Happy New Year

I'm sitting here at my sister-in-law's house

getting ready to ring in the new year with some of my favorite people

thinking about how blessed I am

The beginning of 2010 is going to be...interesting.

Perhaps trying, perhaps miraculous. 

Either way, I'm excited for what the future holds

Ready to take it on. Finish what I've started

Make some changes.

Love more intensely 

Give more freely

Live life to the fullest

And always thank God for every blessing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

So much to do, so little time...

I have so many things to blog about...

But right now, I'm packing for Canada and won't be back til next week! Then, I'll be back with a vengeance!

Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year!

Merry Christmas

Just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!!

This Christmas has been the leanest I've ever experienced, and yet, I feel abundantly blessed and overwhelmed with love.

Can't wait to tell you about it....later.

Gotta get back to my loves.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The 100th

I finally made it to my 100th blog!!!

Now, it's been awhile since I've blogged. Partly cause I wanted to make sure my 100th blog was a good one, but mostly because this is the first breath I've taken this week...YAY for a break!!!

I was also waiting to write this post:

My dear friends in Chicago just had their first baby and didn't find out what they were having. Well, they had a perfectly beautiful baby boy, and I wanted to make them something special. I had seen this idea somewhere and thought it was the CUTEST thing, and just so happened to have all the materials to make it. So here it is: my homemade gift for some of my sweetest friends:

They're little onsies with a necktie pattern - how cute are they?!?! Seriously, I'm in love with them, and I wanted to make them something personal and unique, and I thought this was perfect. Now their little man will be even more of a stud.

I love the way they turned out, and they were so easy to make!!!

Okay, so maybe this wasn't the fascinating, cutting-edge post you'd expect for a 100th....but I'd still love to know what you think! =]

The Random Dozen

I was going to start this post off by saying I really have nothing exciting to talk about, but I love The Random Dozen series and have yet to participate! In actuality, I have a lot going on, some of it I can't talk about, and the rest you probably don't want to hear about. Either way - here it is. Random things you don't care to know about me, but are going to find out anyway:


1. Which physical trait do you now accept--maybe not love, but accept--and no longer feel extremely self-conscious about?

My hands. I have extremely masculine hands that I used to go to great lengths to hide. I never wear polish to draw attention to them, used to cover them up whenever possible. Now, I'm over it.

2. This week Meredith Baxter Birney, best known as the mom on the favorite 80s sitcom "Family Ties" came out of the closet, which led me to formulate this question: Who do you think is/was the best TV mom?

I love Debra Jo Rupp, or 'Kitty' from That 70's show. I fell in love with her when she played Alice on Friends, and she is hilarious in both roles. I love that she's sweet, is always cooking, but tries so hard to be a cool mom!

3. Do you speak any foreign languages? Are there any you'd like to learn?

I can speak Spanglish. That used to be Spanish when I took it in High School, but has evolved to Spanglish as my memory has gone...

4. Who is your personal hero?

Right now, I would have to say my husband. He has taken on an incredible amount of responsibility lately, has been working SO hard, and still manages to be a great dad, a wonderful husband, and a loyal friend. I can't say that about many people.

5. What is one holiday food that you find extremely difficult to resist over- indulging in?

Um, anything that is made by Grandma King. If she makes it, I wanna eat it. But sweets are particularly hard for me to resist, especially when they're in the form of chocolate chip cookies.

6. Tell me about a Christmas decoration that has special meaning or sentimental value.

All the ornaments on my tree from past students, I will treasure them forever.

7. How do you feel about snow?

I have a love/hate relationship with snow. I actually despise it about 90% of the time. I love the beauty of it, and I love playing in it with my kids (and sledding is a favorite), but I wish it would just come around when I want it to - which is hardly ever.

8. On average, how many hours of sleep do you get each night? Not that I'm jealous of any number over three or anything.

Probably about 5. This is why I nap so much. I can't function on 5 hours of sleep.

9. Tell me about your first crush.

Oh man. The first one I remember was Shawn Hamilton....and whenever I think of him, I think of how I got in BIG trouble for writing on the bleachers in black marker at recess 'I love Shawn Hamilton' and had to wash it out with soap and water....while the entire class watched. (Also one of my most embarrassing moments).

10. You're stuck in a room for 2 hours with only a chalkboard and chalk. What will you write/draw?

First, I would doodle. (I'm a doodle-er). Then, let's be honest....I'd probably make TO-DO lists. How lame am I?

11. Do you dress for the current temp or for the day's forecast?

Usually forecast. I am starting to smarten up and bring a sweater with me. I'm always cold.

12. Favorite Christmas movie is?

While You Were Sleeping (that counts right?). There is a great debate in our household about which is the better classic: Christmas Vacation or The Christmas Story....The hubs grew up watching Chevy Chase, and I grew up quoting lines about a red rider bb gun. We've yet to settle it.

The List

No, I don't mean the Christmas list (although, I could add a few of these to my Christmas list).

You know, "The List":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUOe0JBy8n8


Now, since the hubs and I have met, our lists change constantly, but we both accept our lists (I approved his actually - it's just for fun, but he's got good taste!) I am very picky about my list, for whatever reason, so I have a hard time even choosing people for it. But let's be honest, there are a lot of yummy celebrities out there. You already know a few of my guilty pleasures from this post, but I'll add the rest to "The List."

