Four Simple Goals...Before 2014!

Back in January, I posted 4 priorities that I had wanted to really focus on in 2013. The year is almost over and I wasn't as successful as I had hoped. To be honest, I am not surprised that I didn't follow through with them. My intentions were good, but life always has a way of taking over (working six days a week) and its easy to loose focus. 

When I saw this post over at A Beautiful Mess blog, I really wanted to set 4 simple goals for myself to accomplish for the remainder of this year. Sounds simple, I hope?! Anyways, the rules are quite simple and can be found here, but I have summarized them below:

1. Choose simple goals that will make your life richer/happier on a daily basis. 

2. Do not choose result oriented goals. 

3. Choose personal goals you believe will make your life richer just by doing them! 

4. Choose a reward for each goal as it is accomplished! 

5. Blog about your goals, each one as you achieve it and a big post when they are all finished before the new year!

Now that I have a little more time for myself, I really want to get back into doing things that I enjoy and that will make me happier, and healthier! What are you goals that you want to accomplish before the year is over? 

5 Things I'd Rather Do Than Celebrate Halloween.

If you asked me ten years ago, I would tell you that I loved Halloween. To prove it, one year, I temporarily dyed my blond hair purple for my costume (I think I was a fairy). Looking back, it was a horrible idea because it didn't wash out (blond + purple = pink) and I had to dye my hair back to my natural colour! 

Since that year, I haven't really been that into celebrating Halloween. It's not that I hate it, because I don't, I just couldn't be bothered to go all out for it any more. A few years ago we carved pumpkins - it was fun doing it together, as a couple, but it was a lot of effort and we haven't done it since. For a few years, we have even gone up to my parents house to spend it with them, hand out Halloween candy and to eat Halloween candy. Yumm!

This year, you couldn't pay me to leave our apartment to go out and do anything. I blame it on being tired and still not feeling 100%. Here is my top five list of things I would rather be doing than celebrating Halloween:

1. Watching television. I made the mistake of getting into a few new tv shows over the summer and now have 3-5 shows a night to watch. I am having a tough time keeping up with all of them. 

2. Spending some quality time with the boyfriend. *wink wink*

3. Baking more apple strudel muffins. Seriously, these muffins are amazing and I have a feeling they aren't going to last much longer. We're averaging two each per day, I only made twelve. 

4. Blogging. I have so many ideas, a lot of blog post drafts and a couple of blog designs that I need to start working on. Now that I have some more free time these days, I can start making these things happen. 

5. Going to bed early. I been working six days a week for the past two years, I am tired and have a lot of sleep to catch up on! 

What would you rather be doing than celebrating Halloween?

Linking up with Living in Yellow. 

Recipe // Apple Strudel Muffins.

Yes, I baked. This was my first attempt at baking something on my own. Was I successful? Oh yes! Yes, yes, yes!! I was pretty stoked!

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup shredded apple
1/2 cup chopped apple
2-3 tbsp apple sauce

1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/8 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. In a medium bowl, mix flour, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

3. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar and eggs until smooth. Mix in vanilla and apple sauce. Stir in apples, and gradually blend in the flour mixture. Spoon the mixture into the prepared muffin pan.

4. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture is like coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over tops of mixture in muffin pan.

5. Bake 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Allow to sit 5 minutes before removing muffins from pan. Cool on a wire rack.

Recipe adapted from allrecipes.com.

I did make a few minor adjustments based on the recipe's reviews, and I am sure glad that I did because these muffins turned out perfectly. I will admit that the boyfriend was a lot a little skeptical about me baking, but he was very impressed with how well they turned out. The recipe made 12 muffins, we only have 7 left - and I only made them yesterday afternoon! 

Music // What I'm Listening To.

There's no hurry

Don't you worry

We can take our time

Come a little closer

Lets go over

What I had in mind

Baby lock the door and turn the lights down low

Put some music on that's soft and slow

Baby we ain't got no place to go

I hope you understand

Linking up with Tuesday Tunes.

