My Guiding Quote & 21 Inspiring Quotes for the New Year

Have You Picked Your WORD for the New Year yet? Yeah – me neither. I’m doing things a little differently this year.

For the past few years, it’s been trendy to choose a single Word to express and inspire all your hopes, dreams, directions, and aspirations in the coming year. Good, solid, meaningful Words like Balance, or Enlighten, or Wonder, or Cultivate, or Renew.

The goal is to keep your attention fixed on your Word throughout the year, and let that focus help you become the person you hope to be. For many, this annual Word-choosing has become an intrinsic part of their personal New Years rite; so much so that I know one person who won’t even acknowledge that the New Year has arrived until her Word of the year has been chosen.

Unfortunately, the single Word exercise has never inspired me the way I thought it should. In years past when I’ve chosen a Word, I’ve never been successful adhering to its focus for more than a few weeks; so sometime between President’s Day and Valentine’s Day, I’m usually stumbling into another rabbit hole and forgetting my Word entirely.

Then, about a year ago, I started including the following quote on my email signature:

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.

^{– Dalai Lama}

My initial intention in adding this quote to my emails was simply to telegraph a message about the core values of “The Good Hearted Woman.” However, there was definitely an ulterior motive: it was a reminder – for me.

With that simple message added, every email I sent out throughout the year reminded me to be kind. To consider the person on the other end. To remember that everyone has a story.

As the year progressed, I found myself spending time contemplating the deeper meanings and nature of kindness. In my journal, I revisited old discussions on altruism and agape and existence and our responsibilities to our fellow humans. (My old existentialism prof, Dr. Askay, would be proud.)

But here’s the coolest part: you know what? After a year of actively considering kindness and its place in my life every day, I believe that I am a little kinder today than I was this time last year. Moreover, I believe that this change is the direct result of seeing that quote every day and focusing on making it part of who I am.

This experience also reminded me that the messages we give ourselves every day can have profound impact on our life, how we perceive ourselves, and how we interact with the rest of the world. That quote reached and engaged me in a way a Word never has.

So this year, instead of flailing around trying to find that one single, perfect WORD to reflect all of my hopes, dreams, aspirations, beliefs, philosophies, and so forth for the new year, only to abandon it halfway through February because I’ve found a prettier, shinier word, I’ve decided to find a message – a quote – that I truly love and want to live by, and aim for that.

I suppose that choosing a quote to focus on for the year isn’t really much different from choosing a WORD (it’s just more words, right), but a quote just seems to work better for me.

Here’s the quote I’m taping to my desk this year:

“She dances to the songs in her head,
speaks with the rhythm of her heart,
and loves from the depths of her soul.”
^{~ Dean Jackson}

I chose this quote for a number of reasons, some very personal; but at the heart of it, the choice was simple: whenever I read it, I feel encouraged and empowered and passionate about to following the inspirations of my heart. I want to live the kind of life that would inspire such a quote.

In my search for my guiding quote for the upcoming year, I gathered a collection of wonderful words. Maybe one of these inspiring quotes will speak to you:

21 Inspiring Quotes for the New Year 🎉 (Because some of us need more than #OneWord to get thru the year!) #oneword385 #thursdaythoughts #quotes Click To Tweet

Inspiring Quotes for the New Year

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.” ― Henry David Thoreau

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Whatever you do or dream you can do – begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream.”― C.S. Lewis

“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.”― Louis L’Amour

“I’m selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can’t handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best.” ― Marilyn Monroe

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” ― Oscar Wilde

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” ― Bernard M. Baruch

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.”― Neil Gaiman

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ― Mae West

“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.”― Helen Keller

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”― Maya Angelou

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” ― Rob Siltanen

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ― H. Jackson Brown Jr. [P.S. I Love You]

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” J.K. Rowling [Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.”― Marie Curie

“Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.” – Neil Gaiman [Coraline]

“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.” ― Lao Tzu

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.- Albert Einstein
“I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living.”- Dr. Seuss

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin this post!

What words will you use to guide you this year? Please let us know in the comments below!

Valentine for Our Good Hearted Readers {+ 5 Easy Ways to Help Your Friend Who Blogs}

February 12 By Renée ♥ 8 Comments

Dear Good Hearted Reader, I want to take this opportunity to thank you. The little things you do that show you care mean the world to me.

Dear Good Hearted Reader,

I want to take this opportunity to thank you. The little things you do that show you care mean the world to me. Those thumbs up’s and comments on my Facebook posts, and the Wow! emoji you leave nearly time never fails to brighten my day. And your comments on my blog posts and the times when you share my recipes and posts with your friends? That’s like winning the blogger lottery! Your small gestures are a big part of why I do this. They validate my long hours, and make me feel that my work is appreciated and valued.

Reader, you might not know this, but blogging – writing in general – is hard work. Sure, it can be a barrel of fun, but it can also be a lonely, unforgiving business at times. Sometimes it feels like no one is out there; but you, dear Good Hearted reader, remind me every day that I am not alone, and for that I am so grateful.

Thank you for all you do to support The Good Hearted Woman. Keep reading!

Sincerely,
Renée 💖 The Good Hearted Woman

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. {Dalai Lama} #kindness #bekind Click To Tweet

^{This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.}

5 Easy Ways to Help Your Friend Who Blogs

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

Here are five super-easy ways that you can support and help your friend who blogs – and they won’t cost you a penny.

1. Tell your friend that you read their blog. Seriously.

If you do nothing else, do this! I cannot even tell you how many of my friends, when the subject of my blog pops up in casual conversation, have surprised me by saying, “Oh yeah, I love your blog!” As in, up until that point, I had no idea they even knew I had a blog, much less that they read it. And every single time someone tells me that, I am totally tickled! It literally makes my day sometimes. And lest you think that your one little visit won’t make a difference to your blogger-friend, let me assure you – it does. GHW has tens of thousands of visitors each month, but if one of my friends tells me they read my latest post, I’m as happy as if it were a million! So if you have a friend who blogs and you read it, Tell them! It will mean more than you can imagine.

2. Subscribe to their blog newsletter and follow them on social media.

I know – you get enough email already. But most responsible bloggers will only send out 2-4 emails a month (I send 2, or less), and even if you don’t always read it, you’re showing your support and helping your blogger-friend with their numbers. So if you like your friend’s blog, take a minute to subscribe to their newsletter. Just knowing that you care enough to subscribe, even if you don’t always read it, means so much! {Click here to subscribe to GHW ♥} Likewise, follow their blog on social media, especially the “Big 4” – Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

Before I move on, let me take a minute to address numbers. If you aren’t a blogger, you may not know this, but making an income on a blog is all about numbers. Please don’t misunderstand; blogging itself isn’t about the numbers – it’s about learning and reaching and communicating and sharing information and making the world a better place (at least it is to me). BUT, if you want to make money along the way, numbers are critical: the number of people reading your blog, the number of people following you on any given social media outlet, and the number of people on your mailing list are all paramount. So not only does it make us feel supported when our friends follow our blogs and social media, but it helps us in a very real, practical way as well.

