Month: January 2026

Daily Gratitude 1-18-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

January 18th, 2026

  • “The convenience of a dishwasher is so wonderful and adds ease to my daily life.” (Heather Houston 1-18-26)
  • “I appreciate our world soup exploration and this week we make a chicken lemongrass soup!” (Heather Houston 1-18-26)
  • “I am thankful my husband enjoys grocery shopping and cooking together.” (Heather Houston 1-18-26)
  • “I am blessed to have a chef in the household. He made a fushion Italian, Guinea & Korean pizza…YUM! (Heather Houston 1-18-26)
  • I am grateful my mom’s BP is stabilizing post her dosing of antibiotics.”❤️ (Heather Houston 1-18-26)
  • “I am grateful for minty toothpaste and mouthwash to help me wake up in the morning at 4AM.” (Heather Houston 1-18-22)
  • “I appreciate the life guards at the pools I coach at for watching out for all people at the pool, which leaves me free to focus on coaching.” (Heather Houston 1-18-22)
  • “I am blessed to have a partner who loves me so hard!”♥️ (Heather Houston 1-18-22)
  • “I am thankful for hydrocortisone cream as I thought I might scratch through my neck. My skin has been irritated due to stress.” (Heather Houston 1-18-22)
  • “I appreciate my partner making a delicious ceviche for dinner.” (Heather Houston 1-18-22)

My Abundant Life 1-18-26

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January 18th, 2026

Beauty: Opening Our Eyes to the Beauty That Surrounds Us

“You agree—I’m sure you agree, that beauty is the only thing worth living for.”

Dame Agatha Mary Clarissa Christie (known as:  Lady Mallowan or Agatha Christie) (English Writer; September 15th, 1890 ~ January 12th, 1976)

“…we learn to be grateful no matter what our circumstances may be. In offering gratitude dor our real lives, we discover how to change them for the better. As we embrace simplicity, we learn that less is truly more. This freedom encourages us to bring order to our affairs and cultivate harmony in our inner world. Going at our own pace, learning to recognize our limitations, appreciating our progress, we weave the lessons into the fabric of our daily moments until they become a part of us.”

“It was as if I had worked for years on the wrong side of a tapestry, learning accurately all its lines and figures, yet always missing its color and sheen.”

Anna Louise Strong (American Journalist and Activist; November 24th, 1885 ~ March 29thm 1970)

“Gazing into my lovers eyes to see his smile envelope his whole being is magical. I always use my best plates and dishes to serve food we create together because we are living right now…there is no other now than the present.” (Heather Houston 1-18-26)

“It is in the details of life that beauty is revealed, sustained, and nurtured.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 18-19 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

Daily Gratitude 1-17-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

January 17th, 2026

  • “Feeling grateful that we have a roaring fire, McDonald’s breakfast and Arsenal on the cue to watch.” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)
  • “Thankful for both podcast guests showing up and having delightful conversations.” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)
  • “Nothing finer than a perfect grocery shop including all the yummy items to create delicious meals.” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)
  • “Grateful for the endless love of my 3rd fiancé/3rd husband!” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)
  • “Blessed to have the best cuddle bunny in bed…thank you Kiva!” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)
  • “I am grateful my partner made homemade scones served with whipped cream and cherry preserves. It was an epic breakfast!” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)
  • “I am blessed to have a partner committed to my goal of finding a new job closer to home. He reached out to his network of friends and found several contacts to help me in my search.” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)
  • “I am thankful we live within walking distance of a market. I love walking with my partner hand-in-hand to get fixings for dinner.” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)
  • “I am grateful for the work Martin Luther King Jr. did to fight for equal rights for all. #BLM” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)
  • “I appreciate cooking with my partner to create a sumptuous meal…sesame peanut noodles.” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)

My Musical Life 1-17-26

On By Heather HoustonIn My Musical LifeLeave a comment

January 17th, 2026

#1 Hey Jude (The Beatles) 👍🏼

Lyrics:
Hey Jude, don’t make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.🪄
Hey Jude, don’t be afraid.
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better.🪄
And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,
Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders.
For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.🪄
Hey Jude, don’t let me down.
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.🪄
So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin,
You’re waiting for someone to perform with.
And don’t you know that it’s just you, hey Jude, you’ll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.🪄
Hey Jude, don’t make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you’ll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh.🪄
Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude…
(repeat X number of times, fade)

My Abundant Life 1-17-26

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January 17th, 2026

Harmony: Achieving Balance in Our Lives

“The notes I handle no better than many pianists. But the pauses between the notes—ah, that is where the art resides.”

