Reflections of.. My 2014 resolution. Simplifying successfully

My 2014 simplifying journey

I just wanted to reflect on my New Years resolution for 2014 of simplifying my life. 

Many joke that resolutions are for breaking. Not mine. 

I found the key to true happiness in simplifying my life. 

Being busy is overrated. 

Success is not about money or a job or possessions, it's about being happy. 

I'm happy at home. With my family. No plans. Just being at home with my favorite people. 

We turned our Sundays into family days a long time ago.

I highly recommend this.  We don't make plans. It's a rule. Very rarely we do break the rule. If there something special going on, we switch the date to Saturday that weekend. 

We have managed to shave $ 7780.00 from our yearly budget. No kidding!  

We eliminated cable, went with a cheap Internet home phone, and refinanced at an INCREDIBLE rate with a private lender. (I won't even get into that, our rate almost unheard of). 

I shut down social networks at 8pm. (There were a few days I hung out for a bit longer, but for the most part, my social sites went quiet at 8). I also removed cattiness from my Facebook page. Restricting and hiding from timeline and even some blocking.  I had one major drama episode recently but it's done and I wasn't the culprit so I can stand tall. 

It won't happen again. I'll just restrict unsolicited advice immediately right off the bat. No warnings. Poof! 

 My Facebook page has changed drastically since last year and will continue to change so it can be a place for fun, motivation, and silliness. 

I also got rid of clutter and unnecessary unloved things in my house. The goodwill shelves were filled with my unloved possessions. I sent at least a box a month there. Sometimes boxes! 

We keep a box in our upstairs linen closet so the kids can fill it with their unwanted items. When it's full it goes and a new box gets set in its place. It's so weird to say linen closet, my husband has been building closets, our home came with none!  After 16 years here, my home has a linen closet. 

My fav quote: if I acquire as much as a stone, it owns me, because then I have to dust it. 

And I'm not finished, I will continue this simplifying journey in 2015. 

My 2015 resolutions will be:

• Drink more water (I'm not getting enough fluids) 
• Have more family dinners at the table together. 
• More walks, runs and workouts with hubby. 
• No more delicious chips and salsa  at Chili's. (Gotta get back on my healthy eating wagon). 
• Simplify more

And of course I will keep simplifying. 

Easy Sweet Potato Pie with Gingersnap Streusel

Crust: 

2 cups gingersnap crumbs

1/3 cup butter. melted

Combine gingersnaps and butter, staring well to make sure coated with butter. 

Press into an upside of a 9 inch deep dish pie plate. 

Bake at 350° for 6 to 8 minutes. 

Cool

Filling:

1 (29 oz) can sweet potatoes drained and mashed. 

1 1/4 cups evaporated milk

3/4 cup firmly packed  brown sugar

3 large eggs

1 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon allspice

Pinch cardamom
pinch cloves

In the mixer, beat eggs. Add remaining ingredients and the beat  until combined

Pour into prepared pie crust and bake at 350° for 20 minutes. 

Topping:

2/3 c ginger snaps
handful walnuts

1/3 c packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons butter cut in half
pinch cardamom and cloves

Combine ingredients in a food processor, cuts in butter beautifully.

Sprinkle streusel topping over pie and bake 15 more minutes. 

Cover with aluminum foil and bake an additional 25 minutes or until set, cool on wire rack. 

Garnish with whipped cream.