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2015 Focus Words – Be Happy

Kristen — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:29:35 +0000

Today I’m sharing my 2015 Focus Word(s) as well as how I plan on using this phrase to shape my year. Plus, I’m giving one lucky Dine & Dish reader the chance to win an Etsy gift certificate!

Instead of making resolutions each year, I always choose a focus word. This word or phrase is my guiding light throughout the year, so it has a fairly large responsibility. Every decision I make I use my focus word as a barometer… how does this decision impact the way I want my life to go this year?

I’ve gone back and forth over the past month thinking about what I want my focus word to be for 2015. 2012 was all about the word “Connect”. 2013 we went on a quest to “Simplify”. 2014 was the year I chose to “Invest”. Now 2015 is here and I have oscillated back and forth between two words. But, after much consideration I’ve finally decided. My 2015 focus is actually a phrase…and it’s a simple one. “Be Happy”….

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The Happiness Report #35

Kristen — Fri, 05 Dec 2014 23:53:33 +0000

Hi Friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful week recuperating from all the pie and turkey eating last week.

We had an amazing Thanksgiving with my brother and his family…but I ate way too much pie. And turkey. And broccoli cheese casserole. Good stuff!

We played lots of games (Monopoly and Chicken Foot!), and my sister-in-law helped me sew my Kindness Elf. I think she turned out to be such a cutie, don’t you? Of course, now I have the sewing felt stuffed things bug and came home and bought about 10 more patterns from this adorable Etsy store! Apparently my plan is to sew the month away. Sounds good to me!

Shall we talk about what else is making me happy lately?

…

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Invest in 2014 {Giveaway: Word of the Year Necklace}

Kristen — Wed, 01 Jan 2014 19:57:48 +0000

Happy 2014, friends! I hope your new year is off to a very happy start!

Every year, instead of giving myself a list of resolutions I most likely won’t keep, I choose one focus word. My word for 2011 was Happiness (hence starting my Happiness Reports), 2012 I chose Connect (which launched my Connect through Reading posts) and 2013 my word was Simplify (Simplify Saturday was a result).

My focus word for 2014 is…

So what does it mean to INVEST in 2014? Well, much to my husbands dismay I’m not referring to stocks and savings accounts, necessarily. Instead I’m talking about plans to:…

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Simple Solutions for Living

Kristen — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 19:54:45 +0000

My year as a SimpleHuman brand ambassador is winding down. Considering that my focus word for 2013 is Simplicity, this has been such a great partnership. If there is any company out there that personifies simplifying, it would be SimpleHuman!

Having SimpleHuman products in my life has definitely helped me to focus (without really focusing) on simplicity. Some other things I have done to simplify my life in the past 8 months are:

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Simplify Saturday: Hoover Twin Tank Steam Mop

Kristen — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:24:55 +0000

Each Simplify Saturday, I feature a product, app, website, book, etc. that has helped me to live my 2013 focus word of Simplify. This week I am sharing a product that helps me simplify one of my least favorite tasks… mopping the floor.

Our house is mostly hardwood floors. As much as I love hardwood floors, I absolutely hate cleaning them. I’m not going to pretend that the tool I’m going to share with you today makes me love cleaning our floors because it doesn’t. The only thing that could possibly make me love cleaning is hiring someone else to do it. That would be love at first sight right there… …

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Project 365 2013: Our Life in Photos January 13th – 19th

Kristen — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:10:38 +0000

(My favorite Instagram photo from the week)

January 13th: Ella got a guitar for Christmas. Today, she broke it out in pure rock style fashion… complete with sunglasses and torn tights. I’ve committed to try and take all of my Project 365 pictures with my DSLR, but if I hadn’t, this Instagram picture would have been in this spot….

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Simplify Saturday – SimpleHuman

Kristen — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 02:16:24 +0000

Today I’d like to introduce you to a new feature on Dine & Dish…Simplify Saturday! On Simplify Saturday, I will feature something that is simplifying my life… it could be a product, an app, a book, a website…anything that I come across that is helping me to live my 2013 focus word of “Simplify”.

Today, I’d like to introduce you to the SimpleHuman brand. If there is a brand out there that is focused on simplifying life at home, SimpleHuman is that brand.

When I was approached by SimpleHuman to partner with them on some of the work they are doing as a brand, I jumped on the chance. We’ve had SimpleHuman products in our house for several years now, so this relationship fit in seamlessly with our family.

SimpleHuman is a company who believes that everyday life has room for improvement. Tools like their sensor and step trashcans, their senor soap pumps, and other various products for the kitchen and bath, were all created out of a need for a more efficient product.

…

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Simplify Mealtime {Recipe: Oven Roast Turkey Breast}

Kristen — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 01:00:51 +0000

This week started right on track, and I love it. I was able to sit down on Sunday afternoon and create a simple menu plan for our family meals. I made a list and went shopping and have truly appreciated how much time and money has been saved simply because I planned. I know that to keep my focus word for 2013 forefront, planning is going to be essential. Hopefully I can hold on to this feeling of “having my stuff together” so I can stay motivated to continue on the right track.

Over the weekend I read Amy Allen Clark’s new book “The Good Life for Less: Giving Your Family Great Meals, Good Times, and a Happy Home on a Budget“. Amy is one of those people I have always truly admired and I’m happy to call her a friend. Her book has some serious “ah-ha” moments for me… like the feature recipe for this post. Amy suggested buying a turkey breast and roasting it for lunch meat and meals instead of buying packaged lunch meat. It usually tastes better and it’s oh so easy! Why didn’t I think of this before?…

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