Happy New Year everyone and thanks for joining Coco and me for the January Ultimate Coffee Date. These are always some of my favorite posts to write and read. I’ve got so much to share this month-it feels like forever since we’ve caught up over coffee. So let’s get right to it.
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…I had an amazing time in Aruba with my family. Aside from spending lots of quality family time together, one of the highlights this year was a visit to flamingo beach. I had never seen them so up close and wow they are beautiful and unique creatures. I posted so many photos that you are all probably sick of them by now so last one promise 🙂
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…I perhaps over indulged a little more than usual last month and I am certainly glad to be back on my non vacation eating plan. Trying to mix it up a bit, I came up with a new favorite breakfast: Sweet potato “toast” with a black bean puree. It was so delicious that I might be sticking with it for another week. I have a few other variations to try out as well. Was not sure if it was interesting enough to be a whole meatless Monday post. What do you think?
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…my monthly soup club swap is tomorrow and I am cooking up a big pot of White Bean Veggie Chili. I will be sharing the recipe on Monday. Don’t miss it!
If we were having coffee, I would tell you…As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I am not a resolutions person but I am about setting goals and themes. Last year my word was quality and this year it is going to be focus. My plan is to combine the 2 together to achieve my goals. 2017 I have plans for you!
Your turn! Tell me-do you have a word of the year? Do you like sweet potato toast?
So glad that we had a chance to catch up over coffee today thanks for stopping by the January Ultimate Coffee Date today!
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The sweet potato toast sounds amazing & I’m really trying to mix things up now!
And yes, my word this year is patience. Looking forward to seeing how your words come together in 2017!
Yes me too let’s do this!
Happy Saturday! I have never tried sweet potato toast but it does sound interesting! I wish I was in your soup club I am still working on the idea here with our Junior league group. Your Aruba vacation looked amazing, is this an annual trip now?
The soup club has been fun and since it’s only once a month it’s not too hard to do for everyone. We have done Aruba the last 2 years so who knows!? We do like it there and it’s easy to get to.
I”m not one bit sick of your Aruba pics. The only pink flamingos I’ve ever seen are the plastic ones!
I know! They were unreal in person and so beautiful really. I am not usually an up close with animals person 🙂
Not at all tired of your Aruba pics – looks like it was a great trip! I love it there and haven’t been in years.
It’s always so interesting to me to see the words people select – My word for this year is Belief.
Thanks for coffee! Have a good weekend 🙂
I really like that mantra as well. Happy new year friend!
Happy New Year!! Those flamingos though! How wild is that. I definitely jumped off the good food eating bandwagon and I’m struggling to get back on. I’m not setting goals this year either but I do need to do something about my sugar intake….
My sugar got way out of control and I am trying really hard not think about chocolate 🙂
Ooooh, I’m excited to see the chili recipe! I have a killer awesome white chicken chili that I could eat all day, everyday, for the rest of my life…no kidding! 😉
Wow really!? Hope mine lives up to that!
I’ve never thought to make sweet potato toast, YUM. My goal for this year is to have a much smoother year than this last year has been! 🙂
That sounds like a great idea to me! Happy new year friend
My word is also focus this year. I want to focus a bit more in several areas of my life. I’ve never had sweet potato toast…..an interesting thought! Looking forward to 2017!
It’s not always easy to focus but will be worth it!
How the heck did I miss your Aruba post with the flamingoes? SO beautiful! I think your sweet potato toast looks great, I’ve never thought to make anything like that so I’d love to see it on meatless Monday 🙂 Happy Saturday!
Ok then I will be coming up with some variations for the sweet potato toast and posting them soon
I’ve never done a word or theme, but what a GREAT idea! My word for 2017 is going to be consistency (I actually wrote about it in today’s linkup post!) Thanks for hosting!
Consistency is a great one! Good luck and thanks for stopping by for coffee today
It was glad to be back with you girls for coffee this morning! I’ve missed it for sure.
Sweet potato toast sounds like something I would love!
I did see some of the vacation pictures, I have to say this one with the flamingos was my favorite! They really are pretty neat creatures.
Great to have you back as well and always fun to catch up over coffee
I really enjoyed all of your Aruba vacay pics on IG…looks like you all had a faulous time!
I’m most definitely going to try the sweet potato toast ..I love anything sweet potatoes!
Thanks for hosting this fabulous link!
I’ve never had sweet potato toast (though I’m eating a bowl of sweet potatoes right now!) Loved your Aruba pics – looks like you had a really great time. My word for the year is also focus!
The sweet potatoes are amazing and I am getting ready to whip up another batch. Something about this cold weather makes me want to cook. It will be hard for me to focus but I am certainly going to give it my all. Good luck to both of us!
Aruba sounds dreamy right about now! Glad you enjoyed your holidays!