1. Ryan Reynolds

My love for him was affirmed in 'The Proposal'. Sure, he's not the greatest actor in the world, but who cares when you have abs like that! I mean seriously, people. Sexy smile. Ridiculous body. Funny. Yes, please! =]

2. Daniel Craig

When I first found out they were replacing my beloved Pierce Brosnan as James Bond, I was appalled. I heart James Bond, and Pierce Brosnan was my favorite. But 'Casino Royale' very quickly changed my mind and instantly became one of my favorite movies of all time! This guy has some piercing blue eyes and a rockin' body for his age. And you know me and salt n pepper men!

3. John Krasinski

If you're an Office fan, you know that it's impossible not to love Jim. I developed a major crush on him the first season, and it stuck. I love his quirky look, his sense of humor, and believe it or not, I totally dig guys with big ears (I went through a whole Will Smith phase for that very reason). Oh, to be Pam for a day...

4. Matthew Morrison

Upon my recent obsession with Glee, I've discovered a teacher crush for Matthew Morrison. And I'm a sucker for a guy that can sing and dance. Wish he had been my teacher...

5. Matt Damon

Matt Damon is my classic choice. He's been a consistent on my list for years. I love his sexy smile. And the Bourne series is one of my favorites. But I think truly, it comes from the fact that Matt Damon reminds me a little of my hubs. (Especially in this picture). I need to do a side by side of them sometime...they could be brothers. Do I have good taste of what?!

6. Josh Duhamel

I remember watching 'Win a date with Tad Hamilton' and thinking "Who IS this guy?!?" Gorgeous. I can even look past his bad taste in women (Fergie, really? Is anything left on her face originally hers?!) All I can say is, I'd love to win a date with Josh Duhamel (cue cheesy music...)

There ya have it, my 'List'. For now anyway. I'll check back in 6 months and see if it's changed at all...

What about you? Who's on your list?!?

Mini makeover

A few days ago, I posted a little sketch I made and asked if anyone had any guesses as to what it was going to inspire. It looked like this:

Now, there were some good guesses. Most of you were right! I used it for a wall mural for a bedroom makeover in my room! I've been wanting to paint this mural on the wall for months. I saw something similar on a comforter set picture I saw at Target and thought, 'I can do that.' My room is pretty dull so I'm excited to have some interest added in there. I also seem to do all my painting projects when the hubs is out of town, cause he hates to paint....and he doesn't know I did this, so it'll be a surprise! (Unless he reads this blog while he's away - surprise honey!) Here's my bedroom BEFORE:

BTW, I have a terrible camera. Some day....but in the meantime, you'll just have to imagine these pictures with better lighting and clarity. Here's the design I came up with on the wall:

This is all that really came from the sketch...I free handed the rest to fill the space as I wanted it. Here it is after two coats of paint (which took forever, by the way!):

And here's the AFTER:

Again, the lighting is terrible, but you get the idea. I also have this cute green comforter set I got for a steal at Target a couple years ago that I put on the bed for accent. I really like it. And it cost me $5.

What do you think?

Christmas Cards

Finally designed and finished printing my Christmas cards....here's the end result:

And I paid a whopping $9.00!!! I ended up creating these adorable cards for free on Scrapblog.com, then importing it as a JPEG and just getting prints of them as regular pictures. Cheap and easy alternative to spending WAY too much on Christmas cards! Plus, if you sign up to Snapfish.com as a new customer (or really, a new email), you get 20 prints free!

My only complaint is that they're a little small...cause I got 4X6, which means the family picture itself is tiny. Next time I'll go for 5X7. Otherwise, I'm so happy with the way they turned out! =]

Weight Loss Wednesday

I will make this fairly short, if possible...as I have some GLEE to catch up on...

This whole weight-loss process has been feeling rather slow for me. It's the longest I've committed to a different lifestyle because I've determined that that's exactly what it's going to be - a lifestyle. But I was getting stuck in weights for weeks, and it was driving me crazy.

This week, I finally broke through a little bit. Just started counting calories a little more carefully, and working out at home when I couldn't get to the gym. Watching Biggest Loser every week keeps me motivated, I don't know what I am going to do after the finale next week! But, step by step, little by little, it's happening. As of this morning, my weight loss is:

x - 23 lbs.


Now, it took me a couple weeks to get those 3 lbs off from the last post. But in reality, 23 pounds in 3 months isn't too shabby, right?!? Someone confirm me here! I mean, it's better than nothing, that's for sure.

So, I keep on keepin' on...

The nightmare before Christmas

Twas the month before Christmas and all through the house

Nothing was going right, not even my spouse!

The stockings were hung by the TV with care,

Only to see them fall again and nearly make me swear!

The children were running all over the place,

A result of smoothie desserts from dinner replaced.

Mama in her cleaning wear, Faith with her reindeer antlers,

Were just settling in for a scene that rarely occurs.

When out from the living room there arose such a clatter

I ran from the kitchen to see what was the matter.

The fourth attempt at Christmas lights was alas no good

You'd throw a fit too, if you understood.

"Now Caleb, now Faith, now Veronica, see here!

My frustration is now becoming severe!

Nothing is working, and you're all in my way

This is turning out to be quite a crappy day."

So a break we all took, from the chaos and mess,

To tuck the kiddies in, and get away from the stress.

Then I quietly snuck in to finish the job,

As my head, from the stress, was beginning to throb.

And then, in a twinkling, I looked at what was done,

And the stress seemed to melt, the chaos seemed undone.

For before my eyes, a warm Christmas scene,

Just me and the decor, nothing between.

I sprang to grab the camera, to capture this feeling,

That this time of year provides: Comfort and healing.

Well worth it I think to myself with a sigh

"Merry to Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"