What are your plans for 2011?

1. Exercise more. While Tara is in school I will finally get to use my exercise ball & do my pilates tape.
2. Organize. I'm good at getting organized, but bad at staying organized. So I'm going to find a place for everything & go out & buy organizing items.
3. Re-decorate our house. We've lived in our house for 3 years now. It needs some updating. I want to buy some new pillows for the living room couches, new frames, candles etc..
4. Eat Healthier. I know that's a given, but I feel that all 3 of us have been eating really unhealthy for the past 6 months. I want to start good habbits for Tara. It's hard because she's so picky like me.
5. Worry less. I'm a Cancer, so I'm a total worrier & I hate it.
6. More family time. Spend more time as a family watching movies & hanging out.
7. Simplify. Continue cleaning out the closets & getting rid of things. Donate more items.
8. Couponing. I've been couponing for a few years, but I want to really get better at it & save my family as much as I can.
9. New stores. I love to shop & there are tons of stores that I never go in. Like Urban outfitters, American eagle, J Crew, Abercrombie, Banana republic & more. Most of them aren't my style, but ya never know, I could find a cute headband or purse in 1 of the stores. Even if I don't like the clothes.

I might come up with a few more things this weekend.

Projects galore

2 broken vacuum cleaners
1 clogged bathroom sink
1 leaking dishwasher
1 leaking snowblower (in our garage that is hitched to our house, leaking a huge gas puddle ont the floor & the odor is coming up through the vents & giving me a headache since Monday)
2 burnt out lightbulbs in the bathroom
1 bathroom towel rack with the screw coming out of the wall
20 tangled necklaces
1 broken jewelry box

All this =s 1 Grumpy Mama

Wordless Wednesday~Christmas photos

What are your favorite Christmas presents that you got?

I got a lot of nice things this year. I got most of the things on my list, between my hubby & my parents.

A Lolita glass from 1 of my friends.

Got some cool gift cards. Another one on the way.

My friend in VA sent these Bud mints (thought it was a cute container). Her b/f works for Bud. She got me some really cool pink earrings, that I wore 2 days in a row.

My parents got me this book. Well, I picked it out & ordered it. It's a cookbook for kids & you can add pics of the kids helping out or add pics of the recipe when it's done. Plus there is an area where you can write in your own family recipes.

I got a lot of other nice thingd. A cute handmade calendar from my friend in MI, Vic secret nightgown from my hub, but it's too big, so we have to return it. Big cupcake pan & a bunch of other things. What are your fave presents that you got for Christmas?

Meet me on Monday

Click on Java's button above for info.

She asked 5 questions.

Questions:

1. What are your New Year's Eve plans?
2. How tall are you?
3. What is your favorite pudding flavor?
4. What room of the house do you blog the most in?
5. What is your best physical feature?

My Answers

1.Not really sure what we are doing for New year's eve. Probably go out to eat & have drinks & then celebrate at home.
2. 5'3". Java, I've found that every doctor you go to tells you that you are a different height. I've been told that I'm 5'2", 5'1" & 5'3". I'm sticking with 5'3" since that's what I've always been.
3. My Fave pudding is chocolate.
4. I blog in my office (our guest room) it's all cute & girlie & hot pink, black & white.
5. Best physical feature. I would have to say my eyes. They are blue with gold specks, so they look green. I've learned how to play with make-up to bring them out & which colors look best. Also my hair.

Cafe Press review & giveaway coming soon

I've been a fan of CafePress for a long time. I got my Myspace shirt on there about 5 years ago. I still have the shirt. I've been given the opportunity to do a review/giveaway for Cafe press. If you're looking for personalized t-shirts , customizable hoodies and even unique gifts
they can be found at CafePress. Stay-tuned, my review/giveaway will be coming very soon.

Last minute Fantasy Christmas list

Ugg Cardy in Black/gold

Philosophy~Peppermint bark shower gel & lip gloss

Orglamix eye shadow~For green eyes

Mood polish

Zoya nailpolishes

Lolita~Cancer glass

Kat Von D~Sinner roll-on perfume

Stila~ Backstage eye shadow pallette

WW~Christmas present (magnets)

Momologie

I just found this website. I signed up for their newsletter. Momologie is the free newsletter where moms get the latest in family living, style, home, food and entertaining.

5 days till Christmas

5 days till Christmas & I have strep throat. I started having a scratchy throat on Friday & felt worse yesterday (coughing, chills, achy). We had a Christmas party to go to & I tried to get out of it. Because I felt horrible & I didn't want everyone to get sick. But it was A's friends & he really wanted me to go. So I went. I'm hoping that everyone that was there doesn't get sick. I went to the doc today & got some antibiotics & hope to feel better soon.

We got this pasta, sauce & olive oil from A's friends.



The pasta looks really cool, but it doesn't have directions on how long to cook it. I did 7 minutes & then checked it & did it for another 3 minutes. I also read the ingredients & it has spinach, beets & squid ink. Um, squid ink. I googled it & this is what it says~

"Any type of pasta that has been enhanced with the chemical substance extracted from the ocean squid so it becomes very black in color. Squid ink, which is also available from the Cuddlefish (related to the Squid family), is added to the water and dough as pasta is made, creating very black colored pasta".

So I think I'm going to pass on the black pasta shells. I'm very picky & don't eat a lot of things. Not sure if I can eat the spinach or beet pasta either. I know most likely they won't have a taste to them, but don't think I can bring myself to eat them.

Meet Me on Monday

Every Sunday Java will post five get to know you questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!! Click on her button above for more info.


Questions:

1. What will your Christmas dinner consist of?
2. Do you watch commercials or flip through the channels?
3. How long will you leave your Christmas decorations up?
4. What movie makes you cry every time you watch it?
5. Do you have a Facebook?
---------------------------------------------------------------
My Answers!