It was really a great family getaway! Happy new years
I’ve never heard of sweet potato toast but it looks AWESOME! I think that might be my go-to breakfast next week!
It’s really very tasty but make sure you roast the sweet potatoes in advance and then toast when ready to eat
I cannot figure out how to comment back on your blog! Do you have comments available?
Yes on the sweet potato toast- although mine were nachos- My husband absolutely loves these- I sprinkle on homemade taco seasoning and they are awesome! I love this link up so much- reading about everyone’s goals and running is great but I just love the whole picture that Ultimate coffee is about- thanks so much for hosting!
Taco seasoning is a great idea as well thanks for sharing!
Wow a vacation in Aruba – sounds heavenly.
My word for 2017 is “relax.” No goals – just to run, stay healthy and have fun.
Sweet potato toast – YUM!!
Now that sounds like a great goal!
The Soup Club sounds fantastic! What a nice way for busy mom runners to help each other out!
My word of the year is LIVE!
I’ve never tried sweet potato toast 🙂
I’ve been following you on Instagram and just jumped over here to your blog…so glad I did 🙂
Oh that’s so great thanks I love to connect with more friends. The soup club is a big help for busy moms and a fun social thing too. I love your word! That’s what it’s all about right?!
Glad you had a great time in Aruba!
We really did but glad to be back on my regular schedule again.
I’m not a fan of sweet potatoes. I’ve tried them in a few varieties and just don’t like the flavor, but these look delicious! I’ll have to stop back on Monday for that White Bean Veggie Chili. Sounds amazing!
You could also use regular potatoes and do the same! I made the chili yesterday it’s perfect for this weather brrr.
That photo on Flamingo Beach is amazing! It sounds like you had such a great vacation. Hope to see you soon for hot yoga and hot coffee!
Yes we are definitely due for a date!
I’m glad you had a ton of fun in Aruba with your family–the photos on instagram were absolutely gorgeous!! (I am definitely not sick of em’, haha. <3 beaches and pretty places!)
I definitely over-indulged last month but I'm going back to my regular eating/exercise schedule again so it's ok. That sweet potato toast sounds super good! I'd be interested in seeing that on a Meatless Monday post! :]
I wish I could find people to do a soup club with here! *-*
The soup club is a great way to meal prep and socialize! Stay tuned for sweet potato recipes
That Aruba photo with the flamingos is amazing. Happy New Year!
thanks so much! It was wonderful to see them in person so up close
How did you toast the sweet potatoes? That looks delicious! So glad you had a great holiday. I love the combo of focus and quality. I never picked a word/theme for my year, but I should. I like that kind of broad goal setting over resolutions, too. Happy New Year! Thanks for the link up.
I think I am going to do a post on the sweet potatoes next week. You have to cook them beforehand and then reheat. Yes I like the idea of a word of the year now I just have to do it
Let’s not talk about how much coffee and tea I have had of late. It is basically the only way to stay warm, honestly. There just aren’t enough layers!
Speaking of weather, but the opposite way, I was dying (as usual) over your Aruba pics. One day, I will make it to the place that happiness lives!
I know it’s crazy cold here today too! I have also had way too much coffee it just warms your hands to hold it so you might as well drink it right? 🙂
Your picture with the flamingos gave me anxiety just looking at it! I am scared to death of birds so seeing you that close was a little too much for me. They are beautiful from the picture so I can only image what they look like up close. However, I will take your word for it! ;o)
ha ha so is my daughter but she rallied! They are really beautiful
Focus is such a great word for the year!
Your breakfast looks like it would make an awesome appetiser too!
Ooh I bet it would! I am all about sweet potatoes for all meals. Stay tuned for the recipe
I LOVE that photo of you and the flamingos!
I don’t have an official word of the year, but I suppose it would be either Simplify or Balance. And I’ve never tried sweet potato toast, but that looks SO darn good!
Well simplify is a good one! It’s so easy for me to distracted and do all the things!
SO glad you had a fabulous trip in Aruba! Look at those flamingos- wow!!
They were pretty amazing up close and personal
I was thinking about a word or a phrase for this year…I’ve never had one in the past. I like focus! Here’s to a great year!
Right back at you! Happy new year
That is an interesting use of sweet potatoes which I should try for sure! SP’s are a favorite staple of my breakfast so I am always looking for new ways to use them.
There seems to be some interest in the SP recipe so I will try to get it up on the blog soon
I’ve never had sweet potato toast, but it sounds delish! I’m not a resolutions person either… I like to make goals or aspirations.
It’s my new favorite breakfast!
I’m not a fan of resolutions but do need to give some thought to plans for this year. A tropical vacation sounds amazing, especially this time of year. I’ve only seen flamingos at our zoo. How cool to get that close! I love all things sweet potato — no doubt I’d enjoy the toast. Thanks for hosting coffee!
Thanks again for joining us always fun to have you