New year. New icing on the cake (or cookies).

2012 is here. Believe it or not, 2011 is behind us and we are moving forward. 2011 was a crazy year – my business grew, my daughter grew into a busy 2-year old, my love for cooking and food grew as well. A new year offers us an opportunity to hit the reset button. We get a new start. How beautiful is that?

A lot of people make New Year’s resolutions around health and wellness this time of year. You know, promises to ourselves to get to the gym everyday, to finally lose that extra 20 pounds, to cook instead of eating at McDonald’s, to keep the stress down, to not eat an entire bag of M&M’s on our way home from work, to finally slow down…  How long do these resolutions last? Hmmm…. usually not by February. 
So, what’s the problem? Why don’t resolutions stick? Instead of resolutions, let’s call them intentions.
Below are my top 7 ways to make your health and wellness intentions stick in 2012.
1. You gotta want it. 
Just because your best girlfriend is doing a cleanse this month doesn’t mean that is what you should be doing. Just because the women around you are dieting and only eating Lean Cuisines and counting points, doesn’t mean that is what you need to do to lose weight and feel good. Remember, you are in charge of your own life. What do you want? Freedom from dieting? More energy? The ability to cook real food? Hey, I can help you with this for sure. The ability to keep up with your kids? The courage to get real with yourself and take control? Can I get a hell yeah!?
2. You gotta feel it in your heart.
When I started cooking real food, something clicked for me. I fell in love with it. I fell in love with how it made me feel. I fell in love with the joy on my daughter’s face when I made her homemade baby food. You can totally have it, my dear. You are so much better than crap food. You deserve it. Your partner deserves it. You kiddos deserve it. My Busy Women Mealtime Makeover is awesome and I’m rockin’ it out again this February. I already have a great group started. Heck, I was featured on TV because of it for goodness sake. Go check it out. Like now.
3. You gotta attach something emotional to it. 
For me, it’s all about being healthy and vibrant for my daughter. This is how I attach emotion to it. When I am a bum and eat too much pizza and beer, I feel like shit so I am not on my game. Playing peek-a-boo on the floor with a 2-year old seems to be too much work. I want to feel young and energized as she grows up and I get older. I hate feeling exhausted when her energy is full steam ahead! This is what motivates me. What motivates you?
4. You gotta make it part of your day – a ritual.
Do I love driving to the gym? Hell no. However, I never regret being there once Madilyn is in the daycare and I am finally on the treadmill. I never say, “Damn I wish I didn’t go to the gym today.” Make it part of your day. If you can only get there once a week, fine. Do what you can do. Get it on your calendar. If you can only cook once a week. Great. Make it happen. Small steps my dear. My Busy Women Mealtime Makeover is perfect for you if you are busy. This program was built for busy women who need to start from scratch when it comes to cooking.
5. You gotta love it. 
To make any resolution really stick, you gotta find a way to love it. Once you love it, you hate not doing it and guess what, it sticks AND that is the icing on the cake (and cookies). Then, it doesn’t feel like work. It is just, well, living. What do you love to do? What did you love to do as a child? Loved to swim as a child? Cool. Maybe join a gym with a pool and do some laps a day a week. Loved to bake cookies as a child with your mama? Great. Do this with your kiddos one day instead of buying that package of Oreos. Make these babies. Oh, and make the “2” cookies from Madilyn’s birthday party in the photos above (see recipe below).
6. You gotta be realistic.
This is a big one. We see it every year. The gym is packed for a few months in the new year and then empties out by March. People spend money on gym memberships and never use them. Be realistic to yourself and your family. Take a few minutes this week and look at your calendar. What is realistic? What are your real goals for the year? What can you accomplish?
7. You gotta get support.
Support is crucial. You don’t have to do this alone. Heck, I even have a coach. Actually I have two. Yep. It keeps me focused. They keep me accountable. That’s what I need in my business as well as my personal life. Heck, I can even help you via the web. How cool is that? You can cook in your kitchen and I’ll cook in mine. We’ll meet back up online and talk about it. Score. I am also offering one-on-one coaching in January. Check it out here.

“2” Cookies with New Year Icing
Cookies
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for the work surface (I used whole wheat)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 stick unsalted pastured butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated raw sugar
1 large pastured egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Directions:
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger; set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the egg, then the vanilla and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined (do not over mix). Shape into a 1-inch-thick disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least a couple hours.
Heat oven to 350° F. On a floured surface, roll the dough ¼ inch thick. Using lightly floured 2- to 3-inch cookie cutters, cut the dough into shapes, flouring the cutters and rerolling the scraps as necessary. Place the cookies 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until the edges just begin to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Icing

1/2 cup cashews
1/4 cup agave
1 tsp coconut oil
1 tbsp almond milk
Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a food processor or Vitamix blender. Spread the icing to the cookies once they are cooled. You can use the icing as is or color with beets like I did!
Red/Pink Food Coloring
Ingredients:

Peel beets and cut into chunks.Place beets in a small pot covering beets with water but not more than that.  Add a little agave to the water if desired.  Boil, then lower heat to a simmer.  Cook until soft when pierced with a fork.Remove the beets from the pot, saving the water they cooked in (which should now be red).  You can eat the beets or put aside to have later. Mix a little of the red liquid into the icing, as desired.