January Fabulous Finds!

January is NOT my favorite month. I hate the cold, I really only enjoy snow around Christmas, and the short days just zap my energy. Why I settled in a cold state, I don’t know. (Oh yes, my awesome husband and amazingly supportive parents!)

But although the weather outside may be frightful, I have found plenty of things to keep a smile on this momma’s face!

Here are your Fabulous Finds for January!

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January Fabulous Finds

• Apple Tuna Salad – Taste of Home Most Requested

  This is not your average boring tuna salad. The chunks of apple and walnuts really give this a unique twist. I made it for a family gathering, and it was a hit! My husband told me I could make it again anytime, and I even had requests for the recipe. What kind of tuna salad gets recipe requests?? This one!

  I got my recipe from the Taste of Home Most Requested cookbook (one of my absolute favorite cookbooks I own), but you can find it online here!

• Graham Cracker Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookie | Simple List Simple Life

  I don’t usually do two recipes in these posts, but I’m making an exception for these cookies! I got the recipe from a post called 5 Variations on the Classic Chocolate Chip Cookie. I haven’t tried the others yet, but this graham cracker pudding one is to die for!! It was super easy to make, and dangerously good.

• Making the Most Out of Your Reading Goals This Year | Young Wife’s Guide

  I LOVE to read, but too often I read a book and then quickly forget what I read! I love this idea of “making the most of your reading goals.” Every year I make a reading goal, but then I have to ask myself, “Why is this important to you? What’s the point of reading all these books?” Of course I think reading is important, but it’s a good exercise to remind myself that it’s not just about a number or a goal met, but how I’m changed by what I read. Jami’s book journal looks like a great way to record those thoughts and transformations. Oh, and I signed up for the free reading challenge toolkit!

• Letting Go of Perfectionism: Understanding Opportunity Cost in Motherhood | The Many Little Joys

  Maybe it’s because I have a degree in economics and the term “Opportunity Cost” made my heart happy, but I LOVED this post!! What wise words she has to give us moms who strive towards perfection. This post reminds us that every choice has a cost, and a quest for perfection means less time and energy spent on something else. As she says, “When we understand the full cost of the choices we make, we are able to let go of perfectionism and better utilize our time and energy to focus on what matters most in life.” 

  This was my favorite part, and the lines that hit me the hardest:

  In The Problem with Perfectionism, Trish Blackwell explains that “Perfection doesn’t exist. The fact that we true to pursue it anyways is the sign that we are living in the quest of approval or affirmation rather than in the pursuit of living well itself.” Ouch. How often am I trying to be “perfect” not because it really brings me joy but because I worry about how I will appear to others?

• Dear Burned-Out Mama of Young Children | Emily Krause

  This post!!!! If you are a mom of young children (or old children!), stop what you’re doing right now and read this post! I guarantee you need it. It’s so beautiful, and so true, and we all need to be reminded of it every single day.

Fabulous Products

Here is a list of some of my favorite products I discovered or tried in January:

• Instant Pot!

  I am having a serious love affair with my new Instant Pot right now. I can’t say enough good things about it!! I plan to do a full review of it next month, but here are the highlights:

  • It cooks things SUPER fast!
  • It makes meat tender and juicy.
  • It is energy-efficient
  • It is much safer and more hands-off than a stove-top pressure cooker. There are things you need to learn about it, but once you do, it is so easy to use!

  So far, I’ve made chicken, beef, and pork entrees; dried beans; hard-boiled eggs; soup; and rice. Everything has been delicious. I can’t wait to try out more things and tell you how they went!

• Weber Honey Garlic Rub

  My in-laws got this rub for my husband for Christmas, and it is YUMMY!! It’s also gluten-free and has no artificial flavors or preservatives. Win-win!

• Mom’s Devotional Bible

  In the past, I’ve never been much of a devotional kind of girl. Too short of reading and not enough depth for me. I would spend an hour every morning studying my Bible and reading an edifying book. Yeah, well, that was before kids. Nowadays, I have to grab a bit of Bible time whenever and wherever I can.

  Yes, I get up early … but so does my toddler! I seriously cannot out-wake that kid! (I’m thinking about getting one of these Ok to Wake clocks. Anyone have any experience with them??)

  I decided that instead of bemoaning the fact that I couldn’t make an hour chunk of time work anymore, I should find something that would work with my new schedule. I really wanted something that was going to get me in the Word and not just offer nice platitudes, so I got this devotional Bible (mine is turquoise leather) for busy moms. I am loving it!! It really encourages me to read my Bible, the devotions are great, and the compact size makes it easy to carry around with me for whenever I can sneak a minute or two!

Those are my Fabulous Finds this month! What did you find that interested you? Inspired you? Encouraged you? I would love to hear from you! Or, share some of your own favorite things you’ve found this month.

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