Project 365

This year’s Project 365 is about enjoying this moment, where I’m at, while I’m in it. Then, looking back and seeing the value of the everyday.

I’ve started a 365 photo project a couple times and finished one in 2011. To be honest, taking the pictures isn’t the problem (I recently removed over 3,000 pictures from my phone) but actually doing something with them is. Like many people, my digital images generally end up sitting on my computer or memory card, a bit of a lost moment. Rediscovering them is always fun but as part of my intention in 2015 to live according to my priorities I want to take some extra time to find the value in these everyday moments.

I’ve scheduled time into my The Day Designer planner to edit my photos every Sunday morning while I drink my tea and plan my meal prep for the week. I’m hoping that by keeping down to manageable chunks, I’ll be more consistent.

Plus, I’ll share here just for fun about every two weeks. 🙂 You really wanted a glimpse into the messy back end of my life, right?

To ring in the New Year, we enjoyed a simmer all day pot of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. Nothing like comfort food to get 2015 started right! (bonus: freaking delicious sandwiches with the leftovers)

Although it’s been a long time since traditional southern fried chicken has had a place in my meal planning, I love it. When I think of Sunday dinner, it is buttermilk fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans. On Jan 2, I took advantage of my husband being home to photograph the process I use to make buttermilk baked chicken – a very satisfying substitution thanks to an overnight soak in buttermilk.

This Project 365 is one part of my 101 in 1001, but crocheting an afghan is another. In my goals for 2015, I mentioned that finishing  a blanket is one of my professional development goals, curious why?

 

These gold chargers typically live with my Christmas supplies, but I decided to leave them out to make it just a little easier to keep my table looking nice. I find that with the table set, I use it as a clutter deposit less and we eat dinner at it MORE.

 

This is my little old man: Mozart. My husband and I adopted Mozart not long after we started dating. You don’t see him quite as much as Bella Bullmastiff on my instagram because he literally doesn’t sit still – he vibrates. At 9 1/2, he is anxious about changes and strangers, your typical grumpy old man. Even though he has to be carefully managed, he is one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met – just only for “his” people.

 

1 – Please note the incredible messy kitchen. If I can remember correctly, I still wasn’t feeling well on the 6th, so I hadn’t cleaned up the kitchen all day. My husband offered to make that night’s dinner (grilled cheese and creamy roasted veggie soup from the freezer). Masterchef Kids happened to come on tv at the same time and my munchkin was inspired to help Daddy with dinner (he was buttering the bread). My husband and my son are still figuring out how to handle each other without me as a buffer after the deployment so this was definitely a good moment.

 

This is a quick phone snap but I had to use it. We had planned a lovely “date” of spending the day down in Austin doing things that munchkin didn’t enjoy – we went to Dover Saddlery and spent too much money, we went to a woodworking shop to window shop, had lunch in a trendy little downtown bistro, and had a generally relaxing and fun day. As we made our way home past the outlets, we braved the ever colder and blustery evening to dash into the Disney Outlet just in case there was something cool that munchkin would like. Parenthood, folks – when you end your oh-so-rare date with a stop at the Disney Store for Planes Fire and Rescue slippers.

I know, I take a lot of pictures of food. This one earned a spot because of that gravy – it was creamy, delicious, a little peppery. And not a bit of flour in it. I made an apple gravy by roasting apples and onions and then pureeing with my immersion blender. The gravy and pork roast were all in the slow cooker while I was working too! Don’t worry, recipe is coming as soon as get my posts caught up!

My little man is one hell of a reader. Sometimes, I forget that he’s not necessarily representative of all five year olds because I was a big reader too. I hit college level reading in 6th grade or so. I love that he has discovered the incredible world of books and probably go a little overboard with it. He knows that if he asks for a book, I’ll get him one. Always. He’s recently started tackling chapter books for the first time – we’re starting with Book 1 + 2 of the Magic Treehouse series and Book 1 of Captain Awesome.

If you haven’t already met her on my instagram, meet Bella Bullmastiff. Bella came into my life exactly two weeks before I lost my heart-dog, Luna at 16 years old. We had known Luna’s health was fading, so my husband encouraged me to find a puppy that was completely different her happy Samoyed-ness. I chose a Bullmastiff after meeting a couple wonderful therapy dogs that were working with wounded warriors. I was very picky about the breeder we went through because I wanted a dog social and stable enough to do therapy work. We were on a waiting list for almost 6 months before what we wanted was born and available – a big boned, red fawn girl who was a little overly social for a Bullmastiff and very people focused. On Saturday, she cheered on our favorite football team by going Beast Mode – bullmastiff style.

I adore this picture from Sunday morning. This is my everyday. Notice Bella snoozing on the couch (where she is right now, actually). Mo is watching squirrels outside. Piles of laundry on the coffee table are waiting to be put away. One of my munchkin’s books is waiting to be read on the end table. Plenty of clutter, a little mess, but just about perfect at the same time.

Are you working on a 365 project? I’d love for you to leave a link in the comments!