Hello and welcome! I hope your new year is going well so far. Are you making the most of the New Year? At Hearth and Soul this week, it’s all about being inspired to try new things, live in the moment, be our best selves, and most of all, have fun in 2020.
Whether your blog posts are old or new, as long as they are about things that feed the soul, they are welcome here at The Hearth and Soul Link Party! Things that feed the soul may include (but are not limited to) recipes, decorating, crafts, family, home, DIY, organization, travel, book reviews, the arts and self improvement.
What’s Been Happening – Making The Most of The New Year
I’ve been working away on new content for the blog, as well as some exciting new things for later in the year. I’m also making plans and setting goals for 2020.
In How To Start the New Year Off Right I share some of the techniques I use to plan, dream and set goals to help me in making the most of the New Year. Some of them may help you as well. I’d also love to know what techniques you use – I’m always excited to try new things!
Although I’m already an Occasional Vegetarian, one of my goals for the New Year is to cut our meat consumption in half. (Shhh, don’t tell my husband!) Last week all of my lunches were vegetarian, and three of our dinners were as well. (Breakfast is pretty much always vegetarian round here. That is, except the odd Sunday when I can no longer resist my craving for bacon!) One of the recipes we love is this easy make your own take away.
With a mild, flavourful sauce, lightly cooked, nutritious veggies and protein packed peanuts, my Vegan Pad Thai is a healthy dish everyone will enjoy. It’s easy to make gluten free too!
Farewell to Nancy of On The Home Front
Before I share the featured posts, I have to mention that one of our long standing Hearth and Soul community members is moving on. Nancy of On The Home Front is leaving the blogging world to focus on enjoying her family and the lovely part of the world she lives in. Please do pop by her Thank You and Farewell Post to wish her all the very best. We will miss you, Nancy!
Thank you to you all for visiting and sharing!
Making The Most of The New Year Featured Posts
Making the Most of the New Year featured posts include (from top left, clockwise):-
Brighten the dark days of winter and improve home air quality with pretty houseplants. Carol of Comfort Spring Station has great hints and tips for How To Have Healthy Winter Houseplants.
It’s Suzan of My Sustainable Lifestyle’s favourite time of the year in her post Time To Buy Heirloom Seeds. Dream of a spring and summer garden with Suzan, and enjoy traditional varieties of fruit and vegetables that support the environment and may taste better too.
Maria of Krafty Planner shares 8 Must Read Books To Help You Achieve Your Goals. I love two of the books Maria recommends (Big Magic and Better Than Before) and I’m adding the rest to my reading list!
When my son was growing up, keeping his memories and souvenirs safe and organized was quite challenging. I wish I had known about Pamela of DIY Vibes’ DIY Memory Boxes To Organize Your Child’s Papers! What a fun project and a great way to declutter too.
If you are focussing on healthy eating, but really fancy a treat, Erin of A Big Green House has got your back with these delicious refined sugar free, whole wheat flour Peanut Butter Cookies. There’s a version with healthier chocolate chips too!
It’s time to link up! What will you bring to the party this week?
The Hearth and Soul Link Party
It helps the party and my blog when you share the party or provide a link back to AprilJHarris.com, but there is no obligation to do so.
Please help me get the word out about the party on social media using the buttons at the top of this blog post. Thank you!
Linking your posts here means you consent to me sharing as many of your posts as I can on Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook and featuring them on my blog with photographs from the post. I always include credit and a link back to your blog.
I need to look up the post on memory boxes! Thanks for hosting the great link-up, April.
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Barbara!
Did you start the party earlier this week? I thought it was later in the day (here in the US anyway) but with this starting time I can join in before I leave for work – Hurray!!!!! I’ve really missed it.
My entry this week is #11 – soup recipes to warm you up this winter.
Have a wonderful week, April!
Hi Kathi, I did – it was because I was busy later in the day and I don’t like to schedule it. I have been thinking of starting the party earlier on a regular basis though, so I’m really pleased to know you liked the start time 🙂 I hope you have a wonderful week too!
