shaar Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 Hi pals~ I sat around and thought on this challenge for a while. The first challenge of a new decade?!1?!? That’s BIG RIGHT?? What should I -do-?... Start over. 2019 was a big, big year for me. Perhaps one of the best of my life. There was a lot of luck involved but also a lot of hard work on my part with adjusting to literally a Whole New Life and, not gonna lie, I killed it. But some other things took a backseat in the meantime, namely my fitness and health habits. I look back to when I first joined NF in 20...14? And I’ve backslid a lot. Not quite to that starting point, because I’m armed with a LOT more knowledge now, and a base level of fitness, but pretty close. And honestly, I’m really not very disappointed... more like excited, ‘cause the only way for me to go from here is UP. I know I’ve got a lot of work to do, and it won’t be easy, but I’m ready. My main goals for this year are as follows, with corresponding challenge goals branching off beneath: 1. Take better care of myself. In many ways. This one is the most important. Obviously fitness and nutrition and fixing my donked up body are very much at the forefront of this, but over the past few months I’ve come across an interesting bit of introspection about myself - I’m lonely. It’s certainly not a crippling thing, nor anything that invades my day to day heavily, but it’s there in the undercurrents. While I’m not sure exactly what to -do- with this knowledge, I’m at least aware of it, so that’s half the battle.. Right?!!? - Deep Tissue Massage set for January 8th. Minimize damage until then - stretch at least 3x a week, foam roll if you can. - After this, back to the gym! Three times a week, no excuses. - Keep batch cooking lunches. Keep it healthy - this hasn’t been too challenging. However, WATCH THE SNACKS. This is the toughie... Loire you can only eat gnarly snacks TWICE A WEEK OKAY. Cheese curls, chips, whatever; only twice. This is a big rule. - Drink less. This is another toughie. I’ll openly admit that I’ve been drinking more than usual over the past month or two to manage and process what feeling lonely is like - I’ve never dealt with this particular beast before - but now it’s time to stop using it as a crutch because it does nothing for me. Drinking only on Friday and Saturday nights, and that’s that. 2. Level up my cooking skills. GUYS I. LOVE. COOKING. I really really do. It’s one of my favorite hobbies, it’s relaxing and nothing brings me more joy than pulling off a complicated meal and having it be awesome. ❤️ And just cooking new stuff - one of my new favorites is butternut squash ravioli with a brown butter sauce and garlicky green beans - and I’m ready to do more, and put my resources more into this hobby. ❤️ - Cook at least two new dinner meals over the course of this challenge. Post them! - One of them must make use of............. THE BROILER. ( Backstory: I am scared of the broiler because it gets so hot and what if it blows up my kitchen and also my face and I become like Harvey Dent Two Face for the rest of my life but ALSO I know this is a very unfounded fear but the broiler is WEIRD guys, every time Tank brings it up on his thread I’m like aaaaa and so it’s finally time, to use, the BROILER.) 3. Buy a kayak and roof rack for my car. Y’all remember playing Legend of Zelda for the first time as a very impressionable 6 year old and that moment when you realized you could take a raft out into the water to get to the next dungeon and you were like totally hype and stunned like WHHHOOOAAAAA?!!?!1?!/ No, just me? That feeling is how I feel about kayaking!!! I love it. It’s an absolute adventure for me and exploring is one of my absolute favorite things in the WORLD and I want to do more of it. Unfortunately, I know very little about, uh, making a smart purchase - brands, types, yadda - so this will require a little legwork. But in the meantime, paving my way to this: - Pay down all credit cards and get to zero debt ASAP. This should not be hard for me, and I’m planning on siphoning some of my tax return into this project, but it’s important for me and my list-oriented financial brain to start from square one. That's it; that's my story and I'm stickin' to it. I'm so thankful to be able to be here and have you all as a support system, it's just like... I don't even know how to put it into words. No matter how many times we try and fall, or stray wayward for a bit, this place is always here for us - me - to come home to and it's just... invaluable. I'm humbled and grateful to have everyone's support while I work to figure out my on-fire chaos life, and I'm honored to be able to contribute my support to yours. (Not saying anyone else has a chaos life.) (But if you do, that's cool too~) (I LOVE ALL YOU GUYS OK ❤️) LET'S DO THIS THING TOGETHER 18 1 Quote i am not waiting for a hero. i saved myself long ago. Level 56 Bardic Time-Mage; of the Furious Heart STR.55 DEX.43 STA.48 CON.51 WIS.53 CHA.65 "Well...in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don't. You'd think with all the problems in this world, there'd be more answers. It's not fair... ...But that's the way things are. The choice is yours." Link to comment
