The End of the Year

So... 2012 is almost over. I really can't believe it! Where DOES the time go and how can I make it slow down?

I feel like there are lots of housekeeping things to do in the next few hours.

I need to contemplate New Year's Resolutions. Do you make those? If so, what are they? I am really not a fan of resolutions, I think that I only set myself up for failure when I make them. I would like to be more organized and start running/jogging. Just thinking about the latter makes me want to vomit. I have not yet learned how to enjoy running/jogging. I think people should only run when they're being chased or have to get to the toilet quickly!

I need to spruce up my blog and I'm contemplating a blog project for 2013. Stay tuned!

I'm also thinking about my word for 2013. My word for 2012 was happiness. Did you have a word for the year? I have been reflecting on the success of my word. I did achieve what I had intended to achieve when I selected the word. I wanted to be HAPPY 24/7. You know, one of those people that always looks on the bright side and never seems to have PMS. I'm just not that person! But... I did identify some things that make me happy and I have an idea of some things I would like to move forward with for next year to create more happiness. My word has also helped me to take a look at some of my brokenness. Healing the broken pieces should bring more happiness. So... All in all, I would call my year of happiness a success.

Do you have a word picked out for 2013? I heard about the idea for One Little Word, late in 2011, here. Have you heard about it? EVERYBODY'S doin it! You're not cool if you don't. Just kidding! I'm thinking of making abundance my word for 2013, but I don't just want abundance I want joyful abundance! Can I have 2 words for 2013????? I will get back with you about my word(s) for the year. I'm still thinking on it. I better figure it out quick!!!!!

Happy end of the year Monday!

Our Christmas

Here is the Christmas tree picture I promised in my last post:

Notice how the ornaments are missing from the bottom branches. Most of those were taken off and thrown. When they call plastic ornaments shatterproof, they do not mean unbreakable. The tops actually break off quite easily. And... Candy canes shatter when thrown! Fortunately, the dogs were willing to eat the broken pieces of candy cane. As an added bonus, they would have minty fresh breath, briefly.


Christmas Eve pics:

 Sophie is wearing her Christmas pjs. As kids, we were always given new Christmas themed pajamas on Christmas Eve. Did you have the same experience?


Looking at the lights:

And the stockings were hung (I'm cracking up that the cross stitched menorah is still on the mantel in the background - it was a gift to Alex from the Nanny):

Sophie's Power Wheels Barbie Jeep (she was terrified of it at first but now she LOVES it):

Riding the Step 2 Roller Coaster in the basement (Alex snapped this picture - it's my favorite - I love the joy in her expression):

 She screams whee and yippee when she rides it! I LOVE to see how happy it makes her!!!!! It is cuteness overload.


Pumpkin cheesecake that I made without a real recipe (it turned out great!):

The obligatory child in a box picture:

Our Christmas was nice. We didn't really do anything other that stay busy with Sophie ALL DAY. I'm hoping that we can have some family around, next year. I also hope that everyone else had an enjoyable Holiday, whatever/wherever/however you celebrate!

It's Christmas Tree Time

Well... It's a little late to be Christmas Tree time, in my book. I should have had a tree up and decorated weeks ago! I am only just now getting ours decorated. This year the tree is quite a chore. Usually, I get out boxes of fancy ornaments and keepsake ornaments, but I have decided not to do that this year. Sophie is way too interested in the ornaments to stick with the look-but-don't-touch rule. Oh yeah... And Vinnie, one of our dogs (the French & English bully mix) thinks that the ball shaped ornaments are toys for him to play with!

So... I have chosen the shatterproof (that means plastic) ornaments, candy canes, and probably gingerbread men to decorate the tree. Did I mention that Sophie wants to take individual lights off of the tree?

Just for fun, I started looking for pictures of what I thought a perfect Christmas Tree looks like. Here's my fav:

I think I like pretty much everything about this picture. It makes me want to drink eggnog and sing carols!