3. Comment, Comment, Comment!

If you read a blog or Facebook post that you particularly like (or don’t like, or have any opinion at all about), take a moment to leave a comment. A few years ago, one of my dad’s coworkers from decades ago commented on one of my blog posts, and I was so heartened by the knowledge that he took time to read my blog and comment that I got ridiculously misty. More than that, I’ve never forgotten his kindness. Be that person for your blogger-friend.

4. If you read something you like, Share it!

If you read something your blogger friend-writes and you find yourself saying, “that’s good information,” or “I should save that for later,” or “I need to make that chocolate lava cake immediately,” then it’s probably something your friends would appreciate as well. Take an extra few seconds to hit the Share button on the blog post and share it on your Facebook page or on Pinterest or whatever you’re into to. When my friends share my posts, I’m so grateful that I feel like making them cookies or taking them flowers or something. (I usually don’t, but that’s how it makes me feel. And sometimes I do, so you just never know 😉🍪💖 )

Valentine for a Good Hearted Reader {+ 5 Easy Ways to Help Your Friend Who Blogs}

Most established blogs have Share buttons on their sidebar and/or on the post itself.

Sharing is easy to do and takes almost no time at all. Most established blogs have Share buttons on their sidebar and/or on the post itself that make sharing simple and easy to do. Each of the sharing buttons will guide you quickly and easily through the process. For example, if you click the Pinterest button, it will pull up a selection of pinnable images for you. Just choose one and pin it to one of your Pinterest boards. It will take you all of 10 seconds at most, and because Pinterest is a visual search engine instead of a social media outlet per say, you will be contributing to your friend’s long-term sharing value in the process.

Pinterest Pro Tip: Pinterest prefers long, tall images, so if you have a choice, choose a vertical image to share.

5. Use their affiliate links and banner ads when you make a purchase.

You may have seen advertising disclosures on the blogs you visit. Most of my posts that contain affiliate links [like this one] have two disclosures – a short one near the beginning of the post, and a longer disclosure at the end. The important thing you need to know is affiliate links cost you absolutely nothing! However, if you click on one and end up making a purchase, your blogger-friend may receive a small commission from the purchase.

For example, when you click one of our Amazon links, we receive a commission of 4-6% of the purchase price, depending on how good a month it is. You don’t even have to buy the thing that is being advertised on your friend’s blog, so if you are planning to make an Amazon or Travelocity or Craftsy [yep – they’re all affiliate links 😁 ] or whatever purchase, and you happen to remember that your blogger-friend has a link to that vendor on their blog, go to their blog first and click through a relevant vendor link so that your friend gets a little piece of the pie. (Unfortunately, affiliates are not allowed to use their own links.)

Likewise, if your friend has affiliate or other product links or banner ads (image-based advertising, like the one directly below this paragraph), even if you have no intention of buying a product, click the link anyway. Why? Because bloggers often make a cent or two for every click-through. Moreover, it shows the companies your blogger-friend is working with that they have readers who are active and engaged. I cannot emphasize how important this engagement is for a blogger’s financial success.

Bonus: Get them away from their work occasionally.

Working from home, as most bloggers do, can be very isolating. I know that some writers/bloggers are great at getting themselves out and into the world on a regular basis, but I’m not one of them, and I know I’m not alone. If you have a writer or blogger friend who you haven’t seen in real life for awhile, reach out. Ask them out for coffee or lunch, or for an afternoon walk in the sunshine. They will likely be delighted that you thought of them, and welcome the break from their work. They could also probably use the extra vitamin D. 😉

{HINT: Here’s your chance!} Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin this post!

^{Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they do help keep this site up and running. As always, all opinions and images are my own. Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!}

If you are a reader, how do you support your blogger friends? And if you write a blog, what do your friends do that make you feel appreciated and supported? Share in the comments below!

Why Taking Time Off From Blogging Was the Best Thing for Me {Plus, Life with Jackson Browne}

January 4 By Renée ♥ 27 Comments

Why taking some significant time off from blogging was one of the best things I could have done, and how Jackson Browne (our new kitten!) changed my Insta-Vibe.

You probably didn’t notice, but I just took two solid months off from blogging.

Two months! Really!?! {Wait! Have you been gone?}

I know – you must be shocked and full of questions. (Actually, probably not, unless you are a blogger.) Like, “Whatever did you do with all that extra time?” and, “Didn’t your blog traffic drop to nothing?” and, “During the holiday season? Are you crazy!?!?” and, most importantly, “Why would you do such a thing?!?”

Let’s start with the last question first. I think it all started a little more than a year ago when our cat Tarzan was tragically killed without warning. As you may know, losing a long-time family pet can sometimes be more difficult than losing a human family member, and in Tarzan’s case, I took the loss pretty hard.

Then, as we eased into the Winter of 2016-17, things took an increasingly difficult turn as our family grieved the loss of our matriarch, and subsequently our grandparents’ home, which had been in the family since “The War.” Add to that caring for an aging parent with Alzheimers, and worrying about six daughters with their own lives and struggles, and ice the cake with the longest, darkest, wettest winter the Pacific Northwest has ever offered up in my lifetime. Oh, and then there was that pesky election business last year too, right? It’s been a difficult time, for many people. In general, I’ve been very blessed to have a naturally positive outlook on life, but last winter pushed even me to my limits.

Tarzan {Best Cat Ever!}

In an effort to find comfort and balance through all those grey days, one of the first things I did was rededicated myself to the practice of journaling. Writing for yourself, as you may know, is an entirely different exercise than writing for public consumption, and throughout 2017, as I spent time mulling over the reoccurring themes swirling out of my head and into my journal, it became clear that I have a gift for creating “worthy distractions” that keep me from fully committing to my more formidable goals.

And worthy they are: Blog posts. Journal entries. Business copy. Editing gigs. Letters. Distractions.

After freelancing for decades and blogging for at least seven years, I needed Focus.

In September, I finally began to painstakingly whittle away at my piles of “writer notes” that have collected over the last few years – scraps of conversations, story ideas, essay prompts, an unfinished novel or two. Things like that.

In October, a persistent thought began to poke at the back of my brain. Also, we got a new kitten and named him Jackson Browne.