Artur Schnabel (Austrian-American Classical Pianist, Composer and Pedagogue; April 17th, 1882 ~ August 15th, 1951)

“Harmony is the inner cadence of contentment we feel when the melody of life is in tune. When somehow we’re able to strike the right chord—to balance the expectations of our families and our responsibilities in the world on the one hand with our inner needs for spiritual growth and personal expression on the other.”

“…we often hear only a cacophony of dissonant demands that drown out the symphonies our souls long to compose.”

“Today, just try slowing down. Approach the day as if it were an adagio—a melody played in an easy, graceful manner. Listen to music that soothes and uplifts your spirit. And while you listen, pause to consider how all the individual notes come together harmoniously to give expression to the entire score.”

“I commit to enjoying the music of my life today to add greater harmony to my life.” (Heather Houston 1-17-22)

“This time around I plan to create a new page on my blog called, “My Musical Life” where I will share decade by decade the top 100 songs for each year of my life that I enjoy. This will be a fun way to share with others and remind us all that music is the soundtrack of our life.” (Heather Houston 1-17-26)

“With harmony as your guide, trust that your everyday moments will soon begin to resonate in a rhapsody of fulfillment.”

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 17-18 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

Daily Gratitude 1-16-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

January 16th, 2026

  • “I appreciate my administrative assistant learning at the annual foundation conference that based on the pool of managers at other field offices, she shared she appreciates my supervision.” (Heather Houston 1-16-26)
  • “I am blessed I live with a chef who creates homemade pasta that is EPIC!” (Heather Houston 1-16-26)
  • “I am grateful my husband loves me so HARD!” (Heather Houston 1-16-26)
  • “We live abundantly by being able to enjoy a bottle of red on a Friday night!” (Heather Houston 1-16-26)
  • “It is truly wonderful that not matter when I get home each day our dog Kiva is always excited to welcome me home.” (Heather Houston 1-16-26)
  • “I am thankful my partner made me his best version yet of a Dutch Baby for breakfast…EPIC!” (Heather Houston 1-16-22)
  • “I am grateful my partner recognized I was having a tough day and surprised me with a mani/pedi…just because.” (Heather Houston 1-16-22)
  • “I am thankful for refrigeration so we could enjoy our Moroccan Chicken for a second night.” (Heather Houston 1-16-22)
  • “I am so blessed to have a partner who surprises me with new jewelry.” (Heather Houston 1-16-22)
  • “I am grateful that my parents are still alive and well.” (Heather Houston 1-16-22)

My Abundant Life 1-16-26

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January 16th, 2026

A Sense of Order: Cultivating Contentment

“Order is the shape upon which beauty depends.”

Pearl S. Buck (known as: Sai Zhenzhu) (American Writer and Novelist; June 26th, 1892 ~ March 6th, 1973)

“…in happy and fulfilled lives domesticity and spirituality are invisibly but inexorably connected—…”

“We might not be able to control what’s happening externally in our lives but we can learn to look to our own inner resources for a sense of comfort that nurtures and sustains.”

“It’s not the tragedies that kill us, it’s the messes.”

Dorothy Parker (American Poet, Writer, Critic, and Satirist; (August 22nd, 1893 ~ June 7th, 1967)

“No woman can think clearly when constantly surrounded by clutter, chaos, and confusion, no matter who is responsible for it. Begin to think of order not as a strait-jacket of ‘shoulds’ (Make the bed, wash the dishes, take out the garbage) but as a shape—the foundation—for the beautiful new life you are creating.”

“There is a Divine Order—a Sublime Order—inherent in the Universe. We can tap into this powerful source of creative energy when we are willing to gradually cultivate a sense of order as to how we conduct our daily affairs. Invite Divine Order into your life today and a more serene tomorrow will unfold.”

“I have always felt my organizational style is aligned with the Sublime Order of the Universe…instinctual for me.” (Heather Houston 1-16-22)

“I have changed my perspective over the years that the “To Dos” are not work. Instead, they are life and BEing in my life completely means I choose to enjoy all of it!” (Heather Houston 1-16-26)

–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 16-17 of 501.

I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.

2026 World Cuisine Tour (Chicken) 1-15-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 2026 World Cuisine Tour (Chicken)Leave a comment

January 15th, 2026: Galliina en Salsa de Cacahuete (Chicken in Peanut Sauce) (Equatorial Guinea)

“The country randomizer selected Equatorial Guinea in Africa.”

