today i am grateful for...

1. working with some amazing gals who make my life so much easier and so much brighter!
2. spending the day with my sick little man. Although he isn't well, I've enjoyed his cuddles and him needing me.
3. the beautiful snow, which brought a bright light to a pretty dim day.

socks-->leggings

i can't wait to go to my favorite store (Target) and pick up some socks to make these cute things. Well, I might have to bribe my mom to help me. i haven't sewn in quite a while! They took a pair of socks; the same exact knee-high kind i wear everyday, and sewed them together to make leggings!

precious

Thanks "Just Between Friends" for posting this tutorial!

http://easyascutandpaste.blogspot.com/2012/01/diy-toddler-leggings.html

closet-->reading nook

I can add this to the long list of "some day, I'll..." list. I really want to make reading nooks in each of the kids closets...a cozy place for them to snuggle up and be read to and eventually read on their own. I came across these cute ideas, all of which are too elaborate for what I will have time and space to do, but inspiring nonetheless.

blah!

planning a diet is far more fun than actually implementing it! I am struggling...

planning a diet over a cheat meal! HA!

so, i haven't posted anything in about a gazillion years and i don't even know that i can keep this up, but i feel inclined to write about my resolutions and aspirations for the new year.

i have started reading The Happiness Project again, which has been really motivating. In my head, it was almost as if i couldn't really start my own happiness project until january since that how she structured her project. This month i am focused on:

energy

just like the author, i am convinced that if i can get my energy better under control other things will more easily fall into place. I have put post it notes all over my bathroom mirrors with sayings such as:

"don't put it down, put it away"

"if it takes less than a minute, DO IT!"

"If you can't find something, clean up!"

"eat well"

speaking of the last one...we met with Dana, Rich and Hay Hay at Mi Rancho (yum) tonight to hang out and i finally had a chance to wrap my head around some food questions. Dana has been rocking out the diet this week and i have been a slacker. watch out thursday, here i come! the second i got home i packed my meals for tomorrow, so i guess all it took was a little diet planning over a cheat meal! oh, the irony :-)

i hope to post more again soon...we'll see...

Cameron's Tree--It's Up :-)

(before)

(the trunk)

(here it is!)

Scran's Graham Delights

I know i'm going to have to have something sweet to get me through tomorrow...well, this whole back to school week for that matter.

I attempted to make Scran's graham delights...we'll see how i faired...they are cooling at the moment!

1 c butter
1/2 c light brown sugar
1/2 c chopped pecans (or walnuts or whatever nut you like)
12-19 graham crackers
1 1/2-2 c chocolate chips

Mix the butter, sugar, and nuts on low heat and bring to a boil for 3 minutes (I cheated and did the melting and boiling in the microwave)

Place graham crackers on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

Pour mixture over graham crackers. Bake for 10 minutes at 350.

Remove from oven. Cover with chocolate chips and allow them to melt, then spread the melted chocolate. Let cool in the refrigerator. Break into pieces.

YUMMY!

an almost purge turned into homemade bread

in an attempt to be more little Betty Homemaker, I made homemade bread today. it all started last night when i was going through some cabinets with small appliances. i found the breadmaker that i haven't used in i don't even know how long. i put it in the give away pile and then it occurred to me....i hate store-bought bread...i should use this hunk of love to make bread every couple of days.

she was saved...maybe i should name her Betty.

and so it begins...here's my first loaf...Whole Wheat Bran...hopefully it tastes good!

menu board and dick clark's corn fritters

the other morning when i made the message board and dry erase board i had one piece left over. i've been the world's worst at making dinner lately, so i thought making a menu board might help me get my act together.

i just took smaller pieces of the dry erase sheet from Michael's that i used for the other board and made 7 little areas.

so far so good. i went to the grocery store today and stocked up. i'm hoping i can keep this up!

for part of tonight's dinner we had "Dick Clark's Corn Fritters." I think i initially gathered the recipe from a Rachael Ray magazine. i have plenty of fritters to munch on during the week at school...yes...i go back tomorrow...so sad. here is the recipe in case you're interested:

Dick Clark's Corn Fritters

1 15oz can creamed corn
4 large eggs
1 c frozen corn
2 T sugar
salt and pepper
1/2 c flour
cooking spray

In a medium bowl, combine creamed corn, eggs, frozen corn and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle flour gradually, whisking constantly to avoid lumps.

Spray a skillet with cooking spray. Drop tablespoonfuls of mixture into the pan to form small pancakes. Cook until browned on both sides.

Cameron's Halloween Costume

The votes are in...it was so hard to decide. I took into consideration not just the final vote, but the progression.

When i went to order on etsy.com (i know i've said it 100 times, but if you haven't been there, get to going!) the set had been sold. I am so glad i contacted the seller because not only was she a sweetheart and agreed to make another set for Miss C, I feel really good about settling on this choice, as this woman has 4 children, 1 on the way, she's getting ready to start college classes yet is still able to make darling pieces! I know that a lot of love will be put into Cameron's hat and leggings and i could not be more excited!

thanks for your help!

now, it's time to figure out what mr. mr. is going to be!