In November, my hard drive died. I took it as a sign, and made a conscious decision.

I. Stopped. Blogging.

For two whole months.

And no, I didn’t schedule guest posts. Or social media posts. Or anything. Probably not the best business plan ever hatched, BUT, astoundingly, the world did not come to a screeching halt.

In fact, on a personal level, my self-imposed blogging hiatus yielded nothing but positive results, as well of a number of unexpected dividends. Most notably…

It allowed me to stand back and see a bigger picture. Life is finite, and each of us has to figure out how we want to spend our precious time. However, sometimes when we are stuck in the thick of it, it’s impossible to know what we really want. (Trees ≠ Forest) Taking a step back can go a long way toward clarifying priorities.
It gave me a much needed break from social media. I cannot stress enough how liberating this was! I had no idea how much of a life-suck social media had become until I dramatically curtailed it. I am returning to it now with a new outlook and plan.
It gave me permission to take the time to prioritize things that had nothing at all to do with the blog. If you are not a blogger, you might be surprised by the amount of time we spend creating [completely free!] blog content for our readers. Putting out just two quality posts a week can easily take 10-20 hours; more if you are persnickety, or there is travel or photos involved. Many of us have full-time day-jobs and/or other creative gigs, too, so time is everything.
It helped reaffirm to my family that they come First. Often, when deadlines hover, family life can get swept aside. Having clear priorities going in makes all the difference.
It reminded me why I love Writing.

The Downside: It would be a lie to say that my blog numbers didn’t dip: they did (by 10-15%). But they didn’t plunge like I thought they might. This is probably due at least in part to the fact that my blog is five years old and heavy with evergreen content. Nevertheless, the time off gave me the opportunity to consider what changes I want to make going forward. Returning now, I have a renewed energy and excitement, not only about the direction of The Good Hearted Woman, but also about my other creative pursuits as well. A temporary drop in blog numbers is well worth the trade as far as I’m concerned.

Life with Jackson Browne

So about that kitten… After Tarzan died, it took me over a year before I was ready to think about getting another cat. In fact, I’m not sure I was ready even then, but one of my daughters knew of some barn kitties who were looking for a home, and she kind of talked me into it. Not that I mind. Jackson Browne (“Jack”) joined us in late October and has already established himself as my new BFF/work partner.

Not only that, but Jack’s Instagram account (yes, I have an IG for my kitten) has completely changed my Insta-Vibe. What I mean is, it made it Fun again. Because the thing is, when you have a business account – like one that links to and promotes your Etsy store or business site or blog content – you have to worry about timing, and image quality, and analytics, and sponsor disclosures, and even the occasional IG bully or troll or creeper. You have to curate who you follow and who follows you, and worry over percentages and likes and comments and all sorts of nonsense like that.

Jack’s IG account (@harmonycat) is the opposite of a business account. It is purely for escapist fun, and I’m loving it. “Jack” follows all sorts of zoos and animals – dogs, cats, goats, horses, and hedgehogs – along with a number of entertaining humans. I never imagined that I would be one of those Crazy IG Cat Ladies, but here I am. Don’t judge. Sometimes a little whimsy and a few minutes of scrolling through adorable kitten pictures is exactly what you need to get through a long, hard winter.

Top 10 Best Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipes {+ Halloween Memories}

October 27 By Renée ♥ 23 Comments

When the pumpkin is carved, there is another memory to make – Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!!

Pumpkin carving was always a BIG night for me. Dad would give me a piece of paper to work out the details on – mouth, eyes, nose – and then we would trace my drawing onto the front of the pumpkin.

With a few sheets of the Oregon Journal covering our kitchen table, Dad would cut the top and pull it off, and then he and I would degut the pumpkin together while my mom watched. (She didn’t like the feel of pumpkin guts and left that part entirely to us.)

Then Dad would help me carve the face, letting me hold the knife and showing me how to carefully cut each angle and line, all the while entertaining me with a steady string of his Halloween teacher-jokes. (What do ghosts put on their cereal? Booberries!)

I was four or five in this picture, and I have no idea what motivated me to draw a beard on my Jack-o-lantern, but there it is.

The scariest thing about Halloween “back in the day”? Trying to breathe under those masks!

I remember being so excited when our Jack-o-lantern was done! Mom would put some aluminum foil in the bottom of the pumpkin and set a white candle inside, and Dad used a long-handled match from our fireplace to reach down in and light the candle. Then he put the lid on and dimmed the lights and we would all stand back and watch the candle dance inside. That was the best, best, best part of Halloween.

The trick-or-treating was fine, and the candy was great too, but that moment when we lit our pumpkin – that was Magic! Nowadays, a lot folks are painting their pumpkins or covering them with glitter and such, but not me. As long as I can manage it, there will be a Jack-o-Lantern on my porch – that little light shining out and the scent of warm pumpkin filling the air.

When the pumpkin is carved and lit, there is another memory to make: Pumpkin Seeds!!

PRO TIP – Quick, easy Pumpkin Seed Clean-up

1. Separate as much of the pulp as you can by hand. (“As much as you can” really means as long as you can stand it. For me, that’s about a minute. Pumpkin guts make my hands itch.)
2. Get a big bowl and fill it with water. Put the seeds in, pulp and all, and start squishing them around with your hands. The pulp will sink to the bottom, and the seeds will rise to the top. Easy peasy.

Top 10 Best Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipes + Quick Tips for Easy Pumpkin Seed Clean-up! 🎃 Click To Tweet

Once the pumpkin seeds are cleaned up, there are endless possibilities. Here are some ideas to get you started, courtesy of some of my favorite bloggers buddies:

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds {Flavour & Savour}
Crunchy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Living Sweet Moments}
Sweet & Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Sidewalk Shoes}
Sweet Salty Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Nutmeg Nanny}
Chocolate Lovers Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Perspective Portions}
Sweet Chili Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Peter’s Food Adventures}
Cajun-Spiced Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {4 Sons “R” Us}
Sweet Pumpkin Seeds {Sugar Spun Run}
Salted Caramel Roasted Pumpkin Seeds {Garden in the Kitchen}
Pumpkin Spiced Pepitas {This is So Good}

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin this post!

Do you have a favorite Halloween memory? Please share it in the comments below!

