FaithFull Living

So many people complain that making New Years resolutions is a waste of time, because no one actually fulfills them. Personally, I enjoy setting goals and seeing them fulfilled at the end of the year. Today's post is to prove that it is actually possible to keep your resolutions. In 2014, I set 67 resolutions and I accomplished 32 of them. This year (2015), I set 44 resolutions and kept 17 of them. Here are the ones I kept: 1. Start a blog 2. Take the SAT Test 3. Get Driver's License 4. Complete 100 Driving Hours 5. Complete Precepts Study (Bible study I created and led) 6. Apply for Student Leadership team at my church 7. Complete 100 hours of service 8. Complete First Year of Greek 9. Make 20 new friends 10. Share my testimony  5 times 11. Give 20 things away 12. Earn $100 13. Enter a contest 14. Be mentored 15. Learn to cook 16.  Complete first year at new school 17. Get a Bi-mart Card The key for me is to set

1. Transportation is a must. Being able to drive yourself is awesome ! Having your own car is even better. 2. Becoming an adult isn't as magical as it may seem. Act like one before you get there. 3. Taxes aren't that difficult. They're fill in the blank . 4. Having a plan makes it 99.9% more likely that you'll get where you want to go. 5. The college admission process can be enjoyable. 6. Self-motivation is a life skill that will never go out of style. 7. Arriving on time/early can actually improve your reputation. 8. Time with family is crucial, even if it's not ideal. 9. Cooking is easy. You follow the instructions. 10. You never will have enough time, so make good use of the present.

What I've Learned (The Hard Way) 1. File your FAFSA personally. Don't make your parents do it. Get used to doing it yourself. 2. Create Your FSA ID Before January. This goes for both the student and the parent. Although you can file for them the day you fill out FAFSA, they take 1-3 days to process. Since they're good for 18 months, go ahead and file for your FSA ID's early. 3. File your taxes as soon as possible and don't lose your copy. However, if you misplace your copy, you can always request a free summary (Transcript) of your tax information from the IRS. It takes a few days though.  4. Know what documents you'll need before you file. 5. Don't Procrastinate! State funding runs out in early February. 6. It's okay if your expected family contribution  (EFC) doesn't seem realistic - most everyone feels that way. 7. Always state your interest in all of the available loans/grants. Don't limit your options.

Yesterday, I went to see the movie Daddy's Home  at my local movie theater, starring Will Ferrell. The last movie I saw in theaters was Frozen, which I actually enjoyed. Although I'm an adult, I rarely go see PG movies. So, I was a little skeptical when I saw  Daddy's Home  was rated PG13, but I took my dad and went anyway. The basic plot of the movie was quite good, and the movie was even funny at times. However, there were a lot of sexual references and coarse language that I thought was unnecessary. Although I enjoyed spending time with my dad, I probably won't watch it again.

The Search for the Perfect Cookie When I first became Gluten-free, I struggled over the holidays to find a sugar cookie recipe that worked. Many of the ones I tried came out of packages and were admittedly temperamental. Everything had to be just so, or they wouldn't turn out. Often, they cookies would spread out over the entire tray and look like boiled dough. Finally, I started experimenting with this recipe. Originally it was a normal, Gluten-filled recipe. I began substituting ingredients and it worked like a charm. It turns out perfect every time. The Recipe Beat Until Creamy: 1 1/2 Cup Butter Softened 1 1/2 Cup Sugar Add and Beat Well: 2 eggs 2 Tablespoons Vanilla 1 Teaspoon Salt 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda 1 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar 4 Cups Flour (I use White Rice Flour) The secret is to bake the dough right away. Do not refrigerate! Roll out and bake at 350 Degrees Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes (I like mine soft at ar

I just wanted to take a few minutes and say Merry Christmas to you all! My family is celebrating Christmas on the 26th instead of the 25th because of my parent's work schedules. Even though I posted a picture of a Christmas tree, I realize that the reason for the season is the celebration of Christ's birth. Today's scheduled activities include: Waking up early, opening gifts as a family, eating a wonderful breakfast, and heading out to grandma's and grandpa's to eat more delicious food and open a few more gifts. Overall, it's a day to be savored and enjoyed.

1. I am Gluten-free and have been for 5 years. 2. I was accepted into my dream school. 3. I have written a book in one month. 4. I have a sassy cat. 5. I enjoy volunteering at Church 6. Christmas is my favorite holiday. 7. I enjoy sending snail mail. 8. One of my favorite foods is homemade mashed potatoes and gravy. 9. I enjoy swimming. 10. My favorite color is green.