The PPF: Past, Present, and Future

The Past: I may have left Colorado behind, but the memories of clear skies and long drives will never leave me:

I really should start asking other people to take my picture.

… at least until my next visit.

I started THIH nearly a year ago. I now have man hands from the strain of prolific typing. But, reflections on the origins of THIH must wait another three weeks(!) For now, I am reminded by Nicole to check out the top search terms leading to this blog. I won’t be tailoring my posts to the search results in the future; instead, I’ll be having a hearty guffaw at some of the more obscure search terms in the present. From March 15, 2010 to December 30, 2010, exempli gratia:

* The top search term: “thehappinessinhealth”. Thanks to the 900+ visitors who found my site this way!
* “Why does my foot roll when I walk” – I’m guessing the 124 people who searched for this phrase found this post, although I’m sad to say I never actually found a solution to foot rolls. Great job giving your readers what they want, Jessie! I hope the readers were at least impressed by my on-the-fly calculation of running force.
* “Saratoga Peanut Butter Company” – I’ve never made a secret of my love for this company’s peanut butter. Now the 122 people who found my site through Google know it, too.
* “Should I eat one brazil nut a day” – various incarnations of this phrase appeared countless times. I hope the searchers found the information they wanted in my Brazil nut post. I’ve also received the most emails about this post. Maybe people REALLY like Brazil nuts?
* “zucchini cartoon” – to those 20 people, don’t let your veggies get lonely!
* “Happy Jessie” – 52 people 😀
* “how to shave a reluctant cat” – 8 people. Does the first picture in this post satisfy?
* “dietitian awesome” – to those 6 people: I agree!

***

The Present: while I eagerly await my copy of Denise‘s Quickies: Morning, Noon and Night, I decided to try one of Denise’s recipes that I’ve had bookmarked for a long time: Apple, Bacon and Onion Galette.

I’m not sure why I decided to use my old camera to take the pictures above. Notwithstanding its appearance, this galette was DELICIOUS! I made two and ate both in as many days. Just picture me standing above the stove, shoveling spoonfuls of syrupy apples and browned onions into my mouth, and you will understand how much I loved this recipe.

***

The Future: I’ve never been much of a resolution maker. Instead, I’ve always felt as though I can make positive life “adjustments” all year ’round. A few of the ongoing “adjustments” in my life:

* Spend more time with family and friends.
* Enjoy (almost) every bite (no pressure, mind).
* Take a cue from Peter and R-E-L-A-X. Chill, yo.
* Live more by the phrase “what would you do if you knew you could not fail?”, a.k.a. have COURAGE.

A few more tangible items:
* Write blog posts ONLY when I want to.
* Draw.
* Increase my exercise repertoire: more strength-training and other forms of cardio (besides running).
* Have fun with my new camera!

Usually, I encourage people to incorporate time frames into their goals, such as “do blah-de-blah 3X per week to achieve blahblahblah goal within blaaaah amount of time”, but I find that I do best with looser goals that allow me to be flexible, rather than controlling. Feel free to take your time and find the goal-setting method that works for you.

Happy New Year! Peace Out.

Q: Do you have any New Year’s Eve/Day plans?

and

Any goals for the new year?

21 Comments

  1. Jessie! You made Denise’s galette! Isn’t it kick arse!!?? The first time I made it, I couldn’t wait to eat the leftovers the next day. And there only was leftovers because I made it really big…teehee. I swear to you, that night lying in bed, all I could think of was that galette. Hubby probably was a little jealous. Lol. You’re making me want to make it again. I’m actually waiting for my flight to Vancouver to visit my in-laws. Or trust me, I’d be rolling out some galette dough right now.

    Your search terms were too funny. Love the link to the cat shaving. Lol! And I see your new shiny toy! Looks like you’re having a lot of fun with it. Beautiful pictures, my friend. Love your list of future goals as well. Totally agree on only posting when YOU want! Hope you, Peter, and your two adorable fur babies have a happy new year filled with love, joy, good health, and great foodie adventures! Peace out, yo! Big hugs!!!

  2. Hey Jess! Happy New Year my gorgeous Americal friend!!

    That’s a very nice little camera, which means better pictures in your next THIH posts (which you will only write when you WANT to ;))

    This recipe sounds really nice, I know that apple and onion will be good together but I’m not so sure about chucking bacon in the mix, but if you say it’s delicious I take your word for it!!