DarK_RaideR Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 I'll admit I skimmed past the second half, but Love ya, happy new year and have a great challenge! 2 Quote Lvl 52 Ranger Current Challenge Tracker Link to comment
Salinger Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 Amazing post Loire, loved reading your words and the last bit made me well up a bit too!!! ❤️ You are wonderful and we are VERY lucky to have you. I cant wait for food pics and pics of that kayak one day soon!!! xx 1 Quote Link to comment
Rinna Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 The support here IS fantastic. So many times, I’ve felt lost and someone will comment......maybe a simple “I’m here” or “you can DO it”. And you all bring me to tears (although to be fair, it’s easy to bring me to tears). I LOVE YOU ALL!!! 4 Quote Level -20 Zombie Princess "The only way to lose is to give up." -Tanktimus the Encourager "You can't beat someone that refuses to give up” -Björn Járnhamar Link to comment
Novaurora Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 Super stoked for your broiler success stories!!! 1 Quote “And now that you don’t have to be perfect, you can be good.” John Steinbeck “Do I dare disturb the universe?” – T.S. Eliot “You wanna fly, you got to give up the shit that weighs you down.” – Toni Morrison "All we have to do is decide what to do with the time given to us" JRR Tolkien Human Bard: CON 2, WIS 5, INT 1, CHA 2 Current Challenge: Nova Levels Up (and maybe doesn't abandon a challenge...) Link to comment
Cheetah Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 Broilers are amazing. One of the milestones in my cooking education is when I learned to FEAR NOT THE HEAT. My current favorite thing to broil are veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc. Toss them in a little olive oil salt and pepper, spread them out on a shallow baking pan, and put them close under the broiler, turned all the way up. When they start to brown stir them a bit. Broilered veggies are awesome! Happy Challenge! 4 Quote Level 47 Quasi-Human Ranger "Forget failure. Forget mistakes. Forget everything except what you're going to do NOW, and DO IT." - Lou Ferrigno "Foxes Never Quit!" - Leicester City FC KBO. - Churchill Link to comment
NeverThatBored Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 I'm scared of the broiler too because COOKING WITH HELLFIRE - but also, every time I do it, the results are great. Totally worth it. 3 Quote Gargoyle Ranger | Level 49 2022 challenges: 49 (current) 2015-2021 challenges: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 || 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 || 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 || 43 | 44 | 45 | | 46 | 47 | 48 || My epic quest | MEATBALL WARS You don't get better at anything unless you start doing it. Being alive is heckn swell. Link to comment
Sloth the Enduring Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 Broilers are just like cooking over a fire right? Only upside down? Shouldn’t be too hard. You got this. I used to be a certified Yak Dog (Yakima seller and installer) and I still think you can’t go wrong with one. 2 Quote “We might as well start where we are, use what we have and do what we can." – Caitlin Rivers Sloth: The Man with the Hammer battle log Link to comment
TheGreyJedi-Ranger Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 FRIEND ❤️ I have MISSED YOU!!! I'm so glad to have been able to have been a part of things. My disappearing and reappearing acts have been a bit of a major issue during 2019 but I'm soooooo ready for 2020. WE. GOT. THIS. 1 Quote Grey Jedi Ranger Jedi's Hero Journey Pt. II: Habit Swapping Jedi Battle Log “Keep Calm, Carry On, and Don't Freeze Up!” - Oboro Shirakumo (Loud Cloud), My Hero Academia Vigilantes Challenges: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11, #12. #13, #14, #15, #16, #17, #18, #19, #20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25, #26, #27, #28, #29, #30, #31, #32, #33, #34, #35, #36, #37, #38, #39, #40, #41, #42, #43, #44, #45, #46, #47, #48, #49, #50, #51, #52, #53, #54, #55 Link to comment