Girl Scout Cookie Bake-off {Plus 3 Winning Recipes}

April 11 By Renée ♥ 14 Comments

In Which Mr B Judges a Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off, Eats a LOT of Delicious Desserts, and Gets a Bit of a Tummy Ache

Girl Scouts is such an iconic organization that it’s easy to overlook how daring an idea it was for founder Juliette Gordon Low to gather those first 18 girls in that troop in Savannah, Georgia. It was 1912, after all, and women wouldn’t earn the right to vote for another eight years.” — Anna Maria Chavez

I didn’t start out to be a Girl Scout leader. I was, am, and will always be a Camp Fire kid at heart, but when my oldest entered Kindergarten some twenty-five years ago, Girl Scouting was it out here in the Portland’s westerly burbs, so that’s what we did. Five GS daughters, four troops, and 20 years later, I finally hung up my leader hat; however, Miss Em is currently a Senior Girl Scout, so we still stay pretty close to the action. That’s how we all ended up at a Girl Scout Cookie Baking Competition last month. The event, hosted by Em’s troop, was open to any Girl Scout from our community.

The challenge was to create a dessert using at least one variety of Girl Scout cookie as a primary ingredient. As a troop mom (and maybe a little because of the blog) and I was asked to be a Judge, but I’ve been trying to cut back on sugar lately, so at the last minute I handed that esteemed privileged over to Mr B.

Lemon Trefoil Cake - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

Tiny Lemon Trefoil Cakes

Passing the Judge’s torch to Mr B ended up being a good move for a number of reasons. Most importantly, it allowed me time to walk around and take pictures of all the sweet entries. It also saved me from the imminent tummy ache that would plague him for the rest of the day.

Cupcakes - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

Sweet & Salty S’mores Cupcakes, plus two kinds of Thin Mint Cupcakes!

3 Treats - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

ExciteMint Fudge, S’mores Nutella Cheesecake, and Do-Si-Do Brownie Pops

Matching Cake & Dress - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

This Mini-Martha-in-training even matched her dress to her entry – “Naomi’s Tagalong Storm Cake.”

Lemon-Blueberry Parfait - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

Lemon Berry Parfait

While I wandered from table to table taking pictures, Mr B spent his time hunching over his clipboard, carefully evaluating each tasty bite that was brought to him by his assigned assistant. Together with his fellow judges, he crunched, munched, nibbled, and savored samples from each of the nearly twenty entries.

Judges - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

“The Judges”

Entries were judged on three points: Taste, Presentation, and Use of Girl Scout Cookies. Prizes were awarded in three divisions, based on age. Three overall winners were then chosen from the winners of each age bracket. A prize for overall People’s Choice was also awarded.

Mr. B’s had one important tip for would-be bake-off judges: Drink water. Lots and lots of water. This is, unfortunately, a lesson he learned the hard way. Even though he and the rest of the judges were very careful to eat only a very small tasting from each entry, because he neglected to drink enough water, he spent most of the day following the competition with a very uncomfortable tummy ache.

Judging is Hard Work - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

Judging a bake-off is a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!

Mr B and I are both big Chopped fans, and I wasn’t surprised that this influenced his role as a judge in the competition. When Taste and Presentation scores were too close to make a call, Use of Cookie(s) tipped the scales.

We found ourselves judging not only what [the girls] made, but their use of the cookie as well. Did they get the ingredients in, and could you taste those ingredients? That made it interesting. It also made it challenging for us, because we challenged ourselves to see if the cookies came through in each dish, or if they were just sprinkled on top. ~ Mr B

The People’s Choice

Peoples' Choice - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

Cups set up for “Peoples’ Choice” voting

Twins - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

“It’s really hard to decide on a winner. Maybe we need to try them all again!”

Ultimately, “The People” chose the freshest, lightest, most simple dessert in the contest as their favorite. (Not a bad lesson there, folks.) Strawberry Thin Mint Cookie Delight has only three ingredients and takes less than five minutes to prepare.

Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

People’s Choice Winner – “Strawberry Thin Mint Cookie Delight”

Strawberry Thin Mint Cookie Delight

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course: Dessert

Author: Daisy M, Brownie Troop #40602

Ingredients

Whipped cream
Strawberries cut up
Girl Scout Thin Mints crumbled

Instructions

Layer ingredients in cup. Serve immediately or refrigerate.

Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

My Personal Choice

As a lover of all things caramelly and butterscotchy, this Toffeetastic Butterscotch Mud Pie with Shaved Chocolate was my personal favorite entry in the contest. My insider source (i.e., Mr B) tells me that it had a great chance to be the overall winner, but ended up coming in fourth because of poor pudding execution: the texture was just too grainy for the judges’ tastes. Flavor-wise though, it was delicious.

[Note: Granular consistency in homemade butterscotch pudding is a common, tricky challenge. It can be avoided by (a) being patient as you whisk in the cream, (b) tempering the cornstarch mixture, and (c) whisking continually as the mixture reaches a boil. You can make the pudding even smoother by straining the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. For more complete directions about how to make super-smooth butterscotch pudding, check out this great post on TheKitchn.com]

Toffeetastic Butterscotch Mud Pie

Prep Time4 hrs

Total Time4 hrs

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Author: Renée B. ♥ The Good Hearted Woman

Ingredients

Crust

1 box Toffeetastic Girl Scout Cookies
2 Tbls sugar
6 Tbls melted butter

Butterscotch Pudding

4 tbls butter
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/3 cups whole milk
4 large egg yolks
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons vanilla

Topping

2 cups heavy cream
1/4 cup sugar
2 ounces chocolate shaved

Instructions

Crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a food processor or by hand, finely crush your cookie crumbs. Add sugar and melted butter and stir to combine.
Press crumb mixture into a 9" pie pan, and bake in preheated oven for for 8 to 10 minutes, or until warm, fragrant and lightly toasted.
Set aside to cool.

Butterscotch Pudding

In heavy saucepan, heat butter, brown sugar, and salt to boiling, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; set aside.
In small bowl, stir cornstarch into 1/3 cup of the milk until dissolved. Add egg yolks; beat with whisk until blended.
Into saucepan with brown sugar mixture, pour remaining 2 cups milk, heavy cream and stir to combine. Add the cornstarch mixture. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. When pudding comes to a rolling boil, remove from heat. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Pour pudding into prepared pie shell. Refrigerate for 3 hours.

Topping

Beat heavy cream in a chilled bowl with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Slowly add sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
Spread whipped cream over cold pudding-pie and sprinkle with shaved chocolate. Chill until serving time.

Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Judges Choice {The Ultimate Winner}

At the end of the day, it was the ooey gooey decadence of these Samoa Cheesecake Bars that won out. (Personally, I think using the term “bar” to describe this dessert is probably a bit of a stretch, but then again, who says you can’t eat cookies with a spoon?)

