Here we are; another year has gone by, and a new one has just begun. It always feels fresh, like a clean slate.

New start to a new year. Some people want to lose weight. Others want to clean and organize or set some kind of goal for themselves throughout the year.

Praying more? Quit smoking? Read more? Get out of debt? Start running? (If you ever see me running, you better run because the ONLY reason my butt will run is if someone or something is chasing me! Haha) But kudos to you if this is your goal for this year! One goal I set for myself is to do something for Christmas each month starting in January. You might laugh — but hear me out.

Each Christmas Eve, I always feel like I am still wrapping or needing to do this or that. You know what I really want to do? Take a nap or just watch a Christmas movie for the afternoon. You all know how busy this time of year is. It’s exhausting. A quick nap to feel refreshed for Christmas Day would be just the ticket, but every year there is so much to do that I have to say to myself, “Andrea, just keep moving. There is no time to sit and relax.” Each year, I say I am not going to do this to myself next year, and that year comes, and I am wrapping all month long, it seems! I even spent all day wrapping the first Friday in November this year. I felt like I had a good start but never got to wrap again until the middle of December. Such a letdown.

So here are my thoughts for the New Year.

Yes, of course, I am going to continue my weight loss journey. This year should be a game-changer for me with my upcoming surgery. (NO. Not a weight loss surgery, but a female issue that has made me not feel myself in two years and has definitely been holding back in many areas, and I can’t wait to feel myself again!) I’m so looking forward to feeling myself again.

Of course, I want to organize a few things and try to read my Bible more, too, but a goal I set for myself is this.

There are twelve months in a year. Most people start getting ready for Christmas around Thanksgiving, which is the end of November. So, if we do something for Christmas around the 25th of each month, that gives us ten days throughout the year to give us a boost on the upcoming holiday season. (One day each January through October.)

Honestly, is ten days even that much? Will it help get you ahead? Well, I am about to find out. I made a promise to myself that I would get ahead of the game, and honestly, it excites me! I always make a list of new ideas on my phone for Christmas 2024. Whether it be ideas for gifts, new decorations, new recipes, or ideas for one of my Christmas parties, I put it in my phone notebook. I have eight notes already, and Christmas 2023 just ended.

I want to have things like stockings done and wrapped. I already have a few stocking stuffers bought from after-Christmas deals that I got a start on. I want to make a list of everyone to buy for and start getting things, like gift cards. Bus drivers, teachers, and small gifts I do for others. If I buy a gift card each month, then I wouldn’t have to worry about any of that come December! This year, I had to keep running out because I would forget smaller gifts like this, and it makes people’s day to do it for them. This is what Christmas is all about!

Making Christmas cookies, freezing them in early November, making homemade gifts for people, and buying stamps for cards. Just little things like this that can be a huge help come December. I can’t imagine the feeling of having co-workers, bus drivers, teachers, and friends all done and wrapped before Thanksgiving or having all our stockings done and wrapped. This is my goal for 2024. Does it sound like a good idea to you? Something you would want to do? Well, you guys are going to hold me accountable, and if you want to join me, I’ll help make you accountable by checking in every so often on this! Come December 2024, you and I will be so glad we did! Let’s do it and see if it helps us be more prepared for this December.

This Christmas was such a wonderful one. Extra special this year because of a surprise we got our kids that I promised I would share with you all after the holidays. We bought our kids each a dirt bike for Christmas, and they did not see it coming. We had all the grandparents over for Christmas dinner and wanted them and my brother and his family to be a part of the surprise. We had the kids in the living room about 4 p.m. Christmas night, and my dad and stepdad rode them up from my dad’s house. When they heard the bikes, Ty started looking out the window. When he saw a YZ250F coming through our yard, he sat on the couch with big eyes and said, “There is no way!” Kenzy thought the other bike was for her dad. She had no idea it was hers!!

I’ll post the video to my Instagram, where I know many of you follow me, and you can see it. (andreascountryhomecooknfitness) It was such a special moment caught on video. It gives me so much joy watching Tyler teaching his sister how to ride. The story is so sweet about this, and I will share it later this month but watching my two kids this year will give me so much joy. It’s the best feeling, and now that Kenzy’s bike is the mini version of her big brothers, it makes it that much sweeter!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season, and I wish you all the happiness for this new year! Cheers to 2024!

Garlic Parmesan Baked Fries

So crispy, you won’t even know they aren’t deep fried.
Ingredients:
• 4 large white potatoes; peeled, washed, and sliced – (dabbed dry with a paper towel)
• 1/4 cup of olive oil
• 1/2 cup shaker parmesan cheese
• 1- 1/2 tsp. garlic salt
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• *I also added 1/8 tsp of fresh garlic; this is optional.
Directions:

Mix everything well in a large bowl and transfer to a cook sheet, spreading fries apart to bake evenly.

Bake at 425′ for the first 15 minutes; then flip fries.

Bake another 25-30 minutes at 400′ till golden brown; flipping fries over as needed.