shaar Posted December 29, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 2 hours ago, DarK_RaideR said: I'll admit I skimmed past the second half, but Love ya, happy new year and have a great challenge! YES TO ALL ❤️ 2 hours ago, Salinger said: Amazing post Loire, loved reading your words and the last bit made me well up a bit too!!! ❤️ You are wonderful and we are VERY lucky to have you. I cant wait for food pics and pics of that kayak one day soon!!! xx Aw heck, I do my best.. ALL OF THE PICTURES of wonderful things!! :DDD 2 hours ago, Rinna said: The support here IS fantastic. So many times, I’ve felt lost and someone will comment......maybe a simple “I’m here” or “you can DO it”. And you all bring me to tears (although to be fair, it’s easy to bring me to tears). I LOVE YOU ALL!!! THIS. So much. Sometimes when I feel I'm just not like.. hanging in there, I'll come here, and it's all good again. IT IS SUCH A GOOD PLACE HERE <333333333333 1 hour ago, Novaurora said: Super stoked for your broiler success stories!!! OH LORT I HOPE THEY ARE A SUCCESS AND I DON'T TURN INTO HARVEY TWO FACE 1 hour ago, Cheetah said: Broilers are amazing. One of the milestones in my cooking education is when I learned to FEAR NOT THE HEAT. My current favorite thing to broil are veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc. Toss them in a little olive oil salt and pepper, spread them out on a shallow baking pan, and put them close under the broiler, turned all the way up. When they start to brown stir them a bit. Broilered veggies are awesome! Happy Challenge! I'm SCARED I'm a FEARED of it Cauliflower actually sounds really good that way, maybe with some curry powder............... STILLSCARED 1 hour ago, NeverThatBored said: I'm scared of the broiler too because COOKING WITH HELLFIRE - but also, every time I do it, the results are great. Totally worth it. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one filled with UNHOLY TERROR 1 hour ago, Sloth the Enduring said: Broilers are just like cooking over a fire right? Only upside down? Shouldn’t be too hard. You got this. I used to be a certified Yak Dog (Yakima seller and installer) and I still think you can’t go wrong with one. This stove has never had its broiler used so it's gonna blow up my house I just know it aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAA Isn't Yak Dog one of your previous fosters?? 20 minutes ago, TheGreyJedi-Ranger said: FRIEND ❤️ I have MISSED YOU!!! I'm so glad to have been able to have been a part of things. My disappearing and reappearing acts have been a bit of a major issue during 2019 but I'm soooooo ready for 2020. WE. GOT. THIS. !!!!!!!!!!!!! HUG x 500000!!!! You have been BUSY huh??? (CONGRATS <33333333) 3 Quote i am not waiting for a hero. i saved myself long ago. Level 56 Bardic Time-Mage; of the Furious Heart STR.55 DEX.43 STA.48 CON.51 WIS.53 CHA.65 "Well...in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don't. You'd think with all the problems in this world, there'd be more answers. It's not fair... ...But that's the way things are. The choice is yours." Link to comment
Elastigirl Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 Funny story my fear of the broiler: I used the broiler and was a little nervous about it , but not enough to stop me from using it. But, I was really scared of recipes that called for you to cook it in a cast iron pan on the stove and then move it to the broiler. For some reason, I was sure that would be too hot for the pan (even though cast iron pans can take the heat) It took me forever to get up the courage to make frittata, but I finally did it. And I didn't burn the house down or melt my face, and now fritatas' are one of my favorite go-to recipes 6 Quote Wisdom 22.5 Dexterity 13 Charisma 15 Strength 21 Constitution-13 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind' Luke 10; 27 Link to comment
NeverThatBored Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 26 minutes ago, loire said: This stove has never had its broiler used so it's gonna blow up my house I just know it aaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAA Maybe Step 1 is to just turn the broiler on without cooking anything?? 2 Quote Gargoyle Ranger | Level 49 2022 challenges: 49 (current) 2015-2021 challenges: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 || 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 || 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 || 43 | 44 | 45 | | 46 | 47 | 48 || My epic quest | MEATBALL WARS You don't get better at anything unless you start doing it. Being alive is heckn swell. Link to comment