Samoa Cheesecake Bars - Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off | The Good Hearted Woman

Oooey, Gooey, Samoa Cheesecake “Bars”

Samoa Cheesecake Bars

Prep Time4 hrs

Total Time4 hrs

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Course: Dessert

Author: Alyssa M - Troop 40273

Ingredients

Oreo Crust

20 Oreos
5 tablespoons butter melted

Cheesecake Layer

16 oz. cream cheese softened to room temperature
1 large egg
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Coconut Caramel Chocolate Layer

11 oz. package caramels
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 1/2 cups coconut toasted
6 crushed Samoa cookies
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 8x8 baking pan by lining it with foil.
With a rolling pin or In a food processor, crush the oreos into a fine crumbs.
Combine the crushed cookies and butter together in a medium bowl. Press cookie mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake for 9-10 minutes. Cool completely.
With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, egg, sugar and vanilla together until smooth and creamy.
Spread cream cheese mixture over the prepared crust. Bake it for 30-35 minutes or until cheesecake is set. Cool completely, and then refrigerate for an hour.
In a microwave-safe bowl, heat the caramel and heavy cream in the microwave on high for 30 seconds at a time. Stir and return to microwave until melted and smooth.
Add the toasted coconut and crushed Samoas to the melted caramel mixture. Cool 10 minutes.
Spread melted caramel mixture over cheesecake layer. Return to refrigerator and chill for 3 hours.
Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave, 30 seconds at a time until smooth. Drizzle on top of caramel.
Allow to sit for 30 minutes before cutting.

Notes

According to the recipe directions provided at time of the competition, this recipe was adapted from one found on TheRecipeCritic.com.

Tried this recipe?Mention @TheGoodHeartedWoman or tag #thegoodheartedwoman!

Congratulations to all the winners!

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Where Magic Lives: Seasonal Fairy Garden Terrarium

October 6 By Renée ♥ 7 Comments

Trimmed with an easy rotation of simple holiday decorations, this fairy garden terrarium offers an easy way to put a little extra color and whimsy into the changing seasons.

^{This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.}

Leaves are falling, pumpkin spice lattes are flowing, and it’s time once again for my annual Camp Namanu Alumni Reunion post!

Camp Namanu is a world unto itself: it is a family created by choice, and a place where anyone, regardless of age, can hold out hope that Magic is still alive and well in this world.

For more than 90 years, one of the unbroken threads that has woven Namanu campers together is its rich tradition of forest folklore. From the moment each of us campers clambered off that sweltering bus for the first time and skipped up onto the well-worn planks of Uncle Toby’s Storyhouse – whether that was ten years ago or sixty – one of the first things we learned about was the camp’s resident fairies, elves and other magical folks.

We learned about Mr. Skriggleboggle, the elf who lives in a little house at the top of Guardian Fir and answers campers’ questions all summer long; and the wood fairy Gertrude, who has lived in a Worcestershire Sauce bottle hanging from the ceiling at Raker Lodge since World War II. There is a flashlight fairy, and a flagpole elf; in fact, there is a enchanting-someone to watch over practically every facet of camp life.

And just how has this forest Magic survived for nearly a century in a difficult, cynical world, you might ask? Because, though many of us are now ever so much older than twenty, the flame that was lit in our childhood hearts so long ago still flickers brightly – and in our mind’s eye, the fairies still dance – somewhere far across the Meadow.

Seasonal Fairy Garden Terrarium DIY

Camp Fire kids are a crafty bunch, and at Reunion, I am always on the lookout for DIY inspiration to bring home and share with you. This year, I found that inspiration at our annual alumni auction: the moment I saw this glass-block fairy garden (created and offered for auction by Mary C.), I knew what I was going to do.

I loved Mary’s idea, but I wanted to create something living that could change with the seasons. That’s when I had the inspiration to create a fairy garden terrarium!

Trimmed with an easy rotation of simple holiday decorations, my fairy garden terrarium offers an ultra-easy way to put a little extra color and life into the changing seasons.

Invite a little Magic into your home! 🧚🏼‍♀️ Make this super-easy *Changing Seasons Fairy Garden Terrarium* #DIY today! 🍂 ❄️ 🌷 ☀️ #garden #fairies Click To Tweet

To make your own seasonal fairy garden terrarium, you will need:

Large glass planter, jar, or other vessel
Pebbles – enough to cover the bottom of the container 1″-2″
Potting Soil
Fairy Garden Miniatures (at least one fairy!)
Seasonal Miniatures
2-3 small, terrarium-friendly plants

The first thing you need for any fairy garden is… a fairy! I found this inquisitive little charmer at Joann’s, and together we immediately set to thinking on where she should live. We agreed that a large, spacious jar would fit the bill nicely!

I chose a large jar with a lid, which will allow me to have greater control over the interior climate of the terrarium. (I got the one I used for this project at Joann’s, but any large-ish glass vessel will work fine.)

I also picked up a few autumn decorations. I have to admit; I had a hard time not buying everything in the fairy garden aisle! But really, it’s important not to overdo it, because it doesn’t take much to fill the floor of a terrarium, and you don’t want it to look cluttered. Also, you want to leave some room for things to grow.

The first thing you need to do is fill the bottom of your terrarium with 1″-2″ of small pebbles. This will assist with drainage. (TIP: Reserve a small handful of pebbles for decorative landscaping as you finish your terrarium.)

Mix some water with the potting soil in a large bowl first so that it is uniformly moist. I added a little sand to my potting soil to improve drainage too. On top of the pebbles, loosely pack 2-3 inched of potting soil in the terrarium.

Now is the time you want to consider how your terrarium will go together. My terrarium has only two live plants – one for ground cover, and one for height. I left room for a seasonal decoration in the back, as well as a few little touches in the front. Having ample space will make it easy to change out decorations as winter and the holiday season approaches.

Lastly, I added the decorative seasonal pieces. The berry stalk (from the floral department) was a great choice. It was very inexpensive, and with it, I created an autumn tree for the back of my terrarium, plus I used the small pieces that I trimmed off the top to make the little “flowers” in the front.

This is also the time to place those pebbles that you held in reserve.

Oh – I almost forgot! If there is a seal on the lid or jar that you are using, remove it. This will reduce condensation and allow a little air to flow if you choose to keep the lid on your terrarium.

That’s it. This is one of the easiest DIYs I’ve ever done. In fact, it probably took you longer to read this post than it will to create your own fairy garden terrarium. Just be sure to check the soil regularly and water as needed, and you will have a lovely little garden full of life for years to come!

Aside from its obvious adorable charm, one of the best parts about this little fairy garden terrarium is that, with just a few simple changes each season, it can easily be decorated and adapted for year-round enjoyment (i.e., holly-berries and snowflakes in the winter, tiny tulips and bunnies in the spring, etc.).

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Please be sure to Pin this post!

