Eat In Month

Happy New Year, readerfolk! I hope your holidays were all you dreamed they'd be, and more. Or at least, that you and yours survived them without permanent psychic or relational damage. I mean, that's the floor of holiday expectations, right?

I'll recap my own particulars later this week, but in the interest of time, I wanted to risk public shaming if I fail  let you all know about a fabulous tradition started by a fellow blogger, Diana over at The Chic Life called "Eat In Month", so that hopefully you'll join me! It's pretty self-explanatory, but it's essentially a challenge to eat at home (or take your food with you) for the entire month of January. As much as I love to cook, the chaos of the last few months led me to do a lot more "cut film to vent; microwave on 50% power" than I would like to admit, and then not even that, but straight up out and about for the better part of December. I spent way more than I should (or can) on not-even-that-great food; it wasn't like I was going to fabulous places with intention - I was finding myself out, hungry, and tired way too often, and eating through a window or sliding in a booth (or both) more days than not. So not OK- for my health or my wallet. 

Feel free to tailor the rules to suit your own needs and lifestyle; Diana is pretty hardcore, and allows herself a SINGLE cheat for the entire month - starbucks runs included. Since "being more social/a more intentional friend" is one of my intentions for 2012, I'm allowing myself one planned, intentional, social meal/drink/coffee/ice cream/whatever each week, paid for out of a pre-allocated cash stash. I'll still try to encourage feasts at the bunkerpartment over sushi or cocktails, but de-hermiting trumps rigidity in this case, for me. I'm also allowing myself to go out during Queen's Feast/Restaurant Week, because let's face it - it only comes twice a year, it's a foodie's dream deal, and it is still within the spirit of eating out with intention and excitement, rather than boredom and convenience, that is the whole purpose of my participation.

Other than that, though? All kitchen, all the time. Including - god help my adrenals - my daily Cookout tea runs. 

If you plan to participate, be sure to leave me a note in the comments (and if you're on the twitter, keep track with #eatinmonth!)