Have a great week, April
Thank you, Rachelle! You too!
Thank you April for featuring my houseplants post but also for your support in hosting and sharing our posts on social media. Wishing you the best year ever!
It’s my pleasure, Carol! I’m sorry I didn’t manage to comment on the post – I ran out of time. And thank you – I wish you an amazing year as well!
So sad to hear Nancy is leaving, but it sounds like she’s got some wonderful adventures lined up! Thanks for hosting! I brought by some Elderberry Syrup. Happy New Year! 🙂
Yes, it really does, CJ. Thank you for visiting and sharing. Happy New Year to you too! 🙂
Thanks so much for hosting! I’m linking up with TOP 10 POSTS OF 2019 AT GRAMMY’S GRID.
Thank you for visiting and sharing, Dee!
Hi April!
I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions any longer but I do choose a word that I hope will inspire me for the upcoming year, and this year my word was “Health” My family had a rough year of illnesses, cancer radiation, and open-heart surgery among the issues we had to deal with, so I am hoping 2020 will bring us all good health. Of course, that also means doing everything we can to live healthily– diet, exercise, adequate sleep, and stress relief.
I’ll be looking at your vegetarian pad thai to save –we do try to eat plant-based foods as much as possible.
Cheers,
Pat
Hi Pat, I love the practice of choosing a word for the year. I wish you and your family a very healthy, restorative 2020!
Thank you for hosting a great party as always, April, AND for featuring my “It’s My Favorite Time Of Year…Buying Heirloom Seeds” article. Have a wonderful week!
It’s my pleasure, Suzan, and thank you! I wish you a wonderful week as well.
I love the beginning of each new year to reflect back and to look forward. I’ve been making my lists and plans for 2020 as well. Such fun to plan; a little harder to do. 🙂
I agree, Lisa! Planning is fun, executing the plans can be hard – but when I succeed it is so rewarding. I hope all your goals and plans come to fruition 🙂
Thank you so much for featuring my memory boxes. i was just adding more to them today and am so happy SOMETHING in my house feels organized after the chaos of the holidays! Can’t wait to try the pad thai. Have a great week!
It’s my pleasure, Pamela. And thank you, I hope you enjoy the Pad Thai!
Thank you for hosting! This is what I featured the week of 1- 6 to 1-10 on my blog. On Tuesday morning was a low calorie Slow Cooker Black Bean Sweet Potato Chili. Wednesday was my very own Game Day favorite 3 Bean Firehouse Chili. And wrapping was a Chili Dog Pizza. Enjoy!
Sounds like another delicious week at your house, Marilyn! Have a great one!
I pinned the Pad Thai recipe and very excited to try it!
Thank you, Michele! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Please let me know what you think 🙂
Thank you for the party and feature April! Have a lovely week 🙂
My pleasure, Erin. Wishing you a lovely week as well 🙂
Some great features! laurensparks.net
Thank you, Lauren. Have a great week!
Hello April, I need to come back and read a bunch of your latest articles! I am trying to eat less meat and more vegetarian. Hard to do with many fast food and regular restaurants out there on the way home each day… 😉 I made a lovely mixed bean soup with nothing but tomatoe sauce (premade with garlic), some added s/p, herbes, fresh celery chopped and just a long time cooking! Turned out great and I’ll have more for lunch tomorrow. That was our dinner last Sunday night. Plenty of leftovers. 🙂
Thank you for hosting, as always! I do link back on my site. 🙂
Warm hugs,
Barb 🙂
Thank you so much, Barb, and thank you for linking back as well! I appreciate it! Your mixed bean soup sounds delicious – I love comfort food like that this time of year.
Warm hugs,
April 🙂
April, it sounds like you’re getting the new year off to a flying start! I admire your energy and organized approach. Thank you for hosting Hearth and Soul. Looking forward to all your 2020 adventures!
Thank you so much, Jean!