Before I get this started, shout out to Laura!!!! Today is her birthday! Happy Birthday!!! Yet another celebration we have to make up for thanks to this pandemic.
Well here we are, 2021. I am relieved that we made it through 2020…but also terrified of what the new year has to bring. I feel like everyone just thinks because the calendar year changes over, everything is going to be ok. In reality, nothing has changed from this week to last except the holidays are over and we are back to reality. Probably even more reality in another week or so when the cases rise again with all the get togethers that have occurred over the last two weeks.
I have mentioned before, I am coming in to this year with zero expectations. I was never really one to set new years goals anyways. Every year, I tend to get back on the healthy eating bandwagon after riding the sugar dragon through the month of December. I am doing the same starting this morning. Luckily, I kept up with my workouts through the month of December, so I am good on that front for once!
New Years Eve came in quietly over here. I worked most of the day, actually. I made sweet and sour meatballs, pasta salad and seven layer dip for us to snack on. Chris and Zoe had a dance party while I finished up a few work things, then we all hung out downstairs for a little while.
We had purchased tickets to virtual Tomorrowland, so after Zoe went to bed we poured some drinks and pulled that up on our projector in the basement. Laura and B had gotten tickets as well, so her and I texted some through the beginning of it. It was almost like we were watching it together.
The graphics were insane!!! They definitely made some improvements from the virtual they hosted earlier in the year. Chris and I both agree though that the energy is off and it just isn’t the same as streaming it live in a normal year with real people. After a few hours, we switched over to just watching our usual music videos and calling it a night.
New Years day was all about football, Roll Tide Roll!!!!! We made some BLT Burgers for lunch. I made a special sauce and guac to go on top of them from the Celebrations cookbook. (I get a lot of amazing recipes from here. Lots of gluten free, dairy free options.)
I made sausage balls, black eyed peas, hot dogs and sourkraut to snack on for the games. We watched the Tide take on Notre Dame, and Ohio State kill Clemson.
Saturday morning I was at it early taking down all the Christmas decor. It took me about a week to put up, and just a few hours to take all down and put away. Usually I am tearing it down on December 26th, but this year I wanted to enjoy it for a few more days. This is the longest we have ever had it up. I loved all the joy it brought, but this past week it just made me sort of sad. The holidays are over and we are entering a new year that we have no clue what it will bring. Normally we are in Gatlinburg after Christmas with Chris’s family, and it was sort of depressing to not get to do that. Zoe mentioned a few times that she remembered being up there last year and when can we go back. I think she just wants to go to the arcade again, lol. That was her favorite thing to do.
We did get to play several rounds of Zingo and Monopoly Junior. We have a sore loser on our hands. Zoe is super competitive, but watch out if she loses a round. I am not the parent to “let her win” or let her make up rules. I am trying to teach her out to be a team player and win with grace. How do you teach those things? Any tips? It is rough when she loses. Really rough.
Chris and I took care of winterizing the landscaping around the house, cutting down some tree branches and finally cleaning out our garage and organizing the attic spaces. I did so much heavy lifting on Saturday that I was sore as hell and could barely move Saturday night, and most of yesterday. We did manage to get a few more good meals in. I made cheesy chicken and brussels Saturday for lunch, some baked ziti for dinner, and homemade chicken enchiladas for dinner last night.
I feel really accomplished having all that done, our house back to normal, and I worked both Saturday and Sunday morning to keep myself floating this week. The end of the year is always insane in my world at work, but I am hoping we keep the momentum going. We have a lot to make up for after the several slow months in 2020.
I am working on what I want to do going forward with nutrition in 2021. I don’t want to do a keto diet, or anything that isn’t sustainable long term. It wreaked so much havoc on my body last year. I have been doing lots of research and watching lots of YouTube videos lately. Definitely going for more whole foods, avoiding processed things. Trying to eliminate white sugar white flour, more veggies, more meatless meals, etc. Do you have any nutrition goals that you are working on right now? How do you feel going into 2021?
9 Comments
I’m hobbling into 2021. LOL I have various medical things I’m trying to figure out and get fixed, so you know, 2020 is really the year that keeps on giving. I am working on eating better though. I seriously need ways to eat more veggies. I KNOW they are important, but honestly, I don’t like most of them. And there’s none that I really LOVE. How do people do this???
Sounds like you had a pretty nice New Year’s Eve! I just love your basement set up with the screen. So fun!
-Lauren
Happy New Year! I am cautiously optimistic about this year. Mainly because I feel like a lot of the initial shock factors have subsided a bit, like working from home, virtual school, and things like that we are more accustom too. Ok, all of your food is mouth watering and now I already want lunch. Your big screen is also awesome!
I left my decorations up until Saturday, and like you, I always take them down right away! The house does feel better, if not a little empty. Here’s to a great year, friend! Thankful for your friendship in 2020; not sure i could have done it without your texts!
I am amping up my veggies. I’ve been eating a lot of salads and it feels so much better.
I’m hopeful about this year but also have no expectations.
That sugar dragon ride in December was like WHOA. Good for you for the heavy lifting work Saturday. It’s ass breaking but really nice to have done and feels like a major accomplishment.
You know that was a very difficult loss for us fighting Irish! But since we didn’t show up to play at all, I know the Tide is deserving! You just got a kick Ohio State’s butt, they are the team we despise most! Your food and pictures of Zoe on your stories kept me going through the holidays!
I’ve also been working myself to the bone, trying to organize and get the house back to normal. It feels good to start the year semi-prepared.
Your food always looks so good! I feel like you have to spend all day in the kitchen. I can never get caught up with dishes and prep if I make too much in one day.
Thanks for the birthday shout-out – MAN, we have so much to make up for when this is all done. I’m scared of 2021 if I’m being honest – I’ve been in that post Christmas funk since before Christmas, and well, now I’m a year older. I’m going to try as well to cut out some of the sugar and alcohol – and focus more on drinking water. That really killed me this past year. Love that we got to text through Snoop!! I miss you guys!!
I sooo want to make those sweet and sour meatballs. They look good. I took a screen shot of the recipe you sent me. That projection looks really cool. I couldn’t believe how Bama took down ND. I can’t wait for Monday’s game. I will be thinking of you.
Oh man… work on that sore loser thing. I have a niece that is 16 & she STILL is a sore loser. I think the best thing you can do is just when you lose, make it over the top in being OK… “GOOD JOB ZOE – YOU WON! ” & tell her you lost but you’re excited for her… I’m sure she’ll get it – but good for you wanting to acknowledge it & work on that. I dont understand the whole “let them win” every time. That’s not setting them up for real life.