12 Unique, Handcrafted Gifts Your Grad Will Love {All Under $25}

June 1 By Renée ♥ 21 Comments

Graduation Gifts don’t need to be expensive or lavish to be treasured.

This post may contain affiliate links, but don’t worry – they won’t bite.

It’s interesting to me, how we choose the things that stay with us. I find that it is rarely the most lavish or expensive gift that finds a permanent spot our lives, but rather it is some token that strikes a cord between giver and receiver that we end up holding on to, or an item that becomes a part of our daily routine.

Regarding the later, I’m not one for knickknacks generally, but when I graduated from kindergarten, my Aunt Gwen sent me a pretty little piece from Missouri – a fancy ceramic cup filled with plastic and silk violets, with a kitten curled up next to it. I remembered my mother fussing over it for days. She could not for the life of her understand why Gwen would send such a fragile piece to a five year old, so she eventually commandeered it, tossed the violets, and put it to use in our bathroom as a toothbrush holder. When I left for college, I took it with me, and Mr B and I still use it today for our toothbrushes. It’s not the sort of thing I would normally keep, but after all these years, I have grown very fond of it, and can’t imagine resting my toothbrush anywhere else.

Personally, I tend to give gifts of time (which doesn’t fit well in a box), or things I make myself, or some combination of both. However, during this time of year, with all its accompanying end-of-the school year preparations, both time and making can be overwhelming. With this in mind, I scoured Etsy to find a few standouts – unique, handcrafted, inexpensive graduation gifts with the potential to make a connection and stand the test of time.

"This is Your Moment" Guitar Pick / Necklace

"Let the Adventure Begin" Hand Stamped Cuff Bracelet - $24

“Let the Adventure Begin” Hand Stamped Cuff Bracelet – This bracelet is the perfect gift for the new grad because it is both inspirational & sentimental. It is hand stamped with the quote “and so the adventure begins…” on the outside and “class of 2016” on the inside. Each letter is individually stamped, making every bracelet truly unique.

"Oh the Places You'll Go!" Mini 4" World Desk Globe - $18

“Oh the Places You’ll Go” Mini World Desk Globe – With a soft off white hue finish and light wooden circular base, this miniature customized décor piece is aged for a vintage look, and can be customized for any occasion. Available in Blue, Black, Yellow, Tan & Off White (as shown).

"Have Fun, Be Safe, Call Your Mom" Hand stamped Key-chain - $11

“Have Fun, Be Safe, Call Your Mom” Hand stamped Key-chain – This 1 x 2 inch aluminum rectangle stamped with a phrase we should all remember! Each keychain can be personalized, and is created by hand stamping each letter and character using steel stamps. Comes packaged in a decorative box, ready for gift giving.

"My Wish" (Lyrics by Rascal Flatts) Personalized Print - $15

“My Wish” (Lyrics by Rascal Flatts) Personalized Print – These beautiful lyrics are perfect gift for a child that is graduating or starting a new adventure.

"I haven't been everywhere, but..." Quote Watch - $16

“I haven’t been everywhere, but…” Quote Watch – As Mark Twain said, “Explore. Dream. Discover”, unleash the hidden YOU. This watch is a great inspiration for any grad who is passionate about travelling & adventure.

“Life is a Beautiful Ride” – Image is printed directly onto a vintage dictionary page that is 80+ years old, making each one unique.

Marimo Aquarium Kit – Marimo (Japanese moss balls) are said to bring a sense of tranquility and calmness. Kit comes with everything you need to create a lovely underwater living environment that will brighten any room.

Custom Folded Book Art Sculpture – These handmade sculptures are painstakingly constructed from upcycled discarded books by folding the pages into the desired letters. Great as gifts for any occasion, books are made to order, and can accommodate as many as 10 letters.

“Call Your Mom” Hand Stamped Spoon – Slip this vintage hand stamped, silver-plated teaspoon into your graduate’s care package with some coffee or cocoa they’ll be reminded to call home each morning when they stir their cup.

Personalized Graduation Mason Jar – What better way to celebrate! Designs are laser engraved directly into the glass, permanently etched into the drinking glass. It will not wash or rub off, fade or peel.

“This is Your Moment” Guitar Pick / Necklace – Inspiring quote is hand-stamped onto a beautiful brass guitar pick that can be worn or used for playing. Comes gift-wrapped, with your choice of chain length of your choice.

Personalized Brown Leather Bracelet – Choose your inscription, up to 12 characters.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. (Rest assured though, we will NEVER recommend anything we don’t believe in just to make a buck. We like to sleep at night.) Anywho, while clicking these links won’t cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running – and (relatively) ad-free!! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Irish Blessing {St Patrick’s Day Art Print}

March 17 By Renée ♥ 5 Comments

This watercolor Irish Blessing is my St. Patrick’s Day gift to you. (Especially you, Fred.)

****UPDATE March 25, 2019: This print is now available to download from our Etsy store at The Harmony Cat.

Now, I’ll bet you think I’m going to write about St. Patrick’s Day. Think again.

I set a goal this year to create more art. To draw, to paint, to write, to create. More. So this year, as St. Patrick’s Day approached, I decided to create something to celebrate the season that would be meaningful year-round.

When Mr B and I went to school together back at old Madison High, one of the best parts of our day was our concert choir class. (Mr B is a gifted baritone, and I a passable soprano.) Our choir director, Fred Hammack, was a talented, warm, demanding, wonderful man who taught us far more than music, and wove his way into our hearts so deeply that even now – decades later – we remember him with abiding admiration, gratitude, and affection.

Ultimately, it is because of Mr. Hammack that I created this Irish Blessing piece. It was his practice to end every concert with a four-part choral version of An Irish Blessing. It’s not surprising then, that after four years of practice and performance, lyrics and music found a permanent place entwined in our musical memory.

♫ ♪ May the road rise up to meet you… May the wind be always at your back
May the sun fall warm upon your face ~ The rain fall soft upon your fields
… And may God hold you in the palm of His hand. ♪♫

Whenever those lines roll their way through my mind, I remember our choir and the people with whom we sang with great fondness. Music saved Mr B and I in high school (and so many others), so to us, this blessing symbolizes much more that a simply holiday in March.

If you would like a copy of this Irish Blessing print for yourself – to hang on the wall or send to a friend – ~~click the thumbnail on the left for a printable PDF. This Celtic Knot Irish Blessing art print is available free to you in PDF form for a limited time.~~

****UPDATE March 25, 2019: This print is now available to download from our Etsy store at The Harmony Cat.

NOTE: This probably could go without saying, but there’s always that one guy, so… © Renée Butcher. You may print it for your own use, but you may not alter it in any way, repurpose it, or sell it in any form. You may use this image online; however, if you do so, you must use proper attribution and link directly back to this post.