    New Year’s Eve I spent with my extended family 🙂 My aunt made us a lovely salad containing smoked salmon, pomgranate and walnuts among a variety of leafy greens. I loved it and will make it as soon as I get back in London!

    As for goals for the new year… be less stressed, as always haha

    Cheers!! 🙂

  3. Great post! Here’s to your future! Happy New Year Jessie!!!

  4. Happy New Year!

    The Colorado photos are so beautiful! And the galette looks and sounds absolutely delicious!

    My main goal is my overall life goal: to live more in the moment, stress less, and to worry less.

  5. Such pretty Colorado pictures, it looks like you had so much fun, Jessie! It’s always fun to look at the search terms that lead to your blog…I will wholeheartedly agree with the 6 who searched “dietician awesome” and arrived here! 🙂 Wishing you and Peter a very happy New Year!

  6. Happy New Year Jessie! Cheers! Here’s to lots of fun adventures in 2011 🙂

  7. Wonderful post. I just left Colorado on Thursday, and I already miss the beautiful mountain landscape. Congratulations on all that you have accomplished with this blog. I sure feel blessed to have found you! Your galette looks amazing. I’m bookmarking this so I can remember to try it myself. As for 2011? I hope to find more balance…I hope to be more adventurous…and I hope to make serious progress on my novel!

  8. I’ve never been to Colorado…and thanks to your captures…I’m one step closer to understanding why people love that region so much.

    Just took a quick look at your Christmas post…now, I’m hungry for those cornbread muffins ;o)

    If I new I could not fail death…I’d love to see what’s up there…give a big tight loving hug to my dear ones and come right back to the living: Hubby, my puppy Sushi etc…

    Jessie…your way of thinking is pretty much in line with where I’m at ;o)

    Have yourself a great start to a New Year!
    Flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

  9. Hope you had a Happy New Years!

    I love “dietitian awesome”. haha.

    I love your “adjustments”. I have decided that I am going to enjoy being single. Try to travel more and do things that make me happy. You are only single once, right.

  10. I hope you are having an amazing 2011 so far and gets better and better…
    I loved this recipe from Denise, looks like you did a great job and I am sure it was delicious…
    Love your goals, and really love the relaxed time frame…sounds like a successful plan to me 🙂

  11. Lovely pics of Colorado – great fun reading your responses to your searchers… and like the pic at the end that someone else DID take of you! Every year just keeps getting better and better, doesn’t it?
    Happy 2011, Jessie!
    🙂
    valerie

  12. Now that I watch Dr. Oz I can tell you that the Brazil Nut question probably stemmed from him! I know he did an episode once recently where he said Brazil nuts are good for weight loss (or maybe it was Inca nuts??). I think it’s fun to look up all of the ways people find my blog, it’s so entertaining.

    The apple, bacon, and onion galette sounds marvelous. Of course this year I figured out I can’t eat onions OR apples, what a shame.

    Happy new year Jessie!
    BTW, love your goal of not posting unless you want to. I try to do that too, which ends up being about 2-3 times a week.

  13. Happy new year chica! I’m glad to see you’ve been having such an awesome vacation. And that new camera…I LIKE! I just got a DSLR also so you and I are on the same wavelength. Love it.

    And your resolutions make me so happy. SO chill. So peaceful. All about good happy living. Gotta love that.

  14. JESSIE!!!! You made the galette!! 😀 I’m doing my Jessie-loved-my-weird combo-galette happy dance! Two galettes?? You go girl 😉 I hope the book reaches you soon!!! I think I’ll break out in hives if you don’t tell me you got it, like in the next three days LOL

    Love the look of your new camera and how beautiful Colorado looks! I don’t know whose kitchen you’re sitting in (last photo) but I LOVE the (antique?) pans hanging on the wall!

  15. “How to shave a reluctant cat” had me laughing out loud!!! I don’t even want to know why someone would be searching that in the first place!!

    Dietician awesome, on the other hand is just…awesome 🙂

    I think your adjustments are great! I too am trying to have more courage and take more risks this year (love that quote). My problem is that I sort of have a hard time nailing down what exactly that means….and how I can do so. That is one of those things that if I don’t consciously do (in specific situations), I most likely won’t do it at all…if that makes sense.

  16. Just found your blog, and I’m a fan already!
    Awesome picture on the Great Wall!

    1. Thanks for stopping by, Lele! 🙂

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