DarK_RaideR Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 2 hours ago, Sloth the Enduring said: I used to be a certified Yak Dog (Yakima seller and installer) I'm 97,6% certain that's actually a code word for people who knock on your door and try to convert you into a Doodlie. 2 2 Quote Lvl 52 Ranger Current Challenge Tracker Link to comment
Sloth the Enduring Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 I'm 97,6% certain that's actually a code word for people who knock on your door and try to convert you into a Doodlie.Lol. I’m not a Doodlie, certified or otherwise, I’m just not good enough at smut to fit in. We did indeed have a Yak Dog. 14/10 goodest good boy. 1 Quote “We might as well start where we are, use what we have and do what we can." – Caitlin Rivers Sloth: The Man with the Hammer battle log Link to comment
Dusk Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 HI FRIEND. 2020 seems to be the year that a lot of us are uprooting a lot of things. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish! Good luck with the Broiler! Idk if my oven even has one... lol. 3 Quote Link to comment
Maggie-Miau Posted December 29, 2019 Report Share Posted December 29, 2019 Hehe, it's funny you mention playing LoZ as an impressionable six-year-old, because that literally was the case for me with Wind Waker! Ugh i wanted a talking boat so bad after that! Here to follow and cheer you on! You're going to do great! ❤️ 1 Quote Matthew 25:34-40 Link to comment
Tanktimus the Encourager Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 HISHAARLOIRE! If you want we can schedule a time for like a phonecall or video chat or something when you are ready to try the broiler. 1 Quote Current Challenge "By the Most-Righteous-and-Blessed Beard of Sir Tanktimus the Encourager!" - Jarl Rurik Harrgath Link to comment
Rinna Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 9 hours ago, loire said: Y’all remember playing Legend of Zelda 4 hours ago, Maggie-Miau said: Hehe, it's funny you mention playing LoZ as an impressionable six-year-old, because that literally was the case for me with Wind Waker! Ugh i wanted a talking boat so bad after that! Here to follow and cheer you on! You're going to do great! ❤️ Pretty sure @Shadri was permanently scarred by the ReDeads in Ocarina of a Time...........(I played a lot when she was little) 2 Quote Level -20 Zombie Princess "The only way to lose is to give up." -Tanktimus the Encourager "You can't beat someone that refuses to give up” -Björn Járnhamar Link to comment
SkyGirl Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 9 hours ago, loire said: over the past few months I’ve come across an interesting bit of introspection about myself - I’m lonely. It’s certainly not a crippling thing, nor anything that invades my day to day heavily, but it’s there in the undercurrents. While I’m not sure exactly what to -do- with this knowledge, I’m at least aware of it, so that’s half the battle.. Right?!!? I am absolutely ZERO help when it comes to broilers but I DO get this!! Processing it is - hard and messy - so I'm here for you!! 2020 is going to be our year!! ❤️❤️❤️ 2 Quote SKY ELVENWORD NOBLEHEART The Silver Archer, Ranger Level 50 Jesus-follower | Writer | Encourager | Resident Myers-Briggs and Enneagram Geek "Knowing that we can be loved exactly as we are gives us all the best opportunity for growing into the healthiest of people." - Fred Rogers Link to comment
Dusk Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 6 minutes ago, Rinna said: Pretty sure @Shadri was permanently scarred by the ReDeads in Ocarina of a Time...........(I played a lot when she was little) Oh yes. I had at least two LoZ-themed nightmares as a child. And when I went back to play OoT as an adult... I couldn't make it past the shadow temple. I was too scared. The dead hands, man!! Nope nope nope!!! 1 Quote Link to comment
Salinger Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 Whats a broiler?! EDIT: Ah its the grill in the oven! Cool ok.. x 1 Quote Link to comment
WhiteGhost Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 C O O K I N G ! ! ! So here for this Also, if you decide you are up to trying Chinese braised short ribs, I would be happy to share a recipe 3 Quote HUNTER OF ALL THINGS SHINY Intro Thread Challenge Log Bodyweight Exercise Library Recipe Book Shuffle Club Level 2 Ninja Strength: 13 Intelligence: 14 Wisdom: 6 Dexterity:14 Constitution: 12 Charisma: 11 Link to comment