If you feel inspired to do some drawing yourself, I used this tutorial from Dragon Art to sketch the Celtic-knot shamrock.

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to PIN this post!

Cultivating Gratitude in the New Year

January 4 By Renée ♥ 9 Comments

Join me in this 10-minute Exercise in Cultivating Gratitude in the New Year.

For the last few weeks, I have spent some serious time reflecting on the year past and considering all that I have to be grateful for. Then a few days ago, I stopped over at The Ten Thousand Hour Mama to read Catherine’s latest post, and learned that she was taking part a LinkUp for bloggers hosted by Tales from the Motherland focusing on Gratitude. I had to jump in.

The rules are pretty simple:

If you’d like to join in, here’s how it works: set a timer for 10 minutes; timing this is critical. Once you start the timer, start your list (the timer doesn’t matter for filling in the instructions, intro, etc). The goal is to write 50 things that made you happy in 2015, or 50 thing that you feel grateful for. The idea is to not think too hard; write what comes to mind in the time allotted. When the timer’s done, stop writing. If you haven’t written 50 things, that’s ok. If you have more than 50 things and still have time, keep writing; you can’t feel too happy or too grateful! When I finished my list, I took a few extra minutes to add links and photos.

So here – in the order they flowed out of my brain – are some of the many things that I am grateful for or made me happy in 2015:

My sweetheart, Mr B, who is my best friend ever (and wicked sexy to boot).
My family and extended family – kids, grands, nephews, nieces, siblings, in-laws, out-laws, and parents all.
Clean water to drink.
Clean air to breathe.
Legs that are strong enough to carry me on adventures.
The green, amazing, infinite beauty of the Pacific Northwest.
Hiking trails, and the people who worked so hard to create and maintain them.
Our dog, Patches, who gives Em companionship and comfort.
Our chickens, who don’t lay very many eggs but are very entertaining to watch.
The ability and confidence to make art.
The nights that Mr. B and I spend singing and playing music together.
The scent of a horse’s neck.
Riding the Timothy Lake trail in the crisp fall air.
Mr. B and I are both healthy and capable of working.
Fresh bread.
Sharing my story about Doernbecher, and doing some good in the process.
Everything that my sweet grandson Jude and his mommy taught me.
That one fleeting moment when I felt his little head still warm in my hand.
Modern air travel and the ability to buy a plane ticket while riding in a car and racing to the airport.
Compassionate medical professionals who allow their hearts to break along with ours, no matter how many times they have seen it happen before.
The wisdom to know that while prayer does not always heal bodies, it can always heal hearts, if we let it.
Faithful friends who love me through it all.
Daddy’s life lessons.
How close we live to the ocean.
My teaching license.
Bathroom products that make life easier: specifically, toothbrushes, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products.
Art supplies in abundance, and my new art desk.
132 Prisma Colored Pencils.
Our camping trip in the Columbia Gorge.
Our vacation in Hawaii. Every blessed moment of it!
The chance to go kayaking in both Hawaii and Oregon this year.
The little dancing hula girl on my work desk.
Fresh pineapple.
People who are willing to put in the hard work it takes to make a living farming the land.
Fresh, organic fruit and vegetables.
The abundance of farmer’s markets in our area.
Everything about this picture:
Our daughter at U of O, who is thriving and loving her college experience.
Our new son-in-law, Mason, and how crazy in love he is with our daughter Grace.
All those years I spent as a Girl Scout leader, and the chance to watch all my girls grow up into amazing young women.
Waking up and seeing our cat, Tarzan, curled around Mr. B’s head and not mine.
Long, lazy summer evenings lounging in the backyard.
The blessings of being born with a cup-overflowing mindset.
My mom’s little dog, Teddy, because he makes her so happy.
The lady who gives my mother a manicure and haircut every couple of weeks.
The smell of rain hitting the ground after a long dry summer. (Which, I recently learned, has a name: petrichor.)
A warm, dry home.
A refrigerator that works.
Spices.
Technology.
Books.

I’ll admit, I had to really rush through those last few entries to make it in under the 10-minute wire, but I ended up with one to spare! (How I got through 50 items before I mentioned “books,” I’ll never know!) In the interest of complete transparency though, I should note that while my core list was completed within the 10-minute limit, I did take some time afterwards smooth out the bumpy spots a bit and add a few links and pictures. That’s not cheating, right?

Everything from common sense to respected research tells us that cultivating gratitude is good for us, body and soul. Moreover, it just seems like a good thing to do. Whether you are a blogger or simply a reader of blogs, I encourage you to join me. The time limit forces your brain to stop editing every response, so you may even discover a few things about yourself along the way.

If you happen to be a blogger and you’d like to take part in the LinkUp, you can find the links you need at Tales from the Motherland. Here’s the nutshell version:

To join us for this project: 1) Write your post and publish it (please copy and paste the instructions from this post, into yours) 2) Click on the blue frog at the very bottom of the post. 3) That will take you to another window, where you can past the URL to your post. 4)Follow the prompts, and your post will be added to the Blog Party List. Please note: the InLinkz will expire on January 15, 2015. After that date, no blogs can be added.

If you’d like to check out more Gratitude posts, go here.

So tell me, what are you grateful for?

2015: Top Posts, What I Learned & Hopes for the Future

December 31 By Renée ♥ 5 Comments

2015 has been a year for carefully counting my blessings.

I don’t know about you, but 2015 was a challenging year in our household. Of course, we celebrated many jubilant moments – the completion of junior high by our youngest daughter, the high school graduation and college entrance of another (Go Ducks!), and yet another daughter’s marriage to a wonderful young man we are now proud to call our son. Mr B took me on my first visit to Hawaii (there will be more!), we spent a week hiking in the beautiful Columbia Gorge, and we celebrated the typical joys of birthdays, family gatherings, and quiet moments.

But woven into the joyful fabric of 2015 were threads of deep loss and true heartbreak. We waited in hospitals for loved ones, watched Alzheimer’s steady theft of memory and joy; and, most profoundly, for one horrible season, we wept and prayed and watched helplessly as one daughter carried a baby we knew would only live for minutes. In the end, one of the greatest blessings I received this year came when I was able to get from Portland to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver just minutes before he died in his mother’s arms.

As I wrote previously, it has been a year to carefully count our blessings, and I am grateful for every one.

In a much smaller world, here on the blog, 2015 was a year of steady growth and learning. I attended a couple of blogger conferences (notably Camp Blogaway and IFBC 2015), where I met some amazing people and learned some important things in the process. But I think the thing that will impact the blog the most going forward is that my writing has finally broken through the metaphorical fourth wall, and now we are all in the room together. It’s becoming a conversation now, and we aren’t just talking about food anymore.

