Amber’s Favorite Things for 2012 – Just Like Oprah, But With Less Free Stuff

December 29, 2011 By 36 Comments

I’ve spent a lot of time this past weekend thinking about the year ahead. I’m not one to make resolutions, but the end of a year always make me think about what’s next.

As I make plans, I thought I would take the opportunity to share with you some of the things that are part of my plan for 2012.

Organization, Cleaning, and General Home DIY:

Remember when I talked about the cleaning kick I’ve been on? It’s growing. To that end, I’ve encountered this great calendar for organizing your house across the entire year. I have a tendency to forget to pace myself when I start on a kick, which is why it usually is just a “kick”. It lasts for days, maybe weeks, then I return to my old ways.

This schedule breaks organizing the home into smaller daily tasks. Over time, your entire house will be together (and some charity will likely be very happy). Very excited about getting started

In line with keeping the house organized, I’m also on a quest to keep it super clean, and finding ways to do it without spending a fortune on chemical-laden cleaners. I’ll be experimenting with herb-infused vinegar, baking soda, and even some homemade detergent.

Pinterest has become a special kind of drug in my house-helping madness. So many amazing DIY ideas, including ones like this. My bathroom and kitchen are on the schedule to be renovated by little old me, armed with paint, brushes, and sponges. I’ll be sure to blog about it, failures and successes.

Speaking of projects, I’ve already begun one, a budget rehaul of the hubs drab office into a geeky man cave. Pictures and details to follow in the new year.

And I won’t even begin to list the many crafty projects ahead. Let’s just say that I discovered CraftGawker.

Blogging, Writing, and all that:

This week I wrote up a review of a fantastic book on blogging for writers. Which, being that I had pretty much written off books like this, is pretty amazing. I’m a critical student, so any book that ventures to teach me something gets an extra critical eye. However, upon completion of Novel Blogging, I actually see myself putting a lot of it to use. Strike that. It has me excited about putting it to use.

Now, being excited about Novel Blogging, setting goals for my writing is going to be very important, so I’ve decided to join up with the ROW80 crew again, and put my goals out there for all to see.

I’ll use the goal setting group to help me work through the non-fiction project I have brewing, with the aim of having it written by the summer. ::gulp::

30 Day Challenges 

Also while on Pinterest, I’ve come across a lot of 30 day challenges. I kinda love the idea of giving myself one little assignment each day across the span of a month that helps me work on something. Whether it be my love of drawing and photography, or a plan to help me be more fit. (Couldn’t link to the original on that one – if you are on Pinterest and want to see that 30 Day Challenge, check my boards.)

I may even create some of my own.

Social Butterflying

No, I am not talking about Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, G+, or any other way of socializing online. I’m talking about in real life. I have a bad habit (particularly in the last 3 years) of being a bit of a hermit. Which, while I am an introvert, isn’t completely healthy for me.

I’m motivating myself to do more with people with new recipes. What good is cooking fun stuff if there is no one around to eat it? I may have a tea party with the ladies so I can bust out this quiche, or a pajama dinner where we all indulge in yummy breakfast treats.

Whatever I make, the key is there will be people there to enjoy it. And I’ll be there to enjoy them. (That sounds creepy. See? Not around people enough.)

What tools will you be using to accomplish new things in 2012?

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Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday – The Mentalist

December 28, 2011 By 17 Comments

As everyone is still busy traveling, cleaning, or generally recovering this week, we are doing another “rerun” week here on #watchwed. This week, we repost our least popular post.

Oddly, mine is a fantastic show that I rated highly. Sadly, I didn’t give the post the attention it deserved (the original didn’t even have pictures!) as I was traveling when it was written.

