Well, hello there – long time no chat!
Over the past week and a half, I’ve spent less time parked in front of my laptop and cell phone, and more time parked in front of Ben, my family and the Colorado Rockies. I’ve been “unplugged”!
In case you’ve been doing the same, here’s what I’ve been up to:
- Denver Vacation Day 1: Tap the Rockies!
- Denver Vacation Day 2: Snoozefest!
- Denver Vacation Day 3: Views & Brews
- Denver Vacation Day 3, Part 2: Into the Mountains
- Merry Christmas message from Ben and I
- Christmas with IGE
- Month of Holiday Giveaways: Vitalicious SuperSampler Pack!
At first unplugging was slightly anxiety inducing. I think you’ll agree that as a society, we’ve become accustomed to knowing everything about anything at a moment’s notice. Not opening my laptop for two days seemed unimaginable a couple weeks ago, but when I actually did it – I gotta tell you – it was so freeing. I think spending more time unplugged is a great New Year’s resolution for myself.
What do you think – could you benefit from unplugging more often? Furthermore, do you have a New Year’s resolution? Do you believe in resolutions?
![nyres[1]](http://iowagirleats.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/nyres1_thumb.jpg "nyres[1]")
I think challenging yourself to be a better person or to give up a bad habit, etc. is a good thing. If that challenge just so happens to come on Jan 1 every year, in my opinion, that’s fine! Besides unplugging more often, this year I’d like to:
- Eat less sugar/candy
- Work on being less bossy and more understanding
- Be more flexible and put myself outside of my comfort zone more often
That’s another thing about New Year’s resolutions. A lot of times they tend to focus on doing or being less of something. Why not challenge yourself to be or do MORE of something instead? Spend more time with your loved ones. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Save more of each paycheck. Etc.
Well I’m not sure how I went from chatting about disconnecting from my laptop, to sharing my take on New Year’s resolutions, but agree or disagree – that’s my $.02…plus some change! 
Aaaanyways! The past couple of days have also been filled with post-Holiday clean up. The mantel decorations have been put away until next Christmas.
I love me some Holiday decorations, but there is so much to be said for minimalism. Lack of stuff is where it’s at.
The floors have also been vacuumed and all surfaces have been dusted. I even vacuumed the lampshades and couches with an upholstery attachment! That last one earned me an “ohhh, Babe” from Ben. 
I just can’t help myself!
I also hung up the new “EAT” sign my parents gave Ben and I for Christmas – isn’t it GREAT?! I have wanted one of these in my kitchen for years!
I had always wanted one in silver script, but this one is really cool and goes really well with our orange kitchen!
The new sign guarded the dinner that bubbled away all day – Crock Pot Chili with Cornbread Toppers!
I followed my recipe for Chicken Chili, but used 93/7 lean ground beef instead of chicken.
Last night I cooked the ground beef with 1/2 a chopped onion and then combined it in the crock pot with the rest of the ingredients. This morning I set it to cook for 7 hours and just like that, dinner was ready!
Actually, it was ready when I topped it with cornbread toppers! I simply halved the recipe for buttermilk corn bread and cooked the toppers like pancakes on the stove. OMG!
They were so much fun to break into, to get to the piping hot chili below!
And the sweetness of the buttermilk cornbread went really well with the sweetness of the canned baked beans I include in my recipe. Errr…perhaps that “eat less sugar” resolution will be harder than I thought…
Alrighty, my friends, I’m unplugging from the laptop and plugging into the tv (hey, baby steps!) to watch Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Johnny Depp cracks.me.up!
PS: Local Iowans – check this out! It’s a list of the top 100 restaurants in Des Moines and Ames, as voted by the public. Cool!
PPS: I rearranged the top navigation of the site, so if you’re reading this via RSS reader, hop over to the site and take a look!
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Back to my original questions – do you ever unplug for several days (not including work/school for which we must “plug” ourselves in for) and do you have a New Year’s resolution?
I like to unplug, but I hate the consequences when you come back to cyberworld. Too many emails gives me anxieties.
Chili and cornbread sound soo good right now. Too bad I didn’t think of that before prepping dinner.
Love those toppers in chili! How yummy. I NEED to unplug alot. I usually do on the weekends.
It’s really hard for me to unplug since work is on the internet and its the only way I connect to family and friends since we live so far away.
But I do like the times that Hunni and I just get away and unplug for a few hours. It makes the time so special.
I defintely think I could benefit AND defintely should “unplug” more often . I spend way too much time using technology and keepingup with everyone else is doing. I cannot say that i currently make a conscious effort to unplug.
