OUT AND ABOUT IN IDAHO A Year To Remember Looking for something to do after the hurried holiday season is over? The following are a few ideas to start the New Year off with some fun: 1/5-1/7 Camelot - This four-time Tony award winning show comes to the Morrison Center for three shows. 1/8-1/10 Idaho LaughFest – Featuring 70 comedians, 18 shows with 5 venues, there is sure to be something to make everyone giggle. 1/10-1/11 Lewis and Clark Gun Show and the Idaho Fly Fishing Expo at the Expo Idaho - If you hunt or fish, this may be the event for you. 1/30 Momix Remix – This world famous group of dancers/illusionist are at the Morrison Center for a spectacular show. 1/30-2/8 McCall Winter Carnival – Kicking off its 50th year, the carnival includes vendors, a parade, lots of activities, and of course amazing snow sculptures.
KEEPIN’ IT WARM During the winter months it is especially important to keep the heat in your apartment at a minimum of 60 degrees – even if you are going to be gone, whether for the day, on vacation or vacating the apartment. By maintaining the minimum 60 degrees and keeping interior apartment doors open, frozen pipes can be avoided. Additionally, by keeping your apartment at a steady temperature, you will save money on your heating costs.ve
This year, begin a new tradition. Starting this month, each time something good, fun, or exciting happens, write it down on a slip of paper and place it in a decorated jar. On New Year’s Eve next year, empty the jar and read over all of the awesome things that happened throughout the year. It’s a great way to look back on 2015 as you move ahead to the 2016.
RESOLVE TO MAKE IT A GREAT YEAR! A new year. A new start. Making those New Year’s resolutions is the easy part, keeping them is when it becomes difficult. Here are 5 tips to help you stay on track to achieving your goals whether it‘s a fitness goal or any goal for that matter. Start out with something attainable. People often make goals that are either difficult to reach or unrealistic. Doing that makes the chance of failure greater. Write it out and place it where you will see it every day. A constant reminder will help you maintain that drive. Announce it to the public; post it on a social media site. By doing this you become accountable and the chances of giving up actually decrease. Make a plan! Create a step by step plan that will be your map to achieving your goal. Become accepting to change. You set this goal to make a change so do it! Bonus Tip! Be forgiving! If you fall down get right back up and try again. Everyone falters but don’t let that keep you down. Try and try again until you finally reach that goal! Good luck to all of you and a happy New Year!
Lazy Day Beef Barley Soup Winter time is always a good time to make soup. It’s a great way to keep your insides warm, when it’s cold outside. This recipe is easy, filling and can be made in the crock pot. Ingredients: 2 lbs stew meat (nicely marbled) 2 Tbsp. oil 10 cups water 3 rounded tbsp. beef base 3 stalks of celery, chopped 2 onions, chopped 5 cloves of garlic, minced 1 large potato, peeled and shredded 3-4 carrots, peeled and shredded 1 cup barley, rinsed
Directions: Salt and pepper the beef generously. In a large pan, heat the oil to medium-high heat. When it is very hot, add about 1/3 of the meat. Brown for 1-2 minutes and then turn to brown the other side. Remove to a plate when it’s browned on all sides. Repeat with the remaining meat in 2 more batches. (If you brown all the meat at once, it will steam the meat instead of browning it – not what you want. Add two cups of the water to the pan and bring to a boil. Stir up all the browned bits. Add this and the remaining 8 cups of water to the crock pot. Add the beef base, celery, onions, and garlic to the slow cooker and stir. Cook on low for about 6 hours. Add the potatoes and carrots and cook for another hour. Add the barley and simmer for another hour or so until its tender.