31 Days off Your Duff {Day 25} - Plan in Advance

Yes, plan in advance is redundant. But I really mean it.

This is kind of part two to Do What Makes You Happy.

If you have found what you can do to make yourself happy, then great! Good job. But now you have to stick to it. If this happiness requires you to learn a new skill/habit, then I'm talking to you right now.

I know my big problem, when starting something new, is getting overwhelmed early on. Last year I got some Poi balls to start learning that form of dance, and there were so many things out there that I could learn to do! Unfortunately, I couldn't do any of them just yet, and I got so buried in the possibilities that I just let it paralyze me.

Don't let that happen to you! Plan out your learning... well in advance! Before you even touch a crochet hook/poi ball/guitar/etc.

My Plan

For instance, I started crocheting this month. Now there's a hobby with possibilities I could easily get lost in. But, I knew I had a weakness for that, so I planned it out a little better than I did my Poi.

My goal is to eventually make my own patterns and sell my crocheted items. And I am terrible at reaching goals with no definitive time frame, because I just want to be there now! So, I told myself that I had 1 year to become good enough to sell my work, then I'd put up an etsy store - just in time for Christmas!

Another limit I gave myself was about stitching. I said I would spend a week just practicing different basic stitches, over and over and over again. I knew if I didn't understand what I was doing the first time I read a pattern, I might get scared off. So for the first week (or just the first 3 days.... my impatience still kicks in a little bit!) I would stitch squares or circles, undo them, and start all over again.

So you get the idea! If you are like me at all, you should plan ahead of time. Just pretend you are about to start a new class, but write your own syllabus. Think to yourself,

"For my first [crochet] class, would they have me jump straight into a [cupcake hat], or would they have me practice some [single crochet stitches] first?"

And on and on. Find the online resources or books that are necessary, plan at least a month of "classes," and make it very specific:

"On October 28th, I will read and complete the [crochet pattern] on page 13."

Once you've completed your course, re-evaluate your skills from there. If you find it necessary, then make a second month of classes that build upon what you have learned.

So whatever fun skill you are about to begin; plan, plan, plan in advance!

31 Days off Your Duff {Day 24} - Yogurt Sandwich

Hey, remember all that yogurt we just made? I know you have some in your fridge now.... right?

Well, it's perfect as the spread for this delicious sandwich.

Yogurt-Fruit-Cheese-Salad Sandwich

Okay, I couldn't think of a proper name to go with this sandwich, and Ashleywich just sounds stupid.

But regardless of what you call it, this is a delicious sandwich. Here are the ingredients I use!

• Bread
• My homemade yogurt
• A red apple
• Feta cheese crumbles
• Dried cranberries
• Homemade vinaigrette, or just some flavoured vinegar
• Kale
• Flax seeds, chia seeds, all kinds of healthy seeds

1. Cut the apple into thin slices
2. Mix all your seeds in with your yogurt before spreading it on
3. Make a sandwich (I think you can handle that part without a description)
4. Sprinkle with delicious vinaiggrette/vinegar
5. Eat and/or serve!

I love these sandwiches so much. And if I'm going to make it ahead of time, I just put all the little or liquid ingredients in their own tiny, stainless steel, lidded bowls that I have. Then I put those and the large dry ingredients together in one big Tupperware container.

Now get off your duff and go make and name this sandwich!

31 Days off Your Duff {Day 23} - Stuffed Mango Chicken

This is a recipe my boyfriend made several months ago.

There's really not much to it; you could easily make it tonight, if you flit off to the grocery store first.

You'll need:

• Mango sauce of some kind (or make your own!)
• Chicken breasts to feed everyone
• Bell peppers, preferable in a variety of colours
• Pineapples
• Whatever side you want - I think we had rice.

Lay the chicken breasts out on the counter, and then pound at them with a meat tenderizer until they have flattened some and about doubled in width. Then put the bell peppers and pineapples on top with some mango sauce, and fold the chicken over as if it were a taco.

Next just put them in a cooking pan, cover in lots of mango sauce, and cook at 375° for about 25-30 minutes. Your chicken needs to reach 165° to be safe for consumption.

That's it! If you want more food of course, just make a side of rice, salad, or whatever you prefer.

Now get off your duff and cook your own dinner!