1. We will be having stuffed shells & Pillsbury Grands biscuits. My FIL usually makes stuffed mushrooms & we'll have some type of chocolate dessert. Probably chocolate cake.
2. If I'm sitting still I fwd the commercials (when I'm watching my dvr) other wise I let them play.
3. We'll take our tree down New years weekend. On Sunday.
4. I can't think of any.
5. Yes, I have a Facebook page. I HATE Facebook though. I just think it's so boring. I mostly go on there to see if any of my relatives or friends added any photos & then get off.

My Happy List

The 1st thing on My Happy List for the week is Tara's potty training. She's been using the potty for a week. Things went so great. She actually went potty at our friend's house a few times today. Yay.

(This is her on the potty)




We decided on a pre-school. She starts on Jan 7th. She has 4 friends that go there. Fun times. I was thinking last night, that I can actually do my pilates video while she's in school. After the 1st few weeks, Anthony will be dropping her off at school & I will pick her up. So I can exercise & get some housework done on Fridays.


I'm also so glad that Christmas will be over soon & things can get back to normal. We've been so busy & so much going on. I just want to be able to relax. I'm starting to feel like this guy.




I've seen that lots of the Country has been getting snow storms. I'm greatful that we haven't had any so far. I know it will be coming soon & I'm sure we'll make up whatever we didn't already get.

Yum of the day

I got these because the store was out of the rice cakes that we like. These are so awesome, I'm so glad we found them. Only 90 calories too.

Long Friday

I finally started Christmas shopping today. Okay, not really started, I did get some presents already. I got a bunch today & can cross them off of my list. I also found some cool things for myself.

This is Tara helping carry my purse today in Kohls.

We got home & these lovely chocolates (from Van Otis chocs) were waiting for us. I e mailed a pic to hubs in work & he wrote back & said "we can bring them out on X-mas day". haha. He thinks there will be some left still?

I think I might be getting a cold. I have a scratchy throat. Still have a few more pressies & stocking stuffers to pick up. I also want Anthony to colour my hair this weekend. Shh, don't tell anyone that he's the 1 that colors my hair.

Friend finding Friday

It's Friday again & time for another Friend finding Friday. I'd love some new friends & some new comments. Click on the button above for info or to join in.

CSN stores review

Since I'm a preferred blogger for CSN stores . I got to do another review. This time we got Tara a bed rail. We just put a new rug in her room & set up her twin size bed. We got her new sheets & bedding, but it's kind of big & she's not use to such a big bed yet. So we got her this really cute bed rail, so she will feel safe. It has a pocket for her books & a pocket for "her stuff". Also on the inside of the rail there is a cup holder & 2 tiny pockets.

It was somewhat easy to put together. My husband did that. He had a little trouble in the beginning & then he figured it out. It's so strange seeing my little girl in a big bed.

I really love CSN stores because they have so many great things to choose from & such a great variety.

Gingerbread Construction co

I love this place. We use to live near here. Their muffins are awesome. They're huge & more like cupcakes.

They ship all over the country except Alaska & Hawaii.

Gingerbread Construction company

Cute Snowman Cookies recipe

Photo: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Karen Tack

Cute Snowman cookies


Dress up refrigerated sugar cookie dough to make these super-cute snowmen. Let your kids give them personality by decorating with holiday candies.


2/3 cup of all-purpose flour
16 1/2-oz. roll of refrigerated sugar-cookie dough
Snowflake sprinkles
M&M's Minis buttons
Hershey's Kisses

Preheat oven to 350°F. Knead 2/3 cup of all-purpose flour into a 16 1/2-oz. roll of refrigerated sugar-cookie dough.

Tear off a piece of dough and roll it in your palms to form a 3/4 -inch ball. Roll a slightly larger piece into a 1-inch ball, and a still slightly larger piece into a 1 1/4-inch ball. Repeat with remaining dough. Place 1 of each size ball close together on parchment lined baking sheets; flatten balls slightly.

Bake cookies for 12 minutes. Cool on rack. Pipe frosting for scarves and to attach M&M's Minis buttons, mini-chocolate chip eyes, snowflake sprinkles and Hershey's Kisses for hats. Makes 8.

Note: In the photograph shown, we covered the cookies in white frosting and piped red frosting for the scarves. We also added mini-chocolate chips to make the snowmen smile.

All You, DECEMBER 2008

Mommy & Me Monday

Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?
I'm really late doing this Mommy & Me. We had this pic taken @ the tree lighting. She really didn't want her pic taken that day, but I finally got 1 of us together.

Food network magazine

I didn't even realize that Food network had a magazine. I saw this in Walmart & bought it. I like it a lot. I pulled out a bunch of recipes. I think I might be subscribing to it soon.

Town tree lighting

Crafts & food.

She ate 1 of the arms before I got to take a photo.

The annual bonfire.

Santa will be @ Van Otis chocolates (Manchester, NH)

Santa will be at Van Otis Chocolates on Saturday December 18th from 1-3pm. Kids can take pictures with him, sit on his lap, and tell him their Christmas list. There will be tons of free samples too. Van Otis is located @ 341 Elm Street Manchester, NH. If you have any questions call 603.627.1611 ex.11

This is a photo from last year's visit.

Cookie swap tonight

We spent most of the day yesterday making cookies (besides doing a pre-school tour & having a playdate with friends). This apron was my Mom's back in the 60's when she 1st got married. She found it & gave it to me about a year ago.

Tara helped me with the Rollo pretzel bites. I found them online.

I found these cookies online too. They sounded pretty simple, but since I had to make 2 dozen, it took forever. They came out really cute. We were up late finishing decorating them last night. Each 1 is unique.