Fall Around Here.

Fall is in full swing here. It was absolutely gorgeous today and far too warm to be wearing my Uggs while warlking around. We went for an afternoon stroll, snapped some photographs and enjoyed the scenery around us. 

Linking up with Instagram Hop.

Bittersweet.

Today was definitely bittersweet. It was my last day at my second part-time job. Part of me was sad to say goodbye because I really did enjoy working there, however, a bigger part of me is super excited to only have one job now and to have more than one day off each week. 

I decided to give myself three days off next week, so I don't actually start until the beginning of November. It's going to be amazing and I can't wait! 

I have been a little MIA from my blog again this week - I am still not feeling 100% from this stomach flu and had a rough few days at the beginning of the week. Thankfully I am back on the mend and have been spending almost all my free time in the kitchen! 

Last Sunday, we made some delicious spaghetti and meatballs in the slow cooker, Thursday night we made a roast chicken (AMAZING!) and some homemade slow cooker chicken stock, and tonight we are making some chicken and rice soup. I had full intentions to dedicate a post to each of these recipes because we did make some slight alterations, but I kept forgetting to take photos of our meals before chowing down. Oh wells. There is always next time!

Have a great weekend! xo

What I'm Listening To.

A penny for my thoughts, oh, no, I'll sell 'em for a dollar

They're worth so much more after I'm a goner

And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'

Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a bed of roses

Sink me in the river at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

Linking up with Tuesday's Tune.

Monday Mantra.

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This quote has always struck a cord with me because it is so easy to get caught up in the idea of trying to be someone different, somebody else. Sometimes I am guilty of playing out scenarios in my mind where that being someone else is better than who I currently I am; but that's another blog post for another day (maybe). For now, this quote is a fantastic reminder to always be yourself, and to always be true to yourself!

Happy Monday! Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend ☺

5 Fantastic DIY Photography Backdrop Ideas.

I love taking photos, especially for my instagram and my blog. Having any kind of background for your photographs is always very important (and something I need to work on). While I have purchased a plain white poster board to help when staging various items, I still hate taking photographs inside our apartment. Why? Because I am not a huge fan of our floors (dark wood/tile), counter tops (marble granite) and plain white walls (also, we have a lot of windows!).

My solution? Do-it-yourself photography backdrops and backgrounds! 

1. DIY Backdrop Stand

2. DIY Doily Photo Booth Backdrop

3. DIY Wood Photo Backdrop

4. DIY Confetti Party Backdrop

5. DIY Photo Backdrop

I am personally leaning towards the material and wood DIY's ... what do you think? Do you use a backdrop when taking photos for your blog? 

Happies & Crappies.

Happies

1. I have been offered full(ish)-time hours at one of my jobs! I am super excited to be working at just one job and to have a work-life balance again.

2. I quit my second job. Next week is my last week. 

3. I will soon have more time to do things I enjoy: cook, blog, exercise and live life! 

4. My boyfriend returns home tomorrow. He has been away for two weeks (two-weeks too long) and I cannot wait to see him.

5. I have lost almost ten pounds these past two weeks (thank's stomach flu!). 

CRAPPIES

1. I am still recovering from the stomach flu (it's been two weeks). I am really hungry and would love to eat a big, delicious meal. 

2. I am tired, really, really tired and would love to spend the weekend sleeping. It's a busy weekend at work, so no rest for me. Zzzzzz

3. Thursday night was my last night with the bed to myself! I have become used to sleeping in the middle of the bed and am quite enjoying it. 

4. I haven't been feeling very inspired lately. I blame it on being sick. My instagram feed has taken the brunt of this. 

Who's Your Celebrity Crush?

Perhaps I should be sharing this on my blog. But, its my blog and I will share what I want to! Now that I have put that out there, my celebrity crush is...

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Wilson Bethel (Wade Kinsella) from Hart of Dixie. Love, love, love this show, and Wade!

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Who is with me? Here are a few reason why I heart Wade Kinsella...

