Go For Your Dreams Now! A New Year Plan

You never know where life can take you in a year! This New Year’s Day, I want to encourage you to “Go. For. It.” Whatever your dream, you will never have the perfect time to go after it. In reality, there’s never a perfect time. If you find yourself saying, “Once so and so happens, I’ll start that new business, or I’ll write that book,” just go ahead and start!

The time is now. Even if you devote 15 minutes a day to the dream, just start putting action to it. Before you know it, you’ll have momentum.

Dream Big and Make a Plan

When you’re working toward a long-term goal, a planner can be your best friend. Find the one that works best for you. Lots of people like to plan on their phone or computer, but I like to go old school.

My kids know me so well, they picked the perfect gift for me this year. For Christmas, my kids pooled together and got me a Vision Planner made just for me. They also included the coolest-ever highlighters and pens that don’t bleed through paper. I’m a real sucker for what I still call school supplies, and this book makes me feel ready for a new year of learning, planning, and achieving.

The Vision Planner is quite special to me for another reason, too. It means that the kids know I am always dreaming about the next venture, whether it be for my business or our home, and they support me in pursuing my dreams just as I support them in theirs.

Take the First Step in the New Year — and Keep Going!

My hope for my kids is that they will be lifelong learners and dreamers who bring their dreams to fruition, whatever those dreams may be. I hope they will keep taking that first step and following through day after day to contribute to the world.

Stacy Lyn's daughter Milly learning to forge iron — Milly forging iron

Many days, I don’t feel I am accomplishing much that I can quantify. Laundry doesn’t seem to count, right? While I firmly believe that cooking, cleaning, and caring for our families are real accomplishments — what could be more important? — I often feel like I’m just barely keeping up. Going at 120% every day doesn’t work, but making a list of my priorities does. Not everything is urgent.

I tell my story about the beginning of my business in this video.

You’ll be amazed at the momentum you can gather if you make a little time for your dream each day. I know I am amazed. This year I have had the pleasure of writing a book I’ve been dreaming about writing for years! It will be out late 2023 or early 2024, and I am so excited to share more about it with you in the coming year.

To write my book, I had to just do it — to take the time even when I didn’t seem to have any to spare.

I also finished my first season of hosting The Sporting Chef on the Outdoor Channel. How much fun that was! I cannot wait to film next season’s shows. The show airs on Mondays at 7:30 Central/8:30 Eastern. I sure hope if you missed the premiere season, you’ll watch the repeat episodes now.

Filming The Sporting Chef episodes was so much fun. I can’t wait for Season 2!

Delicious Food to Fuel Your Efforts

I’ve also worked hard to create recipes here on the website to make your life easier and more fun. I’d love to know more of what you want from me this upcoming year, whether it be decorating tips, health tips, exercise tips, or even tips for homeschooling.

Of course, recipes will always be a huge part of this site, so if you have any requests, let me know in the comments below!

To start your New Year off the best that it can be, I’ve gathered all my favorite recipes for bringing in the New Year. Without a doubt, there will be Collards, Turnips, Hoppin John, Creamed Corn, and Cornbread at our house on January 1. I hope you’ll find your New Year’s Day meal favorites here and maybe a few new ones!