Welcome to the first ToL of 2014! Nothing like some randomness to start the year off right 
1. Letās kick off the new year by taking a quick look back at the old one, shall we? WordPress sends out blog stat reports at the end of each year, and I love reading them to get a better feel of what people like seeing on Spoons. Apparently you guys are a big fan of recipesā¦
And you definitely have good taste ā those almond fudge protein bars are some of my favourite. One of my blogging goals for 2014 is to publish more recipes. Iād like to start with sharing at least 2 per week, and see where things go from there. Iām also playing around with the idea of posting more entrees and savoury snacksā¦ Itās no secret that I have a huge sweet tooth and that I prefer baking over cooking, but it might not be a bad idea to branch out a little this year. I donāt knowā¦ what do you guys think?
2. I think that these girls rock my socks offā¦
Sam, Chelsea, Heather, Miss, and Laurenā¦ I love you guys And even if you didnāt make the top 5, I love you too. As much as I enjoy writing and photography, blogging just wouldnāt be the same without the interaction I have with you guys, so thank you so much for continuing to support my little corner of the web ā it honestly means the world to me. Spoons has become more than I ever imagined, and I canāt wait to see what this next year has in store.
3. I also canāt wait until my birthday. Two.more.days. SQUEEE! I was going to head up to the mountains to do some snowboarding this weekend, but itās going to be a little colder than Iād like it to be, so Iām thinking Iāll need to switch to Plan B. What is Plan B? Iāll let you know when I figure it out 
4. Speaking of my birthday, I wanna update you guys on how Birthday Week is going! 5 days down, 2 to goā¦
Day 1: Silpat.
Day 2: potato smasher (ha ha, Momā¦ but no, I really did need one)
Day 3: Tiny Devotions sent me one of their awesome scarves.
Day 4: minion magnets/stickers.
Day 5: distressed jeggings from American Eagle.
5. Can we just talk about those jeggings for a sec? AE was having an awesome sale for Boxing Day (40% off!) so I ended up picking up 3 pairs of pants (distressed, dark blue, black). You know those pants that just fit you perfectly? AE has those for me. And jeggings are freaking awesome because they look like jeans but feel like leggings. So.much.love.
6. Also really loving dates lately. I have a feeling these might become my newest foodie obsessionā¦
7. I also have a feeling that my Advent calendar was trying to tell me that one of my New Yearās resolutions should be to eat less chocolateā¦ I had a calendar that kept on going after Christmas and counted down the days until the New Year, which is great except for the fact that two of my post-Christmas, pre-New Yearās chocolates were missing (note the lack of chocolate smudges in two of the slots)ā¦
I feel cheated. Oh, and giving up chocolate? Never going to happen.
8. While weāre on the topic of New Yearās resolutions, I suppose I should share mine with youā¦ or at least I would if I had any. Truth be told, Iām not huge on making resolutions. I know the start of a new year can be a great boost of motivation, butā¦ itās a lot of pressure! I have this tendency to think in black and white, and itās way too easy for me to fall into the kind of mentality where I feel like I should wake up on January 1st and suddenly be a new, perfect person. Not realistic, and I know that, but itās a hard thought process for me to avoid, so I avoid the trap by not putting so much emphasis on the new year and making new goals on a more regular basis instead. Whatever works, right?
9. That was far too serious of a thought for a Thinking Out Loud post. Sowwy 
10. Have I ever mentioned how much I love reading your guysā random thoughts? Because I seriously look forward to it every week. Thank you again for being awesome
BUT!ā¦ one question this week ā more entrees and savoury recipes: yay or nay?
I would love to see some more savory recipes on Spoons. I need to do some more veggiefied entrees on Clean Eats too. I was shocked to see I was lacking in this area. It will be a 2014 resolution, which no surprise I love. For me, itās just another good excuse to write a list. I love the actual art of writing lists, but I really donāt put pressure on myself to actually accomplish everything. Itās just a way for me to jot down whatās running through my mind.
Now onto very important things. I believe today is your birthday soā¦cough, cough, ahem, ahemā¦.Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear Amanda. Happy Birthday to you. Letās pretend that was in tune.
AH I do social media for AEO this post just made my day ā Iām going to have to send to my work account to share tomorrow
SO glad you love our jeggings ā theyāre my fave fit too!
No kidding?! Ohhh lucky lady! Iām smitten.