* He is fun, friendly, cool, yet secretly a sweet guy

* He has a great smile

* He has a hot body (yum!)

Who is your celebrity crush?

Health Benefits of Hot Cocoa!

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Yes, that's correct ... drinking a cup or two of hot cocoa a day has health benefits! I always knew (dark) chocolate had its health benefits, but it never dawned on me that drinking hot chocolate also had health benefits! 

Here's what I have learned:

• Chocolate helps to improve your mood.


• Chocolate is good for your heart; it is a rich source of flavonoid antioxidants that are important in protecting against damage to the lining of the arteries.


• Chocolate is associated with weight loss.


• Dark chocolate offers the greatest health benefits.


• Two cups of cocoa a day boost blood flow and oxygen to the brain, thus improving your memory.


• The "hot" in "hot chocolate" is important - more antioxidants are released when it's heated up. 

So lets re-cap ... improved mood and memory, good for your heart and weight loss ... sounds good to me! However, there is one little catch - commercial instant hot cocoa mixes don't count.

Now the fun part, recipes! What are some of your favorite 'healthy' hot chocolate recipes?

Source(s): skinnyms, dairy council of california, mnn, and mindbodygreen.

What I'm Listening To.

What now? I just can't figure it out 
What now? I guess I'll just wait it out 
What now? Please tell me 
What now? 

 There's no one to call cause I'm just playing games with them all 
The more I swear I'm happy, the more that I'm feeling alone 
Cause I spent every hour just going through the motions 
I can't even get the emotions to come out 
Dry as a bone, but I just wanna shout

Linking up with Tuesday's Tune.

5 Great Autumn DIY'S to Try.

Even though thanksgiving weekend has almost come to an end, Halloween is right around the corner! In the spirit of autumn, I wanted to share a few DIY's that I REALLY want to decorate our apartment with. 

1. DIY Gold Leaf Pine Cone Garland

If you are ready to get your gold leaf on, you should try these gold leaf pine cone garlands! Visit the Sweetest Occasion for the tutorial.

2. DIY Gold Dipped Colourblocked Painted Pumpkin

I absolutely love these sassy little pumpkins that Dana created. Visit the Wonder Forest for the tutorial.

3. DIY Autumn Leaves Table Runner

This super simple autumn leaf table runner is one of my favorites! I love all things sparkly! Visit the Sweetest Occasion for the tutorial.

4. DIY Gold Glitter Candles

By now it must be no secret that I am a huge fan of gold and glitter. These gold candles are the perfect ascent to warm up your home decor. Visit A Pumpkin & A Princess for the tutorial.  

5. DIY Thanksgiving Bunting.

This book page bunting is both super adorable and super simple. Visit My Fabulous Life for the tutorial.

Have you done any fall DIY's this year? Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! 

My Favorite 'Things' about Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving weekend to all my fellow Canadian blogger friends! Thanksgiving has always held a special spot in my heart - delicious food, family and friends. This year, things are a little different - I am still recovering from the stomach flu and don't have much of an appetite, my boyfriend is out of town (insert sad face) and my Nana is in the hospital. Trying to keep my spirits high, I have compiled a few of my favorite 'things' about Thanksgiving! 

1. Traditional turkey dinner ... so delicious! Unfortunately we don't get to have our turkey dinner until next weekend, but we did enjoy some delicious turkey sandwiches this evening. I cannot wait until next weekend's dinner ... turkey, potatoes, gravy and cranberries! 

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2. Give thanks. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to take a moment and give thanks. It's a time to be grateful for one's health, family, friends, job, home and having food on the table.

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3. Decorations! Now that I have a place of my own, I really need to get organized in the decorations department for the holiday's. I absolutely adore these pumpkin and squash decorations. Hopefully next year! 

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4. Last, but not least, dessert. All I have to say is yum, yum, yum!!! Apple pie is my personal favorite!

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What are a few of your favorite things about Thanksgiving? 

Friday's Letters.

