying. Again, what you do today sets the tone for your coming year.
  9. Keep this in mind: Anything shaped like a ring is believed to be good luck because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle.
  10. Sleep in a bed with clean, new sheets.

So basically - whatever you do today will set the tone for your year. So sleeping in all day is obviously not the best idea since you'll have a lazy year ahead. Some ideas of things to do today for a good year?

  • Phone friends of family
  • Dance
  • Be friendly and polite, more than usual
  • Exercising, even in some small way
  • Do a small amount of work, but don't go overboard
  • Compliment someone

Am I ridiculous for suggesting these things to you? That's your call. I'm a firm believer in this kind of stuff and I'm also fortunate enough to feel a great deal of happiness in my life so I'll continue on with adhering to things like this. 

Happy New Year!

Auld Lang Syne

by Liz Heather in

This song will forever make me teary. I don't know why. I want to say because it's so beautiful. It's definitely been on some of my breakup playlists over the years, just to help induce any sadness. Just love it.

New Year's Eve Checklist

by Liz Heather in

Make sure the following things are done today:

  1. Make sure there are groceries in the house. The new year must not be seen in with bare cupboards, lest that be the way of things for the year.

  2. Go to an ATM or bank and make sure there is cash in your wallet. This guarantees prosperity in the coming year.

  3. If you're celebrating at home, let all the windows and/or doors open at midnight to let the old year out and to let the new year in.

  4. Twelve grapes, for the twelve months. You also should make a wish on each grape. And for each grape's taste - that signifies what that month will be like. For example, if the third grape you eat is very sour, then March will be an unpleasant month for you.

  5. Wear polka-dots, even in some small way. Anything round signifies good fortune.

  6. Pay January's rent TODAY. You don't want any money going out of your home tomorrow.

  7. Settle any debts you owe, if you can afford to.

  8. Back up your laptop onto the external hard drive. Have you done that lately? God, so important. Go do that now.

  9. Wash your hair today, so you don't have to tomorrow. This will be explained later.

  10. Take out the garbage today, so you don't have to tomorrow. Again, explanations are coming soon.

I'm sorry. I have to do these things. And so, I must pass them onto you.

If you actually give a shit about doing ANY of those things, then return tomorrow to see what you should do on New Year's Day for a prosperous year ahead. 

New Year's Day Recipes

by Liz Heather in , ,

You'll understand in a few days why I'm posting these recipes with these specific ingredients, but for now all I can tell you is that these would be extremely lucky recipes to make on January 1st. (And if you hate the following recipes? Try to eat something with these main ingredients then - if you know what's good for you.)

Crockpot Pulled Pork Chili - recipe from How Sweet Eats

Crockpot Pulled Pork Chili - recipe from How Sweet Eats

Crockpot Brown Sugar Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin - recipe from Food52

Crockpot Brown Sugar Balsamic Glazed Pork Tenderloin - recipe from Food52

Cider-Dijon Pork Chops - recipe from Epicurious

Cider-Dijon Pork Chops - recipe from Epicurious

Lentil Tacos - recipe from AllRecipes

Lentil Tacos - recipe from AllRecipes

Garden Lentil Bolognese - recipe from Dunaway Dietetics

Garden Lentil Bolognese - recipe from Dunaway Dietetics

Pork and Black Eyed Pea Chili - recipe from Gourmandistan

Pork and Black Eyed Pea Chili - recipe from Gourmandistan

Three Bean Salad - recipe from eNourishment

Three Bean Salad - recipe from eNourishment

Pesto Lasagna with Spinach and Mushrooms - recipe from MyRecipes

Pesto Lasagna with Spinach and Mushrooms - recipe from MyRecipes

Spinach, Bacon and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms - recipe from How Sweet Eats

Spinach, Bacon and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms - recipe from How Sweet Eats

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Muffins - recipe from Or Whatever You Do

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread Muffins - recipe from Or Whatever You Do

Two Actually Good Pinterest New Year's Ideas

by Liz Heather in

I could write an essay on the perils of being on Pinterest. I won't, but I could. I've sifted through an array of New Year's themed pins and these two were my favourites. I'm definitely going to attempt them and I think you should, too. 

1. A good way to clean out your closet and see what you're actually wearing throughout the year: Flip all your hangers around on New Year’s Day. After one year, donate any clothes that you haven’t worn, aka the hangers that are still flipped. This only works if you've already listened to my other piece of advice about having one item per one hanger.

2. (I hope you know that with any mention of Pinterest, there are going to be mason jars involved.) Anyway, starting on January 1st, write any good things that happen to you on little pieces of paper and plop them into this jar. Obviously, you can use a jar or a box or whatever to keep the notes in. What types of things would you write on the notes? Surprise gifts, accomplished goals, things that made you laugh, a memory you don't want to forget, lines from books you've loved, etc. And when December 31st arrives, go through the jar and recollect on the best moments of your year. Now, this idea might seem kind of silly to you - but there are so many good things that happen within the span of a year that go unremembered, especially as we age and tend to forget (or more specifically as I age and tend to forget). I just thought this is such a simple way to not let things pass by too quickly. And if I actually follow through with this activity throughout the year, I'll make sure to post what my notes were in a year's time. (UPDATE: I didn’t share them here because it ain’t your business!)