I am not entirely sure about my ny resolutions but I am going to make some specific goals for the year.
Love reading about your crockpot creations
I totally agree that “unplugging” from the world is spiritually enlightening every now and then. This is a GREAT resolution!
Glad you are getting things back in order. We took down all of our decorations this weekend too. It’s sad, but at the same time, it’s nice to have a clean and ordered house once again.
Take care girl!
Hi–My family and I have been vacationing at a spot in the Adirondacks the past three years where there is no electricity, no cell phone coverage, no nothing. Like you said, at first it was a bit anxiety inducing, but we quickly got into a groove and now we love it. We’re going back again this year…it’s the best time we spend together all year long.
LOVE the cornbread topper! Great idea!
Those cornbread toppers are a great idea! I would’ve topped my chili with say, five?
I like your focus on “more”. The EAT sign is very cute.
unplugging is glorious. as hard as it is, it is SO enjoyable once you do it. glad you got some relaxation time in
love the sign – i believe that is a pier 1 find (hint, hint: i work there part-time
)
I definitely agree that it feels good to “unplug” every now and then. Albeit I also agree that it does produce a little anxiety at first!
Love that EAT sign. SO cute.
Have a great night!
I mainly unplug on vacations and I find it really refreshing! Coming back to an overflowing inbox is never fun but the time away is always worth it!
The cornbread toppers look delicious! I unplug during vacations and holidays. Honestly, I don’t spend much time on the “nets” just because with 3 kids at home there are so many other things going on.
Resolutions…..yes, I do them. My sister and I once did ZERO sweets for an entire year. At the end of the year she confessed that she went to Dairy Queen on her birthday but that was it. I then confessed that I ate Reese’s Pieces on Halloween!
It was such a challenge. My goal in 2010 is to complete a marathon in June along with a 1/2 in September and some smaller races in between. I enjoy it and want to push myself MORE.
Happy New Year!
I do unplug, and as I see my younger cousins increasingly more plugged into their phones and facebook I increasingly want to pull away.
As far as a new year’s resolution, I want to continue adding strength training into my workout including yoga and I want get back into the habit of reading and writing regularly.
Also love the chili toppers, such a good idea!
I should unplug every now and then. I cant even go without my blackberry for a couple hours without anxiety. Odds are, if I forgot it at home, I would turn around and get it. That really cant be healthy.
I always used to make New Years resolutions. But Im not going to this year. I dont see the need to this year.
LOVE the idea of cornbread toppers! Bookmarking this post!
[...] Comments « Unplugged [...]
My New Year’s resolution has been the same for the last two years and will be this year’s resolution too. I am trying to perfect it. It is to say “NO” more often. I am an over-achiever and have trouble saying NO when I need to. I have been doing so much better. Two years ago I quit PTA at the kid’s school but picked up a Board position for Little League. Last year I gave up my seat for Little League but accepted a Board postition for the local children’s performing arts. I feel I am doing ok with this resolution. There was a time not too long ago that I would have done it all! Baby steps-
Happy New Year!
I struggle unplugging. I did do it for a few days though last week so that was nice!
Your resolutions are awesome! I’m there with you on getting out of the comfort zone and being more flexible. That usually means having more fun and adventure so I’m game =)
That eat sign is super cute.
It’s funny; I can unplug my TV for days at a time and not even notice, but ask me to unplug from my computer and I definitely have a hard time.
Unplugging is not a problem for me! I hate the phone & DO NOT own a cell phone! I know….I am the last person on earth who does not own a cell phone! It annoys the day lights out of me when I am out with friends & they are constantly either holding or talking on the phone! And the husbands calling…..”What are ya doing? ” and they know darn well where we are & what we are doing! Crazy!
[...] to make something special. Coupled with the fact that I haven’t stopped thinking about the cornbread toppers I topped my chili with earlier this week, I tweaked the recipe a bit and made Buttermilk Cornbread [...]
Cornbread looks great on chili!!
[...] to the Oscar’s) and guess who was on the cover? Yours truly! All in the name of taking myself out of my comfort zone! [...]
I can’t wait to try this! You have such great ideas!
Hi Iowa Girl,
Your chili recipes with corn bread topper looks great. The pancake idea looks like an easier way to make it.
By the way, my husband and friends of ours took a road trip in June of 2008. Our first time in Iowa. We loved it except for the fact we were being chased by a tornado.
Hi Iowa girl,
Your chili recipe with the corn bread topper looks great. I like the idea of pancake , corn bread on top.
By the way we took a road trip in 2008 and passed through Iowa for the first time. We loved it, except for the tornado that was following us.