Gallina en Salsa de Cacahuete is rich, nutty, and savory dish from Equatorial Guinea. It’s pretty simple, but takes a while to do all the steps. First you make a chicken stock using the chicken pieces plus onion, garlic, bay leaves and spices (peri peri). After covering and simmering it for about 20 minutes in chicken stock, you set the chicken aside, then set about making the peanut sauce. Here you use tomatoes, onion, garlic, salt, cumin and chili’s (peri peri) and roasted peanuts that are ground up. Then using the chicken stock that was set aside, you bring the sauce up to a pourable consistency, drop the reserved chicken in and let it simmer together for about another 20 minutes. Serve it over coconut rice. I made the rice by rinsing basmati rice and soaking it for a half hour before bringing it to a boil in coconut milk, a little salt and a couple of bay leaves. Once it came to a boil, I turned it down and stirred it on a medium heat till the water in the coconut milk had largely evaporated, then I covered it off the heat and let it sit for about 20 minutes before fluffing it with a fork.

Chef Chasan Recipe Notes
Flag of Equatorial Guinea
Map of Maldives

Galliina en Salsa de Cacahuete

  • Prep Time: 30-minutes
  • Total Time: 2-hour 20-minutes
  • Serves: 4

Galliina en Salsa de Cacahuete Ingredients:

  • 3–4 lbs. chicken, cut into serving pieces
  • 1 onion, quartered
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt to taste
  • Water (enough to cover)

Galliina en Salsa de Cacahuete Peanut Sauce Ingredients:

  • 1 to 1½ c. raw peanuts, shelled (or unsweetened peanut butter)
  • 2 T. oil or lard
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tomatoes, chopped (or 1 c. canned tomatoes)
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • ½ tsp. achiote (optional, for color)
  • Salt to taste
  • Reserved chicken broth (about 2–3 c.)

Galliina en Salsa de Cacahuete Directions:

Step 1: Cook the chicken

  1. Place the chicken pieces in a large pot.
  2. Add onion, garlic, bay leaf, salt, and enough water to cover.
  3. Simmer gently until tender: Chicken: 35–45 minutes.
  4. Remove the meat and reserve the broth.

Step 2: Prepare the peanuts

  1. Traditional method
    • Toast raw peanuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until fragrant and lightly browned.
    • Let cool slightly, then grind or blend into a thick paste.
  2. Shortcut
    • Use natural, unsweetened peanut butter (no sugar).

Step 3: Make the sauce base

  1. Heat oil or lard in a pan.
  2. Sauté onion until soft.
  3. Add garlic and cook briefly.
  4. Add tomatoes and cook until broken down and saucy.
  5. Stir in cumin and achiote (if using).

Step 4: Build the peanut sauce

  1. Add the ground peanuts (or peanut butter) to the pan.
  2. Slowly stir in warm chicken broth, a little at a time, until you get a smooth, thick sauce.
  3. Simmer gently 10–15 minutes, stirring often so it doesn’t stick.
  4. Season with salt to taste.

Step 5: Combine

  1. Add the cooked chicken pieces to the peanut sauce.
  2. Simmer together 10–20 minutes so the meat absorbs the flavor.
  3. Adjust thickness with more broth if needed—the sauce should be rich but pourable.

Daily Gratitude 1-15-26

On By Heather HoustonIn 5 Daily GratitudesLeave a comment

January 15th, 2026

  • “I appreciate my work offering a free health screening at the annual conference. Earned 250 points towards my EAP Benefits program!” (Heather Houston 1-15-26)
  • Thankful for my husband creating a new chicken meal from Equatorial Guinea. He created: Gallina en Salsa de Cacahuete (Guinea Hen / Chicken in Peanut Sauce)” (Heather Houston 1-15-26)
  • “Filled with hope after having a conversation with our foundation CEO, Dr. William Bell.” (Heather Houston 1-15-26)
  • “Thankful that traffic was light post the conference so I could get directly home to my love.” (Heather Houston 1-15-26
  • “Blessed to come home to a loving husband, warm home (fireplace roaring) and a home cooked meal.” (Heather Houston 1-15-26)
  • “I am thankful to have hot water to enjoy my morning shower.🚿” (Heather Houston 1-15-22)
  • “I am so appreciative that I have a washer and dryer in my apartment vs. lugging all my washables to a laundromat.” (Heather Houston 1-15-22)
  • “I am grateful for the cold winter walks hand-in-hand with the man I love.” (Heather Houston 1-15-22)
  • “I am grateful to have my mom’s sewing machine, even when it fights with me to work.” (Heather Houston 1-15-22)
  • “I appreciate my partner’s creative expression in his passion for cooking and making a Moroccan Chicken & Rice dinner for us to enjoy.” (Heather Houston 1-15-22)