In brief, here is a run-down of the most popular posts of the year. In the end, it tells me a lot about what you are looking for, and I plan to use it as a road map going forward.

**Countdown of the The Good Hearted Woman‘s TOP 5 Most Popular Posts of 2015**

#5 – Eggs Provençal a la Renée

My version of La Provence’s Eggs Provençal, with its perfectly poached egg atop a pesto-roasted tomato slice, requires just 10-15 minutes of mild effort, and rewards you with a Pinterest-worthy plate every time.

#4 – Roasted Butternut with Bacon, Leeks & Goat Cheese

When I posted this recipe last spring, I wrote that you were going to thank me for it, and boy, was I right! In fact, it turned out to be my fourth most popular post of the year! Inspired by the best wood-fired pizza Mr B and I have ever eaten, this savory, slightly sweet combination of goodness – roasted butternut squash, leeks, bacon and bleu cheese – can be plated up in an almost endless variety of ways, from omelets to pasta to… well, even pizza.

#3 – Doernbecher: Hope in the Darkness {A Mother’s Story}

When I was asked to take part in Chevy Shop Social: Portland to benefit Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, I was thrilled. I have a very personal connection with Doernbecher, and I was grateful for the chance to share our story with my readers. However, this was one of the hardest posts I have ever had to write, because I had to revisit one of the most difficult and scary times of my life. It ended up being a story of Hope and Community, and the fact that it is on this list is profoundly telling.

#2 – The Skinnytaste Cookbook & Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs Recipe

Gina Holmoka’s Chicken Cordon Bleu Meatballs from The Skinnytaste Cookbook became an instant favorite in our household (vegetarians excepted, of course). After I made them the first time, Mr. B told me more than twice, “These meatballs are fantastic!” I have to agree, and based on the response to my tutorial post, so do you!

#1 – Redwork Chicken Tea Towel {A “Done-in-a-Day” DIY Project with Free Pattern}

Surprisingly (at least to me) this old-fashioned red work chicken tea towel was my most oft-pinned post of 2015! A perfect afternoon project, it’s fast, inexpensive, and simple to create. Plus, it’s so cute! If you want to make one of these lovelies, it will cost you just a few bucks and a couple of hours.

What’s Next?

So what does this short list say? Well, first off, it says you still like food. So do I , so Thank Goodness! 🙂 But you are looking for DIY posts here too: apparently you cannot have too many red work chickens, and my tutorial on how to make a tortilla warmer from 2013 is in my All-time Top 10. So going forward, I’ll definitely be doing more DIY posts.

However, the post that made the Top 5 that really surprised me – and the one that is ultimately most telling – is my Doernbecher story. It is full of hard truths about real life, and ultimately reflects what I believe many of us search for in this increasingly detached world – a way to connect and uplift one another. A way to feel part of a Community.

So that’s my goal for The Good Hearted Woman in 2016. Instead of just being another blog to bounce to from BlogLovin or Google, I want to continue to grow and develop GHW into a community of good hearted souls, where we can come together to share recipes and ideas, create beautiful things, and count our blessings.

I invite you to join me in this journey. Let me know what you like, what you don’t, and what you want to see. Be a part of the conversation.

Have You Picked Your WORD for the New Year yet? Yeah – me neither. I’m doing things a little differently this year.

Inspiring Quotes for the New Year

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin this post!

What words will you use to guide you this year? Please let us know in the comments below!

Dear Good Hearted Reader, I want to take this opportunity to thank you. The little things you do that show you care mean the world to me.

5 Easy Ways to Help Your Friend Who Blogs

1. Tell your friend that you read their blog. Seriously.

2. Subscribe to their blog newsletter and follow them on social media.

3. Comment, Comment, Comment!

4. If you read something you like, Share it!

5. Use their affiliate links and banner ads when you make a purchase.

Bonus: Get them away from their work occasionally.

{HINT: Here’s your chance!} Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin this post!

If you are a reader, how do you support your blogger friends? And if you write a blog, what do your friends do that make you feel appreciated and supported? Share in the comments below!

Why taking some significant time off from blogging was one of the best things I could have done, and how Jackson Browne (our new kitten!) changed my Insta-Vibe.

I. Stopped. Blogging.

When the pumpkin is carved, there is another memory to make – Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!!

When the pumpkin is carved and lit, there is another memory to make: Pumpkin Seeds!!

PRO TIP – Quick, easy Pumpkin Seed Clean-up

Once the pumpkin seeds are cleaned up, there are endless possibilities. Here are some ideas to get you started, courtesy of some of my favorite bloggers buddies:

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin this post!

Do you have a favorite Halloween memory? Please share it in the comments below!

In Which Mr B Judges a Girl Scout Cookie Recipe Bake-off, Eats a LOT of Delicious Desserts, and Gets a Bit of a Tummy Ache

The People’s Choice

Strawberry Thin Mint Cookie Delight

Ingredients

Instructions

My Personal Choice

Toffeetastic Butterscotch Mud Pie

Ingredients

Crust

Butterscotch Pudding

Topping

Instructions

Crust

Butterscotch Pudding

Topping

Judges Choice {The Ultimate Winner}

Samoa Cheesecake Bars

Ingredients

Oreo Crust

Cheesecake Layer

Coconut Caramel Chocolate Layer

Instructions

Notes

Congratulations to all the winners!

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to Pin this post!

Trimmed with an easy rotation of simple holiday decorations, this fairy garden terrarium offers an easy way to put a little extra color and whimsy into the changing seasons.

Seasonal Fairy Garden Terrarium DIY

Thank you so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Please be sure to Pin this post!

Graduation Gifts don’t need to be expensive or lavish to be treasured.

This watercolor Irish Blessing is my St. Patrick’s Day gift to you. (Especially you, Fred.)

****UPDATE March 25, 2019: This print is now available to download from our Etsy store at The Harmony Cat.

THANK YOU so much for being a faithful reader and supporter of The Good Hearted Woman. ❤ Be sure to PIN this post!

Join me in this 10-minute Exercise in Cultivating Gratitude in the New Year.

So tell me, what are you grateful for?

2015 has been a year for carefully counting my blessings.

Countdown of the The Good Hearted Woman‘s TOP 5 Most Popular Posts of 2015

What’s Next?

I wish you great joy in the coming year. Please feel free to share your best moment or blog post from 2015 in the comments below.

**Countdown of the The Good Hearted Woman‘s TOP 5 Most Popular Posts of 2015**