We’re officially a week into the New Year and as usual yoga classes are packed, there’s no parking at the gym and everyone is in high gear with their resolutions. I’m not really a big resolution setter because I try to give up too much at one time and it always ends up backfiring on me. So instead, every year I create a vision board full of goals and dreams for the New Year. I’m a very visual person so it helps when I can see my goals or “resolutions” as you will, each and everyday. My past vision boards have been chalked full of day trips I’ve been wanting to take or yoga workshops I’ve only dreamed of being apart of, or the promise to start a meditation practice. Last year, my number one vision was to start my own dog-sitting business, now called Adventures in Dog-Sitting, and I’m happy to say I took care of 15 dogs last year and I have many new clients already booked for 2015! 

This is a vision board from a couple of years back. I’m currently making my 2015 board!

To make a vision board, all you need are some old magazines, pictures, phrases or anything inspirational that you want to see and be motivated by each day. I used a large piece of construction paper for mine and pasted my visions on that. Dream Bigger this year my friends! Last year, I also decided that I wanted to walk more and use my legs as a mode of transportation to and from work, the library and the grocery store. So I downloaded the app “Map My Walk” and I programed it to count the amount of miles I walk each week. NOT steps- this is not a “FitBit” thing. This is actual walking for 2.5 miles at a time or more if I’m feeling energetic! I got an email last week from the app people saying that I walked 376 miles last year! That’s just over a mile a day! And with an overall calorie burn of 36,788, what’s not to love about walking?!

Get out and walk!

The circuit class I’ve been taking for the past year or so started up again today and as usual I’m sore already! If you’ve never tried a class you should! Think seven different stations with exercises like squats, biceps curls, jumprope, and burpees, for one minute at a time, seven minutes in total. We get a 20 second break in between stations, thus keeping our heart rates up and our energy level high. I always know when I had a great circuit workout the next day when I go to sit down on the toilet and it feels like a mile away! Clearly my quadriceps are burned out! Sore today or sorry tomorrow? I’ll take sore today because I’m hardly ever sorry after a good sweat session! Don’t have the money to take class? Or there’s not one near you? No problem! Hook up to Pinterest for easy workouts that can done anywhere and without any equipment!

I love my toys!

So, I’m still on the no sugar kick although I think that it’s all going to come to an end tonight because my neighbor dropped off a bottle of wine that she swears she “can’t” drink, whatever that means, and it’s been starring me in the face for the last three nights now! If only I had more will power. Sigh. I did get my crock pot out today to make some Vegan and Vegetarian Tortilla Soup, ready within three hours that will pair nicely with the wine though! This is an easy recipe and while you run errands, attend yoga or pick up the kids, this can be cooking itself for you! Set it and Forget it! Tortilla soup is usually made with chicken and/or chicken broth but I used a Veggie Bouillon cube instead with water as a base and I added potatoes for a more hardy feel. Check out more slow-cooked meals here!

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Tortilla Soup- makes one crock pot worth, serving more than six 

Ingredients:

-3 red potatoes

-2 large tomatoes

-1 bell pepper

-1 habanero pepper

-1 red onion

-1 can yellow corn

-1 can black beans

-1 can pinto beans

-1 4 oz. can green chilies

-1 veggie bouillon cube

-1 cup salsa (I used tomatillo)

-1 cup water

-avocado

-cilantro

-tortilla chips

Directions:

1. Chop up all the veggies and add to your crock pot.

2. Drain and rinse the beans (or use dry beans instead) and add them too, with the water and bouillon cube.

3. Set on high for 3 hours and go do what you gotta do.

4. This will be a bit concentrated so if you are reheating this or want to make it more “soupy” just add a little water to it!

5. Garnish with some avocado, cilantro and bits of tortilla chips on top! Ole!

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I’m currently reading Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, my third novel by her, and she has yet to let me down with the spookiness she includes in each book!