shaar Posted December 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 20 hours ago, Elastigirl said: Funny story my fear of the broiler: I used the broiler and was a little nervous about it , but not enough to stop me from using it. But, I was really scared of recipes that called for you to cook it in a cast iron pan on the stove and then move it to the broiler. For some reason, I was sure that would be too hot for the pan (even though cast iron pans can take the heat) It took me forever to get up the courage to make frittata, but I finally did it. And I didn't burn the house down or melt my face, and now fritatas' are one of my favorite go-to recipes Oh maaaan this is me, it just gets so HOT you know, how can it be OKAY?? I'm hoping whatever I make will turn into my favorite too!! 20 hours ago, NeverThatBored said: Maybe Step 1 is to just turn the broiler on without cooking anything?? IT MIGHT BE ACTUALLY 18 hours ago, Shadri said: HI FRIEND. 2020 seems to be the year that a lot of us are uprooting a lot of things. I look forward to seeing what you accomplish! Good luck with the Broiler! Idk if my oven even has one... lol. Phew for REAL! ❤️ NGL I checked in my oven last night to make sure it was there.... yes.... it is............ 18 hours ago, Maggie-Miau said: Hehe, it's funny you mention playing LoZ as an impressionable six-year-old, because that literally was the case for me with Wind Waker! Ugh i wanted a talking boat so bad after that! Here to follow and cheer you on! You're going to do great! ❤️ I dunno what it is about the Zelda games that make them so MAGICAL ~ ~ 15 hours ago, Tanktimus the Encourager said: HISHAARLOIRE! If you want we can schedule a time for like a phonecall or video chat or something when you are ready to try the broiler. Oh no so you can bear witness to me becoming HARVEY TWO FACE DENT, preserve the video for life to warn future generations about the terror of BROILERS (I'm gonna come back and laugh at all these doomsday statements in a few weeks aren't I) 13 hours ago, SkyGirl said: I am absolutely ZERO help when it comes to broilers but I DO get this!! Processing it is - hard and messy - so I'm here for you!! 2020 is going to be our year!! ❤️❤️❤️ IT IS, I'm usually good at it but Brave New World is kinda challenging, for suuuuure. WE GOT THIS THO ❤️ 12 hours ago, Salinger said: Whats a broiler?! EDIT: Ah its the grill in the oven! Cool ok.. x HELP HELP BURNING OVEN GRILL AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 11 hours ago, WhiteGhost said: C O O K I N G ! ! ! So here for this Also, if you decide you are up to trying Chinese braised short ribs, I would be happy to share a recipe !!! Yes please I would LOVE to try this! It sounds right up my alley!! 🙏 4 1 Quote i am not waiting for a hero. i saved myself long ago. Level 56 Bardic Time-Mage; of the Furious Heart STR.55 DEX.43 STA.48 CON.51 WIS.53 CHA.65 "Well...in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don't. You'd think with all the problems in this world, there'd be more answers. It's not fair... ...But that's the way things are. The choice is yours." Link to comment
shaar Posted December 30, 2019 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 Hi guys, I wanted to post again to tell y'all about my AMAZING LUNCH I made this week !!!!!!!!!!!! I'M SHOOK AT HOW GOOD IT IS Do you know what it is You're about to IT'S BACON CHEESEBURGER BOWLS Here's what I did - - Slow cooked some ground beef in the crock pot with a healthy dash of hamburger seasoning, I forget the brand, it's got a black label, hold on here, MCCORMICK, and divided it up into separate tupperwares - Cooked some bacon in the oven - no broiler, sorry - and crumbled two pieces each on top of the hamburger. - Diced up some tomatoes and onions and put those in another tupperware!!!!! - And today at lunch I microwaved the meat and put it on a bed of lettuce, topped with my veggie mix, dill pickle slices, shredded cheese, and ketchup!!!!!!!!!!! HOLY HECK GUYS. So good. So. Good. That's all I've got. It's snowing and sleeting out and the roads are a big ol' pile of shit, so the commute will be capital F FUN!!!! 8 1 1 Quote i am not waiting for a hero. i saved myself long ago. Level 56 Bardic Time-Mage; of the Furious Heart STR.55 DEX.43 STA.48 CON.51 WIS.53 CHA.65 "Well...in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don't. You'd think with all the problems in this world, there'd be more answers. It's not fair... ...But that's the way things are. The choice is yours." Link to comment
Salinger Posted December 30, 2019 Report Share Posted December 30, 2019 Laughing emoji for that gif. never fails to crack me up Mmmmmmm sounds delicious Be careful in the snow....still none here, doubt we will get any now... xx 1 Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.