# 23 and # 25

23. Have people over for Geoff's birthday
25. Get together with friends once a month (18/34)

Saturday night, Kristin, Austin, Christine and Tedd came over to celebrate Geoff's birthday with a game night. It was a lot of fun, and it has definitely been way too long since we've all gotten together. I made the banana birthday cake again, and it was hit. Geoff also finally got his wish, and we played Skip-Bo, which actually was a lot more fun than I remember it being. I was not so great with the pictures this time, and I really need to work on it for our next get together, which will hopefully be for Halloween at the end of the month.

# 20

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (34/68)

Last week I attempted three new recipes, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. All three were pretty good, and I will probably be making them again.

West Indian Red Beans and Rice

For Meatless Monday (which I am not great at actually doing since we do like our meat in this house), I tried West Indian Red Beans and Rice. Geoff and I really liked it, and Peter liked the rice part, but it seemed like the rest of it was a bit too spicy for him. I am considering trying to make it again without the red pepper flakes, see if that makes any difference.

Italian Pasta Toss

On Tuesday, which was a very hard and busy day for Peter and I, I decided to try the Italian Pasta Toss. I really just wanted something super easy to make since the last thing I felt like doing was being in the kitchen. It was pretty good, and I will definitely make it again if I am in a pinch, but it wasn't my favorite. We used Whole Foods California blend frozen vegetables, and Geoff loved the way they worked with the dressing.

Chicken Cacciatore

Finally, on Wednesday I made Chicken Cacciatore. I was intrigued by the promise of a one pot meal. It smelled amazing as I was cooking (must have been the bacon), and while it wasn't difficult, I couldn't really leave it cooking. It is not a meal for a night where Peter wants constant attention, which seems to happen more often now that he's teething again.

September Status Update

I am super behind on posting this update, but I don't really have a lot to share.

While I am finally all caught up on my Project 365, I am not doing as great on the rest of my resolutions. I've completed seven items so far this year, where at this point I should have completed nine. I had been planning on going on a beach vacation somewhere I had never been before, but that fell through, and the weather is no longer with us. There are a couple of other items which I hope to get done in October to at least catch up to where I'm supposed to be.

I'm still reading the same book, which is why I don't have much progress on that item either.

I'm hoping tomorrow to update this blog a bit more, since I have tackled a few things in the first two weeks. I also really want to make a push to get more of the items done since the end of the 1001 days is not too far away anymore.

# 96

I've gone more than two months working out three times a week at the gym (for the most part, I've missed once or twice). Geoff and I walk down together after dinner, and Peter spends some time playing in the babysitting room. The fact that for a month we had to drive to New Rochelle, and we stuck with it gives me hope that we won't drop off. I am counting this item as done (and done in September, I'm super behind on posting).

This picture is obviously from warmer weather, but is what we do. Peter loves being in the Ergo.

# 20

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (31/68)

I finally got all my ingredients, and tonight we tried the Honey and Spice-Glazed Pork Chops. They were pretty good, and pretty easy to make. Geoff also liked them, but Peter was not a fan. While I will be making it again, it seems that I will be making something else for Peter.

I am still having the computer problem, but hopefully I'll be able to update with the picture soon.

# 20

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (30/68)

Geoff has been asking me for a while to make a meatloaf, so on Monday night, after a long search for a dairy/soy free recipe, I made Salsa Meatloaf. It was great. Geoff loved it, and said that it was as good as his mom's, maybe better. Peter loved it, he inhaled an entire slice without loosing any to the bib pocket (and ate some of it with his fork, not just his hands). Even I liked it, and I'm not the biggest fan of meatloaf. To make it even better, it was so easy to make. In fact, it was originally planned for Wednesday, but last minute I realized that I didn't have all the ingredients for my Monday night meal, so it got shuffled around.

I have a picture (of it after it has been cut, since it smelled so good, and Geoff couldn't wait for me to take the picture to eat), but I can't turn on my computer, so I can't get to the picture. I might update this post later if I can get my computer working again.

# 20

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (29/68)

Last night, I made Beef Orzo Skillet. I wasn't in love with it, but it was pretty good. Geoff also liked it, and said that it was something that he would definitely like me to make again. It wasn't too difficult to make, so it will probably start to rotate into our meal plans.

# 12, # 17 and #20

12. Make cake from scratch
17. Make something for each family gathering
20. Try at least two new recipes a month (28/68)

On Sunday, I made a banana birthday cake for Greg and Dan from scratch. I had a hard time getting it out of the pan, so it wasn't presented in the prettiest way, and I wasn't able to dust powdered sugar on top. At least I remembered to bring my birthday candles. Despite the removal issues, I really liked the cake, so did Geoff, and the fact that it hit three items on the list, completing one of them, was a huge perk.

# 20

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (27/68)

Last night I made Chilli non-Carne, and it wasn't a big fat failure. I had less onion than I thought, and I added in some chopped carrots. It was a bit on the spicy for me, but not to the point where I couldn't eat it. Geoff really liked it, although he said that he wished that he had some chips to go with it. This is definitely something that I will be making again (although not for Peter, it was way too spicy for him).

August Status Update

The 365 Project is still going strong, even if some days I don't take the best pictures, I have been taking at least one every day.

I have also been going to the gym pretty regularly this month, but I want it to last a little longer before I mark # 96 as complete.

As for the rest of my new years resolution, I only have five complete where I should have eight at this point. My goal for September is to finish at least three items so that I can start catching up.

We have started going back to church, even though we only made it once this month because of the weather. I have also been making the Slow Cooker Macaroni and Beef every week, which has really helped with my slow cooker goals. We are starting to get into more of a routine, which will hopefully help with the other recurring items as well.