So, here it goes again.

~~~~~~~~~

When it comes to hit dramas, the idea of a super observant crime solver is not a new one. Law and Order: CI, Monk, and Psych all have a primary character that seems to have a super sense when it comes to piecing together clues to solve a crime.

The Mentalist tells that same tale through Patrick Jane (Simon Baker), the titular character, a former con man who now consults with the California Bureau of Investigation. Jane found great success in his con days as a psychic medium, so why would he now be living a life solving crime instead of committing them?

While a psychic, Jane appeared on a TV show and made mention of his psychic skills making it possible for the police to profile a serial killer known as Red John. Not appreciating his statements, Red John kills Jane’s wife and daughter. Wanting to avenge the death of his family, Jane using his skills of observation and understanding of human behavior to help the CBI catch criminals, specifically Red John.

Senior Special Agent Teresa Lisbon leads the team Patrick consults for, assisted by Special Agents Cho (Tim Kang), Grigsby (Owain Yeoman), and Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti). Each agent has a distinctly different approach. Of the three, Van Pelt is the “greenest” agent, who occasionally butts heads with Jane over her belief in religion and her moral ideas.

I want that car. And also, red hair.

The story lines are well put together, and watching Jane solve crime in unconventional ways, particularly when those ways put him at odds with his colleagues keeps the show interesting.

Unlike last week’s crime solving selection, Castle, this show has a darker, more serious tone. There is humor at times, but the primary character’s seeming lack of empathy and his mission to avenge the death of his family offers up a colder, more personal tale.

While the premise for the show is strikingly similar to Psych (fake psychic, consulting for the police) it is executed in such a way that you won’t find yourself drawing comparisons between the two. Even if the characters in Psych have made the comparison.

This show is deserving of a GTV, a well paced story with interesting characters, whose back stories are only gradually revealed. It keeps you coming back to find out more about everyone’s motivation, not just the titular character.

[Somehow I managed to get through the original post without mentioning the beauty of Simon Baker. Also, I would like to look like Amanda Righetti. Just sayin.}

Are you a fan of The Mentalist? Or at least Simon Baker? Who is your favorite character?  Is there a crime show you love more or less?

Now head over to Tiffany’s blog and see what she is re-running this week.

Next week, (2012!) we’ll revisit our reviews of the two new fairy tale shows, Grimm and Once Upon a Time. Are they still simmering or are they sizzling?

Remember to stop by the #watchwed hashtag in Twitter to discuss any of today’s reviews, or to mention any television programs that you’d like to see on Why It’s Worth a Watch Wednesday in the future.

A Recap of The WatchWed Review System:
GTV (Gourmet TV): Everything we want and more
MacTV (MacNCheese TV): Guilty pleasure. Not perfect, but is satisfies
GMacTV (Gourmet MacNCheese TV): A combination of fine wine and comfort food
JFTV (Junk food TV): It’s not great for us, but we’ll go back for seconds
TBPTV (Twice Baked Potato TV): Part gourmet and delicious, while absolutely horrible for our cholesterol
SSTV (Still Simmering TV): It has potential, but the jury is still out
NIV (Nyquil Induced Viewing): Perfect for that late night television sleep timer
LOTV (Liver&Onions TV): Do we really have to explain? Blech

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Tuesday Treats: Crock Pot Creamy Mushroom Chicken

December 27, 2011 By 10 Comments

There are some days when I care little about fat or caloric content and just want to eat something that brings me comfort. My mood and situation often determine what that food is.

If I am feeling sick, whether it be a stomach bug or the flu, 7up and boxed Lipton Noodle soup are my friends.

When I am missing my old roomies, steamed broccoli over rice covered in brown gravy or thick slices of heavily buttered bread and coffee make me feel like we are gathered in our old living room together watching a House marathon or talking about men.

Or sometimes, when I want to feel like a kid again, baked chicken thighs with sausage, peppers and potatoes calls my name. (I still can’t manage to make these like my mom did.)

Aside from the aforementioned moments that I crave comfort, in general I find anything warm and creamy makes me feel cozy. So, today’s crock pot creation is not exactly low fat, but it does give that cozy feeling, and it came about from ingredients already in the house. Win!

Crock Pot Creamy Mushroom Chicken

Chicken Thighs (Costco boneless/skinless pack of 4 – frozen)
2-3 cups of Baby Portobella Mushrooms (add more or less depending on your love of mushrooms)
1 sweet or yellow onion