My tree (nor my living room) will look like this. My tree is lopsided and will be edible and toddler proof. But... That will be just fine with me as long as it makes Sophie happy! Stay tuned, I will post pics of our completed tree, tomorrow.

Tears

I haven't posted anything for a few days. I've been busy and distracted. A's mother was in town for the weekend (that wasn't the source of my tears - well only some of them), and I had lots to do to get prepared.

I have resisted writing anything about the shooting in Connecticut because I just didn't know what to say. It is so heartbreaking to think of all of the families who are suffering from this tragedy. I have avoided watching the news, because I just can't face it. Once you become a mom, it is so much more difficult to see the children who were lost and to think of the mother's who lost them.

I hadn't really cried about it until this morning. My daughter's Nanny was telling me about some of what she has heard about the children who were lost. She mentioned that one little girl's Grandfather had passed away a few months ago and how he would have been waiting for her. I knew it was true. I thought of all of those souls of loved ones waiting to receive the victims of this tragedy, waiting to give them hugs once more.

It makes me think of my grandfather, who died about a year and a half ago.

I'm so grateful that he got to meet Sophie before he passed away, even if it was just once when she was tiny. I am so grateful to have my daughter. My heart just aches for the families that are hurting. I wish I could do something to comfort those poor mothers. The loss of a loved one is so difficult, I would think the loss of a child must be nearly unbearable.

I have been reading where people are lighting candles in memory of the victims and sending out positive energy. I think I'm going to try to do something like that. Our Nanny is going to light 26 luminaries on Christmas Eve in honor of the victims (she usually only lights 10). I kind of like her idea.

This is just my little way of sending out thoughts and hugs to everyone who is hurting. I'm not sure what the answer is to stopping this kind of violence, but I hope we come up with some answers soon.

I love you Nana, Papa, and Gran (Ora & Mama Gin too). There is not a day that passes that I don't think of you and wish I could have just a little more time to spend with you! It helps me to think that you are still watching us and loving us from somewhere just around the corner, somewhere not too far away but just out of reach.

Dreaming of Cookies

It is a sad sad time for both my waste line and my backside...

I bought this magazine last night:

And... Then... I had dreams about cookies. As if the holiday season isn't already bad enough for packing on pounds, I'm now having dreams about cookies!

I love the America's Test Kitchen publications. They give the recipes, as well as, tons of great information and tips. The info is good for inexperienced cooks, and foodies who just want to learn more. Anyway, I have already looked through this issue and there are several (ok more than just several) recipes that I want to try.

Here's a list of the first 3 recipes I want to try:
1. Poor Man's Toffee
2. Pecan Bars
3. Rocky Road Bars

These are all bar type cookies and I think I'm leaning towards these because they will take less time. Time is an important consideration when you have a toddler! I'm also thinking about how I can tweak the recipes to make them my own. I RARELY use a recipe exactly as it is written. I usually want to make things to suit my/our specific tastes. I can't wait to try some. Hopefully, I will be able to make some time to bake, tonight.

Today...

I'm taking it easy, today. I have been recovering from what I guess was a bout of food poisoning. It felt more like I'm dizzy and have no energy, with a side of I must hug the toilet for the rest of the day. NOT PRETTY.

I've been catching up on blogs, pinning on Pinterest, and reading this:

Made With Paper by Florence Temko. It's from the early 90's. I found a copy in a thrift store (of course), and I'm really enjoying the projects. There are some fun, fun ideas in it!

I have also been looking for ideas for book storage via the internets. My thrift store book collection is OUT OF CONTROL.  Our cleaning ladies did this in our bedroom to try to deal with some of the books:

Helpful but not exactly nice to look at. I need to rearrange and organized them to make them look appealing.

I saw some ideas in a recent issue of a design magazine (I can't remember which one), where they have book storage on the side of a staircase (books actually on the stairs). Kind of like this, but more organized:

Is this a clever idea or just what hoarders have to do????????