Mkay my new life goal is to get on that most active commenters listā¦time up give my commenting mojo a kick in the butt (aka stop putting off commenting for ālaterā just because I am incompetent at using my Iphone keypadā¦).
I completely agree with you about American Eagle jeggings. They are my absolutely favorite, they always fit perfectly!
Yay to more savory dishes! Or better yet, sweet AND savory! You know Iām a fanā¦one of your TOP FIVE fans to be exact! Yipeeeee!
And I just want to say that too serious or not (which I donāt think it was), Iām glad you brought up your thoughts on resolutionsā¦I feel the same way. A friend of mine asked me the other day if I made any resolutions and I told him, āNah, I donāt really like to set myself up for failureā Haha! I canāt help itā¦try as I might to overcome my perfectionism, there are just certain things that will always stay with me. I like the feeling of a fresh start, but I know that at the stroke of midnight, Iām not going to automatically transform into another person.
Ughā¦ the perfectionism gets me tooā¦ But I think that a big part of overcoming perfectionism and achieving goals is realizing that failure is a normal part of the process.
Happy Birthday, Amanda! Apparently WordPress doesnāt claim me because they havenāt sent me stats yet. I donāt thinkā¦ha!
I always post more dessert recipes! I would, however, love to see more meal recipes from you!
Happy 2014!
Love the scarf! Hope you have a very happy birthday
Scarf, jeggins and minionsā¦ LOVE THEM ALL! Happy new year!
have I mentioned how much I love that you host this lovely thursday of ours?? :p
and Iād love to see whatever non-sweets you want to post! happy new year to you and the blog.
They are quickly becoming my favourite days
Happy New Year, Kristen!
Love the scarf! I am the same way with resolutions. It gives me anxiety and sets me up for failure. I like to think of the New Year as a fresh start, but I donāt put any pressure on myself to be perfect!
Itās so hard finding a pair of jeans that fit properly. I might give jeggings a whirl. Iām a huge foodie so of course Iām going to say YAY to more entrees and savory recipes.
Happy Early Birthday to you!
I feel so excited to be one of your top commenters! I canāt believe Sam beat me thoughā¦ I need to step up my game apparently.
Iām seriously obsessed with dates too. I just pop them like candy!
Although itās killing the alliteration of Thursdays are for Thinking out Loud, I think Iām going to do a āFriday is for thinking out loudā¦but just this oneā.
Yay to savory recipes! I can always find a good sweet recipe to make when Iām craving sugar but lunches and dinners still leave me lost for ideas!.
Iāll let it slideā¦ but just because itās you
The almond butter protein bars were amazing! I think I made them about 5 or 6 times and they made the perfect breakfast
Happy 2014, Amanda!
AE Jeggings are amazing! I had a pair of black ones that I just threw out. I wore them to work religiously for over a year that they started fading and looking gross so I tossed them but I will definitely be venturing back for more!
Canāt wait to hear about your birthday celebrationā¦whatever it is that you end up doing, Iām sure it will be amazing! xo
I have a feeling that Iāll end up wearing mine out as well, but at least theyāre relatively cheap ā especially if you pick them up during a sale!
First love those Silpats!! And AE jeggings, the only pants I wear! And that scarf is amazing! I donāt make New Years resolutions either, I think everyday or month or week can be a new start if you want it. I like any new recipes you can make
I canāt tell if Iām more savory or sweet. Personally, up until I read healthy living blogs, I didnāt even know what savory meantā¦. Hope your birthday week is going well and Iām with you about returning to normalcy, BUT Iām pretty sure I will be regretting that as soon as Monday rolls around.
Wahhooooo, two more days! Birthdays are just the best. I am so glad we found each otherās blogs this past year. Hopefully weāll be able to meet in person sometime during 2014 :)?
YES! If Blend is happening this year, Iāll definitely be goingā¦ so you better be there!
Yay to the recipes! One of my resolutions is to cook a new recipe once a month ā baking not included. I want to learn how to make real meals this year like chicken and stuff. Can you tell how kitchen illiterate I am based on this comment?
I cannot believe you got jibbed in the advent calendar- Fail. Whale. So my mum has a potato masher but I honestly thought it was a hair brushā¦.
As someone who has made several savoury spoons recipes to success (beef rouladen, hummus pizza) I say go for it- they have not disappointed!
You reckon I could rock a pair of jeggings
It can go with the makeup from your post yesterday. sahh hawhhht.
