A friend of mine recently told me she has banned the word “busy” from her life. She was tired of people being “sooo busy” all the time, running off their constant list of to-do’s, and complaining about their packed schedule. When I asked her what she uses instead or how she has banned “busy” she said “instead I choose to look at busy as full…my life is so rich and full that I have all these activities and obligations.”…

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1. Goals – Project 365 – Day 1, 2. Bottles – Project 365 – Day 2, 3. Project 365 2010 – Day 3 – Grandma & Leah, 4. Project 365 2010, Day 4 – Mystery Ornament, 5. Project 365 2010, Day 5, Shake It Photo App, 6. Project 365 2010 – Day 6 – Jammie Day, 7. Project 365 2010, Day 7 – Picnic Anyone?, 8. Project 365 2010 – Day 8 – To Be Read, 9. Project 365 2010, Day 9, Cupcake Wrecks, 10. Project 365 2010, Day 9, Cupcake Face, 11. Project 365 2010 – Day 10 – Painting, 12. Project 365 2010 – Day 11 – Cleaning Routine, 13. Project 365 2010, Day 12 – A Rainbow of Temptation, 14. Project 365 2010, Day 13th – Be Happy, 15. Project 365 2010, Day 14 – So sweet…or is she?, 16. Project 365 2010, Day 15 – Slightly Obsessed, 17. Project 365 2010, Day 16 Inspiration, 18. Project 365 2010, Day 17 Tonight’s Going to be a Good Night, 19. Project 365 2010 – Day 18 – Return to Netflix, 20. Project 365 2010, Day 19 – Calming, 21. Project 365 2010, Day 20 – Children’s Hospital, 22. Project 365 2010, Day 21 Cereal for Dinner, 23. Project 365 2010 – Day 22 – Crazy Hair Day, 24. Project 365 2010, Day 23, My New Jo Tote Camera Bag, 25. Project 365 2010 – Day 24 Catholicism

One of my goals for this year was to return to Menu Planning. I’m proud to say it is one of the goals that I am actually doing well at so far. One of the reasons I called the items I wrote down on January 1st as goals instead of resolutions was because I am hoping to attain those goals by the end of the year… not accomplish them on day one. Good thing, because I would be failing miserably if that was the case. They are all top of mind though, so I do have a more centered sense of awareness around them since I wrote the goals down.

One goal that has turned into a new love of mine is Project 365. I love how participating in Project 365 is forcing me to get my camera out more and is motivating me to take some time for myself each day, doing something I truly enjoy. It has also become a format of micro-blogging for me, which has been fun. Above is a little collage of what I’ve taken pictures of so far. I have a long way to go, but I am pretty proud of myself for sticking to it for 24 days so far!

Adopt-a-Blogger matches will be made and posted here by next Sunday at the very latest. We have several newbies who still need to be adopted. If you have any interest at all in adopting a blogger, please head over to this post to sign up. Spread the word… we need experienced bloggers or I’ll have to turn some newbies away.

Here is my menu for this week. What’s on yours?

• Monday: Chicken Enchiladas from Southern Living Magazine and My Recipes
• Tuesday: Herbed Chicken Parmesan from Cooking Lignt and My Recipes
• Wednesday: Crockpot French Onion Beef Roast with Potatoes and Carrots
• Thursday: Shrimp and Wild Rice from Recipezaar
• Friday: California Pizza Kitchen BBQ Chicken Pizza from CD Kitchen
• Saturday: Chicken and Mushroom Panini from Recipezaar
• Sunday: Baked Tilapia from Recipezaar

For more menu planning ideas and inspiration, head over to Menu Planning Monday at I’m an Organizing Junkie or to my friend Jane’s blog, This Week for Dinner.

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I sat down today and wrote out some of my goals for the new year. I’ve been reflecting for quite some time on what I really wanted to focus on in 2010, and have decided that 2010 will be time for me to get back to me. I want to get back to things that make me who I am…things I truly enjoy – like writing, photography, my family and my me time. As I am sure many of you are, I am going to try to find that sweet spot of balance between work and play.

My focus for 2010 will include:

• Read at least three chapters in a book each week (I love to read, but haven’t read hardly at all since Leah was born! I miss reading and have a huge pile of books I want to get through this year)
• Menu plan weekly and stick to it (This is essential to balance for me… I MUST start doing this again!)
• Blog at least two times per week (I miss blogging so much and can’t wait to commit to it again!)
• Have a date night with my husband at least one time each month (With 4 kids it is difficult and babysitting is expensive, but we need this… I miss being a couple instead of just mommy and daddy!)
• Participate in and complete Project 365 – a year in pictures (Find my daily submissions in my Project 365 Flickr Set)
• Host a blogging retreat – as of this morning, plans are in the works!
• Make a schedule for work versus play and commit to it (Hard to do when you work from home, but again… I love my job and want to continue to love my job for a very long time – having separation is a must!)
• Create an achievable To-Do list on a daily basis with no more than 5 items per day
• Send cards and snail mail more often
• Plan something for the kids to look forward to each week
• Be more consistent

To get a great jump start on my goals, I am participating with several other bloggers in Ten in Ten: Ten Weeks to Healthy in 2010. Check it out and I hope you’ll join us!

What are some of your goals for 2010? Are you excited to start the new year or are you sad to leave 2009 behind? Either way, I hope that you enjoy health, happiness, prosperity and peace in the new year! I can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store for all of us.

Here is my first of many recipes to share with you for the year. I hope you enjoy!

In a large bowl, combine 1-1/2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and
seasonings. In a small saucepan, heat the milk, water and cubed
butter to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until
moistened. Add egg; beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining
flour to form a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about
4-6 minutes. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes.
Divide dough into thirds. Shape each into a 15-in. rope. Place ropes
on a greased baking sheet and braid; pinch ends to seal and tuck
under. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 25 minutes.
Bake at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with
melted butter. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool. Yield: 1 loaf
(16 slices).

To make life easier, put all the ingredients except the final melted butter, in your bread machine and let your dough cycle do all the initial work.

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