Dear Fall, welcome. While I do wish it was a little warmer outside, I don't mind wearing my UGGs again. Also, please keep the beautiful weather coming! Dear Boyfriend, I miss you. The apartment is really lonely without you here. Dear Walmart, thank you, thank you for upgrading our local store to a 'Walmart Super Store.' Tonight, I bought my favorite Caesar salad kits for half the price I would normally pay at the local grocery store.  That was just the start of my savings! Love it! Dear Work, thank you for this fantastic opportunity. I am beyond ecstatic. Dear Life, now that I have a better work-life balance in my near future, I cannot wait to start living life again.

Changes.

Today, I got some fantastic news. I am so excited. I'm not going to go into too many details yet, but let's just say that in the very near future, I will have the work/life balance that I have been wanting to have for some time! It also means I will have more time to spend on this little blog of mine. 

House to Myself.

Today, the boyfriend headed back to Alberta for a visit with his family. For the next eleven days, I have the apartment to myself. 
This is the first time I have been alone in our apartment for longer than a few hours. On the one hand, its nice and quiet and I don't feel guilty for being really lazy (I'm still getting over this stomach flu), but, on the other hand, it's really weird coming home to an apartment with no boyfriend. 
Now I just have to figure out what the hell I am going to do for the next 11 days!

How to Cope with a Stomach Flu.

Stomach flu: 3, Chelsea: 0.

It has been 3 days since I have been sick with this stupid stomach bug. It's nasty - I can't eat, I can't drink and I can barely move around without irritating my stomach. I have had to take the past three days off work because I don't think I could survive the drive, or being away from my bed/couch for longer than 20 minutes. Plus I don't think its fair to bring whatever this is into the workplace. I know I got it from work, and I am not impressed. I am a firm believer that when you are sick, stay home! Anyways ... 

To better cope with this flu, I have trying extra hard to do the following: 

1. Re-hydrate. 

This one is key. Drink as much fluid as you can keep down, such as water, Gatorade, etc. Make sure to avoid alcohol, milk, caffeine and anything too acidic. I have been drinking a lot of ginger tea and gingerale (I know gingerale isn't the best, but it makes my tummy feel better).

2. Eat bland food, or better yet, home-made soup. 

This is also very important. To avoid irritating your already-inflamed stomach, try eating foods that don't require a lot of digestion, such as: plain bread, soda crackers, bananas, and rice. Before realizing how bad my stomach was, I decided to stick to a macaroni and cheese diet for dinner -- big mistake! Processed food does not help. Tonight I had a baked potato, it went down okay, but I think an all-liquid diet right now would be better. Thankfully I have a super mom who is making me homemade turkey soup. Mmmmm!

3. Rest as much as you can. 

While your body tries to fight the stomach flu, its vital that you get more than enough sleep. I have been taking a gravol each night and have been getting 10+ hours of sleep per night. I have also been taking naps, lots of them! Sleeping is necessary for your body to repair itself and recover. 

When you're sick with the stomach flu, what do you do to feel better?

October Photo A Day!

It's been a few months since I have participated in the #fmsphotoaday challenge, and thought it was about time I start up again! I would love nothing more than to get one of my photos featured ... possibly, maybe, I hope! While I love looking at everyone's photos on instagram and being inspired by them, I love challenging myself and trying something new with my photos to see what I can create. Lately I have been looking back of some of my original photos on my instagram account (@chelseadward) and have really enjoyed seeing how much my iphoneography has progressed. Owning an iPhone has definitely changed my life (and my photography skills!).

Are you participating in the #fmsphotoaday challenge this month?

Wantlist.

River dress / Party on dress

Ever so sweet dress / Lasso my heart dress

Autumn is here, it's quickly becoming chilly, its been raining non-stop and all I can think about is how much I want these Roxy dresses. Yes, I love the color black. I really don't have much of a good reason to need them because I probably wouldn't wear them that much, especially during the next few months, but I can't help but loving all of them! You never know when you may need a cute black dress, right?!