Iām 99.99% sure you could rock the look. We could ever run a potato masher through your hair to make you look extra polished
Ohhh I canāt wait to see what else you got up your sleeves, Amanda! It seems like we all love to see your beautiful sweet creations, so keep āem coming.
And I had no idea about those statsā¦.I may have a blog and all, but I definitely am not up to date with everything related to it. I only know a few of its features but thatās about it. Haha!
Writing a post today!!
Those jeans are super cute!! Have you tried making sticky-date pudding?- itās fabulous
Your Birthday week sounds like it is going very well- so excited for you! I have been Very stressed, this crazy guy has been twitter stalking me and it got really bad so I blocked him- it really freaked me out and made me feel scared, he threw an abusive fit when I blocked him too- I only post things on peace and environmental issues and yet a creep still found me! Ugh- trying to let it fall away. I hope tommorow is much better! Happy Thursday Birthday Girl 
Oh Iām sorry, Sarah
As wonderful as the online community can be, there are definitely some less-than-pleasant aspects of it. I hope everything works out okay!
I rarely buy jeans but when I do I shop at AE, too. Theyāre cheap (in comparison) and last a long time!
And YAAY for early birthday gifts!
I love that you do birthday week- I do it too! Looks like youāre getting some excellent little gifts there! Iāve heard those baking mats are amazing.
And I also love AE jeans. All of mine are from there because I can always count on their sizes and styles. Most jeans are always way too long on me and I love that AE has a āshortā option. The only thing that makes me sad is when I fall in love with a pair and they no longer have them after the season is over!
Have an amazing birthday and an incredible time snowboarding! (or whatever plan B ends up being
Just found out about this link up! Might have to join next time!!
Iāll have to go check out AE! I have such a hard time finding jeans that fit me properly. This might be a weird question, but how tall are you? I have a hard time finding pants sometimes because Iām 5ā7ā³ but have long legsā¦regulars are sometimes too short, but long sizes are WAY too long! So happy to see a blogger than has an early January birthday. Mine is January 9th and whenever my family asks what I want or need I literally have no suggestions. I keep asking my husband if we can celebrate it in July instead, haha.
No such thing as a weird question in the blog world ā I feel like we share some of the strangest deets here
And Iām 5ā9ā¦ so I definitely feel you on the pant length pain. The ones from AE do fit really well though.
I need to pick up a huge thing of dates. Iām doing paleo to see if it helps my stomach and the sweet tooth is killing me!
Dates would definitely be an amazing choice! Theyāre natureās candy
I am so obsessed with date right now also. They are seriously candy. Canāt. Get. Enough.
Iām glad birthday week is going well! Even if you got cheated a few chocolates.
recipes are always a good thing!
Awwr, thanks for the mention! Itās hard NOT to comment when thereās so much inspiration, food for thought and deliciousness coming from your side.
Jeggins, yes! Theyāre pretty much the only pants Iāll ever wear [though even them not regularly] as a generally dress + tights girl. And that scarf is so pretty! I just -had- to click over to their store ā and now I wish I hadnāt because they have so many great items and I canāt get them over here.
It looks like you were really celebrating birthday week in style ā perfect!
Donāt feel like #8 was too serious for a post like this. After all, I guess the only āruleā would be to share whatās on your mind and being honest in letting thoughts like this out, too, is just right. It IS on your mind right now after all. And yes, not making any resolutions at all seems like a good way to avoid the pressure. Thatās why I havenāt set any ārealā resolutions for myself, either. Honestly, how much different from any other month is the start of January? Why not set smaller monthly goals slowly working towards the changes we want to achieve? Also, I may not know everything about you but Iād say thereās no need for you to feel you should wake up as a new perfect person ā youāre great just the way you are <3.
Oh, and to answer your questions: yes, more savoury recipes in addition to the already awesome sweet ones would be nice. Do what feels right for you!
Your sweet comments always make me smile
Thank you for being awesome, Miss <3
I love American Eagleās pants!
Mission in life. Make your top commenters list! Starting NOW. Bring it on Spoons.
Oh itās on, Maven. Donāt be surprised if I start spamming your posts just to make the list
I really want some jeggings! Actually, I want a lot of new clothes. Iām at that awkward time where Iām too old to just wear jeans and a tshirt every day like I used to (plus thatās no fun) but Iām too young to dress professional. Plus, Montana is way too cold for anything cute. Haha!
yes! more savory recipes please! one of my favorite meals is the pumpkin scramble from you