1 cup Cream Sherry
1 “bar” of Cream Cheese
Chicken Broth (about 1-2 cups)
Seasoning of you choice
Salt

I chose a seasoning mix in my cabinet that is meant for salmon. It had sugar, salt, onion, garlic and mustard in it. Fairly standard blend of spices. You can use just about any blend you like –  and if you don’t have a blend, be sure to bust out the salt and pepper and any of your favorite spices. I’d avoid flavors like dill, but you are safe with most spices.

How finely you chop your onion just depends on how large a piece you are comfortable encountering when you eat the finished product. I like to do a large dice. The mushrooms I simply cut into thirds. Dump them in the pot, set your block of frozen chicken on top of them and season away. Remember that chicken generally needs a more generous seasoning than other meats.

Pour in enough broth that there is at least an inch of liquid in the bottom. If you are setting this on low for an entire work day, you may need to experiment with more broth to be sure you come home to something that still has sauce. Add your cream sherry. This gives the dish this deliciously slightly sweet flavor.

Drop that block of cream cheese on top of it all and worry about the fat content later. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt you to go with light cream cheese. But I say go for the real deal.

If you are tossing this all in after noon, then I’d set the crock pot to high and keep an eye on  it as dinnertime gets closer. If you are putting this in first thing in the AM before heading to work, use the low setting.

You can serve the finished product over rice, or if you are really seeking comfort, pasta. Again, I lack a photo of the plated product. If you want yours to be especially creamy, you can add some half and half or cream late in the cooking process. Be sure to taste before serving, as the right amount of salt in this dish is key to getting all the flavor.

For those of you who like to serve up a pretty dish, the colors here aren’t exactly popping off the plate. If you have some fresh herbs in the house, like basil, you can brighten up the dish while adding a complimentary flavor.

Have you tried any new crock pot recipes you want to share?

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Book Review – Novel Blogging by Liberty Montano

December 26, 2011 By 28 Comments

I never do book reviews on this site. I mean, I will occasionally blurb within a post about a book I enjoyed if I really thought it was amazing, but that’s about it.

But this morning, I felt inspired.

I just completed Novel Blogging: A Writer’s Guide to Blogging by Liberty Montano. And writerly friends, it is good.

I should preface anything I say about this book with the following information: I don’t like books that tell me how to do something that I can figure out myself. I know. That makes me sound…well, it doesn’t exactly ring humble.

I promise, I’m not a jerk. I’m just being honest.

Given my exposure to life and marketing in a digital world, while I don’t always do what I know I inevitably will need to, I don’t really seek out books about blogging and social media. Opening one of these books is the equivalent of cracking open a bottle of Sominex.

Novel Blogging was a surprising and welcome change. The information contained in this book makes it clear how to go about marketing yourself in the digital world via your blog. Not only that, but it takes you by the hand as you figure out what your focus should be.

What I really love is how the book gives you actual action items throughout. I’ve always found most advice books to be rather pointless; endless prattling of someone else’s opinion, but no call to action. Throughout the book, Liberty encourages you to take the information and gives you ways to apply it right now.

Ever find yourself struggling to figure out what to post when you sit down in front of your blog? This book provides you with excellent blogging prompts (lots of them), prompts that will lead to posts that engage your audience.

In addition, the online resources cited throughout the book are handy and relevant. At your fingertips, you’ll have everything (and I do mean everything) to put together a substantial online presence.

Something is to be said, too, for the voice of this book. You will feel like you sat down to a cup of coffee with your super smart and savvy friend, supportive and excited about getting you on the right track. Never pushy or condescending, but genuine and understanding.

Ultimately, in the end, a successful blog is going to depend on you. It’s all about the great content you create. Novel Blogging is hands down THE book out there in helping you figure out how to put the best of you out there.

Also, there is a llama. In the book. Just sayin’.

Check out Novel Blogging here.

[I feel compelled to add that often I read books like this and think, "meh, decent advice" but I don't feel moved to make changes. This book will motivate you.]

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